Process and Interaction of Mangrove Co-management in Thailand

Abstract

This chapter presents a case of Thailand by highlighting the process and interaction of mangrove co-management among diverse stakeholders under the national and local contexts. Human activities caused alarming degradation of mangrove forests under the Thai state-control regime. Past failures of state management created the scope for mangrove co-management, mobilizing various stakeholders to promote mangrove conservation and management. The research identified three phases to highlight the reduction of mangrove forest vegetation related to anthropogenic pressures and adaptive responses to restore the forests, where more elaborations for mangrove rehabilitation and restoration have been done by the government authorities. The case studies from the local context indicated that local communities in collaboration with various stakeholders including the government authorities, NGOs, academics, schools, and private sectors started to be actively involved in mangrove conservation and management. The present situation in Thailand through case studies can be fallen into the category of “network” as heterogeneous stakeholders mobilized and shared their own resources and were committed to promote mangrove conservation. The lessons learned from both national and local contexts draw some implications about characteristics of mangrove co-management regime in Thailand.