MFG-global

Sustainable Mangrove forest governance around the globe? Mapping international regimes and national administrative responsibilities (MFG-global)

Funded by: Eva Mayr-Stihl Stiftung

Period: August 2023 – November 2024
Location: TU-Dresden, Germany
Project partners: Government of Bangladesh (GoBD), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC); International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO)
Envisage collaboration: IUCN, FAO, RAMSAR Secretariat, The Global Mangrove Alliance

Project Summary:
Mangrove forests are among the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems in the world. These forests are found in more than 120 countries worldwide. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow at the interface of land and water, ebb and flow, and fresh and salt water, and are usually found along tropical and subtropical coasts. Mangrove wood products are in high demand due to their natural resilience. However, non-timber products such as honey, fish & shrimp, and game are also hugely essential to the survival of local populations. The recent interest in further ecosystem services of mangroves as biodiversity hotspots, "blue carbon," and buffers against storm surges is a response to the urgency of global climate change and biodiversity loss. However, many of these mangrove forests suffer from degradation and deforestation trends for different reasons. Various international governmental and non-governmental organisations and specialised national administrations play a role in their administration and management. Thus, very different government agencies worldwide (e.g., ministries and agencies of agriculture, forestry, environment, fisheries, water transportation, civil defence, coastal defence, border protection, and even military) manage the use and protection of mangrove forests with overlapping or conflicting objectives and responsibilities. Our preliminary studies showed evidence that the jurisdictional architecture of lead and contributing national and international technical administrations also influence mangrove conservation, degradation, and ecological factors.

Therefore, as a desk-based inventory concerning mangrove forests, this project aims to

• Identify all relevant international organisations and agreements;
• Compile all lead national administrative authorities (ministries, departments or agencies) in mangrove countries worldwide;
• Analyse the increase or decrease in mangrove forest area (1990-2022) under typically encountered lead ministerial responsibilities in selected countries and
• Organise a digital international technical conference on administrative structures and mangrove forest management. In doing so, this project will provide crucial preliminary work for a follow-up proposal to a public funder yet to be selected.