Relevant factors for the acceptance of nature conservation measures

In Switzerland nature and landscape conservation issues have a high priority since an intact landscape is considered as an important resource for tourism but also for the well-being of the population. Legislation on nature and landscape protection is fairly advanced. On a federal level the conservation goals are well formulated and based on a broad consensus among the population. On the local level however, there is a fair amount of contradiciting views among planners, local authorities and the common people.

In this research we hypothesize that increased public acceptance of conservation issues increases the chance of conservation issues being successfully implemented. We investigate processes that positively or negatively influence acceptance. Interviews are conducted with people that are directly affected by conservation legislation. The text material is investigated by using social science techniques and qualitative methods.

Publications

• Schenk A. 2000: Relevante Faktoren der Akzeptanz von Natur- und Landschaftsschutzmassnahmen. Ergebnisse qualitativer Fallstudien, Publikation der Ostschweizerischen Geographischen Gesellschaft Neue Folge, Heft 5.
• Schenk A. 2000: Relevant Factors for the Acceptance of Nature Conservation Measures - ways to avoid conflicts - An investigation based on the case study approach. 16th IAPS conference Paris 2000. Manuskript.
• Schenk A. 2000: Der spinnt doch da oben zu heuen! - Pro und contra Bewirtschaftungsverträge - Eine sozialwissenschaftliche Untersuchung im Rahmen des Trockenwiesen und -weideninventars. Schlussbericht des TWW-Projektes Bewirtschafterbefragungë. (Interner Bericht)