Belasitsa Nature Park, Bulgaria: A New Perspective on the Nature–Culture Relationship and Rethinking Cultural Heritage in Podgorie Region
Belasitsa Nature Park, Bulgaria: A New Perspective on the Nature–Culture Relationship and Rethinking Cultural Heritage in Podgorie Region

Summary/Abstract: The study examines the nature–culture interrelationship by focusing on the process of ecotourism development in the Podgorie region in the context of the establishment of Belasitsa Nature Park, Bulgaria. It will try to find the answers to the following questions: what effect does the park have on the local people’s perception of their surroundings, who are the social actors in the process of ecotourism development, and what are the main resources and strategies? In accordance with the protected landscape approach, linking the conservation of nature and culture, and being aware of the fact that few of the local residents recognize the idea of protecting nature and biodiversity, the initiators of the creation of the park set a specific direction for perceiving the surrounding environment—through the prism of economic benefits and cultural heritage—and one specific strategy, the development of ecotourism. As a result, the local residents acquire a new perspective on the relationship between their surroundings and their cultural and historical heritage.

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