Authors:Imantas Lazdinis, Vitalija Rudzkienė, Vytautas Azbainis Pages: 6 - 19 Abstract: The rapid development of protected ecosystems and the large set of restrictions protecting the ecosystems are losing public support and causing stakeholder dissatisfaction Protected areas in many EU countries which provide socio-economic benefits are not evaluated, nor is it prepared socio - economic benefit calculation method. Rising problems show that these questions have too little emphasis on academics, research, and public support. There are many problems in measurement of development and innovation of protected areas. This study attempts to evaluate the selected Lithuanian national and regional parks using the contingent valuation method. This is pilot study whose results cannot be applied to general population. Evaluating such public goods as parks is a difficult task, because it is not the object that has a market price. It is impossible to apply a comparative analysis in order to determine the value. In this case, the scientists trying to measure the value using behavioural models, i.e. they are trying evaluate prices of the goods by human behaviour and preferences or they are trying evaluate using hypothetical models, where just considered opinion of the people, regardless of their behaviours. The design of the contingent valuation method is flawed because it is not based on behaviour model. The subjectivity of this method is one of the largest in non-market valuation methods. Another problem is choosing the right question in survey. The answer can be influenced by type of question. Despite some negative features, this method is easy to use and provides information that other model simply is unable to provide. Using contingent valuation method it is possible to determine not only the value of the use but also non-use value. Another positive feature of this method is that results using this method are similar to results receiving with other methods. It is a major contributor to the validity, because you can get a similar value at a lower cost and in less time. The pilot study results shows that many survey respondents do not visit Lithuanian parks. It was unable to determine the value of the parks because respondents do not have enough information about them. Survey also shows that many respondents want to have a house in the park, though building new houses in the park is forbidden. The prevailing opinion about necessity of the parks shows that certain approaches are fashionable, but most parks are unattended and respondents have no interest in them. This situation should be changed. Future more accurate valuation researches needed to determine whether the problem of this pilot study is real and relevant. If this were the case, should be taken right tools to inform people about the parks and their benefits. The parks should be developed in accordance with the needs of society. This pilot research results indicate that it is necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and determine whether general population are interested in parks or not. And we need to find out whether lack of information about the parks is indeed a problem in Lithuania. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Giedrė Raginytė, Julija Naujėkaitė Pages: 20 - 38 Abstract: Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is one of the climate change mitigation measures. However this sector is strongly influenced by natural processes that stimulate greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and removals that makes more difficult to manage and account for this sector. The accounting rules for LULUCF sector that was set during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol were criticized by scientists, experts, nongovernmental organizations and Parties. A lot of gaps that led to lack of accounting transparency and inaccuracy were identified. For this reason some amendments concerning LULUCF sector accounting rules were adopted for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol during the Conference of the Parties that was held in Durban in 2011. For the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the following amendments were adopted: mandatory accounting of forest management and harvested wood products (HWP), the method of accounting – reference level selected by the Party. During the consideration of LULUCF accounting rules European Commission (EC) proposed its own LULUCF accounting rules and submission of action plans. These rules must be implemented in all Member States (MS). However, the rules proposed by EC are more strict than those already adopted in Durban and includes more data and mandatory accounting. From this point it might become a burden for MS. Analysis of the current situation of LULUCF management and accounting in Lithuania has shown that the system is functioning well enough, and ensures the quality of sector management and accounting. However, after analyzing the adopted and proposed sector accounting rules, there is a doubt whether the same system is going to function efficiently enough after the implementation of new accounting rules. The qualitative study (expert interviews) and qualitative analysis of the data showed that for the successful implementation of existing and proposed LULUC accounting rules, Lithuania may face some difficulties and might need additional tools and resources. Substantial difficulties – lack of data and methodology. In order to solve these problems Lithuania may require additional tools and resources: legal regulation, financial and human resources – experts; additional governmental institutions, educational institutions and institutes for necessary research. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Pranas Mierauskas, Arnas Palaima Pages: 58 - 77 Abstract: In the 1980s the Nature Frame started as a simple zoning of green belts, recreation areas and protected areas. It has progressively been worked out (and formally developed in 1988-89) into hierarchical structure of geo-ecological divides, areas of inner stabilization compensating the influence of land use and urban development and migration corridors. It is usually characterized by the absence of urban and industrial activities. In 1993 the Landscape Management Group of Vilnius University worked out Nature Frame Schemes at regional levels covering all 44 administrative districts and currently it covers 61.4% of Lithuania, varying from 35% - 45% (North Lithuania Plain) to 75% - 80% (Eastern Lithuania), depending on natural conditions and land use. The development of common European Ecological Network started in early 1990s and its main purpose is to preserve biodiversity. General principles and strategy of the Ecological Network in Lithuania were formulated in late 1990s led by Lithuanian Fund for Nature. Criteria and principles of the Lithuanian Nature Frame differ from the criteria and principles of the European Ecological Network, however, when creating Lithuanian Ecological Network the best strategy is to develop and implement it within the existing framework of the Lithuanian Nature Frame. This article provides a general overview of the principles of Lithuanian Nature Frame and Ecological Network and provides a general strategy how to implement the Ecological Network in Lithuania. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Asta Juknevičiūtė, Pranas Mierauskas Pages: 78 - 92 Abstract: Protected areas are the base for conservation of natural and cultural heritage. There is an important need to ensure its’ protection in all over the world, according to the principles of sustainable development. Such kind of development encourages coordination of activities of stakeholders, local communities, and saving our heritage in order to meet future generations’ needs. Furthermore, effective management is an important tool of conserving natural and cultural heritage. Protected areas cover about 15.6 percent of Lithuania. However, there are disagreements about the meaning of the protected area. What causes a of different understanding' Is the current management model of protected areas considered as the most effective' Is the system of protected Lithuanian areas so confusing that forms different opinions' The relevance of this topic is based on the questions which are recently discussed in Lithuania. These questions are related to validity of boundaries of protected areas. Were they based on scientific researches' These questions are discussed in the article. In the first part a review of the history of protected areas’ network in Lithuania is presented, focusing on its development and changes. The second part intends to contemporary challenges of the management of protected areas. In addition, the main reasons of decreasing effectiveness of the management of protected areas are revealed. According to reform models in 2009, which were considered to make changes in Lithuania’s administration of protected areas, conclusions about the trends of management are made. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Asta Juknevičiūtė Pages: 93 - 101 Abstract: The role of protected areas is increasing every year all over world. It is a vital tool conserving biological diversity and ecosystems. At the same time, there is a growing interest in forest conservation, because forests provide a wide range of benefits and they are very important for many species to survive. Therefore, what is the relationship between forests and protected areas' This study analyses management of protected areas and forests of Lithuania, especially forest protected territories. In the first part a review is made by historic point of view, looking for the same institutional and territorial similarities. In the second part the current situation of forest and protected areas management is reviewed by national and local levels, the main functions of institutions are discussed. The territorial trends and main problems are revealed. It is concluded that forests cover the main part of protected areas. Because of this reason a communication between management institutions plays an important role in achieving sustainable development goals. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Aušra Šaltenytė Pages: 102 - 110 Abstract: The conservation of biological diversity is one of the key tasks of humankind. One of the possibilities to protect plants in unnatural conditions is the reproduction of plant collections in the botanical gardens. The article presents the classification of botanical gardens, change in their management and analysis of the Lithuanian botanical gardens’ regulations. The analysis revealed that the botanical gardens focus on scientific and educational functions, while the studies receive the least attention. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Pranas Aleknavičius Pages: 111 - 122 Abstract: Management of rural territories is regulated by legal acts and territorial planning documents. The article analyzes processes of farms land tenure formation and changes of farming lands and forests area. Purchase of land from the State and private persons is an important activity for increasing area of farms tenure during land reform. The article also describes regulations of Western Europe legal acts, related to land purchase. Formation of competitive land tenures is a public interest, which meets constitutional requirements for rational use of land resources in Lithuania. There are proposals in the article for legal acts amendments, to ensure that agriculture land would be acquired by subjects, which performs agriculture activity. Moreover, land tenures should be compact, which allows conditions for more efficient farming. Problems of preservation of natural resources for rational farming lands and forests are also discussed in the article. It was determined, that during 1990-2012 area of farming lands reduced by 21.6 %, area of forests increased by 8.3 % in Lithuania. Proposals for stabilization of farming lands area reduction are offered in the article. It is recommended that farming lands and forest area proportion should be determined by preparing complex territorial planning documents. Permissions for converting farming lands and forests to other use should be issued only according to these planning documents. Laws must more strictly regulate farming lands use and conversion for up-building and other non agricultural use. Legal protection of farming lands should be the same as protection of forest land. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Erika Matulionytė-Jarašūnė Pages: 123 - 132 Abstract: Sustainable development of renewable energy sources is a very complex and manydimensional process. Renewable energy development cannot be dispersed and infinite; the location of the development, the extent and geographical distribution must be planned in such a way that this development would bring the expected result. Also, it is necessary to keep in mind that due to the advances in technology these resources which at the beginning are almost the only alternative may become just one of several possible choices. The development of renewable sources is a dynamic process changing together with the level of society development, so one model applicable to all countries and situations with large differences in levels of economic development does not exist. Another important aspect to be noted is the distribution of renewable energy in the geographical sense, as most of the resources have certain characteristics for a particular area: hydro, wind, etc. This article aims to look at the development of renewable energy not only from an economic or environmental perspective, but also aims to include social and partly institutional aspects as sustainable development policy, policy of the sustainable development of renewable energy sources in particular, should cover a much wider solution than just the potential analysis of the development of a specific resource. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Aldona Jociutė Pages: 133 - 142 Abstract: Public participation is one among main principles of the sustainable development. One essential prerequisite of the sustainable development is full-scale – participations of citizens in decisions making process. Participation is important in decreasing social inequities and social exclusion. Communities’ participation particularly important when are developed, implemented and evaluated all programmes and other interventions aiming on improvement well-being, life quality, promotion health and environment. Using descriptive and analytical methods his article is analyzed the expression of participatory principle in the sustainable development, illustrating it by the example from the European Healthy Cities project. There are analyzed political and legal prerequisites of the expression of participatory principle, are given the essential elements of three theoretical models of participation, stages and levels of participation, as well are analyzed the prerequisites of participation from different kinds of the theoretical perspective. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Gediminas Jasinevičius Pages: 143 - 151 Abstract: The article analyzes potential and actual utilization of agro and wooden biofuel in Lithuania. More detailed analysis are done of biofuel which grows or potentially able to grow in temperate climate zone. These studies show that in certain sectors the potential of biofuel greatly exceeds actual use. The article also draws attention to the biofuel sector influencing policy decisions at EU and national levels. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
Authors:Rimvydas Jasinavičius, Vidmantas Ganiprauskas Pages: 152 - 162 Abstract: The average salary increased approximately 8,2 percent during the year since 2005 yearly according to the Department of Statistics in Lithuania. But for most it did not improve the quality of life neither for working people nor for all the country’s economic condition and situation. The research showed that the average salary growth significantly lagged behind the falling of the same salary actual purchasing power in monetary value in Lithuania. Due to the depreciation of the litas, the average salary purchasing power decreased as measured by both a standard rate of inflation as well as a „Gold standard“ during the 2005- 2011 period. Inflationary factors of litas made an illusory amount of money in income and devalued litas. In summary of research results it can be stated that employees of Lithuania was actually roasted. With reference to the research results it was determined that Gross domestic product (GDP) increased an average of 6.6 percent every year, but because of decreasing GDP, the Lithuanian people’s quality of life cannot improve. Issue No:Vol. 1, No. 6
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