discontinued in others (see below). For example, in parts of Taboria and Makinsi
districts, there is no mangrove logging ban according to some respondents. The
surveyed loggers (WE) operate in remote sites that are accessible only by canoes
from the main inland Koba and sell mangrove wood in Taboria that is the principal
port of Koba. The remoteness and difficult access to logging sites, combined with the
quick regeneration of the logged mangroves could explain why the local government
has not imposed any restriction on mangrove logging. For example, according to an
interviewed logger “there are no worries over replenishment because there is a
quick regeneration of almost 98% of logged mangrove areas”.
The second regime entails the partial restriction of mangrove logging in some of
the surveyed areas that affect fuelwood access and use for some groups such as
traditional salt producers (TSP). For example, in Balessourou district, traditional salt
producers indicate that the local government of the Koba sub-prefecture imposed in
2004 the ban of wood extraction from the mangrove forest. According to the salt
producers, this restriction was imposed following severe flooding in the area, which
apart from affecting the broader local communities also damaged the salt production
campsites and shortened the salt production season (Sect. 7.2.1). Interviews with
traditional and improved salt producers confirmed that the ban of mangrove logging
significantly reduced flooding due to the regeneration of the mangrove forest.
However, due to this ban, traditional salt producers depend much more on fuelwood
from upland forests and have to invest more to transport it to the ever-increasing
distances of the salt production campsites (Sect. 7.2.1). Reportedly, before the ban,
traditional salt producers in Balessourou district collected more than 95% of the
fuelwood needed for salt production from the mangrove forest (see below).
In Bentya district, the improved mangrove rice farmers (IMR) also reported a ban
on mangrove clearing for rice production following the irrigation development
undertaken in 1999 (Sect. 7.2.1). Most of these rice farmers belong to the Darabo
union, whose main objectives includes the protection of mangrove forest areas
between the irrigated farm perimeters and the inlets of seawater (Sect. 7.2.1).
Farmers believe that by protecting these mangrove forest areas, they may prevent
floods and damages to their rice fields, ensuring thus their food security. Furthermore, they also believe that mangrove forest cutting could reduce rainfall and cause
droughts, which could affect rice yields.
7.3.2 Timber Collection by Loggers and Salt Producers
First, we assess the average amount of wood harvested by traditional salt producers
(TSP) and loggers (WE). Salt producers collect on average of 40.41 tons per year,
mainly to be used for boiling the brine water to extract the salt (Sect. 7.2.1). This
wood is usually collected in the form of bunches either from deadwood (salt producers, TSP) or cutting live trees (loggers, WE).
Loggers harvest wood and timber mainly in two forms: “Type A” and “Type B”.
Type A timber is processed from logs that are about 6–7 m long, and is sold to clients
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B. S. Balde et al.
districts, there is no mangrove logging ban according to some respondents. The
surveyed loggers (WE) operate in remote sites that are accessible only by canoes
from the main inland Koba and sell mangrove wood in Taboria that is the principal
port of Koba. The remoteness and difficult access to logging sites, combined with the
quick regeneration of the logged mangroves could explain why the local government
has not imposed any restriction on mangrove logging. For example, according to an
interviewed logger “there are no worries over replenishment because there is a
quick regeneration of almost 98% of logged mangrove areas”.
The second regime entails the partial restriction of mangrove logging in some of
the surveyed areas that affect fuelwood access and use for some groups such as
traditional salt producers (TSP). For example, in Balessourou district, traditional salt
producers indicate that the local government of the Koba sub-prefecture imposed in
2004 the ban of wood extraction from the mangrove forest. According to the salt
producers, this restriction was imposed following severe flooding in the area, which
apart from affecting the broader local communities also damaged the salt production
campsites and shortened the salt production season (Sect. 7.2.1). Interviews with
traditional and improved salt producers confirmed that the ban of mangrove logging
significantly reduced flooding due to the regeneration of the mangrove forest.
However, due to this ban, traditional salt producers depend much more on fuelwood
from upland forests and have to invest more to transport it to the ever-increasing
distances of the salt production campsites (Sect. 7.2.1). Reportedly, before the ban,
traditional salt producers in Balessourou district collected more than 95% of the
fuelwood needed for salt production from the mangrove forest (see below).
In Bentya district, the improved mangrove rice farmers (IMR) also reported a ban
on mangrove clearing for rice production following the irrigation development
undertaken in 1999 (Sect. 7.2.1). Most of these rice farmers belong to the Darabo
union, whose main objectives includes the protection of mangrove forest areas
between the irrigated farm perimeters and the inlets of seawater (Sect. 7.2.1).
Farmers believe that by protecting these mangrove forest areas, they may prevent
floods and damages to their rice fields, ensuring thus their food security. Furthermore, they also believe that mangrove forest cutting could reduce rainfall and cause
droughts, which could affect rice yields.
7.3.2 Timber Collection by Loggers and Salt Producers
First, we assess the average amount of wood harvested by traditional salt producers
(TSP) and loggers (WE). Salt producers collect on average of 40.41 tons per year,
mainly to be used for boiling the brine water to extract the salt (Sect. 7.2.1). This
wood is usually collected in the form of bunches either from deadwood (salt producers, TSP) or cutting live trees (loggers, WE).
Loggers harvest wood and timber mainly in two forms: “Type A” and “Type B”.
Type A timber is processed from logs that are about 6–7 m long, and is sold to clients
230
B. S. Balde et al.