Decommodification of nature-based tourism: theory and practices. Private protected areas and tourism in Serra de Tramuntana from the perspective of convivial conservation

[eng] The present thesis is motivated by the contradiction between promotion of nature-based tourisms and conservation, which experiences an increase of private actors. I investigate private protected areas (PPA) in Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca, Spain), where perceptions of overtourism arise from this contradiction. The aim is to theorise and seek alternatives that contribute to socioecological just transformation. Firstly, from the perspective of fair degrowth, which proposes de-touristification and decommodification to address contradictions of tourism. Secondly, from the perspective of convivial conservation, which proposes a radical alternative to market-based conservation strategies, such as nature-based tourisms. Convivial conservation proposes to overcome capitalist mechanisms by strengthening engaged, long-lasting, and democratic relations of care and respect based on nature as commons. In the current context of polycrisis, these perspectives are necessary for a socioecological just transformation of tourism and conservation, to resolve social, ecological, and economic contradictions, bringing humanity and nature closer together. This objective is pursued by analysing five PPA in Serra de Tramuntana, declared Natural Site by the Balearic Government and Cultural World Heritage by UNESCO. This case is of interest as it is located in a highly touristified society where nature-based tourisms are promoted to address contradictions of touristification, but exacerbates them, as evidenced by perceptions of tourist massification. PPA in this case have been increasing since 2007. Current research engages with PPA to combine tourism and conservation and criticise them to privatise and enclose land and displace former users and uses. The present investigation is based on review of academic literature and policy documents. It follows a qualitative research design with in-depth interviews with experts, as well as informal conversations with tourists and other users, in addition to participant observation attending activities carried out on PPA, as well as events related to the Serra de Tramuntana and (eco)tourism. Results demonstrate a lack of critical research about the link between tourism and private conservation, particularly in global north. In this context, investigations on landowners’ perspective and how to motivate them for conservation on their land predominates. Regarding global south, the focus lies on local communities, emblematic species, and tourism enterprises. Recognising the gap of critical perspectives, a case situated in the global north is analysed from the standpoint of degrowth and convivial conservation and the implications of decommodification. The research questions are, first, how nature is commodified and privatised, and second, what decommodification and the commons imply. Accordingly, commodification of Serra de Tramuntana and PPA’s role in this process is examined. Results show that in this global north context, tourist commodification is not the main objective of PPA, contrary to what literature suggests. Rather, privatisation and conservation prevail over commodification by adding exclusiveness. Commodification through nature-based tourisms requires decontextualisation. Privatisation appears threefold, as fixation of accumulated capital, intimate nature contemplation, and tourism operations. Second, five PPA are analysed comparatively and one in-depth exploring practices of convivial conservation to theoretically conceptualise decommodification. Decommodification requires collective decision-making and practices of commoning where responsibility, care, and benefits are shared, and use and access are negotiated within a community. This results raise questions regarding who constitutes the community? What is the role of landowners and tourists? How do class relations influence? What is the relation between conservation labour, profits, and nature enjoyment? In definitive, the thesis questions capitalist mechanisms attempting to address the current socioenvironmental crisis, while also suggests rethinking tourism and conservation as a practice of connection and respect in terms of care and responsibility for the everyday and mundane environment close to where one live.