TO WHAT EXTENT ARE LOCAL COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNANCE OF PROTECTED AREAS? EXPERIENCES FROM A CASE STUDY IN SICILY (ITALY)

An effective governance of protected areas should include not only the involvement of the different institutional actors but also the local community as a whole, through a participatory approach that ensures the effective involvement in the management process and decision-making. Through the examination of a case study represented by the natural reserve "Sambughetti Campanito" in Sicily (Italy), we evaluated how the local community perceives the presence of a protected area within its territory, and how it feels involved in its governance process. The results obtained showed that the local community welcomes the presence of a protected area within its territory. However, some problems arise relating to the insufficient degree of involvement in the management process and decision-making and scarce role that, with few exceptions, is attributed to public and private entities involved in various capacities in the management of the aforesaid protected area. Overcoming these issues is a prerequisite to ensure sharing and transparency in the governance of protected areas whose benefits fall on the territory and the community in which it lives and works.