Multifunctional role of Krakovo gardens as legally protected entity of urban agriculture – the stakeholders' view

Abstract

Having a long and interesting past, Krakovo gardens today make a coherent part of urban agriculture, particularly as their traditional land use has been protected as cultural heritage. But the condition of Krakovo gardens is extremely bad, becoming increasingly worse. To test the acceptability for the relevant stakeholders, land owners, Quarter Trnovo, Municipality of Ljubljana, and townspeople, of the multifunctional urban agricultural model of revitalising and maintaining Krakovo gardens, is the aim of this research. The methods of participatory research and of survey are used. Land owners are more adverse to than in favour of the model. Quarter Trnovo is well disposed to the model, but sceptical in terms of its practical implementation. Municipality of Ljubljana is inclined to the model, but it actually takes no action with regard to public good of the gardens as protected cultural heritage. The townspeople do not care about the gardens, as long as they are not built up. The results of this research rise v new question, whether there is an authentic public interest to preserve the gardens although public good is legally expressed. In this context a discussion between stakeholders should be launched to define public interest in Krakovo gardens, as well as their public good under the actual circumstances.