Dear Colleagues,

To meet the requirements of the current nature protection system, authorities of many countries have to reconstruct the system and methodology of managing natural resources. This pertains to both: changes in the attitude to natural resource management from a strictly traditional one (considering the biophysical perspective to be the most important perspective in the resource management decision-making process) to a more modern one (characterized by a social sciences approach to natural resource issues, and creating a system allowing for their practical application). It seems impossible to create such a system without the collaboration of human dimension (HD) approach. A rising number of conflicts emerging as a result of implementing various forms of environmental protection programs requires a better understanding of the social consequences of decisions concerning natural resources, and methods’ improvement of employing HD information in the decision-making process.

All studies on human dimension approach worldwide are warmly welcomed in the following Special Issue of Diversity. We are particularly interested in case studies showing how the incorporation of HD approach has affected the natural resources management both in the global scale and in individual countries.

Malgorzata Grodzinska-Jurczak, Ph. D.
Guest Editor

• human dimension
• natural resource management
• protection of natural resources’ conflicts
• human-wildlife conflicts
• conflict management
• public communication
• public consultation
• participatory approach