Exploring sustainable mangrove management policy, challenges and structure: a case study of Nadi and Momi districts, Fiji Island

Besides being socially and ecologically beneficial for Fiji’s human needs, mangrove management often clashes with development interests, such as tourism threatening their sustainability. To address these issues, the study analyzes mangrove management in practice, especially governance and institutional arrangements at the local level, to better understand how these arrangements function and influence mangrove resources. The study highlights the experiences of four villages within the Momi and Nadi districts, which gives us rich insight into the local-level dynamics of mangrove management within different types of arrangements over mangrove forests. A total of four types of surveys and analysis were conducted in this study including content analysis, talanoa sessions,, questionnaire surveys and an ecological survey. The study found that the existing legallframework indicated several challenges that have contributed to the poor management of mangroves over the years. This includes fragmented policy, lack of clarity on jurisdiction over mangrove resources among multiple ministries and these aspects are challenges highlighted in the study. The mangrove structure in the Nadi mangrove area changed drastically over the years, whilst in Momi, the changes are not visible, both indicated by the respondent .(Ecological survey shows that the Momi district`s mangorve forest has the highest tree densities when compared to Nadi district. The findings of this study are expected to substantially impact sustainable management strategies in addressing the environmental, social and economic impact of development on mangrove loss. The study recommends a mechanism such as PES to sustainably manage mangrove ecosystems and support policy implementation.

红树林管理虽对斐济的社会与生态需求兼具多重益处，却常与开发利益产生冲突，例如旅游业正威胁着红树林的可持续性。为解决此类问题，本研究针对实践中的红树林管理展开系统性分析，重点聚焦地方层面的治理模式与制度安排，以深入明晰此类安排的运作逻辑及其对红树林资源的影响机制。本研究重点呈现了莫米（Momi）与纳迪（Nadi）两区共四个村落的实践经验，借此得以深入洞悉不同红树林管护制度安排下的地方层面红树林管理动态。本研究共实施四类调研与分析手段，包括内容分析法、塔诺阿会话（talanoa sessions）、问卷调研及生态调研。本研究发现，现有法律框架存在诸多弊端，长期以来制约了红树林的有效管护，具体包括政策碎片化、多部门间对红树林资源管辖权界定模糊等，上述问题均为本研究重点指出的管护挑战。受访者反馈显示，纳迪片区的红树林群落结构多年来发生了剧烈变化，而莫米片区则未出现明显变化。（生态调研结果表明，与纳迪区相比，莫米区的红树林拥有最高的林木密度。）本研究成果有望为制定可持续管护策略提供重要支撑，以应对开发活动对红树林流失造成的环境、社会与经济影响。本研究建议引入生态系统服务付费（Payment for Ecosystem Services, PES）等机制，以实现红树林生态系统的可持续管护，并助力相关政策落地实施。