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Measuring the benefits and costs of community education and outreach in marine protected areas

Author

Listed:
  • Leisher, Craig
  • Mangubhai, Sangeeta
  • Hess, Sebastiaan
  • Widodo, Hesti
  • Soekirman, Tri
  • Tjoe, Salomina
  • Wawiyai, Stevanus
  • Neil Larsen, S.
  • Rumetna, Lukas
  • Halim, A.
  • Sanjayan, M.

Abstract

Conservation organizations often invest considerable resources in education and outreach activities in and around marine protected areas (MPAs). The expectation is that such efforts will change local knowledge, attitudes and ultimately behavior. This is one of the first studies to assess the efficacy of using education and outreach activities to improve community knowledge and attitudes about an MPA. Random sample surveys in 2005 and 2010 (n=1213) before and after education and outreach activities are compared. Program budgets for the same period give the investment levels. With an investment level averaging US$24 per capita/year, the result was an average increase of 33% in “yes” responses across 15 indicators of knowledge and attitudes towards marine conservation. The increase in knowledge and positive attitudes was associated with a large decrease in “not sure” responses, suggesting that community members with fewer initial preconceptions are the most effective target for education and outreach activities. This study demonstrates that investments in MPA education and outreach can generate increases in local knowledge and positive attitudes, and changing knowledge and attitudes is expected to contribute to the long-term compliance with MPA regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Leisher, Craig & Mangubhai, Sangeeta & Hess, Sebastiaan & Widodo, Hesti & Soekirman, Tri & Tjoe, Salomina & Wawiyai, Stevanus & Neil Larsen, S. & Rumetna, Lukas & Halim, A. & Sanjayan, M., 2012. "Measuring the benefits and costs of community education and outreach in marine protected areas," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 1005-1011.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:36:y:2012:i:5:p:1005-1011
    DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2012.02.022
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Read, Andrew D. & West, Ronald J. & Kelaher, Brendan P., 2015. "Using compliance data to improve marine protected area management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 119-127.
    2. Martin, Carol L. & Momtaz, Salim & Jordan, Alan & Moltschaniwskyj, Natalie A., 2015. "An assessment of the effectiveness of in-situ signage in multiple-use marine protected areas in providing information to different recreational users," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 78-85.
    3. Smit, Izak P.J. & Roux, Dirk J. & Swemmer, Louise K. & Boshoff, Nelius & Novellie, Peter, 2017. "Protected areas as outdoor classrooms and global laboratories: Intellectual ecosystem services flowing to-and-from a National Park," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 28(PB), pages 238-250.
    4. Kaplan, Katherine A. & Ahmadia, Gabby N. & Fox, Helen & Glew, Louise & Pomeranz, Emily F. & Sullivan, Patrick, 2015. "Linking ecological condition to enforcement of marine protected area regulations in the greater Caribbean region," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 186-195.
    5. Wise, Sarah P., 2014. "Learning through experience: Non-implementation and the challenges of protected area conservation in The Bahamas," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 111-118.
    6. Júlia Marins Costa & Larry A. Swatuk & Alexandre Ferreira Lopes, 2022. "Identifying stakeholders and discussing a strategy for the participatory management of a protected area: the case of Engenho Pequeno, in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(11), pages 13260-13281, November.
    7. Bing Yu & Yuying Cai & Laiqun Jin & Bisheng Du, 2018. "Effects on Willingness to Pay for Marine Conservation: Evidence from Zhejiang Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Watson, G.J. & Murray, J.M. & Schaefer, M. & Bonner, A., 2015. "Successful local marine conservation requires appropriate educational methods and adequate enforcement," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 59-67.
    9. Venetia Alexa Hargreaves-Allen & Susana Mourato & Eleanor Jane Milner-Gulland, 2017. "Drivers of coral reef marine protected area performance," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, June.

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