Mangrove governance and conservation

Mangrove forests provide ecosystem services ranging from timber and food to storm protection to tourism. These services are prioritized differently by competing actors and economic sectors, complicating the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove forests. Further, mangrove ecosystems are found in over 100 countries, often crossing national borders and blurring the line between terrestrial and marine regions. Stewardship of mangrove ecosystems is therefore complex. A diverse array of governance approaches and policies have been implemented across the globe, with an equally diverse array of outcomes. Interdisciplinary and international collaborations are needed to untangle the relationships between governance and conservation outcomes on a global scale.

Working within large networks of collaborators, I seek to characterize mangrove governance on a global scale and understand relationships among governance, conservation outcomes, and socioeconomic dynamics. Research questions have included:

What is the role of good governance principles across various governance structures in mangrove socioecological systems? (Golebie et al. 2022. Conservation Biology).
What is the relationship between mangrove restoration and global sustainable development goals? (Gong et al. 2024. Journal of Cleaner Production).
What legal protections of mangroves exist at the national level and how are such policies related to political and economic conditions? (Slobodian et al. in review - preprint available).
How is mangrove cover loss associated with international trade dynamics? (Qu, Gong, et al. in review - preprint available)

This research has been funded by the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC).