Environmental Coastal Dilemma. Level of Awareness and Situational Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Acknowledgment

Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE
INTRODUCTION
- The rationale of Study
- Theoretical Background
- Literature Review
THE PROBLEM
- Statement of the Problem
- Significance of Study
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- Research Design
- Research Environment
- Research Respondents
- Research Instruments
- Research Procedure
- Treatment of Data

DEFINITION OF TERMS

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

A-1. Location Map

A-2. Approval Letter

A-3. Invitation Letter

A-4. Program

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A B S T R A C T

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This action research paper will analyze the level of awareness participants of coastal clean-up and will examine the environmental dilemma of coastal waterways. It will also give us a glimpse of their reflections of their experienced on its first-hand experiences during and after the coastal clean-up.

This will be a descriptive survey using quantitative and qualitative research designs. The quantitative design described the level of awareness of coastal dilemmas and value of sense of fulfillment and stewardship based upon the respondent's participation in the conduct of the coastal clean-up drive through the qualitative approach via interview and the data will be in thematic analysis that create major themes. It can be concluded that that there is a major coastal dilemma after the study and there is a recommendation being suggested by the researcher to address this gap.

Keywords:Level of Awareness, Reflection, Environmental, Coastal Clean-up, Dilemma.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher would like to express his heartfelt gratitude to those who, in one way or another have helped him in making this study a successful one.

First and foremost, to theLORD GOD ALMIGHTY, for giving him the wisdom, the courage, the patience, and the strength to believe that this endeavor made possible.

Significantly, the undersigned would like to extend the genuine gratefulness to the committee for their continued support and holistic encouragement:Dr. ALVIN ZAMORA, the chairman,CAPT. GERRY ENJAMBRE, the member 1,MR. JOHN SARMEINTO, the statistician and member 2, without you all, he may not be guided by information related to the submission of this research.

CAPT. ARNEL N. MALAGA,the University of Cebu Maritime Education and Training Center, Campus Academic Director and Maritime Superintendent, andUC-METC Administrationfor their support.

DR. DARYL G. BABATID

Researcher

CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

At the root of the waste problem is the lack of public awareness. This is where coastal clean-ups come in as it gives the regular student or residents of the coastal area the opportunity to see first-hand the trash that washes up in our shore lines, igniting consciousness and action towards daily consumption and waste segregation. Seeing hundreds of plastic straws along the shores would hopefully encourage the use of other alternatives, or not using straws at all. Collecting different generations of shampoo sachets in one bag would hopefully push individuals to buy bigger bottles to reduce waste, while recording unusual items like luggage or foam mattresses brings the importance of reusing and not easily disposing of our stuff. (Haribon Foundation, 2019)

The University of Cebu- Maritime Education and Training Center (UC-METC) through Community Awareness Relations and Extension Services (C.A.R.E.S.) in partnership with Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), become one, and together created a more significant impact on the community and environment through the Annual National Clean-up of waterways and shorelines at our adopted water bodies: SRP beside METC, Mambaling every month of March. Partnering towards People's Environment Movement drew us together and pushed us to our limits to clean up the world in our little way.

This gave us another great opportunity to continue and establish a deeper partnership for initiatives and programs geared to rehabilitate and retrieve the natural resources we have lost and protect whatever is left for the generation to come.

The UC - METC C.AR.E.S. coordinated the activity with the local government the Brgy. Mambaling through barangay tanods, solid management team and some of the residents from the coastal area of Barangay Mambaling, to serve as representatives in their barangay to actively join the coastal clean-up drive. The specific objective is to mobilize all LGUs in the country for a one-day clean-up with the participation of all sectors of the society under the implementation of Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the "The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000".

There is a gap in knowledge on how waste will be segregated and how many volumes of waste will be collected, how we can recycle it for livelihood purposes, and the impact of volunteers when they participate in the environmental clean-up. Thus, this prompted the researchers to research environmental perspectives.

Theoretical Background

This study is anchored on the Theories of sustainability attempt to prioritize and integrate social responses to environmental and cultural problems. An economic model looks to sustain natural and financial capital; an ecological model looks to biological diversity and ecological integrity; a political model looks to social systems that realize human dignity. Religion has entered the debate with symbolic, critical, and motivational resources for cultural change.

In its literal rudiments, sustainability means a capacity to maintain some entity, outcome, or process over time. Agriculture, forest management, or financial investment might be deemed sustainable, meaning that the activity does not exhaust the material resources on which it depends. An analogous use of the term "sustainability" refers to dependent social conditions; for example, a peace treaty, an economic policy, or a cultural practice may be called sustainable if it will not exhaust the support of a political community. In its increasingly common use, the concept of sustainability frames how environmental problems jeopardize the conditions of healthy economic, ecological, and social systems. On a global scale, the political challenge of sustainability raises a set of basic problems and comprehensive goals. By focusing on the ecological dependency of economic and social systems, sustainability illuminates the mutual effects of environmental degradation caused by human activities and the perils to human systems presented by global environmental problems. The concept of sustainability thus raises a starkly basic question: can human activity successfully maintain itself and its goals without exhausting the resources on which it depends?

This study, however, is supported by the Theory of environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). The ERB theory was proposed by Hines, Hungerford, and Tomera. The model argues that possessing an intention of acting is a major factor influencing ERB. The Model of Responsible Environmental Behavior indicates the following variables: intention to act, locus of control (an internalized sense of personal control over the events in one's own life), attitudes, sense of personal responsibility, and knowledge. Suggested whether a person would adopt a behavior or not.

Pollution

Timely information can be a powerful tool to mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution. Moreover, a growing literature on environmental health literacy suggests that communication about environmental risks must move beyond individual behavior education to empower communities to mobilize to reduce environmental threats. This demonstrates that air quality communication is lacking yet crucially needed. Information about air pollution and health risks focuses on individual risk behaviors but is disseminated using channels that are unlikely to reach the most vulnerable populations. We discuss opportunities to improve the reach and impact of communication of air quality health risks, an increasingly important global priority, situating our argument within a critical environmental health literacy perspective. (Ramondt et al., 2019).

At the interactive level, communication can help to build skills that increase self-efficacy. Finally, in terms of critical health literacy, communication can be used to effect structural change by conveying the causes of air pollution that can be used to advocate for policies that reduce air pollution (Palmedo, Dorfman, Garza, Murphy, & Freudenberg, 2017).

Communication is a tool for achieving all stages of EHL. At the individual level, communication can be used to achieve functional EHL by providing education (i.e., communication of information about health risks) as well as information that can motivate individuals to engage in behaviors to mitigate the health risks of air pollution (Glik, 2007; Guidotti, 2013; Johnson, 2012; Silk & Totzkay, 2018)

Despite the potential for communication to mitigate the health risks of air pollution through improved EHL, little is known about the extent and effectiveness of air pollution communication. From the perspective of audiences and citizens, the mass media are recognized as sources of information about air quality (Cisneros et al., 2017; Feinberg et al., 2016)

Land Reclamation and Conversion

Land reclamation is a common problem in cities. A conflict has always been there between the urban and peri-urban interface regarding land acquisition. Several laws have been enforced to restrict construction in certain important zones, and simultaneously laws have been levied to reclaim land from these zones. Thus, enactment of laws is not sufficient unless it strengthens the function of local people whose livelihood is dependent on this land area. (Roy & Majumder, 2021).

Urbanization and population growth in coastal areas have intensified globally over the past few decades, leading to an increasingly prominent contradiction between land supply and demand for coastal areas. Coastal reclamation is a promising strategy for creating and extending space for urban construction and economic development. Large-scale reclamation of coastal wetlands has become a significant land use issue worldwide (Bowen et al., 2019; Koh & de Jonge, 2014; Sengupta et al., 2018; Sousa et al., 2020; van Roon, 2012).

Coastal reclamation has brought substantial economic benefits to the locals and promoted regional transformation and development. However, the structure and function of coastal ecosystems are affected by drivers of human-caused landscape change, such as pollution, land use change, resource exploitation, and habitat fragmentation (Deegan et al., 2012; Yang et al., 2017).

Recent examples of such megastructures at the coast include the Palm resorts of Dubai, international airports in Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore, and mega smart city projects such as 'Eko Atlantic' in Lagos, Nigeria, and Songdo smart city, South Korea. The scale of land reclamation taking place on the world's coasts today is unprecedented, and a critical understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of these high-impact practices is overdue. While reclaiming land is a global phenomenon, China's hunger for land (Wang et al., 2014).

Yang et al. (2017). Identified trade-offs that existed among material production, habitat quality, and carbon storage from 1989 to 2015 in The Yellow River Delta, China. As exemplified above, prior cases share the concern about the ecological impact of coastal reclamation.

The exploitation of Natural Resources

Overexploitation of most targeted marine fishes is very well documented, but this generally occurs in the "commons" of international waters. However, some isolated reports indicate that overexploitation is a significant threat to biodiversity in biodiversity-rich countries. For example, in the Brazilian Amazon, studies by zoologist Carlos Peres indicate that hunting vertebrates (mammals and birds) can kill approximately 23 million animals per year. In summary, the great biological richness present in biodiversity-rich countries is seriously threatened, and urgent measures are needed to deal with this problem (Sarukhán & Dirzo, 2013).

Overexploitation, or overharvesting, can lead to the destruction of the resource that is being exploited. This does not apply to all-natural resources, but it does apply to the following: wild plants, grazing pastures, game animals, fish stocks, forests, and aquifers in specific (especially in arid) regions. Overexploitation itself is not a new phenomenon, though the concern about overexploitation is relatively recent. Since the earliest times, hunting and gathering have been two important human lives as a means of survival (Guo, 2021).

Overexploitation of fisheries and the use of destructive techniques as well as unplanned and illegal shoreline developments has resulted in the extensive destruction of coastal habitats. The Philippines is confronted with the enormous challenge of finding a suitable path to food security, sustainable livelihood, poverty alleviation, and reduction of vulnerability to natural hazards. The nation's coastal and marine resources are deteriorating rapidly due to multiple-use conflicts, lack of awareness and understanding, and ineffective management approaches (Ramesh & Purvaja, 2011)

Literature Review

Various literature was conducted on the environmental Coastal Dilemma. One of these is the time immemorial problem in our ocean. Seafarers have known for decades that the oceans are trash dumps, the ultimate sinkholes for all global garbage. So far, 136 species of marine animals have been found entangled in debris. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the first such discovery was made in 1944, when northern fur seals turned up trapped in rubber "collars" that were the remains of Japanese food-drop bags from the Aleutian campaign in World War II. (National Geographic, 2014)

People generate solid wastes such as food and kitchen wastes, paper, glass, metal and plastic containers and packaging, construction wastes (bricks, tiles, concrete, rebar, lumber, sheeting, etc.), and if not handled appropriately (recycled or disposed of properly) have the potential to become litter. Marine litter or debris is any persistent, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the maritime and coastal environment from any source (http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/, Coe & Rogers 1997).

Marine litter can be classified as land- or ocean/waterway-based, depending on how the debris enters the water (UNEP 2008). Land-based sources include dumps/landfills, riverine transport, untreated sewage and storm water discharges, industrial and manufacturing facilities, tourism, and beach goers. Sea-/Ocean-based sources of marine litter include fishing vessels, cruise liners, merchant shipping, military and research vessels, pleasure crafts, oil/gas platforms, and fish farming (https://marine-litter.gpa.unep.org/facts/facts.htm).

For the evaluation framework, we decided to refer to the capitals as "domains of impact," and we labeled these domains "health impacts, building and infrastructure impacts, financial impacts, political impacts, social network impacts, natural resources impacts, and cultural impacts." Our definitions of each of these domains of impact were very close to the definitions in Emery and Flora (2006).

The environmental consequences of man's actions ignore geographic boundaries and have the potential to present us with long-term problems that are essentially irreversible and are therefore of paramount importance (Lash & Wellington, 2007). Increasing awareness of the effect of climate change may result in conscious changes in consumption behavior by some, yet there are certain activities over which individual self-management is constrained. One such activity is the disposal of the dead. While cultural mores may dictate differences in disposal rites, all individuals around the world engage in this one common yet fundamental activity that is of personal, emotional, social, and environmental significance. Canning et. al(2010).

A quantitative study, according to (T. C. Michot 1, T. W. Custer 2, A. J. Nault 1, and C. A. Mitchell) states that the Whole body and liver analyses indicated that winter- ing redheads (Aythya Americana; n=70) in coastal Louisiana (one site) and Texas (two sites) were relatively free of contamination with common trace elements organochlorines, and hydrocarbons. Most trace elements, including As, Cr, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn, were within background concentrations in livers; levels of B, Cd, Cu, and Fe were elevated in some specimens. Only one organochlorine, DDE, was detected in redhead carcasses, but its concentration was below the reported toxic levels in waterfowl. Body burdens of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were generally low, but levels of pristine, total hydrocarbons and the ratios of phytane: n-octadecane and pristane:n-heptadecane were indicative of possible chronic exposure to petroleum. Based on brain cholinesterase assays, redheads were not recently exposed to organophosphorus or carbamate pesticides. Of 30 elements or compounds tested for seasonal differences, only Se increased from early to late winter at one of the three sites. Eight of 57 contaminants differed among the three sites; no sex or age differences were found.

According to Akidtundi 2017 in his paper reviews vital behavioral and environmental theories that are capable of nurturing pro-environmental citizenry. Theories are developed to explain, predict, and enhance the understanding of phenomena. Theories challenge and extend the frontiers of knowledge within the boundaries of critical bounding assumptions. Theories vary in their development based on the concepts and methods employed and empirical tests undertaken. The testability of a theory is one of its essential features. An integrative application of different behavioral and environmental theories could prove to be invaluable in solving contemporary environmental problems. The models and theories reviewed in this paper include primitive models (behavioral change model, environmentally responsible behavior model, reasoned/responsible action theory), planned behavior theory, environmental citizenship model, model of human interaction with the environment, the value-belief-norm Theory of environmentalism, health belief theory and diffusion of innovation model. This paper concludes that none of these theories can independently entirely explain human-environment interaction, but a combination of these theories will undoubtedly provide further insights and possible solutions to the increasing 21st-century environmental problems posed by humans and technology.

Republic Act No. 9275, An Act Providing for Comprehensive Water Quality Management and other Purposes or more widely known as the "Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004," is the primary legislation in the Philippines that protects the country's water bodies from pollution. It was approved on Mar 02, 2004, and on May 16, 2005, Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2005-10 which is its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), was released. The law provides an integrated, holistic, and decentralized strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all stakeholders. It aims to protect, preserve, and revive the quality of fresh, brackish, and marine water from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture, and community/household activities).

The Clean Water Act covers water quality management in all water bodies; abatement and control of pollution from land-based sources; and enforcement of water quality standards, regulations, and penalties. In addition, standards for the transport and disposal of effluent, sewage, and septage off-site, whether offshore or on land as well as disposal of wastewater on land, shall be formulated by DENR.

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the problem

This study aims to determine the level of awareness, and situational analysis of the participants on the environmental coastal dilemma and it seeks to answer specifically the following questions:

1. What is the level of awareness of the respondents on coastal dilemmas in terms of;

1.1 Pollution;

1.2 Land reclamation and conversion; and

1.3 Over-exploitation of natural resources?

2. What is the relevance of joining the activity on coastal clean-up?

3. How do you feel a sense of stewardship to the activity on coastal clean-up?

4. How do you feel a sense of fulfilment after joining and doing the activity on coastal clean-up?

5. What sound recommendation can be raised based on the findings of the study?

Significance of the Study

This study will be about the level of environmental awareness, situational analysis of the Environmental Coastal Dilemma as the respondents participate during the clean-up drive. It aimed to determine the level of awareness, reflection, and analyze situations during the participant's involvement in the aforesaid activity. The success of this research benefited the following: Maritime Students, Community, Instructors, the school C.A.R.E.S. Office, and Future Researchers.

Maritime Students.Through this study, it helps them intensify their level of awareness of coastal issues and develop in them the values of stewardship and a sense of environmental responsibility.

Coastal Communities.This study will be used as a reference by coastal communities to help restore and conserve vital marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as to provide livelihood possibilities and improve climate change resilience.

Instructors.This study will encourage faculty involvement to not just participate in community extension activities but develop the values of environmental responsiveness.

Administrator. The administrators will also gain insights as intensifying its full support to all the relevant activities of C.A.R.E.S. is one of the triad functions of HEI.

Future Researchers.This study will be used as a reference in future studies to evaluations of future activities to be conducted by the CARES Office.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Mixed methods are used to answer the questions of this study. According to Allison Shorten & Joanna Smith (2017), a mixed-methods design is appropriate for answering research questions that neither quantitative nor qualitative methods could answer alone. Mixed methods can be used to gain a better understanding of connections or contradictions between qualitative and quantitative data; they can provide opportunities for participants to have a strong voice and share their experiences across the research process, and they can facilitate different avenues of exploration that enrich the evidence and enable questions to be answered more deeply. Mixed methods research 29 draws on potential strengths of both qualitative and quantitative methods, allowing researchers to explore diverse perspectives and uncover relationships that exist between the intricate layers of our multifaceted research questions.

Mixed methods are significant to this study since this research needed both quantitative and qualitative approaches to address research questions were combining two types of methods to answer the questions so that each of the results of the methods will be provided with better information and understanding or rather insights into the research.

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Details

• Author: Daryl Babatid (Author)
• Publication Year: 2023
• Pages: 42
• Catalog Number: V1362859
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346887849
• ISBN (Book): 9783346887856
• Language: English
• Tags: environmental coastal dilemma level awareness situational analysis