A socio-ecological appraisal of perceived risks associated with mangrove (Mānawa) management in Aotearoa New Zealand

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Why have mangroves and their ecosystems been so hotly contested over the last quarter century in the Aotearoa New Zealand’s northern waters? Central to ‘mangrove mania’ are multiple, competing and often antagonistic perceptions of the perceived risks posed by mangrove presence, their removal, and efforts to restore them. So how did we get to this? This paper explores the way perception, science knowledge, and policy on mangroves have changed over the last 50 years. We offer a re-evaluation of existing knowledge on the mangrove removal debate by considering what is ‘perceived to be a risk’ by the various groups involved. By doing this, we offer a more nuanced understanding of the multiple perspectives on removal as well as the on-going influence of science and policy. In addition, we provide some thoughts on how holistic estuary management (and ecosystem-based management) will be influenced by different perceptions of risk and uncertainty.