Title: Declaring an area as protected ensures its sustainability? Assessing the contribution of the legal framework and the participation of the local community to the sustainability of Lake Kerkini (Greece)

Authors: Dimitra B. Manou

Addresses: Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: The sustainable development of Protected Areas (PAs) depends on several conditions; a tight legal framework that respects the EU and international legislation on one hand and the participation of the local community on the other hand are of utmost importance. This paper presents the legal framework for PAs in Greece with regard to the PA of Lake Kerkini and explores the role of the local community in promoting the sustainable development of the area. It points out that although the study area is a declared National Park, it faces severe environmental problems due to particular reasons. It also identifies the regulatory and governance gaps at national and local level, and finally, it proposes the necessary steps for promoting sustainable development and protecting the natural resources of the study area.

Keywords: protected areas; sustainable development; national parks; local communities; sustainability; environmental protection; legal framework; Greece; governance gaps; regulatory gaps.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2014.057893

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2014 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.120 - 134

Published online: 25 Oct 2014 *

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