During a time of intensifying competition for land, Protected Areas (PAs) are coming under increasing pressure to justify their status. Positive local attitudes to a PA are a potentially important component of any such justification, especially in the developing world where human pressure on natural resources is often high. However, despite numerous studies our understanding of what drives positive attitudes to PAs is still exceedingly limited. Here, we review the literature on local attitudes towards PAs in developing countries. Our survey reveals a highly fragmented research area where studies typically lack an explicit conceptual basis, and where there is wide variation in choice of statistical approach, explanatory and response variables, and incorporation of contextual information. Nevertheless, there is a relatively high degree of concordance between studies, with certain variables showing strong associations with attitudes. We recommend that PA attitude researchers in developing countries adopt a more rigorous model building approach based on a clear conceptual framework and drawing on the extensive empirical literature. Such an approach would improve the quality of research, increase comparability, and provide a stronger basis to support conservation decision-making.

Addressing cumulative effects (CE) has been widely recognized as a key purpose of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). In EU member states, the assessment of CE in SEA is prescribed by the SEA Directive. This paper investigates whether and how CE are currently treated in SEA of Italian and English spatial plans. This is based on the results of (1) a questionnaire survey and (2) a systematic review of SEA reports of local and regional Italian and English spatial plans. It is found that, opposite to what even some experts think, while CE remain unsatisfactorily addressed, there is ample space for improving current practice. In this context, better scoping, future-oriented approaches to SEA and more effective tiering are identified as key elements that can enable more effective CE assessment.