Participatory Planning in Mining Areas – The Research Outline of the MINIPART Project

This paper presents the research outline of the MINIPART project – Improving Participation in Spatial Planning of Mining Areas. The project is developed and supported under the PRISMA program by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, grant #7598. It addresses issues arising from large-scale mineral extraction, which often leads to substantial changes in local communities and the environment, predominantly negative ones (e.g. monofunctional economy; environmental degradation; health issues; and resettlement). Opposition from communities and experts against mining in Serbia has intensified since the 2000s, underscoring the significance of meaningful public participation in urban and regional planning of mining areas. MINIPART is designed as an exploratory study that employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Its objective is to identify the most suitable participation methods, tested and tailored to stakeholders in mining areas, including vulnerable groups. A database of participatory methods will be developed through a literature review, insights gained from a study visit to a mining area abroad, and discussions with external collaborators. Best-tailored methods will be selected through a survey in the case study mining area – the City of Bor and Majdanpek Municipality – as well as interviews with stakeholders and testing with focus groups. The novelty of this project lies in the active involvement of diverse stakeholders in the development of the most appropriate participatory methods.