Local perceptions of spatial management indicate challenges and opportunities for effective zoning of sustainable-use protected areas in Brazil

Protected areas (PAs) are widely applied conservation instruments. Often, they are also expected to help secure livelihoods of poor subsistence, small-scale producers, making the management of PAs often dependent on community support. The usefulness of analyzing the perceptions of PAs among local users to improve the effectiveness of PA management is increasingly recognized; however, there are few studies on spatial perceptions, for example, how users perceive the PA’s geographical boundaries or its zoning, and how these can be used in PA zoning. Here, we analyze how local stakeholders perceive two sustainable-use PAs on the Amazon coast, the changes they have brought about, and their current management. We identify and link the mental models of different user groups to formal conceptualizations of the PAs in legal instruments and identify mismatches related to what the PA means to local stakeholders and where it is located, which need to be considered when building a zoning plan. Because of the frequent research in our study area, we also discuss possible research fatigue in this region. We highlight the challenges and opportunities related to promoting spatial literacy and awareness-raising regarding PAs. We recommend adapting legal instruments to include diverse territorial representations and alternative management tools.