ABSTRACT
Area protection policy is currently experiencing a remarkable growth in significance in almost all European countries. The case studies of large protected areas presented here were selected with the specific aim of enabling a comparative, cross-section examination of different types of protected area at a European level. Although the individual case studies in themselves provide interesting insights into planning and development practice for protected areas, a generalising synthesis is only possible with the comparative approach. These aim in particular to make specific statements on the scope and quality of the integration of area protection and regional development. Concepts oriented towards regional development support and encourage the socioeconomic and cultural development of regions in the context of the respective large protected areas. Hence in accordance with the overall generalized aims of the protected areas studied here, three areas of activity can be identified: firstly, protection activities, secondly development activities and thirdly research and educational activities.
