Impact of Ecotourism on Local Community’s Participation in Coastal Resource Management: Case of Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS) in Northern Luzon, Philippines

The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) managed by the community has been a popular tool for coastal and resource management in the Philippines. As the MPAs limit the use of the resources, the eco-biological components of the marine environment have been preserved and maintained, which opened opportunities for ecotourism activities. Thus, ecotourism has been developed as one way of gaining economic benefits from the coastal and marine resources while conserving biodiversity and restoring critical habitats by shifting resource exploitation from an extractive to a non-extractive usage. This study was conducted using household surveys and key informant interviews to investigate whether ecotourism's development affects the local community's participation and support on MPA management using the case of Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS) in northern Luzon, Philippines. The respondents recognized the impacts of ecotourism on their family welfare, fishing activities, and involvement in MPA management. In particular, ecotourism development strengthens local communities' support for coastal resource management, especially if it provides enough sources of income. The results of this study could provide information to resource managers and policymakers on crafting sustainable ecotourism and alternative livelihood policies in MPAs, taking into account its possible impacts on the coastal fishing communities.

Assessing local community resilience to tsunami in a small port (Case Study: Sadeng Port, Indonesia)

Coastal community is vulnerable to hazards including tsunami hazard. Coastal communities suffer the most both physical and psychological impacts. The main purpose of this research to assess local community resilience to tsunami in small port which has a unique characteristic. Main data of this research was collected by field observation and interview. Interview process were addressed to key persons and households. USAID coastal community assessment is used as main method in this research. There are eight elements of resilience for coastal community resilience: governance, society and economy, coastal resource management, land use and structural design, risk knowledge, warning and evacuation, emergency response and disaster recovery. The results show that overall rating for eight elements of community resilience is 2,5 or 50 %. It is only halfway to reach an ideal criterion for community resilience. Strong elements in this community are risk knowledge and warning and evacuation, while weak elements are society and economy, coastal resource management, and disaster recovery. The community should gain more effort especially in developing a sustainable economy and strengthening integration among stakeholders for disaster recovery.

Understanding Local Perceptions of the Drivers/Pressures on the Coastal Marine Environment in Palawan, Philippines

The Philippines, as a tropical archipelagic country, is particularly vulnerable to environmental changes affecting coastal and marine settings. However, there are limited studies investigating how these changes are perceived by the local populations who depend directly on the marine environment for their livelihoods, health, and well-being, and who are the most vulnerable to such changes. To explore these issues, we conducted an in-home face-to-face structured survey in 10 coastal communities in Palawan, Philippines (n = 431). As part of the survey, respondents were asked to comment on how important they believed a list of 22 drivers/pressures (e.g., “land-use change”) were in affecting their local marine environment. Statistical analysis of this list using Exploratory Factor Analysis suggested the 22 drivers/pressures could be categorized into 7 discrete groups (or in statistical terms “factors”) of drivers/pressures (e.g., “urbanization,” “unsustainable fishing practices” etc.). We then used ordinary least squared regression to identify similarities and differences between the perspectives within and across communities, using various socio-demographic variables. Results suggested that among the seven identified factors, four were perceived by the local communities as making the marine environment worse, two were perceived as having no impact, and one was perceived to be making the marine environment better. Perceptions differed by gender, education, ethnicity, and study site. A subsequent survey with 16 local coastal resource management experts, suggested that public perceptions of the most critical drivers/pressures were broadly consistent with those of this expert group. Our findings highlight how aware local coastal communities are of the drivers/pressures underpinning the threats facing their livelihoods, health, and well-being. Ultimately, this information can support and inform decisions for the management of local marine resources.

Gender Relationship Analysis in Coastal Resources Management in Fishermen's Households: Functional Structural Theory Perspective

The results showed that gender relations in the management of coastal resources in fishing households took place in the following activities: fishing; making fishing lines; netting; net embroidery; fish transportation; fish preservation; and sale of fish. Of the seven activities, the wife plays a role in almost all coastal resource management activities, except for fishing activities. In addition, the wife does all domestic roles while the husband only focuses on the public role and does not involve himself in the domestic role. In view of the structural-functional theory, the results of this study illustrate that gender relations in coastal resource management in fishing households indicate a power relationship and status differences between men and women. The involvement of the wife (woman) in almost all activities is a form of integration (integration) carried out by the wife (woman) to maintain the continuity of the household and maintain the balance of the family integrity system, although this role is not balanced but complementary. The results of this study also show that gender relations in the management of coastal resources in fishermen's households have ideologically “perpetuated” male domination and gender stratification in fishermen's family institutions and society in general.

COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT and FISH CATCH MONITORING SYSTEM

This study designed and developed a Coastal Resource Management and Fish Catch Monitoring System for Northern Negros Aquatic Resources Management and Advisory Council (NNARMAC). It specifically examined the quality of the developed software based on McCall’s Software Quality Model. It also determined the level of system acceptability based on the required application functionality, provided a fast easy way to store raw fish catch data, and generated a report that shows statistics of fish catch data monthly and annually. The system is connected to the NNARMAC Website which enables the user to post updates and news about their Coastal Area. The research process from conducting a preliminary survey to initial design until the developed system underwent evaluations, reviews, and updates. Findings revealed that the developed system has passed all the criteria based on McCall’s software quality model. It is concluded that the system is highly acceptable by the end-users and provides a fast and easy way to monitor the fish catch data.

Local wisdom regarding coastal resource management among a fishermen community in Youtefa Bay, Papua.

One model of ownership of access and the management of coastal and marine resources is a communal property widely applied to indigenous peoples who have ”hak ulayat” (customary rights) over coastal and marine areas. This article aims to analyze and deeply describe the traditional knowledge systems and coastal resource management of the Tobati-Enggros coastal fishermen. This research is a qualitative descriptive study using an ethnographic approach. The data collection techniques used were in-depth interviews and field observations. The data analysis is interpretive descriptive. The results showed the traditional maritime knowledge system in Tobati-Enggros fishers includes the nature of the marine coast, fishing gears, types of fishing, and fishing season. Management of Coastal Resources is also regulated in the Customary Authority under the leadership of ”Keondoafian” (tribal chief) by implementing Manjo in managing coastal resources. This shows that the existence of Manjo customary law and subsistence utilization patterns, based on traditional knowledge systems, the Tobati-Enggros fishing community has local wisdom values closely connected with the aim of marine conservation.

Sustainable marine conservation, baselines, and systematic monitoring—a few lessons from coastal resource management in the Philippines

This review shares lessons learned from the establishment of early marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Philippines about the need to establish baseline information, do systematic monitoring of the status of the marine environment, and to progress towards more integrated forms of management that involve key stakeholders in coastal areas. The tendency for human society to change its perception of what is “normal” through the phenomena of “shifting baselines” is pointed to as a reason why more concerted action is not taken to stop the downward trends of Philippine coastal resources and environment. The small MPAs of Apo, Sumilon and Olango Islands as well as the large Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, are cited as examples of how the establishment of baselines and the implementation of effective monitoring over time for both biophysical and governance parameters, has been instrumental in maintaining and improving the quality of the marine environment and bringing benefits to people. The development of integrated coastal management and coastal resource management programs within local government units is explained as a way of harnessing local institutions to lead the way towards improved management and stewardship of coastal resources and provide tangible benefits to coastal communities. And, the role of national government is highlighted as a facilitator and a source of technical support to local governments in the implementation of marine conservation and coastal resources management. Finally, the significant influence of Dr. Angel Alcala in marine conservation in the Philippines is noted through his research and related conservation efforts for small-island and fisheries management and his mode of sharing results with local communities and governments so that they could learn from their own mistakes and successes and become better stewards of their resources. KEYWORDS: Apo, community, coral reefs, Sumilon, tourism, Tubbataha