TAKING STOCK: Community perception of a mangrove restoration and alternative livelihood program in the Verde Island Passage, Philippines

Abstract

Community-based management has a long history in the Philippines, especially when it comes to marine resources. The Verde Island Passage (VIP), located in the northern Philippines and dubbed the “center of the center” of the world’s marine biodiversity, is no exception. This case study looked at community perception of a mangrove protected area located in the VIP, in the small barangay (village) of Silonay, within the province of Oriental Mindoro. Using the Community Voice Method (CVM), this project sought to reveal the community’s perception of the current state of Conservation International’s mangrove restoration and alternative livelihood program established several years earlier. This study represents the first time CVM has been implemented specifically as a program evaluation tool.