The COHORTTheory of Change

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

Philippine Environmental Governance Project

(EcoGov)

CRConservation Result

Over 2 years biodiversity health increase at Pride sites as compared to control sites is shown by the following indicators: Increased coral reef health Increased fish numbers/biomass/species richness Increased invertebrate numbers /species richness Increased perceived fish catch

Changing our environment

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

KKnowledge

Changing minds MPAs can have significant community benefits for fisheries

and other economic opportunities (fish catch, alternative livelihoods, community cohesiveness and problem solving)

The local institutions and legal structure to manage MPAs exists

Examples of success exist in other communities around the Philippines which this community can emulate

CRConservation Result

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

AAttitude

Changing hearts Community members realize that it is “very important” to

begin to manage marine resources and that an MPA is the best locally available starting point for management

Shifts perceptions from negative fish crisis and inability to take action to a more pro-active, positive and empowered community that have been empowered to manage the MPA and thereby protect their marine resources and in effect secure their food security and livelihoods.

Shifts from negative attitudes that see MPAs as a restriction on their livelihood and fishing shift to perception of the MPA as a food security “bank of the sea” that brings benefits to the whole community and future generations in the form of dividends of increased fish catch around the MPA K

Knowledge

CRConservation Result

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

ICInterpersonal communications

Changing the dialogueThe dialogue shifts from a fatalist view of the decline in marine productivity as inevitable, to a call to action for the community to take a pro-active role in taking control of their marine waters through the MPA highlighting their ability to play a part in managing local marine resources.

Community discussion centers around what role each person / sector can take to help improve the MPA management and better manage the marine resources of their local coastline.

The majority of the community members have a voice and role in the maintenance and management of the MPA through the MPA management committee general assembly.

How to stimulate these conversations:These dialogues occur at community meetings (at village, municipality and provincial levels), church, radio talk shows, MPA guard houses, schools and festivals.

AAttitude

KKnowledge

CRConservation Result

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

Barrier RemovalBR Why are the behaviors not

occurring?Barriers to Behaviour Change: Lack of enforcement infrastructure and capacity Lack of disincentive for law breaking Lack of governance structure with clarity of roles and

responsibilities. Lack of alternative incomes for fishing in the MPAs. Social and biological isolation of individual MPAs

ICAttitude

AAttitude

KKnowledge

CRConservation Result

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

Barrier RemovalBR

Barriers Removal Options: MPA Governance (Monitoring, Planning, Management,

Organizational Development) MPA Enforcement Alternative Livelihoods – mari-culture and land based

livelihoods, user fees and community tourism services Scaling up social & biological MPA networks

Key stakeholders for implementation of Barrier Removal:Community FishersCommunity AdultsLocal support Institutions (NGOs, academic, Local

Government, civil society, police and enforcers, mayor, judiciary and National Government agencies)

Private Sector (development banks, local businesses, tourism industry)

MPA Management Committee

ICAttitude

AAttitude

KKnowledge

CRConservation Result

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

BCBehavior Change

Changing behaviorChanges in the behavior of community groups are:

Community members no longer fishing within the no take zone (NTZ) - Not fishing in NTZ (Community Fishers)

Community become vigilant in passing intelligence about intrusions through community watchdog and intelligence network - Reporting (Community Adults)

BRBarrier Removal

ICAttitude

AAttitude

KKnowledge

CRConservation Result

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

BCAttitude

TRThreat Reduction

BRBarrier Removal

ICAttitude

AAttitude

KKnowledge

CRConservation Result

Changing level of threatThe biggest direct threats to biodiversity health are:Poaching / Over fishing & Destructive Fishing Practices due to fishing in the MPAs.

These threats can be reduced when the MPA rules are actively enforced leading to an increase in arrests and prosecutions of intruders into the MPA. Also the Community Adults & Fishers voluntarily comply with MPA rules. This will result in less fish being taken from the MPAs.

“Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities”

Ground-truthing the Cohort ToC