Are Potential Tourists Willing to Pay More for Improved Accessibility? Preliminary Evidence from the Gargano National Park

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, tourist destinations have been increasingly selected on the basis of health, safety and social distancing criteria. In this framework, protected natural areas represent ideal tourist destinations due to the presence of wide and open spaces, services for tourists and attention to nature. The present paper focused on accessible tourism, a subset of sustainable tourism that is increasingly gaining greater importance within the tourism sector. By applying the Contingent Valuation Method, the study investigated whether potential tourists are effectively willing to pay extra money to be granted more accessible facilities in a natural area. To this end, a logit model was estimated to determine the probability that tourists exhibit a higher WTP for accessible tourism facilities. The analysis was carried out in the Gargano National Park, Southern Italy, an area traditionally characterised by large tourist flows that have increased further during the recent pandemic. The results showed that only a limited percentage of the respondents are willing to pay a higher amount for improved accessibility. These results represent an interesting starting point to outline an adequate strategy for the tourism valorisation of the natural area.

ORGANIZATION OF MONITORING STUDIES ON THE FORESTS CONDITIONS IN THE LAPLAND NATURE RESERVE

The article presents the history of monitoring studies of northern taiga in the Lapland Nature Reserve. It is shown that the data on the characteristics of various components of forest biogeocenoses obtained through long- term monitoring are relevant and are not inferior to the European level of research. The results of long-term monitoring revealed the negative impact of atmospheric emissions from the Severonikel metallurgical smelter on the spruce and pine forests of the Reserve. To continue studying the responses of forest ecosystems to industrial air pollution, it is necessary to support stationary monitoring studies in specially protected natural areas.

Ecomonitoring of water protected natural areas of the Ulyanovsk region on the example of the Yulovsky pond

The Ulyanovsk region is rich in water natural monuments, and the Yulovsky pond is one of the oldest. At the same time, there is no generally accepted methodology for conducting environmental monitoring for protected water bodies. We propose one of the options for the methodology for assessing the anthropogenic load on protected water bodies in order to optimize the protection regime of these territories. Key words: Yulovsky pond, ecological monitoring, specially protected natural area, chemical analysis of water, analysis of vegetation.

Legal Regime of the Protected Natural Areas Under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC of the European Union

Basic aim of this study is analysis of the protection of biological diversity in protected natural territories under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC. These legal acts of the European Union are related to the protection of species of wild flora and fauna and natural habitats. The basic task of the study consists in consideration of the legal measures in this field under these directives in the context of their introduction in the Bulgarian legislation. The comparative law and formal-logical methods of scientific research are used. The result of study is related to formulation of general conclusions from considered legal regulation and suggestions for its improvement.

ESPACIOS NATURALES PROTEGIDOS, RETO DEMOGRÁFICO Y TURISMO.EL EJEMPLO DE LA RESERVA DE LA BIOSFERA Y PARQUE NACIONAL DE MONFRAGÜE (EXTREMADURA, ESPAÑA)

Los espacios naturales protegidos son uno de los recursos más demandados desde el punto de vista turístico. Esta investigación analiza las relaciones causa-efecto que ha tenido la declaración de Monfragüe como Reserva de la Biosfera y Parque Nacional en el comportamiento demográfico, económico y turístico del territorio que comprende. Desde una metodología cualitativa, apoyado en el análisis de fuentes estadísticas, se concluye que las expectativas depositadas en el turismo no han conseguido frenar la despoblación ni potenciar la diversificación económica. Protected natural areas are one of the most demanded resources from the tourist point of view. This research analyses the cause-effect relationships that the declaration of Monfragüe as a Biosphere Reserve and National Park has had on the demographic, economic and tourist behaviour of the territory it encompasses. From a qualitative methodology, supported by the analysis of statistical sources, it is concluded that the expectations placed in tourism have not managed to halt depopulation or promote economic diversification.

Preface

We are delighted about the success of our International scientific Conference “Regions of New Development: the current state of natural complexes and their protection”, which took place on October 5-7, 2021 in the Institute of Water and Ecology Problems of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS) - a separate subdivision of the Khabarovsk Federal Research Center FEB RAS. For the participants from Khabarovsk, the conference was held in fulltime format, for nonresident and foreign participants, in order to prevent coronavirus infection, it was conducted virtually. In addition to Russian participants, scientists from China, Japan and Mongolia took part in the conference. The conference “Regions of new development: the current state of natural complexes and their protection” highlights five main areas: 1. Biological diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 2. Water resources and ecosystems: status and usage. 3. Diversity and sustainability issues of landscapes. 4. Scientific foundations of nature protection and optimization of specially protected natural areas. 5. Sustainable urban development. List of Organizing Committee, Program Committee are available in this pdf.

CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF BOTANIC GARDENS AND ARBOTETUM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION

Today, the question of the need for environmental education is of particular importance. It is necessary to restore harmonious ties between man and nature, and this is possible only in contact with the natural environment itself. The irrational use of natural resources, the progressing economic activity of man, which does not take into account the laws of the development of natural systems, lead to a change in natural processes, a violation of the balance of the biosphere. Analysis of various approaches to educational activities in the field of environmental culture revealed the importance of specially protected natural areas in environmental education. They have unique benefits for biodiversity education by providing visual illustrations of the diversity of natural ecosystems.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RUSSIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

This monograph proposes strategic transformations in the environmental sphere based on a transition to the principles of a green economy and on the implementation of modern technologies in order to protect and improve the state of the environment, preserve natural resources, and improve the quality of life in Russia and around the world. The proposals contained herein seeks to develop citizens' ecological culture, as well as to encourage and guide businesses to pursue working with green methodology. The principles of conservation of water and forest resources, the recreational role of specially protected natural areas, as well as the development of ecological tourism are considered.