Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 1

Stakeholder participationin the pilot region

„Northern Limestone Alps/Eisenwurzen/ Gesäuse/Dürrenstein“ (A)

Lisbeth Zechner, National Park Gesäuse Ltd.

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 2

Pilot region - characteristics

• History „Cultural heritage Eisenwurzen“

• Landscape „Limestone Alps“

„High rocks and walls of limestone and dolomit together with forested hillsof soft stones“

Wet, cold atlantic climate

• Landuse: >80 % forest, spruce-fir-beech-forestHighly structured cultivated landscape

• Protected areas: > 200.000 ha

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 3

Network of partner – TYPE of participatory approach

□ Start workshop 1th October 2008, Admont – INFORMATION & CONSULTATION

□ Information events in the 3 provinces: Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria in January and February 2009 - INFORMATION

□ Interviews and talks with 170 stakeholder from the pilot region: May –September 2009 - CONSULTATION

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 4

Network of partner – TYPE of participatory approach

NEXT steps:

□ Presentation of results – 9th December 2009 - INFORMATION

□ Installation of 4 working groups - CONSULTATION & CO-DETERMINATION

□ Selection of potential partners and co-operations - CONSULTATION & CO-DETERMINATION

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 5

7; 4%5; 3%

26; 15%

24; 14%

11; 7%

4; 2%8; 5%2; 1%9; 5%

8; 5%

44; 27%

12; 7%

5; 3% 4; 2%

Alpine assoc.Education/PRNature conservationForestryAgricultureFor/AgrHuntersFisheryWater managem.Spatial planningMajors/admin.Regional dev.TourismEconomy

Stakeholder-Interviews - SECTORS (n = 169)

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 6

Stakeholder-Interviews – HABITATS for ecological connectivity

Almen; 26

Extensiv bew irtsch. Wiesen (incl ,

Waldw iesen); 23

Fl ießgew ässer und deren naturnahe Uferlebensräume (Schot terbänke, Auen, etc) ; 24

Naturnaher Wald - Waldumbau; 14

Of fenlandschaf t ; 7

Extensively cultivated grasslands

Alpine pasturesNatural forests

Rivers and riverine habitats

Open habitats

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 7

Network of partner – OUTCOMES of participatory approach

☺ SUCCESS: WHAT – WHY

☺ Regional information events in smaller groups –shorter duration

☺ Interviews and talks with stakeholders to get their personal opinion and knowledge

☺ Co-operation with existing structures/groups, e.g. office for regional development

☺ High interest to participate within ECONNECT

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 8

Stakeholder-Interviews - INTEREST

88%72%

54%

12%28%

46%

0%10%

20%30%40%50%

60%70%80%

90%100%

Information Participation - events Active co-operation

Yes No

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 9

Network of partner – OUTCOMES of participatory approach

PROBLEMS: WHAT – WHY

Criticism: no clear target – message within ECONNECT

Criticism: participatory approach too late

People are sick of projects/working groups/meetings – need of practical approach, implementation

General problems/refusal of “nature conservation” (Natura 2000, etc.)

Existing prejudices/experiences on projects in Austria: e.g. Brown bear –hunters - WWF

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 10

Four working groups

□ “Rivers” rivers – lowland forests – gravel banks – tamarisk – browntrout - bullhead - grayling - otter ...

□ “Natural Forests” forestry – cells of natural forest – bigpredators - capercaillie - woodpeckers – Red deear ...

□ “Alpine pastures – extensively used grasslands”alpine pastures – black grouse – butterflies – orchids …

□ “Communication” exchange of experience and expert knowledge - public relations – regional development – tourism

Grenoble – 05/11/09 Slide n° 11

Handbook of funding possibilities