One of the projects successfully dealing with "Strengthening Local Capacities" has been coordinated by IUCN and run in cooperation with the Administration of the Protected Landscape Area Kysuce (Kysuce PLA). Its main goals included:

a)analysis of the distribution of competencies in the local management of natural resources;

b)promotion of the joint participatory approach in solving natural resources management;

c)practical implementation of proposed constructive conservation and development measures;

d)strengthening local capacities - experts, institutions, authorities and NGOs.

The Kysuce PLA lies in the north-western part of the Slovak Republic. For the IUCN project almost all of its eastern part was chosen, dominated by Velka Raca National Reserve (1236 m a.s.I. - representing the highest point of the Kysuce region). The Velka Raca National Nature Reserve (area of 313 ha) is part of the core area of national significance in the national Ecological Network, and also represents one of the supraregional biocentres of the Kysuce region in the structure of Territorial Systems of Ecological Stability.

During the implementation of the project we organized a number of meetings, discussions, consultations, round-tables and seminars with representatives of the state administration, the Administration of the PLAs foresters and farmers as well as with representatives of the municipalities and business. On the basis of their conclusions we were able to define more clearly the project aims, and to target financial resources for special action. At the end of the project a model management plan of sustainable development was elaborated, taking into account all the interests of the stake-holders.

All project goals have been met. A wide variety of activities has taken place. IUCN helped to launch the Kysuce Ecocentre, to publish material about the Kysuce PLA, to include nature conservation staff in the international publication "Beskyds without frontiers" and to create the first nature trail in this part of Kysuce. The process profited from the enthusiasm of an expert team who were requested to collect data on the natural assets of the territory, on economic activities and to analyse basic conflicts of interests in a rather short space of time. Various groups of stakeholders took part. We believe the whole process has contributed to more effective nature conservation of the area and has also provided local inhabitants with more benefits from the effective and sustainable use of local natural resources.

For additional information:

Peter Sabo, Helena Carska
IUCN Foundation,
Vysoká 18
811 02 Bratislava
SLOVAKIA