Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN MANGROVEMANAGEMENT OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN BALER, AURORA,PHILIPPINES

Arianne Reciproco, Jennyrose Suarez, Jonalyn Padilla, John Rick Flora,Maria Cristina B. Cañada, Charles R. Velasco and Novelyn Buhong

Abstract

Mangrove forests are among the most vulnerable ecosystems, necessitating unique protection regimes fromthe community through management and participation. Mangrove management is an efficient method ofpreserving and protecting forest functions while also providing a source of income for the surroundingcommunities. The study’s objective is to ascertain community awareness of mangroves and participationin mangrove management in selected areas of Baler, Aurora, and the correlations between communityawareness and participation. Three hundred thirty-five civilians from four distinct communities participatedin the study. The study made use of descriptive techniques such as questionnaires and field observations.The findings indicate that community awareness of mangroves is relatively high in selected coastal areas ofBaler, Aurora, with a weighted mean of 3.79. It was also noted that community participation in mangrovemanagement is moderate in the selected coastal portion of Baler, Aurora. Community awareness is positivelycorrelated with coastal communities’ participation in mangrove management in Baler, Aurora. Furthermore,the respondents’ perceptions of the mangrove management interventions and extension programs requiredby the community in Baler Aurora’s selected coastal areas to include natural mangrove protection, seminarson the importance of mangrove resources, at least annual mangrove maintenance, mangrove planting,training on mangrove nursery establishment and plantation management, and mangrove nurseryestablishment, ranked from highest to lowest. The study concluded that the community is aware ofmangroves’ characteristics, nature, and uses; they participate in mangrove management in a limited manner.Awareness has a positive effect on coastal communities’ involvement in mangrove management.