69 None
- -
- -
- -
4
Retirement -
- -
- -
-
4
Natural Resources -
- -
- -
-
2 Hopes for Future
Prosperity 0.565
0.171 0.784
0.617 0.287
0.248 25
ProductionEmployment 0.355
0.623 0.432
0.178 0.618
0.147 17
Social Development 0.391
0.573 0.456
0.317 0.702
0.257
15
Family Friends 0.547
0.222 0.271
0.411 0.765
0.745
10
Tranquillity 0.851
0.899 0.618
0.25 0.439
0.399 8
Post Death 0.512
0.128 0.462
0.052 0.766
0.4 6
Natural Resources -
- -
- -
-
4
None -
- -
- -
-
4
Not to be Displaced -
- -
- -
-
4
Health -
- -
- -
- 2
No Tourism -
- -
- -
- 2
Learn English -
- -
- -
-
2
Bold denotes a statistically significant relationship EDUC. = EDUCATION MIGR= MIGRATION RESI.= RESIDENCY
10.7.2 Discussion of Perceptions about the Future
As indicated by table 10.11, respondents were clearly more concerned with employment and social development than with issues concerning coastal resources.
Neither of the response categories pertaining to natural resources even had enough responses to perform statistical analyses with socioeconomic data. Issues such as
employment, social development, and education rank much higher than issues relating to natural resources.
Long-term residents were more likely to express concerns regarding social development. This could simply be because their expectations of social development
for Mahahual have not been met in the almost 20 years longer that they have lived there. For example, one long time respondent remarked that he moved to the area
because he “thought there would be progress in Mahahual.”
There were very few significant relationships between socioeconomic variables and perceptions about the future. The lack of abundant relationships was an
indication that concerns and hopes regarding the future were diverse and span socioeconomic boundaries. Based on the great variety of responses regarding the
future and the lack of statistically significant relationships, it would be impractical to design an ICM strategy that targets the concerns and especially the aspirations of a
particular socioeconomic sector.
70
CHAPTER 11 DISCUSSION OF SOCIOECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON
RESOURCE USE AND PERCEPTION 11.1 Introduction
Chapters nine and ten demonstrated how household socioeconomic characteristics, primarily WEALTH, were significantly related to perceptions and uses
of coastal resources. This chapter will examine patterns in the significant relationships that were presented in the preceding chapters. WEALTH and EDUCATION appear
to be the most important socioeconomic characteristics influencing perceptions and uses of coastal resources. These two variables account for almost 74 of the
statistically significant relationships from chapters nine and ten. Since it is difficult to discern a trend with few relationships, socioeconomic characteristics such as
MIGRATION, AGE, and RESIDENCY that demonstrate a cumulative total of less than 27 of the significant relationships will not be discussed. Tables 11.1 and 11.2
summarize and group significant relationships discussed in chapters nine and ten by EDUCATION and WEALTH.
11.2 Wealth
Within Mahahual, the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty is quite evident. Poor households can lack basic amenities such as sanitary facilities. The poorest
families struggle to obtain adequate shelter, clothing, and nutrition. Nearby, wealthy families have affluent resources such as new vehicles and satellite dishes. However,
the dichotomy between wealth and the poverty in Mahahual is not only reflected in people’s houses, clothes, and diet, it is also evident in the way they perceive and use
the coastal environment.
The two WEALTH factors demonstrate more significant relationships with perceptions and uses of the coastal environment than do all of the other socioeconomic
characteristics combined. This chapter will examine whether there were patterns in the ways that wealthier versus poorer segments of the community perceive coastal
resources, and determine how the identification of these patterns can be applicable to an ICM program. Table 11.1 presents significant relationships from chapters nine
and ten associated with WEALTH factors 1 and 2.
Table 11.1. Relationships Between WEALTH and Perceptions and Uses of Coastal Resources
WE ALTH
Less More
a reef worse in 5 years g future of reef depends on human intervention
b future of fishery depends on fishing h ships affect reefs
c fishery is in bad condition i tourism affects reefs
d reef is in poor condition j fishery in decline
e problems accessing the fishery are human related legislation, theft of equipment, habitat destruction
k fishery was better due to population l concerned about health
f moved to Mahahual for the fishery m land-based practices affect the fishery
