Women for Mangroves: Co-Management and Livelihoods in the Red River Estuary

Just beyond Sea Dyke, mangrove forests and wide tidal flats spread along the estuary—slowing waves, holding sediment, and protecting sea dikes that shield one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural heartlands. When storms arrive, this “green belt” takes the first удар, reducing erosion and keeping the coast stable. It is also a living nursery: fish, crabs, shrimp and shellfish begin life here, and waterbirds depend on the mudflats for feeding and resting.

But this protection is not guaranteed. Pressure concentrates at access points and tidal channels—where cutting, disturbance, and unsustainable harvesting can damage roots and young regeneration. Coastal storms and shifting sediments add more stress. At the same time, thousands of local people—especially women and elderly residents—depend on seasonal intertidal harvesting for daily income. If conservation ignores livelihoods, it won’t last.

That is why our work puts the community at the center. We build a women-led co-management team that monitors mangrove health and biodiversity, records threats with simple GPS-photo evidence, and connects directly to the Reserve and Forest Protection Department through an “alert-to-action” system. In parallel, we strengthen mangrove-friendly livelihoods—so families earn more by protecting, not degrading, the mangroves. This is how we secure nature and wellbeing together: stronger mangroves, safer coasts, and more resilient communities.