ABSTRACT
For island dwellers in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, local social exchange networks are no longer as effective as they have been histor ically for gaining access to or conserving natural resources used for building livelihoods. Residents' use of these networks sometimes even contributes to environmental resource degradation. Women, in particular, have found it increasingly difficult to maintain their traditional networks, which allow them to earn income and sustainably manage the natural resource base. In this chapter, we seek an explanation for the current state of environmental dete rioration in three communities in the Philippines.
