Empowering Communities for Mangrove Restoration

A one-day workshop was held at the Mangrove Ecology Learning Center at Bang Kang Khao village, bringing together 30 participants (15 women and 15 men) for a mix of presentations, learning exercises, small group discussions, and Q&A sessions. The workshop was followed by two days of fieldwork at local restoration sites, where participants worked on improving site hydrology. Six additional participants joined for the field component.

The workshop introduced participants to the six steps of the Community Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) method. Through practical exercises, they explored natural and plantation mangrove scenarios, considering which species thrive in different tidal zones and identifying factors that make certain areas unsuitable for restoration. Case studies of both successful and failed mangrove restoration projects, locally and globally, provided valuable insights. Participants also engaged in discussions with a representative from an existing CBEMR project, who reinforced the importance of a site-specific approach to each step of the process to maximise success.