Title: A participatory approach in regional sustainable development of the Slovak Republic: a case study of the Spis region

Authors: Zdenka Zajickova, Pim Martens

Addresses: International Centre for Integrated assessment and Sustainable development (ICIS), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands. ' International Centre for Integrated assessment and Sustainable development (ICIS), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands

Abstract: In the target region Spis, we see tensions between incentives of social actors for the nature protection and market interest in the face of growing importance of tourism in biodiversity area as the source of income for local population. There is a need for cooperation, communication and forming of partnerships as an important precondition for innovations in agriculture, and also for inventing alternatives for previous management (top-down approach). This is also necessary for creation of social trust among involved groups of actors and social capital evolution. This paper describes the role of a participatory approach in creation of social capital, with a view to the social trust that leads directly to the rural development of the region.

Keywords: participatory approach; regional sustainable development; social capital; institutional change; rural innovations; common-pool resources; ecosystem services; scenarios; sustainability; Slovak Republic; tourism; biodiversity; agriculture; trust.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2007.015308

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.6 No.3, pp.310 - 322

Published online: 03 Oct 2007 *

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