Danish - Lithuanian Environmental Co-operation 1991-2000
Chapter 13
Public awareness and public participation
Projects described:
Capacity building of
the Lithuanian Ornithological Society
Public environmental awareness and public participation have been natural components of a wide range of projects supported by the DANCEE and some projects have focused specifically on public environmental awareness, public participation and the strengthening of environmental Non-Governmental Organisations - NGOs.
Public awareness, access to environmental information, public participation in the decision-making process and environmental impact assessment are the main forms of NGO participation provided in the Lithuanian legal framework.
In 2000, a DANCEE project was designed to help the environmental nongovernmental organisations of CEE and NIS to develop their abilities to carry out projects related to environmental issues. Within the frame of this project, DANCEE allocated financial resources to Small Grant Facility managed by the Regional Environment Centre - REC office in Lithuania. The REC has conducted a tender and has selected projects in the priority field of public participation and access to information, local Agenda 21 as well as biodiversity.
Co-operation between the Lithuanianand the Danish Ornithological Society is
supported by the DANCEE programme.
Another granting programme designed by REC and supported by the DANCEE, is a Regionwide Co-operative Grants Programme. Projects will have to address region wide problems which are shared commonly by different countries such as air, soil and water pollution, traffic congestion, deforestation, protection of biodiversity values in cross-border areas and conservation of migration species. Through this programme, the REC will also promote public participation, cross-border and intersectorial co-operation as one of the most effective ways to solve environmental problems.
Efforts to strengthen the public environmental awareness is an integrated part of many of the projects implemented by the DANCEE programme and especially in the projects concerning the "nature" area, public participation and public awareness raising have been major components.
Some projects, like the establishment of an environmental Internet information page in the Environmental Regional Department of Klaipeda, is a good example of a project, which has focused on public environmental awareness raising.
Strengthening the NGOs
The strengthening of the non governmental environmental organisations have also received attention in specific Lithuanian-Danish Cooperation. For example, the DANCEE has recently allocated grants for transfer of knowledge and co-operation between the Danish Ornithological Society and the Lithuanian Ornithological Society (LOD) which is the largest of the environmental NGOs in Lithuania.
Future involvement of NGOs in the different sectors of bilateral co-operation is a specific target of the co-operation programme. Priority will remain to support NGOs involvement in public participation and awareness activities. Other activities related to reporting, public access to information, and public participation are also given priority in the country programme. A project regarding the implementation of the Aarhus Convention is planned in the near future.
Capacity building of the Lithuanian Ornithological Society
The Lithuanian Ornithological Society is the largest NGO in Lithuania. It has a unique position in promoting the results of reserve management to the Government and general public in Lithuania. In cooperation with The Danish Ornithological Society, the Lithuanian society will build a strong nationally based NGO which should be involved in the collaborative nature management and awareness-raising projects.
The need to manage wetland areas has been recognised by Lithuania. However, the realisation of how sites need to be managed is still new and further exposure to management ideas, exchange of information within Lithuania and abroad is still ongoing. The development of the culture of management as well as the training of new reserve managers is very important.
The objective
The objective of the project is to build a strong nationally based NGO involved in collaborative nature management and awarenessraising projects where relevant, in collaboration with the Lithuanian Government.
Another objective is to demonstrate the management of Novaraistis and Kretuonas reserves through implementation of practical measures on both sites.
The Capercaillie (Tetrao croqallus) is on the red list of endangered species in Lithuania.
The procedure
In co-operation with The Danish Ornithological Society, the project assists the development of the secretariat and regional structure of the Lithuanian Ornithological Society.
The project develops management plans for Novaraistis and Kretuonas reserves. For nature conservation, an exploited peat bog in Novaraistis and an island in Kretuonas Lake will be restored.
The project provides opportunities for school children, university students and the public in general to visit these sites and learn about the ways in which wetland reserves can be managed.
The environmental result
The support to The Lithuanian Ornithological Society will assist its development as the largest environmental organization in Lithuania and will help to develop its regional structure to cover the entire country. In the future, there will be a need for the country to have NGOs capable of assisting the government and to providing a voice on environmental issues.
In two target wetland reserves, the management issues differ, but both require coherent management input within relatively small areas in order to produce a sustained benefit for nature conservation. The management involves some control over the water levels and vegetation so that the system retains the nature values for which the areas were designated as protected. Both sites will be used as demonstration areas to other parts of the Lithuanian nature management system. Collaboration between the NGOs and the Government will be promoted. The project will also provide learning opportunities and exchange of information with reserves managed in Denmark.