Mapping wildness for protected area management: A methodological approach and application to the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site (Italy)

Results of our application showed a good degree of concordance with wildness maps obtained through Multi Criteria Evaluation (MCE) and emphasized how the class-based output may directly inform zoning activities and the identification of recreational opportunities. While lack of user's control is an obstacle to incorporating the views of multiple groups, as it is allowed by MCE-based methods, the proposed approach supports the idea that land characteristics should define the context of wilderness and drive management decisions. Further applications to a wide set of different contexts can help validate this approach.