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| Flora index |
| Fauna index |
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| Potential
Use Potential use value is difficult to quantify. Mangroves, if they retain the full diversity of species, have great potential for yielding products that humankind can exploit in the future for some as yet unforeseen need. This is the new world of bioprospecting. The numerous species used in folk medicine are a starting point for exploration for scientific medicinal usage. Many currently valuable pharmaceutical products are derived from plants, such as taxol from the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), used for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancer; digitalis, a cardiac stimulant from the foxgloves (Digitalis species, especially D. purpurea and D. lanata); aspirin from the bark of willow (Salix purpurea) and numerous other medicines. In the exploitation of mangroves for their economic value, often the environment is degraded to some extent or almost totally wiped out as in harvesting of raw materials for chipboard or pulpwood. What is ironic, is that mangroves are ideally suited as a renewable resource for repeated harvesting of its commercial products. Raw materials (e.g. lignocellulose) are produced from seawater, sunlight and nutrients which are replenished by the tides and can be readily transported inland or exported by the closeness to rivermouths and the sea, respectively. It seems incredibly short-sighted to view mangroves purely as an asset to be harvested once or to be converted to land for a more profitable concern in the short-term. |
What is mangrove?
Introduction The Ecosystem Abiotic Biotic Value Intro Products Indirect uses Potential uses About Mangroves in Singapore History Mangroves to visit Conservation |
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From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors) Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng, B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum © 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre |