- Main
results of the Initiation Phase of the TRB SDP
- Conclusions
from the Closing International Conference: Needs for sustainable development
in the TRB and outlook for the TRB SDP
Introduction
Country Report - Romania
Country
Report - Ukraine
Country Report - Slovakia
Country Report - Hungary
Country Report - Yugoslavia
Annexes, appendices, references
Conclusions from the Closing International Conference: Needs for sustainable development in the TRB and outlook for the TRB SDP
The REC and the UNDP/RBEC
Regional Support Centre in Bratislava have proposed the development of
a Tisa/Tisza River Basin Sustainable Development Programme with five main
goals as mentioned earlier. The TRB SDP should encompass the entire geographical
area of the Tisa/Tisza River Basin, including its natural resources and
ecosystems, the entire economy and all social groups.
The relevant institutions and organisations in the five countries already
have information about conditions in the river basin and ideas for its
future development. In this instance, the most appropriate method to develop
a comprehensive programme is to use the process approach, inviting all
relevant stakeholders to provide their input, based on a common understanding
of the situation, problems and options for the future.
The further programming of the TRB SDP is expected to follow the logical
framework approach which is widely used in GEF, EU and other international
development programmes. This approach was also used effectively for the
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme (1997-1999) covering the Tisa/Tisza
river basin as a sub-basin. This obviously covered a different level of
details that corresponded to the Danube river basin scale and did not
contain all the necessary elements for sustainable development.
The Preparatory Project for the TRB SDP aimed at providing solid ground
for further steps in planning and implementing the TRB SDP. Therefore
the outlook for the future is one of the key results of the Preparatory
Project.
As the closing event of the Preparatory Project for the TRB SDP, an international
conference was held on the premises of the REC in Szentendre, Hungary,
on April 25, 2002.
Participants agreed on the following needs and bottleneck areas of the
TRB SDP, indicating the overall priority needs in the TRB:
- Protection of human lives and properties were identified as of the utmost interest in relation to the floods in the TRB.
- Information management was identified as an important issue. Many aspects of effective and efficient information management were pointed out, like speeding up information flow; setting up a meta-database (a pointer database of further information, good practices and/or databases); use of information experts to analyse information, and the ability to derive knowledge from information; and finally to establish an information centre managing the information needs of the TRB. (Annexes)
- Public awareness was to be increased by publicising environmental values among the people in the TRB using the local press within the framework of a media campaign, as well as the reorganisation of educational systems in accordance with sustainable development principles. The latter was emphasised through the creation of links at psychological level between the social-economic-environmental interrelationships of sustainable development.
- The participatory approach was to be considered based on the creation of space for public policy dialogues at local, national and regional levels to ensure effective public participation in decision-making, and in monitoring the implementation of activities and projects performed in the TRB.
- Institutional arrangements focused on the harmonisation of legislation within the TRB; the creation of an international institutional body with country based representation and involving powerful NGOs and/or a special implementation agency; and the development of administrative capacities at local level.
- The creation of development mechanisms that encourage bottom-up processes in project identification and reflect local development needs; the use of common structures, models and approaches to project management; the identification of criteria for the setting of priorities; and the definition of indicators for project appraisal were identified as the key elements in programming and related project management.
- The issue of cooperation
was focused on at different levels and with regard to several aspects:
the encouragement of international cooperation; the raising of interest
in using mechanisms to solve problems at their roots and not at the
end of the pipe (see floods and embankment lifting, or reforestation
at the watershed issue); the development of cross-sectoral cooperation,
especially between the business and NGO sectors; cooperation within
the business sector to fill the gap in traditional economic practices;
increased cooperation between regional offices in the TRB; and finally
the strengthening of scientific cooperation regarding the TRB through
an international scientific conference.
The final conference confirmed and approved the original scope of the TRB SD was given by the REC and UNDP.
The scope of the
TRB SD was influenced by other ideas risen and formulated by other international
initiatives (e.g.Budapest Declaration, and Council Europe's Draft Agreement).
The above areas served as the basis for core elements of the TRB SDP and
resulted in the scope definition of the TRB SDP as follows:
Identification of the necessary and most cost-effective principal remedial
actions to protect human lives and properties through the minimisation
of environmental risks, including environmental hotspots, flood control
and prevent flood damages. These may include long-term management of old
tailings deposits, the reopening of certain wetlands to periodic flooding,
and additional protection measures for threatened settlements.
Public information about the state of the river basin by using
a combination of satellite imagery and traditional monitoring measure
to provide a picture of the river basin that can be accessed by the public
on the Internet or through local or sectoral authorities and NGOs. Specific
emphasis would be on access to information through local media such as
newspapers and TV stations, or through specific publications accessible
to the broader public.
Consultation processes involving national and local authorities,
as well as NGOs and the business sector to determine needs and the scope
of the programme, and to consult on the actions proposed by the programme.
NGOs and local communities will receive support to participate actively
in this process.
Capacity-building for local and regional authorities with regard
to the management of development programmes, environmental management
and good local governance, including public access to information and
public participation.
Socio-economic analysis and identification of development scenarios
for key social-economic-geographic clusters. First priority for analysis
will be given to the ore extraction/metal processing communities and rural
communities. Development scenarios will be developed and compared on the
basis of their benefits for the economy and quality of life, as well as
their environmental impact. The most promising economic activities (such
as low input farming, tourism, wood processing, renewable energy) that
could be actively promoted, will be identified. Particular national and
regional policies providing the adequate framework (e.g. integrated permitting,
codes for investment, enforcement, economic instruments) for sustainable
development will be identified and recommended.
Identification
and cost-effective planning of key infrastructure (transport, communication,
municipal services) required to meet the objectives of the programme will
be mapped out in order to be submitted to EU Pre-Accession Funds, GEF,
international donors and IFIs.
Assessment and coordination of regional development plans and spatial
plans are necessary to facilitate environmentally sustainable economic
development, the minimisation of environmental risks and the preservation
of natural and cultural values such as mountains, forests, wetlands and
traditional landscapes.
With a clear vision and subsequent plans for future development, as well
as the necessary activities and related investments, stakeholders in the
TRB will be able to invest their own resources wisely and attract additional
international funding and investment from public sources (EU, GEF, IFIs)
as well as from the private sector.
The TRB SDP is foreseen to be one of the main mechanisms creating synergy
between the five countries, the different government, business, academic
and non-governmental sectors, local communities and regional authorities,
which will result in sustainable development in the TRB in the near future
© 2002 The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe and Tisza-Szamos Public Benefit Company