A FUCOM-MABAC-based integrated approach for performance evaluation of the Indian National Parks

Abstract

National parks (NPs) play an indispensible role in development and promotion of nature-based tourism destinations through effective management of resources and socio–economic growth. It has become mandatory to deploy a potent management effectiveness evaluation tool to assess how the NPs are being managed with respect to their protection and fulfilment of the basic objectives. In this paper, an integrated application of full consistency method (FUCOM) and multi-attributive border approximation area comparison (MABAC) technique is proposed for appraising the relative performance of 39 Indian NPs and their subsequent ranking based on nine evaluation criteria. The weight of those criteria are estimated using FUCOM while taking into account the varied judgements of four decision makers. The MABAC method is subsequently adopted for ranking of the shortlisted NPs in India. It also identifies the relative strengths and weaknesses of each of the NPs with respect to the considered evaluation criteria. This integrated approach singles out Namdapha NP and Manas NP as the two best NPs in India, whereas, Nanda Devi NP and Pin Valley NP are the laggards having several unfavourable criteria. These two best performing NPs can act as the benchmarks to the underperforming NPs so as to make them better habitats for the diversified species, and more attractive destinations for the domestic and foreign visitors. The outcome of this analysis would propose an adaptive approach to the concerned authorities in effectively allocating scarce resources, promoting accountability and transparency, encouraging participative roles of the community, and promoting values of the Indian NPs, thereby achieving biological diversity and sustainability goals.