Institutionalized Mangrove Conservation at the Local Governance Level: The Case in the Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines

Abstract

Mangrove conservation in the Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines, is institutionalized through national and local policies that prioritize biophysical and ecological values. Yet non-compliance among local resource users persists, signaling a disconnect between top-down governance and the socioeconomic and cultural realities of affected communities. Using an ecological-anthropological lens, this study examines the sustainability and efficacy of these conservation programs and assesses how local political institutions regard the welfare of the communities they affect. A qualitative case study drew on semi-structured key informant interviews with seven (n = 7) informants — three barangay captains and four municipal environmental officers, one each from the four municipalities of the Camotes Islands, supplemented by informal interviews and field observations. Thematic analysis of the interview data yielded five key themes: (1) the unexamined conservation paradigm, (2) the lack of a human aspect, (3) top-down conservation schemes, (4) recognition of local values, and (5) prospects for an integrated approach. The findings show that conservation in the islands centers on the scientific value of biophysical preservation, with limited regard for local cultural and socioeconomic values. Top-down governance, unsteady political integrity, and unsustainable program design jointly weaken conservation on the ground, while local government actors emerge as crucial mediators of conflicting values. These results underscore the need for a holistic, integrated conservation policy that treats biophysical integrity and community welfare as a foundational whole.