Social assessment of national parks through the example of the Aggtelek National Park

Local communities near the Aggtelek National Park and Slovak Karst National Park perceive national parks as economic barriers, limiting their ability to diversify local economies. While national parks aim to protect geological and biological values while promoting tourism, interviews with settlement leaders revealed conflicts arising from restrictions on economic activities imposed by these protected areas. Many locals view national park authorities negatively, questioning the necessity of nature conservation—a sentiment linked to past socialist regimes. The study highlights a need for shifting attitudes toward more positive engagement with conservation efforts in karst regions.

Kőszegi, M., Gessert, A., Nestorová-Dická, J., Gruber, P., & Bottlik, Z. (2022). Social assessment of national parks through the example of the Aggtelek National Park. Hungarian Geographical Bulletin, 71(2), 149–162. https://doi.org/10.15201/hungeobull.71.2.4