Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community Managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on Guimaras Island, Philippines
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Hassig, Tyler
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Abstract
Community-based coastal resource management (CBCRM) strategies are commonly employed in developing nations to combat overexploitation from commercial (foreign) industries. In the Philippines, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) allow coastal communities to take ownership and control over their localized resources. A recent push in MPA science promotes feedback mechanisms to facilitate adaptive management strategies for increasing long term social and ecological welfare. This study utilizes participatory monitoring and evaluation tools to test the effectiveness of three MPAs on Guimaras Island, Philippines, in terms of socioeconomic, biophysical, and governance indicators. Indicators were tested through a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods, including: the MPA MEAT (Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool), Community Perception Surveys, and Substrate Coral Surveys (Reef Check methodology). Methods were analyzed individually and combined in a meta-analysis of 11 sub-indicators for MPA effectiveness. Socioeconomic Indicators were noted as the most critical to the early stages of MPA development, with little MPA impact observed on the biophysical environment. In particular community buy-in, MPA enforcement, MPA financing, and availability of alternative livelihood opportunities for stakeholders were sighted as limiting factors for MPA effectiveness. Results were displayed in a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) diagram for each MPA, highlighting prospects for MPA network and alliance building.