Community Participation in The Planning And Management of Marine Protected Areas: A Study of Kenya and the Philippines.

Abstract

Chapter 1: Theoretical Context This chapter explores relevant literature, starting with that on sustainable development and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in 1992. Trends in centralized and decentralized processes of development, specifically in regard to marine management, are also discussed, and existing frameworks to assess the successes of MPAs are scrutinized. This literature review indicates the theoretical context of the topic, and reveals the gaps in current knowledge. Chapter 2: Research Approach Chapter Two provides a description of methods used to collect data, which include (but are not limited to) interviews, participatory rural appraisals, personal observations, and literature searches. The chapter also explains how data were compiled and analyzed. Chapter 3: Placing the Study Sites in Context In order to understand the present-day impacts of the two MPAs on their respective communities, it is necessary to examine their respective histories. This chapter provides such information, and presents a brief overview of their geographies, socioeconomics, and tourism industries. Chapter 4: Results Chapter Four presents summaries of all data collected over the two month period in both study sites. As will be discussed, interviews generated both quantitative and qualitative information. This chapter not only compiles quantitative data, but also seeks 13 to reduce qualitative information into comprehensive tables and charts. Finally, because I gathered extensive amounts of information over the period of two months, only that directly relevant to the thesis question will be provided. Excluded data will be available on a webpage, to which interested individuals will have access. Stakeholders in the two countries will be especially encouraged to visit this link. Chapter 5: Data Analysis and Discussion This chapter discusses and analyzes trends in the data collected. Perceived impacts of the MPAs upon community members are examined, grouped as either benefits or costs, and related to broader notions of sustainability. The chapter concludes with a description of the successes and failures of both MPAs. Chapter 6: Conclusions and Policy Recommendations Using the information compiled in the previous five chapters, we revisit the question of how MPA sustainability is affected by the participation of community members in management processes. Policy recommendations are then suggested for both Kenya and the Philippines. Information for these two sections comes from data collected at the study sites, literature studied, and ideas about the lessons Watamu and Apo Island can offer one another.