Barriers To Community Participation In Governance Standards Setting For Sustainable Mangrove Management In Lamu County
Scientific Research Publishing
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Abstract: This peer-reviewed study investigates institutional and legal constraints hindering community participation in designing governance standards for mangrove conservation in Lamu County, Kenya. Combining empirical field data with qualitative interviews, it reveals gaps in enforcement, procedural transparency, and policy coordination among government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations. The research finds that while communities acknowledge mangroves? ecological and economic value, their involvement in decision-making is marginal, largely due to limited legal awareness, absence of consultation protocols, and inadequate financial support. The authors recommend decentralizing governance structures, aligning mangrove standards with Kenya?s constitutional environmental rights, and investing in capacity-building for Indigenous groups and coastal CBOs. The paper offers a valuable model for integrating traditional knowledge, equity, and rule of law into ecosystem governance. It strengthens arguments for adaptive co-management approaches in coastal restoration and blue carbon planning.