Stakeholder Participation on Protected Area Management through Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping: The Case Study of Göreme Historical National Park

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine conflicts at Göreme Historical National Park by using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping and develop stakeholders’ suggestion for these conflicts.

The study was formed in 3 basic stages.  In the first stage, repetitive meetings were held in each settlement of study area. In these meetings; participatory rural appraisal approach and stakeholder analysis were done, 7 stakeholder groups (administrative institutions, local administrative authorities, farmers, employees of warehousing activities, non-governmental organizations, workers of mass tourism- Tourism I Group, workers of local tourism – Tourism II Group) were determined in order to provide solution offers for these conflicts. In the second stage, 44 fuzzy cognitive maps were formed with interviews made with determined stakeholder groups. Maps were combined specific to stakeholders groups through “Adjacency Matrix” and 7 fuzzy cognitive maps were formed in total. In the third stage, fuzzy cognitive maps were analyzed according to graphic theory which enables analysis of structural characteristics of maps.

As a result of the study it was determined that in addition to different aims of all stakeholders, common aim of stakeholders was to protect resource values of the protected area. Basic conflicts experienced in accomplishment of these goals were protection of the area in different status, lack of coordination between administrative institutions, requirements and status of protected area, deficiency of standard in permission within the scope of protected are and local communities’ lack of trust in management.