Urok Islands

Top environmental challenge faced by the community (currently or in the past 10 years):

The major environmental problem is decreasing coastal-marine and forestry natural resources, as a result of a growing local population, increased immigration of 'outsiders' seeking livelihood opportunities, and globalization.

How the environmental challenge has affected local livelihoods:

Decreasing natural resources has placed an extreme burden on a community with few alternative livelihood options. This has led to the introduction of cash crop production (i.e. cashew plantations), and in some instances increased harvesting of coastal-marine natural resources. For example, shellfish are of great importance to the cultural ceremonies of the Bijago people and there stock status is therefore pertinent to this social-ecological system.

Community response to the challenge, through environmental stewardship (conservation) initiatives that improve environmental well-being and support sustainable livelihoods:

In response to decreasing natural resources the community initiated the idea of forming the Urok Islands Community-Managed Marine Protected Area (CMPA). This was also inspired by the creation of nearby State-Managed MPAs in for example Orongo National Park. With extensive support from local NGO Tiniguena, the CMPA and its management committee was formed. The idea of forming the CMPA was to protect the community's natural resources for future generations and to improve their standard of living through the provision of basic services (e.g. schools and clinics).

The extent to which the response was successful or otherwise:

The CMPA has officially been in existence since 2005. However, due to a lack of active state support and in general a lack of capacity and long-term financial support, the CMPA has struggled to maintain/ restore levels of natural resources. Furthermore, a growing local population, and perhaps more importantly an increase in immigration of 'outsiders' to the islands has resulted in further pressure placed on the natural resources. Thus, efforts are currently ongoing to stem the decline of natural resources, and increase 'community buy-in' into the conservation approach through providing benefits, which to date are perceived to be limited by the community.

Extent to which governmental policy (at local, regional or national levels, as relevant) has supported, or been contrary to, the community's responses to the environmental challenge:

The formation of the Urok Management Committee was supported by the State, and received legal recognition in July 2005. State involvement is via the 'autonomous' conservation agency IBAP. Furthermore, numerous other partners sit on the management committee, though active involvement of many of these partners is believed to be limited.

Keywords: Ecosystem

Agricultural, Coastal, Mangrove, Marine

Keywords: Resources

Fish, Forest, Land

Keywords: Big Issues

Climate change, Land use, Resource use, Urbanization

Keywords: Solutions

Ecological Restoration, Empowerment, Governance/Management, Protected areas

Contributed by: Wayne Stanley Rice, University of Cape Town

The information provided and opinions expressed above are the responsibility of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views and analysis of the Community Conservation Research Network (CCRN), nor those of all members of the community described.

For any questions or comments on Communities in Action, please contact us here.