RAPID MANGROVE ASSESSMENT METHODS

I. Rapid Mangrove Assessment

II. Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

Rapid Mangrove Assessment.

Objective;

1.To have a baseline data on different mangroves species.

2.To know the different resource utilization

3.To determine the natural resource dependency.

Materials needed;

1.GPS
2.Rope
3.Note book/pencil or ballpen
4.Transect tape
5.Tree caliper

Group Composition
1.GPS reader
2.Team leader
3.Recorder
4.Line man/stakeman
5.Local guide
6.Fisheries technician (if any)
7.Forester
8. Birds expert (if any)

Transect Line Layout

The transect line layout should traverse vertically the different zonation or from
seaward to landward or vice versa by using the GPS odometer reading to get the distance of
the transect line. Starting and End point will be noted by GPS reading of coordinates.
The 10x10 meters plot will be layout along the transect line to get the basal area that
1.5meters length (height) up will be recorded and identified as trees. The 5x5 meters will be
layout inside the 10x10 plot and 1.5 to 1meter height will be recorded as sapling as will as
wildlings below 1meter will be recorded within 1x1meter inside of the same plot.

TRANSECT LAYOUT

landward

Transect line

Sonneratia

Avecenia

10x10m
Rhizophora 5mx5m

1mx1m

Seaward

Field Methods

1. Estimate the total cover in hectares of the remaining mangrove forests from
an existing map;
2. Establish a baseline at the edge of the shoreline where mangrove species
abound;
3. Record the coordinates of the baseline. Coordinates obtained from global
positioning system are recommended;
4. Lay down the at least two of transect lines perpendicular to the baseline;
5. At right angles to a transect line, 10m x 10m quadrats shall be established
extending to the landward portion of the mangrove forest;
6. Trees occurring inside the quadrats will be identified up to the species level,
its height and diameter (DBH).(1.5meters up)
7. At the corner of each of the 10m x 10m quadrat, a 5m x 5m quadrat will be
established and all saplings (with heights >1.5 m-1m) within this smaller
quadrat will be counted and identified to species level;
8. Within the corner of the 5m x 5m quadrat, a 1m x 1m quadrat will be
superimposed to count the number of seedlings and identify them to
species level.
9. Record all trees, saplings, seedlings in a mangrove survey form.
10. Record species, scientific name, common name, number of segments
and total number of trees and compute for total basal area (m 2);
frequency; relative frequency; relative density; relative dominance;
and Importance Value (IV) using the formula below.

a. frequency (f)

Total number of segments in which species A occur

f = ____________________________________________ x 100

Total number of segments sampled

b. Relative Frequency (Rf)

f value of species A

Rf = ________________________ x 100

Total f value of all species

c. Relative density (R Den)

Number of individuals of species A

R Den = ___________________________________ x 100

Total number of individuals for all species

 d. Relative dominance (R Dom)

Total Basal area of species A

R Dom = _____________________________ x 100

Total basal area of all species

Where BA = 0.7854 D

e. Importance Value (IV)

IV = Rf + R Den + R Dom

Characteristics of individual species and the stand of the remaining mangrove forest of
Brgy. ____________________________________ in ______________________.

SPECIES CROWN COVER BASAL

AREA
SCI. NAME COMMON m2 % ABUNDANCE REGENERATION CONSTANCY
NAME (m2/ha)
(Trees/ha) (m2)

TOTAL

Total Area Sampled: ________________ Ha No. of segments: _______________

Length of Strip: Range = ___________m. to _____________ m.

Average = __________m.

Where: Constancy refers to the number of segments the species was observed over the
total number of segments inventoried.
 Constancy scale: 1 - 20% = rare (species)

21 - 40% = low constancy

41 - 60% = intermediate

61 - 80% = moderately high

81 - 100% = high

FOCUS GROUP DISSCUSSION ( FGD)

A focus group is a small group discussion guided by a trained leader. It is used to learn more
about opinions on a mangrove especially on resource used then responses relatively broad
and qualitative. Please refer to survey form.
Please refer to survey form.
Data sheet for vegetation Inventory.

Transect #.

Segment Tree no. Species Diameter Total Crown Crown Remarks

no. height Dia. height
Data sheet for regeneration inventory.

Transect #

Segment Plot no. Species of wildlings count Remarks

no.
Sapling Seedling
1.

Summary on the stand structure and species composition.

 No. of Total Total F RF RDen Rdom Importance
SPECIES segments No.of basal value
Sci.name C.nam of trees area
e occurenc
e