STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OP MANGROVES OP MAWELLA LAGOON

Abstract

The area covered by Mawclln lagoon is obout 91 ha (III€KMP,I999), which is situated in Mambanthotn disiriei and located within longitudes 80* 43 - S0J 45' and latitudes 5° 58 -6 d 00\Before mid 1950 x \ it was said to have (teen in a sound environmental conditions with o high level of productivity (HIC7.MP, 1999) which has been largely distracted at present Also fishery resources arc said to be depleted. Narrow strip of mangroves arc remaining in Mawclln lagoon without proper demarcations. But studies on Mawelia lagoon are scanty. The objectives of the study were determining the structural properties of mangroves around Mawclln Ingoon. to build up the database to use future researches and to provide management options for mangroves hosed on structural properties. Structural diversity of the lagoon, representing the three locations was studied in terms of fioristic composition, density, basal area, mean stand diameter, tree height, and complexity index. Total number of species enumerated in the study locations at Mawelia lagoon was three, Sfumeraito cqsvoms (Kimla) was identified as the prominent species. The average values of structural properties of Mawclla lagoon possesses a 55.2m3 of average basal area, 13.1 of average complexity index and 1130 (TrccsAia) of stand density. The highest relative density, relative frequency, relative dominance and hence the highest importance value was shown by Sotmeratia mwo/rrm. Natural regeneration of existing mangrove species found to be low.Reptaming of mangroves around the lagoon should be sccornmenede enhance the contribution of mangroves to the lagoons productivity,