Sustainable management of mangrove forests in West Africa: A new policy perspective?

Abstract

Mangrove resources are extensively harvested by urban-dwellers and rural community members across West Africa. It is un-known how current legislation and policy tools used to manage this ecosystem influence its sustainability in West Africa. However, current practices of mangrove wood harvesting are affecting the sustainability of this ecosystem. This paper explores literature to identify government institutions and legislations under which mangrove forests are managed, and critically analyzes the capacity of these institutions and regulations in promoting the sustainability of mangroves forests. The paper further uses mangrove wood harvesting and mangrove forests projects as case studies to assess the appropriateness of these legislations, enforcement and contribution to mangrove forests sustainability in West Africa.Results indicate there are too many institutions, with devolved roles and responsibilities charged with the management of mangrove forests. Countries of the region have ratified several international conventions and are using associated national natural resources legislations to support mangrove forests management. However, mangrove wood harvesting practices and patterns are almost un-regulated across these countries. Mangrove wood harvesting is strongly influenced by gender type, physical strength and market forces, rather than existing legislations under which mangroves are managed. Government institutions have partnered with national and international NGOS to implement projects that are contributing to alleviate anthropogenic pressures from mangrove forests. This marginal performance is the result of limited logistic capacity, lack of sustained financial resources, inappropriate legislations, policies, and lack of political interest, coupled with lack of data on the economic value of mangrove forests across countries of the region.Mangrove forests thus deserve appropriate regulations and policies that consider their socio-economic and ecological peculiarities. Such legislations should highlight economic incentives that promote ecosystem conservation; and management systems with good governance indicators that measure and promote ecosystem health and stakeholders' interests.