Supin Wongbusarakum

"Data do not speak for themselves" - Analyzing social science data in Micronesia

2017

NOAA, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office

"In 2010, socioeconomic monitoring was launched in Micronesia based on SEMPasifika (Socioeconomic Monitoring Guidelines for Coastal Managers in Pacific Island Countries). This community-based monitoring effort aims to better understand the conditions of the people in areas with active resource management. In the past few years, we offered several socioeconomic assessment trainings based on SEM-Pasifika in Micronesia and also provided technical assistance to local teams who collect qualitative and quantitative data in the field. Last year, I conducted a capacity needs assessment to identify further gaps in knowledge and information. The results showed an immediate need for analysis of social science data. To address this issue, I worked with a network of partner organizations to hold a socioeconomic data analysis workshop in Koror, Palau from September 12-17, 2016. The workshop was funded by NOAAs Coral Reef Conservation Program, with support from many partnersincluding the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, NOAAs Pacific Islands Regional Office, Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Areas Community, Micronesia Conservation Trust, Palau International Coral Reef Center, and several other organizations and agencies involved in marine conservation and resource management in Micronesia. Participants attended from Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap), Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Hawaii."

FY17; CRCP Project ID: 427; Project Title: Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Area Community and Micronesia Region Implementation Activities; Principal Investigator: Michael Lameier