scholarly journals Stakeholders’ Social Network in the Participatory Process of Formulation of Natura 2000 Management Programme in Slovenia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Tomislav Laktić ◽  
Aleš Žiberna ◽  
Tina Kogovšek ◽  
Špela Pezdevšek Malovrh
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Management Programme ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Participatory Process ◽  
Cooperation Network

Stakeholder participation has become an important driving force in policy decision-making and implementation, particularly in the nature conservation sector, where complex interactions and conflict of interest between stakeholders are common. A stakeholder analysis, which was complemented with a social network analysis, was used to examine the cooperation and conflict network between stakeholders, their institutions, and sectors in the case of the formulation of the Natura 2000 Management programme in Slovenia for the period 2015–2020 (PUN). Using data from a web survey (n = 167), cooperation and conflict networks were analysed while using degree centrality, indegree centrality, betweenness centrality, and blockmodeling. The results of the stakeholder analysis showed that the highest number of stakeholders that are involved in the participatory process of PUN was from the forestry and hunting sector, followed by the agriculture and nature conservation sector. The results of the cooperation network showed that the network is highly centralized, with only few institutions taking a central position in the PUN process (Institute for Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, and the Slovenian Forest Service). Moreover, the nature conservation sector was, on average, a sector with the highest concentration of power. In addition, in the cooperation network, which was fragmented across sectors, there were institutions that belonged to the same sector, which tended to cooperate with each other. The analysis of the conflict network showed that institutions with a central position in the cooperation network also had a central role in the conflict network. In addition, conflicts between institutions more frequently appeared among institutions from different sectors. The exceptions were institutions from the fishery and water sector, as this sector seemed to have many conflicts within it. Based on a blockmodeling, four groups of institutions were identified according to their cooperation network (core institutions, semi-core institutions, semi-periphery institutions, and periphery institutions). Our finding suggested that the participatory process of formulating PUN needs to be improved in such a way that in the future various stakeholders, especially excluded local ones, are more actively involved and a balance of the power between the stakeholders involved achieved.

scholarly journals Stakeholder Participation in Natura 2000 Management Program: Case Study of Slovenia

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomislav Laktić ◽  
Špela Pezdevšek Malovrh
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Participatory Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Implementation Problems

The Natura 2000 network, which is one of the largest networks of protected areas in the world, is the core pillar in the European Union’s biodiversity conservation policy. To achieve the national enforcement of Natura 2000 and to overcome implementation problems, effective policy measures are needed, and participation among different stakeholders is required. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the process of formulation of the Natura 2000 Management Program (2015–2020) in Slovenia based on a set of criteria and indicators for the evaluation of a participatory process, and to present the differences between the stakeholders’ evaluations according to their role in the implementation process. For that purpose, stakeholders were divided into two groups—stakeholders from project partner’s institution, and others. The research was done in two steps: First, in-depth semi-structured interviews with 17 representatives of the key stakeholders’ institutions or organizations that were involved in the formulation of the Natura 2000 Management Program were carried out; in the second, a survey with 266 stakeholders involved in the formulation and decision-making process was conducted. Overall, the results show that the participatory process was well organized, independent and fair; however, not all of the requisite conditions for successful participation were fulfilled, as was shown with the sub-criteria of transparency. The only difference between the groups exists in the evaluations of the sub-criteria transparency of the process. The group of stakeholders from the project’s partner institutions were more satisfied with the transparency of the process, as the average value was 3.36, compared to the others where the average value of satisfaction was 2.80. This indicates the need for an improved, novel, and innovative approach that leads to multi-level governance.

scholarly journals The Forest Stakeholders’ Perception towards the NATURA 2000 Network in the Czech Republic

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Schneider ◽  
Aleš Ruda ◽  
Žaneta Kalasová ◽  
Alessandro Paletto
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Participatory Process ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Natura 2000 Network ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Conservation Interventions

Natura 2000 is a network of European protected areas, established under the provision of two directives of the European Union: the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC; 2009/147/EU). The Natura 2000 network can be considered an interesting instrument to maintain and improve ecosystem services provided by protected sites. The European Union member countries are free to organize the participatory process in the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. The participatory process is often overlooked despite it being an important tool to increase the social acceptance and reduce conflicts among stakeholders with different interests. The aim of the present study is to investigate the stakeholders’ perceptions towards the ecosystem services provided by the Natura 2000 sites in the Czech Republic. The data was collected through a questionnaire survey involving 53 stakeholders (forester managers and nature conservation authorities) in all regions of the Czech Republic. The results show that for the respondents, the implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives in the Czech Republic is very or quite important (54.7%), but at the same time, many respondents consider the Natura 2000 network an obstacle for economic activities close to the sites (66.0% of total respondents). In accordance with the stakeholders’ opinions, the three most important human activities near and inside the Natura 2000 sites are agricultural activities, followed by nature conservation interventions and forestry activities. The representatives of environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and academia emphasize the importance of nature conservation interventions, while the other groups of interest consider the provisioning services supplied by agricultural and forestry activities as the most relevant ecosystem services. The results of this study can be considered as the starting point aimed to improve the participatory process in the establishment and management of the Natura 2000 sites based on the stakeholders’ feelings and opinions.

Fostering Sustainability in European Nature Conservation NATURA 2000 Habitat Monitoring based on Earth Observation Services

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Lang ◽  
Annett Frick ◽  
Birgen Haest ◽  
Oliver Buck ◽  
Jeroen Vanden Borre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Habitat Monitoring

Incommensurable preferences in contingent valuation: the case of Natura 2000 Network in Finland

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. REKOLA ◽  
E. POUTA ◽  
J. KUULUVAINEN ◽  
O. TAHVONEN ◽  
C.-Z. LI
Keyword(s):  
Property Rights ◽  
Contingent Valuation ◽  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Private Property ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Private Property Rights ◽  
Lexicographic Preferences ◽  
Preference Construction ◽  
Policy Decision Making

In the literature of contingent valuation, a rights-based system of environmental ethics claiming that natural objects have absolute rights, has frequently been regarded as the main reason for incommensurability, i.e. for citizens’ inability to find a common measure according to which all values could be ranked. In a study of 2400 Finns aged between 18 and 70, we tested whether a respondent's commitment to guaranteeing private property rights could be a reason for incommensurability beyond the respondent's possible commitment to absolute nature rights. It was found that incommensurability, modelled with lexicographic preferences, was attributable more often to private property rights than to nature rights. However, Finnish respondents who had lexicographic preferences for nature rights based their choice more often on an ethical judgement, whereas lexicographic preferences for property rights could rather be explained with an ambivalent preference construction. Lexicographic preferences for nature rights increased the willingness to pay for conservation, while lexicographic preferences for property rights decreased it. The result, which was predicted by the theory, supported the validity of incommensurability measurement. The study therefore indicates that several reasons for incommensurable preferences may exist and that it is possible to measure these reasons in contingent valuation surveys in order to judge the validity of the welfare measures in environmental policy decision-making.

Stakeholder involvement in water management: the role of the stakeholder analysis within participatory processes

Water Policy ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Sabina Lupo Stanghellini
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Future Challenges

Water is a central resource supporting human activities and ecosystems and it is required for different purposes and uses that are often conflicting. Existing water-related problems are expected to increase and conventional water resource management systems are not likely to be able to face future challenges. There is the need for an integrated water resources management, which should be participatory, technically and scientific informed and which should be based on bottom-up approach. The Directive 2000/60/EC is based on principles of integrated planning and calls for stakeholder involvement in water management. Involving stakeholders is an important step to ensure that catchment management plans take into consideration local needs, experiences and interests. This paper presents a stakeholder analysis methodology that was developed to support stakeholder participation in water management. The methodology was implemented as a preliminary step in a stakeholder participation project in an alpine sub-catchment in Northern Italy.

scholarly journals Combining Stakeholder- and Social Network- Analysis to Improve Regional Nature Conservation: A Case Study from Osnabrück, Germany

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Przesdzink ◽  
Laura Mae Herzog ◽  
Florian Fiebelkorn
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Knowledge Mapping ◽  
Land User ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Conservation Projects

AbstractMany nature conservation projects fail primarily not because of a lack of knowledge about upcoming threats or viable conservation concepts but rather because of the inability to transfer knowledge into the creation of effective measures. Therefore, an increase in information exchange and collaboration between theory- and practice-oriented conservation actors, as well as between conservation actors, land user groups, and authorities may enhance the effectiveness of conservation goals. By considering the interactions between conservation stakeholders as social networks, social network analysis (SNA) can help identify structural optimization potential in these networks. The present study combines SNA and stakeholder analysis (SA) to assess the interactions between 34 conservation stakeholders in the major city and district of Osnabrück in northwestern Germany and offers insights into cost/benefit optimizations of these stakeholder interactions. Data were acquired using a pile sort technique and guideline-based expert interviews. The SA, based on knowledge mapping and SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, identified individual stakeholder’s complementary properties, indicating which among them would most benefit from mutual information exchange and collaboration. The SNA revealed discrepancies in information exchange and collaboration between theory- and practice-focused stakeholders. Conflicts were found predominantly between conservation associations, authorities and land user groups. Ecological research, funding, land-use conflicts, and distribution of conservation knowledge were identified as fields with high potential for increased information exchange and collaboration. Interviews also showed that the stakeholders themselves see many opportunities for increased networking in the region. The results are discussed in relation to the existing literature on nature conservation networks and used to recommend optimization measures for the studied network. Finally, the conclusion reflects upon the developed approach’s implications and possibilities for conservation stakeholders and planners in general.

Phytosociological analysis of Gladiolus palustris sites in northwestern, western and southwestern Slovenia / Fitocenološka oznaka rastišč vrste Gladiolus palustris v severozahodni, zahodni in jugozahodni Sloveniji

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-159
Author(s):  
Igor Dakskobler ◽  
Andrej Seliškar ◽  
Branko Vreš
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Distinguishing Characteristic ◽  
Nature Conservation Policy

With a phytosociological analysis of more than 200 relevés on more than 25 localities with Gladiolus palustrisand (or) G. illyricusin western and southwestern Slovenia we identified more than 15 communities of association rank that belong to at least eight vegetation alliances and five classes. We determined that these two species can grow on the same localities and sites, but Gladiolus palustrisflowers at least 14 days after G. illyricus. Another reliable distinguishing characteristic is the fibrous tunic covering the corm. Gladiolus palustris is threatened in most of the examined localities, except for the Banjšice Plateau and the Slavnik range in Čičarija, but the current nature conservation policy in Slovenia does not provide for its preservation. Key words: Gladiolus palustris, G. illyricus, phytosociology, syntaxonomy, Natura 2000, nature conservation, Slovenia   Izvleček S fitocenološko analizo več kot 200 popisov na več kot 25 nahajališčih v zahodni in jugozahodni Sloveniji, na katerih uspevata vrsti Gladiolus palustrisin (ali) G. illyricus, smo prepoznali več kot 15 združb na rangu asociacije, ki pripadajo vsaj osmim vegetacijskim zvezam in petim razredom. Ugotovili smo, da obe podobni vrsti lahko uspevata na skupnih nahajališčih in rastiščih, toda vrsta Gladiolus palustriscveti vsaj 14 dni kasneje kot vrsta Gladiolus illyricus. Zanesljiv znak za njuno razlikovanje so vlakna, ki obdajajo njun gomolj. Na večini preučenih nahajališč je močvirski meček ogrožen in mu zdajšnja naravovarstvena politika v Sloveniji ne zagotavlja ohranitve, izjema sta planoti Banjšice in pogorje Slavnika v Čičariji. Ključne besede: Gladiolus palustris, G. illyricus, fitocenologija, sintaksonomija, Natura 2000, varstvo narave, Slovenija

Stakeholder participation in Lopburi Old Town conservation master plan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tritsana Sorat ◽  
Nug-Rob Rawangkarn ◽  
Wee Rawang ◽  
Kanang Kantamaturapoj
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Master Plan ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flexible Form

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the meaningful public participation in activities relating to the master plan development and, at the same time, propose some recommendations for improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out with in-depth interviews of 35 key-informants selected from various stakeholder groups involving in public participation activities. The evaluation frameworks for meaningful participation were developed from various scholars.FindingsThe evaluation showed that the public hearings partially met the criteria of information provision and representativeness. However, there are rooms for improvement on participation in decision-making process, social learning and influence over policy decision-making. Therefore, this study proposes two recommendations. First, more flexible form of public participation is needed to enable discussions among various groups of stakeholders. Second, the organizer should communicate with stakeholders about how their opinions influence the final master plan in order to create sense of belonging among community members.Originality/valueThis research developed the evaluation framework for public participation in old town conservation master plan in developing country.

Obstacles and opportunities for networked practice: a social network analysis of an inter-organizational STEM ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Hwa Liou ◽  
Alan J. Daly
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Stem Pipeline ◽  
And Mathematics

PurposeThis study responds to major administrative and policy priorities to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by investigating a multi-sector ecosystem of regional organizations that support a STEM pipeline for education and careers.Design/methodology/approachWe use social network analysis to investigate an entire region within a geographic region of California which included 316 organizations that represent different stakeholder groups, including educational institutions (school districts, schools and higher education), government, private companies, museums, libraries and multiple community-based organizations. This STEM ecosystem reflects a systems-level analysis of a region from a unique social network perspective.FindingsResults indicate that organizations have a surface-level access to STEM-related information, but the deeper and more intense relationship which involves strategic collaboration is limited. Further, interactions around information and collaboration between organizations were purportedly in part to be about education, rarely included PK-12 schools and district as central actors in the ecosystem. In addition, while institutions of higher education occupy a central position in connecting and bridging organizations within the ecosystem, higher education's connectivity to the PK-12 education sector is relatively limited in terms of building research and practice partnerships.Originality/valueThis research has implications for how regional-level complex systems are analyzed, led and catalyzed and further reflects the need to intentionally attend to the growth of STEM networks.

How Social Network and Opinion Leaders Affect the Adoption of New Products

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghuram Iyengar ◽  
Christophe Van den Bulte ◽  
John Eichert ◽  
Bruce West
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Marketing Effectiveness ◽  
The Social

Abstract Do word-of-mouth and other peer influence processes really affect how quickly people adopt a new product? Can one identify the most influential customers and hence those who are good seeding points for a word-of-mouth marketing campaign? Can one also identify those customers most likely to be influenced by their peers? A pharmaceutical company seeking to improve its marketing effectiveness by leveraging social dynamics among physicians set out to answer these questions. There is indeed evidence of social influence, even after controlling for sales calls and individual characteristics. Also, people who are central in the network and those who use the product intensively are more influential. Finally, people who view themselves as opinion leaders are less affected by peer influence, whereas people who others really turn to for information or advice are not differentially affected. This last finding suggests that self-reported opinion leadership captures self-confidence, whereas a central position in the social network captures true leadership. Since sociometric techniques identify true opinion leaders more effectively than self-reports do, word-of-mouth programs targeting sociometric leaders are expected to be more effective than programs targeting self-reported leaders

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