PRESENT CONDITION OF MANGROVE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN TOMINI GULF, SULAWESI, INDONESIA

The mangroves in Tomini Gulf have been exploited for chiefly conversion of mangrove areas into shrimp cultivation and extraction of mangrove wood for various purposes. In this study, interpretation to available map and satellite images and ground check were conducted to describe intertidal environment conditions and general processes of coastal dynamic. At local scale, physiographic factors were used to classify mangrove sub-habitats. A total of 159 sample points were selected to observe structure of vegetation, and the revised two ways classification of Specht was applied to classify structural classification of vegetation. The criterion of mangrove disturbance was developed to classify disturbance level. Interview and field check were conducted to assess the successfulness of implemented rehabilitation programs. Results indicated that there were obvious changes in mangrove vegetation over much the intertidal environments, and these might influence the future development and regeneration of the mangroves. While most rehabilitation programs were unsuccessful, mangrove exploitations still continued. If a sustainable management plan is not developed, the degradation will continue and spread, and the mangrove will lose its ecological functions.Mangrove di Teluk Tomini telah dieksploitasi terutama lahannya dikonversi menjadi tambak udang dan pohonnya ditebang untuk beragam tujuan. Dalam studi ini interpretasi terhadap peta dan citra satelit dilakukan untuk mendeskripsikan kondisi lingkungan intertidal dan proses-proses terkait dinamika pantai secara umum. Pada skala lokal, faktor fisiografik digunakan untuk mengklasifikasikan sub-habitat mangrove. Sebanyak 159 titik sampel dipilih untuk mengamati struktur vegetasi, dan klasifikasi dua-arah Specht yang telah direvisi untuk mangrove digunakan untuk mengelompokkan kelas struktur vegetasi. Kriteria kerusakan mangrove dikembangkan untuk mengklasifikasikan tingkat kerusakan. Wawancara dan pengamatan lapangan dilakukan untuk menilai keberhasilan program rehabilitasi. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa telah terjadi perubahan nyata pada vegetasi mangrove di Teluk Tomini, dan perubahan ini dapat mempengaruhi perkembangan dan regenerasi mangrove selanjutnya. Eksploitasi mangrove masih terus berlangsung, sementara kebanyakan program rehabilitasi mangrove tidak berhasil. Jika rencana pengelolaan berkelanjutan tidak dikembangkan, maka dikawatirkan kerusakan akan terus berlangsung dan meluas, dan mangrove di Teluk Tomini akan kehilangan fungsi ekologisnya