The Cross-border Territorial Strategy - Protection and Exploration of the Nature Heritage
Published on 22 March 2019
Czech Republic
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
This strategy, and especially the communication campaign associated with it, is a unique approach initiated by environmentalists themselves. It was processed for the territory of the Protected Landscape Area called Bohemian Forest („Český les“) in 2019. This area lies in the Pilsen Region (CZ) on the border with the Bavarian region Oberpfalz (DE). It is especially valued for its untouched nature due to the lack of the industrial activities and low population. While, there are some villages on the Bavarian side, the Czech cities are farther away inland with very poor touristic infrastructure or transportation connection into both countries. Moreover, the border municipalities, especially the Czech, are experiencing many socio-economic problems. Shortly, it could be said that this valuable territory is very little known, and the number of local advocates is still declining.
Representatives of regional self-government and state nature protection authorities were not indifferent to those problems. They perceived that while biodiversity of the local flora and fauna benefit from their care, the social and economic development is minimally supported. As a reaction they initiated development of a cross-border strategy (as the area is influenced by actors from both states), that should help to implement sustainable tourism in the territory. Tourism is not perceived as a "problem-free", but rather as a "necessary evil", which must be strategically planned and implemented.
Representatives of regional self-government and state nature protection authorities were not indifferent to those problems. They perceived that while biodiversity of the local flora and fauna benefit from their care, the social and economic development is minimally supported. As a reaction they initiated development of a cross-border strategy (as the area is influenced by actors from both states), that should help to implement sustainable tourism in the territory. Tourism is not perceived as a "problem-free", but rather as a "necessary evil", which must be strategically planned and implemented.
Resources needed
ca. 280 000 EUR
Evidence of success
TThe greatest evidence of successful implementation of the strategy is increased reputation of the territory. Český les and its natural heritage have become an important "topic" for local, regional and cross-border decision makers. They search for sources how to strengthen slow tourism in the territory. Until now, local destination agency was founded, tourist and cycling circuit were proposed and promote, old historical paths were restored, new cross-border events were realized.
Potential for learning or transfer
Proposals of the Strategy:
1) Harmonization of the protective and the socially-responsible approaches: a) Identification of the main components of natural and cultural heritage in the region, b) Evaluation of the influence of the more intensive tourism activities (from both sides of the border) on the nature of the identified components, c) Promotion and raise of the public awareness of the value of the area in both countries, d) Proposals of appropriate touristic products. Such products must be attractive enough but have to be able to lead the public away from the endangered locations that could be damaged by the tourism. e) An overall assessment of the situation in whole cross-border area (e.g car transport).
2) Intensive communication with locals as preferred way how to enforce the rules for protection of the nature in the area instead of traditional restrictive approaches.
3) Slow and sustainable tourism focused on small groups, families and nature lovers.
1) Harmonization of the protective and the socially-responsible approaches: a) Identification of the main components of natural and cultural heritage in the region, b) Evaluation of the influence of the more intensive tourism activities (from both sides of the border) on the nature of the identified components, c) Promotion and raise of the public awareness of the value of the area in both countries, d) Proposals of appropriate touristic products. Such products must be attractive enough but have to be able to lead the public away from the endangered locations that could be damaged by the tourism. e) An overall assessment of the situation in whole cross-border area (e.g car transport).
2) Intensive communication with locals as preferred way how to enforce the rules for protection of the nature in the area instead of traditional restrictive approaches.
3) Slow and sustainable tourism focused on small groups, families and nature lovers.
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Regional Development Agency of the Pilsen Region
Czech Republic
Jihozápad
Contact
consultant