The project will study mangrove ecosystems at selected sites in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. Collaborative research and training on key environmental aspects of mangrove management will be conducted over three years and will involve the Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling (Scotland), University of Coibra (Portugal), Delft Hydraulics (The Netherlands), National Research Council of Thailand, National Pedagogic University, Hanoi (Vietnam) and University of Malaya (Malaysia). The main objective is to assess mangrove replanting methods and the ability of established mangrove plantations to improve coastal protection, sediment stability and coastal zone productivity. The project will examine particularly the relationship between the condition of different mangrove habitats (natural forest, degraded forest, converted areas and replanted areas and aquatic productivity, including fishery and aquaculture yields.

The specific objectives of the work are to assess how effectively mangrove plantations could contribute to (a) coastal protection from storms and erosion processes; (b) trap nutrient-rish sediments; (c) support populations of economically important intertdal shellfish. (d) increase the amounts of organic matter (mangrove leaf detritus) and nutrients into coastal waters; (e) enhance coastal fish stocks by increasing productivity and providing nursery areas; and (f) meet particular needs for physical protection of sea-dykes and aquaculture ponds, or improve the quality of water supplies used for aquaculture.