Mitigating the Pressures: The Role of Participatory Planning in Protected Area Management

Abstract

This chapter aims to contribute to the knowledge on participatory planning (PP) in the protected area (PA) management focusing on areas whose sustainability is significantly affected by excessive tourism activity. The existing literature has shown PP to be both crucial for successful PA management as well as one of the weaker links in current PA management processes. However, the analysis of PPs key features and their implementation in the PAs are not adequately covered in the literature. Thus, this chapter analyses the role and critical elements of successful PP process in PA using the case studies of two Croatian national parks (NP) that have been under significant visitor pressure over the past years . Based on several criteria devised through a critical review of PP literature, an assessment of PP models in two NP is performed, and critical points requiring improvements identified.

Machine learning application to assess deforestation and wildfire levels in protected areas with tourism management

“…This study shows that threats such as deforestation and wildfires can compromise productive capacity and sustainable policies in the long term (Câmara et al, 2022;Gazoni & Brasileiro, 2021;Pfaff et al, 2014;Pivčević, Mikulić, & Krešić, 2021). The patterns of answers found in the constructs confirm other studies regarding the management of PAs (Gazoni & Brasileiro, 2021;Banerjee, 2012;Imran et al, 2014), which highlights how tourism management is important in the fight against these degradation processes.…”

“…As a way to protect these PAs, management plans consist of a document that compiles a series of strategies and tools for conservation, monitoring, adequate use, spatial organization, and integration of these areas into the social life of the communities that interact with these spaces. The plan brings together a diagnosis of the space, whether in terms of physical, biological, geological, economic or social issues (Brazil, 2000;Pivčević et al, 2021;Mandić, 2021). Thus, the management board, formed based on the criteria established in the plan, is intended to operationalize this document, promoting shared management of PAs, to establish a collaborative, transparent and participatory governance within society (Brazil, 2000;Gazoni & Brasileiro, 2021).…”

“…climate change) (Naughton-Treves et al, 2005). In this context, the multiple uses of these areas and their social, economic, environmental and cultural roles are understood (Kim et al, 2019;Pivčević et al, 2021;Mandić, 2021). Knowing this, Oliveira et al (2016) highlight the existing differences between these areass that, even though they have a similar final purpose, are categorized differently depending on their object and purpose and follow different policies for their proper use and spatial organization.…”

“…Finally, it is stressed that a range of studies (e.g. Pivčević et al, 2021;Mandić, 2021;Roux et al, 2021;Gazoni & Brasileiro, 2021) have worked on the challenges of planning and managing PAs, assessing the role of the management plan and governance in mitigating human threats and improving effectiveness of these spaces. However, there is a lack of studies that evaluate the strong pressures exerted in these spaces due to economic exploitation in the face of the risk of degradation processes such as wildfire and deforestation.…”