In response to the ongoing deterioration of the coastal
environment from various forms of unsustainable land use,
an increasing number of small but promising initiatives
involving local communities in the planning and
implementation of mangrove restoration efforts have emerged
throughout Thailand. Usually initiated by local NGOs or
grassroots organisations, in some cases with external donor
funding and technical support from universities, these efforts
recognise the user rights of the communities in sharing the
benefits of rehabilitation and sustainable management of
mangrove forests and their resources. Through the granting
of community forest status, these initiatives provide an
important incentive for the active involvement of the
community in replanting and follow-up, which in turn ensures
high rates of survival and success.