International workshop on the active involvement of the public in integrated water management
For the coordinated planning of water use and water resources, it is crucial that, in addition to cross-sectoral cooperation, the public and stakeholders themselves are also more actively involved. Although their interests and rights are adequately safeguarded by the legal framework and the public administration system, in practice it is found that they are not sufficiently involved in decision-making processes.
The workshop, which will take place on 27 September 2017 at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, is organised as part of the SPARE project’s activities – Strategic Planning and Coordination for the Conservation and Restoration of Alpine Riverine Ecosystems (SPARE – Strategic Planning for Alpine Riverine Ecosystems – Integrating protection and development). The Water Institute of the Republic of Slovenia is participating in the SPARE project as a project partner and organiser of this workshop.
In addition to project partners and observers from six Alpine countries, the workshop will be attended by experienced European experts and young representatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) from several European countries. As the workshop is being held in Slovenia, invited representatives from the relevant national water authorities will also take part.
To ensure the workshop’s practical success, five Alpine river basins will be examined in detail, in which organisational structures for more active public consultation and participation in water management are either already in place or being established.
The challenges addressed at this workshop are highly relevant to the successful long-term operation of the Soča Foundation. The results of the workshop could provide a sound basis for establishing the same or similar bodies in other river basins in Slovenia, as well as a solid foundation for reviving the past – though unfortunately interrupted – tradition of involving stakeholders and the public in water management processes.
The opening address will be given by the Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning, Ms Irena Majcen.
Further information on the workshop and the SPARE project:
Sašo Šantl, MA, SPARE project manager
Tel.: 01-47-75-367 Mobile: 051 360 777
Email: saso.santl@izvrs.si
http://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/spare/si/o-spare
