What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to develop and apply a framework for assessing compatibility in spatial planning within protected areas.

April 8, 2026Open Access

Spatial Planning in Protected Areas: Conceptualization and a Multi-Criteria Compatibility Assessment Model Applied to Kozara National Park

Key Points

The aim is to develop and apply a framework for assessing compatibility in spatial planning within protected areas.
Developed a compatibility-based analytical framework incorporating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA).
Conducted institutional analysis of planning instruments and zoning-aligned analytical units.
Incorporated weighted multi-criteria model focusing on ecological, cultural, and socio-economic factors.
Composite compatibility scores ranged from 2.55 to 3.85 across different areas.
Rank correlation analysis indicated high structural consistency with Spearman's ρ of approximately 0.90.
Demonstrated that low-intensity recreational configurations are the most compatible, while infrastructure zones require better management.

Abstract

Cultural and natural heritage are increasingly framed as components of territorial governance rather than isolated conservation elements; yet, a structural gap persists between their strategic recognition in planning documents and their measurable integration into statutory land-use systems that guide spatial decision-making. This gap is particularly pronounced in protected areas, where ecological integrity, cultural and symbolic values, tourism functions, and socio-economic expectations converge within environmentally sensitive landscapes. This study develops and empirically applies a compatibility-based analytical framework that embeds Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) within the statutory spatial planning system of Kozara National Park. The framework combines (i) institutional analysis of legally binding planning instruments, (ii) zoning-aligned analytical units derived from the Special-Purpose Spatial Plan and Management Plan, and (iii) a weighted multi-criteria model incorporating ecological integrity, cultural–historical significance, tourism and recreation capacity under controlled use, and socio-economic feasibility. Climate-related disturbance exposure is incorporated as a planning-relevant modifier of ecological compatibility. Composite compatibility scores under the baseline configuration range from 2.55 to 3.85 across analytical units. Rank correlation analysis suggests a high degree of structural consistency across both alternative weighting configurations relative to the baseline scenario (Spearman’s ρ ≈ 0.90), with only limited rank reordering observed, primarily between the two highest-ranked analytical units. Dispersed low-intensity recreational configurations demonstrate the highest structural robustness, whereas infrastructure-intensive zones exhibit management-dependent compatibility. The findings show how spatial planning in protected areas can operationalize compatibility as a measurable decision-support principle without substituting statutory zoning logic.

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