Applying the social-ecological systems (SES) framework for sustainable mangrove management: A case study of Quanzhou Bay, China

Abstract

In response to the global call for ecosystem restoration, countries with extensive mangrove coverage have committed to ambitious restoration targets. However, challenges such as complex environmental dynamics, fragmented governance systems, and limited participation from stakeholders persist, underscoring the need to better understand the mechanisms essential for sustainable and effective mangrove management. This study aims to unravel the underlying mechanisms and implementation pathways for sustainable mangrove management through a qualitative case study in Quanzhou Bay, China. Data were collected through literature and policy reviews, alongside semi-structured interviews with 14 stakeholders, and were analyzed using an adapted Social-Ecological System (SES) analysis framework focused on three core subsystems—Environmental Commons, Governance System, and Action Groups. Our findings reveal that sustainable mangrove management depends not only on ecological conditions and institutional design, but also on inclusive, adaptive governance and meaningful stakeholder participation. Notably, effective governance models facilitate the delivery of multifunctional ecosystem services by mangroves, including ecological, social-cultural, and intrinsic values. Furthermore, the collective participation of stakeholder—fostered through contracts, collaboration, and consensus-building—is crucial for promoting sustainable mangrove governance. This evidence-based understanding of how social-ecological factors, ecosystem services delivery, and stakeholder engagement can inform the development of tailored management strategies in other mangrove regions worldwide, supporting the restoration goals of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.