Challenging the win-win discourse on conservation and development: analyzing support for marine protected areas

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Conservation designations such as protected areas are increasing in numbers around the world, yet it is widely reported that many are failing to reach their objectives. They are frequently promoted as opportunities for win-win outcomes that can both protect biodiversity and lead to economic benefits for affected communities. This win-win view characterizes the dominant discourse surrounding many protected areas. Although this discourse and the arguments derived from it may lead to initial acceptance of conservation interventions, this study shows how it does not necessarily result in compliance and positive attitudes toward specific protected areas. Consequently, the discourse has important implications not just for making the case for protected area implementation, but also for the likelihood of protected areas reaching their objectives. We explain how the win-win discourse influences support for marine protected areas (MPAs) and, ultimately, their success. Using data from focus groups, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews at three MPA sites in the Philippines, we identified three reasons why the win-win discourse can negatively influence prolonged support for MPAs: dashed expectations, inequity, and temptation. Through an understanding of these issues, it becomes possible to suggest improvements that can be made pre-MPA implementation that can lead to prolonged support of MPAs. A focus on less tangible and economic MPA benefits, aligning MPA goals with cultural and social values, and higher levels of transparency when describing MPA outcomes are all ways in which prolonged support of MPAs can be bolstered.

Five key attributes can increase marine protected areas performance for small-scale fisheries management

“…The significant correlation between fishermen environmental commitment and enforcement , and OMS and enforcement , can therefore be expected assuming that enforcement results in compliance. However, factors regulating compliance are highly complex314448 with a limited effect of enforcement4449, contradicting classical deterrence theory. These results suggest that if stakeholders are not engaged in the management process, more surveillance and enforcement could result in a negative attitude of stakeholders toward the MPA.…”

“…Given the substantial proportion of unsuccessful MPAs (36% with OMS = 0 or 1), we highlight that establishing MPAs per se does not suffice to solve ecological, economic and social challenges related to SSF management. When the goals of an MPA are not met, and the potential benefits are not obtained, stakeholder’s support towards MPAs can be negatively influenced, potentially leading to a negative attitude and reduction in compliance31.…”

“…However if benefits are over-stated and expectation are not reached, negative stakeholder attitude can reduce compliance creating a negative cycle that further impairs the performance of MPAs31. Therefore it is crucial to identify and highlight the characteristics (e.g.…”

Incorporating basic needs to reconcile poverty and ecosystem services

“…Many potential benefits fail to reach the poorest people and are captured instead by wealthier and more powerfully positioned groups (Thompson & Homewood 2002). This means scenarios in which both conservation and development goals are achieved are elusive (Chaigneau & Brown 2016) and may mask trade-offs and negative outcomes for the well-being of particular people (Daw et al 2015). These clashing development and environmental priorities find common ground in international policies and rhetoric about sustainability.…”

Shades of blue: what do competing interpretations of the Blue Economy mean for oceans governance?

“…inherently recognizes the role of humans in ecological systems (Engler, 2015). This is perhaps the least widely employed variant of the term but has been adopted by environmental NGOs, particularly the WWF, as part of a broader trend towards more socially responsible conservation, and the encouragement of social enterprise (Bush, M. Bottema, Midavaine, & Carter, 2017) (Chaigneau and Brown, 2016;Phelps, Friess, & Webb, 2012;Warner et al, 2016). The 'oceans as natural capital' lens has allowed conservation actors to adopt the term Blue Economy as a means of articulating the broader suite of objectives they seek to achieve through their activities and speak to broader audience of stakeholders and potential collaborators.…”