PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS: LOCALIZING GOVERNANCE OF THE CURONIAN SPIT NATIONAL PARK, LITHUANIA

Abstract

Bottom-up performance management, which is common in the countries with an old democracy, seems to be a challenge in Lithuania (a country with a young democracy) due to its strictly hierarchical governing and planning system. The situation of a national park on the Curonian Spit, which is also a UNESCO protected area, is most complicated in regards to performance management and governance. Problems related to developing (from one side) and protection (from the other) led to discussions among the state and local politicians, administrators and stakeholders on the possibility of steering the area with a special law. The approach of comparative analysis of similar territories worldwide revealed that the unique context of each protected area requires individual solutions, but not the application of special laws. However, managing the performance of the Curonian Spit seems to be a challenge for local actors. The approach of qualitative interviews was used with local officials and experts in order to reveal the main aspects and expectations/critics of performance management and governance. Findings provided that the success of performance management in protected areas of countries of young democracy largely depends on the network flattening and real involvement of locals and indigenous people in public governance.