Project Page Views: [ 646 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Spatial and Community Environmental Management Systems in Action |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Hubert Fitzpatrick (IE) |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | Wicklow County Council |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 52.98551, -6.05055 |
| Lead Funding Entity | LIFE |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/10/1999 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 01/10/2002 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Enterprise; Urban; River Catchment; Eco-management |
| Project Abstract | Four specific actions are proposed: *To provide technical assistance to industry, public bodies and other organisations/sites where EMAS or ISO certification could be obtained. *To furnish technical assistance to the smallest level of enterprise, to households, schools and voluntary bodies, in order to facilitate implementation of EMS principles at a level appropriate to the targeted group. *To develop Agenda 21 procedures, structures and standards for integration of site-specific and area-based actions. *To examine if the branding of an EMS area can economically benefit that area. The main Deliverables of the Project will include: *An Environmental Management System will be developed for the Avoca/Avonmore River Catchment of County Wicklow which will embrace an EMAS/IS0 Standard for major sites, non-certificated EMS for other sectors, and community/based quality targets which validate these actions. *Up to 150 firms, agencies, schools and communities will participate in the work over the three year period of the Project. *The process of community participation in the development of a Spatial Environmental Management System will be examined through Catchment level and local environmental fora which, it is envisaged, will have an ongoing life, beyond the three year programme. *A Marketing Plan will be implemented for the Catchment. The plan will be assessed on an ongoing basis to ascertain whether competitive advantage can be secured for a geographical area by branding and marketing that area. The Project seeks to build on the experience gained from the Avoca/Avonmore Catchment Conversion Life Project (Reference No. 93/IRL/A25/IRL/3071) to develop an integrated approach to Environmental Management Systems for the management of the Avoca/Avonmore River Catchment in County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. This will be achieved through site/organisational based certification using EMAS or ISO 14001; non-certificated EMS actions in the micro-enterprise, household, schools and voluntary sectors; and establishment of Agenda 21 structures, procedures and standards for the integration of these initiatives. The result will be to provide an environmental profile for the area as a whole, based on recognised standards and processes and to market the areas products by branding the Catchment on a co-operative basis with stakeholders. Marketing plans will be developed, using the competitive advantage based on EMS accreditation. It is also proposed that a marketing plan will be implemented on a pilot basis. Wicklow County Council will seek to develop partnerships with local industry and suitable Government and State Bodies with a view to the financing and implementation of the Project. The major environmental benefits will include: *The facilitation of stakeholders in complying cost-effectively with environmental legislation, and improving environmental standards outside of mandatory frameworks. *Increasing the level of community awareness of actions taken by industry and by the Local Authority in the area of environmental quality. *The focusing of all stakeholders in the Project on relevant environmental management problems. It is expected that the Project will commence before the end of 1999 and the estimated duration is 36 months. |