Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva 96 (2011), s. 35-46 GDK: 916(045)=111 Prispelo / Received: 17.10.2011 Izvirni znanstveni članek Sprejeto / Accepted: 05.12. 2011 Original scientific paper Process of recognizing the local potentials as a basis for sustainable development Darij KRAJČIČ1 Abstract The article discusses the process of recognizing the local developmental and human potentials in the pilot area of Pohorje, Slovenia. Special emphasis herein is given to the need of stakeholder participation strategic plan. In the pilot area, the theoretical model was tested. As we are dealing with a wooded area, the role of forestry is highly significant in this respect, and it has been even established that it could become a mainstay of the pilot area's development. The identification of stakeholders was followed by a series of workshops with SWOT analyses and stipulation of sustainability indicators. The quality of the stakeholders' integration into the process was also measured. 79% of them believe that their proposals are totally or predominantly taken into consideration, 78% are satisfied or very satisfied with the results, whereas the expectations were mostly or fully met by 80% of them. A solid integration of the stakeholders into the planning process enhances the plan's implementation, for they identify themselves with the plan and are co-holders as well as promoters of its implementation. We are providing for a high degree of sustainable development both by educating and informing the stakeholders and with a suitable direction of the plan's formation. Key words: sustainable development, participation, management plan, indicators, SWOT analysis, Pohorje Proces prepoznavanja lokalnih potencialov kot pogoj za trajnostni razvoj Izvleček Članek obravnava proces prepoznavanja lokalnih potencialov za pilotno območje Pohorje. Pri tem posebej poudarja potrebo po strateškem načrtu vključevanja deležnikov. Teoretični model smo na pilotnem območju preskusili. Ker gre za gozdno območje, je vloga gozdarstva pri tem zelo pomembna, ugotovili smo celo, da bi lahko postalo nosilec razvoja pilotnega območja. Identifikaciji deležnikov je sledila serija delavnic s SWOT-analizami in določitvijo indikatorjev trajnosti. Merili smo tudi kakovost vključevanja deležnikov v proces. Tako jih 79 % meni, da so njihovi predlogi povsem ali večinoma upoštevani, z rezultati je zadovoljnih ali zelo zadovoljnih 78 %%, pričakovanja so bila večinoma oziroma povsem zadovoljena pri 80 % udeležencev. Kakovostna vključenost deležnikov v načrtovalski proces poveča izvedljivost načrta, deležniki se z načrtom poistovetijo in so sonosilci ter promotorji njegovega uresničevanja. Visoko stopnjo trajnostnega razvoja zagotavljamo tako z izobraževanjem in informiranjem deležnikov kot tudi z usmerjanjem nastajanja načrta. Key words: trajnostni razvoj, sodelovanje, načrt upravljanja, kazalniki, SWOT analiza, Pohorje 1 Introduction the following three columns: (i) economic and (ii) social 1 U^od development, and (iii) environmental protection, including biodiversity conservation. In the development of the local environment we are, Today, the phrase »sustainable development« has in effect, faced with the following dilemma: (1) whether several definitions and is often used. For the needs of to transfer developmental concepts of separate sectors this article we shall adopt the belief that sustainable from other environments directly and unrelatedly into this development satisfies the needs of the present human environment, or (2) to recognize our own developmental race, without endangering the possibilities of the future potentials on the basis of specific capacities of the local generations to satisfy their needs (UN 1987). As sustainable environment and to prepare an integral development development closely links the care for the bearing capacity plan. As far as (1) is concerned, it can be said that it is of natural ecosystems with social challenges, it is based on intellectually easier, it usually enters the local environment 1 Asst. Prof. dr. D.K.: Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, Tobačna 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana. darij.krajcic@zrsvn.si as something foreign, the local stakeholders' participation in the creation of such development is low, while its implementation is seemingly simple and renders relatively fast results. For (2) the following can be claimed: it requires significant intellectual efforts, it still has to be discovered, the local stakeholders are significantly included in the process itself, its implementation is more demanding, and the results come somewhat later and slower. Owing to the lack of our own developmental documents and promises that fast developmental results will be brought into local environments by the holders (1), local communities often opt for the development model (1). This is greatly contributed by the fact that local communities are often fragmented and reticent. In general, such approach distinctly favours the (i) of sustainable development, highly ignores particularly the (iii), while the (ii) is questionable. This is why we simply cannot speak of sustainable development in these particular cases. Most crucial in the sustainable development modelling is a solid and timely inclusion of stakeholders into the process. Solid means that stakeholders can equally and fully participate in the decision-making as far as development model is concerned, while timely indicates that they are included in the process from the very beginning and not at the end when all decisions have practically already been made. Buchy & Hoverman (2000) presented an overview of very diverse comprehensions of participation in forest planning and substantiated the meaning of participation. In Slovenian forestry, we too have been well aware of the significance of participation (BONČINA 2004), but the question still remains, whether this awareness has been sufficient. Furthermore, participation is substantially more than stemming from the Aarhus Convention (MAREGA/ KOS 2002). The complex and dynamic nature of environmental problems requires flexible and transparent decision-making that embraces a diversity of knowledges and values. For this reason, stakeholder participation in environmental decision-making has been increasingly sought and embedded into national and international policy (REED 2008). Some results show that the forestry profession finds it difficult to accept new concepts (such as nature conservation) that are knocking on its door (BURGAR 2011). In the moment the planning is spread from wooded to unwooded areas, a wider and deeper understanding of participation becomes implicit. Here, the protected areas (e.g. Natura 2000 areas, greater and more significant natural assets) are no exception at all. The results of planning process depend upon the different levels of participation and intensity of it. This is why the participation process must be planned strategically through identification of stakeholders before the decision is made how they are to be integrated and how we should communicate with them (GETZNER/ JUNGMEIER/ LANGE 2010). It still holds good, however, that everything depends on the people, for even the best planned process gives no good results if implemented poorly. 2 Definition of the problem 2 Opredelitev problema The key question we attempted to solve is whether it's possible to change the developmental course of partial, unrelated ideas, and what approaches would be needed to do so. We were further interested if we had suitably developed institutional infrastructure for such an approach, or whether this role can be taken over by any of the already existing institutions. Here we tested, of course, especially the forestry sector's capacities, considering that forest sustenance and close-to-nature management have been its inception point for a long time and would be easiest for it to assume this approach. Of crucial importance in the ascertainment of forest sustenance are sustainable development indicators (LEŠNIK/ GULIČ/ DANEV 2010), which have to be stipulated, classified and monitored. And finally, are we able to construct with this approach, through partnership and participation, a common development document of the area named Management Plan Draft. The activities were carried out as part of the NATREG project from the South East Europe programme, in which the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation played the role of the leading partner. 3 Working methods 3 Metode dela The new approach to the creation of a common development policy was tested in the Pohorje pilot area, the key reasons for its selection being: the high diversity of its use (agriculture, forestry, tourism _), the diversity of stakeholders (local communities, divisioning of the area into several councils, no common development document, great significance of the forestry sector, high integration of the area into the Natura 2000 network), numerous sectoral developmental ambitions, as well as conflicts between nature conservation and development plans and intentions. During the research, the questionary methods were mainly used and implemented among different stakeholders, who attempted to find, during a series of workshops, a common language for the area's development. At the workshops, the stakeholders also made, in a participative manner, the SWOT analysis of the area from the aspects of forestry, hunting, agriculture and tourism. By doing so, the stakeholders initially identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and finally ranked them. Thus their relative significance was obtained. The ranking was carried out by each participant given 3 points for each component of the SWOT analysis (a total of 12 points). Each participant then arbitrary gave 3 points to each element within components. Thus he was able to allot these 3 points to a single element or 2 or 1 to several elements each. Forthe purpose of sustainable development monitoring at Pohorje, sustainability indicators of the ecological, economic, social and cultural objectives in separate sectors were developed. Each participant evaluated the indicator with mark 2 (very important) to -2 (very unimportant). From thus evaluated indicators, average values could have been finally assessed. With the aid of the questionary method, the degree of integration of stakeholders into the planning process and their contentedness with the process itself and results was also estimated. A total of 79 events (workshops, meetings, presentations) were implemented in the pilot area, where at least 500 people took part. In the article, only those are analysed that were on the milestones of the process of the Area Management Plan Draft's formation. 4 Study area 4 Predstavitev objekta The Pohorje pilot area (Picture 1), which covers 25,733 ha, embraces 4.8% of all Slovenian forests. Its forest density is 70.4% with the prevalent share of coniferous trees. As Pohorje is the only silicate mountain range in Slovenia, it is exceptional particularly from the geomorphological, hydrological, biological and cultural-landscape aspects. Its special features are the Pohorje raised bogs and, from the landscape and ecological perception, the grassy ridges. Pohoije also comprises a vast Natura 2000 area with numerous species and habitat types, stipulated in accordance with the Habitat and Bird Directives. The central part of Pohorje is practically uninhabited. Mixed farms prevail (50%), followed by pure farms (28%), while the rest are aged and supplemental. Most field and garden surfaces fall into the 5 ha size class, meadows exceed 5 ha, while the majority of forests belong to the size class of 20 to 30 ha. The majority of farm owners are from 41 to 60 years old, most of them with primary school education (53.4%). As far as supplemental activities on the farms are concerned, tourism and wood processing prevail. There is little ecological food production, with European drawing of funds limited only to the OMD measure (payments for limited farming factors). Pohorje comprises two larger (Mariborsko Pohorje, Zreško Pohorje - Rogla) and three smaller (Ribniško Pohorje, Trije kralji, Kope) tourist centres. Apart from winter sports facilities, several sports grounds, halls, practice grounds and adrenalin parks are also available, enabling sports activities to be carried out throughout the year. Notable activities include trekking, cycling and rich catering trade capacities. 5 Results 5 Rezultati 5.1 Integration of the public scheme 5.1 Shema vključevanja javnosti Integration of the public began by identifying the existing development projects and protagonists. This was carried out within the framework of three workshops on different locations with different stakeholders. Then the rNATREG »irt*KKT*