Connecting Biodiversity Conservation to the Local Community. A Case Study of Organic Agriculture in the Lake Penne Regional Nature Reserve Abruzzo Italy

Master's Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Nature Protection Landscape Conservation grade: pass School of Oriental and African Studies University of London language: English abstract: The aim of this research report is to critically explore stakeholder attitudes towards organic agriculture in the Lake Penne Nature Reserve and to understand whether the reserve's organic agriculture project benefits the local community. Specifically the perspectives and experiences of cooperative members who manage daily operations in the reserve form an integral part of this research as they are both stakeholders in the protected area and local community members.A case study design is used to conduct an intensive examination of organic agriculture activities in the Lake Penne Nature Reserve which is a protected area located in the largely rural municipality of Penne in Abruzzo Italy. Mixed methods research including a self-completion questionnaire and unstructured interviews allow the researcher to conduct an in-depth analysis of the potential benefits organic agriculture activities in the protected area bring to the nature reserve and the local community.