Description
The main target of the project is to alter the development plans of Normafa, a major natural heritage site of Budapest. A ski and outdoor sport centre is to be set up here with an easy access from the city center, however, plans (those few made public up to now) seriously endanger valuable and identical natural and landscape values of this unique area. The target groups are civil society organizations, local citizens (especially those living in District 12 and the neighboring Budakeszi) as well as local councils and authorities. The main activities include various advocacy activities, stakeholder involvement and community planning to develop an alternative community based development plan, and a vast public campaign in order to engage the public and influence decision makers. The development of cooperation and stakeholder dialogue is an essential part of the project, that on the long run, can have an influence not only on the future of Normafa, but also on other development projects carried out in the agglomeration.
Summary of project results
The project countered the governmental plans in relation to the ski-resort development of the Normafa area of Budapest seriously endangering the natural and cultural values of the area by the means of providing alternative participatory planning possibilities and alternative to the one-sided and non-participatory communication and preparatory work of the local municipality practically excluding civic groups. For this, "Normafa Naturally Civic Coalition" carried out a community planning process, composed of six community sessions, in which interested residents and experts had the opportunity to develop an alternative development concept forming working groups that the organizers could submit to the local government together with four expert papers on some of the narrower issues. As part of the planning, a survey was also carried out, with around 4500 people sharing their views on the development ideas. In the course of the implementation, the natural and heritage protection interests were also advocated through personal consultations and joint landscape visits with the local government, while before a district-level referendum on the investment, 10,000 leaflets were distributed to the local households in order to inform the public. It is at least due the success of the project that the municipality has given up some of the most damaging plans and that the process has become more participatory.
Summary of bilateral results