Halophytic coastal marsh vegetation in East Africa

Abstract

The Indian Ocean coasts of the East African mainland and the Madagascar subcontinent have estuarine and brackish water coastal marshes that support significant vegetation which is predominantly mangrove. The anthropogenic impacts on mangrove vegetation in all these countries are similar and are mostly due to urbanization, sewerage disposal, solid waste and toxic waste disposal, threats due to oil pollution, dredging operations, damming of rivers, salt and prawn farming, and over cutting of wood for building materials and for fuel. This paper reviews the distribution and utilization of coastal marsh vegetation of the East African region with special reference to mangroves.