An Overview Of Our Solution
Changing local communities' perception through an integrated participatory approach
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Oceans/Coasts
Community Type
Suburban
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Africa
Problem
Describe the problem
Mangroves perform important biological and economical services worldwide.In developing countries, like Madagascar, local communities largely depend on these ecosystems for their daily livelihoods.Population increase combined with the absence of bottom-up management plans has led to the severe degradation of these ecosystems,especially in peri-urban areas.The empowerment of local users to manage their own resources was a crucial first step.The development of tourism infrastructure helped to create local mangrove-ambassadors who realise the positive perception of tourists towards their healthy mangroves.To limit pressure on the mangroves,several alternative livelihood programs were developed in line with local peoples' vision and occupation.
Biodiversity Impact
The first step towards the promotion of ecosystem health and creating sustainable fisheries was changing local perception towards the mangroves and demonstrating the necessity of local empowerment to take action. Through active restoration (direct planting and household nurseries) a sense of responsibility and ownership was induced with the local population. Before people didn't perceive the mangrove management as their responsibility. Everybody was using what they wanted without any control or monitoring. By training the fishermen and mangrove user groups in restoration techniques, monitoring skills and decision-making, we create a new generation of mangrove ambassadors. Not only did the local communities restore their own degraded mangroves, they also took the initial steps towards permanent no-take zones, rotational sustainable utilisation zones and tourism zones. The development of alternative income generating activities minimizes also the pressure on the tidal forests, while promoting development within the community. The next part of our solution is include voluntary carbon credit funding for the permanent no-take mangrove zones to help fund the ongoing alternative livelihood programs.
Solution
From the start the integration of the local communities was crucial. Through several awareness campaigns, mangrove restoration workshops and continued capacity training, they themselves halted the extensive destruction of the mangrove forests and initiated a local mangrove conservation committee. Through participatory campaigns in the villages that utilise the mangroves, members had the opportunity to propose regulatory and management actions. By empowering the local communities and changing their perception on the importance of sustainable mangrove management, we believe they themselves will protect biodiversity as they depend on it. With the creation of a community mangrove association local people feel more secure in protecting and controlling their mangroves against migrants. // The total area is 600 hectares: 250ha of wetlands and 350ha of mangroves. The mangrove area is being divided in separate zones: restoration zones, permanent no-take zones, tourism zones and sustainable usage zones. The local committee is currently deciding on rotational no-fishing zones within the mangroves. The wetlands also have a temporarily closed season because of nesting season of birds. In total 5 villages are involved in the management process: Belalanda, Belitsake Tanindraza, Tanambao, Ambondrolava and Ambotsibotsike.
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 2 years // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? No // During the implementation phase of our solution (the last 2 years), funding came from WWF, SIDA, the Rufford Small Grants and the Koning Boudewijn Foundation. To ensure post donor continuation, the emphasis of the solution was local capacity training and create sustainable alternative income generating activities. The solution is based around the relatively new Malagasy law that gives local community associations the power to manage the mangroves and its resources themselves. Local laws, known as Dina, were drawn up by the communities to allow proper management of the resources and these laws are official recognized by the national court. With the help of local municipality and law enforcement forces, people can be legally punished when not obeying these local laws. Five local mangrove officers have been trained and they control daily the access and permits within the mangroves. They also sensibilise visiting migrants about the local laws. These officers are being paid with the funds generated from the tourists visiting the mangroves. Every year the local association celebrates international mangrove day and organises activities for different age groups to sensibilize the community and come together to work towards a sustainable future.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
One in three households of the villages surrounding the mangroves directly depend on the mangroves and wetlands for its subsistence livelihood. Another one third of the households indirectly rely on these resources. Before our solution started, the mangrove had been depleted as 70% had been clear cut for charcoal and building purposes. This was mostly done by people not living within one of the five villages. With our solution, the local communities have the power to limit external exploitation and resulting degradation of the ecosystems involved. Through our tourism program, the local mangrove association receives funding to promote its work and improve capacities and alternative income generating activities are being promoted. Local guides have been trained as well as guardians that monitor the exploitation and access into the mangroves. With our artisanal craft program, 30 households have been positively impacted through the increased economic value of the wetland products. At the moment 2 households received improved benefits through our crab fattening program and 10 families have been educated in bee-keeping techniques. The latter is still a pilot project, but through preliminar discussions with local hotels and visitors, it will have great potential. // Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education started with its' pilot project in the SW of Madagascar due to a need and demand of local communities struggling with the sustainable management of their mangrove ecosystems. The primary mission of Honko is the development of community-led solutions to cope with the challenges of poverty and climate change that threaten the mangrove ecosystems in Madagascar. The development of bottom-up management strategies for mangrove ecosystems is relatively new for Madagascar. By empowering local communities in decision-making about the future of their mangroves, the tide can be changed. Especially the peri-urban mangroves are under serious threat of the growing coastal population. The mangrove ecosystem is managed by a community-led association 'Mamelo Honko' consisting of a board committee with members coming from the five villages surrounding the mangroves. Their task is to lead and control the management of the resources by implementing awareness raising campaigns and recruiting members for the association. As members of the association are allowed to utilize certain resources within the mangroves with permits and as they can decide at the yearly general meeting about future decision-making, most mangrove users of the surrounding villages have become member the last two years.