Awareness and conservation attitudes toward mangroves among undergraduate students in Aklan, Philippines

Sammanfattning

Mangrove forests offer essential ecological services, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and coastal protection. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by both climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. In the Philippines, mangrove degradation is often linked to aquaculture expansion, urbanization, and pollution. Community participation and nature engagement have been linked to stronger and more sustainable mangrove conservation. Understanding how communities value and interact with mangroves can guide more effective strategies. This study investigates the awareness and attitudes of undergraduate students in Aklan, Philippines, regarding the benefits, threats, and conservation of mangrove forests. It was examined whether participation in conservation projects and proximity to mangroves influenced students' awareness and attitudes. A survey with 22 questions was distributed online through six colleges and universities in the province of Aklan. The results showed that mere participation in conservation projects did not significantly affect awareness. However, respondents stating to have learned through conservation programs, and respondents with proximity to mangrove areas were both significantly associated with higher recognition of mangrove benefits and threats. Students with proximity to mangroves also rated the importance of mangrove conservation significantly higher. These findings underscore the importance of integrating education and nature interaction into conservation strategies, and to tailor these efforts to different sociodemographic contexts to foster pro-environmental actions among youth.