Abstract
The declining mangrove cover worldwide highlights the necessity of understanding the linkages between ecological and socio-economic dimensions of mangrove management. This study analyses the socio-economic aspects of the pole and charcoal production systems at Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR), known as the world’s longest managed mangrove forest, in Malaysia. We performed a socio-economic survey to identify the roles and relationships among stakeholders in the pole/charcoal production system and quantified the cash-flows in monetary value. Altogether, 160 interviews were conducted with contractors, forest officials, workers, middle-men, and consumers. The contractors are functioning as a “hub” from production to commercialization and receive major economic benefits. The commercialization of most charcoal (>80%) aims to its exportation to Japan while the commercialization of poles is local. Although the workers’ income was less than the minimum wage, they still prefer charcoal production jobs because of the availability and geographic proximity of these jobs. Our research suggests a standard salary and health insurance schemes for the workers to reduce social inequality/poverty and improve their well-being. Considering that mangroves occur in over 120 countries, our methodology can be used as a reference to unveil the socio-economic situation of mangrove-dependent communities as well as to map the economic cash-flow of the local activities that form the basis for long-term sustainable mangrove management plans.
Highlights
Mangrove ecosystems that provide several ecological and socio-economic benefits (Lee et al, 2014; United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], 2014) are declining worldwide and require appropriate conservation and management (Walters et al, 2008)
In the case of middle-men for mangrove poles, we found them as lorry/mini truck drivers who were hired by the consumers in other states of Peninsular Malaysia
The socio-economic insights are key to understand and improve the management of mangrove ecosystems, for Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) where management has been documented in forestry records for over a century
Summary
Mangrove ecosystems that provide several ecological and socio-economic benefits (Lee et al, 2014; United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], 2014) are declining worldwide and require appropriate conservation and management (Walters et al, 2008). In order to maximize both the ecological and socio-economic benefits generated by mangroves, up-to-date scientific data on social-ecological system integrity (i.e., built-in relations between humans and the environment for ecosystem protection while supporting the local livelihoods) and trends is required (Costanza and Farber, 2002; Mcleod and Salm, 2006; Badola et al, 2012; Dahdouh-Guebas et al, 2021). There is a need for investigating long-term mangrove management case-studies to document management options that do not jeopardize the livelihoods of local communities (Walters et al, 2008), as any silvicultural program begs the question for whom it is sustainable (Hugé et al, 2016)
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