The socioeconomic training will be provided by Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) as part of its continuing program to provide support to State governments in effectively managing their own marine protected areas (MPA).
“Our objective is to train local conservation officers and State workers how to do socioeconomic assessments of the effects of having MPAs by themselves,” said Noelle Wenty Oldiais, PICRC Researcher. “They need to feel like the program belongs to them.”
Just months ago, PICRC headed by Oldiais conducted a follow-up socioeconomic survey on the effectiveness of MPA in Ngarchelong to identify ways for the community to benefit from the closure of Ebiil.
This month, PICRC will be training the 10 conservation officers and State workers how to do the socioeconomic monitoring themselves. “So these guys will learn how to come up with their own questionnaire, how to do their assessment, go out and do their own survey,” explained Oldiais.
Two of the trainees will be from Ngarchelong, two from Ngardmau, two from Ngiwal, two from Peleliu and two from Ngchesar.
Oldias, with the help of Dr. Supin Wongbusarakum from Hawaii, will be conducting the training.
According to Oldiais, the training will be divided into two parts. The first two weeks will be handled by Dr. Wongbusarakum, and the lecture will focus on coming up with effective questionnaires. The third and fourth week will be handled by Oldiais, where trainees will go out and do the actual survey and assessment in Ngiwal.
Ngarchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu and Ngardmau are the four pilot MPAs for the project that PICRC is doing. They already did a socioeconomic survey in Ngarchelong. Palau Conservation Society is at present doing its socioeconomic assessment in Ngardmau. Peleliu does not have its own management plan yet.
“Since Ngiwal just finished their management plan, we thought it would be a great follow-up to see what the perception of the people is regarding their management plan,” explained Oldiais.
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