Enhancing Climate Change Resilience through promoting mangrove-friendly aquaculture in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta

Myanmar is the second most vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change. Studies have indicated that at least 43% of Myanmar’s delta area is expected to be lost in the next 80 years due to sea–level rise. This poses a serious threat to the agricultural productivity, health, and food security of more than 3 million people, particularly those living in Pyapon, Bogale, and Labutta townships. 

This projects seeks to enhance the climate resilience and adaptive capacities of smallholder farmers of Pyapon township by creating an enabling environment for the promotion of community–led mangrove-friendly aquaculture. Located in the Ayeyarwady Delta of Myanmar, the project will address capacity and resource challenges, provide technical assistance on mangrove restoration, and help bridge the finance gap needed to establish Community Forests Enterprises (CFEs) and strengthen Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs).  

The main objectives of the project are to:  

• Provide technical knowledge and resources to enhance the productivity of mangrove-friendly aquaculture and draft business plans that demonstrate return on investment to attract private sector investment 
• Ensure communities realise the direct relationship between healthy mangroves and productive aquaculture and bring CFUGs together to restore and protect degraded mangroves. 

The project will thus empower communities to protect and restore approximately 4,900 ha of mangroves, contributing to the mitigation of climate change impacts through carbon sequestration and coastal protection. It will also enhance the socioeconomic status of the community by enabling more productive and sustainable livelihoods, creating green jobs/employment opportunities, and increasing resilience to natural disasters. Additionally, the project will help to protect wildlife and habitats, thereby reducing human-wildlife conflicts and supporting both human and nature.  

Project Status

Ongoing