As coral reefs face growing threats, conservation resources must be prioritised effectively. Rationally, coordinating investment in regions of biological, social, and economic significance may yield favourable outcomes for ecosystems and communities. However, research investigating coral reef dependence at this intersection is scarce.
This study adopts a mixed-methods, transdisciplinary approach to investigate the key social and economic factors influencing coral reef dependence in two coastal communities in the Philippines. This study reveals that coral reef dependence is not a homogeneous experience across regions or communities but is heavily influenced by personal and historical contexts. Coral reef dependence is shaped by social structures, individual agency, and people’s values. While some factors act broadly across populations, while others are deeply personal. These two levels interact to shape people’s coral reef dependence. It argues that dependence is shaped by social structures, individual agency, and people’s values.
The study calls for a broadening of dependency investigations to explicitly include the social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of people’s relationships with coral reefs, arguing that only by acknowledging the multidimensional nature of dependence can we truly understand people’s relationships with their environment and give voice to their needs and aspirations.