Assessment of the potentials for community-based conservation of Chocolate Hills, Bohol Province, Philippines

Highest educational level attained was positively correlated with estimated distance of residences to chocolate Hills Resort and Complex, age, and household size were negatively correlated to perceptions of community respondents towards Chocolate Hills and its conservation. Number of years in rsidence, occupation, and annual family income were not related to perceptions of community respondents toward Chocolate Hills Resort and Complex, age, number of years in residence, household size, highest education level atained, and annual family income were not related to community participation in conserving Chocolate Hills. Household size and highest educational level attained were positively correlated which age and number of years in residence were negatively correlated to community evaluation of ecotourism. Estimated distance of residences to Chocolate Hills Resort and Complex, occupation, and annual family income were not related to community evaluation of ecotourism. Age, highest education level attained, and occupation were not related to perceptions of selected excursionists toward Chocolae Hills and its conservation. Also, age and highest education leel attained were not related to perceptions of selected government officials toward Chocolate Hills and its conservation. Community residents were foundto be willing to participate in efforts to conserve Chocolate Hills if they were asked. The willingness of community residents to participate in conserving the Chocolate Hills indicated that there are potentials foe community-based conservation of hills. Community residents were generally hesitant to accept ecotourism as an economic developmentlcum-conservation tool. They noted the need for more information on ecotourism before they commit to participate in related activities. The questions of availability of capital for ecotourism-related businesses also needs to be addressed. A study of "pana-aw" among community members contributed to an assessment of the potentials for community-based conservation of Chocolate Hills. It identified group of stakeholders that could serve as anchor for community-based conservation of Chocolate Hills. However, their full participation was constrained by too much dependence on conventional authority, conflicting views among government agencies and their line offices on the best use of the resource and insufficient information on ecotourism