THE involvement of local communities is fundamental to conserving Malaysia’s mangrove forests because this ecosystem is deeply connected to the lives, livelihoods, and cultural heritage of people living along our coasts, says Leela Panikkar, director of Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES).
“For many coastal communities, mangroves are more than forests.
“They are part of their identity, providing fishing grounds, supporting traditional livelihoods, and shaping customs and ways of life that have been passed down through generations,” she says in an e-mail interview.
TrEES has been engaging with the Mahmeri community of Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Judah on Carey Island, Selangor; as the original inhabitants, this community has a deep cultural connection with its coastal environment.
Through its Project UPLift: Strengthening the Resilience of Indigenous Communities in Selangor, TrEES engages with the community and relevant stakeholders to rehabilitate the degraded coastal ecosystem by combining local ecological knowledge with practical conservation approaches.
With approval from the Selangor Forestry Department and the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department, the project supports the rehabilitation of coastal mangrove reserves and riverbanks on Carey Island.
Since 2025, more than 3,000 mangrove saplings have been planted through volunteer planting activities supported by various corporations.
Leela points out that in Malaysia, effective mangrove conservation cannot rely solely on government agencies or conservation organisations.
“Local communities possess a wealth of traditional ecological knowledge, built up over generations of living and working alongside mangrove ecosystems.
“They understand the species found in their area, recognise changes in the health of the ecosystem, and provide historical insights into how mangrove forests have changed over time.
“This knowledge complements scientific research and helps develop more practical and effective conservation strategies,” she says.
Through its partnership, TrEEs, adds Leela, engages with the community to support mangrove conservation as well as cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The project recognises the important role of indigenous knowledge and participation in conservation efforts while also “supporting income opportunities and the intergenerational transfer of traditional ecological knowledge, helping to ensure that valuable knowledge and practices associated with mangrove ecosystems are passed on to future generations”, she says.
Ultimately, successful mangrove conservation, says Leela, depends on fostering a shared sense of stewardship.
“By recognising local communities as partners and custodians of both the natural environment and the cultural heritage associated with mangroves, conservation efforts are more likely to be sustained and deliver lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits.”
The project’s mangrove adviser, Dr Harinder Rai Singh, says it is very challenging to replant mangrove trees in locations where these forests have been destroyed, adding that survival rates in mangrove afforestation are quite low.
“Environmental factors, such as tidal inundation periods, seawater salinity, and air temperature can affect the survival rate of mangrove reforestation.
“Selecting suitable tidal zones for replanting, such as plantable tidal flats – which refer to the tidal flats where natural mangroves are distributed, and where the planted mangrove seedlings can survive – is essential in any mangrove restoration project,” he says.
Another challenge is a lack of understanding of the science of restoration, ie, how the many different factors affect restoration, such as hydrology, species selection, where to replant based on tides and species preference, as well as monitoring and maintenance post-replanting, and finding suitable restoration sites.
“Planting on mudflats and planting of the wrong species, disease and pests, coastal erosion and high cost of constructing wave breakers, limited financial support to sustain replanting efforts, and conflict of interest between policy and conservation are also challenges,” he says in an interview.
Projects that failed, he says, have been due to the lack of understanding of mangrove ecology, biology, and hydrology.
Malaysia, adds Harinder, has 47 true mangrove species, six hybrid species, and 20 mangrove associates.
“Among the true mangroves, two are critically endangered, two endangered, and one is vulnerable,” he says.
He adds that while mangrove forests are naturally resilient, having withstood severe storms and changing tides for many millennia, they are now being devastated by modern encroachments.
“Urban and aquaculture wastewater discharge, oil pollution, biological invasion, and the influence of water transportation remain serious threats to mangroves in Malaysia despite the apparent success in mangrove conservation and reforestation during the last two decades,” says Harinder.
