Research Article
Abstract
Nypa fruticans Van
Wurmb, commonly known as ‘Natte De Mami Water’ or
‘Na Jahjah,’ is a versatile palm that serves various purposes, including roof
thatching, partitioning, food sources, medicinal applications, and fuel wood.
Its rhizomes are particularly important in fishing, enhancing the buoyancy of
nets on the water's surface. Additionally, Nypa fruticans plays a crucial role in soil stabilization, erosion protection, and
mitigating the impacts of cyclones and high sea waves in coastal areas. This
study aims to investigate the indigenous knowledge, perceptions, and
utilization of the non-native mangrove palm, Nypa fruticans Van
Wurmb. Methodologically, data were collected using
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, which included semi-structured
interviews with local residents, primarily fishermen living near the mangroves.
Field observations complemented these interviews. A purposive sampling approach
was employed to administer questionnaires that gathered public opinions.
Primary data on the utilization of Nypa were obtained through direct interviews
with community members using detailed household questionnaires designed to
capture both quantitative and qualitative insights. The findings reveal that
the palm is significantly undervalued by local inhabitants, who primarily
acquire it through self-exploitation, with limited commercial activity and
insufficient adaptation and management strategies regarding its use. To address
these challenges, the study proposes recommendations for sustainable management
practices aimed at enhancing the value and utilization of Nypa fruticans within the
community.
Keywords
Invasion, local perceptions, mangrove, Nypa, fruticans, palm.
Reference
1.
Reynaldo
B. A.; Evelyn C. A.; Jovita P. A. Management of the nypa mangrove as a
mitigating measure against resource over-utilization in Pamplona, Cagayan. Kuroshio
Sci. 2011, 5(1), 77-85.
2.
Badve R. M.; Sakurkar C. V. On the disappearance of palm
genus Nypa from the west coast with its present status in the Indian
subcontinent. Curr. Sci. 2003, 85, 1407–1409.
3.
Blasco F.; Saenger P.; Janodet E. Mangroves as indicators
of coastal change. Catena. 1996, 27(3-4), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/0341-8162(96)00013-6.
4.
Blasco F.; Carayon J. L.; Din N. Les mangroves et le
niveau de la mer. In: Le changement climatique et les espaces côtiers. “L’élévation
du niveau de la mer : risques et réponses”. Actes du colloque d’Arles. 2000,
25–27.
5.
Burns K. A.; Garrity S. D.; Levings S. C. How many years
until mangrove ecosystems recover from catastrophic oil spills? Marine
Pollution Bulletin. 1993, 26, 239–248.
6.
CEFDHAC. Brazzaville Process: The management of forest
ecosystems from Cameroon to the year 2000: Volume 2 (Monographs of critical
sites and annexes). Timothy Fomete Nembot, Zachée Tchanou, December 1998, IUCN,
Yaoundé, Cameroon.
7.
Chaudhuri A. B.; Naithani H. B. A comprehensive survey of
tropical mangrove forests of Sundarbans and Andaman’s. Part I. International
Book Distributors, Dehra Dun, India. 1985, 41 pp.
8.
Choudhury J. K. Sustainable management of coastal
mangrove forests development and social needs. F.A.O. Rome. 2002, 265–285.
9.
CWCS. Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Society Douala-Edea
Forest Project: Report of activities, Moaunko, Cameroon. 2001.
10.
Djomo A. N.; Ibrahima A.; Saborowski J.; Gravenhorst G.
Allometric equations for biomass estimations in Cameroon and pan moist tropical
equations including biomass data from Africa. For. Ecol. Manage. 2010, 260,
1873–1885.
11.
UNION, PEAN. "Directive 2009/28/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council." Official Journal L (2009):
64-85.
12.
Faizuddin, M., M. M. Rahman, M. Shahidullah, A. S. M.
Helalsiddiqui, M. Hasnin, and M. H. Rashid. "Golpata (Nypa fruticans)-an
important forest produce of the Sundarbans." Mangrove silviculture
division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Khulna, Bangladesh (2000).
13.
Hutton W. Tropical Fruits of Malaysia and Singapore.
Periplus Edition (UK) Ltd. 1996, 18–25.
14.
Isebor, C. E., T. O. Ajayi, and A. Anyanwu. "The
incidence of Nypa fruticans (Wurmb) and its impact on fisheries production in
the Niger Delta mangrove ecosystem." (2003): 13-16.
15.
Jian S.; Ban J.; Ren H.; Yan H. Low genetic variation
detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from
Southeast Asia. Aquatic Botany. 2010, 92, 23–27.
16.
Kathiresan K. Importance of Mangrove Ecosystem. International
Journal of Marine Science. 2012, 2(10), 70–89. https://doi.org/10.5376/ijms.
17.
Kauffman J. B.; Heider C.; Cole T. G.; Dwire K. A.;
Donato D. C. Ecosystem carbon stocks of Micronesian Mangrove Forests. Wetlands.
2011, 31, 343–352.
18.
Kauffman, J. Boone, and Daniel C. Donato. Protocols
for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of structure, biomass and carbon
stocks in mangrove forests. Vol. 86. Bogor, Indonesia: Cifor, 2012. http://www.amazonico.org/speclab/SiteAssets/SitePages/Methods/Mangrove
biomass-CIFOR.pdf.
19.
Killmann, Wulf, Wong Wing Chong, and H. T. Chan.
"Utilization of Palm stems and leaves: an annotated bibliography."
(1989).
20.
Miah M. D.; Ahmed R.; Islam S. J. Indigenous management
practices of Golpata (Nypa fruticans) in local plantations in Southern
Bangladesh. PALMS. 2003, 47(4), 185–190
21.
Matsui, Naohiro, Yasuyuki Okimori, Fumio Takahashi, Koji
Matsumura, and Noparat Bamroongrugsa. "Nipa (Nypa fruticans Wurmb) Sap
collection in Southern Thailand I. Sap production and farm
management." Environment and Natural Resources Research 4,
no. 4 (2014): 75.
22.
Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MINEF). Forestry
Policy Document. National Forestry Action Programme of Cameroon. Ministry of
Environment and Forestry, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 1995.
23.
Ngea P. Douala – Edea Reserve: The last refuge of hope
for man and nature (Part 2). EnviroMend. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
24.
Nha Trang. Management of Nypa Forest (Nypa fruticans)
and Provision of Livelihood Alternatives for Rural People in Chau Thanh
District, Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam. Final Report, January. Rufford Small
Grant for Nature Conservation (RSG). 2007.
25.
Rozainah M. Z.; Aslezaeim N. A demographic study of a
mangrove palm, Nypa fruticans. Scientific Research and Essays. 2010, 5(24),
3896–3902. https://doi.org/10.5897/SRE11.1584.
26.
Percival M.; Womersley J. S. Floristics and Ecology of
the Mangrove Vegetation of Papua New Guinea. Botany Bulletin No. 8, Department
of Forests, Papua New Guinea. 1975, 94 pp.
27.
Shahidullah M. Nursery and Plantation Techniques of
Golpata (Nypa fruticans). In: Siddiqui N. A.; Baksha M. W. (eds.), Proceedings
of the National Workshop on Mangrove Research and Development at Bangladesh
Forest Research Institute, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 15–16 May 2001, pp. 33–38.
28.
Sunderland T. C. H.; Morakinyo T. Nypa fruticans, a weed
in West Africa. Palms. 2002, 46(3), 154–155.
29.
Tamunaidu P.; Matsui N.; Okimori Y.; Saka S. Nipa (Nypa
fruticans) sap as a potential feedstock for ethanol production. Biomass and
Bioenergy. 2013, 52, 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.02.013.
30.
Teo S. W. F.; Ang A. F. S. L.; Lok B. R.; Kurukulasuriya;
Tan H. T. W. The status and distribution of the Nipah palm, Nypa fruticans
Wurmb. (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Nature in Singapore. 2010, 3, 45–52.
31.
Terry C. H.; Sunderland T.; Tunde M. Nypa fruticans, a
weed in West Africa. African Rattan Research Programme, C/O Limbe Botanical
Garden, B.P. 437 Limbe, Cameroon and Iroko Foundation, 83–85 Prince of Wales
Road, London NW3 5 3LY, UK. 2003.
32.
Theerawitaya, Cattarin, Thapanee Samphumphaung, Suriyan
Cha-um, Nana Yamada, and Teruhiro Takabe. "Responses of Nipa palm (Nypa
fruticans) seedlings, a mangrove species, to salt stress in pot
culture." Flora-Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of
Plants 209, no. 10 (2014): 597-603.
33. Udofia,
SAMUEL I., and ENEFIOK S. Udo. "Local knowledge of utilization of nipa
palm (Nypa fruticans, Wurmb) in the coastal areas of Akwa Ibom state,
Nigeria." Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences 4, no.
1 (2005): 33-40.
34. Wankasi,
Donbebe, Michael Horsfall Jnr, and Ayabaemi Ibuteme Spiff. "Sorption
kinetics of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions from aqueous solution by Nipah palm (Nypa
fruticans Wurmb) shoot biomass." Electronic Journal of
Biotechnology 9, no. 5 (2006): 0-0.
35.
Whitmore T. C. Palms of Malaysia. Oxford University
Press, London, UK. 1973.
36.
Wiltse-Ahmad,
Alyssa. "Cameroon's First Marine & Terrestrial National Park
Announced." Rainforest Trust - Species | Communities | Planet. Accessed
December 29, 2018. 2018-12-29.
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Abstract
Nypa fruticans Van
Wurmb, commonly known as ‘Natte De Mami Water’ or
‘Na Jahjah,’ is a versatile palm that serves various purposes, including roof
thatching, partitioning, food sources, medicinal applications, and fuel wood.
Its rhizomes are particularly important in fishing, enhancing the buoyancy of
nets on the water's surface. Additionally, Nypa fruticans plays a crucial role in soil stabilization, erosion protection, and
mitigating the impacts of cyclones and high sea waves in coastal areas. This
study aims to investigate the indigenous knowledge, perceptions, and
utilization of the non-native mangrove palm, Nypa fruticans Van
Wurmb. Methodologically, data were collected using
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, which included semi-structured
interviews with local residents, primarily fishermen living near the mangroves.
Field observations complemented these interviews. A purposive sampling approach
was employed to administer questionnaires that gathered public opinions.
Primary data on the utilization of Nypa were obtained through direct interviews
with community members using detailed household questionnaires designed to
capture both quantitative and qualitative insights. The findings reveal that
the palm is significantly undervalued by local inhabitants, who primarily
acquire it through self-exploitation, with limited commercial activity and
insufficient adaptation and management strategies regarding its use. To address
these challenges, the study proposes recommendations for sustainable management
practices aimed at enhancing the value and utilization of Nypa fruticans within the
community.
Abstract Keywords
Invasion, local perceptions, mangrove, Nypa, fruticans, palm.
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Editor-in-Chief
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License.(CC BY-NC 4.0).