Should conservation of biodiversity involve private land? : a Q methodological study in Poland to assess stakeholders' attitude

Biodiversity conservation is gradually shifting its dependency on public protected areas to take a more holistic ecosystem and landscape approach that includes private lands in addition to public lands. However, effective practice of biodiversity conservation on private land also depends on landowners’ attitude and their willingness to participate and cooperate. This study focuses on Poland where conservation on private land is a relatively new concept but it is slowly gaining recognition, especially after its accession into the European Union. It investigates and classifies the diverse attitudes among stakeholder groups in Poland toward biodiversity conservation on private land that are part of protected areas. Four primary stakeholder groups were considered: conservation and park authorities, local administrative officials, local conservation based NGOs and private landowners. The study was conducted across three sites that represented three different forms of protected areas in Poland: a national park, a landscape park and a Natura 2000 site. Q methodology, a research method from psychology and other social sciences, was used to classify human subjectivity in stakeholders’ attitude in a more systematic manner. The analysis yielded three predominant factors which highlighted the diversity in attitudes among the stakeholder groups based on their knowledge, concerns and experience in the subject. Additionally, it underlined the common recognition among all stakeholder groups for better policy support, stronger collaboration among stakeholder and more financial or compensatory support for landowners to make private land conservation more feasible. Understanding the differences in attitudes will help bridge the gap between conservation priority and conservation opportunity-a current challenge in the field of biodiversity conservation

Quantifying human subjectivity using Q method : when quality meets quantity

Incorporating human subjectivity in applied disciplines of social sciences and other base sciences poses a challenge as the nature of qualitative data is often the point of contention. Q methodology is a tool that addresses this challenge as it helps quantify qualitative data using Q factor analysis. Initially developed for psychology and political sciences, Q methodology now finds its use in many research disciplines of science, especially in interdisciplinary studies that take into account human subjectivity. This article provides a detailed description on the various steps involved in conducting a Q study, with special emphasis on data interpretation. To describe the methodology and demonstrate data interpretation, we used data from our pilot case study of socio-ecological nature that documents attitudes of people towards nature conservation on private land. Additionally, we mention the specific usefulness of this method, highlight the potential challenges at each step of the approach, and provide practical advice to overcome them. In our opinion, Q methodology has been more restricted in its use on the ground of being a more social or psychological tool, and therefore, our aim is to familiarize researchers who could be interested in a mixed approach of joining quantitative data analysis with qualitative, in-depth interpretation with the approach at hand

Biodiversity conservation and monitoring : engagement and motivations of citizen scientists

Biodiversity conservation cannot operate in Central Eastern European countries without a well-established monitoring system, that is dependent on the citizen scientists input. Here we analyse, based on a Polish case: (1) The contribution of NGOs to the national nature monitoring scheme and their collaboration with governmental and scientifi c institutions and (2) the motivation of citizen scientists to volunteer for NGOs’ monitoring activities. The study comprises a focus group interview, 30 in-depth interviews with coordinators, citizen scientists, experts and a 23 days long participant observation of a model NGO. We have assessed the monitoring input of NGOs as being a contributory factor infl uencing the biodiversity conservation effectiveness. The cooperation between governmental, scientifi c institutions and NGOs exists, but is dependent on national funding. Although NGOs highlight the lack of coherence in monitoring methodology, they are willing to join the biodiversity monitoring, especially at the European Ecological Network – Natura 2000 sites. On the other hand the trust concerning cooperation with citizen scientists is limited. However, despite this, they still turned out to be trustworthy partners. The most effective way to maintain cooperation with citizen scientists is to create a bond in a group and to provide them with the opportunity to develop their passion for nature. Our fi ndings have shed light on the growing importance of citizen scientists in biodiversity governance, providing recommendations for developBiodiversity conservation cannot operate in Central Eastern European countries without a well-established monitoring system, that is dependent on the citizen scientists input. Here we analyse, based on a Polish case: (1) The contribution of NGOs to the national nature monitoring scheme and their collaboration with governmental and scientifi c institutions and (2) the motivation of citizen scientists to volunteer for NGOs’ monitoring activities. The study comprises a focus group interview, 30 in-depth interviews with coordinators, citizen scientists, experts and a 23 days long participant observation of a model NGO. We have assessed the monitoring input of NGOs as being a contributory factor infl uencing the biodiversity conservation effectiveness. The cooperation between governmental, scientifi c institutions and NGOs exists, but is dependent on national funding. Although NGOs highlight the lack of coherence in monitoring methodology, they are willing to join the biodiversity monitoring, especially at the European Ecological Network – Natura 2000 sites. On the other hand the trust concerning cooperation with citizen scientists is limited. However, despite this, they still turned out to be trustworthy partners. The most effective way to maintain cooperation with citizen scientists is to create a bond in a group and to provide them with the opportunity to develop their passion for nature. Our fi ndings have shed light on the growing importance of citizen scientists in biodiversity governance, providing recommendations for development of the effective monitoring schemes based on the volunteer work of citizen scientists.ment of the effective monitoring schemes based on the volunteer work of citizen scientists

Dobór wskaźników zrównoważonego rozwoju lokalnej społeczności na przykładzie gminy Milanówek

Działania na rzecz zrównoważonego rozwoju na poziomie lokalnych społeczności są kluczowym elementem Agendy 21 i zarazem niezwykle trudnym wyzwaniem. Do skutecznego zarządzania tym procesem, potrzebne są wskaźniki zrównoważonego rozwoju, które pozwolą na bieżąco oceniać zmiany zachodzące w lokalnym systemie społecznym, gospodarczym i środowiskowym. W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono wyniki oceny zrównoważonego rozwoju gminy Milanówek (woj. mazowieckie) jako przykład wykorzystania na polskim gruncie mieszanego, redukcjonistyczno-partycypacyjnego podejścia do doboru wskaźników zrównoważonego rozwoju społeczności lokalnych. Wyniki pokazują, że można podczas toczącej się obecnie szerokiej dyskusji teoretycznej nad zrównoważonym rozwojem wypracować i zastosować zestaw wskaźników pomagający kształtować strategię rozwoju gminy w celu jak najpełniejszego zrealizowania jej założeń.Actions for sustainable development at the local community level are the key elements of Agenda 21 but they also prove to be a difficult challenge. The governance of this process needs sustainability indicators to assess changes in local socio-economic and environmental systems to date. This article presents results of research on the local sustainable development assessment in Milanówek Municipality in Poland. This is an attempt to use a mixed, reductionist-participatory approach to selecting sustainability indicators for one local community in Poland. The paper shows how to develop and use, at the time of broad theoretical debate on implementation of sustainable development strategies, a set of indicators helping us to shape the development strategy of a municipality to fully satisfy its requirements

Emerging multilevel environmental governance – A case of public participation in Poland

AbstractIn recent decades, nature conservation policies have increasingly considered the participation of various actors. However, the effectiveness of such efforts is often questionable, and better methods of engaging stakeholders are still being sought. In this paper, we present an analysis of a consultation program conducted in the final stage of site selection for Natura 2000 in Małopolska, a region located in southern Poland. Based on a desk study and qualitative research, we analysed the modes and degrees of participation, the normative foundations of the consultation program, and the goals and expectations that characterise participants. The results are discussed using Unnestall's and Arnstein's typologies of participation, which show the limited success of the participatory process in representing all relevant stakeholders and enabling their actual influence on final decisions. The importance of implementing the EU directives for emerging multilevel governance in the nature conservation sector in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, is highlighted. In the context of Poland, the consultation program analysed appeared to be a novel and innovative step forward towards the development of a meaningful participatory approach in this region of Europe

Jak społeczności lokalne postrzegają doliny rzek karpackich chronione siecią Natura 2000? : w świetle koncepcji usług ekosystemowych i metody doradców domowych

Wprowadzenie Europejskiej Sieci Ekologicznej Natura 2000 praktycznie od początku miało charakter konfliktowy, prowadząc często, zarówno na etapie wyznaczania poszczególnych terenów chronionych jak i opracowywania dla nich planów zadań ochronnych, do sprzeciwu lokalnych społeczności. Powody konfliktów były złożone, zarówno będąc związane z własnością prywatną gruntów, dezinformacją o Naturze 2000, brakiem zaufania do instytucji zarządzających ochroną przyrody jak również brakiem wiedzy i świadomości odnośnie celowości wprowadzenia nowej formy ochrony - Natura 2000. Celem niniejszej pracy jest analiza postrzegania dolin rzecznych i konieczności ich ochrony na obszarach Natura 2000 (w świetle koncepcji usług ekosystemowych) przez społeczności lokalne na przykładzie rzek karpackich. Badania ankietowe przeprowadzono w końcu 2017 r. wśród 2221 mieszkańców siedmiu obszarów naturowych obejmujących doliny rzek w południowej części Polski przy użyciu metody "doradców domowych". Wyniki pokazują, że percepcja chronionych dolin rzek karpackich jak również postrzeganie pełnionych przez rzekę usług ekosystemowych wśród społeczności lokalnych jest bliska neutralnej. Najbardziej dostrzegana jest funkcja rzeki jako źródła ryb i usługa rekreacyjna (przez około 65% respondentów). Na nastawienie respondentów do rzeki w dużej mierze wpływa problem powodzi. Wiedzę o programie Natura 2000 wykazuje połowa respondentów, a zdecydowana większość z nich (84%) uważa program za potrzebny. Wyniki badań mogą służyć jako dobra praktyka dla instytucji zajmujących się zarządzaniem przyrodą zarówno na terenie badawczym, jak i innych obszarach Natura 2000 w Polsce i w Europie.The introduction of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 has been conflicting from the very beginning, leading often, both at the stage of the protected areas determining and plan of protective tasks developing, the opposition of local communities. The reasons for the conflicts are complex, both related to private ownership of land, misinformation about Natura 2000, lack of trust in nature management institutions as well as lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the advisability of introducing a new form of protection - Natura 2000. The aim of this study was to analyse the perception of river valleys and the need to protect them by Natura 2000 Network (in the light of the ecosystem services concept) among local communities on the example of Carpathian rivers. The survey was conducted at the end of 2017 among 2221 residents from seven Natura 2000 sites covering river valleys in southern Poland using the "home advisor" method. The results show that the perception of protected Carpathian river valleys, as well as the perception of the ecosystem services performed by the river among local communities, are close to neutral. The function of the river as a fish source and recreational function are most perceived (by about 65% of respondents). The respondents' attitude towards the river is largely influenced by the flood problem. Half of the respondents heard about Natura 2000 Network and the vast majority of them (84%) consider the program necessary. The research results can serve as a good practice for institutions dealing with nature management both in the studied areas and other Natura 2000 areas in Poland and in Europe

Challenges and opportunities in biodiversity conservation on private land : an institutional perspective from Central Europe and North America

Private land is gradually emerging as a global biodiversity conservation strategy for its potential to complement the existing protected area model in its attempt to halt the global biodiversity loss. However, involving private lands in conserving a public good face continuous challenges. While examining landowners’ motivations for conserving their land is imperative to its success, it is equally important to assess how other stakeholder groups perceive private land conservation. In order to capture the diversity and contrasts in implementing private land conservation, this research focuses on investigating the managerial perspectives on the status of private land conservation in two countries: USA and Poland. The paper presents the results of twenty five in-depth interviews that were conducted in the two countries. The US context, with a longer history and experience, captured complex interactions and factors that influence private land conservation, including role of conservation policies, civic sector organizations, stakeholder collaboration, technical and financial support, and nonmonetary motivations of landowners. The Polish context however, was limited to the regulatory model and as such did not differentiate private land conservation from traditional protected areas. Additionally, the lack of voluntary initiatives along with adequate policies and lack of awareness on private land conservation at a national and local level contributed to limited scope and understanding on the subject. The two case studies highlight the context dependency of such a strategy and bring to focus some of the factors that should be addressed while adopting conservation on private land as a biodiversity conservation strategy