Social Assessment of Specially Protected Natural Areas

• Published in: Economic and social changes: facts, trends, forecast / Экономические и социальные перемены: факты, тенденции, прогноз
• Main Authors: Galina Viktorovna Mikhailova, Valerii Antonovich Efimov
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Vologda Research Center 2015
• Subjects: specially protected natural areas; social function of nature conservation areas; sociological surveys; environmental management; remote rural settlements; Sociology (General); HM401-1281; Arkhangelsk; Arkhangelsk Oblast
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15838/esc/2015.4.40.10; https://doaj.org/article/b2c9d968578a4ed680257fce38191842

Approaches to the consideration of functions of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) in the development of society seek to determine the size of the territory withdrawn from agricultural use for the purposes of nature conservation; these approaches also aim to evaluate money revenue gained from these territories. However, the influence of SPNA on public life is not reduced to the “monetization” of the territory. People who live near conservation areas and experience the advantages (disadvantages) of such neighbourhood should be the focus of the study of the social role of protected areas. The social role of SPNA in the life of local communities in the Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Karelia Republic was identified with the help of public opinion survey. In total 575 people participated in the survey. The research was carried out in the settlements located within the boundaries of Kenozersky and Vodlozersky national parks, and near Shilovsky Nature Reserve. When measuring the impact of conservation areas on the society of the neighbouring settlements, the authors define the axiological, emotional-and-psychological, activityand-regulatory, economic, forecasting and integrated components. The research findings show that the residents acknowledge the conservation value of protected areas; many of the inhabitants of adjacent territories do not experience inconveniences in connection with the special environmental regime, they earn income connected to the operation of SPNA; there is a positive attitude towards the activity of SPNA. If these areas cease functioning, then one third of the respondents expect negative changes in their life. Specially protected natural areas contribute to the socio-cultural and spiritual development of the local community to a greater extent in comparison with its socio-economic development. The presence of SPNA on the territory of the municipality opens up opportunities for new types of economic activities, provides employment in the field of recreation and tourism