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We assess the suitability of conventional replanting techniques of Rhizophora mucronata and the relationship with soil properties, and compare the differences between rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation sites, on Carey Island, Malaysia. The average survival rate of planted seedlings at the rehabilitation site was 46% in the first six months, gradually reducing to complete mortality after one year, while no survival was recorded at the non-rehabilitation site from the beginning. Over the short period, survival of the clumped planting technique yielded the highest survival rate (75%) compared with random (33%) and uniform (30%) techniques; with a height increment of 2.48 ± 1.87 cm/month, diameter increment of 0.49 ± 0.81 mm/month, leaf increment of 2.05 ± 2.80 and chlorophyll content of 32.08 ± 5.80 SPAD (= Soil Plant Analysis Development values). Fifteen new recruits of Avicennia spp. with a 60% survival rate were recorded in the rehabilitation site at the end of the study. Soil texture changed s...

Threats to beaches have accelerated the coastal destruction. In recent decades, geotextile tubes were used around the world to prevent coastal erosion, to encourage beach nourishment, and to assist mangrove rehabilitation. However, the applications of geotextile tube in sandy and muddy coasts have different concerns as the geological settings are different. Applications of geotextile tubes in sandy beaches were mainly to prevent coastline from further erosion and to nourish the beach. However, for the muddy coasts, mangrove rehabilitation and conservation were additional concerns in coastal management schemes. The mangrove forests are natural barriers which can be found on the muddy coasts of many tropical countries. In this paper, the viability of geotextile tubes in sandy and muddy beaches was analysed. The advantages and disadvantages of the utilization of geotextile tubes in coastal management were discussed based on the experiences from the tropical countries such as Mexico, Malaysia, and Thailand. From the case studies, impressive improvements in coastal restoration after installation of geotextile tubes were shown. Based on the discussion, several recommendations to improve the application of geotextile tubes were suggested in this paper.