Explain the human conflict involved in this case and identify the best theory or model of 

human-
environment interactions for understanding the case.

The Apo Island is a mainland island of 0.7 km2, surrounded by 1.06 km2 of fringing coral reef to
the 60-m isobath (0.7 km2 to the 20-m isobaths) which is located in the Central Philippines
(Alcala and Russ, 2006). In the 1900s, five families were reported to have settled in Apo Island.
Eighty-four years later, the island has 120 households and a resident population of 720
individuals. Almost all the men on the island are fishermen, of which 75% of their total
population are municipal fishers that used hook and line methods, and outrigger canoes or
motorized pump boats (Malayang, 1999).

The Apo Island reef supports 126 species of fish which includes the population of black-tip and
white-tip sharks, giant clams, and octopus. However, despite its rich biodiversity which made it
valuable to its inhabitants, the island resources have not been exempted from human abuse. It is
suffering from overexploitation and destructive fishing. As early as the 1970’s, the island and its
surrounding areas comprising the coastal waters of Negros Oriental, have seen rampant
dynamite fishing, coral destruction (from “muro-ami”), and the extensive use of “tubli” (or
poisonous extracts from certain trees). The southwest reef of Apo is being destroyed by careless
boat anchoring and heavy fishing and collecting.

With this, the human conflict involved in this case is the rapid population growth and the
increasing human pressure on coastal resources which have resulted in the massive degradation
of the coral reefs and has made the fishery increasingly vulnerable to unsustainable fishing.

As to the best theory or model of human-environment interactions for understanding the case, I
think these can be answered by the Theory of Cultural Ecology because it discusses how
population and economic factors forced fisherfolk in Apo Island to adopt the strategies in the
management of resources to increase their fish harvest. In which, this adaptation has become an
integral part of the island culture.

References:

Alcala, A. C., & Russ, G. R. (2006). No-take Marine Reserves and Reef Fisheries Management in
the Philippines: A New People Power Revolution. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human
Environment, 35(5), 245–254. doi:10.1579/05-a-054r1.1

Malayang III, Ph.D., B.S. (1999). Socio-Cultural Principles of Human-Environment Interactions.

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