Social vulnerability: A driving force in amplifying the overall vulnerability of protected areas to natural hazards

Incorporating social vulnerability (SoV) into vulnerability assessments for protected areas provides critical insights for enhancing the resilience and adaptability of these regions to environmental hazards. This study aimed to develop and apply an integrated social-ecological vulnerability assessment framework for a forest-protected area, focusing on scales relevant to management decisions. We collected data from 70 villages within the protected area through structured surveys, interviews, and reviews of secondary socio-economic and environmental datasets. A total of 24 socio-economic and environmental indicators were selected, based on expert consultation and literature review, to quantify the indices of exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and SoV. These indicators were weighted using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to ensure objective and expert-driven prioritization. Subsequently, the SoV index, derived from socio-economic metrics, was incorporated as a key variable in the exposure assessment. This integration involved 18 additional ecological indicators measured across a spatial grid, enabling a fine-scale analysis of the protected area's exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and overall vulnerability. Integrating social and ecological dimensions allowed for a spatially explicit evaluation of vulnerability at the grid-cell level, providing granular insights for localized management interventions. The results revealed that SoV significantly influenced the levels of exposure and overall vulnerability across the study area. High SoV values corresponded to areas with elevated overall vulnerability, emphasizing the interplay between social conditions and ecological risks. To enhance resilience in the medium and long term, the study recommends shifting investments toward active community engagement in conservation planning, increasing environmental awareness through education programs, and improving the socio-economic well-being of local communities to mitigate social vulnerability. This approach highlights the importance of integrating social dimensions into ecological assessments to inform more equitable and effective management strategies.