Spatial Modeling of Landscape Values: Discovering the Boundaries of Conflicts and Identifying Mutual Benefits as a Basis for Land Management

Conflicting interests amongst different stakeholder groups regarding land use challenge the protection of natural values in socio-ecological systems (SES). In this paper we show, based on a case study of Israel’s Makhteshim Country National Park, how mapping the different interests and analyzing the data with a GIS system allows us to locate significant conflict points between groups. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 individuals from three major stakeholder groups in the region: semi-nomadic Bedouins, nature reserve rangers, and tourist operators. The qualitative findings were then mapped by a GIS platform. The mapping indicated that the stakeholder groups’ land-use is distributed in a manner that makes conflict unavoidable, but relatively limited to only certain specific areas. Moreover, in some areas, the three groups share similar or complementary values, reaping mutual benefits from shared use. We conclude that GIS mapping can serve as a powerful tool for conflict management in complex SES.

不同利益相关群体在土地利用议题上的利益冲突，给社会生态系统（Socio-ecological Systems, SES）的自然价值保护带来了严峻挑战。本文以以色列马克泰希姆乡村国家公园（Makhteshim Country National Park）为案例研究对象，通过绘制不同利益诉求图谱并结合地理信息系统（Geographic Information System, GIS）开展数据分析，展示了如何精准定位群体间的显著冲突节点。研究对该区域三类主要利益相关群体的60名受访者实施了半结构化访谈：半游牧贝都因人、自然保护区护林员与旅游经营者。随后借助GIS平台对质性研究结果进行空间制图。制图结果表明，各利益相关群体的土地利用布局使得冲突难以避免，但冲突范围相对局限于部分特定区域。此外，在部分区域内，三类群体拥有相似或互补的价值诉求，可通过共享利用实现互惠共赢。本研究最终得出结论：GIS制图可作为复杂社会生态系统中冲突管理的强有力工具。