SalvaEco

In many cases road and rail building, dam construction and irrigation schemes partly or totally financed by the EU’s executive Commission contradict conservation programmes promoted by?the 25-nation Union itself, a new WWF report asserted.

"Europe has to take responsibility for its own species, but at present the European Union is using its funds both to support biodiversity and undermine it," said Stefanie Lang of the WWF European Policy Office in Brussels.

According to the report, entitled "Conflicting EU Funds", a new highway from Toledo to Cordoba across central- southern Spain will seriously damage a prime lynx area that is protected under the Union’s own Natura 2000 network.

The report said only about 100 of the lynx — the world’s most endangered cat species — survive, including only 25 breeding females, out of a population that totalled 600 as late as 1995.

Roads, dams, rail lines and other projects are not only destroying the animal’s habitat but also creating barriers between different groups and preventing interbreeding, essential for maintaining healthy populations.

A similar picture can be seen in north-eastern Poland, according to the WWF, where a Helsinki-Warsaw road, the Via Baltica, linking Finland to south and western Europe is slicing through migration corridors for lynx and wolves.

In Greece, while the EU’s environmental directorate is supporting a project protecting brown bears, its regional development counterpart is funding the Egnatia highway through the Pindos mountains where many bears live, the report said.

It also cited EU funds used in Portugal for agricultural subsidies, which had led to the mismanagement and decline of cork oak forests, and cash from Brussels used to overfish Bluefin Tuna in the Mediterranean.

The WWF, formerly known as the World Wide Fund for Nature but now using only its initials, called on the EU to withdraw funds for member countries’ infrastructure projects that conflict with its own nature protection rules.

"If we are to preserve the remaining national heritage of Europe, which is essential for long-term economic prosperity, the EU cannot afford to continue funding the destruction of habitats," said Gerald Dick of the WWF Global Species Programme.

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"We will analyse the conclusions (of inspectors) … and may start lifting restrictions from Apr. 1," Sergei Dankvert told Reuters.

"This does not mean that the ban from all firms will definitely be lifted. Concrete decisions will be taken on concrete firms," he added.

Russia introduced the ban on fresh Norwegian salmon imports on Jan.1, saying the fish contained unacceptably high levels of toxic metals. Moscow also said Norway’s monitoring standards were inadequate.

Norway’s authorities have said various national checks had shown contents of cadmium and lead in fish were far below levels permitted by the European Union.

Last month Russia’s Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said Moscow and Oslo were close to a deal to lift the ban.

Dankvert said Norway had agreed to accept Russian inspectors to check the Norwegian system of food safety monitoring, of fish farms, fishing fleet and fish processing facilities in the middle of March.

He said that Russia was also examining with the European Union the possibility of creating an electronic system of monitoring sales of fish caught by Russian fishermen in the Norwegian economic zone to prevent illegal fishing.

The salmon ban followed an incident in October when the captain of a Russian trawler fled to Russian waters taking two Norwegian coastguard inspectors, who had boarded it on suspicion of illegal fishing.

The incident off the Svalbard islands north of the Arctic circle on Oct. 15 sparked a diplomatic row between Moscow and Oslo over the Arctic fishing rights — an issue of bitter disputes for decades.

Both Moscow and Oslo have denied any relationship between the incident and the salmon ban.

PLAM constituie un proces de implicare a cetatenilor in decizii locale privind mediul si presupun o relatie de lucru apropiata intre cetateni si reprezentantii autoritatilor locale, si tot odata participarea a diferite persoane si grupuri direct afectate de aceste decizii. Aceasta diversitate de opinii este adeseori facilitata prin formarea unui Grup al celor Interesanti (GI). GI ghideaza comunitatea la fiecare pas in cadrul unui PLAM, inclusiv in dezvoltarea unei viziuni a comunitatii, stabilirea prioritatilor de mediu, identificarea posibilelor solutii, si sprijina implementarea strategiilor preferate (Schema 1).
Implicarea cetatenilor si colaborarea constituie temelia PLAM. Colaborarea inseamna implicarea cetatenilor in crearea propriilor lor solutii si solicita explorarea intereselor comune, in locul impunerii unor directii sau anumitor interese. De exemplu, PLAM pune fata in fata militanti in favoarea mediului si poluatorii, in scopul gasirii strategiilor acceptate de ambele parti pentru imbunatatirea mediului.
Scopurile principale care reprezinta motivatia intocmirii PLAM sunt:
¬ inventarierea, stabilirea masurilor si implementarea solutiilor de rezolvare a problemelor de mediu;
¬ necesitatea monitorizarii tuturor actiunilor si crearea unei baze de date completa si realista a acestora;
¬ colaborare si transparenta intre toti factorii implicati si interesati de rezolvarea problemelor de protectie a mediului;
¬ stimularea participarii publicului avand drept scop schimbarea perceptiei populatiei cu privire la modul de abordare si planificarea in timp a actiunilor.

Beneficiile intocmirii si realizarii PLAM sunt:
¬ dezvoltarea durabila si intarirea democratiei;
¬ consolidarea si implementarea luarii deciziilor de mediu;
¬ abordarea completa si complexa a problemelor de protectie a mediului.
Dupa aprobarea sa de catre forurile abilitate, Planul Local de Actiune pentru Mediu devine o lege la nivel local, ce va trebui respectata cu strictete de catre companiile poluatoare, institutiile administrative, autoritati locale si comunitatea locala.
in paragrafele ce urmeaza sa prezinta descrierea succinta privind elaborarea PLAM conform Ghidului de implementare a Programelor de Actiune pentru Mediu in Europa Centrala si de Est elaborat de Institutul pentru Comunitati Durabile din Szentendre, Ungaria [1].

Principalele responsabilitati de mediu ale autoritatilor locale din ECE sunt:
¬ Managementul deseurilor;
¬ Controlul eliminarii substantelor periculoase pe teritoriul respectivelor autoritatilor;
¬ Furnizarea apei potabile in conditii adecvate;
¬ Managementul apelor uzate;
¬ Protejarea si intretinerea spatiilor verzi;
¬ Planificarea si controlul utilizarii terenurilor;
¬ Educarea publicului in ceea ce priveste aspectele de mediu;
¬ Controlul poluarii aerului datorita emisiilor generate de mijloace de transport si surse de incalzire centrala.
Descentralizarea reprezinta un aspect important al tranzitiei spre democratie. Accentul pus din ce in ce mai mult pe controlul la nivel local al problemelor de mediu, recunoaste faptul ca autoritatile locale si cetatenii inteleg cel mai bine problemele, aspectele si nevoile la nivel local. Descentralizarea procesului de luare a deciziei permite astfel incat acestea sa raspunda nevoilor specifice ale comunitatii sau regiunii respective.
in acest context, pentru realizarea problemelor de mediu la nivel local se elaboreaza si se implementeaza un Program Local de Actiuni de Mediu (PLAM).

The four groups are led by Energias de Portugal (EDP), local energy company Galp Energia, Spain’s Iberdrola and Gamesa and Italy’s Enel.

"Four groups of companies presented proposals," said Manuela Fonseca, an official at the economy ministry’s geology and energy department.

The two-phase project should generate 1,500 megawatts of wind power.

EDP estimated it would invest 1.3 billion euros ($1.55 billion) in an industrial plant if it wins the government auction for the wind power project.

"We are talking about an investment of about 1.3 billion euros that would create about 1,200 new jobs," an EDP spokesman said. EDP and its partners would create an industrial site in northern Portugal which would make equipment for the windmills, such as turbines, the spokesman said.

Galp Energia promised 1.035 billion euros in investments, it said in a statement. Galp’s consortium includes Enersis, a wind power company bought by Australian investment group Babcock & Brown last year.

Bidders had until 5 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Wednesday to present their bids to Portugal’s government, which should decide the winner by the summer.

750,000 HOMES
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The project will provide enough power for about 750,000 homes and is equal to about a quarter of the wind energy capacity installed last year in the 25-nation European Union, according to figures from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

The nation of 10 million people imports about 86 percent of its power, one of the highest levels in Europe, and is aiming to harness winds off the Atlantic Ocean and other renewable sources to counter rising fuel costs.

Portugal is also looking to wind to help meet its goals under the United Nations’ Kyoto Protocol, which aims to cut output of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that are blamed for global warming.

Portugal’s emissions surged almost 37 percent from 1990 to 2003, the third-highest increase in the world, according to UN figures.

The project calls for a first phase of 1,000 megawatts of capacity and a second of 500 megawatts. The winner is expected to be announced during the summer.

Presedintele Organizatiei Teritoriale Chisnau a Miscarii Ecologiste din Republica Moldova, Vladimir Garaba, a declarat miercuri, intr-o conferinta de presa, ca pentru construirea magazinului Metro, Guvernul a atribuit un lot de pamant cu suprafata de 4,35 hectare, care apartinea primariei orasului Stauceni.

"Selecatrea si atribuirea acestor terenuri companiei "Metro Cash & Carry" au avut loc fara consultarea publicului, cum prevede legislatia nationala si internationala. Potrivit Codului Funciar, Guvernul nu era in drept sa scoata din circuitul agricol aceste terenuri care au o bontitate destul de mare. Totodata, lucrarile de constructie a magazinului au inceput fara o expertiza ecologica necesara, iar decopertarea si depozitarea stratului fertil de sol s-a facut fara vreun proiect special si in lipsa unui contsrol din partea institutiilor de mediu. Din acest motiv, solul extrem de fertil a fost aruncat la intamplare, in preajma drumurilor, in rapi, la gunoisti", a spus Garaba.

Ecologistii independenti solicita sistarea activitatilor megazinului Metro pana la indeplinirea cerintelor legislative, in caz contrar vor atentiona Comisia pentru Ecologie a Uniunii Europene despre incalcarile mentionate.

Pe de alta parte, solicitat de BASA-press, Dusan Wilms, manager general al Metro Cash & Carry pentru Romania si Republica Moldova a declarat ca intrepridnerea a respectat toate normele in vigoare la constructia magazinului. "O companie de talia Metro nici nu poate incepe afacerea pana nu are documentele in ordine, iar structurile de resort pot solicita pachetul de acte necesare pentru a se convinge de acest lucru", a spus Dusan Wilms.

Lotul de pamant a fost atribuit companiei Metro Cash & Carry printr-o hotarare de Guvern. Oficiali de la Guvern nu au comentat acuzatiile aduse de catre ecologisti.

Metro Cash & Carry Chisinau este amplasat pe o suprafata de circa 70 mii metri patrati, in localitatea Stauceni din preajma Chisinaului. Magazinul contine o sectie pentru produse alimentare si una pentru produse nealimentare, iar constructia acestuia a durat cinci luni. R.Moldova este a 27-a tara unde este prezenta Metro Cash & Carry International.

Aceasta manifestare este a treia dintr-o serie de zece dezbateri care se vor organiza pe parcursul anului universitar 2004-2005, in cadrul proiectului de instruire si constientizare publica Ecostud.

Se vor aborda probleme legate de infrastructura si tehnologii, tendinte si previziuni, impactul pe termen scurt si mediu, riscuri si accidente.

Programul prevede discutarea unor aspecte concrete legate de investitiile din sectorul de transport din Romania.

Proiectul Ecostud isi propune ca, printr-un parteneriat ce ofera forta si reprezentativitate la nivel national cu ONG-uri, universitati, institute de cercetare, asociatii profesionale si patronale, publicatii, sa contribuie la constientizarea si instruirea tinerei generatii referitor la necesitatea unei dezvoltari durabile a societatii romanesti cu respectarea conditiilor de protectie a mediului. Dezbaterile au ca scop concretizarea unor recomandari despre subiectele protectiei mediului care vor sta la baza unor initiative viitoare in domeniu/ROMPRES/

Rolul agriculturii ecologice in dezvoltarea durabila a comunitatilor, agentilor economici ?i reducerii poluarii cu nutrienti a bazinelor acvatice, Calitatea produselor alimentare- cheia spre pie?ele straine sunt rapoartele de baza, ce vor fi prezentate de catre expertii Boris Boincean, directorul Institutului CCC Slectia ?i Sergiu Croitoru, Director General SGS Moldova.

La seminar vor participa 30 de specialisti ai directiilor agricole, agentilor economici din agricultura fermieri, lideri de ONG-uri, mass-media din regiunea de nord a republicii Moldova.

Informatii suplimentare si inscrierea doritorilor la seminar la tel: (259) 23327, 22851 sau Email: [email]veco@rambler.ru[/email], Vitalie Cimpoies, director executiv al ONG-ului CUTEZ?TORUL.

Putin’s powerful call put energy security firmly at the centre of the agenda for Russia’s presidency this year of the Group of Eight industrialised nations.

It also served to deflect Western criticism of Russia’s democratic record and offset damaging publicity linked to January’s dispute with Ukraine over the price of Russian gas, which disrupted supplies to Europe.

"Instability in hydrocarbon markets poses today a real threat to global energy supply. The gap between supply and demand is widening," Putin said in a 1,700-word text issued by the Kremlin.

"We will strive to form a system of energy security which will take into account the interests of the whole world."

Striking a statesmanlike note, Putin warned that world leaders had a duty to work out a strategy to end instability over energy supplies or else generations to come would suffer.

A stable energy policy should reflect broad international interests, not just those of wealthy nations, he argued.

"Energy egotism is the road to nowhere," Putin said. "We are duty bound to leave for those who follow us a world energy ‘architecture’ which will protect them from conflicts, from unconstructive forms of struggle over energy supply."

Putin will host US President George W Bush and other G8 leaders at a summit in his home town of St. Petersburg in July to crown Russia’s first stint chairing the rich nations’ group.

Russia took over the rotating presidency of the club, which includes the United States, Japan,?Canada, Germany, France, Britain and Italy, at the start of the year.

It was formally invited to join the grouping in 1998 to cement its transition from communism to democracy.

Some other G8 members still do not consider Russia an equal, however, pointing to what they see as flaws in its record on democracy. Despite its oil and gas riches, Russia also went to the brink of financial ruin and debt default in the late 1990s.

STRONG MESSAGE

Putin’s strong message, widely aired in Russian media and carried by several newspapers in the West, underscored Russia’s role as an energy superpower.

Russia is the second largest oil exporter and has the biggest reserves of gas in the world, supplying about 25 percent of Europe’s gas needs.

But it was criticised by other G8 countries early this year when a row with Ukraine led it to shut off gas supplies to its neighbour.

Since the bulk of Russian gas supplies to Europe are carried across Ukraine, the dispute prompted questions within the European Union over Moscow’s reliability as a supplier, although few real alternatives exist.

Kremlin officials see the G8 presidency as an affirmation of Russia’s renewed geopolitical clout after the chaos of the 1990s and the fall of the Soviet Union.

The president himself has said critics must accept that Russia, flush with oil cash and undergoing an economic boom, is a dynamic player in the world economy.

Putin, who must step down in 2008 at the end of his second four-year term in office, is keen to play the global statesman and underline that Russia is still at the top table of world politics on questions of energy.

With oil prices at more than $60 a barrel, oil traders are riding the biggest bull market since prices soared to records, in real terms, after the 1979 Iranian revolution.

That is a concern for major oil consumers, such the United States, China, the European Union and Japan, though it boosts revenues for top exporters Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Other items on the G8 2006 agenda fixed by Russia are fighting infectious diseases and education.

Putin said Russia would press for an operational plan to fight avian flu and "avert a new pandemic of human influenza."