Poverty and the Global Environmental Change The perspective of Transition Countries in Central and Eastern Europe Lívia Bízikova, Tatiana Kluvánkova Oravská Institute for Forecasting Slovak Academy of Sciences Prepared for the presentation at the Open Meeting at the Global Environmental Change Research Community, Montreal, Canada, 16-18. October 2003 Poverty multidimensional phenomenon An interrelated link of economic social psychological cultural - political factors influences the occurrence and persistence of poverty Poverty is a problem with global dimensions 1
Poverty in transition economies in CEE so called social equity in previous regime state guarantee for social welfare lack of analyses on poverty in previous regime heavily subsidised (Romas) incapability of society and individuals to adapt to institutional change from command and control to market economy Poverty in Slovakia Since 1996 significant increase of poor people (Result of economic changes) Poverty and social exclusion not aggregated adequately in social polices Diversified impact on groups of society vulnerable groups 2
Indicators for measuring poverty in Slovakia Unemployment rate in 1996-11.2%, in 2000 18.6% Real wage (year to year change in %) in 2000 decline about 3-5 % against 1996 Recipient of social assistance (%) in 1996-7%, in 2000 11.3% GDP per capita (in PPP$) in 1997 7.9, in 2000 11.24 Sensitive groups Rural population (regional disparities, weak labour market) Women (low participation and income) Minorities (social exclusion) Elderly population 3
Feminisation of poverty Very low participation in decision making in all administrative levels (less than 15%) High vertical and horizontal segregation Wage differences about 25 35% Increasing of the double burden on women after transition Roma minority Official statistics 1.74% of population Estimations 9% of population Strongest effect of the transition process Not sufficiently captured by the poverty research New vertical poverty entire social category is depending on the welfare benefits 4
Poverty - environmental change Complex relation between poverty and environment, and between poor people and natural resources Poor people are often impoverished by a declining resource base, and thus forced by circumstances to degrade the environment further (Durning, 1989) The dependence on the natural resources and affected by environmental changes are country and region specific Research hypothesis 1. Poverty in CEE is the effect of transition processes: a: inability to adapt to new political and socio- economic situation; b: lack of participatory democracy (bottom up); 2. Poverty creates pressure on sensitive groups (e. Rural population, minorities, women...). 3. effects biodiversity values and natural resource exploitation 5
Slovensky Raj Case Highly sensitive karst, canyons Vegetation inversion Rare and endemic species National Park established in 1988 Candidate of PANParks 6
Present state of the park 15 municipalities surrounding NP; Minimal industrialisation due to extreme climate 1. Dominance of private land ownership in the park (over 50%) Economic pressure of private owners : lodging, intensive tourism 2. Lack of institutional maturity and multiple decision makers, top down DM: Miss-coordination of duties, Fire catastrophes destroying biodiversity values of the park etc. Poverty and GECH in the park Poverty and social isolation of Romas at the border of the park (population 7000) Degradation of the unique environment in the park by Romas: Ilegal forest cutting by Romas in Nature reserve :damage estimated EUR 38-54 thous. Per annum (use values only) Effects: Irreversible change on ecosystems of the park contributed to the exclucion of the park from Candidature to UNESCO natural heritage. Effects on tourism and security of residents 7
Roma settlements in the park Participatory-Multicriteria Evaluation Bottom up process to planning and decision making to address complex situations from multidimensional perspective (economic, social, environmental) Systematic dialogue with key stakeholders in the region, case etc. At an early stage in shaping policy. Introduce legitimate participatory democracy into the regional planning and decision making. Social learning (cognitive learning, learning from others, learning about society needs. 8
Multicriteria Evaluation (socio-economic analyses) Rather than provide unique criterion for choice it delineates alternative courses of actions or scenarios and judge them according to: different criteria and by the relavance to various interests (O Connor) and positions. Structuring conflicts and decision making process Participatory techniques (political economy, sociology, psychology) Deliberative instrument to Deliberative instrument to understand and meeting consensus in complex and difficult decision problems involving more than one decision maker (Proctor 2003 and others). Socially acceptable decision through structured argument and practical judgement, instead of aggregation of individual preferences (O Connor, 1998). Interactive dialogue and social learning 9
Plan of Actions 1. Statistical survey of poverty in the region (Roma women). 2. Institutional analyses to identify stakeholders 3. Participatory actions to look for positions of stakeholders, exchange views (social learning process) 4. Assess options for community adaptive management of the Slovensky Raj and incusion of Romas women 5. Conflict analyses, coalitions co-operation operation partnership and creation of nonstate institution(s) for social environmental communication Expectation Inclusion of Romas into the community life and decision making. Mitigation of conflicts with nature conservation of the park. Gender aspect in regional and rural policies (Rural development plan, donor programs, participation in economic programmes (SME etc.) 10
Recommendation for CEE Mobilising specific potential of the regions in enlarged EU through structured dialogue and shared responsibility of stakeholders. Participatory MCE techniques - tool for strategic bottom up decision making and consensus building in regional development and nature conservation; Transformation toward knowledge based economy, competitive at local as well as global markets. Thank you! Bízikova L, Kluvánková-Oravská T, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 11