a b s t r a c t
Mangrove resources are extensively harvested by urban-dwellers and rural community members across
West Africa. It is un-known how current legislation and policy tools used to manage this ecosystem
influence its sustainability in West Africa. However, current practices of mangrove wood harvesting are
affecting the sustainability of this ecosystem. This paper explores literature to identify government institutions
and legislations under which mangrove forests are managed, and critically analyzes the capacity
of these institutions and regulations in promoting the sustainability of mangroves forests. The
paper further uses mangrove wood harvesting and mangrove forests projects as case studies to assess the
appropriateness of these legislations, enforcement and contribution to mangrove forests sustainability in
West Africa.
Results indicate there are too many institutions, with devolved roles and responsibilities charged with
the management of mangrove forests. Countries of the region have ratified several international conventions
and are using associated national natural resources legislations to support mangrove forests
management. However, mangrove wood harvesting practices and patterns are almost un-regulated
across these countries. Mangrove wood harvesting is strongly influenced by gender type, physical
strength and market forces, rather than existing legislations under which mangroves are managed.
Government institutions have partnered with national and international NGOS to implement projects
that are contributing to alleviate anthropogenic pressures from mangrove forests. This marginal performance
is the result of limited logistic capacity, lack of sustained financial resources, inappropriate
legislations, policies, and lack of political interest, coupled with lack of data on the economic value of
mangrove forests across countries of the region.
Mangrove forests thus deserve appropriate regulations and policies that consider their socio-economic
and ecological peculiarities. Such legislations should highlight economic incentives that promote
ecosystem conservation; and management systems with good governance indicators that measure and
promote ecosystem health and stakeholders' interests.