Awareness Research concerning the Existence and Implications of the Avrig – Scorei – Fagaras protected Area

Abstract

This article is based upon a survey conducted in the protected area of Avrig - Scorei - Fagaras from Romania. The main purpose of the article is to determine the awareness, attitudes, and ways in which the inhabitants of a protected area may act toward the conservation of the area and support community development. The research was based on a direct interview, using a questionnaire comprising 20 direct questions. The sampling method was probabilistic, with multistage sampling, as it allows the possibility to extrapolate the results obtained for the entire research population. The systematic error is +/-4%. The results showed a reduced awareness of the residents about the existence, functioning, and support of this protected area, as well as a positive approach of the local public institutions involved in the management of the area. The local institutions have started to enforce the rules and regulations concerning the protection of the environment in this area, still, a long way to run, according to the opinions of the locals, until reaching the EU standards in this field.