From Policy to Practice: Evaluating Public Awareness of Wildlife Conservation Strategies in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur

Environmental Science and Policy

This study investigates the level of awareness of wildlife conservation policies among residents of five barangays in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, a biodiversity-rich area in the Philippines. Despite national laws such as Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and Republic Act 8485 (Animal Welfare Act), local enforcement and awareness remain inconsistent. Using a quantitative research design, a researcher-made survey questionnaire was administered to 368 respondents across Barangay Borbon, Ladgadan, Rizal, Santa Ana, and Tagapua. The survey assessed respondents' socio-demographic profiles and their awareness of various wildlife conservation strategies and local ordinances. Results revealed that while awareness of national laws is generally high, knowledge of municipal ordinances and technical conservation aspects—such as bioprospecting and species reintroduction—varied significantly among barangays. Ladgadan and Santa Ana reported the highest awareness levels, while barangays like Borbon and Tagapua demonstrated comparatively lower scores. Post-Hoc Dunn’s Test confirmed significant differences in awareness levels between several barangay pairs, highlighting localized disparities in conservation knowledge. The study concludes that uneven awareness and engagement are major barriers to effective wildlife conservation at the community level. Enhancing local education campaigns, improving policy dissemination, and strengthening community participation are crucial to translating conservation laws into practice. These findings provide a foundation for targeted interventions to address awareness gaps and promote sustainable environmental stewardship in Agusan del Sur.

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