Qualitative Research Conducted on Cooperation Between Protected Areas and Local Communities

Parks Dinarides – Protected Areas Network of the Dinarides, in cooperation with the Defacto Agency, conducted a qualitative research on the mechanisms and modalities of cooperation between protected area managers and local communities.

The aim of this analysis is to identify key challenges in the functioning of participatory bodies within national parks and to explore opportunities for their improvement.

The research was conducted through in-depth semi-structured interviews with directors of national parks and Nature Park Piva, as well as with 14 forum members from five national parks.

In Montenegro, existing models for involving local communities in protected areas are implemented through participatory bodies, specifically the Socio-Economic Forums in national parks. Nature parks currently do not have such bodies.

The role of these forums is to gather, hear, and reconcile the interests of residents, organizations, institutions, and businesses operating in or near the protected areas. These forums act as platforms for opinion exchange, needs articulation, and proposal development concerning natural resource management and local development priorities.

The analysis recognizes the positive practice of Montenegro’s national parks in establishing participatory bodies like the Socio-Economic Forums, which serve as an example of good governance practice. This participatory model notably stands out even when compared to some EU countries, such as Italy, where participatory approaches in protected area management remain underdeveloped. Nonetheless, efforts are being made to gradually develop and strengthen such approaches.

On the other hand, the analysis also identifies room for improvement in the quality of local community participation, particularly by strengthening and improving the effectiveness of the Socio-Economic Forums.

While the overall perception of the relationship between national parks and local communities is more positive than negative, there is a noticeable lack of real community participation in decision-making. Local communities need to be more actively included in these processes. This requires a more precise definition of the forums’ roles within management plans and internal acts of protected areas. Forums should have clearly defined responsibilities, including regular reporting on the implementation of activities and forum conclusions. Such formalization would help institutionalize their contribution and increase decision-making transparency.

It is also necessary to define clear criteria for selecting forum members, granting them a formal mandate to participate in decision-making. Forum members should be empowered to propose and shape park policies, while park managers should be obliged to consider and implement accepted recommendations.

The research also revealed that insufficient awareness and education among local communities regarding protected areas poses a significant challenge. Misunderstandings and conflicts often arise due to a lack of clarity about institutional responsibilities, leading residents to blame national park authorities for issues they may not have the mandate to resolve. This deepens mistrust, fosters frustration, and hinders future collaboration – which is essential for effective and sustainable protected area management.

Thus, continuous education of local communities on the ecological, cultural, and economic value of protected areas is recommended, in order to build mutual trust and better understanding of the role of parks. Protected areas should be seen not as obstacles, but as partners in development.

Mistrust in institutions among local communities also remains a challenge. The main causes include: inadequate and delayed communication, lack of concrete results following forums, and slow institutional responses to local needs. If this trust deteriorates further, there is a risk of complete withdrawal of communities from institutional cooperation, seriously jeopardizing conservation goals. Without active community involvement, enforcement of protection measures becomes more difficult and may even lead to passive resistance, rule avoidance, or open conflict with park managers.

To address this, it is necessary to strengthen the organizational and human capacities of park managers – particularly in community engagement, education, and communication. Hiring expert collaborators and continuous staff training would contribute to better implementation of participatory management models.

The full report is available at the following link.

This Qualitative Research: “Analysis of Mechanisms and Modalities of Cooperation between Protected Area Managers and Local Communities” was supported through the “Supported = Empowered” program, implemented by the Fund for Active Citizenship (fAKT) in partnership with the Slagalica Foundation for Community Development (Croatia). The program is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration.