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Ever since the adoption of the Forest Principles and Chapter 11 of Agenda 21, the sustainable use of forest ressources has been a key issue. Since then, constantly increasing public demand on forests requires contemporary management solutions. Especially in protected areas, which are suffering under increasing human pressure, forest managers are facing the great challenge of finding the right balance between social, environmental and economic benefits, without harming the fragile and ecologically sensitive environment. This study evaluates the multiple forest use in an IUCN Category V protected area with special attention to non-timber forest products and forest- based services and activities (recreation, hunting and game management, forest conservation, forest ecosystem services e.g). The study provides a detailed description of the main user activities and the current geographic, institutional, legislative and socioeconomic framework conditions. It also gives an overview on the srengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that the protected area mangement is faced with.

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Ivelina Frantsova, Landscape Ecology Studies at WWU Muenster, Germany; Stiftung Artenschutz (Species Conservation Foundation), Münster.

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