BIODIVERSITY
WHERE FISH LIVE IN TREES
KAMPOT, CAMBODIA
When you travel, consider destinations dedicated to reversing deforestation. Mangroves are specialized forests in the water that act as nurseries for marine life and carbon sink superheroes. Kampot, Cambodia, is one place dedicated to putting back its mangroves.
What's
changing
Mangroves and seagrass beds typically growing alongside them play vital roles in coastal ecology. They are carbon sinks, absorbing and storing 10 times more carbon from the atmosphere than mature forests and putting a significant dent in climate change. Replanting initiatives are helping to reduce shrinking mangroves, giving those areas greater biodiversity, healthier fisheries, and resilience against climate events.
What's already
possible
Cambodia once had southeast Asia's largest seagrass bed at Kampot before urbanization and mangrove deforestation shrank it from 62,369 to 20,843 acres (25,240 to 8,435 hectares) between 2004 and 2014. Fish populations have drastically declined, making it harder for rural communities dependent on fishing to sustain their livelihoods. To address the loss of these vital coastal plants, ActionAid Cambodia (AAC) collaborated with non-profit groups and the Cambodian Fishery Administration Cantonment to launch the “100,000 Mangroves” campaign in 2019.
Seizing
the opportunity
True to its name, “100,000 Mangroves” aimed to plant 100,000 of the trees around Kampot. This reforestation helps local fisheries and emphasizes the direct link between the well-being of the coastal environment and the surrounding community. The campaign partnered with eight local fisheries — Trapeang Sangke, Kampong Samaky, Trapeang Ropov, Prek Thnout, Kep Thmey, Toteung Tgnai, Koh Kreosna and Lok — to teach communities about the role of mangrove forests in sustaining a healthy marine ecosystem. Funds helped the fishing communities set up their own mangrove nurseries and organize planting events. AAC provided expert guidance in forest maintenance and ecotourism opportunities.
Standout
tactic
AAC taught climate science to 46 women from across Cambodia selected to be “Woman Champions for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change,” so they could more effectively participate in community governance. The program also established floating gardens and schools to enhance community resilience to climate change.
How
it helps
The “100,000 Mangroves” campaign surpassed its goal, planting 111,240 trees by its conclusion in 2021. A wildlife survey in the mangrove forests of Koh Kong province, 149 miles (240 kilometers) south of Kampot, identified 700 species, including endangered animals like the Sunda pangolin and large-spotted civet. The survey also revealed that many fish species vital to local fishing communities use mangroves as essential nurseries. As the newly planted mangroves in Kampot mature, similar biodiversity is expected to return to the water.
Diving
deeper
Can organizations do more to help diversify the income streams of these communities to avoid reliance on a single activity or overfishing?
Increasing
impact
Spreading or collaborating with other initiatives like Landesa’s “Coastal Livelihoods and Mangroves Project” would further tackle the loss of these coastal biomes across southeast Asia. Following the “100,000 Mangroves” campaign’s focus on linking mangrove maintenance to community prosperity could encourage wide, local commitment to protect the forests.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
