Marine Protected Areas or MPAs refer to “clearly defined geographical spaces, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values” (IUCN definition by Dudley 2008). Protection of coastal resources in the Philippines have been attributed to the establishment of MPAs as a tool for biodiversity conservation and natural resource management (White et al. 2014).

 

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MPA management in the context of governance approaches in the country is not limited to the physical management of the MPA only but also includes direct and indirect uses, threats, people, and the systemic interactions between people and resources. An effectively managed MPA is defined to the degree to which management actions are achieving the goals and objectives of a protected area (Hockings et al., 2000).

 

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Management and effectiveness of an MPA is based on several criteria and/or governance indicators in combination with the biophysical and socioeconomic impact indicators. The success of implementing MPAs in the Philippines are largely due to the success of community-based approaches to management (Alcala and Russ 2006).