A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Local peoples’ values and disvalues in and around an Indian protected area undergoing urbanization
Authors: Plieninger, Tobias; Thapa, Pramila; Fagerholm, Nora; Basu, Sukanya; Bhaskar, Dhanya; Nagendra, Harini; Raymond, Christopher M.; Torralba, Mario
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Environmental Conservation
ISSN: 0376-8929
eISSN: 1469-4387
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892925100234
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892925100234
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/506358134
Urbanization has become a key pressure on many of the world’s protected areas. This study investigates how local communities perceive landscape values and disvalues in and around Bannerghatta National Park (near Bengaluru, India), which is experiencing high rates of urban development at its peripheries. Using combined free-listing and Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) mapping, we surveyed 489 residents from 12 villages to elicit both landscape values and disvalues. Respondents mapped values such as biodiversity, fertile land and clean air, while disvalues focused on human–wildlife conflicts. Despite persistent conflicts and urbanization pressures, residents valued the National Park for its multiple landscape values. Both values and disvalues were concentrated around village areas. We find that socio-demographic factors – especially caste, land ownership and work in agriculture – significantly influenced perceptions. Specifically, marginalized caste members and landless individuals reported more disvalues, while landowners and farmers noted more values. Our study emphasizes the need to consider both landscape values and disvalues for balanced decision-making in protected areas. It also highlights the potential of free-listing to identify the well-being aspects that matter most for people, which points to the importance of agricultural uses in and around protected areas undergoing urbanization.
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Funding information in the publication:
This research has received funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) through grant number 421285339 (FOR2432/2). DB acknowledges support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Government of India (grant number BT/IN/German/DFG/14/BVCR/2019).