Mangroves vital for livelihood

 THE educated see mangroves as a crucial part of the ecosystem and villagers see it as an important resource that supports community livelihoods and cultures.
Either way they all agree that there is a need to preserve it.
This is the clear message from a survey conducted by The Conservancy International (TNC) in Talasea and Hoskins, in West New Britain, where 240 people were interviewed. The survey is part of the Mangrove Rehabilitation for Sustainable Healthy Forests (MARSH) project.
The villagers were asked for their perceptions on mangrove management and in areas where there was no management at present.
They all felt that it was important that some form of management should take place.
The people said because of the management, they were seeing their mangrove area grow and improve, resulting in more benefits for them in the form of increasing fish and shell fish.
Many people said they fished and collected kina shells, mud crabs and other kinds of shells from mangrove areas almost every week.
More than 50% of people said they used mangrove to build houses as its wood was strong and long-lasting.
Others used mangrove for firewood. Mangrove is part of the global issue – climate change.