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    • Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
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Active summer: SWOT workshops with relevant sectors on PA Pohorje very productive

Active summer: SWOT workshops with relevant sectors on PA Pohorje very productive

Never the less that summer was quite hot for NATREG project team at the pilot area Pohorje there was no rest. During the summer we had organized four (4) SWOT workshops with different relevant sectors in the area, trying to identify advantages and disadvantage of the pilot area itself for easier identification of development opportunities and for detailed proposition of management plan of pilot area Pohorje.

Workshops were divided into four sections: first section was presentation of project NATREG and its goals for the pilot area. Second section was presentation and acknowledgement of participants with actual situation of each sector (e.g. Forestry, Hunting, Agriculture, and Tourism) on the pilot area Pohorje. Third section was work in group, trying to identify SWOT of each sector and last section was gathered SWOT analysis.

First SWOT was organized on 17th of June in the Cojzarica lodge. This SWOT was held with Forestry and Hunting sector. Work in groups, trying to identify advantages and disadvantages of pilot area Pohorje, of course, related to the forestry and hunting sector, was very interesting. After SWOT workshop in group here are the results: Biggest advantages of the pilot area Pohorje are potential of forest funds, well organized forestry and hunting with long tradition, high percentage of state owned forest and introduction of new technologies. Biggest disadvantages are forest infrastructure being too open for public, changed and poor forest and bush structure, overgrowth of meadows, poor function of wood market, ruined ratio of development phases. Most important opportunities are recognised as tourism development, fashion of green, inter-sector cooperation, identity of wood of Pohorje, fashion of sports and recreation in nature, development of innovative products. Threats recognized at the forestry swot workshop were mass tourism, prevalent of interest groups, “mega structure” projects, and portioned sectors, arrogance of the owners and urbanisation and architecture.

Second SWOT was organized on 23rd of June in Hoče with Agricultural sector. Results of the workshop are: biggest advantages are wood as source of an income, genetic diversity of vegetation, development of rich culinary, tradition, picking of forest fruits as a source of an income. Biggest disadvantages are bad products marketing, low level of cooperation, low level of education, work is mostly done by hand (low level of usage of machine tools), migrations from countryside. Most important opportunities are possible synergies with tourism, renewable energy, fashion of bio/eco/nature, introduction of brand names (local), development of supplemental activities. Threats were recognised as goes: bad “image” of agriculture, no added value (wood, meat), discontinue usage of agricultural land, bad infrastructure.

Third and fourth SWOT was organized on 6th and 8th of July in Bolfenk and Zreče, both with Tourism sector. After presentation of tourism situation in Pohorje, SWOT workshop in groups produced following results: biggest advantage for tourism in Pohorje are natural assets, conserved nature, existing biking and hiking paths, all year long season, good location, rich sacral and other heritage, good infrastructure etc. Biggest disadvantage for tourism on pilot area Pohorje is mostly in low connection between different tourism capacities, hotels, tourism farms etc. There is no common brand name of Pohorje and no common offer for tourists. Opportunities for development of tourism in Pohorje are many such as fashion of green/eco/bio tourism, development of destination tourism, connection of local communities for better acknowledgment of the area etc. However, threats identified are mostly political disconnection of the area on local and regional level, non-identified priorities of the area, pollution of the environment and nature, recession, loss of landscape identification due to mass tourism etc.
For all four workshops event evaluation report was made. Meeting minutes from all workshops are available at the Lead partner homepage.

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