From philosophy to practice: Enhancement of future management practices via the analysis of the concept Natures Contribution to People in the Biosphere Reserve Bačko Podunavlje, Serbia

Sammanfattning: Biosphere Reserves have been seen as ways to merge human existence with nature conservation, but they face challenges related to efficient and equitable management. This thesis explores the use of the concept of Nature’s Contribution to People (NCP) for more inclusive communication and idea sharing among stakeholders in the Serbian biosphere reserve Bačko Podunavlje. NCPs and their conceptualizations were identified through an analysis of environmental documents and a survey responded by 19 key stakeholders. The generalized perspective showed a range of NCPs present in documents. When asked to rank the NCPs according to their relevance, regulating NCPs were seen as most vital. Conversely, through open-ended descriptions of a ‘good quality of life’, nature was mainly associated with psychological benefits. There was an agreement that the NCP concept can potentially help in guiding better management practices and resolve conflicts. To do so, stakeholders should incorporate identified NCP values and knowledge into management objectives.