The REC plays an important role in convention implementation in SEE
By Nathan Johnson
In late 2004, the REC began a two-year project titled "Improving the Practices of Public Participation: Next Steps in Implementing the Aarhus Convention in South-Eastern Europe" to support implementation of the Convention and the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Kosovo (territory currently under interim UN administration).
In addition, pilot projects were completed within the two-year period in each of these SEE countries and entities. Each of the 12 projects is representative of how public participation can influence environmental decision-making at local levels.
Twelve labours
A project in Bosnia and Herzegovina focused on monitoring air quality in Tuzla. The city has five monitoring stations, but citizens were receiving information about air quality only once a month.
Addressing the need to safeguard public health, the "Citizens of Tuzla Have a Right to Know" programme, implemented by the Center for Ecology and Energy, was developed to obtain data dissemination on a daily basis, to have the data delivered in user-friendly formats, and to develop a legal mechanism to hold industrial operators responsible for exceeding established pollution limits.
"Air-quality data started being released daily in February 2006, just two months into the project," said Project Coordinator Sabina Jukan. "The data is also televised, and we've enjoyed good media support."
Jukan said that one disadvantage is that the emissions data is not specific enough to identify the biggest polluters.
"We do know that one of the bigger ones is the steam power plant, and we're taking various actions against the operators," said Jukan. "We've also met with various experts to consider how the plant should compensate the city for pollution."
Meanwhile, FYR Macedonia's Centar, Gazi Baba and Zelenikovo are three municipalities lacking means of communication to solve environmental problems. Working with mayoral support from each of the three communities, the ORT (Training for Sustainable Development)
NGO worked with administrators, citizens and other stakeholders in a pilot project to implement an Aarhus-level "system for environmental decision-making."
The primary activity of the programme was to conduct research into public opinion in order to reveal which problems needed to be addressed.
"The project established an 'open gate' for citizens, and more and more people are insisting on participating in meetings and debates on environmental problems," said Project Coordinator Vesna Jankova.
Jankova added that Gazi Baba's citizens have participated in several meetings to discuss problems concerning sewerage and water-supply systems, and restoration and reconstruction efforts.
Montenegrin NGO Green Home carried out its "Participate! Decide! Win!" project in the municipality of Danilovgrad. Green areas comprise approximately 15 percent of Danilovgrad's total area, but these lands have been misused or abused with no enforceable regulations in place.
Completed in May 2006, the project activated citizens to participate in drafting and adopting the Regulation on Physical Planning and Protection of Green Urban Areas. Local authorities and institutions, citizens, the media and NGOs all enjoyed closer cooperation during the project.
"There was such a high level of stakeholder involvement because the problem of solid-waste disposal at the local level was so widely recognised," said Project Manager Natasa Turakovic. "Taking a 'learn by doing' approach, we helped show how to influence the decision-making process. But it will still take a long time to turn knowledge and public awareness into high-level public participation."
