Project description
New paradigm for EU protected areas
A quarter of EU land is currently covered by protected areas (PAs). Based on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, terrestrial PAs should cover a minimum of 30 % of EU land. The purpose is to guarantee biodiversity conservation. In this context, the EU-funded FIDELIO project will explore the social impacts that may obstruct the effective management of PAs. It will develop the first paradigm to understand how perceptions of social impacts are formulated. The project will carry out two rounds of social surveys in 4 PAs across Europe and test the framework in 15 PAs. To maximise the social benefits for local communities, FIDELIO will increase our understanding of social impacts and predict their future change.
Objective
Designating Protected Areas (PAs) is the most important policy tool for biodiversity conservation. Over 100 new PAs have been established in the past 36 months in European Union territory. However, effective management of PAs is often obstructed by conflicts mainly associated with the social impacts (SIs) imposed on local communities by their establishment. Despite the importance of these SIs there are certain aspects in this field that remain significantly under-researched. There is now an increasing need to incorporate SI assessments in decision making processes by providing a clear framework explaining how perceptions of these impacts are created and predicting their change in the future. This will support the achievement of international goals for biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change as well as better accounting for social justice issues for communities dependent on protected natural resources. The aim of FIDELIO is to develop for the first time a new paradigm in order to understand how perceptions of SIs are formulated taking into consideration the dimensions of space and time. FIDELIO will assist in increasing public engagement and the incorporation of local opinions in decision-making. It will also facilitate the process of policy development and a reduction in conflicts between different stakeholders in PAs. FIDELIO will last 5 years and its research objectives will be explored through the application of a mixed-methods approach including the implementation of two rounds of social surveys in 4 PAs across Europe and the testing of the framework in 15 additional PAs. This is an extremely timely project considering the steady increase of new PAs and the re-designation of current ones. FIDELIO will contribute to the better understanding of SIs and facilitate predictions for their change in the future, while assisting in maximizing social benefits for local communities arising from the designation of a PA.
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Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
CV4 8UW COVENTRY
United Kingdom