Building with Nature: Tanjung Kepah Mangrove Action Project Concludes with Lasting Impact on Coastal Resilience and Community Stewardship
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Aquaculture, fisheries and coastal agriculture
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Coastal resilience
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Coastal wetland conservation
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Healthy Wetland Nature
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Natural infrastructure solutions
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Vibrant Coasts and Deltas
The Building with Nature: Tanjung Kepah Mangrove Action Project (TKMAP) has successfully concluded after several years of collaborative efforts to restore and protect the vulnerable coastline of Tanjung Kepah, Perak. Through the integration of nature-based solutions and community participation, the project has demonstrated how coastal protection can be achieved while enhancing ecosystem health and local livelihoods.
A key intervention under the project was the installation of a 65-metre Bamboo Wave Screen along the foreshore of Tanjung Kepah. Designed to work with natural coastal processes, the permeable structure directly protects approximately one hectare of coastal area by reducing wave energy and promoting sediment accumulation.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) results throughout the project revealed encouraging outcomes. The Bamboo Wave Screen recorded an average wave height reduction of 0.07 metres, equivalent to 58% attenuation of incoming wave energy, creating calmer nearshore conditions. The structure also facilitated sediment deposition behind the screen, resulting in a firmer seabed that supports natural mangrove colonisation and coastal recovery.
The improved site conditions significantly enhanced mangrove restoration efforts. More than 3,000 mangrove seedlings were planted through various community and corporate planting programmes. Seedling survival rates increased from approximately 10% prior to intervention to 60% following the installation of the Bamboo Wave Screen, demonstrating the importance of creating suitable environmental conditions before undertaking restoration activities.
Beyond ecological restoration, TKMAP placed strong emphasis on community empowerment. Throughout the project implementation, more than 350 local community members, including fishermen, housewives, and youth, actively participated in capacity-building programmes, restoration activities, and monitoring efforts. Today, a dedicated group of 15 local champions remains committed to operating, monitoring, and maintaining the project site, ensuring that the project’s benefits continue beyond its formal completion.
The achievements of TKMAP demonstrate that successful coastal restoration extends beyond planting mangroves alone. By combining science-based interventions, community stewardship, and nature-based solutions, the project has created a more resilient coastline while fostering local ownership and long-term environmental stewardship.
As TKMAP comes to a close, its legacy continues through healthier coastal ecosystems, stronger community capacity, and valuable lessons that can inform the replication of similar approaches in other vulnerable coastal areas across Malaysia. Guided by the project’s tagline, “Menanam Harapan, Menuai Rezeki” (Planting Hope, Reaping Sustenance), TKMAP has shown that investing in nature and communities today can create lasting environmental and socio-economic benefits for generations to come.
Watch the TKMAP journey and impact here:
