Abstract In this study, we tested a novel approach for indirectly detecting participation of the local population in illegal harvesting of Protected Areas (PAs) natural resources and its spatial distribution. The research was conducted in the Niassa National Reserve (NNR), the third-largest PA in Africa, and included a face-to-face survey to 339 households. The householders were asked about the importance of several threats to biodiversity conservation, including any illegal harvesting in which they may be involved. Non-recognition of these illegal activities as relevant threats to biodiversity is interpreted as likely indication household involvement in these activities. We also gathered evidence to support our inferences of participation in illegal resource harvesting, based on the respondents' perceptions of costs and benefits of living within the Protected Area (PA) and their opinions about conservation measures under implementation. The results showed that households that are more likely involved in illegal activities are poor, less educated, and mostly located near to the PA borders, where they bear higher costs while receiving fewer benefits than others of living in the interior of the NNR. Village respondents were more likely to admit participating in activities that they need to conduct to cope with their daily needs, activities not generally considered as a serious infraction by park authorities.

中文翻译：

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参与非法采伐自然资源以及生活在保护区内的感知成本和收益

摘要 在这项研究中，我们测试了一种间接检测当地人口参与非法采伐保护区 (PA) 自然资源及其空间分布的新方法。该研究在非洲第三大保护区尼亚萨国家保护区 (NNR) 进行，包括对 339 户家庭的面对面调查。住户被问及对生物多样性保护的若干威胁的重要性，包括他们可能参与的任何非法采伐。不承认这些非法活动是对生物多样性的相关威胁，被解释为可能表明家庭参与了这些活动。我们还收集了证据来支持我们根据受访者参与非法资源采集的推论 对生活在保护区 (PA) 内的成本和收益的看法以及他们对正在实施的保护措施的看法。结果表明，更有可能参与非法活动的家庭贫困、受教育程度较低，并且大多位于巴勒斯坦权力机构边界附近，与居住在北部地区内部的其他家庭相比，他们在那里承担更高的成本，而获得的收益却更少。乡村受访者更有可能承认参加了他们为满足日常需求而需要进行的活动，公园当局通常不认为这些活动是严重违规行为。并且大多位于巴勒斯坦权力机构边界附近，与居住在 NNR 内部的其他人相比，在那里他们承担更高的成本，而获得的收益却更少。乡村受访者更有可能承认参加了他们为满足日常需求而需要进行的活动，公园当局通常不认为这些活动是严重违规行为。并且大多位于巴勒斯坦权力机构边界附近，与居住在 NNR 内部的其他人相比，在那里他们承担更高的成本，而获得的收益却更少。乡村受访者更有可能承认参加了他们为满足日常需求而需要进行的活动，公园当局通常不认为这些活动是严重违规行为。