Mediation Protection Forest Hinterstein (Umweltmediation 'Schutzwaldsanierung Hinterstein')

Best Practice

Topics

• New forms of decision-making
• Protected areas, Policies and instruments

Short description

The protective function of the protection forest in Hinterstein was malfunctioning. A mediator worked with all stakeholders on a joint solution in a mediation process.

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Project executive

Technical University of Munich, Professorship of Forest Policy and Forest History (responsible for mediation, expert monitoring and evaluation)

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Participants

Technical University of Munich (mediator and scientific observer), Alp Co-operative (Alpgenossenschaft), residents of Hinterstein, Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alps Association), Provincal Forest Department, Community of Bad Hindelang, Hegegemeinschaft / Hegering, Jagdgenossenschaft (Hunting Association), hunters, Schutzwaldsanierung (Restauration of Protection Forests), Untere Jagdbehörde, Untere Naturschutzbehörde, Provincial Department for Water Management

Objectives

The mediation process aimed at solving existing conflicts between all users of the protection forest in Hinterstein and at developing measures to ensure their realisation.

Activities

A package of different measures was developed, every issue was discussed (result: zones for hunting, restauration of the protection forest and tourism).

Process

(1) workshops with all involved persons to find out concerns, problems, viewpoints, (2) reduce lack of information, (3) classification of all concerns, problems and viewpoints, (4) clarification of basic conditions,(5) detection of potentials, (6) development of aims and measures, (6) formulating the contract, (7) decision of the contract unanimously

Results

(1) zones for hunting, restauration of the protection forest and tourism, (2) the mediation contract was unanimously decided, (3) a win-win-situation for all participants, (4) marginal additional costs for all interest groups

Evaluation

not evaluated

Difficulties

(1) unrealistic expectations in the beginning, (2) passive rols and expectations of the participants, (3) unequal balance of power, (4) disregard of real facts // First confidence had to be restored, all concerns had to be revealed to solve these difficulties.

Budget

75.000,00 EUR (Euro)

Financial backer

Bavarian Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Curatorship of the Bavarian Office for Forests and Forestry

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://

Publication

- [analysis in a doctoral thesis]

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

The different zones make it possibe to distinguish all different measures: (1) increase of shooting, (2) break down of the red deer gates, (3) the route guidance system for tourists prevents disturbance of animals, (4) reduction of game bite and a better growing of young trees

Economic value added

The protective measures that were implemented until today cost about 1 million EUR. The maintenance of protective function of the forest in Hinterstein (120 years) makes a contribution to social welfare amounting to 210.000 EUR (800 EUR per hectar protection forest).

Socio-cultural value added

In the beginning there were a lot of conflicts between all participants on the logical and emotional level. The relationship between all could be seen as improved in the end of the mediation process. In the process participated regrettably only men which can be seen as sort of critically.

Innovative content

There is no information available.

Good governance

voluntary participation process, equality of all participants, transparency, principle of subsidiarity

PR impact

publication of results, press conference, radio and local television, presentation of all results in an open council, analysis in a doctoral thesis

Multiplier effect / networking

The experience gained was passed via media and the open council. The Provincial Office for Forestry in Sonthofen plans to implement the results and experiences of the mediation process in a similar case. The Bavarian Federal Office for Forestry checks transferability of the project.

Transferability

Mediation processes prove of value in cases of hardship. Subject to the level of conflict the principles of mediation can be used in similar cases.

Remarks

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Further information