Assessment on Capability of Mangrove Forests at Kuala Sepetang against Wave Attack Using GIS Application

Mangrove forests, that is not being treated or not being acknowledged as in the past, has recently been and recognized as the valuable ecosystem. Mangrove forests are important for coastal ecosystems, serving numerous environmental services and ecological functions. Mangrove forest also plays an important function as an erosion control because it decelerates the wave before it hits the coastline area including protection from strong storm and wind. But, it does not. Mangrove forests also has been traditionally utilised by the local people for full range of purposes. However, the global mangrove forest is declining much faster than others typical forest. There is so much pressure on the mangroves itself as human exploitation heightened. Natural disaster such as tsunami back in 2004 and other extreme environmental disaster has endangered and caused further losses of mangrove forests. It is important to check the capability of the existing mangrove forests along the coastline area in withstanding the wave attack.