Local community members play a critical role in the success of conservation projects, which in turn have the potential to influence the perceptions of local people. Relationships matter when it comes to sustainable long-term conservation and community well-being. The study aims to establish the relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation organizations in the context of Phinda Private Game Reserve and the Mnqobokazi community, located in South Africa. Data was collected using the qualitative methods of interviews and focus group discussions. The findings show that a symbiotic relationship between conservation organizations and local community members is critical in conserving the environment. The research indicates that both participation and benefits result in improved perceptions towards the protected area and a strong positive relationship. The accrual of benefits also appears to result in pro-environmental consciousness amongst community members. Several existing studies examine participation or benefit-sharing in community-based tourism in developing nations. However, less is known about the relationships between local communities and conservation organizations and the effect of participation and beneficiation on these relationships. This research narrows this gap in the body of knowledge by qualitatively examining a single case study. The findings add value to global collaborative efforts aimed at achieving positive relationships between communities and conservation management.
This paper aims to shed light on community-based disaster mitigation and the challenges encountered by using the Pangandaran coast as a case study, one of Indonesia’s disaster-prone areas. Observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies were used to collect data. The findings of this study indicate that community-based disaster mitigation is well realized, as evidenced by community early preparedness forums collaborating with the government to provide socialization and education to the community. However, disaster preparedness still faces challenges, including; since some of the mitigation objects are tourists, mitigation efforts need to be carried out sustainably while not following the budget they have; mitigation support devices and facilities such as damaged or missing signs for evacuation routes, temporary shelters, assembly point locations, and Early Warning System (EWS) devices whose number is still not optimal; lack of participation of hotels or restaurants in disaster mitigation, especially in engaging in preventive actions to minimize disaster risk. This situation is a challenge in itself for disaster mitigation management, moreover, Pangandaran Village must maintain its status as a “Tsunami Ready” village.
This research aims to examine the intricate connection between the preservation of intangible cultural assets and the promotion of city brands, using Jingdezhen, known as the “Porcelain Capital” of China, as a case study. Through an exploratory investigation, the study highlighted two distinct yet significant issues: the recognition of Jingdezhen’s intangible cultural assets, encompassing folklore, rituals, traditional ceramic skills, and artwork, and the economic effects resulting from cultural tourism. The research delineates the obstacles encountered by Jingdezhen in relation to urbanization, industrialization, and globalization subsequent to its establishment as the principal production hub for Chinese blue and white porcelain. Additionally, it highlights the decline of traditional ceramic skills and expertise, as community members who relied on handicrafts for their livelihoods were affected by the closure of companies. Subsequently, it elucidates the potential prospects arising from cultural tourism and the consequential economic influence of this progress on the local economy and the community’s quality of life. The report delineates community engagement initiatives and collaborative partnerships with local enterprises, colleges, government agencies, and Jingdezhen communities to use the city’s abundant cultural legacy. This research provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of the most effective methods, as identified by international studies, for incorporating the safeguarding of intangible cultural assets into sustainable urban development. Concisely, the paper offers guidance to stakeholders, the local administration, and its legislators. The statement emphasizes the necessity of implementing a comprehensive policy framework in Jingdezhen to safeguard its intangible cultural heritage and promote urban development. The objective is to achieve sustainable growth by leveraging the city’s cultural assets. The results serve as a benchmark for other cities and towns to use their cultural legacy in order to establish a sustainable city brand. Additionally, they make a valuable addition to the worldwide discourse on striking a balance between cultural preservation and economic development.
The existing studies on the association between the built environment and health mainly concentrates on urban areas, while rural communities in China have a huge demand for a healthy built environment, and research in this area remains insufficient. There is a lack of research on the health impact of the built environment in rural communities in China, where there is a significant demand for advancements in the healthy built environment. Exploring the Influence of built environment satisfaction on self-rated health outcomes in New-type village communities has positive significance for advancing research on healthy village community. This paper selects four new-type village communities as typical cases, which are located in the far suburbs of Shanghai, China. A questionnaire survey was conducted on individual villagers, and 223 valid questionnaire samples were obtained. A PLS-SEM model was developed using survey data to examine how built environment satisfaction influences dwellers’ self-rated health while taking into account the mediating function of the perceived social environment. Moreover, multi-group analysis was performed based on age. The results show that built environment satisfaction indirectly influences residents self-rated health through its impact on perceived social environment. The research also discovered that the relationship between built environment satisfaction, social environment satisfaction and self-rated health is not influenced by age as a moderating factor. The research offers new insights for the planning and design of new-type village community from a health perspective.
This research examines the influence of virtual community platform attributes on luxury consumers’ purchase intentions, with a specific focus on the role of policy innovation in digital infrastructure. The study aims to 1) identify key factors affecting purchase intentions toward luxury products in virtual environments; 2) develop and validate a structural equation model to analyze these intentions; and 3) provide actionable insights for luxury goods marketers to refine their strategies within these platforms. Utilizing a structural equation model, the study investigates the interactions among various determinants of consumer behavior in virtual communities, highlighting the impact of policy innovation. Data was collected through purposive sampling from 1142 respondents in China’s top 10 high-spending cities on luxury goods, ensuring data relevance. The findings emphasize the significance of knowledge sharing, interactive communication, and leaders’ opinions in virtual communities in building consumer trust and shaping perceptions of online reviews. These elements influence purchase intentions directly and indirectly, with consumer trust serving as a crucial mediator. The study reveals the substantial impact of virtual community attributes on fostering consumer trust and shaping buying decisions for luxury items, underlining the contribution of social development processes. Moreover, the role of policy innovation is found to be significant in enhancing these virtual community dynamics, suggesting that regulatory changes can positively influence consumer engagement and trust. The conclusions offer valuable implications for marketers, proposing strategies to boost consumer engagement and drive sales in virtual settings. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of digital consumer behavior and provides practical strategies for innovation and growth within the luxury goods sector, emphasizing the critical role of policy innovation in shaping these dynamics.
Purpose: To reveal the impact mechanism of rural museum intervention on the construction of local identity of rural community residents, and provide practical reference for the protection and utilization of rural cultural identity. Methods: This study takes the Weijiapo Rural Museum in Luoyang, China as the research object, uses participatory observation and in-depth interview methods, and explains the specific characteristics of rural community resident identity construction through identity process theory (IPT). Results: (1) The impact of the intervention of rural museums on rural areas is reflected in four aspects: local spatial reconstruction, transformation of livelihood methods, reconstruction of social relationships, and evolution of cultural customs; (2) under the influence of rural museum construction, the representation of community residents’ identity has shown complex characteristics, with both positive and negative impacts coexisting; (3) the local identity of community residents affects their perception and attitude towards the construction of rural museums.
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