The establishment of protected areas has become one of the most important instruments in international nature protection policy. Integrative protection concepts such as the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Concept are not only meant to protect nature, but also to contribute to the local population's livelihood. But does the local population actually perceive the establishment of a protected area as a benefit? Since biosphere reserves are planned and established in various cultural contexts, the question arises how the perceptions of local populations regarding biosphere reserves differ among various cultures. In order to find answers to this question, a cross-cultural study was carried out, examining the perceptions of people living in the surroundings of biosphere reserves in Switzerland and Ukraine. [...]