Abstract
Interviews are considered an important tool for gaining insight into specific conservation issues. These issues are inherently connected with ecosystem services (ES) and their perception by stakeholders.
In the Czech Republic, there has not been any research yet based on qualitative research techniques addressing conservation decision-making on the national level. Also, the concept of ES remains out of consideration when it comes to addressing challenges of nature and landscape conservation.
Our research aim was to identify the contributions of Protected Landscape Areas (PLAs) for society and nature as perceived by key stakeholders in the nature protection decision-making administration, the heads of PLAs responsible for their management. Furthermore, we wanted to identify current problems or conflicts related to water, forestry, agriculture, biodiversity, recreation and tourism in PLAs.
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 regional chief representatives of PLA administration (out of 24). We also addressed the concept of ES and its viability to support the goals of nature protection.
Data were processed using qualitative content analysis with the MAXQDA software. The results show a relative coherence in information amongst all PLAs.
The contributions of PLAs to society are perceived mostly in the form of cultural ES, especially recreation and tourism, education value and aesthetics. The contributions of PLAs to nature conservation itself are perceived mostly in the protection of biodiversity.
Regulating ES are not so obvious to most of our respondents and there is an evident openness and willingness to employ the ES concept for justifying the values of nature and its protection when dealing with important stakeholders. Presented research is part of a multi-level process and will be followed by other upcoming activities including participatory workshops to elicit values of nature in PLAs or national ES assessment.