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Participation in environmental conservation and protected area management in Romania: A review of three case studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2013

LINDSAY C. STRINGER  and
JOUNI PAAVOLA
LINDSAY C. STRINGER*
Affiliation:
Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
JOUNI PAAVOLA
Affiliation:
Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
*
*Correspondence: Dr Lindsay C. Stringer Tel: +44 113 343 7530 e-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

Since the collapse of Central and Eastern Europe's communist regimes in the early 1990s, the ensuing environmental, social and economic changes have permitted development of new forms of multi-level governance. However, a coherent participatory approach to environmental conservation is yet to emerge. This review examines the changing approaches in environmental conservation and protected area governance in Romania during the country's pre-communist, communist, transition and current European Union eras. Three case examples are examined in depth to assess how changing environmental governance is playing out in practice in Natura 2000 sites, in a national park, and on privately owned (unprotected) forest land. Similar to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Romania's environmental governance practices still face substantial challenges in consolidating an inclusive and integrated approach to environmental governance and conservation. A lack of historical involvement of communities in decision making, reluctance within government to drive forward more inclusive environmental governance approaches, and a lack of non-governmental organizations focusing on environmental conservation, have resulted in slow progress towards more inclusive environmental governance. Civil society and solutions for institutionalizing participation across all levels of governance are needed to reorient environmental governance towards a more inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach that better links economic, social and environmental objectives.

Keywords

Central and Eastern EuropecommunismEuropean Unionmulti-level governanceNatura 2000transition
Type
THEMATIC SECTION: Biodiversity Governance in Central and Eastern Europe
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 138 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2013

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