In order to conserve coastal resources for the long term, the buy-in and motivation of local people is fundamental. C3’s focus on rural entrepreneurs addresses this challenge.

C3 has conducted business feasibility studies in conjunction with household surveys and focus group interviews to determine the best livelihoods for specific communities. Livelihoods take time to develop, especially in rural communities with a local level of education and financial literacy.

C3 focuses heavily on the engagement and training of women, unemployed youth, and minority groups such as the LGBT community to provide employment opportunities in the growing tourism sector.

In most of our partner communities, people are limited to fishing and farming, and often it is for subsistence purposes. Diversification of household income increases communities’ resilience to the impacts of climate change on dwindling fisheries. It also helps them provide for their families in times of environmental and economic shocks. To overcome the well-known fact that most small businesses fail in the first two years, C3’s approach focuses on year-on-year technical and financial support, refresher training, monitoring, and advising for people starting new livelihoods.

C3’s role in the establishment of an Indigenous Marine Managed Area (IMMA) at Calauit Island, Busuanga, and of several other IMMAs in the Calamianes, ensures the community is aided in their livelihoods. Our next steps are to work closely with local government to develop legislation and management plans; and with local fishers to establish citizen monitoring programmes. Income from the sale of traditional indigenous crafts will be augmented through the creation of a marketing programme.

Already, members of the Busuanga Women for Dugong Association make an additional Php600 to Php1,200 selling homemade dugong keyrings and toys to visiting tourists. Fishers who work as Dugong Monitors take home an additional monthly income of Php900 to Php1,800.

In partnership with Seacology, C3 has established three community-based incentive mechanism for forest protection and education structures: a Mangrove Boardwalk, Information Center, and Floating Watch Tower. We have also established two conservation enterprise livelihoods: community savings face mask-making, and fresh and processed cachipay (windowpane oysters).

C3 will be extending its successful portfolio of sustainable livelihoods to the main island of Palawan in coming years.