Document
Metadata
Title
Etude de la mise en place d’une initiative de Paiements pour les Services Ecosystémiques (PSE) communautaires des mangroves de la Baie des Assassins, Sud-Ouest de Madagascar.
Authors
RAKOTOMAHAZO Cicelin
Research Topic
Abstract
Faced with the unprecedented decline of the world's mangroves, the Payment for
Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme has been considered as an important mechanism to increase
the effectiveness of their management. This is through the monetary incentives that it offers to
the farmers or forest owners in return for managing their land or forest. This present study of
the implementation of the PES project in the mangroves of the Baie des Assassins in the
Southwest of Madagascar aims to contribute to the sustainable management of the mangroves
of the bay and to the improvement of the livelihoods of the local communities through the
establishment of global knowledge on the implementation of the PES scheme.
To meet the objective, five parameters were considered using different methods: (i)
carbon stocks and mangrove ecosystem dynamics which were studied through forest
inventories and remote sensing, (ii) local perception of the implementation of the PES project
which was assessed using the participatory scenario planning method, (iii) planning of the PES
project implementation which was studied through participatory mapping and concept
modelling workshop, (iv) role of policy, legal and institutional frameworks which was
determined from the analysis of policy and legal documents and interviews with key
informants, and (v) profitability of the PES project which was assessed through the economic
valuation of the ecosystem services provided by the mangroves.
Results showed that higher stature closed-canopy mangroves in the bay were estimated
to contain 454.92 (±26.58) Mg.C.ha−1. The carbons stored in the soil are greater (337.83
Mg.C.ha−1) than those of the vegetation (60 Mg.C.ha-1). Remote sensing results indicated an
overall net loss of the mangroves 3.18% between 2002 and 2014 (i.e. 0.27% year-1). Although
the extent of mangroves in this area is relatively small (1,507 ha), these mangroves are of
critical importance to local communities. The integration of the carbons stored by these
mangroves into the PES scheme (carbon market) has therefore been suggested in order to
encourage the sustainable local management of mangroves, to improve local livelihoods and
to mitigate anthropogenic pressures. This suggested PES scheme was perceived by the local
communities as a potentially valuable approach for the sustainable management of their
mangroves. They perceived that the project would address the major socio-economic and
mangrove management problems in the bay as a result of the carbon offsetting from their
mangroves. Following this, each village proposed mangrove zoning composed of strict conservation zones (830 ha), sustainable use zones (1877ha) and restoration zones (1095 ha)
to be integrated into the PES schemes. We concluded that thanks to the participatory planning
approaches used (participatory mapping and concept modelling workshop), community
ownership of the project was strengthened and the chances of a successful mangrove
conservation was improved. Regarding the political and legal context, several initiatives in
sectoral policies that concern mangroves (environment, fisheries and land use planning)
support the implementation of the PES scheme. On the other hand, the inconsistency of the
texts concerning the status and the protection of mangroves, the lack of the legal frameworks
regarding the implementation of the PES schemes, the lack of coordination between the
concerned ministries, the sensitivity of national governance structures to the political context
of the country, and the limited governance capacity at the local level are the main obstacles to
the implementation of the PES project. These result in lower motivation among the local
communities to collaborate in mangrove conservation efforts. Despite these, results from the
economic valuation of mangrove ecosystem services showed the Total Economic Value of the
mangroves of the bay estimated at 950.23 ha-1year-1 and the Net profit brought by the project
is estimated at 6,3745.97 over the 20 years. We concluded that although the Net Profit is not
significant, the presence of the PES project of the bay (through the sale of carbon credits) brings
additional income to the local communities which will constitute an incentive for the
sustainable management of their mangrove forests.
Volume
1
Date of publication
March 17, 2022
Institution (University)
Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines
Page numbers (pp)
243