This document discusses ecological mangrove restoration (EMR) and the Restore Ubin Mangroves (RUM) initiative. EMR focuses on restoring suitable site conditions for natural mangrove regeneration rather than manual planting. The 6-step EMR process involves understanding mangrove ecology and hydrology, assessing barriers to natural establishment, selecting restoration sites, designing sites to restore hydrology, and supplemental planting if needed. RUM aims to restore abandoned aquaculture ponds in Pulau Ubin, Singapore through regular cleanups, biodiversity surveys, elevation and tidal mapping, and involving groups like NUS and nature societies.

1. photo by No
venChew
Biodiversity
Mangroves are home
for many species of
plants and animals
Erosion control
The dense roots and soils
reduce coastal risks such as
storm and wave damage
Fish nursery
The intricate root system is
a feeding area and breeding
ground for many fish species
Carbon Storage
The rich soils store, on average,
four times as much carbon
as tropical forests, protecting
against climate change
Why restore
mangroves?
What is RUM?
A community project to restore
mangroves in abandoned
aquaculture ponds at Pulau Ubin
6 steps to successful EMR
1. Understand the mangrove species
ecology, including reproduction and
establishment along physical gradients.
2. Understand the hydrology and
elevation that controls mangrove
species establishment and distribution.
3. Assess the modifications of the
mangrove environment that are
currently preventing natural mangrove
establishment.
4. Select the most appropriate
restoration site and consider social
factors such as communities and land
tenure.
5. Design the restoration site to
restore the appropriate hydrology
and utilize natural seedling
recruitment.
6. Plant seedlings in the correct
environmental location,
if a greater seedling density
is required in a shorter time.
Why EMR?
Ecological Mangrove Restoration
(EMR) works with mangrove
elevation and hydrology to naturally
improve restoration success.
Instead of manually planting
mangrove species, EMR focuses on
making sure the site conditions are
suitable for natural regeneration.
EMR allows us to produce a self-
sustaining wetland ecosystem.
In recent years there have been great
efforts to restore and rehabilitate
mangroves in order to reduce their
decline. However, restoration success
rates are often as low as 1-2%, and
commonly less than 20%.
By taking into account physical
processes such as tides, waves, and
hydrology, mangrove
survival will
be more
successful!
In Southeast Asia, Mangroves are
being lost at a faster rate than
other ecosystems such as terrestrial
rainforests and coral reefs. In Singapore,
we lost almost 90% of our mangroves
between 1953 and 2011.
http://rum-initiative.blogspot.sg/
Restore Ubin Mangroves
(R.U.M.) Initiative
Ecological Mangrove
Restoration (EMR)
Restore
Ubin Mangroves
Initiative
LetM
o
ther Nature do the p
lan�ng
R.U.M.

2. photo by Lee Yee Ting
photo by Lisa Lim
What will we
be doing?
Coastal cleanup
We need to prepare the
site through regular
coastal cleanups.
We need to know what
lives in the mangroves
We find out by conducting
regular biodiversity surveys.
We need to know where
mangroves like to grow
We find out by creating a map
using an instrument called the
“Total Station”. This measures
the elevation of the site.
We need to know exactly how
much tidal water mangroves like
We measure this using instruments
called“tide gauges”.
Who is involved?
Dept of Geography,
National University of Singapore
Pulau Ubin fish farmers
Marine Conservation Group,
Nature Society (Singapore)
Gamefish and Aquatic
Rehabilitation Society (GARS)
wildsingapore
YOU too!
Sungei Puaka Site
Sungei Ubin/
Sungei Durian site
Where will we
be working?
with support
from NParks