Description
Since the beginning the Natura 2000 sites in the Świętokrzyskie Province has been treated as an instrumental good by society, institutions and investors. Institutions which formally scrutinize the areas contribute to the deterioration of their condition by negligence. The local NGOs are weak and do not indertake any watchdog activities. The goal of the project is to monitor investors', government agencies' and local government's compliance with the principle of integrity and cohesion of the Natura 2000 network and the adequacy of public participation in the administrative process of developing environmental impact assessments for Natura 2000 sites and other documents related to these sites. Based on selected case studies of Natura 2000 sites, we will review the level of protection, zoning, and types of development within the site boundaries and nearby, the quality and success rate of the related public participation, impacts of environmental decisions on Natura 2000 sites, and the impacts of failures to demand env. impact assessments. The project will cover 5 Natura 2000 sites in the our Province and in adjacent communities within 1,000 m from the site boundary.
Summary of project results
Nature 2000 is a programme for a network of areas in the European Union covered by environmental protection. Poland introduced this new form of environmental protection in 2004 together with the new act on environmental protection. It took several years for the Polish authorities to choose protected areas on the territory of Poland and for the European Commission to approve them. The network Nature 2000 in Świętokrzyskie voivodeship is treated instrumentally by the society, administration and investors. The existing non-governmental organisations are weak and fail to implement tasks in the field of social control over administration. The aim of the project was to diagnose irregularities connected with the network Nature 2000 in Świętokrzyskie voivodeship, to enhance social participation and engagement of non-governmental organisations in the problems of natural environment protection, and to highlight the issues in the public debate. The control concerned the methods of deciding issues related to natural environment. Decisions were analysed taken by public offices situated in the areas covered by the network Nature 2000 in Świętokrzyskie voivodeship and 1000 meters from their borders - the analysis concerned different aspects of 39 decisions on environmental conditions for accepting realisation of investments. The analyses were preceded by field visits, gathering field environmental data, and sometimes also discussions with local communities. During the visits additional data on environment were gathered that helped in detailed verification of selected investments. Interventions were undertaken in cases of violations of law by administrative bodies. The report was prepared containing the main conclusions concerning social participation in administrative procedures concerning environmental protection on the example of the network Nature 2000. The monitoring showed that local authorities to a great extent hamper participation of non-governmental organisations in official proceedings and gathering information by them, and local communities treat instrumentally the law on environmental protection.
Summary of bilateral results