AUTHOR=Ke Guek-Nee , Utama I. Ketut Aria Pria , Wagner Thomas , Sweetman Andrew K. , Arshad Aziz , Nath Tapan Kumar , Neoh Jing Yi , Muchamad Lutfi Surya , Suroso Djoko Santoso Abi 

TITLE=Influence of mangrove forests on subjective and psychological wellbeing of coastal communities: Case studies in Malaysia and Indonesia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.898276

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.898276

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Mangrove forests possess multiple functions for the environment and society through their valuable ecosystem services. Along with this, the mangrove forests have large and diverse social values, in combination contributing to the health and well-being of the surrounding communities. This study aims i) to assess the benefits of mangrove forests and their impact on subjective and psychological wellbeing of coastal communities, and ii) to understand the challenges coastal communities face that limit sustainable wellbeing. We have used a mixed methodological approach, combining workshop, interview and survey, to obtain qualitative and quantitative information from two coastal communities in Malaysia and Indonesia. For quantitative data, 67 participants from both coastal communities participated using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. To obtain opinions from key informants in Malaysia and Indonesia, we organised two stakeholders’ workshops and community interviews. When merging these interviews and workshops we identified three themes related to the perception of mangrove forest benefits. (1) the advantage of living in a natural countryside; (2) the natural resources supporting employment, income and family security, and (3) the increase in subjective and psychological well-being. The mean score of well-being for Indonesia participants (28.6) was slightly higher than that of Malaysia participants (26.2) and were significant.  Overall, the respondents felt happy because the combination of job security and leisure activities support feeling content and satisfied. The analyses also suggests that the combination of exposure to coastal environments and stress reduction promote good mental health, however diagnostic health data are lacking. The lower score of mental well-being in Malaysia is attributed to respondents involved in risky fishing activities and local regions with excessive tourism. The findings from this study imply that coastal mangrove forest management plays an important role in the living conditions of coastal communities and their subjective and psychological well-being. Hence, restoration and sustainability of mangrove ecosystem is important.