Understanding Ecosystem Services of Mangrove Forests in Iran: A Study on Spatial Differences

Mangrove forests, as one of the most important coastal ecosystems, are distributed across tidal zones of tropical and subtropical countries, providing numerous vital services to adjacent communities. In Iran, these forests naturally extend across three southern provinces: Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the perception of ecosystem services among various mangrove sites in Iran. To this end, a structured questionnaire was designed and distributed among local communities dependent on these forests. A total of 400 households responded to the questionnaire. The mean values of perceived ecosystem services were calculated for 11 sites, and differences among them were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that the Qeshm-Khor Khuran site exhibited the highest mean perception of ecosystem services across all four categories examined, whereas the mangrove sites in Dayyer County showed the lowest. Furthermore, significant differences were observed among the sites in all four categories of ecosystem services. These findings can inform the development of management strategies and policymaking to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove forests.