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Description
The Danube-Odra-Elbe canal project (ie connecting three river basins through huge concrete waterworks) is a sad legacy of previous Czech governments, which promoted it despite expert opinions (many independent studies mapping ecosystem and landscape damage, soil and erosion conditions, and economic inefficiency of the whole project) and local residents (several petitions). However, even the new government''s resignation from the project does not mean that people and nature can rest - there are still lobbying pressures, ambiguities in the process of land release, and already approved (or quietly being approved) steps to at least partially implementation of the plan. Thanks to the support from the project, we will monitor the transparency of the procedure by the state, appeal to the involvement of local people and open a public debate on any other decision that concerns this plan. We will inform local governments and local residents truthfully and professionally (media campaign), give them the opportunity to express their views and defend their rights (petitions and participation in processes), as well as the necessary professional, strategic and media support in protecting natural areas, landscape and their living space (information, education, legal advice). We will also offer them inspiration for further progress and alternative options for combating drought, healing the landscape, protecting biodiversity through better landscape management, sustainable agriculture and other nature-friendly measures.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the danger of irreversible damage to river ecosystems of the large rivers in Czech Republic caused by planned infrastructure projects for improvement of navigability. The issues we were dealing with with lack of clear contra arguments, especially in the fields of transport and economy; lack of awareness of stakeholders about negative impacts of these projects and potential of more nature friendly uses of river landscape on impacted territory. Also, while investor (Directorate of Waterways) and small, but well organized lobby of supporters of these project were conducted aggressive public campaign and created intense political pressure, the position of Ministry of Environment and nature conservation community was rather defensive. Internally, we focused on the issue of development of strategic plan of the organization on three levels - the whole Arnika, the legal subject CEPO (Center of Citizen Support) and the team of experts working on river issues (river team).
Project activities included:
- strategic planning session and internal workshops on the issue of stakeholder analysis. The strategic plan was completed on all levels and know-how on stakeholder analysis was used within project.
- lobbying activities including distribution of materials to relevant politicians and institutions, open letters and personal meetings.
- informational and PR activities: happenings, seminars, social media campaign, press releases, brochures and leaflets, web application for land use planning etc.
- capacity building and networking: initializing of international cooperation, building of civil society coalition on Elbe and Oder rivers
- development of positive visions for future development of the rivers Oder and Elbe and their valleys. Visions are completed and published in a fdrm of brochures.
It is not easy to estimate how much our project contributed to positive changes which happened during its implementation. However, the positive changes include:
- cancelation of Donau-Oder-Elbe project and decision of government to erase the project route from land use plans;
- rejection of Elbe dam project in current version; new project is in preparation, but within the project was not submitted to EIA procedure;
- the Elbe project is not mentioned in new Transport Policy; the Strategy of Water Transport, which was made for period to 2023, was not yet updated.
These results gave some safety for local authorities and nature conservation community for development of measures to improve ecological status of landscape on the territory of D-O-L channel, and are also important for implementation of newly adopted Nature Conservation Law of EU.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership from the donor country brought to the project know-how on stakeholder analysis and its use in project management. It helped to identify standpoints and needs of main stakeholder groups and adapt project activities accordingly. It also provided some rough estimation of the impact of the project to stakeholder groups. The possible cooperation was discussed in the issue of international networking in Donau river basin.