Comparison of the role of NGOs in Natura 2000 implementation in Poland and Hungary ; influence, outcomes and future prospects for Natura 2000 maintenance

With their accession to the EU in 2004, Poland and Hungary had to implement the Natura 2000 programme for biodiversity protection. In both countries NGOs have been active throughout the implementation process. Forms and outcomes of NGO involvement, however, differed. Hungarian NGOs were very influential during the site designation phase, working closely with the governmental authorities and contributing considerably to the country’s site proposal. In Poland, the form of NGO’s involvement changed from opposition towards the government (publication of a Natura 2000 shadow list) to close cooperation with public institutions, resulting in a significant expansion of site designations. This paper analyses the role and impact of NGOs on Natura 2000 implementation in Poland and Hungary and seeks explanation for the observed differences with reference to the theoretical background of policy networks and advocacy coalitions. The qualitative data used for the study is based on in-depth interviews with NGOs representatives and officials of public institutions engaged in Natura 2000 implementation. The comparison shows that the existing architecture of the sector of biodiversity governance is decisive for NGO activities and determines their role and impact. In the European multilevel governance setting new formal and informal opportunities were given to NGOs. In both countries NGOs became stronger during the Natura 2000 process. We argue that this was a result of the establishment of multi-level policy networks between the European Commission, NGOs and public institutions, based on resource dependencies. These networks were powerful enough to overcome dominating policy patterns in both countries. The differences found between Hungary and Poland could be explained by different discoursive positions of the responsible ministries. The change of government in Poland in 2007 shifted the discourse towards supporting conservation, which enabled the formation of an advocacy coalition between the government and NGOs

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

Can green infrastructure help to conserve biodiversity?

The gradually decreasing connectivity of habitats threatens biodiversity and ecological processes valuable to humans. Green infrastructure is promoted by the European Commission as a key instrument for the conservation of ecosystems in the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. Green infrastructure has been defined as a network of natural and semi-natural areas, designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. We surveyed Finnish experts' perceptions on the development of green infrastructure within the existing policy framework. Our results show that improving the implementation of existing conservation policy instruments needs to be an integral part of developing green infrastructure. Despite the potential of green infrastructure to benefit biodiversity, existing conceptual ambiguity of green infrastructure with rather complex role of ecosystem services - and the possible interpretation of this in practice - raises concerns regarding its ability to contribute to biodiversity conservation.Peer reviewe

Expansion of Nature Conservation Areas: Problems with Natura 2000 Implementation in Poland?

In spite of widespread support from most member countries’ societies for European Union policy, including support for the sustainable development idea, in many EU countries the levels of acceptance of new environmental protection programmes have been and, in particular in new member states, still are considerably low. The experience of the countries which were the first to implement union directives show that they cannot be effectively applied without widespread public participation. The goal of this study was, using the example of Poland, to assess public acceptance of the expansion of nature conservation in the context of sustainable development principles and to discover whether existing nature governance should be modified when establishing new protected areas. The increase in protected areas in Poland has become a hotbed of numerous conflicts. In spite of the generally favourable attitudes to nature which Polish people generally have, Natura 2000 is perceived as an unnecessary additional conservation tool. Both local authorities and communities residing in the Natura areas think that the programme is a hindrance, rather than a help in the economic development of municipalities or regions, as was initially supposed. This lack of acceptance results from many factors, mainly social, historic and economic. The implications of these findings for current approach to the nature governance in Poland are discussed