New law on Triglav national park

Region

Nort-western Slovenia

Term 2003-01-01

Short description: An initiative of coalition of non-governmental organizations to make a new, improved law on protection of natural, cultural and spiritual values in Julian Alps (Triglav national park Act)

Ansprechperson Dusan Prasnikar
CIPRA Slovenia

Participants: CIPRA Slovenija, društvo za varovanje Alp, Društvo Mountain Wilderness Slovenije, Društvo slovenskih pisateljev, Društvo za ohranjanje naravne dediščine Slovenije, Društvo za okolje, družbo, naravo in zdravje Ljubljana, DOPPS – Društvo za opazovanje in proučevanje ptic Slovenije, Društvo za permakulturo Slovenije, Društvo za varstvo okolja Bled, Gorenjsko ekološko združenje, Iniciativni odbor za ohranitev Triglavskega narodnega parka, Naša Slovenija/Slovenia Nostra, Planinsko društvo RTV Ljubljana, Prirodoslovno društvo ŠIMDRA Rakek, Ribiška družina Tolmin, SLOSE – Slovensko društvo za sončno energijo, Slovensko društvo za namakanje in odvodnjo, Svetovni slovenski kongres, Zavod za oživitev civilne družbe, Znanstvenoraziskovalni center Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti, Zveza društev za varstvo okolja Slovenije, Zveza ekoloških gibanj, Zveza hortikulturnih društev v Sloveniji

Objectives: - to prevent the adoption of environmentally harmful legislation - to present a better alternative, which would enable protection of natural, cultural and spiritual values in the national park area as well as enable sustainable development and quality of life for people in the Park.

Activities: Collection of 1253 signatures of individuals in support of »consideration of European standards« in development of new law, presenting arguments to the national an local authorities, organizations, public media. Organization of several seminars and conferences about TNP (September and November 2003, February 2004, July 2004, August 2004, December 2004). Disseminating public statements opposing the proposed Act, requiring consideration of main issues and giving alternative solutions. Action in the framework of the international action Fire in the Alps. Preparation of a new proposal of TNP Act.

Process: The proposal for new legislation on Triglav national park (TNP) was prepared in January 2003 by a group of MPs and had a strong focus on development. The proposal trigerred reaction from TNP management, NGOs and opposition. A group of citizens formed the Initiative for protection of TNP, which was organized as a coalition of NGOs. They organized several seminars and conferences giving arguments against the proposed Act and for alternative solutions. In December 2003 the parliament concluded that more public discussion is needed, which resulted in consultative polls in concerned settlements in the TNP. In June 2004 Parliament temporarily quits further consideration of TNP Act. After elections (in 2004/2005) the representatives of the Coalition start talks to new members of parliament. The draft Act is discarded and a core group is established to prepare new proposal. The new draft was ready in May 2005 and in November 2005 it was presented to the Minister for environment and planning.

Results: Prevention of passing the first, top-down, development oriented draft of the TNP Act. Development of an alternative proposal. Presently there are two alternative proposals in the parliamentary procedure.

Difficulties: low willingness to cooperate on the side of “official policy makers”

Source of information

Comments

Impact on nature and environment: Prevention of damage as a cosequence of adopting a very development oriented, liberal Act, which would “allow everything that is not explicitly forbidden”. The proposed protection regime was very vague, and the development would mainly affect natural values in the area of Bohinj lake and settlements to be excluded from the central park area (Ribcev Laz, Stara Fuzina and Studor).

Economic value added: In short term the economic value added may even be negative, since the law, which would allow the economic (mainly tourism) development of Bohinj lake area and some central parts of the park was not passed. However on the long term, the process may have helped to preserve the values, which could prove to be of even higher value for more sustainable ways of economic use.

Socio-cultural value added: Activation of affected and interested public for a decision making process.

Innovative content: The innovative part is the high level of cooperation of NGOs and their networking with each other and with other public organizations (Academy, National council, Park management). Innovative is also the pro-active approach, where the alternative proposals have been developed and actually put in the procedure.

Good governance: Important is the one step that was made beyond expressing opposition to the official, top-down proposal, to the active entrance of the (organized) public into policy making procedure. Also organizing the consultative polls in the concerned areas, the results of which were considered in the policy making process.

PR impact: The arguments are being regularly presented to the president of parliament, prime minister, president, to all local communities in TNP area and influential organizations, at press conferences as well as in public media.

Multiplier effect / networking: Mainly the newly established network of NGOs, whichh was organized around the issue. In some of its activities the Coalition connected with Academy for Science and group for environment protection of the National council. In parallel, there was another civil initiative (BRIN – development initiative for Bovec) organized around the proposal and engaged a wide public to develop another alternative proposal.

Transferability: The approach is transferable to similar situations in all countries with a similar procedure of preparing and adopting the legislation.