Determinants of participation of mangrove-dependent communities in mangrove conservation practices

• The study examines factors influencing mangrove management practices and builds a theoretical model for such practices.
• Household survey method is used to identify the factors responsible for mangrove conservation.
• Inappropriate government regulations and enforcement are main causes of mangrove reduction.
• Households perceive expanded property rights to extend horizontal and vertical networks.
• Sustained mangrove management and reversing policy failures need to address identified factors.

This article examines the factors that influence conservation practices in the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. It explores the relationship between mangrove density reductions and past and present management practices. It is a cross-sectional study based on a close-ended structured questionnaire (n = 412), measuring variables of interest from theory of property rights. Randomly selected cross-section of households in mangrove-dependent communities (MDCs) were interviewed. Results show that MDCs who engage in resource harvesting under the current property rights regime have less participation in, and lower motivation for, the conservation of mangrove resources. Strict management by the Forest Department results in lower commitment by the community to conservation. Conservation of resources could be achieved by the allocation of management roles to MDCs through expanded property rights. With the granting of these rights they would be very willing to engage in conservation management. The results suggest that constructing effective strategies to promote mangrove conservation require these two factors to be addressed if sustainable mangrove management is to be achieved.