McGill University
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Gordon Hickey
Stanley Heckadon-Moreno
Start: 2019-09-01
End: 2021-05-25

Project

Enhancing the sustainable management of mangrove forests: the case of Punta Galeta, Panama
Despite being one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, mangrove forests are often inadequately managed. Management issues include noncompliance with mangrove protection laws, a lack of coordination among agencies, and habitat loss and degradation. Sustainable mangrove management (SMM) aims to address these issues and reverse trends of mangrove loss while empowering local stakeholders to participate in management processes. This research will investigate the case of Punta Galeta, a mangrove forest that is well-known for its environmental education program but imperiled by industrial development. Research objectives are, first, to understand how Punta Galeta’s mangrove management aligns with SMM recommendations; and second, to analyze policies that address emergent challenges in the management of mangrove forests throughout Panama.

Keywords

sustainable forest management, mangrove forests, policy analysis, stakeholder networks