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November 12-15, 2007
The role of the Public Environmental Information Centre (PEIC) on mining
in view of the future implementation of the guidelines
Nana JanashiaCaucasus Environmental NGO Network
(CENN)
WORKSHOP ON THE SAFETY OF TAILING MANAGEMENT FACILITIES
Yerevan, Armenia
Our mission:
CENN’s mission is to foster modern and sustainable development values and practices through bridging society and environment.
We strive to build strong and responsible civil society, good governance and accountable business to safeguard our environment and improve people’s life.
Our vision:
• Work with communities and business to develop practical solutions to existing challenges
• Be innovative and pro-active to respond to global environmental challenges
• Provide open and effective multi-stakeholder networking
• Be the strongest regional organization in the Caucasus
CENN mission, vision, values
CENN competence
Communication and environment
Civil society development and institutional strengthening
Environmental research and policy
Resources management
Compliance management
CENN initiative:Public Environmental Information Centers (PEICs)
In 2003, CENN and its Armenian and Azeri partners established Public Environmental Information Centers (PEICs) three South Caucasus Countries in the Khrami-DebedaRiver watersheds:
• Bolnisi (Georgia)
• Akhtala (Armenia)
• Kazakh (Azerbaijan)
Cupper and gold mining in South Georgia
Cupper and gold mining in South Georgia
Cupper and gold mining in South Georgia
Cupper and gold mining in South Georgia
Cupper and gold mining in South Georgia
Existing problems in the mining areas
• Past contamination – Soviet legacy
• Soviet style mining and outdated technologies
• Acute local and transboundary environmental problems (water and soil contamination, degradation of landscape, etc.)
• No data and information available
• Low public civic and environmental awareness
• No dialog and communication between different stakeholders
• Tense and confronting relations between the local community and mining companies
• Little confidence between the neighboring communities of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
• Mission of PEICs is to increase public information and environmental awareness concerning existing environmental problems and build local capacity as well as transboundary confidence via constructive multi-stakeholder and cross-country dialog to facilitate solution of existing local and regional challenges.
• PEICs represent the local community and cooperate actively with governmental authorities, private sector as well as local, regional and international NGOs.
Public Environmental Information Center (PEIC)
PEIC activities
• Increase of information and public awareness through informational outreach activities and campaigns
• Education of youth and their involvement in the activities supporting sustainable management of water resources
• Facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialog between the local community, private sector and local and central authorities
• Cooperation with the neighboring communities of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the transboundary watershed
• Advocacy and lobbying
Concrete actions
• Regular roundtable meetings, workshops and seminars with local community members, private sector and local and central authorities
• Bilateral workshops (Arm-Geo and Az-Geo) on development of Integrated Resources Management Planning (IRMP) in the transboundary Khrami-Debedaand Alazani river watersheds
• Lectures, seminars and trainings for students and schoolchildren
• Training of local journalists in investigative environmental journalism
• Implementation of bilateral Biological River Monitoring in three South Caucasus countries
• Preparation of booklets, newspaper articles, radio and TV programs, PSAs
• Letters and petitions to relevant local and central governmental authorities
Concrete actions
Biomonitoring Arm/Geo bilateral group Workshop on the transboundary water resources management issues
Meeting of local NGOs with management of the JSC Madneuli Educational classes in local schools
Results achieved
• Information and existing data available locally
• Regular multi-stakeholder dialog - meetings and consultations - held
• Confidence built between the local community, mining sector and local authorities
• First case of the privatization process (Madneuli cupper mine) in Georgia when environmental issues were considered
• Regular environmental educational classes in schools and universities held
• Active joint youth groups (Arm-Geo and Az-Geo) created implementing the biological river monitoring
• River water pollution level assessed by the local communities and results communicated with the local and central authorities
• Bilateral (AM-Geo, Az-Geo) Integrated Resources Management Plans (IRMP) of the transboundary Khrami-Debeda and Alazani river basins developed and agreed
• Awareness of the local community members raised
• Confidence and cooperative links built between the communities of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
Role of PEIC & guidelines
PEIC could be instrumental in the following:
• informing and increasing awareness of the local communities, local authorities and the mining sector about the requirements set in the guidelines
• information packages in the national language
• booklet on emergency plans
• articles in local and national newspapers, radio and TV programs
• roundtable meetings and seminars with the local communities, local and central authorities and the mining sector
Role of PEIC & guidelines
PEIC could be instrumental in the following:
• together with other civic organization to cooperate with the authorities to lobby harmonization of the national legislation with the guidelines
• establishing a multi-stakeholder working group that will elaborate needed amendments to be considered by the central authorities
• participating in development of external emergency plan
• cooperate with the authorities and mining sector to ensure that the requirements set in the guidelines are met
• Working group will cooperate with the authorities and mining sector and monitor implemented actions and the progress of work
• Elaboration of a Sensitivity Map of Georgia / Caucasus / and identification of “no go zones” for mining
• Designation of the competent authority / focal point responsible for early notification system in the Caucasus region
• Elaboration of regional / bilateral agreements between the neighboring countries in the South Caucasus on early notification system
• Capacity building of central and local authorities
• Promotion of application of best available technologies
Additional recommendations on guidelines
AZERBAIJANCENN
66, Heydar Aliyev Ave.,Baku
AzerbaijanT: +99412 467 84 12F: +99412 467 84 12
HEAD OFFICE
GEORGIACENN
27, Betlemi Str.0105, Tbilisi
T: +99532 75 19 03 / 04F: +99532 75 19 05
www.cenn.org
ARMENIACENN
31, Komitasi Str., YerevanArmenia
T: +37410 26 2594F: +37410 26 2594M: +37491 58 6635
CENN Offices
Thank you!
