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Demographic Analysis
Overview
Demography is the study of the characteristics of human populations, such as size, growth, density, and distribution. Demographic analysis provides insights into the links between these characteristics and the cultural, economic, geographic, and other social attributes present in a given area.
Credit: NOAA Coastal Services Center
General Considerations
General Information
Understanding the population dynamics around a resource can be a valuable tool for managers. Demographic analysis can highlight trends in the size and density of communities adjacent to a protected area, as well as factors attracting or discouraging individuals from residing in these areas. By linking population data and use patterns, demographic analysis can help managers target the sources of practices that are detrimental to the health of marine ecosystems. This type of information can be incorporated into a geographic information system (GIS) to display demographic patterns spatially, linking ecological and human characteristics within a landscape.
Demographic analysis can also be used to establish the percentage of the total population involved in a particular resource use activity, such as fishing or tourism. By delineating this information by age, sex, or education level, managers can develop targeted outreach and training activities for local communities.
Strengths and Limitations
- Provides statistically sound data on human populations
- Has little bias
- Can be used to orient other types of social science analysis (e.g., social assessments, use patterns, and economic studies)
Limitations
- Population data is not collected specifically for MPAs
- Demographic analysis does not capture individual or community perceptions
- Can require use of sophisticated statistical techniques
Examples and Case Studies
 MPA Perceptions by Small-Scale Fishermen in Sicily, ItalyUsing questionnaires to assess the perceptions of small-scale fishermen toward marine reserves |
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 Using Ethnography to Document Traditional Practices in Kadavu, FijiUnderstanding the history and culture of Fijians and integrating these into current marine protected area management |
Expertise Needed
Technical assistance from a skilled demographer is essential for interpreting population data, conducting statistical analyses, and establishing relationships between different demographic trends. However, more informal use of demographic data by managers themselves may help orient planning, outreach, and education activities around a resource.
Resources
- Demographic Trends and the Planning and Management of Visitor Use in Wilderness
H. Ken Cordell. A study illustrating the utility of demographic analysis for natural resource and protected area management - The Sonoran Institute
Offers an economic profiling system for interpreting socioeconomic data - Spatial Trends in Coastal Socioeconomics (STICS)
A NOAA Web resource offering access to demographic information and patterns of human activity in the coastal zone - The U.S. Census Bureau
Provides a wide range of demographic information on its public Web site, as well as links to a variety of sources of state demographic information - U.S. Census Data
U.S. Census Bureau Web site that allows quick, easy access to census data