Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

This study is created and carried out with the intention to help to improve management in the protected area of “Vlasina", through a better participation of the local community. In order to depict the perception of local residents in the Landscape of exceptional features “Vlasina" the survey method was conducted on 81 adult residents (9,6% of the adult residents). During the survey, it was noticed that the proximity of the protected area affects the perception of local inhabitants. This is the reason why study area was divided into two parts: the area of the Vlasina Lake edge and the area of the Vlasina Lake hinterland. The obtained data were analyzed with standard statistical methods, descriptive statistic (frequency) and the Chi-square test. The research results indicate statistically significant association in the case of population attitudes about the conditions for developing rural tourism and the impact of protected area on the quality of life. While the residents near the Vlasina Lake see a bought (positive and negative) effect of the protected area on the quality of life and that the future of their village could be ensured through tourism, the inhabitants of the Vlasina hinterland have opposite views. Furthermore, the manager of the protected area is perceived negatively in both groups of inhabitants. All findings confirm that the protected area had little or no impact on the life and economy of the local population. Finally, the results of this study impose the obligation to the management structure to develop effective strategies and actions which will improve relationships with local residents.