Mangrove resource conflict and governance challenges in coastal social-ecological systems: A case in the Northern Negros, Philippines

Mangrove forests continue to decline due to anthropogenic pressures, yet governance responses often overlook the complex interactions among social, ecological, and institutional factors. While the Social-Ecological-Systems (SES) framework is widely applied, empirical studies integrating multi-stakeholder perspectives in the localized Philippine contexts remain limited. This study evaluates mangrove governance in Northern Negros, Philippines, by analyzing the perspectives of key stakeholders, including local communities, people’s organizations, local government units, and external actors. Using focus group discussions and a hybrid deductive-inductive approach, governance challenges were mapped across SES components, including resource conflicts, institutional arrangements, external interventions, financial mechanisms, and customary systems. Results reveal that governance challenges stem from misalignments between formal institutions and local socio-cultural practices, weak integration of customary rules, and inconsistent external support. Overlapping mandates and unclear enforcement structures reinforce resource conflicts. The study contributes a stakeholder-centered SES analysis that explains governance disconnects in a local coastal context. Findings highlight the need for inclusive, context-sensitive, adaptive governance approaches that strengthen local participation and align formal policies with community-based practices.