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AbstractPark visitors are increasingly gravitating toward peer-to-peer sources of information on social media to prepare for their visit to nature parks. This has significant implications for park safety and management. The current study utilizes the Theory of Consumer Values and Crompton’s Push and Pull Theory as the theoretical lens. This research presents a thematic analysis of 19 interviews with participants who visited a nature park in Western Australia and engaged with social media communities to seek park-related information in the past 12 months. Six themes were identified related to the motivators and barriers for park visitors to seek park-related information from social media communities. They are: (1) destination planning and activities information; (2) access to real-time information; (3) source credibility; (4) social interactions and influences; (5) entertainment; (6) novelty. The findings provide significant managerial insights for park agencies and managers to optimize their social media communication of park-related information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Management Academy is the property of Uluslararasi Yonetim Akademisi Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Estimating population trends provides valuable information for conservation biologists. Although there are many methods for estimating demographic rates, capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods are known to be the most realistic method that can provide detailed data on individuals and populations, including the achievement of conservation goals. This study focused on determining the population trend of Pelophylax bedriagae caralitanus, Beyşehir frog using the CMR method in a protected area during the 2011-2019 breeding seasons. Our CMR data led to the selection of model-considering constant survival rates, capture/recapture probabilities, and year-specific immigration/emigration patterns [Φ(··) y'(t) y"(t) p(··) = c(··) N(t)]-as the most fitting biological hypothesis among 22 constructed models. According to the best-fitted model, 6% of all individuals in Gölcük population can be captured during each sampling occasion. The annual survival rates show low variation between years, and the mean survival rate was estimated as 0.85, that means 85% of the individuals of Pelophylax bedriagae caralitanus in the Gölcük population were able to live on to subsequent breeding seasons. The average population size of Gölcük population for nine consecutive years was estimated as 5094 (range 4834-5382) individuals that shows minor and acceptable levels of population size fluctuations, and slightly increasing over the years. These findings can guide future research, aiding in assessing population size changes in both protected and nonprotected areas while understanding population decline trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 19th century industrial revolution, people were squeezed into big cities as a result of intensified work life and population growth. This congestion has negatively affected individuals mentally and physically. As a result of this negative impact, the interest of individuals in outdoor recreation activities has increased and the interest in national parks and nature parks has increased. Today, these areas are visited by many people for recreational or touristic activities. In this context, recreational activities in these areas are gradually developing, diversifying and occupying an important place in recreational or touristic activities. As a result of this situation, it becomes very important to protect the existing natural areas and to use them in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the society. In this context, our research was conducted to evaluate the sportive recreation potential of Poyrazlar Lake Nature Park in Sakarya. The sportive recreation potential evaluation method developed by Gülez' in 1990 and modeled by Çalık in 2006 was used as a method in the research. (SRD) Sportive Recreation Value, (P) Landscape Value, (I) Climate, (U) Accessibility and (OSE) Negative Factors were used as criteria in the evaluation of the lake area. At the end of the research; the natural resource values of Poyrazlar Lake Nature Park and the outdoor sportive recreation value in the forest were found to be 77%. In the light of this result, the suitability of the natural resources of Poyrazlar Lake for sportive use is as follows: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Paintball, ATV-Safari, Bird Watching, Sport Fishing and Photography are seen as the most compatible outdoor sportive recreation activities with the structure of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to examine the application of the main safety rules in ecotourism activities in a marine salt pan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that, among the activities analyzed, the best way perceived to maintain social distance was the guided tour activity, while hand hygiene was seen as the most important in the saline bath and in the combined activity. Mask was generally removed in activities involving immersion in water by tourists. These measures were crucial to ensure a sense of security and well-being both for tourists and employees of the tourism and hospitality industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study’s objective was to explore some of the annual Prussian carp’s (Carassius gibelio) biological characteristics (sex ratio, length–weight ratio, and gonado somatic index - GSI) in the Kopački Rit Nature Park in Croatia. The Prussian carp is an invasive fish species originated from Asia, which became widely distributed throughout Europe and is believed to be responsible for a decline in the number of indigenous fish, invertebrate, and macrophyte populations in different areas. The fish sampling was conducted from September to November 2017 and from February to July 2018, respectively, using electrofishing. A total of 475 fish individuals were caught and measured for the total length, standard length, body height, and body weight. Males made up 34.31% of the population of Prussian carp. The mean value of Fulton condition factor (FC) of Prussian carp in Kopački Rit was 1.77 ± 0.28. Overall, the FC value had a relatively small amplitude, but it exhibited a clear seasonal vari ability. The average GSI values of females (9.91 ± 5.34) were higher than those of males (3.58 ± 1.37) during the observed period. The average GSI values indicate that the majority of females are spawning in the late April and May, which are also the same periods when other cyprinid species are spawning, allowing the Prussian carp to exploit its gynogenesis strategy.

Protected areas can only deliver their environmental, social and economic benefits if they are effectively managed. The aim of the paper is to analyze the management of nature parks entrusted to the State Enterprise for Forest Management “Srbijašume”, identify management problems and opportunities, and provide management and other reform proposals in order to improve the efficiency of management of protected areas. SE “Srbijašume” manages 5 nature parks on an area of 280,497 ha, which makes up 94% of the total area of nature parks in Serbia. Managerial organization of protected areas in SE “Srbijašume” is in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection, which prescribes the conditions that must be met by the manager in terms of professional, personnel and organizational qualifications to perform the tasks of protection, improvement, promotion and sustainable development of the protected areas. The management of protected areas is coordinated with the three-level organizational structure of the Enterprise (General Directorate, Forest Estates, Forest Administrations). For the management of nature parks “Stara planina”, “Golija”, “Zlatibor” and “Radan” special work units have been formed.

Protected areas are no longer focused solely on conservation and protection needs but play a central role in promoting sustainable development in local socio-territorial systems. The Tepilora Natural Regional Park (TNRP) in Sardinia offers an example of this phenomenon. This paper highlights the significance of the TNRP in balancing conservation needs with the sustainable development of local populations - an effort that resulted in the establishment of the Tepilora, Rio Posada and Montalbo Biosphere Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desire of people to escape from cities to rural areas for various reasons increased the importance of ecotourism in general, nature parks and recreational activities. In this study, it is aimed to determine the recreational activities in nature parks and to shed light on the tourism potential of nature parks. In this context, 33 nature parks located in the Eastern Marmara Region focused in the study. The focus is on the eastern Marmara region, as it is a region with the potential to attract more tourists due to its close location to large cities with high populations. The distribution of the nature parks by the cities examined and specifically, which recreational activities could be carried out in each nature park determined and conducted a content analysis with the help of secondary data. The intensity of recreational activities mapped according to the cities, and the richness of recreational activities in nature parks compared within itself. Findings obtained from the research shows that among the cities in the Eastern Marmara Region, the most nature parks are located in Bolu. The nature park with the most activities is Harmankaya Canyon in Bilecik with 15 different activities. The most common activities in the nature parks are listed as; hiking, photography, picnic, cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Artvin Çoruh Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Artvin Coruh University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Payments for ecosystem services are a voluntary market-based instrument to remunerate provider(s) of ecosystem services by those who benefit from them. Our research aimed to create an ex post evaluation framework to identify bottlenecks and elements hindering the success of a solution-driven PES scheme. The framework was applied to a case study to assess its feasibility and concerns the provision of health and recreational services in the Medvednica Nature Park (Zagreb, Croatia). The framework was set up through three main sources: the study of PES implementation project documentation, semi-structured interviews with visitors and key stakeholders, and web-scraping of TripAdvisor reviews of the park. The main findings confirm society's interest in the park, but the lack of mapping, quantification, and accounting of the services analysed, the little or no demand from society to pay for their provision, and confused knowledge of the property rights of some ecosystem service providers in the area limit the success of the PES scheme. The framework was useful to describe the chosen PES scheme and to identify bottlenecks and fragilities of the system in place, allowing it to correct its application flaws and, on the other hand, to demonstrate its replicability in other contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hiriya landfill, in central Israel, served Tel Aviv for 50 years and became a byword for neglect and ugliness until it was recently transformed from an environmental hazard, into a beautiful park. This article explores the idea and experience of waste, as concept and matter, and its representations in the 2004 international design competition for Hiriya's rehabilitation. Addressing the global issue of rehabilitating wasted sites, the competition encouraged landscape architects to address a polluted past and outline new cultural and ethical meanings in the reclaimed public space. Drawing from unexplored textual and visual sources, and combining landscape architecture with cultural studies on waste, we reveal that few of the 14 proposals touched upon the complexity of waste, with its cultural, ethical and social attributes. The winning entry by Peter Latz turned the mound into a striking monument to trash, but minimised the visitors' idea and experience of the waste itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an international project, national parks and nature parks established in karst regions are examined, with a primary focus on how local residents, visitors and influential figures (i.e., park managers, mayors) perceive the advantages and disadvantages of a specific park. The study area in this paper is the Apuseni Nature Park (Romania). The main natural resources of this park are: the karst (morphology and hydrology), the forests and the landscape. In order to explore the perception and motivation of tourists visiting the park, a field survey using a convenience sampling strategy was conducted in 2019 and 2021 at eleven sites in the park. The results show that among the motivations, the "search for relaxation" option is the most frequently selected (43%), but "interest in caves" (34%) and "interest in karst terrains" (29%) were also relatively popular. In terms of public support for potential developments, one positive result of the questionnaire is that developments involving sustainability and nature conservation (visitor centre, education trails and viewpoints) enjoy significantly more support than developments that put a strain on the environment (adventure parks and expansion of entertainment facilities). The awareness of geotourism should be improved, but even at the current level it can be said that geotourists are an important segment of the park's visitors. A careful development of tourism can be recommended for the park, but it must ensure that the principles of sustainability are taken into account during the developments. Given the environmental and economic challenges, strengthening the organization of the park is suggested in order to better protect the threatened natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Şehirler sahip oldukları imkanlar ile insanlara büyük kolaylıklar sunmaktadır. Ancak yoğun nüfus ve iş temposu sebebiyle kırsal alanlara göre daha stresli bir yaşam ortamı oluşturduğu için kentlerdeki insanlar serbest zamanlarında çeşitli doğal mekanları tercih etmektedir. Bu mekanlar; Milli Parklar, Doğa Parkları, Kent ormanları, Tabiat Anıtları veya Tabiat Parkları olabilmektedir. Tabiat Parkları; tahrip edilmemiş doğal yapıları, doğa ve yaban hayatı ile iç içe olmaları, manzara güzelliği gibi imkanları bir arada sunan ve ziyaretçilerini memnun edip bu imkanları sunmasından dolayı Turgut Özal Tabiat Parkı çalışma sahası olarak seçilmiştir. Malatya ili, Battalgazi ilçesinde bulunan Turgut Özal Tabiat Parkında yapılan çalışmada, Gülez (1990) tarafından geliştirilen rekreasyonel mekanların potansiyelinin belirlendiği yöntem kullanılarak alanın rekreasyonel potansiyeli incelenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular ışığında Turgut Özal Tabiat Parkı’nın rekreasyon değerinin %78 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Gülez Yöntemine göre %75 ve üzeri bir puana sahip rekreasyon alanları çok yüksek potansiyele sahip alanlar olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışma alanının daha iyi rekreasyonel bir hizmet verebilmesi için alanda görülen eksiklikler tespit edilip giderilebilmesi için öneriler sunulmuştur.

Protected areas play a key role in nature conservation but are also crucial for tourism. There are international recommendations in nature conservation (IUCN), and several international conservation conventions exist. Nevertheless, the protection categories are different in each country, and the proportion of protected areas also varies. Here we compare the nature conservation systems of some countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia and Croatia) taking into consideration their nature protection laws. The selection of countries is based on an international project dealing with “Karst and National Parks”. For the comparison, national data sources and an international database (WDPA) are used. Our results show that the protection categories of the studied countries are largely similar, but there are unique characteristics as well (such as “forest park”, “monument of park architecture” in Croatia; “nature conservation area” in Hungary or “protected landscape element” in Slovakia, etc.). On the other hand, the internal proportions of protection categories are more heterogeneous, like, for example, the proportion of national parks within all protected areas which is 57.0 percent in Hungary but 11 percent in Croatia. International protection categories (Natura 2000, Ramsar, UNESCO World Heritage natural sites, UNESCO MAB reserves) are more or less similarly present in the countries studied (except Serbia, where there are no Natura 2000 areas yet). If national categories and Natura 2000 sites are all taken into consideration (and the overlapping areas are counted only once), then Croatia has the highest proportion of protected areas (39.1%), Slovakia is in second place with 37.5 percent, while Romania (23.5%) and Hungary (22.0%) show a similar proportion, and with the lack of Natura 2000, Serbia has 9.1 percent at present. As for the reliability of the WDPA, we found that this varies from country to country, with significant deficiencies for certain countries (e.g. Serbia) and very good reliability for others (e.g. Hungary, Slovakia). However, the availability of WDPA is in many cases better than that of national data, and since it also provides GIS data, it can be considered a useful tool for examining international trends and mapping protected areas.

Nature parks are protected natural areas whose purposes are the protection and conservation of landscapes in which the interaction of human activities with nature over time has created a distinct area, with significant landscape and/or cultural value, often with great biological diversity. This is the case of Apuseni Nature Park, which includes a significant karst terrain and is a very important tourist destination. In this article, we examine the attitude of local people towards the protected area with the help of a questionnaire composed of 32 questions. After the general questions, the economic situation was examined first. Then the respondents had to evaluate the values and the difficulties of their region and their relation to tourism. The answers reveal that they are aware of the importance of tourism, which may represent a serious complementary income for them. The most intriguing questions were some open-ended questions, which focused on the relationship of locals to Apuseni Nature Park. Based on the answers, we can conclude that the negative opinions slightly dominate. The dissatisfaction of the locals, the feeling of limitations due to the park are expressed in many different ways. But probably the most relevant problems can be linked to the rules and laws. As it is a nature park, people in fact, live inside the park, thus, the equilibrium between their lives and the purposes of the park should be approached. The administration of the nature park should involve local people more closely in decision-making, and maybe certain rules should be changed.

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Copyright of Agriculture / Poljoprivreda is the property of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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In 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic organized and funded a program for the study and documentation of a large monument of rock art Saimaly-Tash. The program "Pri­mary archaeological and historical-architectural study of the Saimaluu-Tash State Natural Park and its adjacent territories with partial documentation of historical and cultural heritage objects" was implemented during two seasons of 2016 - 2017. The works on the monument were carried out within the framework of the project objectives and the results were provided to the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic in the form of a report, the first album about the Saimaly-Tash rock art monument was published. Thanks to this project, for the first time it was possible to make a detailed and extensive topography of the monument, count the number of stones with drawings using a total station and the exact locations of each rock art, identify objects of a dif­ferent category in the area of the main clusters of petroglyphs and enter their location in the map. Exploration work was carried out on a large scale.

Protected areas have a primary role in preserving the biodiversity of a region and are often valorized as a resource in tourism. The paper is based on the results of an empirical study conducted on a sample of 160 respondents. The main research goal was to determine the opinions and attitudes of the respondents about the development of rural tourism and its impact on the conservation of biodiversity in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park (Park). The results show that 56.9% of respondents consider that pollution caused by human activity has the greatest impact on biodiversity loss, but also that informing visitors about responsible behavior is a way to preserve biodiversity in the Park. Respondents agree with the statement that rural tourism is "eco-friendly" and that a sustainable form of tourism contributes to nature conservation. It was found that age and level of education were not statistically significantly related to the respondents' perception of the impact of rural tourism on biodiversity in nature parks. Respondents are moderate in the view that tourism should not be carried out in nature parks (M = 2.85) or that rural tourism in the park pollutes the environment and disrupts the landscape (M = 2.61). With a high degree of agreement (M = 4.04), respondents believe that the Park has the potential to develop ecotourism.

Spatial planning is a vital process for a rapid and successful development of projects related to wetland management, and thereby projects related to tourism. Tourist activities could provide a boost to the development of general understanding of wetlands and raise public awareness of the functions and the ecosystem services wetlands provide. The tourism economy could be a source of income and could provide employment opportunities in rural areas. However, tourists also have an impact on wetlands. Protected areas accessible to tourists require a comprehensive management. In order to ensure a harmonious relationship between tourism activities and environmental protection, when developing an urban design within a protected area, it is crucial to have a sensitive approach. The paper suggests an approach to the development of the Urban Design "Karaotok", within the Hutovo Blato Nature Park.

Copyright of Motif Academy Journal of Folklore is the property of Motif Yayincilik and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Protected areas play a key role in nature conservation but are also crucial for tourism. There are international recommendations in nature conservation (IUCN), and several international conservation conventions exist. Nevertheless, the protection categories are different in each country, and the proportion of protected areas also varies. Here we compare the nature conservation systems of some countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia and Croatia) taking into consideration their nature protection laws. The selection of countries is based on an international project dealing with "Karst and National Parks". For the comparison, national data sources and an international database (WDPA) are used. Our results show that the protection categories of the studied countries are largely similar, but there are unique characteristics as well (such as "forest park", "monument of park architecture" in Croatia; "nature conservation area" in Hungary or "protected landscape element" in Slovakia, etc.). On the other hand, the internal proportions of protection categories are more heterogeneous, like, for example, the proportion of national parks within all protected areas which is 57.0 percent in Hungary but 11 percent in Croatia. International protection categories (Natura 2000, Ramsar, UNESCO World Heritage natural sites, UNESCO MAB reserves) are more or less similarly present in the countries studied (except Serbia, where there are no Natura 2000 areas yet). If national categories and Natura 2000 sites are all taken into consideration (and the overlapping areas are counted only once), then Croatia has the highest proportion of protected areas (39.1%), Slovakia is in second place with 37.5 percent, while Romania (23.5%) and Hungary (22.0%) show a similar proportion, and with the lack of Natura 2000, Serbia has 9.1 percent at present. As for the reliability of the WDPA, we found that this varies from country to country, with significant deficiencies for certain countries (e.g. Serbia) and very good reliability for others (e.g. Hungary, Slovakia). However, the availability of WDPA is in many cases better than that of national data, and since it also provides GIS data, it can be considered a useful tool for examining international trends and mapping protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Radovi Zavoda za znanstveni rad Varazdin is the property of Institute for Scientific Work in Varazdin, Croatian Academy of Sciences & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Radovi Zavoda za znanstveni rad Varazdin is the property of Institute for Scientific Work in Varazdin, Croatian Academy of Sciences & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Düzce University Journal of Forestry / Düzce Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Ormancılık Dergisi is the property of Duzce University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkish Studies - Social Sciences is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Protected areas have a primary role in preserving the biodiversity of a region and are often valorized as a resource in tourism. The paper is based on the results of an empirical study conducted on a sample of 160 respondents. The main research goal was to determine the opinions and attitudes of the respondents about the development of rural tourism and its impact on the conservation of biodiversity in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park (Park). The results show that 56.9% of respondents consider that pollution caused by human activity has the greatest impact on biodiversity loss, but also that informing visitors about responsible behavior is a way to preserve biodiversity in the Park. Respondents agree with the statement that rural tourism is "eco-friendly" and that a sustainable form of tourism contributes to nature conservation. It was found that age and level of education were not statistically significantly related to the respondents' perception of the impact of rural tourism on biodiversity in nature parks. Respondents are moderate in the view that tourism should not be carried out in nature parks (M = 2.85) or that rural tourism in the park pollutes the environment and disrupts the landscape (M = 2.61). With a high degree of agreement (M = 4.04), respondents believe that the Park has the potential to develop ecotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the research is the application of GIS in geoecological evaluation of terrain -- case study Nature Park Hutovo blato. Geoecological evaluation of terrain is strongly relevant methodological procedure, which can be used for acquiring results about real value of particular areas. Method of terrain evaluation is also used, through five categories: hypsometric characteristics, angle of slopes, vertical dissection, terrain mobility and vegetation cover. The aim of the research is to clarify how valuable and useful certain segments of the terrain are for the purpose of spatial planning -- for the tourism valorization, construction of various objects etc. Paper consists of several parts. First part defines the exact area of exploration. In the second part geomorphological characteristics of the researched area were analyzed. Geoecological evaluation of terrain, performed in third part was based on previous geomorphological analysis as well as bonity categories. Methods used in this paper are: analysis, synthesis, statistical method and cartographic method. Complete analysis was conducted using GIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the years following the foundation of the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature Park (in 1996) and Gesäuse National Park (in 2002), both nature conservation organizations faced heavy resistance from the local population and actors in the local economy. Today things look different: the so-called Gesäuse Partners are building a strong network that brings the parties together. Our experiences can be used practically by the managers of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 62 % of its total area covered in forest, Styria is the most densely forested province in Austria. Accordingly, forests, more than any other habitat, characterise the landscape in the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark. The forest areas of the nature park are managed by a combination of private owners and the Styrian Provincial Forests, the Austrian Federal Forests and the City of Vienna. The near-natural areas of the nature park forests in particular are characterised by species-rich fauna and flora, which include specially protected species. However, the forests of the nature park do not simply provide habitats for a large number of protected animal and plant species. Due to their location - embedded between the Dürrenstein wilderness area, the Kalkalpen National Park and the Gesäuse National Park - they also function as important stepping-stone habitats for many forest-bound species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial planning is a vital process for a rapid and successful development of projects related to wetland management, and thereby projects related to tourism. Tourist activities could provide a boost to the development of general understanding of wetlands and raise public awareness of the functions and the ecosystem services wetlands provide. The tourism economy could be a source of income and could provide employment opportunities in rural areas. However, tourists also have an impact on wetlands. Protected areas accessible to tourists require a comprehensive management. In order to ensure a harmonious relationship between tourism activities and environmental protection, when developing an urban design within a protected area, it is crucial to have a sensitive approach. The paper suggests an approach to the development of the Urban Design "Karaotok", within the Hutovo Blato Nature Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This work aimed to promote, observe and describe the restructuring process of the Morro do Osso Nature Park Management Council (PNMO). To that end the study used participatory diagnostic methodologies and the data were analysed using QSR International software. As a result, it was possible to verify information and leadership failures in the process of construction of the management council that generated demotivation of the members leading to their disaggregation. However, the potential for mobilization and restructuring was identified provided the collaborative process is structured by a leadership that mobilizes stakeholders to drive collaboration and extend the scope of the (PNMO) council. In conclusion, the Management Council must engage in a continuous activism and its members must be constantly prepared to act as articulators in the various spaces related to the Conservation Unit.

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Habitat characteristics associated with species occurrences represent important baseline information for wildlife management and conservation, but have rarely been assessed for countries recently joining the EU. We used footprint tracking data and landscape characteristics in Romania to investigate the occurrence of brown bear (Ursus arctos), gray wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and to compare model predictions between Natura 2000 and national-level protected areas (gap analysis). Wolves were more likely to occur where rugged terrain was present. Increasing proportion of forest was positively associated with occurrence of all large carnivores, but forest type (broadleaf, mixed, or conifer) generally varied with carnivore species. Areas where cultivated lands were extensive had little suitable habitat for lynx, whereas bear occurrence probability decreased with increasing proportion of built areas. Pastures were positively associated with wolf and lynx occurrence. Brown bears occurred primarily where national roads with high traffic volumes were at low density, while bears and lynx occurred at medium-high densities of communal roads that had lower traffic volumes. Based on predictions of carnivore distributions, natural areas protected in national parks were most suitable for carnivores, nature parks were less suitable, whereas EU-legislated Natura 2000 sites had the lowest probability of carnivore presence. Our spatially explicit carnivore habitat suitability predictions can be used by managers to amend borders of existing sites, delineate new protected areas, and establish corridors for ecological connectivity. To assist recovery and recolonization, management could also focus on habitat predicted to be suitable but where carnivores were not tracked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of the concept of sustainable exploitation of medicinal plant resources facilitates the development of tourism offering and the related activities that would enhance the development of rural areas in this region. When managed in a sustainable manner, tourism can bring many advantages to protected areas, tourism industry and a local community. By using high-resolution satellite images and application of GIS technology, a method is developed for monitoring periodic changes in eco-systems. The collected data enable design of models that incorporate in themselves dynamics of changes taking place in natural ecosystems. By means of periodic imaging of characteristic areas, the spatial representation of eco-systems will be monitored, along with the changes in their composition and structure, which may seriously endanger the development of tourism potential in the region. The integral approach to the management of medicinal herb resources in the region of Mt. Stara Planina, based on the results of this study, necessitates the integration of these results with the results of the studies investigating views and needs of the local population, whose quality of life depends on sustainability of the process of collection and valorization of this resource.

Taxonomic studies on wildlife biodiversity has always been very fascinating along with great purpose of providing valuable information of their present status with regard to species number and future course of action required for their conservation. A study regarding survey of flora and fauna was carried out at Dhauladhar Nature’s Park of Gopalpur in district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh during the month of April, 2015. The present study has revealed the presence of 9 mammals, 2 reptilians, 5 pheasants and 4 other birds belonging to 12 families along with 44 plants species belonging to 28 families. Further, it is suggested that provisions for Himalayan snakes and butterflies, the other two are very important Himalayan fauna which could be created as soon as possible so that nature’s park can fulfill its true purpose of conservation of Himalayan wild animals in real sense.

The research examines the development of the mountainous region of Belasitsa in the years after 2000 and its transformation of being an inaccessible territory at the time of the Iron Curtain, to a fast-growing destination for sustainable tourism. In order to draw particular conclusions and formulate recommendations, the Belasitsa Nature Park Management Plan was used which was approved on 24.02.2016. As a result, potential threats from rapid development have been identified and concrete steps have been proposed to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For saving world's biodiversity, networks of protected areas were established, conventions, agreements, political and strategical documents for conservation of nature that all highlight the importance of the environmental context of the education for sustainable development were prepared. Nature and national park administrations in Bulgaria which are legally obliged to conduct educational activities have a significant role for building environmental awareness and behavior in visitors. The aim of this research is to develop and implement modern approaches and mechanisms to organize educational activities in the field of ecology and nature conservation in protected areas in Bulgaria after the example of "Vrachansky Balkan" Nature Park. For achieving this aim, instruments for carrying out quality long- and short-term educational activities were elaborated, verified and implemented in practice. Such comprehensive systematic approach, is organized for the first time in "Vrachansky Balkan" and it fulfills one of the objectives set in its Management Plan (2011-2021). The approbation of one week activities in the nature park shows better cognitive results and higher motivation for environmental protection among the participants in comparison to the one-day stay. The verified educational approach is a nature conservation instrument, applicable to the management of all nature and national park administrations for biodiversity preservation and sustainable use of natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism recently continues to increase its importance by contributions to cultural and economic fields. Considering portion of tourism sector in economy, many countries accelerate their works trying to establish tourist attraction points by natural regions they have. By owning unique flora and fauna diversity, nature parks start to be the most attracting regions nowadays. For better protection of the rare natural beauties, it is necessary to make them either nature park or nature protection area. Chance to see many wonders of nature all together in one place turns nature parks into tourist attractions. Kuzalan Nature Park, which is under protection, is a region having rich tourism potential for Giresun province located in East Black Sea Region. The nature park, located in Kuzalan neighborhood, Alancık Village, Dereli District, is in 45 km distance from Giresun province and 13 km distance from Dereli district center. The most important feature of this naturally and culturally attracting nature park is that it is placed in an area owning travertines reminding Pamukkale, waterfalls, historical wooden mill, longose forest, monument trees, mineral water, cave, walking path in forest, rich fauna and flora inside. This nature park with quite high tourism potential has a great significance as it brings all hard-to-find beauties together in 482 hectares. In this study, the nature park is tried to be presented to make it a daily recreational and touristic destination where activities like cave tourism, health tourism, cultural tourism, bird observation are carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stara planina has great natural and anthropogenic potentials for tourism development that have not been recognized by tourism experts. Intensive state interest for tourism development started in 2006, when started building of the master plan for winter tourism development at Babin zub area. However, most of the central part of the mountain is part of Nature Park “Stara planina” that can be endangered by mass tourism development. Within this context, this paper researches potentials for ecotourism, as an alternative to future mass tourism development. Started projects of mass tourism development cannot be stopped, but also they do not have negative impacts to natural surroundings. The aim of this paper is to represent ecotourism as a “conscience”, a correction factor of mass tourism development.

In the past, the greatest part of the Stara mountain had been subjected to anthropogenic processes which induced serious ecologic consequences and diminished the worth of the potential for tourism development. The present study investigates the possibilities for the development of sustainable tourism of the Stara mountain with focus on analyzing the natural environment and the consequences that may be induced by preparations for more intensive tourist exploitation (technical interventions). The importance is stressed of anti-erosion protection and of the measures for improvement of biodiversity and geo-diversity of the Stara mountain. The necessity of finding the modes of more rational exploitation of natural and anthropogenic qualities of the Stara mountain is indicated.

Punti Kayu Nature Park can provide various benefits. Currently benefits obtained are still considering to be low. An objective and quantitative assessment of a recreation benefits by calculated travel cost and willingness to pay of visitors to recreation benefits, in the end good for as consideration to determine development alternative, construction and cost of conservation activity in Nature Park Punti Kayu (TWAPK). This research was conducted in the Nature Park Punti Kayu Palembang city, South Sumatra Province. The object of research in this study were the respondents (visitors) in the Nature Park Punti Kayu. Number of visitors samples in this study were 100 visitors. Data obtained in the form of tabulations and percentages, then analyzed descriptively. According to the research, visitor assessment to TWAPK related to condition of road to recreation object, accessibility, biodiversity, and recreation facility are good with mean score 3,62, 3,91, 3,18,and 3,33. While security and information service are ugly, with mean score 2,58. Mean of travel cost of visitor TWAPK range from Rp 44.913,04 till Rp172.000,00. Progressively far the distance which is gone through by a visitor from home to location of recreation, hence expend more and more traveling cost conversely. Totalize value of willingness to pay of visitors in TWAPK for forest and land cost rehabilitation equal to Rp 876.070.734,00/year