Contribution of social science to large scale biodiversity conservation: A review of research about the Natura 2000 network

Sammanfattning

Successful conservation needs to be informed by social science because it is closely linked to socio-economic processesand human behaviour. Limited knowledge about ecosystems' interactions with these processes currentlyundermines conservation efforts. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of social science concerningthe world's largest multinationally-coordinated conservation infrastructure: the European Ecological Network- ‘Natura 2000'. Based on a review of 149 publications, we analyse and discuss the main findings and outlinekey social-science research gapswith regard to the Natura 2000 network. The review shows that human dimensionof the Natura 2000 network is complex and variesamong EUMember States. In general, lowlevel and qualityof public participation in implementation of the Natura 2000 network and its management, negative public perceptionsof the network, lack of flexibility of responsible authorities and insufficient consideration of the localcontext pose the greatest challenges to the network's functioning. Important but hitherto little studied researchtopics include: evaluation of participation; effects of education on potential to raise public awareness; effects ofpotential financing mechanisms for compensating private land-owners; economic studies on cost-effectiveness;and benefits from conservation and ecosystem services. These knowledge gaps will need to be filled for theNatura 2000 network to reach its goals.

Nyckelord

Biodiversity conservation; Human dimension; Natura 2000; Research gaps; Review; Social science

Publicerad i

Biological Conservation
2016, volym: 199, sidor: 110-122

SLU författare

• Blicharska, Malgorzata

  • Institutionen för stad och land, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Uppsala universitet

• Orlikowska, Ewa

  • Skogsmästarskolan, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Roberge, Jean-Michel

  • Institutionen för vilt, fisk och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Institutionen för skoglig resurshushållning, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

SLU Centrum för biologisk mångfald, CBM

Globala målen (SDG)

SDG4 God utbildning för alla
SDG13 Bekämpa klimatförändringarna
SDG15 Ekosystem och biologisk mångfald

UKÄ forskningsämne

Sociologi (exklusive socialt arbete, socialpsykologi och socialantropologi)
Statsvetenskap (Exklusive freds- och konfliktforskning)

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.05.007

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/76228