Fellowship Year:
2026
Degree:
MEM
Research Country:
Philippines
Research Continent:
Asia
Project Title:
Amphibious exchanges: Exploring the interplay between a recreational dive economy, community perceptions of environmental change, and climate governance capacity on Malapscua Island
Abstract:
This research examines how recreational diving shapes community perceptions of and responses to environmental change on Malapascua Island. Focusing on the island’s growing dive economy, the study explores how participation in the dive industry influences environmental values, climate governance and local engagement with issues such as reef degradation, sea-level rise and typhoons. By investigating the relationship between diving, tourism and environmental change, the project aims to better understand how reef-based economies shape community responses to shifting ecological conditions.