Dealing with conflicts between conservation and socioeconomic activities: a social perception study in the Costa Brava, Spain

Abstract

The conflicts between different users are frequent in the cases when conservation plans affect agricultural land uses. The main objective of this communication is to explore public perceptions in front of plans to protect natural areas. This research has been carried out in the designated area of Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, in the heard of Costa Brava, Spain where a proposal to extend the perimeter of the protected area has created a local but severe social conflict. A social perception study based on a qualitative survey with local stakeholders has been carried out to collect the local opinion on the problem and the perception in front of the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of planning strategy. Essentially, the intervention is felt as threat to the future of several socioeconomic activities (i.e. agriculture, campsites). Moreover, mistrust on the public administration has produced the emergence of an old conflict. The authors argue that the assessment of problems and conflicts affecting coasts have lacked from an in-depth understanding of the social dimension. Therefore, analyzing perceptions and attitudes in front of strategies and management practices can produce relevant information to improve the management of these areas.