Mangrove forests create sustainable livelihoods for women

Creating sustainable livelihoods

Along the Tam Giang Lagoon in Thuan An Ward (Hue City), mangrove forests are gradually spreading across vast tidal flats. Beyond stabilizing soil and buffering waves, these forests are opening up new livelihood opportunities for local women - many of whom once relied entirely on natural resource extraction.

Ms. Le Thi Xuan Lan (born 1959, Vinh Tri hamlet) is among many members of the local Women’s Union branch participating in mangrove planting under the project “Enhancing women’s roles in strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in Central Viet Nam,” implemented by the Center for Social Research and Development (CSRD), a Hue-based NGO.

She recalled that in the early days, many women felt unfamiliar with mangrove planting and care techniques. The work was physically demanding, often under harsh sun and wind, which made some hesitant to join. At the same time, their husbands were not very supportive, as daily livelihoods remained a pressing concern, making concepts like forest restoration and climate change adaptation seem distant and abstract.

However, as mangrove forests along the Tam Giang Lagoon began to grow and demonstrate clear benefits, family breadwinners became more supportive and even joined in planting efforts. Training courses were rolled out to help local people quickly grasp techniques for planting and caring for mangroves.

“I joined the project in 2017 and have seen many benefits from attending study visits and training sessions on ecosystems and mangrove planting. With dedicated guidance from project staff, we gradually learned how to plant, when to plant seedlings, and how to protect young trees from waves and wind.

The forests planted years ago have now turned green along the lagoon. Mangroves grow strong and fast, attracting shrimp, crabs, and fish to live and reproduce. This has improved our livelihoods, as people can catch more aquatic products. During storms and floods, we also bring our boats to anchor in the mangrove forests. The forests act as a shield, protecting our assets,” she shared.

Local residents shared that participating in forest planting not only brings additional income but also raises awareness of environmental protection. As rows of trees grow greener, shielding waves and stabilizing soil, people feel their efforts are truly worthwhile.

Women in the Tam Giang Lagoon area are also leveraging mangrove forests to develop livelihoods linked to community-based tourism. In Dan Dien commune, Ms. Luong Thi Hien (Ngu My Thanh hamlet) is a typical example.

Previously, her family relied mainly on small-scale fishing, with unstable, seasonal income. Since joining activities supported by the CSRD project, she has received training in tourism skills, local cuisine preparation, and knowledge about mangrove ecosystems.

Recognizing the potential of the natural landscape and coastal forests, Hien and her family have boldly upgraded their facilities and organized experiential tourism activities. These not only generate stable income but also help promote their hometown to both domestic and international visitors.

“At first, we only had small huts on the water for visitors to eat. Later, we expanded services to offer hands-on experiences like catching crabs, fishing, digging for clams, and paddleboarding through the mangrove forest. The Tam Giang Quang Loi Community Tourism Cooperative now has 30 members. During summer, each person earns an average of USD 11.5 per day. I’m happy to contribute to both forest planting and tourism. More importantly, we understand the value of the forest, so we are more committed to protecting it,” she said.

Many women in the Tam Giang Lagoon area, once purely agricultural laborers, are gradually transforming, shifting from dependence on natural resource exploitation to proactively building sustainable livelihoods adapted to local conditions. They are not only forest planters and protectors but also “local guides,” introducing visitors to the unique beauty of the lagoon’s ecosystem.

Meaningful nurseries

During the 2025-2028 period, the Center for Social Research and Development (CSRD) is implementing the project “Strong Roots, Resilient Women - Empowering Women in Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)”, funded by the European Union, to further expand livelihood models linked to mangrove forests. This initiative builds on the earlier project on enhancing women’s roles in strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in Central Viet Nam. It aims to improve the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities while restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, particularly in wetland conservation areas and the Huong River basin.

Under the project, a community-managed mangrove nursery has been established in the Tam Giang Lagoon, located in Vinh Tri residential area (Thuan An Ward), supplying around 15,000-20,000 seedlings annually. Women are actively involved in nursery management, seedling cultivation, and mangrove reforestation activities.

Beyond providing seedlings, the nursery helps raise awareness, build capacity, and strengthen women’s voices within the community, while also generating additional income. As the nursery model expands and is sustained, it is expected to contribute significantly to improving local livelihoods.

Ms. Trinh Thi Dinh, Director of CSRD, said that since 2017, CSRD in collaboration with the University of Potsdam/UP Transfer GmbH has applied Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as tools to empower women, enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems, reduce disaster risks, and adapt to climate change in the project areas.

Through this approach, the first mangrove forest areas have been successfully restored. Capacity-building activities on EbA, NbS, and disaster risk management have been carried out in coordination with the Women’s Union, the Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Hue City, and experts from universities both within and beyond the city.

According to CSRD, a small savings fund will be established from a portion of revenue generated by selling mangrove seedlings, linked directly to the nursery. This fund will provide startup financing for young women entrepreneurs, with microloans offered at zero or low interest rates. Beneficiaries are expected to include local women working as farmers, fishers, street vendors, tourism operators/guides, and waste collectors.

From seedlings taking root on tidal flats, a new development pathway is gradually emerging—one where women are not only beneficiaries but also agents of change. Today’s mangrove forests are growing not only from the soil, but also from livelihoods, confidence, and the aspiration for sustainable development within local communities.

“In 2025, the project rehabilitated and raised 15,000 seedlings. In 2026, another 15,000 seedlings are being cultivated. Through this project, we aim to create job opportunities at the nursery, then expand toward ecotourism and other sustainable sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry, while identifying employment opportunities and strengthening women’s participation and capacity,” said Ms. Trinh Thi Dinh.