Willingness to Pay for the Conservation of Day-Asan Mangrove Forest of Fisherfolk in Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte, 2025

Date

6-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Antonio Jesus A. Quilloy

Committee Member

Geny F. Lapiña, Maria Angeles O. Catelo

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Abstract

The Day-Asan mangrove forest provides coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and livelihood support in fisheries and ecotourism, yet they are often undervalued. In addition, mangrove forests are typically treated as a common-pool resource, which is why there is a need for effective management that would limit the appropriation and ensure that the resource is conserved and protected.

This study aimed to analyze the willingness to pay for the conservation of the Day- Asan mangrove forest of fisherfolk in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. Contingent valuation method and the bidding game technique were used to determine how much the fisherfolk were willing to pay for mangrove conservation. Additionally, the awareness level, knowledge level, and perception of fisherfolk about mangroves were identified and analyzed. Hanemann's (1994) formula was used as an estimator for willingness to pay in monetary terms. While labor contributions were converted into cash equivalents for those who preferred to pay through labor. Also, the Tobit regression analysis was done to examine how the factors, socio-economic characteristics, awareness, knowledge, and perception of fisherfolk influence their willingness to pay. Based on a random sample of 93 fisherfolk, there is a relatively low willingness to pay for the Day-Asan mangrove forest conservation among the respondents. On average, fisherfolk who preferred monetary contributions have a PhP 26.02 per month willingness to pay. While, those who preferred labor were willing to pay an average of 3.09 days per month, which is PhP 261.61 in cash equivalents. Notably, 80 percent of the willing respondents preferred labor as a mode of payment for the mangrove forest conservation. This low willingness to pay can be attributed to the fisherfolk’s age, education, and income, all of which significantly influenced their willingness to pay based on the Tobit regression results. These three factors all positively affected the respondent’s willingness to pay. Moreover, these significant socio-economic characteristics of the fisherfolk influenced their awareness, knowledge, and perception about mangroves. The study found that most fisherfolk respondents had a moderate level of awareness regarding the benefits of mangroves and the policies governing the Philippine mangroves. However, the majority had a low knowledge level of the ecological role of mangroves and the threats they face. Nevertheless, most fisherfolk had a positive perception of mangroves and their conservation. Based on the aforementioned results, some recommendations were proposed. First, increase the awareness and knowledge levels of fisherfolk by conducting localized information campaigns and programs. Lastly, incentivize labor contributions since labor was the preferred mode of payment for willing fisherfolk.

Language

English

LC Subject

Mangrove conservation, Coastal forest conservation, Willingness to pay

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 A14 M66

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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