Mangrove Ecosystems, communities and conflict: developing knowledge-based approaches to reconcile multiple demands
Acronym
MANGROVE
Start & end date
2005 - 2009
Funding & funded by
EU - FP6
Objectives
To address the lack of knowledge about status, use and requirements for sustainable management of mangrove forest ecosystems. An improved understanding of the multiple uses of mangrove ecosystems in employment generation, asset creation, food provision and sustaining the provision of societal support functions is required.
To develop action plans to reconcile multiple demands placed on mangroves and adjacent coastal zones in Southeast Asia; local and national level stakeholders will participate in action planning, ensuring widespread support and increasing the likelihood of implementation. New knowledge concerning the most effective approaches to action planning involving coastal communities and national institutions will be communicated to agencies responsible for coastal zone management and planning, to assist in developing codes of practice and policies that acknowledge and aim to reconcile the multiple demands placed on mangroves and adjacent coastal zones.
Summary
This project aims to develop action plans to reconcile multiple demands placed on mangroves and adjacent coastal zones in Southeast Asia; local and national level stakeholders will participate in action planning, ensuring widespread support and increasing the likelihood of implementation. Local ownership and involvement of civil society, local communities and local governments is a key aim for the project partners. New knowledge concerning the most effective approaches to action planning involving coastal communities and national institutions will be communicated to agencies responsible for coastal zone management and planning, to assist in developing codes of practice and policies that acknowledge and aim to reconcile the multiple demands placed on mangroves and adjacent coastal zones. A multidisciplinary situation analysis of mangrove ecosystem resources, functions and management will be conducted at sites in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Factors analysed will include, the ecological characteristics and functions of the mangrove ecosystem, and adjacent coastal areas; livelihood strategies of households dependent on goods and services derived from mangroves; institutional features, including local, national and international policy and legislation, describing trajectories of change, stakeholder values associated with mangroves, and conflicts or tensions. Methods and appropriate indicators for participatory monitoring and evaluation of impacts on mangrove ecosystems will be developed. This will be followed by the formulation, in collaboration with national stakeholders and local communities, of action plans designed to reconcile multiple demands. The action plans will be piloted by stakeholders and the ecosystem, livelihoods and institutional impacts assessed through participatory monitoring and evaluation. High potential strategies will be identified and appropriate communication media developed to promote national and regional policy initiatives. Research findings will be disseminated through appropriate media and pathways, ensuring national institutions and international development agencies are able to use this new knowledge in other locations, to promote action planning to reconcile multiple demands placed on coastal zones, especially mangroves.
AFI Staff involved
Paul van Zwieten; Roel Bosma
AFI Position
Participants
Cooperation Partners
University of Essex
Wageningen University
Mulawarman University
Katsesart University
NACA Stream
Project website
http://www.streaminitiative.org/Mangrove/index.html