PEOPLE, PARKS And MOnEY Stakeholder involvement and regional development: a manual for protected areas Michael Getzner Michael Jungmeier Sigrun Lange www.verlagheyn.at PeoPle, Parks and Money stakeholder involveMent and regional develoPMent: a Manual for Protected areas Michael getzner, Michael Jungmeier, sigrun lange 1 2 PeoPle, Parks and Money stakeholder involvement and regional development: a manual for protected areas Michael getzner, Michael Jungmeier, sigrun lange With contributions by roger crofts, Barbara Müller and thomas topp research assistance: anna unterköfler daniel Zollner a NATREG training manual for partners this publication is financed by the NATREG project. the NATREG project is financed by the south east europe transnational cooperation Programme Published with support of the research council of the alps-adriatic-university of klagenfurt (forschungsrat der alpen-adria-universität klagenfurt) series: Proceedings in the Management of Protected areas, vol. 2 series editors: Michael getzner, Michael Jungmeier this publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the south east europe Programme Managing authority cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein 3 Title page: © Blaha 2010 © by verlag Johannes heyn klagenfurt, 2010 druck: druckerei theiss gmbh, a-9431 st. stefan isBn 978-3-7084-0413-4 4 To our kids 5 5 6 FOREWORD Currently, there are a number of books on the market dealing with protected ar- eas management from different perspectives. However, there is no book available that emphasises regional development and stakeholder involvement along the “life-cycle” of protected areas and that additionally has a focus on the European perspective of managing protected areas. The current book tries to fill this gap by drawing on a broad base of research and consulting experience by the authors and their networks, especially the ones connected to the Klagenfurt University’s study programme “Management of Pro- tected Areas”, and to preceding research projects such as IPAM (Integrated Pro- tected Areas Management) and PANet (Protected Areas Networks). Furthermore, E.C.O. Institute of Ecology’s experience with planning and managing protected areas provided the link to practical decision-making and the bridge to practitioners and people working “in the field”. The study programme also draws on the broad experience of international lecturers. Before this background, the authors explore the significance of stakeholder in- volvement and regional development in the manifold tasks and fields of activity in PA management, and illustrate, summarise and condense the main issues, instru- ments and tools dealing with regional development and stakeholder involvement. The main authors of the current volume are Michael Getzner, Michael Jung- meier and Sigrun Lange. While the authors acknowledge the responsibility for all mistakes in the book, they are thankful for support by the lecturers of the above- mentioned study programme, by the staff at E.C.O. Institute of Ecology (Klagen- furt), and by many colleagues working in other organisations as well as in pro- tected areas. In addition, Sigrun Lange was not only co-author of the current volume but also designed most of the graphs and figures (see credits in the appendix). Roger Crofts wrote a sub-chapter on administration and organisation, and Barbara Müller drafted chapters on financing and business planning, and co-operation design. Thomas Topp co-authored the chapters on management effectiveness, idea and vision, mission statement and governance, and contributed to some of the sub- chapters. Furthermore, Anna Unterköfler and Daniel Zollner provided research assistance on some of the sub-chapters. 7 7 FOREWORD The current volume is an outcome of an international EU-funded project within the framework of SEE (South-East Europe). The project’s name is NATREG (“Managing natural assets and protected areas as sustainable regional development opportunities”; project code SEE/A/479/2.3/X) and is carried out with partners from Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, and Austria. Within the project, the current book functions as a training manual for project partners in the respective protected areas. According to the aims and objectives of the project and the EU’s funding programmes, the book also serves as a means to distribute the project’s findings to the largest possible audience. We thank the European and national authorities who made the current research possible, and are grateful for the financial support that facilitated the current publication. We would also like to thank all our partners in different countries for their in- puts. Thanks are also due to the managers of the NATREG project, Daniel Zollner (E.C.O. Institute of Ecology), Gregor Danev, Eva Stare, and Elisabeth Frei (Re- search Management Department, Klagenfurt University). The printing of the current volume was also supported by Klagenfurt Univer- sity’s Research Council (Forschungsrat). We hope that the current volume serves as a good basis for discussing the pressing issues in protected areas, and that the readers will be encouraged to dig further into the fields of protected areas management. The book is particularly dedicated to the protected area managers in South-Eastern Europe, to all stake- holders in the regions, and to our students and graduates of our international post- graduate M.Sc. programme on “Management of Protected Areas” at Klagenfurt University. M. Getzner Project head, September 2010 88 FOREWORD FOREWORD While ruminating about this foreword and trying to find words to paint a pic- ture of the project NATREG, three words occupied my mind: development, par- ticipation, benefits. The NATREG project is dealing with the challenge how to manage and under- stand natural assets and protected areas as sustainable development opportunities. Details on the project partnership, the aims, actions and results, can be found in the appendix of the current volume. However, what does the central NATREG phrase, “Develop with nature”, actually mean? Nature protection is widely considered an obstacle rather than an opportunity as natural assets are not sufficiently recognised as advantage and possibility for development. The big question is why this is the case! Answers can be found in analysing many decision making processes in protected areas with significant lack of stakeholder participation. Many best practice examples show that nature pro- tection can be a good prerequisite for local and regional economic development such as in the Bavarian Forest national park. With effective and efficient man- agement, sustainable development – economic, ecological and social – can be promoted for the advantage of the region and the whole economy. The NATREG project is using the experience gained by its partners to summa- rise meanings of all three words in order to show that development with nature together with a high level of stakeholder participation leads to sustainable devel- opment opportunities and benefits for all cooperating parties. G. Danev NATREG project manager, September 2010 99 10 CONTENTS FOREWORD............................................................................................................... 7 CONTENTS.............................................................................................................. 11 1 INTRODUCTION, INTENTION AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK ............................ 13 1.1 Introduction: protected areas, regional development and stakeholder involvement.......................................................................... 13 1.2 Intention and problem setting.................................................................. 14 1.3 Structure of the current volume............................................................... 14 2 PEOPLE, PARKS AND MONEY............................................................................ 17 2.1 Protected Areas: definition, categories and institutions........................... 17 2.2 Economic development in protected areas .............................................. 25 2.3 The “life cycle” of a protected area......................................................... 31 2.4 Communication and participation in the life cycle of a protected area .......................................................................................................... 42 2.5 Governance and decision-making ........................................................... 56 3 FIELDS OF ACTIVITY IN PA MANAGEMENT: STAKEHOLDERS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT................................................................................ 61 3.1 First steps in establishing a Protected Area ............................................. 61 3.1.1 Development of idea and vision................................................... 61 3.1.2 Feasibility check .......................................................................... 68 3.1.3 Incorporation into Protected Area systems .................................. 75 3.2 Basic planning......................................................................................... 81 3.2.1 The use of planning handbooks.................................................... 81 3.2.2 Basic investigation ....................................................................... 85 3.2.3 Implementation planning ............................................................. 89 3.2.4 Designation and establishment..................................................... 93 3.3 Detailed