Hodnotenie národných parkov v podmienkach prechodových ekonomík
VALUATION OF NATIONAL PARKS IN TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES

Summary/Abstract: Most environmental assets are defined as public goods. Market failure in estimating market price for environmental goods can give the impression that they have little value or are unimportant relative to market prices, thus most environmental values can be lost. The main idea of this paper is to show that economic values of environmental and resource services can give valuable information supporting resource and environmental management decisions. The first part of the paper explain difficulties in understanding the issue of environmental evaluation from the point of view of economics and the environment. Secondly it explores the theory concerned with valuation of non – market goods, stressing different approaches to measuring environmental values. Special attention is paid to the discussion on the theory of value, especially on non use values, e.g. intrinsic, bequest, philanthropic values of the environment. The paper also addresses the most critical problems in decision making and nature protection under the transitional economy of the Slovak Republic. Decision-making in pre-1989 Command and Control (CAC) regimes in Central and Eastern Europe was done by political representation and based on ideological or political principles, rather than economic characteristics. Environmental decision-making was generally limited to a supplement of land use – planning documentation with very low influence in the decision-making process. The key element missing in the former command and control approach to decision-ma-king is consensus building and public involvement. Political changes in 1989 and the eco-nomic transformation have resulted in a radical change in environmental policy in the Slovak Republic. The major accomplishment in the legal field today is a well-developed legislative framework in environmental decision-making. On the other hand, implementation and law enforcement is still inadequate. Citizens as individuals are not very active in environmental decision-making. Generally, there is a lack of interest in public matters and apathy towards getting involved in community life. Information is not transparent or accessible, either for the public or for non-governmental organisations or research institutions.

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