Perceptions of local communities on mangrove forests, their services and management: implications for Eco-DRR and blue carbon management for Eastern Samar, Philippines

The mangrove ecosystems which provide diverse benefits to local communities are vulnerable to natural and human-induced threats. Existing policies and decision-makers in the Philippines are gearing towards the integration of physical, ecological, and social elements in managing these ecosystems. To date, the linkage between the policies and the direct beneficiaries (i.e. coastal communities) of the ecosystem services is, however, largely unexplored from local perspectives applying quantitative methodology. Thus, we conducted household surveys to the coastal villagers in Eastern Samar. By doing so, we provide basic information for the scientists and policymakers on the following elements of one the blue carbon ecosystems, mangroves; (1) resource utilization, (2) level of awareness on ecosystem services and existing management plans, and (3) perceptions on natural and anthropogenic threats. Results of the survey show that the utilization of mangrove ecosystem services is influenced by social demography and level of awareness of the locals. The trends of the locals' utilization and perceptions on the diverse ecosystem services may provide evidence for their active involvement in protecting these resources. To enable more holistic and sustainable management, this study suggests the value of including coastal communities in contextualizing management plans, particularly for the areas often visited by natural hazards.