Component 5. Resource and Habitat Management
5.4.1. Develop guidelines based on regional synthesis of experiences in community-based seagrass management
1. Rationale
In recent years, it was obvious that, success of coastal resource management in some localities in the region was mainly based on new management approach: decentralization of authority. This type of management approaches was defined as “community-based management”. This is different with the previous management system, where all decisions done by local administration only. The major purposes of some regional seagrass demonstration site were “community-based management” (Kampot-Cambodia; Hepu, Liusa-China; Bintan-Indonesia; Puerto-Galara-Philippines; Patani-Thailand, Thuy Trieu-Viet Nam). The regional review and synthesis of experiences in community-based seagrass management from these demonstration sites and from the other ones in the form of guideline are very indispensable. The guideline after intensively discussion, revision and refinement should disseminate to the region for common use.
2. Preliminary content of guideline
The guideline includes some elements following:
2.1 Synthesis of regional community experiences of empowerment in seagrass resource management. Review of community participation of multi-sectoral stakeholders to ensure high consensus in seagrass resource management. This also includes synthesis of regional experiences on increasing support of local government and creating volunteer network in seagrass resource management.
2.2 Synthesis of regional community experiences on stakeholders’ equity in seagrass resource management. Local seagrass resource users are allowed freely participate in decision making in seagrass management and are equitable represented in local leadership. This also includes gender equity.
2.3 Synthesis of regional experiences on solving user’s conflicts with seagrass beds.
2.4 Synthesis of regional community experiences on local and traditional knowledge and resource patrolling/monitoring.
2.5 Synthesis of community experiences on exploitation, utilization, protection and rehabilitation of seagrass resource.
2.6 Synthesis of regional community experiences on protecting rare, precious and threatened species in seagrass beds.
2.7 Synthesis of community experiences on livelihood alternatives
2.8 Synthesis of community experiences on finance sustainability and revenue in community-based seagrass management.
3. Implementation measures
3.1 Regional network: It is expectative that members of the current existing regional working group on seagrass to bear the responsibility for collectively developing guideline. It is necessary to assign experts to prepare the draft guideline.
3.2 National meeting: National seagrass focal points are responsible to organize the meeting to get information, data on good experiences in community-based seagrass management
3.3 Regional meeting: National seagrass focal points, demonstration site managers or their alternates will gather information, data and bring them to the meeting for discussion, amendment and improvement
3.4 Use of website: All comments, information-share and exchange of viewpoints to carry out through webpage of the UNEP/GEF/SCS project in sub-component e-forum.
3.5 Funds: Funds need to be available to support national and regional networking meetings and travels on official business (details to add in the next stage).
5.6.1. Replicate successful models for conservation and management of seagrass for use in region
1. Rationale
In recent years, there are some effective models of marine and coastal resource management established, such as marine parks (government), marine protected areas (government), community-based management (indigenous peoples, local communities), co-management (collaborative, transboundary, demonstration sites, joint management) and private management (individual or corporate land owners, NGO, indigenous peoples). It is imperative to review and synthesise these management models with satisfactory results in order to replicate for common use in the region. The majority of the existing models aim at to manage coastal resources, including seagrass. This sub-component will focus mainly on models of seagrass management.
2. Implementation measures
2.1 Regional network: It is hopeful that managers from seagrass demonstration sites, marine protected areas, marine parks, representatives of communities, members of the current existing regional working group on seagrass and some relevant scientists will take part in the network.
2.2 National meeting: National seagrass focal points are responsible to organize the meeting to get information, data on effective management models of seagrass.
2.3 Regional meeting: Members of regional network established to take part in annual regional meetings. They will bring information and data to the meeting for discussion and improvement. Assignment of experts to synthesise the documents are necessary.
2.4 Use of website: All comments, information-share and exchange of viewpoints to carry out through webpage of the UNEP/GEF/SCS project in sub-component e-forum.
2.5 Funds: Funds need to be available to support national and regional networking meetings and travels on official business (details to add in the next stage).
