The ecological road for waterways
The ecological road for waterways
A new manual published by the ICPDR provides guidance on integrated planning to bring technical planners and environmental representatives into the planning process and create win-win solutions for everyone.
The Platform for the Implementation of NAIADES – PLATINA, consists of 22 partners from nine different countries working to accelerate the achievement of the NAIADES aims to enhance the use of inland navigation as part of intermodal freight solutions, in order to create a sustainable, competitive and environmentally friendly European wide transport network.
On 2 September 2010, the PLATINA consortium launched an innovative manual presenting good practises in sustainable waterway planning. This document, produced by the ICPDR Secretariat, illustrates how waterway development projects can be made compatible with environmental protection requirements, such as stipulated by EU law.
The manual offers general advice for waterway infrastructure projects and addresses both technical planners and interested stakeholders who want to be involved in a planning process. The early integration of stakeholders (including those representing environmental interests) and of environmental objectives and wide communication are essential for a successful planning process.
Reconciling what might be conflicting interests. According to Philip Weller, Executive Secretary of the ICPDR, “this new planning tool will substantially enhance and smooth communication between the transport and environment sectors”. To Mr Weller, the public discussions make it clear that “there is a strong need to guide future actions, notably in infrastructure projects at the Danube and Sava Rivers. Some innovative processes and measures have shown that it is indeed possible to create win-win solutions for environment, transport and other river uses.”
In recent years, the ICPDR has been very active and successful in establishing the interdisciplinary dialogue between the various interest groups and river users. The first result in 2007 was a ’Joint Statement on Guiding Principles for the Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin’, endorsed by the ICPDR, Danube Commission and the International Sava Commission.
How to set up and succeed with a planning process. The new manual goes several steps further by providing first a general, illustrated road map; second, background information on the complex legal requirements and third, concrete examples of ecology-supportive river engineering. Numerous figures, internet links and references facilitate its use.
The Manual was prepared within the EU PLATINA project, involving 22 organisations in 9 countries to improve inland waterway transport. The ICPDR work is based on two years of intense expert reflections with the Austrian waterway company via donau, the BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences as well as Inland Navigation Europe.
Result of extended stakeholder consultations. The
preparation of the manual relied on several workshops
and commenting phases, actively involving institutions
such as the European Commission, transport and environment
ministries from various EU countries as well
as environmental NGOs.
Get your copy. The manual can be downloaded from the PLATINA webpage www.naiades.info and from www.icpdr.org. Printed copies can be ordered from ICPDR, VIC D0412, PO Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
