Artificial mangrove root structures are showing promising results in reducing coastal erosion along Thailand’s upper Gulf coastline, where rising seas and sinking land threaten communities, farms and livelihoods. A study of the technology’s first year of deployment found sediment accumulation at 10 of 11 sites, suggesting the structures could help stabilise vulnerable shorelines while creating conditions for natural mangrove recovery.
The trial was conducted in Phra Samut Chedi district and other parts of Samut Prakan province, along the Chao Phraya River Delta. Published in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management the study examined the performance of the artificial structures over a 15 month period.
Researchers recorded sediment buildup ranging from 16 to 88 centimetres behind the structures at 10 sites, while one site showed no detectable change. By comparison, satellite observations indicated that several unprotected stretches of coastline lost more than 10 metres of land to the sea.
The findings suggest that artificial mangrove roots could offer a practical, relatively rapid intervention for communities facing severe erosion. However, researchers caution that the technology is not a universal solution and requires long-term monitoring and careful management.
A coastline under growing pressure
Phra Samut Chedi lies in the muddy delta where the Chao Phraya River flows into the Gulf of Thailand. In some parts of the district, coastal erosion removes approximately 20-60 metres of land annually, damaging farmland and forcing families to relocate their homes.
The erosion results from several interacting pressures, including sea level rise associated with climate change land subsidence, reduced sediment delivery from upstream and human activities such as excessive groundwater extraction and construction.
The coastline is also exposed to strong waves and storm surges, making it difficult for conventional protection measures to succeed.
Previous attempts to control erosion through mangrove planting, mud dikes and bamboo fences have faced significant challenges. Bamboo barriers can deteriorate within one or two years, potentially creating marine debris and navigation hazards. Mangrove seedlings may struggle to survive when tidal conditions and wave energy are unsuitable.
Hard engineered coastal defences have also encountered difficulties including administrative delays and concerns that structures could intensify erosion along neighbouring stretches of coast.
Butsawan Bidorn an assistant professor of coastal engineering at Chulalongkorn University and senior author of the study, said coastal communities need solutions that can be deployed quickly because erosion can destroy protective dikes and aquaculture facilities within a short period.
How artificial mangrove roots work
The artificial root system was initially designed by researchers at Kasetsart University in Bangkok in 2016 and subsequently refined by research teams at Chulalongkorn University.
Each unit consists of a central trunk made from a wood plastic composite with rubber projections extending outward to imitate the physical functions of mangrove roots.
Installed in multiple rows the units form permeable barriers that reduce wave energy while allowing water to flow through them. This movement helps suspended sediment settle behind the structures, gradually raising the seabed and potentially creating more favourable conditions for mangrove establishment.
Unlike rigid barriers, the system is designed to work with natural coastal processes rather than completely blocking water movement.
The structures are also modular and relatively lightweight allowing them to be manufactured and installed using locally available materials. According to Bidorn individual sites can be equipped within two to four weeks, offering communities a potentially rapid response while longer term coastal protection plans are developed.
The project took approximately two years to progress from initial discussions involving residents, local authorities and researchers to fully operational installations.
Early results show sediment accumulation
Researchers assessed the system using satellite imagery and detailed three dimensional maps generated from drone based surveys conducted eight to 15 months after installation.
The findings showed sediment accumulation of 16-88 centimetres behind the structures at 10 of the 11 study sites. Unprotected sections continued to experience substantial land loss.
The researchers attribute the sediment buildup partly to the structures’ permeability, which allows water to pass through while encouraging suspended particles to settle. The results indicate that this design can perform differently from semi-rigid bamboo fences.
Community feedback also suggested improvements at several locations. Farmers and landowners reported calmer coastal conditions and fewer problems caused by strong waves.
At one site, shrimp farmers were able to rebuild damaged mud dikes and recover aquaculture ponds that had previously been inundated. At another a landowner resumed mangrove planting along a shoreline that had lost 21.5 hectares over two decades. Aerial monitoring in early 2026 showed established mangrove seedlings growing at the site.
These observations suggest the structures may help restore some of the physical conditions needed for coastal vegetation to recover. However, the first-year results do not yet establish whether the benefits will persist over longer periods.
Performance depends on local conditions
The effectiveness of artificial mangrove roots varied according to the physical characteristics of each site.
Sediment retention was greatest at locations near river mouths, where sediment supplies were more readily available. Sites in deeper water and exposed to stronger waves generally showed weaker results.
The structures cannot create land without a sufficient supply of sediment to trap and retain. Their success therefore depends on local hydrology, seabed topography, wave exposure and sediment availability.
Bidorn emphasised that the findings provide promising evidence rather than proof of a universally effective solution to coastal erosion. Different shorelines require different configurations and approaches and further research is needed to determine how the positioning and arrangement of the units affect performance.
Sompratana Ritphring, an associate professor of water engineering at Kasetsart University who was not involved in the study, said coastal protection is highly site-specific. Conditions can change substantially even between nearby stretches of the upper Gulf of Thailand.
She said monitoring over five to 10 years would be needed to determine whether sediment continues to accumulate under changing seasonal and climatic conditions, and whether the resulting landscape can sustain a functioning mangrove ecosystem.
Ecological risks and long term maintenance
Although the technology is intended to support mangrove restoration, researchers and conservationists caution that coastal interventions must account for wider ecological effects.
Open intertidal mudflats in the Gulf of Thailand provide important feeding and resting habitat for migratory shorebirds travelling along the East Asian Australasian Flyway. Planting mangroves in naturally open mudflat areas could reduce the availability of these habitats.
Coastal protection projects must therefore distinguish between areas where mangroves naturally belong and open mudflats that have their own ecological value.
There are also questions about the durability and environmental impact of the composite materials used in the artificial structures. If poorly maintained or abandoned, they could become sources of marine litter.
Ritphring described the units as enabling structures rather than a permanent replacement for natural coastal ecosystems. She said they should ultimately help establish a self sustaining natural system, with clear plans for inspection maintenance, replacement and eventual removal.
Further research and community involvement
Researchers are continuing to monitor the Phra Samut Chedi sites to understand long term sediment movement and the effects of seasonal weather and extreme events. Trials are also taking place in other Thai provinces, including Samut Sakhon and Prachuap Khiri Khan along the Gulf of Thailand, and Phang Nga on the Andaman Sea coast. The team is also exploring international collaboration, including potential work in Indonesia.
The researchers plan to work with botanists and ecologists to assess whether the structures consistently support mangrove establishment and growth. Laboratory testing is also underway to refine the design and determine how the units should be positioned under different coastal conditions.
Ritphring called for greater participation by coastal communities in designing and evaluating protection measures. Residents often have detailed knowledge of local shorelines and the problems affecting their livelihoods, making their involvement important in selecting and adapting interventions.
Artificial mangrove roots could provide a useful bridge between emergency protection and ecological restoration in places where erosion is advancing rapidly. But their long term value will depend on whether sediment accumulation and natural ecosystem growth can keep pace with sea level rise and land subsidence.
Addressing the underlying causes of subsidence protecting sediment flows and tailoring interventions to local conditions will remain essential. Without these broader measures, small coastal structures alone may not be enough to protect Thailand’s vulnerable delta communities.