Review article

https://doi.org/10.21861/hgg.2011.73.01.15

Protected Areas for Conservation or Sustainable Development? The Example of the Marine Protected Area in the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago

Peter Mackelworth orcid.org/0000-0003-2135-1208 ; The Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Veli Lošinj, Croatia
Jelena Jovanović ; The Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Veli Lošinj, Croatia

Abstract

Changes to the protected area paradigm have seen the dilution of biological conservation aims towards the development of sustainable resource use. The top-down designation of the Cres-Lošinj marine protected area, and a lack of communication with the local community, has created conservation resistance in the region. This has led the State Institute for Nature Protection to propose to downgrade the area from Special Reserve to Regional Park, thereby undermining the original biological conservation aim, that of the protection of the internationally protected bottlenose dolphins. The conflict between local interests and nature conservation remains an unresolved issue that requires the decision-makers to either fully engage with the local community, or face serious conflicts at local level and censure at international level. The situation with the Cres-Lošinj marine protected area illustrates problems faced world-wide related to balancing international commitments with local development desires.

Keywords

marine protected areas; sustainable development; Cres-Lošinj archipelago

Hrčak ID:

71517

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/71517

Publication date:

1.8.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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