National Park Management Research Articles

Illegal take of nesting sea turtles in Tortuguero, Costa Rica: Conservation, trade, or tradition?

Tortuguero, Costa Rica is considered the second largest green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookery in the world. By 1950, Tortuguero was one of the sites with the greatest take of green turtles in the Caribbean. Currently, Tortuguero is a worldwide example for ecotourism-based on sea turtle conservation. However, illegal take of nesting turtles still occurs. We aimed to describe the illegal take at Tortuguero, estimating the minimum number of sea turtles taken using data collected during daily and weekly track surveys from 2005 to 2021. Additionally, we conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with key informants to obtain a better understanding of this activity. We documented 735 nesting turtles illegally taken at Tortuguero, being the green turtle the most affected species; these findings were also supported by our interviewees. Respondents stated that in Tortuguero the take of sea turtles has always occurred and traditions regarding sea turtle meat consumption are still present, even though it is considered shameful in the village. However, our interviewees affirmed that most of the sea turtles taken are traded to other locations away from Tortuguero. Our findings represent the minimum of illegal take (documented only at the beach), as not all the sea turtles taken were observed. Finally, despite long-standing conservation efforts carried out in Tortuguero, further changes in the National Park's management plans are needed, including more personnel and increased law enforcement. This may be necessary to reduce the impact on the Tortuguero green turtle nesting population in the near future.

Establishing an ecological monitoring system for national parks in China: A theoretical framework

• A theoretical framework for ecological monitoring in national parks is designed. • The importance of balancing conservation and development objectives is emphasized. • A unified and park-specific monitoring indicator system is highlighted. • An implementation mechanism combining top-down with bottom-up approaches is proposed. The protected area system in China is entering a new stage where its management seeks to consolidate governance while balancing multiple management objectives. National parks, as the mainstay of this new system, have received considerable attention in order to maintain the authenticity and integrity of ecosystems and protect globally recognized biodiversity. Well-designed ecological monitoring and the information it yields is increasingly recognized as compulsory for the effective management of national parks. However, pilot national parks in China were established through the integration of different types of protected areas and, as a result, are confronting the difficulties of integrating and synthesizing disparate monitoring programs. In this research, we put forward a theoretical framework for establishing an integrated ecological monitoring system for national parks in China. The proposed framework highlights the importance of balancing ecological conservation and community development objectives and offers the trade-off analysis method to pair key ecosystem services to the dual management objectives. It also emphasizes a unified and park-specific monitoring indicator system that requires matching the indicators to key ecological processes and specific management objectives. Moreover, we propose an implementation mechanism with a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches, and encourage local communities to participate in and have access to information generated through monitoring of national parks. We submit that this research described will not only provide scientific support for policy makers to establish an ecological monitoring system in national parks, but also contribute to more informed and efficient management of the expanding network of national parks in China.

Strategi Penyelesaian Konflik Tenurial Melalui Kemitraan Konservasi Di Taman Nasional Bunaken (Studi Kasus Pulau Mantehage)

This research aims to analyze stakeholders for the implementation of conservation partnerships on Mantehage Island and formulate strategies for implementing conservation partnerships on Mantehage Island. This research was conducted from April to July 2022. The research method used a qualitative and quantitative descriptive approach. Primary data were obtained through direct interviews with managers of the Bunaken National Park area, village governments and community leaders on Mantehage Island. The questionnaire was conducted on the people on Mantehage Island with a total of 30 respondents who have plantation land on Mantehage Island. Secondary data was obtained from the Bunaken National Park Management Plan document for 2019-2028 as well as village monograph data. The results showed that there were seven stakeholders with the implementation of conservation partnerships on Mantehage Island, namely the Bunaken National Park Office, Local Communities, Village Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations as Key Players; Farmer's Group is located as Subject; Academics/Universities are located as Context Setters and Investors are located as Crowd. The results of the analysis related to the strategy of implementing conservation partnerships on Mantehage Island using the SWOT method show a position in quadrant I, namely supporting an aggressive strategy in which the implementation of conservation partnerships on Mantehage Island is supported by great strengths and opportunities.

Science and the evolving management of environmental hazards at Yosemite National Park

US national park managers must address a complex portfolio of foreseen and unforeseen challenges that arise in part from a dual mandate to preserve nature and facilitate visitation. To deal with resource management challenges, managers can identify potential pathways toward a solution through the use of science to inform policy and guide actions. The way science has been applied has evolved over the course of the National Park Service’s history, in large part due to the prevailing societal context and ways of thinking about the environment, and relatedly as a necessity to mitigate the impact from development and anthropogenic climate change. Landscape-scale environmental hazards are a fitting proxy to recount the changing use of science and policy because biophysical processes become most hazardous at the interface of infrastructure and the natural environment, where people are most exposed. This paper synthesizes modern administrative and environmental histories of hazards in Yosemite National Park from the late19th century to the early 21st century through archival records and long-term data, including significant events and trends in wildland fire, tree mortality (falls), extreme floods, and rockfalls and slides. Findings confirm increased severity and extent of wildland fire, correlations between periods of drought and high rates of tree mortality, warmer precipitation events lead to earlier annual peak streamflow, and connections between periods of prolonged cold with rockfalls, and prolonged precipitation with slides. These hazards exist as an interconnected system in the context of high seasonal visitation, and while there are averages of seasonal conditions over time, there are no “normal” years.

The Level of Beef Cattle Farmers’ Readiness for Livestock Intensification Program Surrounding Baluran National Park Area

Wild grazing is the main problem faced by Baluran National Park (BNP) management. Sidomulyo Hamlet contributed to wild grazing by the cattle number of 2,220 heads. The research aims to assess the community readiness for the intensification program to reduce wild grazing in BNP and formulate alternative strategies to program successfully. The study was conducted in Sidomulyo Hamlet, Sumberwaru Village, Situbondo Regency, from June to October 2021. The location was chosen purposively, considering that it is one of the hamlets directly adjacent to the BNP. The method used a qualitative approach using Community Readiness Model by interviewing 12 key informants, consisting of the representative of BNP management, local government, and local farmers. Data were collected through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire under Community Readiness Model Handbook. Data were analyzed using Community Readiness Assessment. The results showed that the community readiness score related to the livestock intensification program was 4.43. The level of beef cattle community readiness at the preplanning stage, the program is still in the initial planning stage, aiming to increase awareness of the farmer community with ideas that can reduce the problem. Alternative strategies that should be carried out are: introducing information about the problem, communicating with community leaders, reviewing the efforts made to determine targets and success rates, conducting focus group discussions to discuss the problem and develop strategies, and increasing media exposure. Keywords: Baluran National Park, Community Readiness Model, conservation, wild grazing

The practice of (un)sustainable tourism in a National Park: An empirical study focusing on structural elements

Sustainable consumption studies often have a narrow focus on individuals' behaviours and products' characteristics, but little is known about analyses related to tourism structure and willingness for sustainable development. To address this research gap, this study used practice theory to investigate whether and how sustainable tourism through sustainable consumption is practised. Through a study at Jericoacoara National Park, Brazil, a qualitative research of the seahorse tour was conducted using a content analysis of doings and sayings. The findings identified few sustainable tourism elements carried out by practitioners over years, that is, the meanings, materials, and competences represented by the tours’ interactions to tackle climate change. However, changes should take place in the tourism practice to reduce the existing unsustainability. For example, the seahorse preservation meaning was not the same for all practitioners, which has led to misbehaviours and imbalance of environmental actions to manage appropriately the touristic activity. This paper makes a significant contribution to theory by revealing that existing practices may not fully contribute to sustainable tourism as expected, as environmental elements have affected the existence of proper sustainability. As the National Park is seen as a sustainable destination because of laws and local interests, managers (i.e., entrepreneurs and service providers, including practitioners) need to rethink their impact on the seahorse tour.Different actions need to be developed beyond trainings to ensure sustainable tourism. It is necessary to create further plans to continue operating the attraction with a more sustainable approach.Changes on capture of seahorse should reduce to avoid the elimination of the attraction. In addition, the national park management should focus more on sustainable consumption using the tax paid by tourists to join the park as a source to oversee if the local practice is well ensured.

Assessing the validity of mobile device data for estimating visitor demographics and visitation patterns in Yellowstone National Park.

Monitoring visitor demographics and temporal visitation patterns can help national park managers understand their visitors and allocate resources more effectively. Traditional approaches, such as visitor surveys or vehicle counts, are limited by time, space, labor, and financial resources. More recently, mobile device data have been adopted for monitoring visitors in park-related or tourism research. However, few studies validated mobile device data with traditional visitor surveys or count data. Combining mobile device data with the American Community Survey (ACS), this study assessed mobile device data's validity in a national park context with three approaches: Points of Interest (POIs), visitor demographics, and temporal visitation patterns. The results revealed that only half of the POIs inside Yellowstone National Park are valid. Compared to traditional visitor surveys, mobile device data are limited due to platform bias and the exclusion of international visitors, resulting in discrepancies in visitor demographics, such as education and income levels. Conversely, mobile device data have strong correlations with count data regarding monthly and daily visitation patterns. The results suggest that with careful consideration, mobile device data can serve as an additional and complementary source of information to traditional survey data for understanding visitor demographics and temporal visitation patterns.

Measuring the conservation attitudes of local farmers towards conservation easements in the Qianjiangyuan National Park

Perceptions and attitudes provide an important means of assessing the performance of conservation practices so that policies can be improved and developed for better biodiversity protection and the wellbeing of people subject to protected area management. Conservation easements (CEs) was introduced in the Chinese context to resolve the conflict between rural land use and area-based conservation measures. In this study, conservation attitude indices were developed and validated to measure attitude towards conservation easements that were placed in the collectively-owned forestland and its implementation institutional background, the Qianjiangyuan National Park pilot (QNP) in Zhejiang Province of China. Conservation easement Attitude Index (CEAI) and QNP Attitude Index (NPAI) were calculated based on a random sample of 241 respondents in three towns concerning their perceptions of specific statements. Demographic characteristics and livelihood capital factors were introduced to predict the attitudes to improve CE and QNP management in a more socially acceptable manner. Results revealed that basic infrastructure, land status, education and information were the main determinants of CEAI and QNP with differences in the three towns. There was a dichotomy of perceptions of the ecological meaning (public welfare) and the economic meaning (local livelihoods) and a mismatch of perceptions of the content and the procedure of the CE agreement. The perceptions and attitude index can assist conservation practitioners and decision-makers to improve CE to a more efficient conservation tool, by making it more context-specific for different communities considering the historical process of protected area development, to demonstrate the linkage between national park management and local livelihood, and promote proactive involvement of the village committee.

Differing perceptions and tensions among tourists and locals concerning a national park region in Norway

In the context of national park management, landscape conservation, and tourism development in a mountain region in Norway, the aim of the research is to analyse how tourists, residents, and local stakeholders experience and practise their participation in the landscapes. A mixed methods approach was used, which included focus group meetings, semi-structured interviews, an on-site survey, and two Internet surveys to gain in-depth knowledge of tourists' and locals' relations to and evaluations of the landscape in the studied national park region, which comprised the park itself and eight protected landscape areas. The results revealed that many of the tourists visiting the national park considered the area it covered was a wilderness, while locals considered the area's authenticity was closely connected to cultural traditions and a long-lasting interconnectedness between people and landscape. As both locals and tourists shared a desire to maintain the wildlife and landscape characteristics of the national park, authenticity may serve as a common denominator for emphasizing local development, outdoor activities, and meeting points outside the boundary of the park. The authors conclude that involving tourists in a knowledge process that provides insights into the past and present livelihoods of communities and the use of the natural resources could help to enhance tourists' experiences, but without compromising local understandings of authenticity.

Ecosystem transformation following the mid-nineteenth century cessation of Aboriginal fire management in Cape Pillar, Tasmania

Ongoing European suppression of Aboriginal cultural land management since early-nineteenth century colonisation is widely thought to have caused major transformations across all Australian landscapes, including vegetation thickening, severe fires and biodiversity declines. However, these effects are often confounded in the densely settled southern Australia due to European land transformation. Landscapes currently under conservation and national park management in Tasmania are generally less disturbed, providing an opportunity to track ecosystem changes caused by the removal of Aboriginal peoples following colonisation in southern Australia. We use a multi-proxy palaeoecological technique and the analysis of historical aerial photography to investigate these changes in Cape Pillar, southeast Tasmania. Results reveal a major ecological shift following European colonisation, with the replacement of stable, open wet heathland characterised by minor fires (active cultural land use) with dense dry scrub characterised by major fires (cessation of cultural land use). We also discuss potential background role of regional climatic shifts in the observed ecological changes. Management programmes designed to restore open heathland pre-colonial cultural ecosystem would help reduce the risk of large fires in Cape Pillar.

Evaluation of the spatial distribution of scenic resources based on 3S technology: A case study of the Yesanpo National Park.

Evaluation of scenic resources is imperative in national park planning, and 3S technology has been applied for this purpose because it effectively leverages modern geo-informatics technology. We investigated the scenic resources in the Yesanpo National Park based on 3S technology. The Nearest-Neighbor Index, Kernel density estimation, imbalance index, and geographical concentration index in modern geography were introduced into the spatial distribution evaluation of scenic resources, and here, for the first time, the spatial combination index of scenic resources was proposed as one of the quantitative analysis indices of spatial distribution of scenic resources. Moreover, the spatial combination distribution characteristics of scenic resources were analyzed quantitatively and graphically. The characteristics of the spatial distribution of scenic resources in the Yesanpo National Park were as follows: The spatial distribution type of scenic spots in the Yesanpo National Park is a clustered type. The spatial distribution of the scenic resource groups in the Yesanpo National Park was extremely imbalanced and highly concentrated. Based on the identification of scenic resources, we evaluated the scenic resources of each area and propose sustainable development plans for each area. This evaluation method can be applied to similar national parks to promote the quantitative and graphical evaluation of the spatial distribution of scenic resources and provide support for the decision-making processes related to national park planning and management.

Adapting traditional industries to national park management: A conceptual framework and insights from two Chinese cases

The objective of this paper is to seek an eco-friendly development path for traditional industries in protected areas. We propose a conceptual framework that is built on the combination of ecological, multifunctional agriculture, and industrial integration literature. The framework provides a conceptual foundation for analysing the potential of traditional industry transformation in a single national park to improve rural livelihoods under conservation restraints. In a problem-oridented way, we conceptualise two transformation paths for traditional industries - the ecologicalisation of industry and the diversification of industrial functions – which aim to maintain and promote the stability of the social-ecological systems of national parks in general, and to enhance the added-value of traditional industries in specific. We apply our conceptualisation to two case studies in a comparative way to represent the feasibility of the framework to provide context-specific measures following the two paths. We identify and analyse key elements and conditions that are possible to transform the pastoralism in the Qilianshan National Park and tea cultivation in the Wuyishan National Park of China. Matching key elements to the conceptual framework, the results show that pastoralism needs to improve the branding of products and herders’ capabilities of adjusting to the changing world; tea industries need to regulate branding, strengthen cooperation between producers of different scales, and promote cultural valorisation. Therefore, the regional industrial policies must coordinate with conservation policies to make sure rural communities realise their development rights while taking the responsibility of conservation. The theoretical contribution of this paper is that we conceptualise industrial development to be inclusive with conservation when economic development and conservation are thought incompatible. Our conceptual framework can be extended as a prescriptive management tool for integrated industrial planning and protected area management in China and other developing world.

Local Community-Based Management Model in Karimunjawa National Park

This research aims to study the management model of Karimunjawa National Park Based on Local Communities. Activities are carried out in all sections of Karimunjawa National Park Management. Data sources are informants involved in Karimunjawa National Park Management and secondary data was collected using rapid monitoring methods, namely in-depth interviews, field observations, FGDs, and various other data collection techniques (technique triangulation). Methods of Data Analysis were observation using interactive data analysis. Empowerment of local communities in the Karimunjawa National Park in the Karimunjawa National Park area is carried out in three ways: coral reef rehabilitation activities, mangrove forest planting, and lowland tropical forest tree-planting efforts to develop a conservation village model.

Influence of institutional arrangements on invasive plant species management from multilevel perspectives: a case study in Vietnam’s national parks

AbstractInvasive plant species (IPS) management in national parks is a complex problem often characterized by the involvement of various organizations with different responsibilities, legal mandates, and jurisdictions. These institutional arrangements shape the structure, function, and decision-making behaviors of organizations and influence management effectiveness. Drawing on institutional theory, this study analyzed institutional arrangements and how these influenced IPS management in Vietnam’s national parks. Data were collected between May and July 2017 using in-depth interviews with 39 key informants with responsibility for IPS management at different institutional levels (national, provincial, and local national parks). Results demonstrated that IPS management in Vietnam’s national parks was characterized by centralized management with overlaps and gaps in vertical institutional relationships that limited the effectiveness of horizontal relationships. These characteristics resulted in a lack of clear guiding regulations and limited resources that restricted decision making and hindered implementation at the local national park level. The study highlights the need for a common set of principles across agencies, governed by an overarching body to promote constructive relationships across the vertical and horizontal institutional dimensions of IPS management.

Institutional Form and The Impact of Community Empowerment Through Wild Honey Harvesting (Apis dorsata) In Ujung Kulon National Park

National Park Management is faced with conflicts of interest in conservation and community economics. A partnership is one of the answers to this problem. The study was conducted in the buffer area of Ujung Kulon National Park involving 17 respondents who were selected by purposive sampling. The results showed that the communities involved in the partnership gained legal access to harvest wild honey in forest areas, as well as ease of market access and decent prices. The partnership pattern builds awareness of farmer groups to maintain forest sustainability. They realize that if the forest is maintained, it will increase the wild honey harvest and their income.

Institutional Form and The Impact of Community Empowerment Through Wild Honey Harvesting (Apis dorsata) In Ujung Kulon National Park

National Park Management is faced with conflicts of interest in conservation and community economics. A partnership is one of the answers to this problem. The study was conducted in the buffer area of Ujung Kulon National Park involving 17 respondents who were selected by purposive sampling. The results showed that the communities involved in the partnership gained legal access to harvest wild honey in forest areas, as well as ease of market access and decent prices. The partnership pattern builds awareness of farmer groups to maintain forest sustainability. They realize that if the forest is maintained, it will increase the wild honey harvest and their income.

Exploring Stakeholder perspectives in protected areas and gateway communities: the case of aviation tourism growth in the Alaska Range

ABSTRACT As the primary method of accessing the south side of the Alaska Range, aviation plays a critical role in providing visitor access to some of the most spectacular regions of Denali National Park and Preserve. In recent years, flightseeing and glacier-landing tourism in Denali has grown considerably, bringing with it several benefits, impacts, and challenges being felt both within the national park and in the gateway community of Talkeetna, Alaska. This paper seeks to integrate sustainable tourism planning, stakeholder perspectives, and national park management using Talkeetna and Denali as a case study. Specifically, this research uses qualitative methods to document stakeholder-identified impacts of the growth in aviation tourism and considers local perspectives of tourism planning and management challenges. Results indicate that the impacts of growth in aviation tourism are being felt both within and outside the boundaries of the national park, demonstrating the need to consider the broader context of the complex tourism system affected by growth in aviation in the region. Findings also reveal that local stakeholders perceive several administrative challenges affecting the ability of the National Park Service to effectively manage impacts of aviation tourism, offering important insight into regional-scale tourism administration and potential future park management decisions.

Governance Issues in Protected Areas: The Case of Peneda-Gerês National Park

The increasing attention that protected areas have received from various players ranging from tourists, firms, and government entities, has highlighted the need to promote appropriate governance mechanisms. These are essential to promote and develop those areas enabling an alignment between various stakeholders with diverse agendas. This research draws attention to this key issue, focusing on the classified Peneda-Gerês National Park (PGNP), considered one of the top 10 in Europe. In order to do so, we employ game theory. This methodology is appropriate for strategic decision-making and enables a deeper understanding of the impacts of different governance mechanisms and their outcomes. This paper will contribute, on a theoretical level, to advancing the use of this methodology to study governance decisions in classified areas. In order to do so, diverse settings are modeled to illustrate different governance solutions employed to manage Peneda-Gerês National Park, highlighting the strategic interplay between the key stakeholders and the outcomes attained. Our results demonstrate that the degree of alignment between the various municipalities will have a direct impact in terms of performance, as well, as show the mechanisms which contribute. Additionally, our findings contribute, in practical terms, to showing how important it is for the public entities involved in the management and care of Peneda-Gerês National Park to cooperate and align their interests to ensure success. Moreover, the study refers to Peneda-Gerês National Park, but the results attained are applicable to different contexts in terms of National Park management and promotion.

THE POLARIZATION OF ORIENTATION AMONG STAKEHOLDERS ON INTERPRETATION SUBJECTS AT GUNUNG GEDE PANGRANGO NATIONAL PARK

Interpretation subject is a novel approach to observing resources in the interpretation program. Interpretation programs refer to the efforts to develop an individual's ability to deeply interpret the value of nature for humans through meaningful and pleasant experiences, impressions, and feelings to achieve management goals. The viewpoint of interpretation subject considers the intrinsic value of each resource. These polarization studies provide valuable information on critical issues concerning stakeholder perception and their implications for managing interpretations. The purpose of this study is to analyze and evaluate the characteristics of the interpretation subject that stakeholders thought were crucial in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park management. The survey was done by distributing questionnaires to related stakeholders (tourists, communities, and area managers/tour operators) and evaluated by cluster analysis, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney test. Although the stakeholder considered flora, language, and abiotic components essential in interpretation, tourists' perception tended to focus on abiotic components and the built natural environment. The research showed that abiotic and cultural component-based-ecotourism-programs shall be developed to ensure sustainable management, increase community participation, and introduce the biological wealth in the national park area

Pixel-based versus object-based identification of scenic resources using Gaofen-2 images: A case study of Yesanpo National Park

Scenic resources can serve as symbols of a region’s natural resources and culture and are often the stimulus for the development of national parks. Thus, careful scientific planning and effective management based on the identification and evaluation of scenic resources are key for the sustainable development of national parks. In this study, one object-oriented and three pixel-based (maximum likelihood classification, neural network, and support vector machine) classification methods were applied to identify scenic resources in Yesanpo National Park using high-resolution Gaofen-2 images. The classification accuracy of these scenic resources was evaluated through systematic sampling, which improved the objectivity and accuracy of the classification precision evaluation. All methods met the precision requirements of scenic resource identification, and the accuracy of object-oriented classification was the highest. The application scope of the different methods varies, and suitability can be determined according to the needs of scenic resource recognition. Collectively, this study has proposed an effective and practical method for the identification of scenic resources within Yesanpo National Park, which is of significance for its future planning and management. Moreover, this strategy can be applied by other national park planners to select areas for tourism development, formulate sustainable development strategies, and provide technical support and decision-making guidance for national park planning and management.