Environmental Management and Community Engagement: A Strategic Pathway to Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas ()
1. Introduction
Sustainable tourism focuses on protecting nature while supporting local communities. In today’s world, where natural resources are under threat from climate change, urban growth, and overuse, protected areas play a key role. These areas help conserve biodiversity and offer ways for local people to earn a living through eco-friendly activities.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in Lebanon is an excellent example of this balance. Established in 1996, SBR covers 550 square kilometers, making it the largest protected area in Lebanon. The UNESCO declared it as a biosphere reserve, and the IUCN certified it as a green-listed reserve, highlighting its success in conservation. The reserve is home to Lebanon’s famous cedar forests, which are not only important for the environment but also hold deep cultural and historical meaning. SBR is also working on reintroducing the Nubian ibex, an endangered species that once lived in the region, showing its dedication to restoring wildlife (Shouf Biosphere Reserve, n.d.).
SBR also supports local people by creating jobs through ecotourism, sustainable farming, and handmade crafts. It helps the community through training programs, youth involvement, and partnerships with towns and leaders, giving people a strong sense of pride and ownership in the reserve’s success (UNESCO, 2019). These efforts show how SBR connects conservation with improving local lives.
This study presents the Falcon Certification, a tool that evaluates and promotes sustainable practices among local service providers, farmers, and artisans. It not only helps protected areas measure the impact of their projects but also motivates stakeholders to contribute actively to conservation. This innovative tool could serve as a model for other reserves aiming to align tourism with sustainability goals.
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve shows how protecting nature and working with communities can create lasting solutions. This study focuses on the theme of Environmental Management and Community Engagement: A Strategic Pathway to Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.
2. Methodology
This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore sustainable tourism at the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR). By combining these approaches, it provides a clear and complete understanding of how tourism, conservation, and community involvement work together within the reserve. The research aims to identify effective strategies for balancing the reserve’s environmental and social goals. Additionally, it serves as a management plan for SBR, offering practical recommendations for future efforts.
The qualitative part of the study included interviews with key stakeholders such as SBR managers and environmental experts. These interviews were designed to explore the reserve’s conservation strategies, challenges, and the effects of tourism on the environment and local livelihoods. Speaking directly with the people who manage and shape the reserve provided valuable insights into what is working well and areas that need improvement.
The quantitative part of the study involved surveys distributed to farmers, artisans, service providers, and local residents living near the reserve. A total of 798 participants contributed their perspectives. The surveys collected information about daily practices, challenges faced by the community, and their willingness to adopt conservation-friendly behaviors. Including participants from diverse backgrounds ensured the study captured the wide-ranging impacts of tourism on both the community and the environment.
An important outcome of this research is the development of the Falcon Certification, a platform created to evaluate and promote sustainable practices among farmers, artisans, and service providers in the SBR region. The certification encourages these groups to adopt eco-friendly methods and actively contribute to conservation efforts. It also provides a way to measure the success of projects and their impact on local communities. This study not only introduces the Falcon Certification but also provides the platform, which will be available online soon. The certification reflects the larger goal of aligning tourism with conservation while recognizing and rewarding those who contribute to sustainability (Abukari & Mwalyosi, 2020).
The research maintained a strong focus on ethical practices. All participants gave informed consent and were fully aware of the study’s purpose and their rights. Privacy and confidentiality were strictly safeguarded, with personal information anonymized. Collaboration with SBR’s management team ensured the research addressed real challenges and aligned with the reserve’s goals.
This study also highlights important themes that shaped its focus and methodology, including:
Preliminary testing of the Falcon Certification involved 12 local service providers who volunteered for evaluation. Ten participants successfully met the sustainability criteria. Feedback indicated that the certification helps boost visibility, motivates eco-friendly changes, and attracts more environmentally conscious tourists. This pilot data suggests strong potential for broader application.
Best practices for engaging communities
Challenges and opportunities in sustainable tourism at SBR.
The role of local stakeholders in tourism and conservation.
Policy and governance frameworks for sustainable tourism.
Hiking groups have a significant influence on raising awareness and building community leadership.
Educational initiatives for promoting sustainability.
Marketing strategies for tourism in protected areas.
The goal of balancing tourism with conservation in SBR.
Although these themes are not part of the methodology itself, they provided a foundation for designing the interviews, surveys, and overall research framework. They also guided the creation of tools like the Falcon Certification.
3. Results
This research shows a strong link between community engagement and environmental management at the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR). About 95% of surveyed residents were satisfied with SBR’s initiatives, highlighting improved livelihoods and healthier environmental conditions. Around 70% actively participated in conservation activities like tree planting, terrace restoration, and using compost made by the reserve. Some also joined cash-for-work programs, gaining extra income while supporting conservation.
These efforts have built a sense of shared responsibility, with 80% of respondents willing to support conservation by paying environmental taxes, volunteering, or donating goods and services. This reflects the success of SBR’s community-focused approach to sustainable tourism and conservation.
Economic benefits play a key role in community satisfaction. Service providers, including farmers, artisans, and guesthouse owners, reported higher incomes due to ecotourism. Farmers also found better markets for their sustainable products, such as artisanal goods. These opportunities improved livelihoods and deepened the community’s commitment to conservation.
SBR balances tourism growth and conservation with zoning policies. The core zone, the most sensitive area, is reserved for hiking on marked trails to protect biodiversity. The buffer zone hosts limited eco-friendly activities like campsites, while the development zone, home to local communities, supports eco-tourism businesses like guesthouses, restaurants, and farms (Abukari & Mwalyosi, 2020).
SBR works closely with locals to protect the environment. According to Mr. Abou Assi, cash-for-work programs involve residents in terrace restoration and sustainable farming. Dr. Hani emphasized strict rules and monitoring to protect wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Regular biodiversity checks help keep the reserve’s natural environment safe and support responsible tourism (Mitri et al., 2023).
The study highlights SBR’s commitment to both environmental protection and sustainable tourism. One of its key successes is the biodiversity monitoring program, which includes reintroducing the Nubian ibex. This effort shows SBR’s dedication to restoring ecosystems and protecting natural heritage. Regular surveys and habitat assessments provide crucial data to ensure conservation strategies remain effective and adaptable (Mitri et al., 2023).
A key innovation from this study is the Falcon Certification Framework, developed to promote sustainable practices in protected areas and among service providers. The framework is structured around five main components, 12 criteria, and 24 indicators, ensuring a comprehensive approach to sustainability. This certification system was specifically created as part of this study to enhance accountability, encourage best practices, and support the long-term conservation goals of protected areas.
The 5 components focus on:
Sustainable Tourism Practices: Encourages eco-friendly tourism activities that align with conservation goals.
Community Engagement and Capacity Building: Promotes the active involvement of local communities in conservation, tourism, and training programs.
Environmental and Resource Management: Focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity.
Accountability and Monitoring: Tracks the impact of conservation efforts and evaluates the contributions of service providers. (Mitri et al., 2023)
Willingness to Support Conservation and Capacity Building: Assesses the readiness of protected areas to offer training on sustainable practices and the willingness of service providers to participate in such programs.
3.1. Criteria and Indicators
Component 1: Sustainable Tourism Practices
For Protected Areas:
Zoning policies to minimize tourism’s impact on sensitive areas.
Visitor management systems to ensure sustainable tourism.
Development of eco-friendly tourism infrastructure and services.
Indicators: (Abukari & Mwalyosi, 2020)
Number of visitors following zone-specific guidelines.
Percentage of facilities using sustainable materials.
Proportion of activities in eco-friendly zones.
For Service Providers:
Adoption of eco-friendly practices (e.g., waste reduction, use of renewable energy).
Offering tourism experiences that raise awareness about conservation.
Indicators:
Percentage of waste managed sustainably (e.g., recycling, composting).
Number of eco-friendly services or products offered.
Component 2: Community Engagement and Capacity Building
For Protected Areas:
Indicators:
For Service Providers:
Indicators:
Component 3: Environmental and Resource Management
For Protected Areas:
Monitoring biodiversity and restoration projects. (Mitri et al., 2023)
Sustainable management of water, energy, and biomass.
Indicators:
Area of restored habitats (e.g., terraces, forest pruning).
Number of species tracked through biodiversity monitoring. (Mitri et al., 2023)
For Service Providers:
Use of sustainable materials (e.g., organic farming, eco-friendly packaging).
Contributions to conservation through donations, volunteering, or funding.
Indicators:
Percentage of providers using eco-friendly methods.
Resources saved through sustainable practices (e.g., reduced waste, water use).
Component 4: Accountability and Monitoring
For Protected Areas: (Mitri et al., 2023)
Indicators:
Data on project outcomes (e.g., improved income, environmental health).
Feedback from stakeholders and local communities.
For Service Providers:
Indicators:
Component 5: Willingness to Support Conservation and Capacity Building
For Protected Areas:
Indicators
Number of training courses offered by the protected area.
Availability of resources (e.g., trainers, materials) for capacity building.
For Service Providers:
Indicators:
3.2. How Falcon Certification Benefits Stakeholders
For Protected Areas:
Measures the success of training and conservation programs.
Encourages eco-tourism activities that support conservation goals.
Builds strong partnerships with service providers to promote sustainable practices.
For Service Providers (Farmers, Artisans, Businesses):
Gains recognition for adopting eco-friendly and conservation-focused practices.
Access to training programs to improve sustainability efforts.
Attracts environmentally conscious customers, increasing income and credibility.
Table 1 shows a structured comparison between the Falcon Certification system and established global tools and frameworks such as the IUCN Green List, METT, and IMET. While the Green List provides performance standards and METT/IMET serve as management evaluation instruments, Falcon stands out by directly incentivizing sustainable tourism practices, fostering community engagement, and promoting the shift from Conservation Supporting Tourism (CST) to Tourism Supporting Conservation (TSC).
Table 1. Comparison between Green List, METT, IMET, and Falcon Certification Systems (Stolton et al., 2007; EAGLE Network, 2022; IUCN, 2023).
Criteria/
Features |
IUCN Green List |
IMET (Integrated
Management
Effectiveness Tool) |
METT (Management
Effectiveness Tracking Tool) |
Falcon Certification |
Purpose |
Establishes global standards for conservation success,
recognizing well-governed and effectively managed Protected Areas (PAs). |
Provides a detailed
evaluation framework for assessing and improving PA management. |
Offers a quick,
standardized tool for tracking PA management performance with
minimal resources. |
Focuses on fostering
sustainable tourism
practices that actively
support conservation (TSC approach). |
Components and
Indicators |
4 components, 17 criteria, and 50 indicators focusing on governance, design,
effective management, and outcomes. |
Covers six elements:
context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs, and
outcomes, with a detailed set of indicators. |
30+ indicators covering threats, inputs, and
outputs, with an
emphasis on identifying management gaps. |
Includes sustainability
indicators like visitor
numbers, resource use, waste generation, and community participation. |
Scope |
Globally applicable,
showcasing leadership in conservation through a structured and
internationally recognized framework. |
Comprehensive scope,
addressing the
ecological, social, and
economic dimensions of PA management. |
Limited in scope to basic management
effectiveness evaluation, primarily for rapid
assessments. |
Specifically designed for
protected areas engaging in sustainable tourism, such as Shouf Biosphere Reserve. |
Stakeholder Engagement |
Evaluates governance
inclusivity, ensuring the
involvement of local
communities and
stakeholders in
decision-making processes. |
Encourages stakeholder
involvement in identifying and addressing PA
management challenges. |
Limited consideration of community involvement or socio-economic
impacts. |
Actively involves service
providers, farmers, and
residents by offering
incentives and
capacity-building
opportunities. |
Key Benefits |
Recognizes excellence in conservation outcomes and governance, fostering
accountability and knowledge sharing globally. |
Provides a roadmap for
improving PA
management
effectiveness and
supports evidence-based planning. |
Offers a cost-effective way to identify
weaknesses in
management for
corrective actions. |
Rewards sustainable
practices, promotes TSC mindset, and fosters
continuous improvement through actionable feedback. |
Monitoring and
Evaluation |
Tracks conservation
outcomes and governance standards, enabling PAs to demonstrate their
contributions to global goals. |
Provides a structured
evaluation framework to support adaptive
management and resource
prioritization. |
Monitors threats,
resources, and actions but offers limited in-depth insights for strategic
improvement. |
Tracks ecological and
socio-economic impacts,
offering data-driven insights for adaptive management and sustainability. |
Capacity Building |
Encourages capacity
development for PA staff and local communities to meet Green List standards. |
Supports training and
capacity-building initiatives to improve management practices. |
Lacks direct focus on
capacity building;
provides only indirect guidance through
assessments. |
Provides actionable
recommendations for service providers and facilitates
ongoing training to improve sustainability practices. |
Tourism Component |
Encourages eco-tourism as part of broader sustainable management practices but lacks direct
tourism-specific criteria. |
Considers tourism’s role in PA management strategies but does not prioritize it explicitly. |
Minimal focus on
tourism-related
activities beyond their management impacts. |
Fully integrates tourism with conservation, transforming tourism into a driver of
ecological and economic
sustainability. |
Certification |
Certifies PAs meeting IUCN Green List standards, providing global recognition and credibility. |
No certification
mechanism; focuses solely on management evaluation. |
No certification
mechanism included. |
Certifies service providers meeting sustainability
standards, creating incentives and increasing credibility. |
Data
Feedback Loop |
Offers global benchmarks for PA performance but provides limited site-specific feedback. |
Generates tailored reports to guide management
strategies and improve
effectiveness. |
Limited guidance on feedback and action
planning beyond the
assessment stage. |
Provides a detailed report on performance gaps and
actionable steps to enhance sustainability practices for all stakeholders. |
Focus on Changing Mindsets |
Promotes
conservation-focused
governance and leadership within PA management. |
Encourages participatory governance but does not explicitly emphasize
changing perceptions. |
Lacks emphasis on
shifting mentalities;
focuses on practical
management issues. |
Actively promotes the shift from CST (Conservation Supporting Tourism) to TSC (Tourism Supporting
Conservation). |
Willingness to Contribute to
Conservation |
Evaluates governance and outcomes indirectly linked to willingness to contribute to conservation. |
Engages stakeholders but lacks explicit tracking of their willingness to
contribute. |
Minimal consideration of stakeholder contributions beyond basic
management indicators. |
Tracks stakeholder
awareness, willingness to
contribute financially or through other means, and their engagement in
conservation. |
4. Discussion
The findings of this study reinforce the vital relationship between community engagement and environmental management, particularly within the context of sustainable tourism in protected areas such as the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR). Through participatory approaches and inclusive governance, SBR has successfully empowered local residents, transforming them into stewards of biodiversity and heritage preservation.
The observed outcomes, such as high community satisfaction, increased participation in conservation initiatives, and willingness to contribute resources, support the notion that community ownership is a fundamental driver of sustainability. This aligns with broader findings from other protected areas worldwide, where co-management and benefit-sharing enhance conservation outcomes (Abukari & Mwalyosi, 2020; Serenari et al., 2020).
The SBR model also showcases the strategic use of zoning and ecosystem services to balance ecological sensitivity with tourism development. This mirrors recommendations in global literature advocating for differentiated spatial planning to manage visitor pressure and ensure ecosystem resilience (Job et al., 2019; Dudley et al., 2020).
An important contribution of this study is the development of the Falcon Certification Tool, which institutionalizes sustainability benchmarks for service providers. Unlike traditional management evaluation tools such as METT or IMET, Falcon Certification goes a step further by linking assessment to local capacity building and conservation incentives.
This approach supports the transition from Conservation Supporting Tourism (CST) to Tourism Supporting Conservation (TSC), a paradigm that may be critical for long-term sustainability and conservation impact in Lebanon and beyond.
Furthermore, the integration of global and local tools reflects an adaptive governance model. By combining international frameworks like the IUCN Green List with regionally developed systems like Falcon, protected areas can contextualize best practices without losing the benefits of comparability and global standards.
This discussion also highlights that sustainable tourism cannot thrive in isolation from larger socio-economic contexts. Challenges such as Lebanon’s economic instability, infrastructure limitations, and regional policy gaps may affect the scalability of this model.
Future efforts should focus on institutionalizing such frameworks through national tourism strategies and conservation policies.
Limitations and Generalizability: While the results reflect strong support for SBR’s strategies, there is a possibility of response bias due to participants’ direct involvement with reserve activities. Additionally, contextual factors such as Lebanon’s socio-economic crisis, SBR’s established community relationships, and unique environmental features may limit generalizability to other protected areas without similar foundations. Future research should test the Falcon system in more varied settings.
Scalability Challenges of Falcon Certification: Expanding Falcon Certification to other reserves may face obstacles, including varying levels of digital infrastructure, limited funding for capacity building, and inconsistent policy support across regions. Cultural differences may also affect community willingness to engage. Addressing these requires adaptable frameworks, stakeholder training, and ongoing technical support.
In conclusion, the SBR experience illustrates that long-term conservation success requires not only ecological strategies but also social innovation, capacity building, and shared governance frameworks that empower and engage local communities.
5. Conclusion
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR) offers a compelling model for how sustainable tourism can be integrated with conservation and community development objectives. Through its zoning strategy, community training programs, biodiversity monitoring, and inclusive governance practices, SBR exemplifies an effective implementation of environmental management strategies that engage local stakeholders.
This study contributes to the growing literature that positions protected areas not only as conservation spaces but also as platforms for rural development and ecological awareness. By introducing and piloting the Falcon Certification Tool, the research presents a scalable and context-sensitive mechanism that operationalizes the concept of Tourism Supporting Conservation (TSC).
Unlike traditional models, the Falcon Certification explicitly links service providers’ sustainability performance with recognition and capacity-building. This approach has the potential to be replicated in other protected areas, provided that adequate institutional support, training, and funding mechanisms are in place.
Furthermore, the integration of global evaluation tools such as the IUCN Green List, IMET, and METT with local innovations like the Falcon Certification provides a comprehensive strategy for protected area governance.
Future research should assess the long-term behavioral changes among certified service providers and evaluate the ecological and economic outcomes across multiple seasons. Additionally, comparing similar certification systems in different regions can help refine indicators and establish international benchmarks.
Finally, policy makers and conservation leaders are encouraged to invest in capacity building, awareness programs, and infrastructure that promote TSC models. The case of SBR underscores that sustainable tourism, when guided by structured governance and community engagement, can become a powerful tool for conservation outcomes and resilient local economies.