Stakeholders participation in Žemaitija National Park Protection of valuable agricultural and natural landscapes 31st of May 2012 in Korsør, Denmark
1. About Žemaitija National Park (pilot area of the project) 2. Public participation 3. Interviews of focus groups Underwater of Plateliai lake
Žemaitija National Park (ŽNP) was established in 1991 with the aim of preserving, managing and sustainably developing the areas of Žemaitija in north-western Lithuania, that are most valued for their natural and cultural qualities. Total area 21 720 ha. Functional zones : conservation zone (strict nature reserves and nature reserves) 48,1% protection zone 14,5% recreational zone 2,3% farming zone 35,1%
Land composition 2% 2% 39% 44% 4% 9% Forests Lakes Swamps,marshes Arable\Meadows Settlements Other There are about 3150 inhabitants in the NP 2 settlements and 53 villages
The present hilly relief was formed by the glacier which passed here 10-12 thousand years ago. The whole territory of the Park is a part of the Žemaitija highlands.
Parnassius mnemosyne Species Total in ŽNP In Red Data EU protection Book Flora 1253 70 3 Fungus (with 768 48 - lichen) Fauna 2417 120 87
Hazel grouse /Bonasia bonasia Žemaitija National Park - Natura 2000 Birds Directive (hazel grouse/ bonasia bonasia, corncrake/ crex crex, whooper swan/ cygnus cygnus) Dvilapis purvuolis (ES) Habitats Directive Raktažolė pelenėlė (LRK)
Mound of Pūčkoriai Old cultural heritage: mounds, old sacred places, places of old settlements, necropolis
Valuables of architecture Dvilapis purvuolis (ES) Kryžiaus kelio koplyčios Cross in Mačiūkiai Chapels, roofed crosses and crosses are examples of Cross-crafting that is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World. Churches of Plateliai and Beržoras are among the oldest wooden churches in Lithuania. Raktažolė pelenėlė (LRK)
Old house in Medsėdžiai Samogitian folk architecture can be found in former valakas-type villages and steadings
Vood carver Kazimieras Striaupa Old traditions of wood carving and painting are still alive
Rezervatai 2 Nematerialus Urbanizuotos vietovės: Draustiniai 28 paveldas: žodinės Žemaičių kūrybos Kalvarija tradicija ir išraiškos formos papročiai Gamtos Beržoras paminklai ir apeigos, 10 šventiniai renginiai Dvilapis Plateliai Kristaus Kryžius tradiciniai Kultūros Mačiūkių purvuolis kančios paveldo amatai kelio k. (ES) paminklai koplyčios - 12 Žemaičių Viduramžių Raktažolė Kalvarijoje pelenėlė tilto poliai (LRK) Tourism activities: trips on foot, by bicycle or car, visiting museums, taking part in excursions, traditional festivals and other celebrations and events, angling, diving, canoeing, yachting, boating, windsurfing, camping, etc.
Shrovetide Žemaitija National Park was awarded as 2008 European Tourist Destination of Excellence in Intangible Heritage (EDEN project backed by the European Commission )
Great Church Festival in Žemaičių Kalvarija
St.John s feast June 23-24
LEGISLATION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING PROCESS In Lithuania public participation in planning process is regulated by the Regulation of Public Information and Participation in Territorial Planning Process adopted by Lithuanian Government in 1996. According to this document public can participate by common or simplified order.
Common order (1) 1. Information about the beginning of planning process is announced in the media and websites (for national and regional documents) and on the information board in local administration (for local documents). In case of preparing detailed document information has to be announced on the information board by the planning territory. 2. Consultations with stakeholders (for national and regional documents) or Public hearing (for local documents) are arranged in different stages of planning process (conception, project, solutions) through: announcements in media and websites public exposition of planning documents final meeting-conference (for national and regional documents) or public meeting (for local documents).
Common order (2) 3. Information in media about the confirmation of prepared project of territorial planning document has to be announced. 4. Organizer of planning process could fulfill other procedures: survey concerning solutions, additional information in media, additional meetings with stakeholders, etc. 5. Stakeholders could give suggestions about the planning document all the time when the project is under preparing. 6. All suggestions are evaluated and accepted or rejected. In all cases people should give answers about their suggestions.
Simplified order In some cases public could participate in planning process by simplified order. It means that duration of procedures is shorten than in common order and information about the beginning of planning document is not announced in local media. Besides, there is no information board, no public exposition, no public meeting. Simplified order could be applied preparing detailed documents for some devices (buildings) of electricity and for some documents of special planning when there are special regulations. In case of simplified order organizer of planning have to announce information about preparing special or detailed plans in the website of municipality and inform neighbouring land owners. Stakeholders could give suggestions all the time when the document is under preparing and have to receive answers if suggestion is accepted or rejected.
EXAMPLES OF STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATION IN ŽEMAITIJA NATIONAL PARK Tourism Forum (Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Action Plan were prepared in cooperation with stakeholders) Different meetings, events, exursions, workshops, discussions with stakeholders Possibilities to give suggestions during planning process Informal communication in everyday life
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 1 group Employees of the Nature Division of Žemaitija National Park. All of them have background in nature science (biology and forestry) Ages of the participants: from 32 to 60 Gender: 4 men, 3 women
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 2 group Businessmen of countryside tourism (very popular business in Žemaitija National Park) Ages of the participants: from 31 to 71 Gender: 3 men, 4 women
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 3 group Farmers Ages of the participants: from 24 to 51 Gender: 3 men, 3 women
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 4 group Employees of the Architecture and Territorial Planning Division of Plungė Municipality Ages of the participants: from 28 to 55 Gender: 4 men, 2 women
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 1. What do you think of when I mention the word landscape? Most respondents said that it s a beautiful natural view. Only few people mentioned that it is the result of the action of natural and human factors.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 2. In what way do you get in contact with the landscape in your daily life? Majority of respondents live in countryside, so daily life is closely connected with landscape. In some cases they think that their everyday life could influence landscape when they dig a garden, grow plants, arrange a flower garden, cut grass, dig snow, plant saplings, etc. Some of respondents think that quality of life depends on environment if you live in a beautiful environment you feel good.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 3. a) What kind of landscapes are important to protect in the world? On what reasons? The most popular answer was landscapes less destroyed by people should be preserved because only few are remain; unique landscapes. Other answers: it needs to protect peaks of mountains to see landscape in mountains and for biological diversity it needs to protect waterfall because it is beautiful, revival, more oxygen for rivers
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 3. b) What kind of landscapes are important to protect in Lithuania? On what reasons? Some answers: landscapes that are typical for every region. By this principle national parks were established it needs to protect Lithuanian people who are disappearing Some other values: Curonian Spit, Nida, mounds, lakes, valleys of rivers.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 3. c) Which values are important to protect here in the Žemaitija National Park? Some most spread answers: Plateliai lake with islands, ancient village of Stirbaičiai with old farmsteads, Gardai Oz, former manor farmstead in Plateliai, small town of Žemaičių Kalvarija, lake of Piktežeris in Šeirė Nature Path, shapes of relief
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 4. In what way (how) should the public be involved in landscape planning? When in the process? There are some differences in answers among groups. 1 group (employees of the Žemaitija National Park). They think that the public is involved in landscape planning but awareness of landscape values and planning is still low and it is important to educate society.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 4. In what way (how) should the public be involved in landscape planning? When in the process? 2 group (businessmen of countryside tourism): the public should be more involved in landscape planning, we need more meetings with simple explanations and more communication.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 4. In what way (how) should the public be involved in landscape planning? When in the process? 3 group (farmers): the public should be involved in landscape planning in the beginning and should be permanent communication in all stages of planning process. Before planning process starts it should be explained why it is need to protect, what will be restrictions, conditions. Representatives from different organizations should agree among themselves and to explain things to common people without disagreements.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 4. In what way (how) should the public be involved in landscape planning? When in the process? 4 group (employees of Municipality): the public should be involved in landscape planning in the begining as source of information, e.g. to say what is worth to protect. Later people should be only inform. Local people could not give solutions because they are not specialists. People become active only if it is connected with their private interests. They are disappointed with meetings and planning process because nothing goes ahead. Our society is not enough consciousness, so environment protection is obligatory. Organizer of planning process could open an office where people could go and give or get information. Specialists should go to people.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 5. How would you like to develop the Žemaitija National Park? 1 group (employees of the Žemaitija National Park): more cooperation with local people. Extensive farming. Compensations or reward for appropriate activity should be paid. Park should be develop to protect mosaic landscape as it is now.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 5. How would you like to develop the Žemaitija National Park? 2 group (businessmen of countryside tourism): National Park should be clean, tidy and everything should give positive emotions. To rebuild palace in Plateliai park, to clean pond in Plateliai and reconstruct one old street for tourism. National Park is ours. First of all we have to save Plateliai lake because it s the biggest value in the National park. We are like beetles without National park we would be consumed by predators.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 5. How would you like to develop the Žemaitija National Park? 3 group (farmers): Roads everywhere will be asphalted. Water will be so clean that you could see the bottom. Everything could be like is now. To advise to common people not to punish.
INTERVIEWS OF FOCUS GROUPS 5. How would you like to develop the Žemaitija National Park? 4 group (employees of Municipality): there should be some changes because now it is one approach to the whole territory of the National Park. It needs to find some places that are unique, not destroyed, and to protect only them not the whole territory. More cooperation NP with local authorities, forest enterprises. NP should help people to protect their old farmsteads. Authority of the National Park should do more to attract investments, more facilities of outdoor recreation, more interesting cultural objects. To educate people because after some time even litterbin integrates into society.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION www.zemaitijosnp.lt