Conflicts and Opportunities for Regional Development arising from the Designation of Protected Areas - the example UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau

peer reviewedThe concept of ‘Biosphere Reserve’ is a tool that must be located between conservation and economic development, as it promotes a sustainable regional endogenous development and takes the holistic economical, socio-cultural, political, environmental and democratic rights into account. The following identification of conflicts in the biosphere reserve Bliesgau is very important for the further development of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau in Saarland, Germany as well as for establishing and developing other new biosphere reserves. Within the framework of the research, expert interviews were conducted with twelve representatives of different institutions in Saarland in the period from 26 November 2009 to 15 December 2009. Due to the targeted diversity of the experts, governmental as well as non-governmental institutions were involved. Furthermore, organizations were contacted whose opinions concerning the Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau differ in public