Do governing institutions affect the performance of marine protected areas? Evidence from the Philippines

The performance of selected Marine Protected Areas (MPA) under different institutions (the environment department, communities, local government units, non-government organization or joint partnerships thereof) was rated using selected socioeconomic, biophysical, and institutional indicators. The study analyzed if governing institutions do in fact affect the performance of MPA. In terms of biophysical indicators, coral cover and the number of fish caught were noted to have dwindled in all sites, largely due to the adverse climatic event (El Nino) in 1997. The presence of MPA, however, resulted in faster recovery of most biological resources in affected coastal areas. In terms of socioeconomic indicators, household income did not change significantly over the years though environmental consciousness and participation in resource management by community members have increased with MPA implementation. The provision of alternative livelihood opportunities to affected communities has been unsatisfactory in most of the MPAs and is a source of discontent. On the institutional aspect, the MPA managers\u27 capability to perform their tasks was improved. A success index for the MPAs, that considers biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional impact indicators, was computed to assess whether governing institution matters in MPA performance. The rating made use of relevant information from secondary sources, household survey, and key informants interview. The results show no significant difference in the rating of the eight MPAs. These findings indicate that no matter what type of institution governs the MPA, as long as it is effective in implementing the conservation plan, strict in enforcing laws, and efficient in sourcing funds, then the MPA can perform well. Relatively high performance of all MPAs was noted, indicating the success of MPA as a conservation approach