MANAGING NATURE AND VISITORS: GOVERNANCE STRATEGIES IN NATIONAL PARKS OF THE BALTIC STATES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35363/ViA.sts.2025.112Keywords:
Natura 2000, governance, national parks, Baltic States, sustainable nature tourism, nature conservation, rural development, tourism exportAbstract
Natura 2000, the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world, plays a key role in biodiversity conservation across the European Union. Beyond their ecological value, Natura 2000 sites also present socio-economic opportunities — particularly through nature- based tourism. In the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), national parks within this network are both a core element of national conservation strategies and an underutilized driver of local and regional economic development.
References
Lockwood, M. (2010). Good governance for terrestrial protected areas: A framework, principles and performance outcomes. Journal of Environmental Management, 9.
Estonian Nature Conservation Act1 (21.04.2004.) § 26; Lithuanian Law No. I-301 on protected areas. 12 Section; In Latvia, each national park is governed by its own law, which seeks to achieve a balance between conservation and sustainable use. For example, aim of the Gauja National Park law (30.04.2009.), 2nd Section
