The UK and Malaysia have launched a three-year research project aimed at finding ways to restore mangrove forests while ensuring coastal communities benefit from the process.
The project, called Revive, is being led by the University of Manchester and supported by a group of British, Malaysian and Singaporean universities, as well as the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association.
Funded by the UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the initiative will run from July 2026 to June 2029.
Rather than focusing solely on planting trees, researchers will examine how mangrove restoration can protect ecosystems while creating more economic opportunities for people who depend on coastal areas.
The research will take place at three sites in Malaysia: the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Perak, Sungai Acheh and Sungai Chenaam in Penang, and Setiu Wetlands State Park in Terengganu.
Mangroves play an important role in protecting coastlines from erosion and storms. They also store carbon, support fisheries and provide livelihoods for coastal communities.
However, restoration projects do not always ensure that local people share in the economic benefits generated by healthier ecosystems.
The Revive project will investigate whether community involvement, environmental research and access to higher-value markets can create a fairer model of restoration.
Dr Aarti Krishnan, senior lecturer in innovation and sustainability at Alliance Manchester Business School, who leads the project, said the research would focus on "people, livelihoods and power".
The project will examine who benefits economically from restored landscapes and how communities can be recognised as stewards and decision-makers, she said.
Dr Aldrie Amir, an associate professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said coastal communities were often the first to experience the effects of mangrove degradation.
He said they should therefore be among the main beneficiaries of efforts to protect and restore the ecosystems.
The British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ajay Sharma, said mangroves were "important natural infrastructure" in the face of climate change, rising sea levels, storm surges and coastal erosion.
The project was announced in connection with International Mangrove Day on 26 July.
Researchers from geography, marine ecology, economics, management, data science and decision science will work together on the initiative.
Its planned results include research papers, policy recommendations, open datasets and maps showing restoration and "blue carbon" areas. Researchers also plan to develop new business models and hold discussions with governments, businesses and communities.
A "Mangrove Memory Archive" will also record local experiences of flooding, fishing, food, employment, environmental loss and restoration.
The project will be overseen by an advisory board bringing together specialists from government, conservation, responsible business and international development. Photo by Hannah 50, Wikimedia commons.
