Perceptions and Uses of Togbin-Daho Mangrove in Southern Benin
Abstract
Postulating that the local perceptions made out of the use of the mangrove resources
induce their degradation, this endogenous research article aims to scrutinize the soportrayed
social
phenomenon
through
the
lens
of
qualitative
method
principles.
In
order
to
formulate
its
objectives
the
ongoing
research
has
adopted
direct
observation
and
semistructured
interview conducted with sixteen respondents systematically sampled along
the diversification and saturation lines. As a matter of fact, one of the requirements of the
sustainable development paradigm seems to be the responsible exploitation of the
natural resources continuously threatened and endangered by the impacts of climate
change. Such a responsible use is not always respected within some communities. As a
result, emerges the destruction of resources like the Togbin-Daho mangrove in Southern
Benin. The findings analyzed and discussed against the backdrop of the theories of social
representations and tragedy of the commons reveal that the perceptions of the riparian
population about the Togbin-Daho mangrove substantiate their way of use, and thereby
its destruction.