Safeguarding Rajang-Belawai Delta: conservation efforts for Southeast Asia’s vital mangroves

Claudio Tellaeche Rullan, Ocean Image Bank

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Rajang-Belawai Delta mangrove restoration

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Rajang-Belawai delta, Malaysia

Safeguarding the biodiversity of Malaysia’s Rajang-Belawai Delta

The Rajang-Belawai Delta in Malaysia is home to one of the planet’s richest mangrove ecosystems. Yet decades of logging and agricultural expansion have threatened this critical habitat. This project aims to restore and protect the Delta, ensuring sustainable development that supports the environment and local communities.

Malaysia’s Rajang-Belawai Delta is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot, but its extensive mangrove forests face critical threats from deforestation and palm oil development. Spanning 77,600 hectares, this project seeks to unlock the blue carbon potential of the Delta by evaluating technical, social, and financial pathways for sustainable conservation.

In this foundational phase, the project will identify viable strategies for strengthening community resilience, protecting endangered habitats, and promoting long-term ecological health. Envisioned as the starting point for a multi-year blue carbon initiative, this work will pave the way for climate mitigation and adaptation through mangrove conservation. Additionally, revenue from carbon credits will support community benefit sharing to ensure the ongoing protection of the Delta’s unique and invaluable ecosystems.

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Project Info

Location

Rajang-Belawai delta, Malaysia

BNC focus

Conservation and restoration of mangrove forests

Funding duration

2 months (2024 – 2025)

Project developer

Project Partner

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More information

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Podcast

Our Investing for Ocean Impact podcast series explores all aspects of Blue Carbon, including investment strategies, financing solutions, project management, and how local communities can participate and benefit. In the episodes below, we talk about the ideas behind Nature-based Solutions as long-term investments:

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Building foundations for blue carbon in the Rajang Delta

The Rajang-Belawai Delta, with its rich but vulnerable mangrove ecosystem, holds immense potential for blue carbon solutions. However, minimal data on its carbon storage and biodiversity impacts has limited opportunities for impactful conservation. This initiative, led by Blue Natural Capital in collaboration with EcoSecurities, is dedicated to gathering essential data to inform a Climate, Community, and biodiversity (CCB) Project Description and a Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), laying the groundwork for a sustainable blue carbon project.

Crafting a path for private sector investment

Beyond data collection, the project aims to establish a robust financial and economic plan to attract private sector investment for the long-term blue carbon initiative. This includes developing a business proposal detailing revenue models and benefit-sharing strategies. Supported by the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF), the project engages local communities to ensure that benefit-sharing mechanisms and governance structures are built into the project design. This will allow for a community fund that directs a portion of carbon credit revenue back into local development.

Enhancing biodiversity through reforestation

Future project phases will include Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) activities, focusing on degraded and non-forest areas to restore the Delta’s natural resilience. These actions aim to bolster carbon sequestration and preserve and enhance the Delta's biodiversity.

Engaging local communities and securing rights

Consultations with local communities are essential to establish fair governance and land tenure arrangements. Through community-led assessments, stakeholders will identify resources, rights, and preferred future management approaches. This collaborative approach ensures the project aligns with community priorities and reinforces sustainable management of the Delta’s resources.

Laying the investment roadmap

As the project advances, it will present an investment proposal to potential investors, forming the basis for a CCB and VCS Project Description. This includes clear financial and legal guidelines outlining the project’s conservation objectives, community benefits, and potential returns for investors.

Early actions and partnerships

Extensive early-stage efforts have included consultations with the Sarawak Forest Department, rapid emissions assessments by EcoSecurities, and community outreach. The team has also established collaborative task forces with local stakeholders, NGOs, and community groups, ensuring diverse representation and input in every project development phase. These preparatory actions signal the beginning of a long-term commitment to restoring and protecting the Rajang-Belawai Delta.

How BCAF supports the Rajang Delta blue carbon project

With backing from the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF), the Rajang Delta Blue Carbon Project is positioned to assess and establish the region's technical, social, and financial viability of blue carbon initiatives. This support aims to attract private sector investment that will foster community well-being, safeguard endangered habitats, and enhance ecosystem resilience within the Delta.

BCAF’s funding enables the creation of a science-driven emissions profile, which forms the foundation of the project’s climate impact strategy. Additionally, resources are allocated for community-led assessments, ensuring that local rights, resources, and preferred management practices shape the project’s direction. BCAF’s investment also supports the development of a comprehensive roadmap for private sector involvement, providing a clear pathway for sustainable and impactful contributions to the Rajang Delta Blue Carbon Project.

Impacts created

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Nature

The Rajang Delta Blue Carbon Project aims to bolster biodiversity by increasing the land under permanent protection, reducing illegal mangrove harvesting, and safeguarding critically endangered species. Ecosystem restoration efforts will focus on growing populations of keystone fauna and enhancing flora diversity, leading to a healthier, more resilient mangrove habitat.

People

This initiative will strengthen local livelihoods by establishing a community fund from carbon credit revenues. Collaboration with local communities will support inclusive enterprises, particularly for women and marginalized groups, and improve living conditions. The project also seeks to increase educational access through scholarships and reduce disease rates within the community.

Business

In addition to carbon monetization, the project explores diverse revenue streams for local communities, including non-timber forest products, agroforestry, and climate-smart agriculture. Fishery programs will support downstream product development, while ecotourism offers sustainable economic opportunities. These efforts will empower communities toward long-term financial resilience.

Calls for Proposals

There are no open calls for proposals. Sign up for email alerts to be notified of the next call and receive updates on BNCFF and BCAF projects, lessons learned, and more, or email us at bluenaturalcapital@iucn.org.