Strengthening Mangrove Restoration Skills in Cambodia

A three-day workshop was held at the Department of Environment Provincial Office in Koh Kong, bringing together 28 participants, including seven women. Attendees represented coastal communities, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders. The event was facilitated by the Participatory Management of Coastal Resources (PMCR) team, which has been working with communities to raise awareness of the benefits of mangroves and ecological restoration methods.

Participants were guided through case studies of failed mangrove planting projects across Asia, analysing common causes of failure. These included planting in unsuitable locations, using incorrect species, ignoring hydrological conditions, lacking ecological knowledge, insufficient monitoring, and inadequate physical protection. Discussions focused on learning from these mistakes to improve future restoration efforts. 

The workshop introduced the Community Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) method, which prioritises working with natural processes rather than against them. Unlike traditional planting methods, CBEMR relies on natural seeding, reducing costs and ensuring that the right species establish in the appropriate locations. Several sessions explored key ecological concepts such as hydrology, tidal inundation, salinity, species zoning, and soil conditions. Comparisons were made between CBEMR and conventional planting methods to highlight the advantages of an ecological approach.