Resident Perceptions of Distribution, Recognition and Representation Justice Domains of Environmental Policy-Making: The Case of European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Poland

Abstract

Largescale nature conservation programs such as European ecological network Natura 2000 tend to fuel local conservation conflicts due to perceived unbalance between costs and benefits, lack of recognition and representation of residents in the decision-making process concerning policy implementation and management. This study considers Fraser's critical model of political justice to understand how residents construct N2000 justice and discuss the potential implications for the political framing of N2000 conflicts. The novelty of this approach lies in that it embraces various components within the three justice domains: distribution, recognition, representation, to shed light on N2000 conflicts and highligh justice as a way to legitimize N2000 policy.

Effects of connection to nature on residents’ perceptions of conservation policy justice of Natura 2000

“…We adapted the perceived environmental justice scale, a validated multidimensional instrument to assess resident justice concerns within distribution, recognition, and representation domains of Natura 2000 (Strzelecka, Tusznio, et al., 2021 ). The connectedness to nature scale concerns the relationship between one's self‐image and nature (Mayer & Frantz, 2004 ).…”

“…Strzelecka et al. (Strzelecka, Rechciński, et al., 2021 ; Strzelecka, Tusznio, et al., 2021 ) proposed a tripartite model of residents’ justice concerns regarding Natura 2000 to determine sources of perceived injustice related to Natura 2000 conservation policies. The model offers a radical, multifaceted approach to understanding conservation justice concerns.…”

“…Perceptions of justice are context and location specific (Clayton et al., 2018 ; Strzelecka, Rechciński, et al., 2021 ; Strzelecka, Tusznio, et al., 2021 ); thus, particular justice concerns are not relevant in all communities (Strzelecka, Tusznio, et al., 2021 ). From this perspective, perceptions of justice regarding new conservation policies depend on the value people place on nature and EID (Clayton et al., 2013 ; Figueroa, 2006 ).…”