Perceived Social Impacts of Protected Areas, Their Influence on Local Public Support and Their Distribution across Social Groups: Evidence from the Eifel National Park, Germany, during the COVID-19 Pandemic

James McGinlay (), Jens Holtvoeth, Alfie Begley, Juliana Dörstel, Anne Kockelmann, Michael Lammertz, Chrysovalantis Malesios and Nikoleta Jones
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James McGinlay: Institute for Global Sustainable Development, The Ramphal Building, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Jens Holtvoeth: School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
Alfie Begley: Institute for Global Sustainable Development, The Ramphal Building, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Juliana Dörstel: Eifel National Park Administration, Urftseestraße 34, 53937 Schleiden, Germany
Anne Kockelmann: Eifel National Park Administration, Urftseestraße 34, 53937 Schleiden, Germany
Michael Lammertz: Eifel National Park Administration, Urftseestraße 34, 53937 Schleiden, Germany
Nikoleta Jones: Institute for Global Sustainable Development, The Ramphal Building, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Protected Areas are a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation policies, providing significant benefits both for nature and people. This study investigates the diversity, extent, and social and spatial distribution of the social outcomes of the Eifel National Park in Germany and how these are linked with the level of public support for the park, as well as the effect of COVID-19 on these social impacts. Structured questionnaires were distributed to local residents living inside or near the national park. According to our study the national park is rated positively by the majority of respondents, and provides a range of benefits, but also costs, to local communities. There are also variations in how these impacts are distributed across different sub-communities, between residents and visitors, and across geographical locations in and around the park, and there is a significant relationship between local people’s perceptions of some social impacts and their level of support for the national park’s existence. Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that, whilst living in close proximity to the park enhances the quality of life of local residents, any future increases in tourism may need careful planning and management if they are not to erode local people’s quality of life.

Keywords: public acceptance; benefits; spatial distribution; social equity; biodiversity policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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