Well-set cooperation and functional relationships among different actors are the alpha and omega in the management of protected areas. Therefore, thanks to the One Nature project, a methodology was prepared which will help improve communication between representatives of nature conservation authorities and owners and users who manage protected areas (not only) of Natura 2000 network within the Czech Republic.

The Methodology focuses on good practice in establishing and maintaining fair communication and a long-term partnership between representatives of nature conservation authorities on one hand and owners and farmers on the other, including a summary of the legislative aspects of mutual cooperation. Experts from the Charles University Environment Centre and the Nature Conservation Agency (NCA) of the Czech Republic participated in its creation.

The text of the Methodology is mainly grounded in the experience of the farmers and conservationists from four selected regional NCA offices with whom the Charles University Environment Centre researchers had a series of research interviews in the summer 2020. Foreign specialised literature and consultations with the NCA senior officers who have long-term experience in the negotiation of protected areas management brought a great deal of inspiration, too.

The Methodology is now being tested and going through internal revisions among workers at NCA regional offices. In the future, it will be provided to other nature conservation bodies, such as regional authorities, national park administrations or military area administrations, and other interested parties. We believe that it will help both the present and new nature conservation workers to build the partnership with local owners and the farmers and, as a result, it will lead to improving the quality of the protected areas management.