Natura 2000 Networking Programme Natura 2000 success stories

Natura 2000 Networking Programme Natura 2000: success stories to learn from and further potential Programme's final conference Bernard Gorsak Kozjanski Park, Slovenia Brussels, 28 th November 2007

CONTENT 1 PREFACE 2 BACKGROUND 3 SUCCESS STORY 4 CONCLUSION

1. 1 Personal ID • Bernard Gorsak (39), environmentalist • Employee of Public Institution Kozjanski Park (9) • Head of Nature Protection Department • Elaboration and execution of projects: Phare, Life, Interreg, Life+ • Cooperation with other competent authorities (Ministry, Institution of Nature Protection, Forest Management, Agriculture Advisory Service) • Education, public awareness, media

1. 2 Our organization ID • Public Institution • Governmental, non-profit • Staff: 18 (+ public workers + project coordinator) • Budget: 500. 000 €/year • Competence: manager of protected area • Field of work: protection of natural and cultural heritage • HQ: medieval town Podsreda

1. 3 Protected area ID • • Regional Park, IUCN V East of Slovenia, on border to Croatia Established: 1981 by Parliament of RS Size: 200 km 2 Population: 10. 000 5 municipalities Undeveloped Lowest GDP in SLO

1. 4 Natura 2000 in Slovenia • Established: 05. 2004 • Surface: over 35% of the country • Preparational phase: formation of so called “N 2 K Communicators Groups”; composed out of different experts (Forest Management, Agriculture Advisory Service, environmentalists, PAs managers. . ) • Structure: large part covered by forest • Management: where N 2 K proclaimed because of forest habitats or animals existing Forest Management Plans will be adopted as N 2 K MP (with some modifications)

1. 5 Natura 2000 in Kozjanski Park Surface: 67% of PA Structure: 1 SPA, 3 p. SCI

SPA: 37 % SAC: 32%

Code: SI 3000273 Orlica Species: Lutra lutra, Rhinolophus hippoideros, Austropotamobius torrentium, Morimus funereus, Rosalia alpina, Lucanus cervus Habitats: Aremonio-Fagion, Luzulo-Fagetum, Festuco-Brometalia (orchids)

Code: SI 3000274 Bohor Species: Buxbaumia viridis, Dicranum viride, Lutra lutra, Austropotamobius torrentium, Morimus funereus, Rosalia alpina, Lucanus cervus, Cucujus cinnaberinus Habitats: Aremonio-Fagion, Luzulo-Fagetum, Festuco-Brometalia (orchids), Molinion caeruleae

2. 1 What is hiding behind BIG words, like: ¢ INTEGRATIVE MANAGEMENT ¢ PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT ¢ ADEPTIVE MANAGEMENT ¢ STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT ¢ HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT ¢ COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT

2. 2 Maybe just “Common sense” • Personal twist of mind - turning points: – My Belgian professor, true anecdote – Project experience (Interreg IIIA, collision with Local Community and Forest Management) – N 2 K Communicators Group – N 2 K Ambassador • Shortest way is not (necessarily) the quickest nor the best

B A

3. 1 Framework Ø NNi – resolutions reached on workshop in Austria Ø Apple Festival: Annual event of the year in KP (“hidden”agenda: promoting N 2 K) Ø Organizational frame: EUROPARC (major sponsor) + 2 PAs (Radensko Polje and Kozjanski Park) Ø Main aim: to involve all N 2 K stakeholders Ø Topic: “N 2 K - between hammer and anvil of development strategies”

3. 2 Programme: PART ONE Date: Friday, 12. October 2007 Venue: Podsreda, Kozjanski Park Schedule: from 9, 30 – 12, 00 presentations: ¢M. Šolar (Triglav National Park): Europarc and NNI project ¢P. Skoberne (Ministry of Environment): Natura 2000 updates ¢B. Wieser (N 2 K Austria): Experiences of Natura 2000 guardian in Austria ¢B. Grabrijan (ELO): To be owner and nature protectionist in Natura 2000 Participants: alltogether 47 (local municipalities, PAs, landowners, Agriculture Advisory Service, Forest Management, Ministry)

3. 3 Programme: PART TWO Friday, afternoon: • Transfer to the PA Radensko polje; case studies from other protected areas: – – – J. Dobravc (Triglav National Park), A. Lenar (PA Logarska dolina), L. Kebe (PA Notranjski park), T. Mikuš (PA Radensko polje), Guided field excursion to Radensko polje. • Return to Kozjanski Park, supper, discussion

KOZJANSKI PARK RADENSKO POLJE

3. 4 Programme: PART THREE Saturday, 13. October, forenoon: • Two examples of good practice; on-site presentation: –Meadow orchards restoration project (Interreg III A) –Mountain dry grassland project (Life).

Case # 1: Meadow orchards restoration

Case #2: Mountain dry grassland management

3. 5 Apple Festival • Emphasis on stakeholders’ participation and next plans. Discussion, reviewing the experiences of last two days, lunch and visit of the Festival.

EXHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL FRUIT VARIETIES

OPENING

75 STALLS

EXHIBITION OF MUSHROOMS

TRADITIONAL HANDICRAFT

ENTERTAINMENT

GUESTS FROM CROATIA

LOCAL GROUPS

GAMES: “THE LONGEST PEEL”

TUG-OF-WAR

DISTILLERY

4 CONCLUSIONS • Respons by almost all participants was nothing less but most positive • Valuable lesson for each of us • It takes time: Our past, social environment (education, regime) and tradition was not in favour of open-minded and all-inclusive dialogue • “Our patience will achieve more than our force” (E. Burke)

NEXT PROJECTS APPLE FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS NNi REGIONAL PRODUCTS TREE NURSERY REJUVENATION CUT N 2 K

4 CONCLUSIONS • Such occasions prove obstacles can be surmounted (just don’t expect to much to soon) • Sustainability can stand only if no one will be excluded • Doors are open

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION