Reducing the risk of disaster through nature-based solutions: Mangroves

Thailand has experienced a rapid loss of coastal mangroves due to a range of factors including shrimp aquaculture. Clearance of mangroves has left many coastal communities exposed to natural hazards like cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis. Increased salt intrusion is also affecting fresh water supplies. Without the protective services of mangrove forests, the coastal communities are very vulnerable to natural hazards.

IUCN has been working with the Mangrove Action Project and local governments to implement Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) in two coastal sites in Thailand. By demonstrating the effectiveness of this innovative approach, it is expected that such ecosystem-based approaches will be adopted more and more and up-scaled to integrate disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and livelihood development.

For more information about the project, please visit:
http://www.iucn.org/about/work/progra...

For information about the Mangrove Action Project and the CBEMR model, please visit:
http://www.mangroveactionproject.org/

Photo credit - © Tim Plowden / www.timplowden.co.uk