Economic valuation and sustainable utilization of <i>Nypa</i> forest resources in the Setiu Wetlands, Malaysia

This study investigates the economic benefits that local communities gain from the provisioning services of Nypa forest resources within mangrove and wetland ecosystems. Although Nypa is not categorized as endangered, the mangroves and wetlands where this species inhabits are increasingly threatened and degraded by both natural processes and anthropogenic activities, underscoring the importance of this study. While specific data on Nypa forests are scarce, broader studies on mangrove and coastal forest degradation offer valuable insights. Global mangrove loss, including Nypa areas, occurred at approximately 3.4% between 1996 and 2020, primarily due to coastal development and agriculture. In 2022, the loss of 1.2 million hectares of forest within key biodiversity areas further threatened Nypa habitats, particularly in tropical regions such as Southeast Asia and West Africa. Based on household interviews, this study applied a market-price valuation method to measure the direct use economic value of Nypa forest resources. Our analysis, based on data from nearly 50% of the household population, revealed diverse patterns and statuses of local resource utilization. While mangroves and Nypa forest resources were only marginally utilized by local communities (8.6%), Nypa was identified as the most used mangrove species, with significant use of its shoots (31%) and leaves (13%). Monthly harvests included 454 bunches of Nypa shoots and 134 bunches of leaves. The average monthly livelihood contribution from these resources amounted to RM357 (US$88), with the total annual economic benefits for participating households estimated at RM190,294 (US$47,146). When extrapolated to the entire household population, the annual economic benefits were estimated at RM348,262 (US$86,282), with per hectare values ranging from RM1 (US$0.21) to RM142 (US$35) per year, averaging RM505 (US$125) per hectare per year. Given the significant exploitation of Nypa , particularly driven by market demand, sustainable management and protection of mangrove forests are crucial.