Although 10,000 hectares of rice paddies are safeguarded by dikes, the region faces growing threats from storm surges, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion. The project focuses on diversifying livelihoods and strengthening natural infrastructure—such as mangroves—to protect communities, ecosystems, and Cambodia’s largest coastal rice-producing zone. By restoring mangroves and demonstrating their economic and environmental benefits to local communities, the initiative enhances resilience against climate impacts while contributing to global natural infrastructure efforts.

Progress and Key Initiatives

As the project moves from its inception to full implementation in 2025, key initiatives include:

• Engaging local stakeholders by encouraging solutions for natural infrastructure and strengthening community engagement.
• Resilience of Communities and Ecosystems by bringing nature-based solutions into practice and testing out alternate sources of income.
• Strengthening sustainability and coordination by linking up with national and international resilience projects and looking into potential funding sources.

A recent site inspection in the Prey Nob II fishing community identified over 30 hectares suitable for mangrove restoration. The project’s technical experts assessed soil conditions, water salinity, water depth, existing mangrove species, wind patterns, and wave speed. While the sites are well-suited for mangrove planting, the installation of bamboo stakes and windbreak barriers is necessary to protect saplings. Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora mucronata were found to be dominant species suitable for planting in these locations, with local experts highly recommending planting in April or May.

The project's nursery has successfully cultivated 10,000 Rhizophora apiculata mangrove seedlings, reaching heights from 0.4 to 0.6 meters.

Engagement with community representatives, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and local authorities focused on seed selection, planting techniques, seedling maintenance, replanting efforts, and windbreak construction. These collaborative efforts ensure long-term success in strengthening Cambodia’s coastal resilience through sustainable natural infrastructure solutions.

About the project

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Cambodia, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are currently implementing a project entitled "Building Resilience of Cambodian Communities Using Natural Infrastructure and Promoting Diversified Livelihoods" in Prey Nob district, Preach Sihanouk province. The project will analyze gendered response options for vulnerability reduction and increased resilience and suggest ways to enhance coordination and alignment with national and regional initiatives for coastal resilience and ecosystem preservation and mainstreaming of the natural infrastructure approaches. In addition, the project will aim to using these approaches to increase the social, economic, and ecosystem resilience of target communities, with a special focus on healthy mangrove ecosystems as a fundamental element of resilience of people and ecosystems.

For more information, please contact Seyla Sok (seylasok@gmail.com) and Channimol Ky (kychannimol@gmail.com) or visit the dedicated page on iwlearn.net.

About the Ministry of Environment

The Ministry of Environment, Cambodia (MoE) was established in 1993 and was assigned by the Royal Government to lead and manage the environmental sector of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

To know more about MoE: Facebook Page | https://www.moe.gov.kh/en

Words by KY Channimol. Cover photo: NI Cambodia.