ABSTRACT:This paper represents particularly important study for an effective design and implementation of regional policies. It also shows the potential application of spatial statistics analysis to compare and contrast patterns of spatial associations in interrelated measures of tourism performance. In case of sustainable tourism development attributes related to tourism potential and environmental protection have been considered. The three data sets (tourism potential, specific environmental value and tourism infrastructure load) have been proposed as composite indicators. By using multicriterial decision-making techniques and spatial associations of those different variables, it was possible to identify local disparities in tourism potential and propose final appearance of community groups linked by similar characteristics. Moran´s I statistic and Getis-Ord Gi* statistic helped to distinguish detailed disparities between clustered regions and point out significant drivers of the NízkýJeseník Highlands. Finally, five groups of municipalities with similar attributes were created and using hot spot analysis significant cores were identified and pointed out as key spots for further tourism development.

Natura 2000 is a network of European protected areas, established under the provision of two directives of the European Union: the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC; 2009/147/EU). The Natura 2000 network can be considered an interesting instrument to maintain and improve ecosystem services provided by protected sites. The European Union member countries are free to organize the participatory process in the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. The participatory process is often overlooked despite it being an important tool to increase the social acceptance and reduce conflicts among stakeholders with different interests. The aim of the present study is to investigate the stakeholders’ perceptions towards the ecosystem services provided by the Natura 2000 sites in the Czech Republic. The data was collected through a questionnaire survey involving 53 stakeholders (forester managers and nature conservation authorities) in all regions of the Czech Republic. The results show that for the respondents, the implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives in the Czech Republic is very or quite important (54.7%), but at the same time, many respondents consider the Natura 2000 network an obstacle for economic activities close to the sites (66.0% of total respondents). In accordance with the stakeholders’ opinions, the three most important human activities near and inside the Natura 2000 sites are agricultural activities, followed by nature conservation interventions and forestry activities. The representatives of environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and academia emphasize the importance of nature conservation interventions, while the other groups of interest consider the provisioning services supplied by agricultural and forestry activities as the most relevant ecosystem services. The results of this study can be considered as the starting point aimed to improve the participatory process in the establishment and management of the Natura 2000 sites based on the stakeholders’ feelings and opinions.

Population growth forces the human community to expand into the natural habitats of wild animals. Their efforts to use natural sources often collide with wildlife attacks. These animals do not only protect their natural environment, but in the face of losing the potential food sources, they also penetrate in human settlements. The research was situated in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in Nepal, and the aim of this study was to investigate possible geospatial connections between attacks of all kinds of animals on humans in the CNP and its surroundings between 2003 and 2013. The patterns of attacks were significantly uneven across the months, and 89% of attacks occurred outside the park. In total, 74% attacks occurred in the buffer zone forests and croplands within 1 km from the park. There was a strong positive correlation among the number of victims for all attacking animals with a maximum of one victim per 4 km2, except elephant and wild boar. The density of bear victims was higher where the tiger and rhino victims were lower, e.g., in the Madi valley. The data collected during this period did not show any signs of spatial autocorrelation. The calculated magnitude per unit area using the kernel density, together with purpose-defined land use groups, were used to determine five risk zones of wildlife attacks. In conclusion, it was found that the riskiest areas were locations near the forest that were covered by agricultural land and inhabited by humans. Our research results can support any local spatial decision-making processes for improving the co-existence of natural protection in the park and the safety of human communities living in its vicinity.

The study was conducted within and adjacent to Chitwan National Park in Nepal (CNP), where several wildlife species are involved in conflicts with humans. We assessed the spatial relationships between the number of victims/km2 (=victim density or VD) of attack by wildlife (elephant, rhino, wild boar, sloth bear, leopard or tiger) versus landscape features, including both natural habitat type and land use by humans (e.g., nursery, orchard or cultivated). We identified four levels of VD, ranging from <1 V (victim)/4 km2 to >1 V/2 km2 for each land use zone, then tested for correlations at one or more of those VD between each pair of wildlife species across different land use types. Our results high correlation for sloth bear and leopard (r ≈ 0.8), for all species except elephant and wild boar at VD > 1 V/4 km2 (r > 0.9) and for leopard vs. rhinoceros (r = 0.99) across land use types at 1 V/4 km2) indicate some risk-reduction measures. One of them would be division of each buffer zone into three concentric rings, for instance ranging from high-risk adjacent areas to areas of high use by humans, to low-risk where human use is low. This revision would facilitate giving local people more voice in implementing conservation measures and reducing risks.

Urban areas and regions with significant natural features, scenery or cultural heritage have become the most popular sites for tourist destinations. Therefore, it is necessary to make efforts to preserve the natural environment before uncontrolled tourist infrastructure spreads. But the real situation is not clear. As the scale of tourism grows, resources become more unsustainable. A destination with a damaged environment loses its attraction and this causes an increase in the building of new tourist destinations. But the solution is not in closing areas for visitors but in finding the right level of tourist load, because money coming from tourism may help to keep the landscape sustainable. This paper shows one way of how to assess and visualize conflicts between landscape protection and sustainable tourism development for decision-makers in municipalities. On the example of the Nízký Jeseník Highlands, composite indicators dealing with specific environmental value, tourism potential and tourism infrastructure load have been proposed. Using a linear regression between most correlated data sets specific areas of different conflicts with tourism were identified and proposed for further development. ARTICLE HISTORY