Rooted in Community: Bridging Gaps in Mangrove and Peatland Conservation

Southeast Asia covers only 4 to 5 per cent of the global land area but hosts 33 per cent of the world’s tropical mangroves and 39 per cent of earth’s peatlands. These ecosystems are among the world’s most effective natural allies in the fight against climate change. They act as barriers against storms, coastal erosion, flooding and also play a vital role in the livelihoods of the region. Mangroves provide quality nursery and breeding sites for birds, reptiles and mammals due to the rich sediments and nutrients present. Peatlands are crucial for the conservation of freshwater fish, plants, and non-fish vertebrates. Moreover, these ecosystems are highly effective carbon sinks, storing about 85 per cent of their carbon in their soil. A recent study highlighted how conserving and restoring these habitats could potentially mitigate the emissions of up to 770 megatonnes of carbon dioxide annually, nearly half of Southeast Asia’s land-use change emissions.

Despite their importance, these ecosystems are facing existential threats from aquaculture, urban expansion, deforestation, and climate-induced pressures. In Southeast Asia, 41 per cent of peatlands and 7.4 per cent of mangroves were lost between 2001 to 2022. Unfortunately, there are no binding frameworks, global or regional, that specifically call for the protection of these ecosystems. Even the Paris Agreement, the most significant, mandatory global accord to tackle climate change, only addresses the broad need to reduce carbon emissions.

On a regional level, there are frameworks specifically mentioning peatland and mangrove management. These include the Second ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2023-2030, which serves as a guide for sustainable peatland management in the region, and The ASEAN Mangrove Network (AMNET), which is headed by Indonesia, aims to improve the network and communication tools among member states to enhance mangrove governance. However, states are not legally bound by these frameworks, making effective action difficult.

Some Southeast Asian countries, like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, have country-specific laws which govern the management and conservation of forest resources. They serve to regulate logging, establish protected forested areas and support wildlife conservation, protect habitats and preserve sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity. However, such laws alone cannot ensure the successful conservation of these ecosystems. They lack local engagement, do not account for regional contexts or community needs and are difficult to enforce.

To bolster conservation efforts, Southeast Asia should look towards community-led initiatives. Many grassroots communities are at the forefront of protecting mangrove and peatland ecosystems. Research shows that grassroots conservation efforts offer a more effective way to protect these forests as compared to the traditional, top-down approach. A 2024 study concluded that community participation had a significantly positive impact on mangrove restoration. Citing evidence from northern Sri Lanka, the study found that mangrove forest cover could grow by about 0.15 square kilometres for every 1 per cent increase in community participation. This underscores the crucial role that local engagement plays in the conservation of these ecosystems.

In Indonesia, the coastal area surrounding Sungsang IV village in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, used to house an abundance of mangrove trees. However, agricultural expansion and infrastructure development have led to the land in Sungsang IV becoming increasingly eroded and at great risk of tidal flooding. In an effort to breathe new life into the area, the Community Village Forest Management Institution (LDPHD) for the village collaborated with the Sungsang Mangrove Restoration and Ecotourism (SMART) project. The community-based mangrove restoration initiative was executed by the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) alongside Singapore’s Temasek Foundation and other Indonesian partners.

Initially, the locals were wary of supporting the project, given that their livelihoods previously depended on clearing the mangroves. Subsequently, however, they began to see the long-term benefits of restoration. Since June 2024, over 48,353 local mangrove seedlings have been replanted across over 15 hectares of previously degraded land in the Sungsang IV and Marga Sungsang villages. Village authorities convinced locals to start a mangrove nursery business in Sungsang IV which sells seedlings to organisations involved in mangrove restoration and conservation. In Marga Sungsang, SMART facilitated a community-based crab silvofishery, a form of restorative aquaculture that involves cultivating aquatic species, such as fish or crabs, in ponds within mangroves, allowing for better harvests as the mangroves provide a nutrient-rich environment. The first harvest in Marga Sungsang yielded around 240 kilograms of crabs. Ecotourism has also increased in Sungsang IV, with 1,300 visitors to the village’s mangroves. These outcomes were possible because of the support and effort of local organisations and villagers.

For years, people have underestimated the benefits of peatlands, viewing them as unproductive and waterlogged swathes of land. Although there has been a shift in this perspective at the top level, communities at the grassroots level should understand the impact these benefits bring to their lives to support conservation.

Work to introduce the importance of peatlands to communities has already begun, especially in the village of Boeung Kachang in Koh Kong, Cambodia. Boeung Kachang is one of seven Community Protected Areas (CPA) within Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS). Established in 1993, it is one of the largest undisturbed mangrove forests in Southeast Asia. Locals are well-aware of the benefits of mangroves; however, they lack knowledge regarding peatlands as these ecosystems were only discovered within PKWS in 2014. To address this, the Cambodian government has begun working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and sanctuary residents to raise awareness and improve knowledge about peatland ecosystems. Collaborating with representatives from NGO Mlup Baitong and the Cambodian Ministry of Environment (MoE), Lorn Rith—Chairman of the Boeung Kachang CPA and a People For Peat-trained select community member—holds lectures in schools and villages, educating people about peatlands. Their programme incorporates resources like an original picture book designed by the MoE as well as songs and games about peatlands. Though this education takes time, it fosters greater commitment to conservation efforts and increases the likelihood of success for community-led initiatives.

However, community-led initiatives face mounting challenges, such as a lack of systems and processes. Without clear structures, initiatives become disorganised as decision-making becomes fragmented. Ultimately, this slows down and halts progress. These projects also lack adequate financing, technical expertise, local volunteers and support for capacity building efforts. Apart from these hurdles, communities have to contend with poverty. In this context, the unsustainable harvesting of resources might be the only, or easiest, way for people to find fuel, food, and income. They would hesitate to sacrifice their livelihoods, especially if their initiatives receive little support from their government.

If communities are ill-equipped to mobilise resources, lead and advocate for themselves, they may not succeed. Effective action has to align with local needs and these communities must hold a degree of autonomy to make decisions and implement strategies tailored to their specific context. Regional governments should focus on supporting strategic, long-term collaboration with organisations—such as national NGOs, government agencies or academic institutions—for sustained and effective community-led mangrove and peatland conservation initiatives.

Southeast Asia needs to place their communities at the heart of their long-term conservation and restoration efforts. As observed in Sungsang IV and Busuanga, empowering grassroots communities—especially those that are marginalised—can lead to transformative outcomes for the ecosystem and the people. Mangroves and peatlands play a critical role in the climate, biodiversity, and social aspects of the region. Supporting community-led initiatives allows for more resilient conservation and restoration efforts, ensuring that these ecosystems flourish from efforts rooted in community and shared responsibility.

Editor’s Note:
ASEANFocus+ articles are timely critical insight pieces published by the ASEAN Studies Centre.