Conservation policy, governance, and perceptions upon sustainability Los Alcornocales Natural Park and El Estrecho Natural Park as a case study in Andalusia

Abstract

Natural parks were designed to harmonize objectives with local development and have been defined as laboratories for social participation. Using group techniques (focus groups) and participatory techniques (workshops), we offer the perceptions of institutional and social agents of Los Alcornocales Natural Park and Estrecho Natural Park (Andalusia) after decades of conversation policies. We illustrate the diversity of social agencies involved in these areas, their discourse on social participation, their main demands regarding governance, their discourses on conservation and their future perspectives, as well as the trade-offs resulting from the designation of both parks. We conclude that the natural park as a political instrument has failed to achieve its objectives in neither of the two territories, although we have identified a common interest among technicians and social agencies in implementing mechanisms to improve their governance.