What Do They Think?

1
What Do They Think?

• Community Perceptions of an NGO Facilitated
  Coastal Management Initiative
• San Miguel Bay, Bicol

Brian Wright Hart Fellow, Duke University Institut
e of Social Order, ADMU
2
Why Perceptions?

• Practically
• Rich, if imperfect measure of ecological impact
• Measure of subject/experienced impacts
• Predictor of future success and sustainability
• Philosophically
• Understand local knowledge
• For a program that seeks
• Social justice
• Empowerment
• Behavior change

3
Research Context

• San Miguel Bay
• High exploitation
• Declining productivity
• Previous management attempts
• Challenging political boundaries
• Institute of Social Order (ISO)
• 1998 Community Based program
• Sanctuaries, Livelihoods, Education, Enforcement
• Expansion and Co-Management

4
The Communities

• Quinapgauian
• Mercedes
• Reef and soft bottom fishing
• Core ISO program area
• Cayucyucan
• Mercedes
• Soft bottom fishing
• ISO expansion area
• Taba-Taba
• Basud
• Soft bottom (buli-buli)
• Non program area

5
Highlighted Findings

• With increased intimacy comes greater impact, but
  greater division
• Quinapaguian
• Generally high levels of knowledge, impact
• A community divided
• Strong critiques
• Cayucuycan
• More superficial understanding and lower impact
• Less critical
• United focus on illegal fishing
• Taba-Taba
• No familiarity aside from of Bantay Dagat
• Weaker environmental knowledge
• Escalating stalemate with Bantay Dagat
• Some potential for change

6
Conclusions and Application

• Role of education
• Need to consider political boundaries and
  adjacent program areas
• Addressing inevitable conflicts
• Awareness of internal and inter-community
  dynamics
• Understanding the distribution of burdens and
  benefits
• Connecting program elements, especially
  livelihood assistance