In the NaBioKom project, IfLS, team ewen and the four practice partners are jointly implementing dialogue processes in the pilot regions of Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park, Bergstraße-Odenwald Geonature Park and the Rhön and Thuringian Forest biosphere reserves. The aim is to support the reconciliation of interests between different stakeholder groups in managed forests and to initiate an exchange on important future issues. Among other things, this is intended to promote understanding for different perspectives and initiate joint projects and activities.
At the second meeting of the Project Advisory Group (PAG) on 6 November 2023, the project team provided an overview of relevant topics on which there are differences of interest and which require dialogue between different stakeholder groups. The online survey of German nature parks and biosphere reserves reveals a wide range of topics. In biosphere reserves, there is already a good dialogue on many issues, whereas in nature parks this has so far focused primarily on issues such as recreational use. Many of these topics are also reflected in the expert interviews in the living labs. A dialogue on the topic of water and improving water retention is seen as particularly relevant here. The working group accompanying the project also makes it clear that a dialogue on the expansion of renewable energies in nature parks and biosphere reserves and the challenges of balancing the interests of nature parks and biosphere reserves are of particular importance.
The working group accompanying the project also makes it clear that a dialogue on the expansion of renewable energies in nature parks and biosphere reserves and the challenges of balancing interests should be given greater consideration in future.
There are key opportunities for nature parks, biosphere reserves and the stakeholder groups involved in the area of education for sustainable development. Based on a professional and objective exchange, joint activities can be initiated to communicate the challenges and goals of forests to the outside world. A major obstacle to intensifying dialogue tasks is the limited human resources of nature parks and biosphere reserves. The dialogue events should therefore lead to projects that are as concrete as possible.
The results of the project will be compiled in a guide for nature parks and biosphere reserves, which should provide assistance for the planning and implementation of dialogue processes.
Contact at the IfLS: Marie Sophie Schmidt (schmidt[at]ifls.de); Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)
