Myanmar 2023 - Community Mangrove Restoration

PROJECT REPORT

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Dear friend,

Thanks to your support, a total of 100,000 trees were planted to restore 45 hectares of land in Myanmar.

Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive.

None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you!

What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in Myanmar. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.

The objective of the Myanmar 2023 - Community Mangrove Restoration project wastohelpmitigateclimatechangebyconservingandrestoringmangroves,while avoiding damage to the environment and biodiversity. By restoring degraded mangrove forests that have been excessively cut in the past, this project aims to fosterawealthofecologicalandeconomicsafeguardsforthelocalcommunity.

TREE SPECIES PLANTED

Three native mangrove species were planted across 45 hectares / 111 acres of land: white mangrove (Avicennia officinalis), upriver orange mangrove (Bruguiera sexangula),andwhite-floweredmangrove(Lumnitzera racemosa).

This project was designed with the Regeneration Improvement Felling (“RIF”) method, which causes minimal disturbance to natural ecosystems and soils as it involves removing unwanted thorns and bushes only. Moreover, this method does not involve burning of debris, thus is better at promoting the regeneration of mangrove areas -- unlike the Clear-Felled method, which involves removing all trees,under-growthandbushes,followedbyburningalldebris.

Based on our planting partners’ experience with similar projects that were designed with the RIF method, about 67% of the gross area was replanted at 6ft x 6ft spacing. Therefore, the number of seedings required for the project is calculatedbelow:

One acre (gross) =43,560sq.ft

Spacing =6'x6'ft

Seedling density =43560/6x6=1,210seedlingsperacre(gross)

Net planting area with use of RIF =67%

Seeding density (with use of RIF method) =1,210*67%

Number of seedlings per acre (gross) =810.7(roundedto800)

Lastly, the 5 mangrove locations covered in this project are considered low executionandlowsurvivalriskastheyarewellsetbackfromtheocean/riveredge, which will go a long way toward ensuring the long term sustainability and resilienceofthemangrovesastheymatureintheirnewenvironment.

SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT

White Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis) - 80,000

Upriver Orange Mangrove (Bruguiera sexangula) - 10,000

White-flowered Mangrove (Lumnitzera racemosa) - 10,000

TREE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION & USE

White Mangrove, also referred to as Avicennia officinalis, is a medium sized tree that grows anywhere from 12 to 15 meters tall. Its leaves are oblong shaped with a distinctly yellowish-green underside, and its bark is yellow to brownish-grey in color. The key feature of this mangrove species is its large, orange-yellow flowers that smell rancid.

The most distinctive feature of mangroves are their knobbly, bent knee-shaped pneumatophores — also known as aerial roots — that are above ground and involved in the species gaseous exchange. These roots develop from the underground root system and protrude through the soil surface at intervals. With this special capability, the species grows luxuriantly in places where freshwater mixes with seawater, and where sediment is composed of accumulated deposits ofmud.

Mangroves fulfill a critical role in coastal ecosystems. Their dense root systems serve many purposes, such as providing natural infrastructure that helps protect nearby populated areas by reducing erosion and the impacts of extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones. Erosion is a constant challenge for communities throughout the Lower Ayeyarwady Delta, and mangroves are welcomed as a natural protective buffer. Furthermore, as mangroves help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediment with their tangled root systems, they also work to maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land. Likewise, their intricate root systems make them attractive tomarinelifeandotherorganismsseekingfoodandshelterfrompredators.

Another unique feature of mangroves is that, unlike most marginal ecosystems, they are highly productive and dynamic. In fact, mangroves are one of the most capable tree species at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Despite mangrove forests accounting for less than 1% of the planet’s surface, these incredible trees are capable of storing up to 10x more carbon per hectare than terrestrialforests(NOAA,n.d.).

YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP

The Myanmar 2023 - Community Mangrove Restoration project supported the planting of 100,000 native mangroves across 45 hectares / 111 acres of Pyapon Township in the Ayeyarwaddy Region of Myanmar for the purpose of mitigating climate change impacts and rehabilitating a degraded mangrove forest. By reforesting this area, this project strives to increase mangrove biodiversity habitat, boost the local economy (reliant on crab harvesting), augment carbon sequestration,andincreaseresiliencetoclimate-relatedextremeweatherevents.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT

Myanmar is among one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change due to the acutely felt impacts of rising temperatures and sea levels, dramatic changes in rainfall patterns, and major storm occurrences. With One Tree Planted’s support, the planted mangroves have laid the foundation for significant long-term benefitstothelocalcommunities.

In the short-term, we have successfully planted across more than 45 hectares / 111 acres of degraded mangroves on time and within budget. We have immediately injectedfundsintothelocalcommunity,whichcontinuestofaceeconomichardship

due its remoteness and limited income earning activities, exacerbated by recent high inflation and economic downturn in Myanmar. This restoration work also helped meet obligations to forestry regulators to maintain and expand forest areas. Furthermore, this project and its operating guidelines have introduced a transparent and responsible collaboration process that will inform future activities by our ongroundpartner.

In the medium-term, despite challenging times in Myanmar, One Tree Planted’s support for the project has helped our on-ground partner solidify their place in reforestation among local stakeholders — facilitating additional support from government agencies in Myanmar. To complement the restoration efforts, our onground partner has also established a pilot project for supporting crab farmers in responsible crab fattening in the planting areas. The pilot is designed to provide additional, sustainable and complementary income earning opportunities to the mangrovefarmers.

Finally, One Tree Planted’s support for this activity has created further demand for replanting and seasonal work in neighboring areas. It has also alerted local communities to the longer-term opportunity of future revenue from larger-scale carbon offset and mangrove restoration work. Thanks to donors like you, One Tree Planted has helped our partners achieve transformative change by rehabilitating degraded mangrove forests, and restoring their capacity to support wildlife and the communityalike.

DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT

Throughauthenticandinformativestorytelling,wehelpdonorsrelatetothepeople who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happeningontheground.

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WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT ONE TREE PLANTED TOOK A CHANCE ON US, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND MYANMAR, AND ARE PROUD TO HAVE DELIVERED ON OUR AGREED PLAN.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

The majority of the smallholder farmers, laborers (and their families) involved benefited from employment opportunities and increased income. Most of these individuals live in Pi Dauk Pin Seik and surrounding areas. As part of this project’s impact assessment, our on-ground partners measured community and livelihood impacts through key informant interviews with 15% of the people participating in the planting project. The survey questions focused on quantifying income of the respondents before and after the mangrove replanting on the 45 hectares / 111 acres land, with the primary goal of the survey being to understand how incomes havebeenaffectedbytheproject.

The survey results show that the self-reported monthly income of individuals working in the project increased by 63% on average (from 138,000 to 227,00 MMK). Part-time workers each performed an average of 15 days’ work, earning approximatelyMMK8,000perdayinlandpreparationandplantingactivities,which aligns with market rates in Myanmar (5,000~10,000 MMK). The increased income is the result of the increased job opportunities created by the project, and enhancedeconomicactivitiesaroundtheprojectsite.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

The local community benefited via multiple avenues, including economic stabilization, promotion of gender equality, carbon sequestration and overall communityengagement.

Our planting partners highly encouraged participation of women wherever possible.Whilelandpreparationandplanting,requiringhardlaborinremoteareas, was mainly conducted by male labor (68%), women were employed in nursery operations (100%). The project was strategically designed to minimize carbon emissions generated during land preparation. The few sizable trees present prior to planting were left intact. With no burning of existing vegetation, the soil was left undisturbed as much as possible, and maintained optimal potential to sequester atmosphericcarbondioxideforyearstocome.

As a whole, the project strengthened community engagement and interest in mangrove conservation, evidenced by their expressed desire to restore larger mangroveareasintheirlocalforestsnextyear.

I WORKED ON THE PROJECT FOR LAND PREPARATION AND PLANTING ACTIVITIES. I AM HAPPY THAT THE PROJECT PROVIDED ME WITH AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND NOW OUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME HAS INCREASED WITH MY EARNINGS FROM THE PROJECT. IN ADDITION, OUR VILLAGE IS AT RISK FROM EROSION AND STORM SURGES, SO I AM GLAD THAT RESTORED MANGROVES MAY PROTECT US FROM THESE POTENTIAL DISASTERS. WE HOPE TO SEE MORE MANGROVE RESTORATION PROJECTS IN OUR AREAS GOING FORWARD, AS IT MEANS MORE JOBS FOR US WITH A MORE SECURE LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

WHAT ARE SDGS?

Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate)ourimpactontheplanet.Treesareonesuchsolution.

From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting treescanaddressall17sustainabledevelopmentgoals.

“YoursupportforMyanmarcouldnotbemoretimely. Affectedbylongterm political conflict, projects like these in Myanmar are transformative. Theyengageentirecommunities,especiallyvulnerable minorities like women, while restoring critical environmental resources and strengthening alternative livelihood to break cycles of conflict and povertyfornatureandpeople.”

KM Reyes Project Manager Asia Pacific

Meghan Danny Global Projects Support Specialist