Rural Space Planning as a Tool for Natural Resource Management in Slovenia

Regulated spatial planning is in large number of countries primarily concentrated on urban areas, while the rural areas are less strictly planned, especially in the context of natural resource development. As Slovenia is a small county with very limited spatial conditions for non restricted development planning (ie. flat, no geographical or/and environmental restrictions), the idea of more or less detailed spatial planning in rural areas was adopted already in early 70es. The reason for starting with this kind of planning was mainly connected with the competition between urban and industrial development planning and agriculture for the best lands. In the paper we discuss the development of methods of rural spatial planning, present effects of past approaches on usage of rural space and the proposal of the future rural areas planning models.

Changes in agricultural holdings structure during the transition period in Slovenia

The paper presents the socio-economic restructuring of Slovene agricultural holding due to different transitional processes, such as denationalisation and privatisation, as the biggest property right transformation processes in Slovenia during transition period, as well as agricultural property transactions and will discuss other factors (loss of jobs, unemployment, accession etc) which influenced the recent development. At the end also the future possible development trends in agricultural holdings structure are presented.farm structure, transition, socio-economic types of farms, Slovenia., Agricultural and Food Policy,

Protection of the environment and biodiversity for sustainable future of rural areas: the case of planned regional park Trnovski Gozd, Slovenia

Der erste Abschnitt des Forschungsberichtes untersucht die slowenische Landwirtschafts- und Umweltpolitik hinsichtlich des Naturschutzes und der nachhaltigen ländlichen Entwicklung während der Übergangsphase des Landes. Diese Periode ist sowohl durch die Schaffung eines unabhängigen Staates, die Einführung eines demokratischen Mehrparteiensystems, den Übergang von der Plan- zur Marktwirtschaft als auch durch die EU-Mitgliedschaftskandidatur geprägt. Die Analyse der bestehenden Gesetze macht deutlich, dass die Gesetzgebung im Bereich des Umwelt- und Naturschutzes weiter fortgeschritten und in der Praxis effektiver ist als die Gesetzgebung in der Land- und Forstwirtschaft. Beide Bereiche lassen jedoch eine Annäherung zwischen oben und unten erkennen. In dem zweiten Abschnitt werden eine Reihe von empirischen Untersuchungen in den Bereichen der Land- und Forstwirtschaft sowie der Umweltschutzmaßnahmen unter dem Einfluss verschiedener Gesetze dokumentiert, insbesondere die vorgeschlagene Gründung des Trnovski Gozd Regionalparks als Naturschutzgebiet. Die empirischen Studien basieren auf Interviews mit 20 Vertretern der lokalen und sieben Mitgliedern der staatlichen Elite. Die befragte lokale und staatliche Elite glaubt, dass trotz einiger Einschränkungen der Park gute Gelegenheiten für die lokale Entwicklung (Werbung für den Park, neue Arbeitsplätze, Öko-Tourismus) bieten wird und zudem Natur-/Biodiversität und Umweltschutz garantiert. Des Weiteren plädiert die lokale Elite dafür, dass lokale Autoritäten und Anwohner (NGOs) bei der Gründung des Regionalparks mit eingebunden werden sollten. (ICGÜbers)"The first part of the paper examines Slovenian agricultural and environmental policy related to nature protection and sustainable rural development in the period of the country's transition. This period has been characterised by creation a new independent state, introduction of a multi-party democratic political system, transformation of planned-market economy to market economy as well as by the coming accession to the EU. The analysis of relevant laws reveals that environment and nature protection legislation is more advanced and more effective in practice than agricultural and forestry legislation, both, however, displaying a top-down approach. In the second part of the paper, empirical studies are made into the impact of the different laws on agriculture, forestry and environment protection practices as well as into the proposed foundation of Trnovski Gozd regional park as a protected area. The empirical studies were based on interviews made with 20 members of local and 7 members of state elite. Local and state elite respondents believe that, despite some limitations, the park will offer good opportunities for local development (promotion of the area, new jobs, eco-tourism), and by the same token guarantee protection of nature/ biodiversity and the environment. The local elite respondents, furthermore, agree that local authorities and local residents (NGOs) should participate at all stages of the foundation of the regional park." (author's abstract

Changes in agricultural holdings structure during the transition period in Slovenia

The paper presents the socio-economic restructuring of Slovene agricultural holding due to different transitional processes, such as denationalisation and privatisation, as the biggest property right transformation processes in Slovenia during transition period, as well as agricultural property transactions and will discuss other factors (loss of jobs, unemployment, accession etc) which influenced the recent development. At the end also the future possible development trends in agricultural holdings structure are presented

Protection of Environment and Biodiversity for Sustainable Future of Rural Areas: The Case of Planned Regional Park of Trnovski Gozd, Slovenia

The first part of the paper examines Slovenian agricultural and environmental policy related to nature protection and sustainable rural development in the period of the country's transition. This period has been characterised by creation a new independent state, introduction of a multi-party democratic political system, transformation of planned-market economy to market economy as well as by the coming accession to the EU. The analysis of relevant laws reveals that environment and nature protection legislation is more advanced and more effective in practice than agricultural and forestry legislation, both, however, displaying a top-down approach. In the second part of the paper, empirical studies are made into the impact of the different laws on agriculture, forestry and environment protection practices as well as into the proposed foundation of Trnovski Gozd Regional Park as a protected area. The empirical studies were based on interviews made with 20 members of local and 7 members of state elite. Local and state elite respondents believe that, despite some limitations, the park will offer good opportunities for local development (promotion of the area, new jobs, eco-tourism), and by the same token guarantee protection of nature/biodiversity and the environment. The local elite respondents, furthermore, agree that local authorities and local residents (NGOs) should participate at all stages of the foundation of the regional park