Save Southeast Asia’s mangrove forests or risk environmental devastation

Myanmar has experienced a significant loss of its national mangrove forests, primarily due to the expansion of the rice, palm oil and rubber plantation sectors in recent decades. Similarly, in Indonesia and Thailand, mangrove forests have undergone substantial degradation, largely because of the growth of aquaculture, which has altered the natural landscape and disturbed the hydrological system, inducing pollution and algal blooms.

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Indonesian environmentalist on a mission to save mangroves and tackle coastal erosion

In the northern region of Sabah, in Malaysia, the establishment of shrimp farms and timber plantations has led to the loss of indigenous mangrove forests. As a result, communities that rely on these ecosystems are suffering a profound loss of livelihood. Moreover, local wildlife faces imminent extinction as a result of habitat degradation.

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Indian women plant thousands of mangrove trees to defend coastal villages against cyclones

Should the current trend of destruction persist, the future of Southeast Asia’s mangrove forests looks grim. Land-use changes are likely to remain a principal driver of mangrove depletion in the short to medium term, propelled in part by coastal urbanisation: the population of Southeast Asia’s coastal areas is predicted to surge from more than 130 million in 2000 to close to 300 million by 2060.

Safeguarding this delicate coastal ecosystem requires immediate action from all stakeholders. Governments must enhance regulations for the preservation and restoration of mangrove forests at the regional level. Civil society needs to persist in advocating for the effective implementation of environmental policies.

Without collective awareness and a shared commitment to preserving mangrove