Protesters in front of parliament against national park reform

The reform of national parks prepared through the draft amendment to the Law on Nature and Landscape Protection is not good, according to several stakeholders. They say that the reform should keep people in protected areas, while respecting ownership. Private forest owners, farmers, foresters, hunters and rural residents gathered on Wednesday afternoon in front of the National Council to express their opposition to the reform. In response to the protest, the Environment Ministry said it rejects pressure tactics and the lies aimed against the reform. The ministry emphasized that the legislation would bring more finances to the regions and present them with new opportunities for development. Meanwhile, the coalition's 'We Are Family' party decided it would not support the national park reform, a decision that ripened after its talks with representatives of the affected regions. As the main reason for the stance of rejection, House Chair and 'We Are Family' head Boris Kollar cited the negative effects for the people living in the countryside, both in terms of impacts on local economies and their jobs. His party originally supported the bill, but later chose to withdraw its signatures.