Mangrove Conservation: Awareness and Attitudes of the Local Community

Abstract

The study examined the awareness and attitudes of the local community towards mangrove conservation in Barangay Wawa, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. The research study used a descriptive-correlational method to identify the different variables and presents quantitative research that used an online survey method to collect data from the respondents. The respondents of the study were thirty (30) in which it will divided to three components, ten (10) barangay officials, ten (10) residents from barangay Wawa, and ten (10) tourists who visited the mangrove trees in Barangay Wawa. The respondents were chosen through purposive sampling from pre-surveyed barangay officials, residents from Barangay Wawa, and tourists who experience closure during the changes of mangrove trees from past years up to present situation. The majority of respondents were from 21 to 30 years old young adult or 30 % of the total in which it implies that young adult is more active and responsible in preserving the mangrove forests of Barangay Wawa, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Results also showed that there is a significant relationship between the attitudes of the local community towards mangrove forests and awareness of the local community on mangrove conservation in terms of regeneration, recovery, and recreation. The involvement of the local community in preserving the mangrove forest is very important wherein they both benefit each other.