1. Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities Philippine Environmental Governance Project (EcoGov)

2. CR Conservation 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

3. K Knowledge 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 CR Conservation Result Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities

4. A Attitude 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 CR Conservation Result Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities

5. IC Interpersonal communications Changing the dialogue The 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. A Attitude K Knowledge CR Conservation Result Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities

6. Barrier Removal BR 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 IC Attitude A K Knowledge CR Conservation Result Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities

7. Barrier Removal BR 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 Fishers Community Adults Local 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 IC Attitude A K Knowledge CR Conservation Result Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities

8. BC Behavior Change Changing behavior Changes 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) BR Barrier Removal IC Attitude A K Knowledge CR Conservation Result Strengthening MPA Management through Local Communities

9. BC Attitude TR Threat Reduction BR Barrier Removal IC Attitude A K Knowledge CR Conservation Result Changing level of threat The 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

10. Ground-truthing the Cohort ToC