Coastal Commons Asia

News & Stories

Stories from Asia’s Coasts

Insights, field stories and updates from coastal communities and partners across the region.

1 min read

We Launch CoastalCommons.Asia and Begin a Mangrove Afforestation Initiative to Mark International Mangrove Day

By Practical Action

On the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, we launched CoastalCommons.Asia, a regional platform for coastal resilience, and inaugurated a 10-hectare mangrove afforestation initiative in Munshiganj, Shyamnagar, Satkhira in Bangladesh. Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to building stronger and more resilient coastal communities through regional collaboration and practical local action.

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3 min read

From Salinity to Sustainability: Regenerative Agriculture Strengthening Biodiversity and Coastal Climate Resilience

By Practical Action

In the climate-exposed coastal belt of Bangladesh, salinity intrusion, cyclones, waterlogging and sea-level rise are steadily eroding agricultural productivity. Fields once fertile now struggle with salinity stress. For many smallholders, conventional input-heavy farming has become both risky and expensive. Regenerative Agriculture (RA) offers a different pathway-one that restores soil, rebuilds biodiversity, and strengthens climate resilience while reducing dependence on costly external inputs. At its core, RA treats the farm not as a factory, but as a living ecosystem. It offers a practical, nature-based pathway for ecological restoration and strengthening climate resilience. By rebuilding degraded soils and diversifying production systems, RA supports both environmental sustainability and livelihood security.

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4 min read

Big Change from the Mudflats: Rebuilding Coastal Biodiversity Through Crab Conservation

By Practical Action

In the southwest coastal belt of Bangladesh, rising sea level and recurring cyclones have steadily reshaped the landscape. Once-fertile rice and vegetable fields have turned barren from saltwater inundation, especially after Cyclone Aila in 2009 which devastated local infrastructure and increased soil salinity. In this challenging environment, traditional farming became nearly impossible. Paddy fields lay barren, and even shrimp aquaculture faltered in the increasingly saltish water. With the climate crisis intensifying, these coastal communities faced a stark choice: migrate away or find ingenious ways to adapt and survive in place.

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