Title: Are environmental non-governmental organisations involved at all? The current specifics of Slovakia's UNESCO Biosphere Reserves governance

Authors: Peter Mihók; Anna Vaňová; Katarína Vitálišová

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia ' Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia ' Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

Abstract: This study explored legal and institutional conditions behind insufficient application of participatory principles in UNESCO biosphere reserves (BRs) in Slovakia. The research aimed to summarise existing knowledge on the legal context, empirical state, and environmental non-governmental organisations' (eNGOs') interest in participatory governance/conservation as envisioned by relevant theories and UNESCO guidelines. The scientific objective was to synthesise findings from an analysis of Slovak laws and official documents with primary research into eNGOs' interest in influencing Slovak BR governance. The methodology involved analysing laws, documents obtained via Slovakia's Freedom of Information Act, and data from an anonymous questionnaire to eNGO representatives. Findings revealed: 1) a complete absence of BR governance and management provisions in Slovak laws, except for two references implicitly suggesting BRs were designated areas with internationally recognised nature protection obligations, contradicting the conceptualisation of BRs; 2) a lack of eNGOs' representatives in relevant BR governing and advisory bodies.

Keywords: UNESCO Biosphere Reserves; BRs; national parks; NPs; governance; environmental non-governmental organisations; eNGOs; Slovakia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2025.150740

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2025 Vol.24 No.4, pp.398 - 415

Received: 24 Jul 2024
Accepted: 28 Jul 2025
Published online: 22 Dec 2025 *

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