Author(s): Wieslaw Musiał, Kamila Musiał
Title: Management of Nature Conservation in Southern Poland by the Regional Directorate for Enviromental Protection - Case Study from the Małopolska Voivodeship
Source: International Scientific Days 2018 :: Towards Productive, Sustainable and Resilient Global Agriculture and Food Systems :: Proceedings
ISBN: 978-80-7598-180-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15414/isd2018.s4.14
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer ČR, Prague
PY, pages: 2018, 1066-1078
Published on-line: 2018-11-09
Language: eng
Abstract: The study combines considerations that fall within the scope of institutional management of nature conservation in the Małopolska region, situated in southern Poland, regarding the issue of protected
xerothermic plant communities (Festuco-Brometea class). The latter, are considered to be one of the richest in number of vascular plants species. However, as semi-natural habitats, they need livestock grazing in order to stop natural
plant succession. Such protective actions are organised by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection. These unique thermophilic steppe communities, located north of Krakow, are covered by Special Protection Areas, within
Natura 2000 European network. An active protection of these grasslands is implemented mainly by providing financial support for sheep grazing. Therefore, efficient management means firstly introducing a complex system of selecting the
areas, especially those which particularly deserve protection. Then, there is the issue of selecting farmers who would carry out sheep grazing in such habitats, but also who will be able to cope with a rather difficult management
of the grazing process itself. Thus, the crucial task for that institution is organizing financial support for farmers who decide to do such work. This includes the analysis of costs related to the protective actions with respect to
the size of such habitats, as well as the number and abundance of protected plant species in particular areas. Results of the research show that institutional protection of xerothermic habitats, in the face of frequent abandonment of
animal production by farmers, is especially important nowadays. It also seems there is no other alternative to it. However, the most problematic aspect seems to be the duration of such initiatives, which depend on repetitive financial
support from various grants concerning nature conservation.
Keywords: institutional level, Małopolska region, nature conservation
JEL Classification: Q5, Q57
Rights:Open Access :: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 International Licence
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