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

ABSTRACT 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.