»Search for development opportunities on the basis of natural assets and sustainable use of natural resources are identified as main challenges of new age and by the NATREG project planers, performers and interested parties as obstacles to be dealt with. Tackling these challenges they were not satisfied with pure noncritical transfer of development ambitions from other spheres but started their own search of development on particular pilot areas, unique for their own natural assets and sustainable development. During this unique search, many networks of crucial development leaders, from the Po river to Vojvodina, have been established and upgraded by joint strategy for integrated management planning of protected areas. The project has cut the existing dogma that nature conservation unconditionally means development stagnation and puts people living in protected areas in an inferior position. Project results clearly declare that activating internal development potentials of each area is possible and feasible and that the value of ecosystem services overweights short- term unsustainable use. For this, certain intellectual effort and willingness to search for joint solution are needed. However, these efforts are the ones which today in modern society are most needed. At the end, I would like to thank the whole crew for excellent project implementation with a wish for the results to be fully implemented in everyday practice.«

Darij Krajčič, PhD. Director of Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation Dear readers!

The booklet you are holding in your hands natural resources and protected areas as a Delta Parks of Veneto and Emilia Romagna is the final publication of the project called driving force for sustainable development regions in Italy, the Special Nature Reserve NATREG Managing Natural Assets and and to disseminate understanding of Deliblato Sands in Serbia and the Slovenian Protected Areas as Sustainable Regional preserved nature and environment as a NATURA 2000 site Pohorje boldly Development Opportunities. Starting in value. addressed the challenge of linking nature March 2009 and ending in July 2011 it ‘Under the watchful eye’ of the lead partner conservation with the development of a produced many great results which we Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for particular area, introducing participatory are proud to present in this brochure. Nature Conservation, project partners in approach with stakeholder engagement NATREG connected six protected areas and the pilot areas Vellacher Kotschna in the to management planning and educating 11 partners from five countries of the Adria- Austrian Carynthian Alps, the Austrian general public about the importance of Alps-Pannonia territory in a joint effort region of Styria, the (proposed) Mura- preserving natural wealth for today’s and to identify and promote the potentials of Drava Regional Park in Croatia, the Po River future generations.

Joint Strategy for Integrated Management Plans of Protected Areas in South East Europe Text written by: Gregor Danev, IRSNC, and Eva Stare, Alianta, Ltd. Photo: Boštjan Peterka.

Joint Strategy for Integrated Management Plans (JSIMPA) of Protected Areas (PAs) in South East Europe (SEE), one of the main results of the NATREG project, gathers diverse PAs management practices in SEE and gives them a wider aspect on protected areas. Understanding the differences between partners and their historical background was the starting point for JSIMPA development, based on integration, participation and mutual understanding. Taking into account these principles, the managers of PAs were able to link nature conservation management and financing with sustainable development according to the principles of stakeholder involvement, understanding and promoting the total economic value of a certain protected area and understanding the importance of connecting it into a common larger network.

During the implementation of pilot man- ideas were formed as project proposals. project partnerships formed ideas on how agement plans according to the JSIMPA’s At the level of pilot areas, partners have cross-border initiatives and management guidelines many ideas on how activities formed strong local networks, developing could be arranged. At the SEE level, ideas and cooperation should continue emerged. ideas which will bring forward the imple- were developed for the next steps towards In NATREG, these ideas were gathered un- mentation of sustainable development building green infrastructure in SEE. So far, der the JSIMPA Action Plan topics focusing and nature conservation measures from more than 30 ideas have been gathered, on the areas where concrete actions are the management plans prepared for pilot some of them already in the form of project needed for development with nature. The protected areas. At the cross-border level, proposals. Best practise database and implementation Text written by: Amela Smajić Hodžić, IRSNC. Photo: Mirko Pajenk.

The NATREG project has introduced an interesting online tool, ’Best practice’ form (http://www.natreg.eu/good-practices/ submit-good-practice), which serves as a contribution to best practice in nature con- servation and sustainable development dissemination as well as transfer. In course of the project, partners and other stakeholders submitted more than 60 cases of best practice from several fields such as Natural resource manage- ment, Biodiversity/conservation manage- ment, Environmental policy/legislation, Knowledge transfer, Rural development, Integrated tourism and Landscape protec- tion/management with an intention for pro- ject stakeholders and other relevant public to use/transfer/gather project ideas, etc. to be implemented for their own organization, work or field of expertise in their country. People, Parks and Money – a handbook supporting stakeholder involvement and regional development in protected areas Text written by: Daniel Zollner, E.C.O.

The handbook ‘People, Parks and presented following special phases of can be ’too little’ as well ’too much’ of the Money’, in the context of the NATREG development and its allocated Fields different forms of participation, depend- project written by Michael Getzner, of Activities (FoA). The book provides ing on the content and the respective Michael Jungmeier and Sigrun Lange a discussion of each activity, but also of stakeholder group. from the University of Klagenfürt, specific aspects of stakeholder involve- As a further main component, the over- breaks new ground in stakeholder in- ment, of its benefits and costs as well as whelming relevance of PAs for a success- volvement and regional development the connection to regional development. ful regional development is highlight- in protected areas. The main focus of the handbook is the ed. Carew-Reid (2003) postulates that Even though there are a number of books analysis of stakeholder involvement in each PA has a development footprint; dealing with PA management from diffe- each of the working steps according however, »the size of a protected area is rent perspectives, there is no book avail- to the FoAs. It should be noted that at not always directly correlated to the size able that emphasises regional develop- the beginning of each communication of its footprint. But when protected areas ment and stakeholder involvement along process the chosen level of participation are managed in clusters across a land- the ‘life-cycle’ of PAs and that additionally needs to be made clear to the persons scape, it increases the size and signifi- has a focus on the European perspective who will be involved in the process. The cance of the collective footprint, allowing of managing protected areas. Our hand- level largely depends on PA´s stage of de- for specialization, sharing and exchange book tries to fill this gap. velopment. While informing is the domi- to promote development functions. The The book’s structure is based on the IP- nant level in early stages, consultancy overriding principle to be applied in man- AM-life-cycle concept (Jungmeier et al. and decision making is getting more im- aging and expanding a development foot- 2005) for PAs, which takes into account portant when PA gets more developed. print is that users pay for maintenance of its chronological genesis. It is therefore Generally, it should be stated that there the benefits they receive«. Guidelines for Economic Evaluation of Natural Assets Text written by: Amela Smajić Hodžić, IRSNC.

… or how much does a bird cost? is that these services do not contribute to be asked: How can we say how much Ecosystems or nature provide a wide to the economic value of a local com- does a bird cost? Or a tree, a meadow range of services (supply of food, fresh munity or a country. or a wetland? Awareness on this topic water or services that are less tangible As the population, income and consump- leds this project to face a challenge and and difficult to measure but equally criti- tion levels increase, humans put more prepare common guidelines with the cal) which are not eternal, indestructible and more pressure on the natural en- main objective to present the most com- and unlimited. However, public opinion vironment. Thus, a simple question has monly used methods for the economic evaluation of natural assets and rank them with a critical assessment of posi- tive and negative characteristics, based on selected criteria. With the economic evaluation of natural assets, the usability of each ecosystem can be quantified, so that general public and government institutions can recog- nize the harmfulness of uncontrolled ex- ploitation of natural assets and the useful- ness of conservation activities. In the guidelines several methods were elaborated, presented and case studies shown, so that users can quickly obtain information about the characteristics of each method and the position of this cha- racteristic compared with other methods. However, regardless of the outcome re- sulting from the analysis, individuals shall, according to their needs, decide which method to choose. Guidelines for Regional, Interregional and Cross-border Development Strategies Creating Ecological Corridors Text written by: Martin Wieser, Office of the State Government of Styria, Dept. 16.

Despite the efforts of establishing pro- valuable areas with the following func- tected areas, biodiversity in European tions: countries is continuously declining. The - ecological function (protection of main reasons are the destruction of natural natural and cultural landscapes); habitats and the deterioration of cultural - connecting function of corridors; landscapes associated with the fragmen- - Recreational function (local recrea- tation of vital areas of fauna and flora. tion close to urban settlement areas); Since many valuable connecting structures - common benefit (social welfare and are situated outside PAs, the chosen in- protective function, such as climate terdisciplinary approach to identify and effective areas, retention areas to safeguard these connecting structures is protect settlements, e.g.); required. The connection between physi- and further demonstrates overlapping cal region and landscapes needs to be functionalities in regard to conflict secured on a fairly long-term basis. This potentials and supplementary func- challenge needs a common vision and can tions. only be implemented successfully when different actors/stakeholders and disci- The role of spatial planning plines pursue a common European-wide On a regional level spatial planning target together, using a coherent strategy. can provide suitable instruments and measures as a basis for all further im- Methodological approach: multifunctional- plementation measures which lead ity of open space to the establishment of an ecological Apart from ecological corridor- and habitat network in the NATREG pilot area functions, open space also performs nu- Styria; including, for example, the merous positive functions for humans. designation of so called ’green zones’ Between these functions, numerous syn- and ’ecological corridors’. With these ergies exist and the additional value of measures it can be secured that these these areas will be highlighted in the areas are kept free of further construc- results of this project. tion developments and fragmenta- These guidelines represent an assessment tions. system which determines and evaluates Guidelines for the Preparation of a PA Business Plan Text written by: Amela Smajić Hodžić, IRSNC.

Tackling the lack of business planning port (help) to managers of protected Nature conservation has to be brought in management of PAs, the NATREG areas in a decision-making process. to the highest level of self-sufficiency, project met this challenge and pre- It sets definitions of a management having in mind that state, country, pared Guidelines for business planning, plan, a business plan and a financial region or local budgets are very limited which show general structure of a busi- plan with solutions to preparation of a and nature is often seen as eternal, ness plan with practical case studies. business plan. It enlightens main para- indestructible and unlimited. Thus, a The main value added of these guide- graphs of preparing a business plan for special chapter is prepared to bring dif- lines is in its second part where many a PA; as one has to describe it, prepare ferent financial mechanisms at differ- possibilities of financing nature con- marketing strategy, set management ent levels, with their advantages and servation are presented with main con- bounds and, last but not least, prepare disadvantages, for users of guidelines tents of business plan adjusted to the a detailed financial plan by conducting to be able to decide on proper business needs of protected areas or as a sup- financial analysis as a starting point. and financial planning. Guidelines on Stakeholder Engagement in Preparation of Integrated Management Plans for Protected Areas Text written by: Milena Marega, REC.Illustration: Samo Jenčič.

When it comes to managing protect- from regional development, spatial plan- of a protected area is not only a better ed areas, local people are too often ning, nature protection and other related quality of a management plan but also left out from the planning process. sectors, through a process called stake- its acceptance by the local community as Combined with a usually non-existent holder engagement. it gains a sense of ownership and com- cooperation among representatives Stakeholder engagement means inform- mitment in the decisions taken through from the fields of nature conservation, ing and consulting local people during the this process. development and spatial planning dis- planning process so that they can state The main purpose of these Guidelines putes are unavoidable. their opinions. It also provides an oppor- is to provide strategic directions and But this can be avoided with establishing tunity for stakeholders to communicate practical tools for the engagement of a constructive dialogue between all inter- with decision makers and among each stakeholders in the management plan- ested parties, i.e. managing authorities, other. The overall benefit of stakeholder ning process. local inhabitants and key stakeholders participation in management planning The document consists of two parts. The first part is more theoretical and aims at achieving common understanding of stakeholder participation in the context of good protected area governance. It also presents benefits and barriers, main principles, ways to identify stakehold- ers as well as different levels and tools for involvement. The second part offers instructions for putting stakeholder engagement into practice. Based on NATREG project objectives, it provides recommendations for cross-cutting management planning phases with the activities related to the engagement of stakeholders. For each planning phase, there is a description of stakeholder involvement activities implemented in practice in the PA Pohorje (case study).

Special nature reserve (SNR) Deliblato sands is one of the last and the largest oasis of sand, steppe, forest and wetland vegetation in the Pannonian Plain. This spacious area of 35.000 hectares with numerous ellipsoidal sandy masses surrounded with fertile agricultural land is located in the south- eastern part of Vojvodina province, along the regional road between Belgrade and Timişoara (Romania), the Danube River and the Carpathian slopes. This reserve, also called ‘European Sahara’, is one of the greatest centres of biodiversity in Europe and the region of extraordinary, universal value for nature protection and for science. The reserve is adorned by the natural rarities, especially by the imperial eagle and the steppe falcon. Ramsar site Labudovo okno (Swan panel) is a habitat of wetland birds as well as the largest migratory area in this part of Europe. Flora richness is reflected through 900 plant species of which many are relicts and rarities. Due to large presence of bird species in the area, SNR Deliblato sands is marked as Important Bird Area. Natural characteristics and uniqueness of this region make Deliblato sands suitable for recreation, hunting and fishing, nautical and ecological tourism.

Texts written by: Ivana Vasić and Miljan Velojić. Main contribution of the NATREG project Photos: PE Vojvodinašume.

The importance of the NATREG project Since many institutions are involved in the through the participative approach of the and for the SNR Deliblato sands as a pro- project, sharing information and experience protected area management planning pro- ject pilot area and for Public Enterprise (PE) is one of the main benefits. Participating cess, sustainability of project results, adap- Vojvodinašume as its managing authority in the project only confirms the potentials tive management and proposed solutions can be seen from several aspects. of the SNR Deliblato sands and presents after official project ending. Namely, this is the first EU project in which a great opportunity for its promotion. The PE Vojvodinašume actively participates. innovative side of the project is reflected Management plan

Preparation of the management plan Sustainable Development, Provincial its interests in the management plan for this protected area is a big step as Institute for Nature Protection, NGOs and preparation through organized work- this document is an important tool for other numerous institutions and individu- shops. We believe that the implementa- carrying out all functions of protected als also participated in its preparation. tion of the management plan for SNR area management authority envisaged This management plan meets national Deliblato sands will also contribute to by legislation. as well as international requirements for a common goal − the preservation of Using the management plan, protected the preparation of good management nature of the Deliblato sands for our area management authority can in de- plans. National requirements are stated common benefit. tail plan all activities for the next ten in the Nature Conservation Act while the years, whether it is a scientific research, international ones were presented in the the specific activities of protection and Introductory Handbook for Integrated conservation of species and ecological Management of PAs, which was pre- systems, visitor system development or pared during this project. institutional strengthening of the mana- Since this is the first ten-year manage- ger and education of its employees. ment plan of the reserve, we expect that Management plan for SNR Deliblato during its implementation we will have sands is a result of long-term joint ef- a chance to test its settings, to meet fort of many colleagues and stake- planned targets and implement meas- holders. Beside employees of the PE ures, but also to notice its shortcomings, Vojvodinašume, the representatives of so it can be subjected to revision in the the Ministry of Environment and Spatial next period. Planning, the Provincial Secretariat This was a unique chance for all inte- for Environmental Protection and rested parties to participate and express Tourism study

Since the PA Deliblato sands is an in- an integrated tourist product, improve- text management of the area in the first teresting tourist destination, a study ment of other policy instruments, Ramsar step has to provide a clear picture of the Identification of potentials for tourism site Labudovo okno as a tourist zone and development direction, especially in a long development in the SNR Deliblato sands also to strategic planning and action plan run. In parallel, it must ensure a ‘climate’ has been prepared. For this study tasks development. and terms of cooperation of all involved and terms of reference were defined and The results of the research and the study stakeholders. Tourism development can developed which, in addition to a snapshot, are favourable to the basic aims of the contribute to full economic development, should provide the basic vision and be a project, which are: protection of the envi- raising standards and the quality of life of sign of the strategic directions of the SNR ronment, provision of economic, social and local residents. Management of tourism Deliblato sands. other development in this area through development in the SNR Deliblato sands The study gave an overview of the current tourism in accordance with the existing should be based on the concept of inte- state and provided an analysis of changes regimes of protection, and training of PE grated and sustainable deve-lopment with in external and internal environment, an Vojvodinašume employees in marketing a clear vision. analysis of tourist flow and spending and and management of sustainable tourism an analysis of current state resources for development of the SNR Deliblato sands. tourism development in the SNR Deliblato sands. Special attention was given to the SNR Deliblato sands as a whole is a unique, SWOT analysis, possible selective forms attractive and highly valuable tourist des- of tourism and market segmentation, tination with the obligation to respect the benchmark analysis (comparison with limitations in the way of tourist use and successful practices), establishment of construction of tourist facilities. In this con- Web biodiversity database and biodiversity study

Considering the needs of PE Vojvo- tion which covers current and future ing of employees was provided in order dinašume to develop a monitoring user requirements. The user interface to educate them to use database soft- system for rare and endangered spe­ is easy to use which is of core impor- ware. In this way we have created a cies at the SNR Deliblato sands, the tance for a large number of users. model enabling the employees to work company FORNET Ltd. took over the The system is divided into two parts – independently on these processes of responsibil­ity to implement a study of for users and for administrators. The databases management as well as to Development of Biodiver­sity monitoring administrative part can be accessed produce maps and follow all changes database, education and digital map­ only by persons who have special in the field after field data collecting. ping of the Deliblato sands project area. permission. This part contains encode Research of the Ramsar site Labudovo The main task was to create unique base and other relevant data. In this okno was the main task of the Faculty software which would enable efficient part, users adapt the system to their of Biology which also participated in the monitoring of changes in the field; own needs. In the user part, data can NATREG project. In this study, besides this means creating software that be entered and managed by using the reviewing general characteristics of would help employees in gathering, manual and reports can be created. the area, structural and spatial-timely processing, presenting and compar- Since it is necessary to have the whole aspects of Labudovo okno biodiversity ing data in the simplest possible way. subject area in the digital form in order elements have been shown. Based on A software platform which provides to enable cartographic representation these parameters, an intersectoral anal- complete support for entry and re- of output data, digitizing the area of ysis of the elements with its evaluation capitulation of data from the manual Deliblato sands was also one of the compared to forestry, hunting, fishing, was developed. An application was main tasks. tourism and other anthropogenic influ- designed as an open software solu- As a final step of this project, the train- ences was carried out. Follow-up projects

To contribute to further development of 2. Establishing of traditional tablishing a facility at the post Marina the SNR Deliblato sands, four follow-up product shop in the SNR Deliblato sands with restoration building, purchasing project proposals were prepared by the The traditional shop is conceptualized to of a suitable pressing machine and ar- PE Vojvodinašume: meet reserve visitors’ demands for local ranging transportation to recycling fa- products. The shop will concentrate on cilities. At the same time an awarness 1. Signalization and non-formal selling traditional and ecologically pure raising campain with various events will education – educational courses for the products, such as wine, cheese in oil, be organized. formulation of tourism and business dry fruits, jam, schnapps, and honey. policies of various stakeholders in the Focusing mainly on ecologically-thinking 4. Waste management in SNP Deliblato SNP Deliblato sands / nature-friendly customers who are to sands – elimination and remediation of The need for investment in develop- be main consumers of traditional pro- waste dump sites ment and staff development is very duction, the shop will be established in The mission of this project is removal of pronounced. The project is primarily cooperation with the PE Vojvodinašume. accumulated waste, cleaning all waste related to education and training of dump sites, remediation of illegal dumps all tourism stakeholders who work 3. Waste management in the throughout the SNP Deliblato sands as in the area and in the vicinity of the SNP Deliblato sands – fighting well as collection and removal of waste reserve. Education program would be a plastic menace storages in contact with weekend settle- implemented through a series of work- The project’s aim is to harvest a plastic ments. Elimination of illegal dumps and re- shops where the focus groups would crop permanenetly during and after habilitation of their sites are also planned. be trained in know-how transfer ap- high flows from Danube water body and Collected waste must be transported to a proach by eminent experts on tourism left river banks in the section beetwen registered landfill where it will be placed marketing, management of tourism Dubovac and Stara Palanka as well as until it is recycled and eliminated. A lot of destination and sustainable develop- the Danube river islands Žilava, Čibuklija attention will be given to raising aware- ment of tourism. and Zavojska ada. First steps will be es- ness about proper waste management.

Styria, the second largest province of Austria, with an area of about 16.400 km2, offers a variety of landscapes – from the Alpine region in the north-west (Dachstein, 2.995 m) to the hilly region in the south-east. Protected areas – as core-areas of ecological value – are situated all over the region, e.g. National Park ‘Gesäuse’ or the NATURA 2000 site ‘Steirische Grenzmur’. Characteristics of the south-eastern part of Styria are sparse population and urban sprawl, whereas the landscapes of the Alpine valleys are dominated by larger towns and cities and major traffic infrastructure. The majority of the population (1.207.000 inhabitants) is concentrated in the surrounding region of the capital city Graz and in the main valleys of the rivers Mur, Mürz and Enns. Due to the high percentage of forest (61% woodland area), Styria is also called the ‘green heart of Austria’ and is known for its winter sport attractiveness as well as for thermal regions and the ‘Weinland’ (wine land), situated in the southern border region to Slovenia. Main economic sectors are the automotive cluster Styria, the clean-tech cluster including more than 150 companies, and the material cluster.

Texts written by: Brigitte Grießer, Johannes Leitner and Martin Wieser. Photos: Freiland (p.3 & p.4) and Main contributions of the NATREG project Johannes Leitner (p.5).

According to the Birds and Habitats sanctuaries is not sufficient enough to space corridors is essential for a funded Directive, numerous protected zones have ensure the preservation of biological bio- argumentation within the scope of defin- been established in the European Union diversity. Thus, an important further step ing areas in spatial planning. The basis is within the past years. In the already ex- is to establish a continuity of Protected multifunctionality of open space. isting management plans, district aims, Areas (PAs) in an integrated transnational Via modelling of existing data and struc- maintenance and deve-lopment measures ‘Green Network’. tured obtainment of expert knowledge, and strategies were and will be developed. Within the scope of a professional co- a Styrian ‘Green Network’ is developed. For most of the animal and plant species operation between spatial planning and The next step is the legal protection of the currently existing conservation areas (wildlife) ecology in the pilot region Styria, the studies´ results by means of spatial are getting too small since specific species the approach of developing and securing planning instruments. requirements, as foraging, reproduction, green zones and living space corridors is migration, etc., often exceed the borders put into practice. A professional, faultless of these areas. To simply secure isolated demarcation of green zones and living Defining important habitats in the area

Along with the living space corridors, identified landscape-ecologically high The sectoral results of recreation have green zones form the ‘Green Network’ value areas and the overlapping of their spatial focus with central func- of Styria. In particular, the network high value recreational areas as well tions in the proximity of settlement supports the ecological function of as those areas with protection and areas. Especially in the region of the the area. According to the multifunc- common benefit function. city Graz it becomes obvious that in tionality approach, open spaces pro- Areas with a high ecological value this sector the high value areas of the vide additionally valuable functions are for example the ‘Ramsar areas’ landscape are exposed to a strong set- and effects, as recreation, protection or areas where proof for populations tlement pressure. Also for this sector or common benefit. According to its of protected species (according the the protection and the prevention of principals and targets, spatial planning Bird and Habitat Directives) is present. further construction developments secures open spaces with different Results of biotope mappings are valu- are vitally important. functions and potentials. able data inputs as well. In most cases the sectoral results for The Styrian approach requires a close The sectoral results of ecology show protection function and common ben- cooperation between nature and that especially in the proximity of ur- efit aim for water protection areas, landscape protection as well as spa- ban settlements only very few high climate relevant open spaces or flood tial planning. The developed model value areas exist. discharge areas. It is a conflation of ar- is based on the requirements of the Therefore, it is even more important eas, which due to their features or the Styrian spatial planning. A substantial to protect these areas and prevent presence of valuable natural resources part of the project is safeguarding the further construction developments. are of great significance. Identifying the main habitat corridor

Although in the European countries vari- The connections between nature and - additional retreat areas. ous protected areas have been estab- landscape areas need to be secured rather The connectivity approach is based on lished, the loss of biodiversity continues. long-term. This aim demands a common two phases. During phase 1 the strategic The main causes are the destruction of vision and can only be implemented suc- definition of a green network, which cov- habitats and the loss of fauna and flora in cessfully if different actors/stakeholders ers the whole provincial territory includ- the cultural landscapes and the therewith and disciplines pursue a common target ing cross-border corridors, is elaborated. connected interference and disturbance with a coherent strategy. Therefore, this phase is at the same time of migration corridors. In most cases these Habitat corridors fulfill important ecologi- the mission statement for the main cross- disturbances occur outside of protected cal functions: border corridors of Styria. During phase areas. Areas without protection status, - strengthening of the protected 2 regionally important open spaces and which are agriculturally or otherwise used area functions via connectivity; connecting axes are identified which have or populated, nevertheless possess a high - exchange between populations to be protected against further fragmen- potential as habitat corridors and need to to prevent inbreeding and genetic tation and therewith secure the continu- be protected accordingly. losses; ous migration of species in the future. Development of measures in the fields of spatial planning

The Styrian approach of consider- able environment. The resulting green logical as well as social reasons is not ing multifunctional green zones and zones and corridors of NATREG are only clearly documented in the above corridors in legally binding spatial part of the official Styrian spatial plan- mentioned spatial planning instru- planning instruments is seen as a ning instruments on the regional level ments but is also defined on a pre- well-established form of balancing (Regionale Entwicklungs programme, cise functional and spatial level. The different interests within our envi- REPRO) and are legally binding also for outputs of NATREG help to raise the ronment. the subsequent local level. acceptance for multifunctional green The results of NATREG provide an The main goal is to secure the multi- infrastructure in Styria and provide enhanced basis to form alliances functional aspects of those high-value a comprehensible and comparable between varying sectoral demands open spaces and to prevent further basis for further planning processes (ecology, wildlife, recreation, com- consumption or soil-sealing by set- with regional and local stakeholders. mon benefit) and to secure important tlements or industrial infrastructure. structures of our landscape in order to This way, the public interest in main- establish a well-balanced and sustain- taining green infrastructure for eco- Follow-up projects

In the course of the proceedings and the cultural history, recreation among oth- a pool of measures developed in EIA continuation of NATREG ideas and re- ers, but as well of the economic sector. processes and special administrative sults (project part Styria), three follow-up The main challenge will be the harmo- laws (water, forestry and nature protec- projects have been defined: nization of goals and measures identi- tion law) is developed for those areas. fied in already existing directives (Water 1. Urban rivers and waterways – Framework Directive, etc.) and guidelines. 3. Integration of multifunctional green a chance for town development infrastructure in spatial planning (IMGIS) and city cross-linking (URIWA) 2. Forceful green infrastructure - The aim of this project is to develop a The aims of this project are the ecological Development and strengthening of the transferable framework to integrate mul- upgrade and integration of rivers in the ‘green infrastructure in Europe’ through tifunctional green infrastructure in spatial townscape and the therewith connected measures under the EIA (FORGREENING) planning for a national/transnational lev- increase of the quality of life for its citi- The project shall suggest ways of how el (Austria & further EC-member states). zens. Using four larger rivers situated in to improve the structure of defined A web-based Geographic Information cities, the multifunctionality of intra-ur- green zones which have already been System is developed to review, analyse, ban river sections and the supra-regional demarcated according to the legal integrate and model relevant datasets corridor function of the courses of rivers framework. Therefore, during the first (e.g. enhanced land use/land cover) shall be demonstrated. The multifunc- phase the requirements and the needs to gain additional benefit in using EU- tional approach for the enhancement of for different types of green spaces are financed remote sensing data for envi- intra-urban river sections unites different demonstrated, their deficits analysed ronmental and spatial planning. IMGIS disciplines working together on one the- and opportunities for their structural will raise the acceptance for multifunc- matic field. Hence, it is necessary to cope improvement developed. Within an in- tional green infrastructures by providing with the most conflicting requirements terdisciplinary process with regional comparable datasets and methods. of ecology, flood protection, aesthetics, and national authorities a concept for

In February 2011 the Croatian Government declared the provisionally protected area along the Mura and Drava rivers as the Mura-Drava Regional Park which stretches from the border with the Republic of Slovenia to the Danube through 5 counties. The NATREG pilot area with an area of 167 km2 includes only a part of Mura-Drava Regional Park in the Koprivnica-Križevci County. It includes 12 villages (some of them scattered settlements – ‘konaki’) and 3.000 inhabitants. The Cities of Koprivnica and Djurdjevac are located 10 km from the Drava River which has a natural riverbed with many meanders and backwaters with a variety of animal and plant life – it is called ‘Europe’s Amazonia’. Podravina is a predominantly agricultural area with developed food-processing industry (Podravka) and has the largest deposits of natural gas in Croatia (2/3 of national production) as well as a large geothermal potential due to numerous rich sites with geothermal water. This is also the homeland of naive painting.

Texts written by: Mladen Matica, Željka Kolar and Main contributions of the NATREG project Miroslav Hodić.

The official declaration of the Mura-Drava tional, regional and local level, while at the areas for social and economic develop- Regional Park is undoubtedly the major same time intensifying communication with ment is another NATREG contribution. achievement of the NATREG project as the local community. To get a clearer view what the PA Mura- it accelerated the whole process through Such an inclusive way of working was Drava Regional Park has to offer, several positive promotion of nature protection and identified as a good practise which should important studies on the possibilities of protected areas. also be used for other protected areas in sustainable development were produced; During the project, special attention was Croatia. This is especially important in they revealed that the main opportunities paid to developing common strategies the light of the Croatian accession to the of the PA are in its pristine nature, tourism, for protected area management through European Union and designation of sites to geothermal, solar and wind energy and strengthening cooperation between respon- be included in the NATURA 2000 network. in the promotion of indigenous cultural sible institutions and authorities at the na- Highlighting the potentials of protected heritage. Management plan

During the preparation of the draft tive protection were designated in management plan, Croatian project 5 out of 6 studied sites of interest. partners organized 13 individual Management measures are foreseen meetings and 5 workshops on the top- that will be aimed at maintaining ics of nature, tourism, SWOT analysis stable environmental conditions, of spatial issues and environmental slowing down the succession and/ protection. The main emphasis was or restoration of these ecosystems, on building a lasting cooperation at all resulting in conservation of their levels, i.e. between sectors, counties plant and animal species, while at in the area and relevant ministries, in the same time stimulating human order to insure effective management activities that have no negative im- of the newly established Mura-Drava pact on these values. Regional Park. The workshops were In the area of water management, attended by over 80 persons – from proposed protection measures are local decision-makers and admin- as follows: istrative staff to representatives of - conduct a feasibility study on water private companies and NGO asso- management interventions in order ciations – which all agreed that this to link individual water bodies with area should be preserved and that the parent stream through the back- its great tourist potential should be waters of the Drava river; further developed. - maintain connection of existing In the Draft Management Plan for the water bodies with the Drava river in Mura-Drava Regional Park, almost places where it exists; every site of interest is considered - prevent water management activi- as a separate entity distinguished ties that may adversely affect the hy- from the surrounding areas because drological regime of the backwaters of particular natural values ​​and the and include environmental protection specific character of the ecosystem, measures in water management plans. as well as the methods used. By zoning the areas within the re- gional park in accordance with the management plan, zones of ac- Study of tourism

In order to improve the quality of sus- for the planning of tourism development tainable tourism development, a study in the park. An analysis of nature protec- Natural resources for tourism develop- tion (State Institute for Nature Protection), ment and an Action plan for tourism general, demographic and traffic charac- development in locations Lepa Bakovci teristics, as well as quality and quantity of backwaters in the Regional Park Drava- tourist offer showed that: Mura in Koprivnica-Križevci County were - this part of the park is particularly impor- prepared. tant for it includes parts of the Drava river, Mura-Drava Regional Park as a protected along with its immediate surroundings, nature area is a complex ecological sys- almost entirely in its natural state; tem of great biodiversity. Therefore, tour- - a large territory is covered with natural ism development must be very carefully forests and protected areas (Veliki Pažut planned. Thus, the main intention of this zoological reserve and Čambina important study was to identify and evaluate natural landscape); and anthropogenic resources for park’s - there is a lack of strong natural attractions, tourism development. causing currently undeveloped tourism, The area consisting of ten municipalities with the exception of (to a certain degree) along the rivers of Mura and Drava in the bathing (Šoderica), fishing and hunting Koprivnica-Križevci County is not homo- tourism; geneous, but tourism could be an area of - greater tourist importance is currently common interest between the munici- given to man-made attractions, primarily palities. In the course of history, Mura and to the heritage of naive painting. Drava rivers were natural barriers and the The Action Plan is a defined combination development of tourism could become the of key actions to achieve organizational linking factor. assumptions and define the framework for Ecological criteria and sustainable develop- the development of tourism at the specific ment should be the most important factors locations. Study on biodiversity

In order to protect water habitats, the an extensive photographic documenta- Croatian State Institute for Nature tion. All collected data is stored in GIS. Protection completed two studies, An important basis of expert work car- namely Valorisation of water habitats in- ried out within the study consisted of side the provisionally protected Regional collected data and analysis related to Park Mura-Drava and Proposal of protec- the ecological network of the Republic tion measures for 6 oxbows inside the of Croatia and the preparation of pro- provisionally protected Mura-Drava posals for the EU ecological network Regional Park. The latter study included NATURA 2000 in Croatia, given that the six sites of water and wetland habitats value of the area surveyed is recognized along the Drava river – Đelekovac back- as such site. water, Šoderica lake, Ješkovo backwater, Given that earlier studies found that Osredek backwater, Bakovci and Lepa the category ‘regional park’, within Greda backwaters – with the purpose which these sites are protected, is ad- of assessing their current situation and equate for the management purposes their needs for additional protection. of these areas, it is estimated that ad- Most sites have old oxbows of different ditional protection within some of the sizes, now largely not directly connected categories under Nature Protection Act to the flow of the Drava river, while there is not required. The aim of this study is also an active gravel pit in operation. was to define the importance of aquatic The study started with studying the exist- and wetland habitats in the protected ing literature and collecting data on areas Mura-Drava Regional Park and to as- of interest for the project and their de- sess their current state in which they tailed analyses, followed by field observa- may need additional protection. tions and field visits which provided also Follow-up projects

Deriving from the needs of this area, ing agreements on matters of common connectivity between protected areas three follow-up project were outlined: interest between organizations coming and integrate conservation and develop- from different sectors and different coun- ment interests of different stakeholders. 1. Trans-boundary management of pro- tries with different statuses regarding the tected areas (Initiated by AGNATURE). EU enlargement process. 3. GIS of the Drava and the Mura rivers Primary consideration of the project is (GISRI) (Initiated by AGNATURE). better communication and common 2. SNAPA project The project will focus on reaching a Joint management in cross-border protected The project will strive to empower the strategy for the spatial development on areas. The project is aligned and coher- stakeholders along international SEE the Drava and Mura rivers basin. GISRI will ent with the objectives of the Cohesion Rivers to establish common frameworks establish a cooperation network in spatial Policy and the SEE Programme, it con- for integrated and sustainable manage- planning institutions. Project’s main objec- tributes to territorial and social integra- ment of protected areas and natural as- tives are: exchange of experience between tion process, to cohesion and stability, sets along their international rivers. Such institutions, common GIS data spatial base and it strives for cooperation and reach- management frameworks will ensure and transfer methodology.

The Po River, the ‘red-line’ of the Padana Flatland, stretches for more than 71.000 km2, involving 3.200 municipalities and 16 million inhabitants. The delta is the most fragile part but its richness represents an opportunity for all: beautiful landscapes, natural heritage, architectures and urban settlements, traditions and contemporary culture are mixed in an extraordinary way. Its value is recognized by its inhabitants and because of NATURA 2000 also at (inter)national levels. Nowadays, the delta is managed by two different regional park authorities belonging to Veneto and Emilia-Romagna regions, sharing a territory with common characteristics, values, opportunities and problems. The two park authorities also have the duty to apply the management plan of the Special Protected Areas and NATURA 2000 sites. Such areas often do not coincide with the physical perimeter of the parks, while problems and management issues cross over their administrative boundaries. Additionally, the peculiar ecological, social and economic elements of the delta territory are the same for both regions, while the most relevant ones refer to the economic sectors connected with natural resources as agriculture, mollusc culture, extensive fish farming and tourism: activities that have been implemented for centuries.

Texts written by: Marco Meggiolaro, Tiziana Quaglia, Irene Montanari, Graziano Caramori, Riccardo Main contribution of the NATREG project Santolini, Davide Ferro, Paolo Rigoni and Chiara Occhi.

The regions of Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, by the active participation of all economic Italian partners to the NATREG project, have operators and policymakers as well as cul- selected the Po Delta as a laboratory area: tural, natural and scientific associations. the objective is to scale down the transna- Therefore, starting from this ‘European vi- tional strategy defined by the project at sion’ and the matter of ‘natural capital’, the interregional level, in order to create a Veneto and Emilia-Romagna promote lo- joint management plan that, even if limited, cal natural heritage in the delta through could become a development model for the the evaluation of its economic and envi- entire Po Delta basin of both regions. This ronmental resources, identifying methods path has to be considered as a permanent and systems to manage the protected area ‘interregional coordination’ of the Po delta through appropriate territorial planning and which can become the basis for joint man- management instruments, in the perspective agement of both protected areas, supported of a future interregional Po Delta Park. Management plan

Since 1991, the Italian legislation has the imperative that stakeholders, par- been pushing towards the creation of a ticularly local people, are informed and national or interregional Po Delta Park consulted about the planning process between Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. in their territory. This is to increase their The possibility, as well as the neces- sense of involvement and engagement sity, to run this option was explored in appropriate management actions and more and more over the recent years: to make human activities compatible NATREG project provides an important with the ecosystem functions and hu- contribution towards this direction, fo- man well-being. cused on new opportunities and best An outstanding number of public practices for sustainable development. and private stakeholders have been The biggest challenge is Interregional involved at different levels in shaping Management Plan which should sat- the interregional management plan, isfy the needs of local economy and such as Governments at interregional, the biodiversity objectives. These high regional provincial and municipal lev- value biodiversity areas are under pres- els; tourist operators and restaurants, sure of around 400,000 inhabitants. passengers boats and road transport, Residents have always used parks’ tourism services companies; farmers, assets, exploiting their potentialities, agricultural and agri-food coopera- but with the industrialization process tives; educational farms, economic op- their capacity to modify the area has erators of agri-food and fishery; as- increased enormously along with the sociations of environmental protec- effects of climate change: this means tion, non-profit yacht clubs; research that the activities not compatible with institutes (Universities of Bologna, the river have contribu-ted to the in- Venezia, Ferrara, Urbino) and natural- tensification of the risks for the whole ist societies; technicians and experts Po river ecosystem. Hence, in a long on land use, urban planning and social- run, the sustainable development of economic status. such mosaic of biodiversity and man- made landscape must have a basis on an interregional vision. Therefore, the two regions and the two parks involved in the NATREG consider Identifying the green network strategy

The concept of ecological network has we must assume that natural elements of administrative authorities make plan- been formulated as a response to frag- the capital stock of aggregate resources ning decisions. mentation processes with the task of cannot be replaced and/or exchanged The adopted Ecological Network meth- facilitating the dispersion and migration with man-made capital. odology offers a strong opportunity to of species. However, the development Unfortunately, the current approach to define some of the venues of land trans- of the relationship between diversity spatial planning is not always coherent formation, addressing the development and ecological function directs the new with the objectives of maintaining the of renewable and non-inhibitory pro- approaches to an ecological network as most functional efficiency of ecosystem cesses, pointing out that the landscape a multi-scenario ecosystem to support services. The strategic visions that nor- should be valued in accordance with the sustainable development. mally lead to planning decisions are often quality standards taking into account Consequently, the main objective be- influenced by a number of other priorities the carrying capacity of the environ- comes to maintain space for the evo- and interests. mental system and its high levels of lution of the ecological system; biodi- In the planning process the economic autopoiesis. versity must remain unhindered; the value of ecosystems is still underes- The ecological network project then be- weight of anthropogenic actions must timated compared to other values of comes a useful tool to initiate actions correspond to high levels of autopoiesis a non-sustainable economic growth. aimed at enhancing the quality of the of the system to maintain the most func- However, the methodologies for iden- landscape and maintaining the capital tional efficiency of ecosystem services of tification of ecological networks have stock of natural resources, including natural capital. often played a static role within the biodiversity, using different policy in- One of the objectives of spatial planning planning processes; frequently, a link is struments of the government in a highly should be to maintain the functionality of missing between a proposed ecological coordinated and synergistic way. the capital stock (natural and anthropo- network and the variety of options that genic) as to prevent it from falling below can be offered by landscape designing. the current level, possibly by increasing The green network strategy adopted the quality and functionality of what is in the Interregional pilot area of the Po considered as natural capital dedicated Delta is an attempt to identify a new to the production of ecosystem services model of linking the identification of (strong sustainability). For this reason, ecological networks and the way the Promotion and events

In the Po Delta, where outstanding lowing ones organized by ARPA can natural assets coexist with human be mentioned: the ‘Sustainable man- and economic activities (agriculture, agement of PA’, organized within the industry, energy plants, beach tourism, international Birdwatching Fair of hunting and fishing), specific restric- Comacchio, and the seminars ‘Water tions caused by the proximity of sensi- ways’, ‘Ecological function and land tive protected areas are often perceived use’, ‘The Future of the Delta and local by residents as obstacles for develop- Government’, ‘Economic evaluation of ment rather than growth opportunities. immaterial assets’. Thus, one of the main challenges is to With reference to the workshops or- improve people’s and policymakers’ ganized by the Veneto region, NATREG awareness about huge benefits for the was presented at GEO-OIKOS spatial whole territory due to the existence planning exposition in Verona, while a of protected areas; this task requires cycle of thematic seminars on Man and effective and targeted dissemination Biosphere and coastal management in of results. the delta was held at Cà Vendramin, The Veneto region and ARPA Emilia-Ro- stressing the need of integration of magna shared a common interregion- economic resources and planning tools, al communication plan to boost the particularly between private and public ‘NATREG message’ and to multiply the sectors. In April 2010, NATREG went awareness effects to the civil society, global: it was presented in New Orleans green associations, policy-makers and at the American Planning Association economic operators. In this frame, they annual conference, where the objec- organized, in cooperation with the re- tive of NATREG and the transnational spective Po Delta Parks, interregional strategy to tackle a balanced and sus- workshops and individual meetings tainable development of the protected with key stakeholders. areas in South East Europe were ex- Among the various events, the fol- plained to international audience. Follow-up projects

The follow-up projects have been identi- 3. The road of the parks (initiated 2015 (Milan) – ‘Feed the world’. fied using two approaches: the first was a by Parco Delta Po Emilia-Romagna) 5. Improvement of biodiversity of direct approach with a direct fall-out on The project goal is transforming an old the surface water hydrological the PA activities, while the second was a commercial road (Strada Romea) into the system (initiated by Parco Delta strategic approach with implementation road of the parks for the mankind and the Po Veneto and Parco Delta Po of the planning and programming instru- animals, by finding solutions for critical Emilia-Romagna) ments that have cultural impact. Accord- points and mitigating the impacts. The project wants to be a contribution to ing to these approaches five follow-up the ordinary management instruments projects have been developed: 4. Eating the Po Delta (initiated for the realization of the interregional by Parco Delta Po Veneto and ecological network. A model of channel 1. Work changing (initiated by Parco Delta Po Emilia-Romagna) management which involves a different Parco Delta Po Emilia-Romagna) The idea is to present the landscape as approach to the management of the The project’s goal is to adapt culture to an object to produce and buy food. It is cuttings and the river banks will be tested climate changes; it aims to produce new necessary to start considering the land- in two pilot areas along with the recovery jobs starting from old works. scape as the final result of the whole ter- of the hydraulic control of the level to ritory: agricultural and typical landscapes promote biodiversity and increase land- 2. Man and biosphere (MAB; make the ‘Po Delta an excellence destina- scape richness. initiated by Parco Delta Po Veneto) tion’. The project will develop measures The project wants to make steps for the relating to the development of rural and Pilot Area as a biosphere protected area. river tourism. It will be presented at Expo

The Pohorje is an Alpine massif, spreading over 840 km2 in the northeast part of Slovenia. More than 70% of the area is covered with forests, on plateaus there are numerous plains, remnants of meadows and grasslands. Due to impermeable bedrock, the Pohorje has a rich network of streams, waterfalls and a number of peat bogs with small lakes. Its forests, meadows and bogs are the habitat of many rare and endangered birds, butterflies and amphibians. In terms of economic development, the Pohorje was and still is closely connected with the exploitation of forests, agriculture and tourism. The Pohorje is protected by the Alpine Convention. Since 2004, its vast part has also been designated as a NATURA 2000 site. So far, serious nature conservation objectives could not be pursued in such a small and fragmented protected area (945 ha or less than 1% of the total area of the Pohorje). Therefore, an effort was made for the comprehensive protection of the natural and cultural heritage to form a natural park, which will enable permanent preservation of all values in the Pohorje.

Texts written by: Gregor Danev, Sebastjan Štruc, Main contribution of the NATREG project Jurij Gulič, Amela Smajić Hodžić, Nina Uratarič and Milena Marega. Cover photo: Boštjan Šenet.

A decision to include the Pohorje into toward sustainable development of the the NATREG project was stimulated by Pohorje pilot area; they have a clear its huge lack of common management, vision of it and are anxious about it. due to being divided between 16 mu- Understanding the need of sustainable nicipalities, three Regional Development development and identifying uncon- Agencies in three statistic regions, numer- trolled expansion of tourism and recrea- ous educational institutions and other im- tion activities as the most important portant stakeholders, each with one’s plan threat to the bird species and habitats and vision for the Pohorje, and sometimes along with uncontrolled leisure activities having contradictory sector management with low nature conservation aware- plans for the same area at the same time. ness of the visitors were the main rea- Looking back at the situation before the sons for development of the ‘bottom up’ NATREG project it can easily be said method and the stakeholders engage- that it has broken some new ground by ment in the management process later engaging stakeholders. Main relevant on in the NATREG project activities. stakeholders are now working together Management plan

In the preparation of the draft manage- holders from the three most impor- ment plan for the Pohorje pilot area, tant branches of this area – forestry Slovenian partners strictly followed & hunting, agriculture and tourism the NATREG objective of involving – in order to get an overview of every stakeholders in the management plan- relevant sector’s perception of the ning process. Being that the Pohorje Pohorje. A joint SWOT analysis fol- is a vast and sparsely populated area lowed where a common Vision of with a large number of different stake- the Pohorje 2030 was designed. holder groups that basically haven’t Afterwards, three regional workshops been cooperating with one another, with stakeholders were held for set- this was quite a challenge. ting strategic and operational objec- The aim of the draft management plan tives by which the designed vision is to outline common directions for would be achieved. Stakeholders also future development of the Pohorje. listed a set of priority activities that With stakeholders participating in the they would consider implementing in process of its making, the prepared this area; for those that garnered the draft management plan now incorpo- most interest a more detailed action rates nature conservation principles, as plan was prepared as they present a well as the actual needs, interests and good starting point for the follow-up ideas of the people living and working projects. in the area. Management plan developed within The stakeholder engagement process the NATREG project is a background started with identifying and analysing document that can serve as a basis for stakeholders and at the same time further harmonized action to various informing them about the intention sectors and other stakeholders and will and the timeline of management contribute to sustainable development plan preparation, how they can get of Pohorje. Also, the entire process involved and how their inputs would of preparing this management plan be used. is a good incentive for the next steps In addition to numerous individual towards establishing Pohorje Nature meetings, preliminary SWOT work- Park. shops were initially held with stake- Economic study of Lovrenška bogs

After the preparation of Guidelines The study covers the area of 88.96 ha of peat (€ 2.984.727) and wood biomass for economic evaluation of natural Lovrenška bogs in the Pohorje, a wetland and cellulose (€ 91.508). However, it assets, the Institute of RS for Nature included in the NATURA 2000 network has to be pointed out that unsustain- Conservation together with economics with a forest reserve and a natural value able exploitation of wood brings wood experts conducted a concrete study of of national importance. supplies to zero in just five and peat the concrete area of Lovrenška bogs. Results of the economic evaluation of supplies in 20 years; therefore, there are Knowing that ecosystems or nature pro- ecosystem services (supplying services, no income to rely on from that source vide a wide range of services (supply of regulating services, cultural services and afterwards. food, fresh water or services that are supportive services) show that in case Public opinion is/was that these services less tangible and harder to measure but of long-term sustainable use of men- do not contribute to the economic value equally critical), which are not eternal, tioned services highest appreciation for of the local community or country; how- indestructible and unlimited, experts in year 2010 is attributed to recreation and ever, the conducted study is breaking the field of economics evaluated its eco- tourism services (€ 10.245.812), followed new ground by calculating that conser- system services through two scenarios: by hydrology service (buffer capacity in vation and sustainable use of ecosystem firstly, as short-term unsustainable use drought – (€ 130.705) and biodiversity services is a need, knowing that loss of of its services, and secondly as long-term service (€ 19.035). Lovrenška bogs ecosystem services sustainable use of Lovrenška bogs eco- In case of short-term unsustainable use would cost us (in case of intense and system services. of ecosystem services of Lovrenška unsustainable use in the period of 50 bogs, the highest appreciation is at- years) € 152 million! And we are only talk- tributed to supplying services – selling ing about 88 ha! Field actions

Through NATREG activities numerous of Zreče and Mislinja, local farmers, cooperation initiatives for field actions hikers and other interested parties, the were developed. first overgrowth cleaning of traditional Cooperation with a local Mountain- Alpine pastures called ’planje’ was eering Society, the Municipality of carried out in October 2010 along with Zreče, and Unior Tourism helped the a big promotion action at Mulejev peak NATREG project to successfully or- where more than 30 people worked ganize renewal and establishment of very hard the first day. Through the wooden footpath to the Lovrenška next two weeks more than two hec- bogs which are the largest, most pre- tares of the Pohorje were cleaned. served and visited active raised bogs in The NATREG team also cooperated in the southern Alpine region. The action the all-Slovene cleaning action 2010 was a big success and the best possi- by joining local organizers from Ruše, ble start into the NATREG follow-up and cleaned waste from Lobnica valley project WETMAN activities launched which is one of the most preserved Po- in February 2011. horje’s valleys with mountain stream Together with the newly established Lobnica, virgin forest Šumik with two Nature Conservation Fund Pohorje, waterfalls − Little and Big Šumik. Slovenia Forest Service, municipalities Prateći projekti

In 2011, two projects were launched in The process of stakeholder engagement the Pohorje as NATREG follow-up pro- started with getting to know each other jects. First is the LIFE+ project WETMAN (during the year 2009) with several work- which is focusing on the revitalizations shops and more than 15 bilateral meet- and sustainable management of active ings to reach a similar position towards raised bogs in the area of the Pohorje. the development of the Pohorje poten- Namely, it will ensure better visitor ma- tials. In 2010, all the analysis were put nagement on Lovrenška bogs with estab- together and at the end of the year, vi- lishing new and renewed wooden foot- sioning and objective setting for the next paths, benches, fence and visitors’ tower. 20 years started with great enthusiasm. The second project is to promote nature After that the action plan was prepared conservation and to finance small scale mainly with brainstorming future pro- nature conservation actions through the jects and activities. More than 20 project newly established Nature Conservation ideas, from small individual projects to Fund Pohorje. larger more integrating projects tackling In addition, through stakeholder en- also policies and strategic development gagement in the management planning and conservation planning, were defined process we gathered more than 20 very and are available on the Pohorje Platform interesting project ideas which have a www.natreg.eu/pohorje which was visited great potential to evolve into actual pro- and used by more than 5000 stakeholders ject to reach the Pohorje Vision 2030. in the first four months of its existence.

The PA Vellacher Kotschna is geographically located in the territory of the Carinthian municipality of Bad Eisenkappel-Vellach. The secluded site, proclaimed as a protected area by the Carinthian government in 1959, is situated in a high valley basin representing the southernmost part of Austria. In the year 2002 it was also declared as a PSCI (Protected Area of Special Interest) NATURA 2000 area, which is – with a total area of 586 hectares – one of the largest protected areas within the NATURA 2000 network in Carinthia. The main protection target is the conservation of the unique biotic composition of this special Alpine landscape. The Region of Southern Carinthia, including the pilot area, is affected by strong emigration and increased ageing of the population. The consequences are a declining economic power and the deterioration of local infrastructure assets.

Texts written by: Martina Berchtold-Ogris, Norbert Main contribution of the NATREG project Kerschbaumer, Johann Olinowetz and Andreas Berchtold. Photo: Helmut Assigal (p.6).

The NATREG project revealed new op- dated and extended, the current natural - The preparation of the management plan portunities for future development in the features analysed and assessed. for the protected area, the elaboration of the region. The following activities have been - A joint strategy for future development has development strategy for the region and the implemented within the term of the project: been elaborated based on the objective of in- proposal of follow-up projects took place on - Preparation of the very first management tegrating nature conservation and economic the basis of stakeholder involvement in the plan for the Vellacher Kotschna, including issues and by reference to the analysis of protected area as well as in the cross-border nature conservation activities and develop- existing problems and discrepancies in the region with Slovenia. ment measures in the protected area as well protected area. - In the course of the NATREG project prepa- as an implementation timetable. - Three trans-border follow-up projects in the ration, an expansive trans-border and trans- - In the course of the management plan fields of Alpine farming, tourism and renew- sector network has been established to sup- preparation, a database on the protected able energy have been deve-loped to support port and continue the implementation of the habitats, plants and wildlife has been up- the implementation of the joint strategy. strategy in the future. Management plan

The purpose of the management plan is the conservation and development of the protected goods in NATURA 2000 sites. Based on comprehensive invest- igations of flora and fauna, specific measures have been prepared for each protected species. In the process not only conservative measures (i.e. termi- nation of forest use) have been deter- mined but also (well defined) tending activities as essential contributions to the conservation of protection goods. In the context of the management plan preparation for the Special Protected Area Vellacher Kotschna, ‘nature’ has naturally been the primary issue but humans have been assigned the im- portant supporting role. Taking this path, it was possible to increase the acceptance of the protected area and to subsequently obtain positive effects on on one hand to protect flora and fauna the character of plenary assemblies, regional economy. For this purpose the by the means of an appropriate visitor also land use conflicts between particu- landowners and other land users (hunt- management and on the other hand lar stakeholders were made a subject ers, beekeepers) have been involved to allow a controlled visit and hiking of discussion and the solutions were in the definition of tending measures activities within the protected area. found. All this contributes to a thriving and the determination of calm areas. Local stakeholders have been involved development in the region and finally Talks have also been held with repre- within the scope of individual meetings proves advantageous for the protected sentatives of the municipalities and the and specific workshops in the region. At area itself. tourism sector. The common goal was those workshops, which normally had Development of strategies for regional, inter-regional and trans-border cooperation

The development of strategies for re- networks as well as the conservation and this vision already started to take real gional, inter-regional and trans-border improvement of the existing corridors. The shapes − several new project ideas and cooperation was an essential and integral primary measures to achieve these goals project applications for the reinforce- component of the workshops, mainly held are reasonable visitor management, the ment of trans-border cooperation have in bilateral settings, and supplementary maintenance of existing corridors as well been submitted. meetings in the scope of the NATREG pro- as the prevention of further landscape Contacts, established in the course of ject. The developed strategies are based fragmentation. the project, and the intensified coop- on two pillars or levels: eration between different stakeholders 2. Supra-regional/trans- and representatives should entail some 1. Natural and scenic focus national focus long-term and sustainable advantage The point of effort in this thematic field At the trans-border level of activities for the region. The established network is affecting the immediate spatial neigh- the European idea of so called ‘Green as well as the developed strategies and bourhood of the protected area Vellacher Belts’ has been taken up. The location of ideas are building up the basis for further Kotschna. In a 15 km wide buffer zone, the Vellacher Kotschna at the 8.500 km cooperation. surrounding the protected area, 42% of long ecological corridor along the former the surface area is part of the NATURA ‘Iron Curtain’ has been applied as a com- 2000 network, 71% of the boundary line mon vision and source of identity, not running directly along a neighbouring only to consider ecological aspects but protected area. first of all to support the socio-economic The major aim of the strategy is the in- development. tegration of protected areas in green In the course of the NATREG project Natural resource accounting

The Vellacher Kotschna is very rich in the protected area. The common qual- precious natural resource. Three plant ity of most of the habitats is that they species, 19 animal species and seven are endemic plant communities of the habitat types, enlisted in the appendices Southern Alps (e.g. Papaveri kerneri- of the FFH-Directive or the Directive on Thlaspietum kerneri). the Conservation on Birds, have been The great diversity of habitats is the ba- established in the protected area in the sis for the rich variety of species in the course of investigations for the manage- fauna of the Vellacher Kotschna. In the ment plan. forests for example black woodpecker Apart from the yellow lady’s-slipper and three-toed woodpecker are to be (Cypripedium calceolus) and the Zois’ bell- found but also wood grouse and hazel flower (Campanula zoysii), also the green grouse. In the subalpine zone there are fork moss (Dicranumviride) is to be found habitats of black grouse, whereas the in the project area. Beyond that, there Alpine zone more likely represents the are many more species with outstanding habitat of snow grouse. In addition, relevance for nature conservation due to three bat species could be established the fact that on Austrian territory they in the investigated protected area: the can only be found in Southern Carinthia, lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hip- e.g. Carniolan lily (Lilium carniolicum), posideros), the greater mouse-eared bat yellow Veronica (Paederota lutea), and (Myotis myotis) and the barbastelle bat Kerner’s Alpine poppy (Papaver kerneri). (Barbastella barbastellus). Finally, several There is a broad range of habitat types reptile and amphibian species spell out reaching from Illyrian beech forests the outstanding status of this NATURA to Alpine meadows and rock crevice 2000 site in the European protected area biotopes. Forests as well as rock and network. scree formations cover the majority of Follow-up projects

With the aim of boosting development in in the form of a trans-border web portal. the protected area region three follow-up The development of bookable packages, project proposals have been prepared: the integration of a sales system and the elaboration of a mobility concept are im- 1. Sustainable Alpine Pasture portant steps in achieving the pursued Management in Protected Areas (ALPA) aims. Municipalities, tourism associations This project, which aims at a sustainable and regional unions in the project region development of Alpine pastures in protected are the provided project partners. areas, has been prepared in cooperation with the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia 3. Sustainable Energy for Nature Conservation and the Triglav Production in Protected Area Regions National Park (Slovenia) and Nockberge This project is substantially focused on (Austria). The Jenkalm, which is a part of the the ecologically reasonable use of ener- protected area Vellacher Kotschna, has been gy sources in the region neighbouring chosen as a pilot area. Measures, defined the Vellacher Kotschna. In the munici- within the project, will improve both bio- palities on both sides of the border there diversity and the economic benefit. are intentions to make increasing use of renewable energy sources. The thereby 2. Trans-border Tourism Web Portal necessary construction of wind turbines, for the Eastern Karawanken Mountains wood gasification cogeneration systems, The region around the Vellacher Kotschna solar and small hydro power plants has shows a high potential for tourism use. to be aligned with the interests of nature Then again there is a high demand for au- conservation and tourism. Adequate solu- thentic tourism offer in the neighbouring tions for occurring problems in the field tourism centres. The declared objective of of renewable energy production will be the project shall be attained by the crea- provided on the basis of pilot projects. tion of a marketplace for tourism services

The NATREG project successfully tackled the activity/objective – it takes time and efforts to acceptable for the majority of stakeholders. key problem of all six selected pilot areas not only establish it but to nurse it through the Within the project we also: − the lack of coordinated management of whole process. Dialogue cannot begin without - prepared a Joint strategy for integrated man- protected areas, which often leads to un- local stakeholders since they are the ones who agement of protected areas with an action plan necessary disputes as representatives from live with the area. Their knowledge of the area’s for its implementation; the fields of nature conservation, develop- specific needs and problems, their opinions - produced a strategy for developing ecological ment and spatial planning do not cooperate and ideas are of great importance, which will corridors between protected areas; and hence cannot recognize development ensure sustainable development of the pilot - improved the (international) cooperation and opportunities of such sites. areas and deliver innovative local solutions to the transfer of knowledge/experience; The NATREG project broke new ground in build- local problems. - strengthened trans-national and cross-sector ing a constructive dialogue between all parties Within the NATREG project, partners altogeth- networking; involved by encouraging local inhabitants and er carried out more than 150 presentations, - identified and used the best examples of good key stakeholders from regional development, consultations, trainings, workshops and meet- practice for the specific needs of individual spatial planning, nature protection and other ings with/for more than 6.000 stakeholders. areas; related sectors to participate in the preparation The result of these efforts are draft manage- - prepared follow-up project ideas to boost of integrated management plans. It must be ment plans for all six pilot areas, which will regional sustainable development even after noted that creating a dialogue is not a one-time enable development with nature and will be the project’s conclusion.

NATREG project partners: • Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for for Nature Conservation (AUT) • Regional Agency for Environmental Nature Conservation, Lead partner (SLO) • Office of the State Government of Styria, Protection – ARPA Emilia Romagna (ITA) • Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Environment Dept. 16 – State Planning and Regional • Public Institute for Spatial Planning of and Spatial Planning (SLO) Development (AUT) Koprivnica – Križevci County (CRO) • Regional Environmental Centre, Country • Veneto Region, Spatial Planning and Parks • Public Institute for the Management of Office Ljubljana (SLO) Dept. (ITA) Protected Natural Values in the Area of the • Office of the Carinthian Government, Dept. • Klagenfurt University, Department of Koprivnica-Križevci County (CRO) 20 – Spatial Planning and Development, Dept. Economics (AUT) • Public Enterprise Vojvodinašume (SRB)

The NATREG project is financed by the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme. Published by: REC Ljubljana; Edited by Nina Uratarič, REC; Proofreading by; Roman Šimec; Photos: www.southeast-europe.net NATREG archive and project partners’ archives; Layout: Jaka Verbič Miklič / JVM Design; Printed in This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the South East Europe Programme Managing Slovenia by Petit Ltd., on recycled paper; Circulation of 350 copies; June 2011 Authority cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of information contained therein.

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