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The "Development of National Environmental Information Systems" project was based on a proposal,
available in PDF format, which was submitted to the Regional Environmental
Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe (REReP).
The project was conceptualised and is implemented in cooperation with the Croatian
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning; the Croatian consulting
firm programi PINTA d.o.o; and UNEP/GRID-Arendal.
Since the project started in May 2001, the following activities have either
taken place or are still in process: Project steering committee establishment. The project steering committee is chaired by Minister Roko
Andricevic of the Croatian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.
Its first meeting (9-KByte PDF file)
took place on July 9, 2001 in Zagreb, Croatia. The committee includes representatives
(13-KByte PDF file) of the governments of the
beneficiary countries and a representative of the SEE regional NGO network.
In addition, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, the European Environmental Agency, and
the Federal Environmental Agency of Austria are represented. The committee
oversees project implementation and provides advice on its upcoming
activities. Needs assessments - Analysis of the status and needs of national/territorial environmental information systems The REC, in cooperation with local experts in SEE countries, prepared needs assessments on the status and needs of national/territorial environmental information systems. The needs assessments were prepared by local IT experts in cooperation with government officials who are responsible for developing national environmental information systems. The needs assessments were the subject of a discussion during the regional meeting on November 19-20, 2001 in Opatija, Croatia. The assessments were made available for discussion among the NGO community. The terms of reference (13-KByte PDF file) for the needs assessments were prepared by the REC in cooperation with the steering committee. The needs assessments covered the use, collection, organisation, dissemination and accessibility of information. The assessments discussed the kind of environmental information that is available, the quality of the information and the level of cooperation among authorities when exchanging and sharing information. The documents identified needs and priorities for the development of national environmental information systems and needs for international and national assistance. The assessments were mainly prepared for the purposes of
the disbursement of funds in this project. They may also serve as a basis
for appeals for international funding in the future. It is hoped that the
outcomes of these assessments will shape future activities and national
action plans. A regional meeting finalising needs and priorities for the development of environmental information systems A regional meeting
(Minutes, 13-KByte PDF file) to reach consensus on needs and
priorities for the development of information systems in SEE countries/territories took
place on November 19-20, 2001 in Opatija, Croatia. You may also refer to the agenda
(8-KByte PDF file). The participants
(5-KByte PDF file) discussed the needs assessments and formulated action plans for the
development of environmental information systems, outlining short-term and
long-term activities. The drafting was done in dialogue with NGOs and with
the involvement of international and local experts, and enhanced by a REC survey (11-KByte PDF
file) of NGO needs with regard to environmental
information in the region. The regional meeting in Opatija was held
concurrently with the second project steering committee meeting. You can also see
pictures taken at the meeting here: Photo
1, Photo 2, Photo
3, Photo 4. Financial assistance to specific countries and territories The project provides financial assistance to participating countries and territories to cover costs for equipment and expertise as identified in the needs assessments and national action plans. These needs were detailed in the subsequent concept papers for environmental information systems development. The concept papers were evaluated (29-KByte PDF file) by a panel of experts and form the basis for equipment and services procurement. The concept paper for the pilot project
(14-page PDF file) on environmental
information system implementation in Croatia (a coastal monitoring system)
is now available.
Pilot environmental information
system implementation The pilot environmental information system in Croatia is being implemented to enhance access to information on coastal waters and the Neretva river delta. It is based on the concept paper (92-KByte PDF file) prepared by the local project manager programi PINTA d.o.o., (3-KByte PDF file) and approved by the Croatian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. Based on viability and need, this local pilot project in
Croatia was designed to enhance access to national environmental information
and the national information system for the water sector in Croatia.
Successful implementation could confirm the
feasibility of the project concept. The pilot system could serve as a model
for other SEE countries to develop similar systems. Coastal information can
already be viewed
online at <www.croea.com>. Training on environmental information systems development, March 22-23, Szentendre, Hungary The main objective of this training initiative was to motivate participants (18-KByte PDF file) from environmental ministries and NGOs to enhance public access to environmental information through the use of electronic and non-electronic tools. It highlighted both the needs and useful tools for the exchange and publication of information and the importance of cooperation with authorities and countries in the region. It also focused on citizens' rights to access sound, current environmental information. The training programme (55-KByte MS Word file) was prepared by project partners UNEP/GRID-Arendal. Participants also received an update on related REReP activities. The meeting's materials and presentations (a 3-MByte ZIP file containing 14 files) are available, as are best practice case studies highlighting citizens' rights to accessible information - for example PRTRs or eco-efficiency product information. Please see pictures taken at the meeting here: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5, Photo 6, Photo 7, Photo 8. Case studies on the use of electronic tools and traditional mechanisms, in providing access to environmental information and fostering public participation in decision making have been provided and circulated. These document good practice in compliance with the Aarhus Convention and can be accessed via the Electronic Tools Taskforce's Case Study Gallery.
A regional wrap-up workshop (120-KByte DOC file) involving more than 50 participants (145-KByte DOC file) took place June 19-20, 2003 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The workshop reviewed and evaluated progress in the participating countries and exchanged experiences accumulated during the project. Both government and NGO representatives contributed. A SWOT analysis (23-KByte PDF file) was completed and identified future priorities for continuing the development of national environmental information systems in SEE. A three hour training session on strategic communications and Internet/Intranet web page design ( 1.8-MByte MS PowerPoint file) and poster session also proved successful. Country/territory presentations are now
available: Albania ( 95-KByte
MS PowerPoint file), Bosnia & Herzegovina
(102-KByte MS PowerPoint file), Bulgaria
(158-KByte MS PowerPoint file), Croatia, Kosovo
(650-KByte MS PowerPoint file), Macedonia
(270-KByte MS PowerPoint file), Romania
(115-KByte MS PowerPoint file), Serbia
and Montenegro (95-KByte MS PowerPoint file).
A report on current progress and future priorities in
the development of environmental information systems in SEE is now available.
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