A social network approach to diagnose public participation in protected areas management : Insights from a Natura 2000 case study

摘要

Non-participative protected areas management can generate conflicts especially between stakeholders and administrative public bodies. Involving NGOs in management activities, as representatives of citizens and stakeholders can be critical for a successful enforcement of conservation activities, contributing to a better information flow within the management network. Nevertheless, integrating NGOs in management activities coordinated by public bodies is a challenging task, mostly due the dominant top-down approach, with no shared responsibilities with other actors. To evaluate the public participation in management of Natura 2000 sites, we compare public perception data with social network analysis around administration of Iron Gates Natural Park (SW Romania) and overlapped Natura 2000 protected areas. By applying a survey in 2012 and 2016 to local people, we observed an increasing trend of awareness regarding the protected area and conservation activities carried out by the administration. However, we identified lower percentages regarding the level of participation in activities of the protected area. The social network analysis applied to management actors and relationships between them revealed a marginal position of NGOs involved in Iron Gates Natural Park management, and as well a lack of coordination of these NGOs. Our paper highlights the low level of collaboration between different types of institutions involved in environmental management. Our social network analysis results illustrate the actual collaboration relationships between stakeholders, critical findings in achieving established management objectives. Public bodies and NGOs should make progress by addressing both ecological and societal issues in the management of Natura 2000 sites, in order to ensure sustainability, raise trust and maintain long-term viability of natural and cultural heritage.