TDA-IME Project Final Report June, 2013 Policy development following the principles of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and using the ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture aims at achieving a balance between ecological well-being, human well-being and good governance. There is a close linkage between the policy objectives of economic development, providing for food, income and sustaining livelihoods and fisheries management, conserving biodiversity, habitats and resources. There is a need for specific policy development that addresses the small-scale sector and the promotion of diversification within it. This should reflect and respect the rights of the small-scale fishers, particularly in key areas such land tenure and access. Improved incomes and livelihood security is a clear need for many resourcedependent fishing communities and small-scale aquaculture communities. Incomes 78 are declining and the natural resource base is becoming increasingly degraded. Diversification is constrained by lack of coherence between national and local development planning and serious capacity and skills gaps. Local budgetary allocation/resourcing is rarely directed at natural resources and weak governance undermines many initiatives. Small-scale fishers and aquaculture communities are marginalized in development as they are often considered too poor and too difficult to work with. They frequently lack collateral or assets and there may appear to be limited options to diversify. These needs and constraints also apply to mangrove-dependent households, the majority of whom are similarly reliant on small-scale fishing and/or aquaculture. Mangroves for the Future (MFF) has found that small projects led by local NGOs or community groups can achieve positive results, when they address some of these issues in combination. Mangrove restoration activities alone may receive little community support, but when combined with alternative livelihood opportunities and measures to empower the communities, and/or enhance governance over coastal resources, many MFF projects were successful. These projects have generally combined coastal habitat conservation, and/or mangrove restoration/rehabilitation, with improved fishery-based livelihoods, aquaculture, or alternative (non-fishery based) livelihoods (MFF, 2011). MFF has also gained many other valuable lessons from the implementation of small grant projects, as summarized below: Recognizing the importance of empowering mangrove-dependent households, many of the projects involved collective action by forming, or supporting existing community groups, such as fisher cooperatives, womens’ groups and wildlife clubs for youths. Projects that helped introduce non-fishery-based livelihood activities to fisher households revealed the need to support marketing, as well as the production side of the activity. Taking time to understand local conditions and attitudes can be vital to project success, especially when dealing with very traditional communities suspicious of external influences. Educating people requires much thought and perseverance, and educational materials must be well designed to best suit their intended audiences. Project activities sensitive to climatic or weather factors, such as mangrove planting, horticulture and agriculture, must be timed very carefully and risk factors (for example, flooding) taken into account. Project managers should also be aware that local people may be unavailable to participate in project activities during peak seasons for agricultural or fisheries-related work. It is important to engage with local government; “engagement” ranged from simply informing local authorities about project activities, to setting up joint committees to facilitate multi-stakeholder involvement in local resource use planning. The level of engagement depended on whether the aim was just to seek official endorsement of the project, or to actually involve local authorities in its management. In many cases,
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis of Indochina Mangrove Ecosystems
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