TitleA comparative study of community-based sea turtle management in Palau: Key factors for successful implementation
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsRisien, JM, Tilt, B
JournalConservation and Society
Volume6
Issue3
Pagination225 - 237
Date Published2008
Keywordsadaptive management, Community based natural resource management - CBNRM, conservation partnerships, Micronesia, Palau, remote atoll, sea turtles
Abstract

This article investigates social, political and cultural aspects of sea turtle management led by the Tobian community at Helen Reef in the Republic of Palau. We use participant observation, unstructured interviews and examination of community-based natural resource management literature to compare and contrast the Tobian community with several other communities in Palau in order to identify some of the underlying factors that we believe contributed to the successful implementation of the Tobian community-based program. These factors include: robust structure of local and extra-local partnerships; remote location of the resource and small scale of the managing community; realized community benefits in terms of jobs and improved capacity to monitor and manage natural resources; adaptive capacity and autonomy in decision-making; and strong connections to traditional natural resource management systems. Sea turtle conservation and management is a large scale issue; preventing further decline of endangered sea turtles will require management at multiple scales. For the Tobian community, success may be attributable to several key factors that come together to produce a decentralized community-based program that operates with an adaptive, collaborative and bottom-up structure. This model may be applicable to comparable communities; it is, however, important to recognize that diverse societies will have a variety of formulas for success.

URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/10535/2419
Notice of Publication Number

NOP 08-245 (English)