Sustainability of Irrawaddy dolphins through a Community-based tourism: A participative and rapid rural appraisal approach

https://doi.org/10.70228/JHER2025031

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ABSTRACT

Despite the Philippines' archipelagic nature, Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit three coastal waters. Several scientific studies revealed that the Irrawaddy is among the most threatened species. Considering its behavioral sensitivity and extinction, a sustainability study through a community-based tourism approach was conducted, utilizing two combined participative and rapid rural appraisal methods with established and reliable survey instruments focused on four criteria: uniqueness and natural beauty, historical/cultural value, accessibility, and availability of essential utilities. A scale of 1-5 was used, one being the least observed by tourism experts and agreed upon by the local community, while five was the most observed and most agreed upon. Experts performed the rapid rural appraisal, while the local community engaged in the participative rural appraisal. Data gathered were measured using central tendencies. Triangulation was done through key informant interviews and focus group discussions where local, public, and private stakeholders validated the results. Emphasizing the community's critical role in sustainable tourism, however, they represent a stakeholder group with little to almost nothing in understanding tourism concepts, roles, benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and potentials deemed necessary in the quality of tourism planning process engagement. Likewise, it is necessary to emphasize established provisions for support services such as drainage, sewerage, and solid waste management to ensure the quality of local community commitments to its social and environmental well-being. Lastly, considering the behavioral limitations of the Irrawaddy dolphins, it is essential to devise a regulated plan for tourism facilities, services, and infrastructure.

Keywords: sustainability, Irrawaddy dolphins, community-based tourism, participative rural appraisal, and rapid rural appraisals