Culture wars and protected areas: narratives against national parks. An exploratory qualitative comparison of the movements opposing Adula Park and Locarnese Park

Abstract

This paper analyses the discourses of two movements opposing National Park projects in Switzerland, focusing on their strategies and the political causes of their actions. Five in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with the leaders of the opponents of Adula Park and Locarnese Park. The results reveal a cultural war between nature conservation advocates and park opponents. The existence of this radical opposition prevented bottom-up schemes from working. Further studies should aim to better understand the causes of this malaise in order to facilitate greater acceptance of new Protected Areas.