Traditional Use of Mangroves: the Gift that Keeps on Giving

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Mangroves not only support a huge ecosystem but also humans life.  

Mangroves are traditionally used to make tapa dye, fishing gear, and medicine.  The bark of the trees provides a pigment brown dye while its sap provides a pigment black dye.  The red flowers are used to make leis, honey, and fish poision.  Each type of mangrove species had its unique role.  The prop roots of Rhizophora were used in light construction, for example making fishing traps.  Its seeds are a remedy for a variety of problems such as sore mouth, asthma, backache, constipation, kidney stones, and headaches.  They can also be crushed to make wine, vinegar, and cooking oil.    

The Lumnitzera, on the other hand, is more durable and resistant to marine borers, so it was used in heavier construction.  

Natives made tea and tobacco out of the leaves.   

We are still finding more magic in the Mangroves.  

Rhizophora seedlings as food in times of famine, to cure sore mouth, to produce fuel, tannin and dye and wine having an aphrodisiac effect when ingested and of their use as philters in Arabia.  Researchers are developing on working theories that the mangroves’ toxins repel insects.  We are still learning about mangroves and what they can give us.  

The ash of the red mangrove is used as a soap substitute and other mangrove extracts are used to produce synthetic fibers, such as rayon, and cosmetics.

What’s so special about the timber of Mangrove wood?

Mangrove’s wood burns at high temperature, because it has a high calorific value.  

The wood is also sought after because it produces heavy charcoal which is famous for its pungent smell.  The characoal is not only used in barbequing but also metal production.   

Over and over we see that it has a diverse ____ with diverse applications.