*Land Use Change and Sustainability*

be converted to mangrove forest use. Altogether, approximately 64% of the households needed compensation. This variable is important because it is an indication of long-term land use change, which could limit other potential valuable uses. Fifty percent of the Indo-Guyanese households requested compensation, while 65% of the Afro-Guyanese households and 100% of the households of mixed ethnicity required compensation if they were to allocate parcels of their estate to mangrove protection. This data is significant because it points to the issue of unwillingness of the households to collectively relinquish interest in lands for mangrove protection. A critical factor for successful mangrove restoration and/or management projects is favoring community allocation over household allocation. For titled lands, the interest may be owned similarly, except in special cases such as where separate lots have been awarded to persons.


### **Table 2.**

*Types of land tenure.*


### **Table 3.**

*Willingness to allow the growth of mangroves on private property.*


**43**

*Effects of Rural Land Tenure System on Mangroves Management in Corentyne, Guyana*

**3.5 Averting land use and tenure issues as it relates to the sustainable** 

private lands that are not assigned for specific purposes;

zoning activities for the most critical mangrove areas;

It has been recognized that local buy-in is necessary to support mangrove management. Additionally, awareness of the mangrove intervention project and proper timing of such intervention are important initial elements of a successful

A wide range of suggestions was put forward by the households as it relates to how the issue of sustainable management of mangroves at the community level

• consulting with the communities with the view of encouraging mangroves on

• addressing issues, such as land tenure, particularly in Region 6: issues related to private land ownership in mangrove areas. This would strengthen coastal

• identifying risks associated with changing policies and laws to protect

• designing a framework for controlling change in land use in areas where

• allocating unclaimed land, where mangroves exist to protective and productive

• evaluating private land, where mangroves exist with the view to compensate

• defining beneficiaries clearly in order to avoid the exclusion of certain house-

• facilitating traditional users of the area and those who need to go through the mangroves to access the intertidal flats and fishing grounds. This is particularly

These suggestions, in effect, form a list of recommendations to be evaluated and adopted by GMRP. It is suggested that the authorities place greater emphasis on improving local communities' knowledge about mangrove management, and their rights and responsibilities, through improved outreach programs. Further, reference was made to the need for consultations with the local communities before decisions that are likely to have great impacts on the land ownership are made. This suggestion is considered crucial because it can instruct the authorities to take precautionary actions and minimize conflicts. Some respondents suggested that—as a strategic approach to preservation of the vegetation—consideration be given to relocate some households that are found within proximity of locations where mangroves exist. However, after consideration of the extent of private lands, which ought to be brought under control for protection of the sea coast against the erosive action of the river current, the need to revisit the laws and regulations governing the 50 ft. extent from the shoreline for sea defense protection will have to be amended. The study has pointed to the fact that some residents are willing to commend portions of their private land toward mangrove protection—despite

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89610*

and acceptable mangrove management initiative.

could be addressed. The most important include:

mangroves;

mangroves exist;

mangrove forest;

holds from mangrove areas; and

relevant for the poor who own no land.

owners;

**management of mangroves in the study area**

#### **Table 4.** *Requirement for relinquishing land.*

*Effects of Rural Land Tenure System on Mangroves Management in Corentyne, Guyana DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89610*

It has been recognized that local buy-in is necessary to support mangrove management. Additionally, awareness of the mangrove intervention project and proper timing of such intervention are important initial elements of a successful and acceptable mangrove management initiative.
