Harmonization of conflicts in contact zones between dense urban landscape and protected natural areas; case study devinska kobyla (Bratislava, Slovakia)

Abstract

This paper explores the processes of harmonization of the interests of green infrastructure and urban development of specific areas at the urban fringe. The case study of Devinska Kobyla (Natura 2000 site) is located within the landscape with a high density of urbanization in Bratislava located in close proximity to the protected areas of Little Carpathians. The management and planning of contact zones are one of the tools for avoiding fragmentation of the landscape, but one of its limitations in practice is that the concept of contact zones of urban and natural structures [1] is not properly reflected in the existing policies, despite huge conflicts threatening the conservation areas. Therefore, the conflicting behaviour and multi-actor decision-making of stakeholders with conflicting interests, such as residents and vacationers, environmentalists, municipalities, developers and activists lead to fragile sustainability of these areas. Consequently, there is a need to cultivate the spaces - to develop them into deeper levels of understanding, participation and sharing [2] - by a thorough impact assessment, visionary planning, innovative design and sensitive management in the complexity. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations projected in the plan of measures for sustainable development of natural areas of Bratislava urban fringe developed in cooperation with local key stakeholders (Daphne and BROZ NGOs) [3] and State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic as the Natura 2000 Bratislava partners. Using the methods of the field research, analysing historical and existing characteristics of the sites, participation of residents and visitors and consulting with experts, the landscape planning design proposal had been developed. The project segments - the buffer zones - were designed in greater details. These buffer zones respect both the values of nature and also human demands on democratic, accessible places with more opportunities for sociability, involving the concept of learning landscape design. The paper contributes to the debates on practical examples of harmonization of various interests in specific locations of contact zones by design and planning, minimising fragmentation of ecological corridors, solving it by spatial planning and landscape design.