Assessing Attitudes Towards Biodiversity Conservation Among Citizens on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon
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Assessing Attitudes towards Biodiversity Conservation among Citizens on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty Of Drexel University By Demetrio Bocuma Meñe In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree Of Doctor Philosophy May 2016 ©Copyright 2016 Demetrio Bocuma Meñe. All Rights Reserved. iv Dedication I would like to dedicate this dissertation to the person who gave me this once in a life time opportunity, Gail Hearn, PhD., and also to the initiative that she founded to protect the unique biodiversity of my lovely island, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP) v Acknowledgements Funding and support for this project was provided by the Mobil Equatorial Guinea, ExxonMobil Foundation, National Science Foundation, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program and the Central African Biodiversity Alliance. I am grateful to the Government of Equatorial Guinea, especially the Ministry of Fisheries and the Environment for giving me the permission and opportunity to have an internship there, during which I was able to interview employees and gather hard copies of existing legislation. I am also thankful to the Government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation for issuing the right permission to my field assistants in order for them to be able to administer our questionnaires in Cameroon. I am thankful to the National University of Equatorial Guinea, particularly the Department of Environmental Sciences for providing with some of the most essential resources (permits, field assistants, transportation and faculty support) to conduct my research on Bioko Island. I am also grateful to the High Institute of Environmental Sciences in Yaoundé, Cameroon for assisting me in the administration of my questionnaire carried out by two of its students. I would like to thank a long list of individuals whose support, effort, motivation and guidance contributed immensely in my life and career. In the attempt of citing their names, I will very likely forget about certain people involuntarily. I still want to say thank you to you in advance if your name is missing from the list below. As the saying goes, “it takes a village”. I am extremely grateful to: My advisor and mentor, Gail Hearn, for giving me the opportunity to join the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program and then allowing me to grow as an employee within the organization, for giving subsequent opportunities (summers 2008 and 2009) to come to the United States to work on my English language skills; most importantly, for giving me a super unique opportunity to come to the United States to do my PhD at Drexel University and for being such a good mentor. Your passion, encouragement, willingness to listen, advice, guidance, motivation, patience, support, and teachings will always live with me. You inspire me in countless ways. My committee chair, Michael O’Connor, for devoting part of his already scarce time to assist and guide me with the data analysis of my questionnaires, for always being available when I needed help, either with my research or any school related consultation, for teaching me every little thing I know about data analysis. Wayne Morra, for agreeing to be part of my committee and always being available to offer his unique guidance during all the committee meetings. Also, for his friendship and encouragement since we have known each other. vi Rachel Reynolds, for agreeing to be part of my committee and her availability in attending all committee meetings, where she shared her unique expertise on social studies and issues related to Cameroon with all of us with the solo idea of enriching my work. Katy Gonder, for agreeing to join my committee and supporting my research in Cameroon; for supporting me in her lab as a research assistant for a couple of quarters during which I was able to devote a chunk of my time on my research, for encouraging me while working on my dissertation. Also, for giving me the opportunity of being able to continue working with her; this time, as a postdoctoral research fellow. Drew Cronin, for agreeing to be part of my committee and offering his expertise in many ways towards the improvement of my research; for offering me his friendship, motivation, encouragement and assistance in many aspects of my life, either as a BBPP employee in Bioko Island or as graduate student at Drexel University. “I am glad the cows did not kill us when they chased us in the pastures of Moka”. Peter Hearn, for welcoming me in his family with open arms and allowing me to stay in his house in the summers of 2008 and 2009 when I came to the States to work on my English language skills, for teaching me about American culture and Philadelphia history, for inviting me over to his house to spend many winter solstices with his adorable grandchildren (Cisco and Jasper); the hat making experience was unique, surely, I will miss it a lot, but I will try to implement something similar in my family. In addition, for his encouragement, consistent follow up, motivation and support regarding my education since my arrival in the United States. I received the same appreciation from your entire family (Elizabeth, Josephine, Bob, Sylvia, Tammy, Jon, Jim, Tim, David, Otis) about which I am very grateful. 519 Pine Street, Philadelphia, 19106. It always feels like home when I step in that house. The Johnson Family (Pete, Mary, Chris, Jeff, Kevin, Ethan and Sophia), for offering me their love, support, encouragement and motivation throughout my entire career here at Drexel University, for flying me out of Philly just to spend my holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving) with them. Upon my return from those trips, I always felt more energetic to get back to school. Also, for keeping in touch and always doing a close follow up on my career development, for having Jeff come over to Philly almost every summer to check on me prior to my departures for my field trips in Equatorial Guinea, for getting me a surprise suit for my defense and attending my hooding and graduation ceremonies. My family (Bocuma Meñe), for taking care of me in my childhood, planting the early seeds of my education, allowing me to follow my dreams without any external pressures; for their love, support and encouragement in everything that I do. José Manuel Esara Echube, for supporting my research by providing me with the most appropriate permits to administer my questionnaires across Bioko Island. My cousin, Maximiliano Fero Meñe, for assisting me in the selection of my two field assistants (Amancio Motove Etingüe and Francisco Mitogo Micha) who did a great job in vii administering my surveys. Also, for his friendship, guidance, encouragement and support in many aspects of my personal and professional life. Santiago Francisco Engonga, for giving me the green light to have two internships (summers 2011& 2012) at the Ministry of Fisheries and Environment (MFE), for the existing fruitful relationship between the department of environment in the MFE and the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. Hilton Oyamaguchi, for his friendship, encouragement and assistance with the design of certain maps for my dissertation. Hilton always calls my name when he passes by my apartment on 3905 Baring St., and then I yell back his name “Oyamaguuuuuuuchiiiiiiiiii”. I will definitely miss it. Paul Sesink Clee, for assisting me with the design of most of my maps considerably and for his accessibility, patience and guidance throughout the entire process. Also, for his friendship and encouragement over the years. I always felt like I knew what I was doing after talking maps with Paul. Even once I leave for Africa I will always reach out to you if I need help with maps, because your skills are unmatchable. I bet at this point you already know how I call your name when I need help-Paulllllllllll. Patrick McLaughlin, for his friendship, encouragement, sarcastic personality and guidance over the years, for being a good captain resulting in us winning the Intramural Championship in 2011. Also, for allowing me to move into his house when I started my PhD program and then he ended up handing out most of his personal belongings (bed, mattress, kitchen utensils, etc.) to me; for giving me the permission to FedEx his titanium spoon to him, which never showed up in his mail box. Jacob Owens, for being such a good friend to the point that he invited me to his place to spend Thanksgivings with his beloved wife Jane, who always treated me nicely and respectfully; for agreeing to take over for two months as manager of the Moka Wildlife Center so that I could come to the States to improve my English language skills. For his encouragement, motivation and guidance over the years. Also, for vising my dad in my hometown Ruiché while I was here in the States studying. Maggie Cunningham, for her friendship, encouragement, guidance, motivation and effort over the years. Most importantly, for being patience and super helpful in guiding me about the most efficient approach necessary for the teaching of my labs and recitations. Heidi Rader, for her friendship, love, encouragement and guidance over the years, for teaching me some administrative skills and being a good listener. For her continuous dedication in the production of authentic environmental education materials for the children of my country, which will surely have its impact years to come. Also, for immortalizing my name and voice in some of her works, for making my delightful graduation cake and setting up the place. I will never forget about our travelling experience from Cameroon to Philly during which we faced so many unknowns (changes of flights, missing flights, credit and debit cards not working, etc.).