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<p>Mt. Magdiwata was declared a watershed and forest reserve in the 1990s to protect it from threats posed by agriculture, mining, and other human activities. This study examined the socioeconomic correlates of local residents’ willingness to participate in conservation, with the aim of informing policies for sustainable watershed management. Data were collected from 185 households in Barangay Ormaca, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, using the Socio-Economic Assessment and Monitoring System (SEAMS) questionnaire developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Descriptive statistics show that most residents are smallholder farmers with low income and limited education, who have lived in the area for over two decades. Their water use for domestic purposes is much lower than the national per capita average, while agriculture and small-scale mining were identified as the most water-intensive activities. Dependence on water and agriculture reflects their willingness to conserve, expressed through water-saving practices, openness to community-based initiatives, and recognition of the benefits of sustaining water supply. Quantile regression analysis revealed that agricultural engagement was the most consistent driver of willingness across quantiles (Q10–Q90), underscoring the centrality of farming livelihoods. Daily water consumption also showed positive effects at multiple quantiles (Q20, Q25, Q75, Q80, Q90), while awareness of local policies had a negative effect at lower quantiles (Q20, Q25), suggesting that some households view conservation as burdensome when perceived costs are high. Distance to water sources and household size were significant at higher quantiles, with closer proximity increasing willingness and larger families reducing it. Gender and household size showed context-specific effects, while mining was only marginally significant. These findings indicate that conservation willingness is strongly tied to livelihoods and resource use. Policies should highlight the water–livelihood nexus, strengthen education and awareness, and address barriers from competing land uses, supported by R&amp;D and green financing to sustain community participation in conserving Mt. Magdiwata.</p>

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The socioeconomic correlates of the willingness to conserve: contextualizing the conservation of the Mt. Magdiwata watershed forest reserve in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Philippines

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月6日

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  • Raquel Balanay,
  • Nicholas Zeam Ace Aguilos,
  • Ashly Guinancias,
  • Romell Seronay,
  • Femilyn Tangcogo

摘要

Mt. Magdiwata was declared a watershed and forest reserve in the 1990s to protect it from threats posed by agriculture, mining, and other human activities. This study examined the socioeconomic correlates of local residents’ willingness to participate in conservation, with the aim of informing policies for sustainable watershed management. Data were collected from 185 households in Barangay Ormaca, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, using the Socio-Economic Assessment and Monitoring System (SEAMS) questionnaire developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Descriptive statistics show that most residents are smallholder farmers with low income and limited education, who have lived in the area for over two decades. Their water use for domestic purposes is much lower than the national per capita average, while agriculture and small-scale mining were identified as the most water-intensive activities. Dependence on water and agriculture reflects their willingness to conserve, expressed through water-saving practices, openness to community-based initiatives, and recognition of the benefits of sustaining water supply. Quantile regression analysis revealed that agricultural engagement was the most consistent driver of willingness across quantiles (Q10–Q90), underscoring the centrality of farming livelihoods. Daily water consumption also showed positive effects at multiple quantiles (Q20, Q25, Q75, Q80, Q90), while awareness of local policies had a negative effect at lower quantiles (Q20, Q25), suggesting that some households view conservation as burdensome when perceived costs are high. Distance to water sources and household size were significant at higher quantiles, with closer proximity increasing willingness and larger families reducing it. Gender and household size showed context-specific effects, while mining was only marginally significant. These findings indicate that conservation willingness is strongly tied to livelihoods and resource use. Policies should highlight the water–livelihood nexus, strengthen education and awareness, and address barriers from competing land uses, supported by R&D and green financing to sustain community participation in conserving Mt. Magdiwata.