The Global Environment Centre (GEC) has been successfully implementing YSD-funded mangrove conservation projects using community-based approaches in Peninsular Malaysia. Building on these achievements, this matching grant enhances and intensifies specific project components during 2025.
The project strategically targets three key areas: expanding mangrove planting, enhancing community training and strengthening educational outreach across existing project sites in Johor, Perak, and Selangor, working through established community partnerships.
It focuses on planting 21,000 additional mangrove trees while strengthening local capacity and promoting climate resilience through enhanced educational outreach and sustainable management practices.
The project directly supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17) while contributing to national mangrove restoration goals and the National 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign. Target beneficiaries include B40 families, local communities, students and marginalised groups across coastal areas dependent on mangrove ecosystems.
The community groups engaged are:
- Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gula – Kuala Gula, Perak
- Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Pasir Panjang Laut – Pasir Panjang Laut, Selangor
- Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kampung Dato Hormat – Kampung Dato Hormat, Perak
- Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Pulau Tanjung Surat – Pulau Tanjung Surat, Johor
- Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kampung Taman Nilam – Kampung Taman Nilam, Kedah
- Kelab Komuniti Bakau Parit Jawa – Parit Jawa, Johor
Achievements
- Planting of 54,000 mangrove trees and 7,250 replacement trees by the local communities across 26.6 hectare with survival rate of between 75 to 85 percent;
- The development of four mangrove-based beverage products (Jeruju and Berembang) such as Mangrove Brew and Tea Tide, which have received approval from the Ministry of Health Malaysia and halal certification, generating cumulative sales revenue of more than RM80,000 through the production of 10,000 product units for the six participating communities;
- The participation of 149 schools in mangrove forest ecosystem education and awareness programme, involving more than 2,000 students and 400 teachers;
- The organisation of 284 knowledge sharing sessions attended by more than 7,860 participants to enhance the knowledge and awareness on the importance of mangrove forest conservation among the communities; and
- The gazettement of 351.58 hectares of Kuala Gula mangrove forest as Permanent Forest Reserve in Perak, serving as a lasting legacy of the programme.
Publications
Commemorative Book (Buku Kenangan)
Restoring Mangroves, Empowering Communities: A Journey of Conservation and Partnership
This commemorative book documents the achievements of the Mangrove Conservation and Community Resilience Programme, a collaboration between the GEC and Yayasan Sime Darby YSD.
Through vivid photography and field narratives, it captures programme milestones across 6 sites in 4 states, engaging six dedicated community groups.
The publication reflects GEC and YSD’s shared commitment to ecosystem restoration, community resilience, and protecting Malaysia’s coastal natural heritage for generations to come.
Nursery Module (Modul Tapak Semaian)
A Practical Guide to Mangrove Nursery Management
This practical field guide equips community members, nursery operators, and conservation practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully establish and manage mangrove nurseries. Covering every stage of the nursery process including propagule collection, species identification, seedling care, nursery setup and transplanting readiness, the module is designed for ease of use in real field and nursery environments.
Developed as part of GEC’s community empowerment approach to mangrove restoration under the Mangrove Conservation and Community Resilience Programme (2020–2026), this module reflects lessons learned from six years of on-the-ground experience across Malaysia’s coastal ecosystems spanning sites in Johor, Kedah, Perak, and Selangor.
It is an essential hands-on resource for anyone involved in mangrove rehabilitation, ensuring that seedlings are nurtured to the highest quality standards before they take root in the wild.
Project Video
“From The Hearts of Friends of Mangrove” | Dari Hati Sahabat Hutan Bakau
“Bakau Kami, Cerita Kami — Our Mangrove, Our Story”
This documentary film captures the transformative journey of coastal communities under Phase 2 of the Mangrove Conservation and Community Resilience Programme, implemented through a partnership between the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) from 2023 to 2026.
Spanning six project sites across Johor, Kedah, Perak, and Selangor, the film chronicles how local community members evolved from direct programme beneficiaries into committed leaders and guardians of mangrove ecosystem restoration. Through heartfelt firsthand accounts, community partners share their experiences in confronting mangrove degradation, establishing community nurseries, planting over 54,000 mangrove trees and developing sustainable community-based livelihoods that harmonise ecological conservation with community wellbeing.
Produced by GEC in partnership with YSD, this film stands as an inspiring testament to the power of community resilience, peer-to-peer learning and collective stewardship in safeguarding Malaysia’s precious coastal ecosystems for generations to come.
