Natural resource management strategies of nature-based tourism firms

This study examines how dependence on natural resources and ecosystem services shapes the strategic behaviour of nature-based tourism firms operating in changing environments alongside competing land uses. The study draws on resource-based theory, the natural resource–based view, and the natural resource dependence perspective. It uses semi-structured interviews with 25 micro and small firms in two UNESCO biosphere reserves in Finland to identify a classification of socio-ecological uncertainties differentiated by geographic scale and firm controllability and six strategic approaches organised into three clusters: securing the resource base, operating within ecological limits, and acting under uncontrollable uncertainty. Place-embedded capabilities enable firms to implement these strategic responses and maintain business continuity. These capabilities may also contribute to competitive advantage by sustaining resource-dependent tourism offerings. The study refines these theories by specifying place-embedded capabilities as a firm-level mechanism for engaging with shared natural resources, and provides a framework for navigating socio-ecological uncertainty.