Community-based mangrove forest management with the involvement of various stakeholders could be an effective way for the conservation of the rich ecosystem of mangrove forests. This participatory approach in management has not been well addressed in the literature on mangrove forests management in Malaysia. This study aimed to codify a participatory management strategy in the Matang mangrove forest reserve located in the state of Perak, Malaysia through a SWOT analysis and applying the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) as a management tool. The local communities living in proximity of the Matang forest were the target group for collecting data. It was concluded that the participation of local communities in the management of the Matang forest is the key element of the priority strategies.