Community Involvement in Nature Tourism The Case of Mangrove Forest in Noveleta, Cavite, Philippines

The purpose of this research is to determine the involvement and the awareness of the residents of Noveleta, Cavite in the Mangrove Forest Project. Descriptive method was used in the study and survey questionnaires were distributed to the 381 participants from the town of Noveleta, Cavite, Philippines. The results showed that in terms of level of awareness, the participants were moderately aware about the Mangrove Forest Project. Residents somewhat agree that they are facing challenges in the conservation of the mangrove forest. Likewise, the residents agreed into the benefits of the mangrove forest to the community of Noveleta. The local community is moderately aware about the mangrove forest project. They have enough knowledge on the history and activities that is happening in their town regarding to the Mangrove Forest Project. To improve the knowledge of the locals in this project in Noveleta an enhancement in awareness campaign should be made. The involvement of the local community in the Mangrove Forest Project was moderate The involvement of the respondents are closely responsible in supporting the protection and preservation of the mangroves in the place. The respondents somewhat agree on the different challenges: poachers illegally cutting mangroves to hunt woodworms, illegal cutting of mangrove to produce charcoal, limited community empowerment to mangrove forest project, lack of law enforcement and monitoring to protect from illegal encroachment, insufficient knowledge in maintaining mangrove forest, lack of participation of the local community to mangrove forest project, lack of financial of the municipality after launching the mangrove forest project.

Keywords: Mangrove Forest, Mangrove Forest Project, Local Community, Noveleta, Cavite