Governing Through Networks: Working Toward a Sustainable Management of West Africa’s Coastal Mangrove Ecosystems - The Land/Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone of West and Central Africa - page 184

Governing Through Networks: Working
Toward a Sustainable Management of West
Africa's Coastal Mangrove Ecosystems

Dominique Duval-Diop, Ahmed Senhoury, and Pierre Campredon

Abstract
The West African coastal environment's extremely productive and biologically diverse
estuaries and mangrove ecosystems have suffered increasing stress due to natural and human-
induced pressures. Conserving biodiversity in this region is full of complexity as a result of
the myriad connections inherent in natural ecosystems and the variety of perspectives and
interests arising at multiple scales and out of varying social and cultural contexts. Therefore,
a participatory system of interregional governance is necessary in order to develop
appropriate solutions to achieve effective conservation. Two case studies are presented that
demonstrate the usefulness of the networked governance approach to engage actors as all
levels in the preservation of mangrove ecosystems. The Regional coastal and marine
conservation partnership in West Africa (PRCM) and the West African network of marine
protected areas (RAMPAO) demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinating local actions with
the development of national and regional policies. Challenges remain including the impact of
competing

goals, communication difficulties, uncertain funding, unequal capacity, and

political instability.

Keywords

Networked governance Mangrove conservation Marine protected area network Cross-

scale dynamics Participation

Context

The West African coastal and marine environment is
composed of extremely productive upwellings, estuaries
and mangrove swamps, rich fishing zones, and ecosystems
that are home to biologically diverse habitats and species.
Local and national economies depend on assets such as sand
and shells, minerals, oil, and tourism. A critical resource for
these economies and for the food security of coastal pop-
ulations remains the fish produced and harbored by these
ecosystems.
However, these ecosystems have suffered increasing
stress due to both natural and human-induced changes
emanating from a number of sources. Intensified environ-
mental degradation due to irresponsible exploitation of