Investigating Mangrove Restoration Through Science, Community Knowledge, and Socio-Cultural Orientations

Abstract

This research project touches on various problematic aspects of ecosystem management, e.g. information gaps, recognition and acceptance of local knowledge and capabilities, and balancing biodiversity conservation with local socio-cultural dimensions. Field research took place in Barangay Cayucyucan, Municipality of Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Philippines between July 12-17, 2005. The first phase of this study began by investigating the use/accuracy and value of local environmental knowledge in the design of a mangrove restoration project aimed at reconstructing original forest compositions within the denuded mangrove forest areas of Barangay Cayucyucan. By using a standing mangrove forest within the barangay, and standard mangrove forest ecological assessment processes, locally generated knowledge/data was compared to that of scientifically obtained data. It was found that both sources were able to generate comparable data with respect to what and where mangrove tree species grew relative to soil composition and tidal regimes. However, a divergence in species composition within the forested study area was evident. Accordingly, the use of local knowledge in identifying past species composition in a denuded mangrove area within the barangay boundaries was also limited and seemingly dependent on how long the area had been deforested.

Scientific and community knowledge were used to design separate mangrove restoration plans; scientific processes and local knowledge designs differed. 'Best fit' scientific knowledge in relation to what tree species could be successfully planted in the denuded forest site based on soil parameters , tidal regimes, and and available mangrove forest literature and adjacent mangrove forest site assessment incorporated nine species of mangrove trees, where local plans introduced only three species into their plans. Divergence between the two restoration designs was attributed to the community's pragmatic view of restoration processes formed through past reforestation experiences and in-depth knowledge of the physical forces that impact the area. Accordingly, when community socio-cultural orientations and mangrove forestry management options were discussed (Community Based Forest Management Agreement and Protected Area Establishment) through Participatory Analysis Research and focused group discussions, the choice of management option as a reflection of 'sustainability' to proposed restoration efforts.

Results of this research demonstrate that scientifically generated knowledge differ from local knowledge temporally and spatially as a matter of perception and as a factor of the logistical parameters that most often govern field research. Research demonstrated that scientific generalities relative to mangrove forest ecology is innately known and understood locally, but how this knowledge differs in application needs further study. From the study, a precautionary note to mangrove restoration process was formulated: if there is a lack of mainstream baseline information needed to restore a mangrove forest's original biodiversity composition, amalgamating local working knowledge with 'science' seems to be a plausible process to follow, but with caution, and the sole use of scientific knowledge should be approached with equal reserve.