The objective of this project is to restore 1000 hectares of degraded lands in the Ayeyarwady Division of Myanmar. The project will create a healthy mangrove ecosystem in degraded lands belonging to Chaungtha, Magyizin, Bawmi, Kyunhlargyi and Thitphyu village tracts. Apart from the carbon sequestration, the project will address issues including natural disaster risk reduction, biodiversity improvement and poverty reduction with sustainable livelihoods in the coastal communities. The project will also contribute to food security by reducing danger of erosion and salt intrusion in low lying agricultural land due to rising sea level. Restoration of mangrove forests will in addition substantially increase sea food resources to reverse the trend of crisis for small scale fishermen in the area. Improving the ability to provide a variety of ecosystem services, climate change mitigation, economic consideration and active local community participation are main components of the project. Without the project, carbon stocks in the project area will continue to decrease due to various anthropogenic activities.

1. Executive Summary:
Myanmar Mangrove Action
Commitment 2020-2030
Mangrove restoration on 100,000 Ha
and conservation on 580,000 Ha
Mitigating up to 700 million tons CO2 climate gases.
Protecting lives and properties and food production
in areas with over 20 million people

2. IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
Rapid climate change is a fact. Myanmar is regarded as one of the most
vulnerable countries in the world. Its large coastal areas spanning over
2228 km from the mouth of Naaf River in the North to Kawthaung in The
South will be seriously affected by accelerated climate change. This is
especially due to rapid sea level rise combined with more violent
cyclones and extreme weather. Millions of lives are at stake, as well as
food security due to salt intrusion from sea level rise in major rice
growing areas. Some low-lying paddy fields in Ayeyarwady Region are
already affected in this fertile region with over 60% of Myanmar’s rice
production.
Good news is that some of the worst expected dangers can be reduced
with immediate action. The most practical solution is to focus on restoring lost
mangrove forests in all coastal regions and introduce new and effective
conservation methods to protect existing mangrove forests in cooperation with
communities. This represents a national opportunity to create additional value
with sustainable mangrove development.
There is reason to believe that this positive opportunity will only be possible
within the next 10 years. Climate change is rapidly affecting all parts of the
world. Accelerating melting of ice covers globally has reach a level scientists
predicted first to happen by 2090. This latest revelation means 80 years of
expected grace period has already been lost due to faster changes than
expected. The critical time factor has become extremely urgent. Immediate
action is the only viable solution.
10 years are still sufficient time to mobilize nation wide restoration and
conservation of Myanmar’s valuable mangrove resources in preventing the
worst effect of undisputable rapid climate change.

3. MANGROVES –
THE MIRACLE TREES
Myanmar is blessed with protective capacities in utilizing its
mangrove resources to combat the worst effects of climate change
with protection of its vulnerable coastal areas.
Mangrove mitigate up to 5 times more CO2 than terrestrial trees
with permanent storage of CO2 climate gases in the soil.
Mangrove is the only tree growing in salty water, functioning as a
resilient buffer between land and sea.
Mangrove’s strong root systems reduces the risk of seashore
erosion due to sea level rise. Its biomass, including falling leaves,
creates a higher land mass against sea level rise.
Mangroves protect sea grass and coral reefs by filtering/cleaning
polluted run offs.
Mangroves increases sea food resources with up to 50%.
Mangroves produces large amounts of life bearing eco-system
services with high production of oxygen and effective cooling of the
air with 60,000 BTU’s per tree, equivalent to 3 room sized air
conditioners.
MANGROVE is a gift from Nature to combat climate change.
Myanmar is blessed with available land areas for restoration
and conservation. Immediate action is urgently needed.

4. THE TIME FACTOR
Newly planted mangrove seedlings are by nature very resilient. They can withstand up to 2-meter-high tide for
a few hours. But they depend on a stable sea environment. With higher tide and stronger currents, new plants
risk to be uprooted before its strong root system is properly developed (within 2-3 years). This is the critical
period for its survival before it is strong enough to withstand a less stable environment. Sea level rise is
therefore a threat to future planting opportunities. With fast rising sea levels, it is reasonable to fear increased
problems in planting mangroves. The risk is the new plants will be uprooted by higher sea levels. This is a
decisive fact in utilizing this historic opportunity to prevent the worst effect of climate change in Myanmar.
This historic challenge depends on an urgent commitment to plant 100,000 Ha within the next 10 years 2020-
2030 (10,000 Ha per year) and conserve existing forest covers on 580,000 Ha (58,000 Ha per year).

5. 1. Available land. Satellite observation and documented research confirm potentials to plant
the target areas within the next 10 years.
2. Planting capacity. WIF has the last 3 years developed efficient planting methods with
substantial cost reduction and 92% survival rate of planted trees. New projects for 2020 is
to plant 5000 Ha per year, with additional capacity for 10,000 Ha per year when adequate
funding is available from 2021.
3. Human resources. Trained planters combined with professional management is the key to
achieve the targets in time. There are plenty of willing hands in the respective planting
areas , as well as a pool of experienced mangrove restoration managers with background
from Forest Department and other relevant institutions. Large scale planting operation
provides new opportunities in combating unemployment, utilizing national talents and
creating new sustainable values to benefit communities in coastal areas.

6. 4. Funding is a challenge in implementing sustainable development projects. Public funds
and traditional funding sources are increasingly limited, often riddled with cumbersome,
slow processes not relevant to the urgency of climate change. New, promising
opportunities due to increasing awareness of the need to mitigate carbon emissions are
fast emerging from individuals and companies. This is driven by a commitment for urgent
action. Utilizing this opportunity depends on delivering high quality with maximum climate
effect, combined with sustainable development benefitting participating communities.
Therefore, projects documenting maximum support to the Paris Climate Agreement will
be able to compete for funding on the global stage. This is linked to documented delivery
of validated carbon mitigation (VCS or CDM) combined with contribution to UN
Sustainable Development, Goals. A case in point is approval of the first VCS validated
mangrove project in Asia by WIF’s Myanmar project in 2018, and a new CDM project in
Myanmar by WIF in 2019. This proves an opportunity to move ahead with full speed in
attracting substantial funding from partners in need of compensating their emissions.
5. The way forward. WIF is in the process to partner with a newly established consortium of
7 large Korean companies, as well as others in Asia, Europe and USA. WIF’s newly
established marketing unit in the Netherlands has attracted substantial interest. The same
positive development is reported by WIF’s partner Global Mangrove Trust in Singapore
and WIF Development in USA. Discussions are in progress with GGGI and other
international partners for large scale investment related to mangrove
restoration/conservation in Myanmar.

7. 6. Ready for 2020. WIF has already secured up to 35,000 Ha land for restoration
in cooperation with the Regional Government in Mon State, 22,000 Ha for
restoration and conservation in cooperation with Yangon Regional Government
and 7000 Ha for restoration in cooperation with Ayeyarwady Regional
Government, supported by Forest Department. New projects from 2020 are
planned in cooperation with the Regional Government in Bago, to be followed by
new projects planned in other areas from 2021. The projects will be
implemented in cooperation with Forest Department,/Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environmental Conservation in addition to Myanmar Ministry of
Investment and other Union Governmental Agencies. Coastal communities are
active partners in the respective project's areas with long term benefits in
creation of livelihoods based on adaptation to climate change with protection
from cyclones and other extreme weather. This includes all UN Sustainable
Development Goals. Active involvement by the communities is a guarantee for
survival of the forest. Their long-term participation is essential both in forest
protection as well as reduction of poverty (the projects human development
target is increasing family income by 100% within 5 years (prioritizing 62% of
total population below the poverty line in project regions).
7. Conclusion. This presentation has been developed in cooperation with HE U
Ohn Winn, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and
ministry staff, Dr. Nyi Nyi Kyaw, Director General Forest Department and Forest
Department staff, HE U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Region and
staff, HE U Aye Zan, Chief Minister of Mon State and staff, HE U Hla Moe Aung,
Chief Minister of Ayeyarwady Region and staff, HE U Thaung Tun, Minister of
Investment and staff of Investment Commission. Follow up meetings will be held
before end of 2019 with relevant authorities in Bogo Region, Thantany Region
and Rakhine Region for inclusion of all coastal regions in Myanmar.

8. This document is not a conventional plan which has the tendency to take long time to be developed and agreed on, for finally ending up in the
archives without any tangible action.
This document is a Commitment for Immediate Action to reach specific sustainable goals within a closing gap of 10 years before the
opportunities for meaningful action may be lost due to rapid climate change.
Arne Fjørtoft
Secretary General
U Bo Ni
Managing Director
U Win Maung
General Man
U Aung Aung Myint
Ass. General Manager
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE
FUTURE