UK, Malaysia Launch US$0.95 Mln Revive Project To Boost Mangrove Conservation
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia have launched a RM3.9 million (US$1=RM4.09) research initiative to develop a sustainable approach to mangrove restoration, ensuring that conservation efforts benefit both coastal communities and the environment.
Announced in conjunction with International Mangrove Day 2026 on July 26, the three-year REVIVE (Restoration and Equitable Value Chains for Inclusive, Viable Mangrove Ecosystems) project is funded by the UK Government through the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), under the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The project, which runs from July 2026 to June 2029, will explore how restored mangrove ecosystems can protect biodiversity while creating fairer opportunities for the coastal communities that depend on them.
British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ajay Sharma said the UK Government was proud to support the collaboration between British and Malaysian institutions to advance the sustainable restoration and conservation of mangrove ecosystems.
"Mangroves don't get the recognition they deserve. With climate change, rising sea levels, storm surges and coastal erosion, mangroves are important natural infrastructure that help cut carbon, safeguard biodiversity and underpin sustainable livelihoods," he said in a statement on Friday.
The project is led by the University of Manchester in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, the University of Warwick, Cardiff University, the National University of Singapore and the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association.
Led by Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Sustainability at Alliance Manchester Business School Dr Aarti Krishnan and supported by Associate Professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Dr Aldrie Amir, the project will be carried out across three key mangrove landscapes: the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in the state of Perak; Sungai Acheh and Sungai Chenaam in the state of Penang; and Setiu Wetlands State Park in the state of Terengganu.
According to the British High Commission, REVIVE will look beyond tree planting to understand how restored landscapes can support both communities and ecosystems.
"Mangroves protect shorelines, store carbon, sustain fisheries and support local livelihoods, but restoration projects can sometimes leave communities in low-paid roles or exclude them from the wider benefits created by healthier ecosystems.
"REVIVE will test a different approach, combining community governance, environmental evidence and fairer pathways into higher-value markets," it said.
-- BERNAMA
