Local Attitudes on Protected Areas: Evidence from Sumava National Park and Sumava Protected Landscape Area

Abstract

<p>The present article aims to describe perceptions and awareness of local residents in two categories of the Sumava region protected areas–National Park (NP) and Protected Landscape Area (PLA). The survey explores perceptions of individuals on nature protection, protected area management, tourism and related issues. Differences between these two research areas are also explored. Standardised personal interviews were conducted during the summer season of 2008. The study took place in six municipalities in NP (Borova Lada, Srni, Prasily, Kvilda, Horska Kvilda and Modrava; 183 questionnaires in total) and in three municipalities in PLA (Kasperske Hory, Hojsova Straz and Cachrov; 138 questionnaires in total). According to the results of the study, there were more natives and indigenous residents in NP than PLA. Similarly, local people in NP were working more often in the public sector and less in the private sector and they had more benefits from tourism. Residents in PLA were less informed about Administration activities, more satisfied with topical nature conservation level and against expansion of NP to their place of residence. Also, a significant finding of the study is that residents (especially in PLA) were supportive of some forms of participatory management. They are interested in the advancement of the area, mostly in the form of improvement of tourism-related facilities. They love this region and also call for better communication with NP/PLA Administration.</p

Stakeholders’ Perspectives of Sustainable Tourism Development

“…The results suggest that it would be naïve to conclude that alternative tourism is always a better option. Further, the results confirm the assertions that the outcomes of recreation and tourism partnerships in protected areas depend on the management model (Eagles 2009;Ruschkowski et al 2013), the benefits derived by local residents are contingent upon the management approach employed in protected areas (Gorner and Cihar 2013), and the protection status (category) of protected areas influence sustainable tourism outcomes (Reinius and Fredman 2007). This indicates that site-specific biophysical, social, and economic situation should be taken into account while deciding management priorities and approaches of protected areabased tourism systems.…”

Understanding local community's values, worldviews and perceptions in the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve, Scotland

“…This falls in line with Wallner, et al (2007), who found that one of the main perceived effects of the studied biospheres were possibility restrictions in land use. Gorner and Cihar (2013) also found perceived constraints, but more focused, and in relation to the waste management, forest and development infrastructure, the final two of which were found in the GSABR case as well.…”

Changes in the network of tourist trails in the border zones of the Czech Republic after entering the Schengen area

“…The whole territory is important in a world context and Šumava is a UNESCO biosphere reserve while the local peat bogs are protected by the Ramsar Convention for the Protection of Wetlands (Kušová and Těšitel 2016;Křenová and Kiener 2012;Těšitel and Kušová 2010). At the same time the area is a very popular tourist destination (approximately 2 million every year), however it is mostly domestic (Dickie et al 2014;Gorner and Čihař 2013;see also: Picek et al 2007;Těšitel et al 2003b).…”