Collaboration and conflicts between stakeholders in drafting the Natura 2000 Management Programme (2015-2020) in Slovenia

Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas for the conservation of ecological diversity and habitats in the European Union. The involvement of private and public actors in the implementation and management of the Natura 2000 sites is a pillar for the success of the network. The quality of participatory process is linked to the relational social capital (relationships among stakeholders and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them). This paper investigates the changes in relational social capital after the participatory process developed in drafting the Natura 2000 Management Programme (2015-2020) in Slovenia. Such changes were analysed through two main factors: level of trust in other stakeholders; and, conflicts between stakeholders. The results show an increase in the level of trust in public administrations and a simultaneous decrease in the level of trust in other stakeholders. The majority of respondents highlight the presence of four types of conflicts: conflicts due to restrictions to human activities; conflicts determined by an increase of bureaucratic procedures; conflicts caused by a not fully accepted definition of institutional roles; and, conflicts due to a lack of complete information about Natura 2000 requirements. Studies on the role of social capital in natural resources management could improve the quality of participatory process, by increasing mutual trust and by reducing conflicts between stakeholders. Future studies should focus on the role of social capital in managing natural resources in different socio-economic and cultural contexts.