Artificial mangrove roots help protect Thailand coastline from erosion

Researchers in Thailand installed artificial mangrove root systems to protect coastal areas from shoreline erosion near Bangkok.

The project took place in the Phra Samut Chedi district, a region in the Chao Phraya River Delta where the main waterway meets the Gulf of Thailand. Severe waves currently claim between 20 to 60 meters of land every year, frequently destroying dikes and flooding aquaculture farms.

The study involved a 15-month trial across 11 sites in Phra Samut Chedi and Samut Prakan province. These structures use a composite of wood, plastic, and rubber to mimic the shape of natural mangrove roots. Unlike solid barriers or bamboo fences, these modular units allow water to pass through while creating turbulence. This process encourages mud to settle on the seabed, building up sediment.

The trial showed that the structures captured between 16 to 88 centimeters of sediment at 10 of the test locations. This accumulation of mud allowed shrimp farmers at one site to rebuild their dikes and helped landowners at another site begin replanting real mangrove seedlings. While the systems offer a fast way to protect land, experts note they are intended as a temporary measure to create the right conditions for a natural mangrove forest to grow.