Assessing participatory and multi-level characteristics of biodiversity and landscape protection legislation: the case of Poland

Abstract

In this paper, we present a comprehensive framework for analysing formal rules regulating the involvement of various actors in protected areas decision-making over time and apply it to Poland. Based on the analysis of legal acts and policy documents, we suggest that since the democratic transition started in 1989, the governance of Polish protected areas has been increasingly multi-level and participatory. However, different designations indicate different levels of involvement by non-state actors, with Natura 2000 standing out from the traditional protected areas. Regarding governance issues, establishing and taking management decisions were characterised by the greatest changes in actors’ involvement. While participation of non-public actors is still limited mostly to information and consultation, the involvement of non-state public actors of various levels increased significantly. The paper highlights the importance of a systematic analysis of legal rules as a starting point for empirical investigation of the governance of protected areas.

Keywords:

• stakeholder involvement
• biodiversity conservation
• legislation
• governance
• public engagement

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge two anonymous referees for their constructive comments which helped to improve the paper. Krzysztof Niedziałkowski would like to thank the staff of the Public Library in Hajnówka for their kind assistance during the writing of the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme operated by the National Centre for Research and Development under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009–2014 in the frame of the LINKAGE project [project contract number POL-NOR/196105/2/2013].