Study: Involving Community in Mangrove Management Makes Them More Sustainable
Mangrove forests that incorporate local communities into their management fare better, a new study by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia and Tanzania released today on World Wetlands Day finds. Scientists conducted a review of international literature as well as case studies.
According to the study, mangrove forests are overwhelmingly managed by government institutions. They often fall under the jurisdiction of multiple ministries, from the Ministry of Forestry to the Ministry of Fishery, creating a maze of vague responsibilities that deliver little protection on the ground.
Typically, mangroves are classified as protected areas, but officials often lack the resources needed to effectively protect them. Compounding this challenge are local communities who continue to be active users of mangrove forests, but who do not have clear or documented rights and incentives to sustainably use or protect them for the long term.
Mokhammad Edliadi/CIFOR