Why is it difficult to enlarge a protected area? Ecosystem services perspective on the conflict around the extension of the Bialowieza National Park in Poland

Abstract

This study explains the difficulties with the enlargement of the Bialowieza National Park in Poland through an ecosystem services perspective. We carried out a questionnaire survey among the local communities to investigate local use of ecosystem services and respondents' attitude towards the national park enlargement. The results indicate that local people are not as dependent on forest resources as often claimed. Firewood proved a crucial resource as the vast majority of the respondents depended on it for heating their houses. We also found that the local population has a rather low awareness of the national park territory and rules involved. The results suggest that previous enlargement attempts might have failed because decision makers did not adequately consider resources the local people depend on. Lack of clear information and transparent decision-making also amplified the conflict. Future enlargement initiatives should provide clear rules concerning the local use of ecosystem services and the access to firewood in particular. Furthermore, new policies should be developed in cooperation with local people and accompanied by an appropriate information campaign. It is argued that the ecosystem services perspective provides important data which can inform more effective conservation policy-making. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Bialowieza Forest; Biodiversity conservation; National park; Participation; Firewood; Policy

Published in

Land Use Policy
2014, volume: 38, pages: 314-329
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Blicharska, Malgorzata

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN)

• Mikusinski, Grzegorz

  • School for Forest Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN)

Global goals (SDG)

SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Environmental Management

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2013.12.002

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/58740