On behalf of DANIDA, the overseas funding agency of the government of Denmark, the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) and Mangrove Service Network (MSN) undertook a two-part training on Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) for 39 participants at the Central Forestry Development Training Centre in Hmawbi, Yangon, Myanmar.   This involved a five-day theory workshop, followed by three days of practical field training in Myeik, southern Myanmar. The participants were mainly forest officers but also NGO staff and academics from two universities.  The training was part of the capacity building element of DANIDA’s ‘Climate Adaptation in Coastal Communities of Myanmar (2018-2023)’ program. 

The Ecological Mangrove Restoration training workshop was conducted to address widespread mangrove degradation in Rakhine State, Myanmar, and to introduce CBEMR as a science-based alternative to traditional planting approaches. Through presentations, discussions, and participatory learning, the training provided a comprehensive overview of mangrove ecosystem values, causes of degradation, and the ecological principles underpinning successful restoration, with a strong focus on understanding hydrology, species ecology, and site history.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in practical field activities, including site assessments, transect surveys, hydrological observations, and mapping exercises, which were consistently identified as the most valuable components of the training. Case studies from Thailand illustrated real-world CBEMR applications and reinforced the feasibility of natural regeneration when site conditions are properly restored. Overall, the workshop concluded that CBEMR offers a cost-effective, ecologically sound, and community-driven approach to mangrove restoration. Participants demonstrated improved knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward mangrove conservation, highlighting the training’s success and the need to expand similar capacity-building initiatives to other mangrove regions in Myanmar.