A materialist-idealist divide? Policy and practice in participatory mangrove rehabilitation in the Philippines (original) (raw)
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Asia Pacific Journal of Academic Research in Social Sciences, 2018
Mangroves provide valuable resources and services to humankind. Depletion of mangrove forests in the Philippines was attributed to over-exploitation by coastal dwellers, conversion to agriculture or fishponds, and settlement. The efforts of a small group of women to protect a mangrove forest called Ang Pulo in Brgy Quilitisan, Calatagan, Batangas triggered the curiosity of the researcher to conduct this study. The study determined the level of knowledge and awareness (KA) on mangrove resources, services and conservation practices of the local government unit (LGU) of Catalagan, Batangas, the people's organization (PO) called PALITAKAN which was initially composed of 10 women, and the local coastal community of Bgry. Quilitisan. It also determined the value that these stakeholders ascribe to various mangrove resources. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires. The results showed that LGU, PO, and the local community had high to very high level of KA toward mangrove resources, services, and conservation practices but the PO had consistently very high level of KA. Their active role in mangrove conservation enabled them to have higher level of KA. The mangrove tree was perceived to have the highest selling price (value) while lowest for seed and seedlings. The perceived selling price of the mangrove resources reflected how the stakeholders value these resources based on their prior knowledge and experiences. They also have very high level of KA on mangrove resources, services and conservation practices.
Theorists of Common Pool Resources (CPR) management suggest that distribution and devolution of power can localize consequential decisions over natural resources. The Government of Indonesia has encouraged the collective management of natural resources through self-governed local communes. It has also argued for consensual decision making over the use, allocation and distribution of natural resources at the village, district and regency level. Devolution has not, however, given most people access to strategic and structural power to decide on natural resource governance. Two cases in South Sulawesi are discussed. In the case of the hunting of Sinjai's bats, devolution for collective governance was marked by contention, unfettered competition, and resource overutilization. Management of Sinjai's coastal mangroves, however, suggests that social institutions can stimulate social sensibility, encourage attachment to the natural landscape, and instigate collective responsibilities. Community members acted in a way that benefited the overall good, avowing individual rights. Barriers and enablers to sustainable natural resource governance emerged from the local context in each case, including assertion of private ownership of mangrove plots; they did not emerge as a consequence of distribution and devolution of power alone, as CPR theory suggests. Les théoriciens de "Common Pool Resources" (CPR) suggèrent que la distribution et la dévolution du pouvoir peut localiser la prise de decisions sur les ressources naturelles. Le gouvernement de l'Indonésie a encouragé la gestion collective des ressources naturelles par les communes locales. Il a également plaidé pour des décisions consensuelles sur l'utilisation, la répartition et la distribution des ressources naturelles au village, de district et au niveau régence. La dévolution n'a pas, toutefois, étant donné la plupart des gens l'accès à pouvoir stratégique et structurel pour prendre leurs propres décisions. Deux études de cas dans le sud de Sulawesi sont discutés. Dans le cas de la chasse des chauves-souris de Sinjai, la dévolution de la gouvernance collective a été marquée par les conflits, et la surexploitation des ressources. La gestion des mangroves côtières, cependant, suggère que les institutions sociales peuvent stimuler la sensibilité sociale, d'encourager l'attachement au paysage naturel, et d'engager les responsabilités collectives. La communautaires ont agi d'une manière qui a bénéficié le groupe, avouant les droits individuels. Les obstacles et les facilitateurs à la gouvernance durable des ressources naturelles a émergé à partir du contexte local dans chaque cas, y compris l'affirmation de la propriété privée des parcelles de mangrove. Ils n'ont pas émergé comme une conséquence de la distribution et la dévolution de pouvoir à lui seul, que suggère la théorie CPR. Los teóricos de la gestión de "recursos de acervo común" [Common Pool Resource, CPR)] sugieren que la distribución y devolución de poder puede localizar decisiones trascendentales acerca de recursos naturales. El gobierno de Indonesia ha alentado la gestión colectiva de recursos naturales a través de comunas locales autogobernadas. También ha apoyado las decisiones tomadas por consenso respecto al uso, reparto y distribución de recursos naturales en los niveles de pueblo, distrito y comarca. La devolución, sin embargo, no ha dado a la mayoría de la población acceso a poder estratégico y estructural para decidir sobre la gobernanza de recursos naturales. Se discuten dos casos en Sulawesi. En el caso de la caza de murciélagos Sinjai, la devolución de la gobernanza colectiva quedó marcada por las diferencias, la competencia incontenida y la sobreutilización. La gerencia de los manglares de las costas de Sinjai, no obstante, sugiere que las instituciones sociales pueden estimular la sensibilidad social, fomentar la relación con el medio natural e instigar responsabilidades colectivas. Los miembros de la comunidad actuaron de tal manera que benefició al bien común, respetando los derechos individuales. Los factores que dificultaban y posibilitaban la gobernanza sostenible de recursos naturales emergieron en ambos casos del contexto local, incluyendo la afirmación de la propiedad privada de los lotes de manglares; no emergieron como consecuencia de la distribución y la devolución del poder en sí, como la teoría CPR sugiere.
2016
— Local participation, especially in natural resource management, has been promoted as a key strategy in the quest for sustainable development. Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is an approach that has generally been promoted as an institution that genuinely includes and empowers ‘local people ' in natural resource use and management. This paper examines how local participation in conservation projects works in practice by drawing on concepts from institutional and actor-oriented theories and applying a case study approach to examine community-based mangrove management at Jozani-Pete, Zanzibar. Here CBNRM became embedded within a conservation agenda that resulted in conflict, resistance, frustration and uncertainty amongst community members. The paper offers insight into how exogenously initiated CBNRM projects have difficulty gaining traction unless they both address existing power relations and deliver on promises of material benefits. If they fail to do so ...
Local people in Tongke Tongke of Sinjai District, located on southeast coast of South Sulawesi (Indonesia), began to rehabilitate the coastal condition through mangrove plantation following example of the Pangasa villagers. They extended plantation plots step by step by planting seedlings of Rhizophora mucronata and succeeded in establishing mangrove forests Nowadays, they can provide mangrove seedlings to other districts in South Sulawesi, such as Bulukumba, Maros and Bantaeng, through mangrove rehabilitation programs supported by the Department of Forestry. The study was carried out in areas where mangrove conservation and rehabilitation were initiated and promoted collaboratively by both local people and governmental institutions in order to clarify the role of community participation in utilization, conservation and management of mangroves. Since mangrove conservation requires long-term maintenance, the expectation of local people in terms of both short-term and long-term economic benefits to be obtained from mangrove rehabilitation should be taken into consideration.
2016
This undertaking is a follow-up study of the research conducted ten years ago on The Mangrove Rehabilitation Project in Taytay, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental: A View From Within the Community. The purpose is to ascertain the impact of the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project on the community after ten years. Data were gathered using the descriptive method of research and this was done by quantitatively (using numbers) and qualitatively characterizing the variables considered in this study. Although the orientation of this study is both quantitative and qualitative, the method of research lies heavily on the qualitative perspective. This study found out that the indiscriminate exploitation of the mangroves for commercial, aquacultural, and residential purposes had been reduced over the years in the community. The importance of mangrove forests in providing invaluable goods and services both in economics and environmental terms are well understood by all household respondents. The community also recognizes the biological support (fisheries, birds and ecosystems) and physical protection (i.e., mangroves play a significant role as windbreak and shoreline stabilizer and acting as a buffer in the context of the extreme weather phenomena) derived from the forest. Thus, there is an economic value experienced by the community from the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project. Also, this study concludes that when coastal fisheries are well managed by local communities, the foregone benefits of mangrove in terms of support for coastal fisheries can be considered. It implies that community-based restoration of mangrove forest proves to be effective. This in itself is a manifestation of the success of the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project. Hence, the sustainability of the project is dependent on how convinced the community is about the project's aims and objectives as well as on how they embrace and claim ownership of the project.
Sustainable Development, 2010
Using a soft systems narrative, this paper examines the implementation process growing out of a policy environment intended to promote the rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems. The analysis is based on research conducted 2007–09 in the Mahakam Delta in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. The rich and diverse natural resource base of the area has turned East Kalimantan into one of the wealthiest areas in Indonesia. The case from Mahakam reveals that there is no stakeholder consensus in terms of problem definitions and management priorities of the coastal delta area. Further, there are no institutional bodies or ‘guardians’ responsible for monitoring and facilitating the long-term sustainability of mangrove systems. There are also significant power imbalances in the system, not only between stakeholders, but also between the discourses of conservation and production. In order to ensure the long-term, sustainable governance of mangrove systems, these institutional and geopolitical issues will need to be addressed and adapted accordingly. Through a structured systemic inquiry, this analysis has explored the problem situation related to the sustainability of mangrove systems for coastal environments and people. The research shows the complexity in managing dynamic coastal systems subjected to rapid human induced biophysical changes exacerbated by a non-conducive policy environment aggravating the impact on the ground.The absence of this guardian implies that feedback and institutional learning is not inherent, making constructive adaptation of governance and management arrangements in this context unlikely. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
APN Science Bulletin
This study generally aims to synthesize the best practices and challenges in mangrove rehabilitation in the Philippines, Myanmar, Japan, China and India. It employed an in-depth review of secondary information such as policy documents and project reports, and participatory research activities with various mangrove stakeholders such as key informant interview and focus group discussion. Lessons and strategies obtained were used to develop a mangrove rehabilitation framework/guideline. The guideline was tested for suitability through case studies in the Philippines and Myanmar. It was concluded that mangrove rehabilitation will succeed if 1) it is built around an integrated and ecosystem-based approach that takes into account feedback between rehabilitation and other economic activities; 2) its scope is beyond mere planting; 3) local people are involved in planning and monitoring in addition to implementation; 4) all stakeholders are informed of their roles and responsibilities; and 5...
International Journal of Science and Management Studies, 2019
Mangroves support several forms of life, including terrestrial animals, marine animals and humans by providing direct benefits like a source of food and indirect benefits like a buffer against disasters and coastal protection. Community-based mangrove rehabilitation strengthening the benefits that can be availed by the community from mangrove forests for their well-being. This study mainly aimed to evaluate the Community-based Mangrove Rehabilitation in Quilitisan, Calatagan Mangrove Park-Marine Protected Area, Batangas. Specifically, described the progress of mangrove rehabilitation, assessed the major issues and concerns in Mangrove Rehabilitation, identified the best practices and strategies in Mangrove Rehabilitation, and identified the key considerations in mangrove rehabilitation in terms of policy and institution, scientific and ecological preferences, participatory approaches. This study utilized qualitative criteria which answered using Key Informant Interviews (KII). Results stated that through the cooperation of government agencies, non-government organizations and the local community through people's organization (PO), PALITAKAN (Pro Mangrove Alliance Implementing Team as Arm Quilitisan Advocate of Nature), the mangroves planted to rehabilitate the area and survived after seven years with 80% survival rate. The community is currently getting natural resources for both household and commercial uses and uses the area for ecotourism activities. However, the PO faces issues and concerns with regard to management. In addition, there are some best practices in planting, monitoring, management and livelihood activities and some key considerations in rehabilitation in terms of policy and institution, scientific and ecological preferences, participatory approaches.
Asian fisheries science, 2013
A study was conducted to understand the roles played by female and male members of the Talokgangan Concerned Citizens Association (TaCCAs) in the mangrove reforestation programme in Barangay Talokgangan, Banate, Iloilo, Philippines. When established in 1997, more members were men than women, but by 2010 most of the members of TaCCAs were women. Most members now are over 50 years of age, have elementary education, and have been residents since birth. Respondents reported that they joined the TaCCAs to help their community, to benefit from government projects, to organise as a group and to have other sources of income. Women’s participation was higher in the planning process, during meetings, nursery development and in maintenance, as well as in mangrove management and protection. Men were involved in the construction and maintenance of fences in the mangrove area. Some of the benefits the respondents enjoyed from the mangrove replanting included protection from strong waves during ty...