title: Policy challenges and approaches for the conservation of mangrove forests in Southeast Asia.
abstract: Many drivers of mangrove forest loss operate over large scales and are most effectively addressed by policy interventions. However, conflicting or unclear policy objectives exist at multiple tiers of government, resulting in contradictory management decisions. To address this, we considered four approaches that are being used increasingly or could be deployed in Southeast Asia to ensure sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. First, a stronger incorporation of mangroves into marine protected areas (that currently focus largely on reefs and fisheries) could resolve some policy conflicts and ensure that mangroves do not fall through a policy gap. Second, examples of community and government comanagement exist, but achieving comanagement at scale will be important in reconciling stakeholders and addressing conflicting policy objectives. Third, private-sector initiatives could protect mangroves through existing and novel mechanisms in degraded areas and areas under future threat. Finally, payments for ecosystem services (PES) hold great promise for mangrove conservation, with carbon PES schemes (known as blue carbon) attracting attention. Although barriers remain to the implementation of PES, the potential to implement them at multiple scales exists. Closing the gap between mangrove conservation policies and action is crucial to the improved protection and management of this imperiled coastal ecosystem and to the livelihoods that depend on them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, 117570, Singapore. dan.friess@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Friess
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, 117570, Singapore.
authors.forename: Benjamin S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Yayasan Hutan Biru-Blue Forests, Makassar, 90231, Sulawesi, Indonesia.|Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A Aldrie
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia.
authors.forename: Clint
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY, U.K.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Koldewey
authors.affiliation: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Situ Gede, Bogor, 16115, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sigit D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sasmito
authors.affiliation: Institute for Marine Research and Observation, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Jalan Baru Perancak, Negara-Jembrana, Bali, 82251, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sidik
mesh_terms: D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D058735:Environmental Policy; D065928:Forests; D053833:Wetlands
keywords: AMP; MPA; PES; PSA; REDD+; acuacultura; aquaculture; community-based management; decentralization; deforestación; deforestation; descentralización; gobierno; governance; manejo basado en la comunidad; marine protected area; pago por servicios ambientales; payments for ecosystem services; área marina protegida