Abstract:
The structural characteristics of the mangrove forest in the vicinity of mining areas and the natural mangrove forest were studied at Amphoe Muang and Amphoe Kaphoe, Changwat Ranong respectively. The study aims at the comparison on the mangrove structure of both area particularly in terms of floristic composition species zonation, species density, stand volume, regeneration and species diversity. The environmental factors especially soil and water properties are recorded. The results indicate that the floristic composition in the vicinity of mining areas is less abundant than in the natural mangrove formation. The species density and species diversity as well as stand volume of the disturbed mangrove forest are higher than natural mangrove formation. However, the rate of regeneration in the vicinity of mining area is higher than most of in the natural mangrove forest. The differentiation in the structural characteristics of the mangroves in some areas as resulted in the various floristic compositions and 20nation are determined by the environmental factors such, as frequency of tidal flooding, soil type, salinity of the soil, salinity of water, nature of wind and wave as well as the biotic pressures of human activities.