3. Site description and methods
3.1. Study sites
Seven communities, situated near 4 different MPAs, were chosen for the purposes of this study. The communities included in this study were Baan Tha Khao and Baan Koh Panyee near Ao Phang-Nga NMP and Than Bhok Khorani NMP, Baan Lions and Baan Tapae Yoi near the proposed Koh Phrathong NMP, and Baan Koh Chang, Baan Moken and Baan Ko Sin Hi near Mu Koh Ranong NMP (Fig. 2; Note: Baan¼Village; Koh¼Island). The NMPs under question were all located on the northern Andaman coast of Thailand. They each contain important areas of seagrass, mangroves, or coral reefs and all have forested islands within their boundaries. Tourism visitations varied significantly across the sites with Ao Phang Nga NMP (202,808 visitors) receiving the highest average visitation between 2002 and 2007, followed by Than Bhok Khorani (84,506), Mu Koh Ranong (3267), and Mu Koh Rah-Koh Phrathong (355) [26]. The communities were chosen for diversity – of livelihoods, population, ethnicity, geography, and marine habitat dependencies – but also for feasibility. Livelihoods in the