The aim of RENATUR is to draw attention to the importance of peri-urban open spaces and their natural heritage in order to preserve it. One RENATUR model region is Gorenjska Region in Slovenia, with the Business Support Centre, Ltd. BSC, Kraj as partner in the RENATUR project.
Gorenjska Region is located in the north–west of Slovenia and its land cover is characterized by almost 50% of NATURA 2000 and other designated conservation areas. Each year this region is experiencing a relatively high amount of tourist visitors. Due to mass tourism and daily visits of inhabitants, the natural heritage in some parts of this region is at risk of degradation. The particular areas, where natural heritage might be endangered, are peri-urban open spaces. This situation provokes several governance challenges, like “hidden conflicts”, based on different needs and interests of peri-urban open spaces users (inhabitants vs tourists). Also, peri-urban open spaces face significant traffic-related congestions and landscape overcrowding related to users’ activities and, above all, possible natural heritage degradation.
Even though the peri-urban open spaces of Gorenjska Region are in many cases in vicinity of NATURA 2000 and protected areas, peri-urban open spaces are not yet recognized as the vital element of the local landscape, which is characterized with rich biodiversity. However, the natural heritage in peri-urban open spaces are barely recognized as important part of preservation plans/programmes/policies. Therefore, policy makers from Gorenjska are facing different challenges related to the development of planning and governance approaches towards a long-term preservation of peri-urban open spaces and their natural heritage. They also identify a need for better and more effective strategic management of peri-urban open spaces and its natural heritage.
To address these challenges, Gorenjska Region is planning to promote the concept of green infrastructure and to improve governance practices related to green infrastructure. The idea is to implement green infrastructure to more effectively protect peri-urban open spaces.
During the workshop we discussed questions related to governance of green infrastructure in peri-urban open spaces and to governance of tourism and recreation in Gorenjska Region.
Agenda of the Workshop
• Monday 16 November, 9:00 – 12:00: Introductory session and discussions concerning to regional situation and policy challenges
• Tuesday 17 November, 9:00 – 12:00: presentation, discussion and input from the workshop participants related to case study one
• Wednesday 18 November, 9:00 – 12:00: presentation, discussion and input from the workshop participants related to case study two
• Thursday 19 November: Peer review process, 9:00 – 12:00: SWOT analysis of selected policy instruments
You can download further information and ilustrating videos about the case studies Bohinj and Škofja Loka and a summery of the workshop results in our library.