Kick-off workshop on mangrove restoration and hybrid NbS in Soc Trang
On 16 January 2025, IUCN organised a workshop in Soc Trang to launch the project “Increasing coastal resilience in the Mekong Delta through mangrove restoration and Hybrid NbS,” funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF). The 3-year project (2024-2026) will introduce hybrid nature-based solutions (NbS) that balance coastal protection with economic development and address the severe coastal squeeze that threatens Soc Trang and Bac Lieu Provinces.
Photo: Rhizophora mangroves in the mudflat of a shrimp pond © IUCN Viet Nam
Photo: Representatives from IUCN, Soc Trang Sub-Fisheries Department and Coca-Cola (left to right) chaired the workshop © IUCN Viet Nam
Photo: Shrimp farms with mangroves are suitable for implementing RAS – IMTA model © IUCN Viet Nam
Photo: Group photo of the launch workshop in Soc Trang © IUCN Viet Nam
These provinces have some of the flattest and most vulnerable coastlines in the Mekong Delta, characterized by a narrow band of privately owned intensive shrimp farms located just behind the dirt sea dike. At less than 0.5 m above sea level, these areas are experiencing rapid coastal erosion, with mangrove loss reaching up to 20 m/year.
This loss, combined with groundwater extraction for shrimp farming, has led to land subsidence occurring five times faster than global sea level rise, increasing the risks of flooding and storm surges. Conventional responses, such as building concrete breakwaters, are expensive and unlikely to succeed given the declining sediment supply from upstream dams and sluice gates.
Instead, this project promotes an innovative approach by planting mangroves behind the sea dike and transitioning shrimp farms to a sustainable model that integrates mangrove restoration with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). This hybrid NbS aims to improve water circulation, reduce groundwater pumping, and mitigate water pollution, while also enhancing ecosystem services.
The project will support 22 households in Soc Trang with RAS equipment, mangrove seedlings, and excavation work to restore natural water circulation. In total, the initiative will restore 18 hectares of mangrove forest, sequestering over 3,000 tons of CO2 annually, and implement 45 pilot RAS-Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) models, training over 500 coastal farmers.
The kick-off workshop brought together 42 participants from IUCN, TCCF, Soc Trang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, local forestry and fisheries agencies, district governments, and farmers. Discussions focused on the feasibility of hybrid NbS, the challenges of balancing conservation with local livelihoods, and the criteria for selecting households for the RAS-IMTA pilot program. The workshop highlighted the shared commitment of stakeholders to finding long-term, sustainable solutions for the region’s vulnerable coastline.
As part of the event, IUCN conducted a survey of potential project sites in Soc Trang to discuss how best to implement NbS. The insights gathered from these discussions will help refine project design, ensuring that it meets both environmental and economic goals while securing broad community support.
