Abstract
The complex policy decision-making situation around nature conservation requires examination of the operational environment. This study develops and tests a three-phase analytical framework for the evaluation of operational environment factors influencing nature conservation policy implementation. The four important operational environment factors (legal, policy, economic, and social) have been identified, to build up a framework. The framework was tested in selected countries and includes experts’ opinions. Experts (n = 44) from five EU countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and four non-EU countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) defined and evaluated the factors and sub-factors that affect the operational environment related to nature conservation policy implementation. The results show policy changes arising from the new governance requirements introduced by changed political regime and Europeanization are key driving factors for changes in the nature conservation operational environment. For nature conservation, these wide-reaching changes have led to new political and legal frameworks, new institutional set-ups and multilevel governance frameworks, new establishment of protected areas and Natura 2000 network, and the re-allocation of financial resources and inclusion of non-state actors in policy decision-making. However, there are also some challenges and unsolved problems that need further attention from policy decision-makers and institutions, especially related to the institutional gap, sustainable financing of nature conservation, transposition of the EU Directives into legal systems, designation of sites or improving their implementation, implementation of innovative funding schemes, and a transparent participatory process. This analytical framework can be applied to various problems related to any environmental issues or other policy implementation or management, and other sectors where public decision-making is combined with stakeholders’ engagement.
Highlights
Environmental and nature conservation awareness in today’s sense began to grow in the second half of the 20th century, when the consequences of human activity in nature became more apparent [1].nature conservation has become a political issue at the global level [2,3].In order to achieve nature conservation objectives of European wildlife and natural habitats, laws on nature protection have been adopted and PAs were established
All these conventions and agreements have been ratified by specific laws or decrees (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) and/or were implemented in Nature Conservation Act (Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro)
In countries like Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina not all of the institutions are represented, which potentially creates a gap for the successful implementation of nature conservation policy
Summary
Environmental and nature conservation awareness in today’s sense began to grow in the second half of the 20th century, when the consequences of human activity in nature became more apparent [1].nature conservation has become a political issue at the global level [2,3].In order to achieve nature conservation objectives of European wildlife and natural habitats, laws on nature protection have been adopted and PAs were established. In order to fulfil its obligations arising from the Bern Convention, the EU implemented the “Habitats” Directive [5] in 1992, which together with “Birds” Directive [6] set up the EU’s network of PAs called Natura 2000. Natura 2000 is at the moment the largest network of PAs in the world and the core pillar of the EU’s nature conservation policy [3,7,8].
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