Socioeconomic monitoring in the Velondriake Locally Managed Marine Area, SW

BIENVENUE ZAFINDRASILIVONONA

Blue Ventures Conservation, Level 2 Annex, Omnibus Business Centre, 39-41 North Road, London N7 9DP, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

activities to better manage resources and to balance Abstract sustainable use of natural resources. In the marine is a NGO working context, there is a direct link between how people use closely with 25 local communities along the coral reefs and their socio-economic status; therefore, southwest coast of Madagascar. In 2006, these understanding the socio-economic context of reef communities came together to create the western stakeholders is essential for assessing, predicting and Indian Ocean’s largest locally managed marine area managing reef use. (LMMA), called Velondriake. With initial financial and technical support from Coastal Oceans Research The Velondriake locally managed marine area and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) and (LMMA), located along the rural southwest coast of following the Guidelines for Coastal Managers of the Madagascar, has been the focus of frequent socio- Western Indian Ocean (SocMon WIO), Blue Ventures economic monitoring since 2006. In general, has collected socioeconomic data over a number of monitoring assessed household socio-economic years, which are used to adaptively manage status, as well as community members’ conservation and development efforts within the environmental conservation knowledge, behavior and LMMA. This report highlights changes observed perceptions. through socioeconomic monitoring conducted within Velondriake between 2006 and 2010. Comparisons Using several key indicators, this report details socio- show a distinct increase in economic status within the economic progress and environmental awareness LMMA, along with an increase in knowledge, attitude, within the villages of Velondriake. Baseline data was and awareness about the local environment. We also collected in 2006 and 2007, corresponding with the share challenges and lessons learned throughout this implementation of the LMMA. In 2010, another monitoring. survey was conducted using many of the same indicators in order to assess the impacts of conservation and development initiatives. This report Introduction details the significant changes seen within Socio-economic monitoring is a useful tool to Velondriake communities between these years. demonstrate the effectiveness of conservation development initiatives. Managers can use this information to improve and orient strategies and The case study site

CORDIO Status Report 2011. Obura DO & Samoilys MA (Eds). CORDIO East Africa. www.cordioea.org Socioeconomic monitoring in the Velondriake LMMA, SW Madagascar/Zafindrasilivonona. CORDIO Status Report 2011

The Velondriake LMMA (meaning “to live with the The primary goal of the Velondriake Management sea” in the local dialect) is located along the SW coast Committee (community members responsible for of Madagascar. Spanning nearly 650 km2, it is within oversight of the LMMA), is to conserve marine and the Morombe district and Befandefa commune and is coastal resources, such as coral reefs, , and bordered by the dry Mikea National Park to the east. beds, as well as support socio-economic Velondriake encompasses 24 villages with development activities such as community health, approximately 7,500 inhabitants (2010 survey data). education, and supplemental livelihoods. The data collected during these surveys will help inform the Velondriake Management Committee as well as conservationists working elsewhere in SW Madagascar, to develop adaptive strategies that ensure local support and long term success.

Methodology The SocMon Western Indian Ocean methodology was used to guide socio- economic survey within Velondriake. A SocMon-trained coordinator led the surveys, in collaboration with the project manager. Questions were often written in French or English and translated into local Vezo language; teams of surveyors generally included both locals (from Velondriake) and nationals (usually from the University of Tulear). Data was collected using several methods, including field observations, key informant interviews (KIs), focus groups and standard survey questionnaires, all detailed below.

A total of 336 households across 11 villages were surveyed in the 2006 and 2007 surveys (Table 1). Probability sampling was used for the collection of qualitative data through systematic sampling of every other household. The average duration of the survey was 17 minutes (Epps 2006). During the 2010 survey, 301 households across 16 villages were interviewed, using a random sampling technique in each village.

2 Socioeconomic monitoring in the Velondriake LMMA, SW Madagascar/Zafindrasilivonona. CORDIO Status Report 2011

Observation - during field surveys, direct observation comparison of data obtained in 2006/2007 versus is a key tool because it allows for additional 2010 using Excel. For each figure below, we included information gathering. For example, surveyors can the question asked in each survey on the X-axis, as assess material style of life indicators such as the some questions were not exactly the same but still materials for construction and the materials in the comparable. household, without even needing to ask any questions. Table 1: Number and size of the households (HH) surveyed during the two surveys. (-) = Surveys not performed Key Informant (KI) interviews - to gather more VILLAGE Number of HH Size of HH qualitative information, interviews with key 2006/7 2010 2006/7 2010 informants such as nahodas (village elders) and Ambolimoke - 18 - 6 local authorities were carried out to obtain information about changes within the village during Ampasilava 30 21 6 5 both the 2006 and 2010 surveys. Following Epps Ambalorao 14 - - - (2006), community key informants were used to Andambatihy - 11 - 5 obtain information on local laws (dina) and other Andavadoaka 79 21 5.7 8 community adopted rules. Andragnombala 20 17 6 5 Focus Group Interviews - in 2006 and 2007, focus Ankitambagna 12 12 6 5 group interviews of 5-8 participants were Ankindranoka 23 - 5 - conducted in each of the surveyed villages, about Antsatsamoroy 14 16 - 6 their perceptions and attitudes towards marine and coastal resources. The main aim of the focus groups Antserananangy - 7 - 6 was to confirm the quantitative data obtained from Belavenoke - 40 - 7 the survey questionnaire. In 2010, focus groups Bevato 23 22 5 5 were carried out before starting the survey Befandefa 32 - 4 - questionnaire in order to gather information to help design the questionnaires. Separate focus group Lamboara 39 20 5 5 interviews were also carried out with the fishers Nosy Be - 20 - 5 and gleaners in Andavadoaka village. Nosy Mitata - 6 - 6 Nosy Ve 22 20 5 6 Survey Questionnaires - standard survey Tampolove 28 28 5 5 questionnaires were the primary research method used to investigate socio-economic variables within Vatoavo - 22 - 6 households. In both the 2006/2007 and 2010 surveys, questionnaires asked about their principal activities and income sources, their material style of Demographic and Socioeconomic Status life, community understanding about the Only eight of the same villages were surveyed in both environment, and participation in decision making 2006/2007 and 2010; in these villages, the average about local marine resources. number of household members stayed approximately the same (Table 1). If household size data is collated Results from all 19 villages visited during surveys, we can see In this analysis, we use data from household surveys that the average size of a household in 2006/2007 only, as they are easier to quantify and analyze, and was 5, and rose to 5.6 in 2010. It should be noted that give a better overall picture of what changes are this difference in household size may be explained by occurring at the household level. After compiling all the difference in the number of villages sampled or questions asked in the three surveys, and checking for time of year, as seasonal migrants come and go comparability of questions, we conducted a simple throughout the year.

3 Socioeconomic monitoring in the Velondriake LMMA, SW Madagascar/Zafindrasilivonona. CORDIO Status Report 2011

Nearly everyone in all the surveys indicated that they this increased to 12% in 2010. This may be in part own their house. In 2006/2007, around 70% of because of an increased presence of foreigners in interviewed households had only one room, while Andavadoaka during this period, including Blue 30% had 2 or more rooms; interestingly, by 2010, Ventures (English), a new hospital (Italian), several long-term residents in the area (Italian and French), and passing tourists (generally French).

Access to water has not significantly changed over the years, and nearly 100% of people surveyed continue to get water from a well. In general, the quality of water in this area is considered poor (King 2007), as it is salty, contaminated in many areas, and not reliable throughout the year, especially during the dry season.

Figure 1: Percentage of households with number of rooms The size of a households’ sailing pirogue is one of the prominent indicators of a household’s assets. In 2006/2007, less than 15% of households had a pirogue and less than 5% of them had a pirogue with sail. However, the 2010 survey found that this proportion of households possessing a pirogue had nearly doubled to about 28%, and those with a sail quadrupled to 20% (Figure 2).

This change may be due to several reasons, including the temporary closures that are implemented across Velondriake, increasing household income Figure 2: Household material possessions sources. Alternatively, a large number of fishers from Velondriake migrate to northern villages in search of high-value fishing. Upon their return, some of them buy a new pirogue, bed, mattress, generators, new chairs, etc. with their newfound money.

Household Activities The Vezo people are often referred to as the best fishers in Madagascar, and are strongly linked both culturally and economically to fishing. Not surprisingly then, fishing ranks as the primary source of income for household members throughout the Figure 3: Primary sources of income LMMA in both survey periods. Secondary to this in 2006/2007 was farming and mariculture, followed by almost 70% of households had 2 or more rooms trading. However in 2010, there was almost no (Figure 1). This positive change could be a sign that farming or trading, instead informal businesses such income levels within Velondriake have risen over the as selling tea and coffee or washing clothes were last five years. second (Figure 3). This apparent change is likely due to village sampling differences; while the 2006/2007 Only 4% of head of households surveyed in surveys included several inland villages (where 2006/2007 reported speaking a foreign language, but fishing is more limited and farming more common),

4 Socioeconomic monitoring in the Velondriake LMMA, SW Madagascar/Zafindrasilivonona. CORDIO Status Report 2011 the 2010 survey did not focus much on the inland of people who claimed to be active in decision-making villages. decreased several percentage points. Focus group discussions revealed that this decrease in active

Attitudes and perceptions Research relating to natural resource management underlines the importance of understanding and incorporating local perceptions into resource management initiatives. It is necessary to understand individual perceptions of factors influencing the state of coastal resources before people become involved in community-based management efforts. However, attitudes and perceptions are difficult to assess because they depend on people being honest about what they think instead of telling surveyors what they Figure 4: Community awareness about the importance of think they should say. mangroves

In 2006/2007, at the beginning of the Velondriake LMMA, almost 80% of people reported good awareness about the importance of forests for fish, indicated by agreement that healthy mangrove forests provide good fish habitat (Figure 4). This awareness was maintained in 2010, perhaps due in part to environmental education by Velondriake and Blue Ventures, as well as the implementation of a permanent mangrove reserve and two temporary reserves over the last few years.

Figure 5: Local community knowledge about coral reefs In 2006/2007, nearly half of those surveyed in Velondriake did not know about the fragility of coral reefs, demonstrated by the fact that around 20% of interviewed people said that destroyed coral reefs are able to grow back after only 5 years. The more recent survey, however, found that most people now understand that destruction is a problem because reefs do not grow back quickly (Figure 5). This improvement in community knowledge is greatly attributed to environmental education done by Velondriake members and Blue Ventures over the last several years. Figure 6: Participation in decision-making

Participation of local community members in individuals may be due to an increased dependence of decision-making is very important because it helps the local community on the local Velondriake them to better manage the marine resources and to Committee to make decisions. This difference may involve local community members in management. also be due to slightly different questions: in From 2006/7 to 2010, the percentage of local 2006/2007, the surveys asked specifically about community members who did not participate at all in coastal management decisions, while the 2010 survey decision-making decreased from 25% to only 5% asked about community decisions in general. (Figure 6). However at the same time the percentage

5 Socioeconomic monitoring in the Velondriake LMMA, SW Madagascar/Zafindrasilivonona. CORDIO Status Report 2011

Lessons learned Throughout our surveying, we have encountered several challenges. Here, we explain the major References challenges and present solutions: Andriamalala, G. (2008) Evaluation Socio-économique de • Village accessibility is a major difficulty: during the base de l’Aire Protégée communautaire Velondriake, sud- southerly wind season, the survey team (who travel ouest de Madagascar. Blue Ventures Conservation report, by sailing pirogue) can get stuck for several days London. 82p. waiting for the wind to change. Although this is Epps, M. (2006) A Socioeconomic Baseline Assessment: unavoidable, surveyors should be prepared to use Implementing the socioeconomic monitoring guidelines in alternative transportation and/or be flexible with southwest Madagascar. Blue Ventures Conservation Report, scheduling. London. 78p. • Because most of the heads of household (those most often interviewed) generally have a low level of Epps, M. & S. Benbow, (2007) Community attitudes and education, the survey can last more than 60 minutes perceptions of marine and coastal resources and because the surveyor needs to clarify the questions sustainable management in southwest Madagascar. Blue until they are properly understood. This length Ventures Conservation Report, London. 41p. must be planned for because it is imperative that King, K. G., (2007) Analysis of the water resources in the the questions are well understood. rural village of Andavadoaka, S.W Madagascar, with the • Sometimes, the responder does not have confidence objective of designing a sanitation programme using biogas in the interviewer, and does not want to conduct the technology. Blue Ventures Conservation Report, London. interview. When this happens, surveyors must simply move on to the next house. Oleson, K.L.L, L. Brander, B. Zafindrasilivonona, I.J.M. van • In 2010, three separate Velondriake-wide surveys Beek, and P. van Beukering (2011). Using a discrete choice were held within an interval of one month. Not experiment in a Total Economic Valuation to determine the surprisingly, this caused “survey fatigue” in some bequest and social capital values of a locally managed marine area in Southwest Madagascar. Presentation at households, which may bias the data because the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association local community was not really motivated to Conference, Mombasa Kenya, October 2011. contribute to the survey. It is important to ensure surveys are spaced out so that there is not an overwhelming amount at one time. • As this report shows, in order to properly identify changes within the Velondriake area, similar questions must be compared. However, although many questions were asked during the surveys, they were not necessarily comparable. Future surveys should be designed so as to be more comparable with baseline data.

As this report demonstrates, socio-economic surveying can prove very useful in demonstrating and quantifying community changes over the years. While it is difficult to know exactly what changes can be attributed to Blue Ventures’ or Velondriake’s actions and interventions, we can see that knowledge, attitude, and awareness about the local environment has certainly increased.

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