. 1

Property regimes in the context of multi-level

biodiversity governance

Decision-making over the forest management in protected areas in

Slovak Republic

PhD meeting – Bratislava 3.6.2009Sonja Trifunovova,

PhD student

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Multi-level biodiversity governance

• Concept emerged from studies on EU integration as a new wave of thinking about EU as one political system

• Multi-level governance- governance dispersed across multiple jurisdictions

• governance = increased interdependence between governments and non-governmental actors at various territorial levels

(Bache and Flinders 2004)

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

• The EU theoretically became “complex and very dynamic polity in which decision-making powers are shared between different vertical tiers of authority (supranational, national, subnational)” (Jordan A. 2001)

• However, normative stance prevails : - MLG more effective than central state monopoly - Biodiversity can successfully be maintained by such complex, multi-layered governance systems

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Challenge for new EU member states?

• Jehlička & Tickle (2004) have recognized more passive approach of these countries in EU environmental policy-making, due to previous 'top-down' imposition of EU requirements, which came to be the leading framework of their environmental policy.

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Effects

- Low level of participation

-> conflicts over management of forests inside protected areas

-> research interest: role of property regimes ?

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Theory

1- Inductive Approach

2- Concept of Institutional Interplay and Change

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Methodology

Qualitative Interviews, Ethnographic Research

CPR Games in SR (in part)

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Cooperatives“urbariats”

- Common type of property

- The size of owned land differs among cooperatives and within cooperatives

- Benefits shared

- Costs: maintenance of forest

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Property and use rights changed over the time

Reconstruction of Slovak case

Austro-Hungarian Kingdom

Socialism (establishment of national park)

Post-socialism

Reconstruction of Serbian Case

Austro-Hungarian Kingdom

Socialism (establishment of national park)

Post-socialism

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Interviews

How do they make their choices over forest management?

Interviews suggest that… (data still under process!)

- important role of power relationships

- size of owned forest play role

- costs burden

- emotional attachment

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

Thank you!

Sonja Trifunovová, PhD student

Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences

References:

• Bache I, Fliders M. 2004. Themes and issues in multi-level governance. In Multi-level Governance, Bache I, Flinders M (eds). Oxford University Press: New York, pp 1-11.

• Fairbrass J, Jordan A. 2001. Protecting biodiversity in the European Union: national barriers and European opportunities? Journal of European Public Policy 8: 499-518.

• Jehlička P, Tickle A. 2004. Environmental Implications of Eastern Enlargement: The end of progressive EU Environmental Policy? Environmental Politics 13: 77-95.