Mangroves are significant contributors to human wellbeing in many tropical and sub- tropical coastal communities and deliver a wide range of provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting ecosystem services. Worldwide, the value of these services has been researched, but not in Oman. I explore the role of mangrove ecosystems in Oman dominated by Avicennia marina and the value of their services based on perceptions of locals, key utilisers of the ecosystem. I also examine temporal and spatial change in mangrove cover and identify the drivers of environmental change affecting these ecosystems. Perceptions were captured using self-completed questionnaires, aerial extent was estimated from aerial photgraphs and secondary fisheries data were used to evaluate the support of Omani fisheries by mangroves. Carbon sequestration was estimated through a combination of field sampling and reported allometric equations and the service of storm buffering evaluated using data from windroses and mangrove extent. For cultural services assessment, mapping and semi-structured interviews with locals were used. I found that Oman‘s mangroves are mainly threatened by cyclonic events, both intense marine wave action and flash flooding from the landward side, as well as urbanisation, leading to coastal squeeze with implications for sea-level rise. While mangroves do not appear to highly support commercial fisheries in Oman, they do support ecologically important ecosystem engineers and essential prey for higher tropic levels (including commercially important species). Estimated values of carbon stock ranged from 59.90 to 133.05 t/ha, much lower values for A. marina inhabiting more favourable environmental conditions in other parts of the world. Cultural services were highly appreciated by locals, reflecting the influence of both Arabic and Islamic identity in Omani society. Intrinsic, instrumental and relational values of nature were all highlighted by locals. An Ecosystem Based Management approach is advocated for the conservation and sustainable use of mangroves in Oman.

Mangroves are significant contributors to human wellbeing in many tropical and sub- tropical coastal communities and deliver a wide range of provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting ecosystem services. Worldwide, the value of these services has been researched, but not in Oman. I explore th...