Strengthening Community Participation in Biodiversity Conservation

Poverty, increasing population pressure, and lack of education and awareness, commonly result in destructive habits of the marine environment. Lack of capacity of local community in natural resource management and governance, killing of sea turtles, mangrove destruction and poor implementation of government policies regarding natural resource management are among the causes of a disintegrating coastal and marine ecosystem. Inadequate alternative livelihood spurred by high levels of poverty, unemployment and demand for fuel wood and building poles has led to unsustainable utilization of mangrove resources thus altering forest ecosystem and diminished carbon sequestration capabilities.