Sustainable entrepreneurship in protected areas: drivers, challenges, strategies and opportunities

This dissertation examines how sustainable entrepreneurship is carried out within protected areas. Although there has been a steady increase of protected areas globally, the assumption that this trend will continue has come under threat in recent years. This is due to the fact that protected areas are a rich source of nature and culture heritage resources. Economic and social activities ranging from fishing, farming, mining and tourism take place in or near protected areas. However, these activities are often in conflict with conservation and protection of the nearby nature and culture heritage resources. There is a need to balance the ecological and social quality of protected areas, as well as promote the sustainable development of the communities in these areas. Each protected area has unique ecological, social and economic characteristics. This PhD study investigates the environment that promotes sustainable entrepreneurship within the context of a transnational protected area in the North Sea region. It’s objective is to provide a contextualized account of strategies implemented by sustainable entrepreneurs in this context, challenges faced by the sustainable entrepreneurs, and the opportunities available for sustainable entrepreneurship in protected areas.