REC - EMTC: Insight 3/1: River school

P R O F I L E

River school

Governments, CSOs, schools and businesses put on their waterproof boots to learn about river protection

HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA have some of the richest birdlife in Central and Eastern Europe.

An outdoor living classroom has been created by the Slovak ECO (Environmental Citizens' Organisation) SOSNA and its Hungarian partner, Holocen, to educate future generations. Their project, "We Take Care of Our River," which is now in its second year, addresses the environmental problems of the Hornad River. In the scheme, 33 volunteer groups are monitoring water quality, measuring chemical parameters and learning about the surrounding river environment. SOSNA hopes to spread its share of this model to other areas of Slovakia, and to expand it to a larger scale of activities called "Communities in Action."

International cooperation: rivers connect us

SOSNA and Holocen joined together in the project for three reasons: to gather evidence and educate the public about the negative impacts of industrial pollution on river environments; to encourage youth and adults to actively volunteer and to forge another link between Slovakia and Hungary - two countries connected not only by history and a border, but also by the Hornad river. One of the 10 largest rivers in Slovakia, the Hornad begins in Central Slovakia, then winds southeast and into Hungary. From there it runs south and joins the Danube.

How it works: program set-up

Since 1995 "We Take Care of Our River" has grown steadily through the philosophy of connecting education, ECOs, government and business. SOSNA and Holocen organise a joint spring seminar to train new group leaders to use water monitoring kits and field teaching techniques. After the training, each group collects data at their assigned site along the Hornad every two weeks, from April-November, and once a month during the summer. They measure for nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, ph and ammonium levels. Participants also record water temperature, signs of invertebrate life and any the presence of any waste dumps.

The recorded results are forwarded to SOSNA and Holocen, and then sent to a local university for evaluation on GIS (Geographic Information System). SOSNA and Holocen use this compiled data in a variety of ways to educate the public: in museum exhibits about Hornad water quality and archaeology; a children's conference and forums that bring together government officials, civil society organisation representatives and the public in discussions.

Communities in action: the bigger picture

SOSNA will take "We Take Care of Our River" a step further in 1998, and expand it into the larger vision of "Communities in Action." The central goal is to motivate citizens to identify and solve local environmental problems themselves. "We Take Care of Our River" will expand beyond just water and waste dump monitoring to include river band and corridor greening, clean-ups, and public campaigns in local communities against polluters.

SOSNA will also activate the new program "Know Your Rights." Local Environmental Groups (LEGs) will campaign in four Hornad watershed villages, which will act as forums for solving local environmental problems. LEG leaders will recruit and organise local people from the private and public sector to participate. "Know Your Rights" will also incorporate use of river contracts (agreements between citizens, schools, polluters, and those that use the river) to care for river health.

But, beyond monitoring and models, this program is about people connecting together to take care of their river. It proves that the best solutions come from a grassroots level; from those who depend upon the river to give health and life. The benefits of a locally-based program are like ripples on the water, spreading out, affecting us all.

SOSNA, Center for Sustainable Alternatives
A nongovernmental, non-profit organisation focused upon a mission of broadening ideas, standpoints and skills towards a lasting sustainable life. Through the philosophy of deep ecology, SOSNA is active in three program areas: Public information and education; Communities in Action watershed program, and Organic Agriculture "Healthy Foods for Healthy Prices." SOSNA received third prize in the 1997 Sasakawa Peace Foundation Award and picked up the 1997 Best Project-Slovakia, by Environmental Partnership for Central and Eastern Europe. In 1997 "We Take Care of Our River" was supported by the foundation for Children and Youth, Environmental Partnership for Central and Eastern Europe, Foundation for the Development of the Carpathian Euro-region, Business Firm Merck, and the United States Peace Corps. In 1998, "Communities in Action" is supported by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Szentendre, Hungary.
For more information on SOSNA please contact Janice Johnson,
SOSNA, Prazska 2, 040 11 Kosice, Slovak Republic,
Tel/Fax: (421-95) 644-5124

REC * EMTC * PUBLICATIONS * INSIGHT * SPRING/SUMMER 1998