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Coastal People’s Knowledge on Biodiversity Conservation Issues: Impact of a Development Intervention

M.H. Rahman
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University,Mymensingh

M.A.Hossain
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University,Mymensingh

A.B.M.A. Haque
Horticulture Extension Officer, CWBMP, Teknaf,Cox’s Bazar

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The paper presents the results of a research work on coastal people’s knowledge on biodiversity conservation issues in the context of the intervention of a participatory development project, Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project (CWBMP). The study was undertaken in the Sonadia ECA (Ecologically Critical Area) of Maheskhali Upazila under Cox’s Bazar district. The target population of the research work were mainly two groups of peoples in the ECA – members of the Village Conservation Group (VCG, a community based organization facilitated by partner NGOs of CWBMP) and the non-VCG member peoples of the locality. Data were collected from 100 randomly selected respondents (50 VCG members and 50 non-VCG members) by using a structured personal interview schedule during the month of April, 2008. People’s knowledge on coastal biodiversity conservation issues were measured by developing a knowledge test taking seven dimensions of biodiversity conservation issues. The findings reveal that the, in regards with all seven dimensions of coastal biodiversity conservation issues, the VCG-members possessed higher knowledge than the non-members of the locality. Out of eleven characteristics of the respondents, eight (age, education, training exposure, organizational participation, extension media exposure, cosmopoliteness, social participation and experience in biodiversity conservation activities) showed significantly positive relationship with their knowledge. However, only age was negatively related, while family size, farm size and annual income did not show any significant relationships with people’s knowledge on biodiversity conservation issue.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Knowledge, Coastal people, Village Conservation Group (VCG), CWBMP

Location: Sonadia Island and Ghatibhanga village of Maheskhali upazila under Cox’s Bazar district

Start Date: 10-03-2008

End Date: 15-04-2008

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

1. To assess the knowledge of the coastal people on biodiversity conservation issues, 2. To determine the differences between VCG and non-VCG members regarding their knowledge, and 3. To explore any relationships between the selected characteristics of the coastal people and their level of knowledge on the biodiversity conservation issues.

Methodology:

Study area, population and sample: The study was conducted in Sonadia ECA, i.e., in the Sonadia Island and Ghatibhanga village of Maheskhali upazila under Cox’s Bazar district. Both the VCG members and non participants in VCG (hereafter referred to as non-VCG members) of the locality were the population of the study. There were three VCGs in the study area: Sonadia Purba Para, Sonadia Paschim Para and Ghatibhanga and numbers of VCG members in these three villages were 35, 42 and 50, respectively. A sample of 50 members (about 40% of the population) were randomly selected as the sample from the VCG members, while another 50 villagers from each of the selected VCG member’s neighbours were randomly selected as the sample from the non-VCG members. Variables of the study: The dependent variable of the study was “coastal people’s knowledge on biodiversity conservation issues”, while the independent variables were: age, education, family size, farm size, training exposure, annual family income, organizational participation, extension media contact, cosmopoliteness, social participation, and experience in biodiversity conservation activities. The independent variables were measured employing conventional standard methods and may be seen in the original report. People’s knowledge on biodiversity conservation was measured considering the seven dimensions of biodiversity management issues as adopted by the CWBMP. The dimensions were: agriculture (crop production), horticulture, wildlife, fisheries, eco-tourism, community development and environment. A knowledge test was developed in accordance with the requirements of six levels of cognitive domain for measuring knowledge. Knowledge of the people was measured on the basis of their responses to the questions developed for each dimension in the scale. Therefore, for each of the seven dimensions of knowledge, six closed-type questions were assigned (one for each of the six levels) based on importance, difficulty and depth of knowledge. Each question for remembering and understanding levels were assigned to 2 scores, while for applying and analyzing levels were assigned to 3 scores and evaluating and creation levels were assigned to 4 scores. Thus, for each of the seven dimensions of the knowledge, the score could range from 0 to 18. Thereby, the overall knowledge score for all dimensions could range from 0 to 126. Data collection and analysis: Data were collected by using a pre-tested and structured interview schedule wherein all the scales and questions regarding the independent and dependent variables were arranged in a logical order. The first author, with the help of CWBMP officials and NGO workers, collected the data from the sampled respondents by face to face interview during 10 March to 15 April, 2008. SPSS 15.0 version was used in data processing and tests like correlation and t-test for the difference of means were used as and when necessary.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 2(1): 137-142, 2009; ISSN 1999-7361

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The result of the study indicated that people of the study area (Sonadia ECA) possessed fairly good knowledge about biodiversity conservation issues. However, the peoples involved in CWBMP through VCGs had higher knowledge than the people who did not have any such affiliations. It could be concluded that gradual involvement of local people in coastal and natural resource management through different participatory programmes will increase people’s knowledge on complex environmental and biodiversity knowledge and will pave their increased participation in such programmes. At the same time, issues on coastal people’s livelihoods and education should be properly addressed during undertaking such resource conservation programmes as these are the basic factors for participation. Majority of the respondents possessed medium knowledge on biodiversity conservation. Such factors of training, organizational participation and extension media contact should be properly incorporated in a participatory development programme like CWBMP.

Knowledge Management: Journal