In this thesis, I researched the role of organized civil society and associations as Civil Society Organizations in the conservation of nature and protection of natural heritage in Slovenia respectively. With the questionnaire, I surveyed the associations that have a status of an association in the public interest for nature conservation and those, which do not have this status, and I used a structured interview for the case study, in which I analysed the role of DOPPS-Birdlife Slovenia in the conservation of the rich natural environment at Volovja reber. The most important findings of the two analyses are the importance of mutual cooperation between different associations and the importance of obtaining the status of an association, acting in public interest in the field of nature conservation. In case of the mutual cooperation between associations it would be necessary to form a group of people, coming from various associations, who would each contribute their time, knowledge and experience in order to quickly and efficiently reach a common nature conservation goal. Despite the fact, that nature conservation is a public interest, the associations must obtain this status formally and legally. The status, in addition to the right to represent the interests of nature conservation in any judicial and administrative proceedings, provides also other "benefits" belonging to civil society organizations with the status of work in the public interest. These benefits are, in particular, well-established cooperation with State Authorities, predictable consideration of associations from their side as well as better funding possibilities. Due to the importance of including them in judicial and administrative proceedings as a side intervenor, associations expect the possibility of obtaining funding for legal advice and representation from the State, what would reinstate the role of public participation as a third pillar in nature conservation decision-making in Slovenia.
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