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CHAPTER 4. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

4.3. Public Participation

4.3.3. Forms of Public Involvement

The forms of public involvement in decision-making depend on the nature of a given decision process. Some forms are used to establish local strategy for water resources conservation, others are applied to resolve emergency conflicts arising out of a clash of various interests, yet others are employed in the implementation of local and regional projects connected with the conservation and use of water resources. Perhaps the most important and common form of participation is through the activities of environmental groups. Another important form of public participation is through their "understanding" of the environmental problems facing the society, and their "cooperation" (even by changing their attitudes) in the implementation of solutions to these problems.

Public involvement in decision processes, ensured by elected representatives working with established public agencies, may be of a direct or indirect nature. Both forms, direct and indirect, must complement each other.

In particular, public agencies can be established for the following purposes:

• Formation and selection of solutions and formulation of aims of activities.
• Expression of opinions at particular stages in the decision process.
• Mediation between parties representing opposing opinions.
• Public control of implementation of accepted activities.
• Interactive communication with public participation.

To implement accepted projects requires delegating specific and officially confirmed power to the public, stakeholders, governmental agencies, and local authorities, and also giving them clearly specified responsibilities in the decision-making process. Their activity should be consistent with the law applicable in a given territory.

Public agencies most frequently established in decision processes are:

• Steering committees - most often appointed as representative bodies for supervision and verification of strategic programmes for environmental protection. Usually, the steering committees consist of representatives of all stakeholders including environmental management organizations and users of the environment. As a result, they have wide power, connected among other things, with preparation and implementation of environmental programmes. Such arrangement provides, first of all, a broad cooperation between the stakeholders and the efficiency of undertaken activities.
• Advisory committees - advisory bodies supporting the work of local authorities by providing consultation, constitute a bridge between social groups and authorities. The advisory committees are composed of persons knowledgeable about local conditions and representatives of stakeholders elected to a given decision-making process. They have a rather limited influence on the decision-making process.
• Environmental quality commissions - public commissions which supervise the quality of the environment whose activity should authenticate environmental quality control. They are composed of environmental protection experts and representatives of communities.
• Public panels - bodies consisting exclusively of independently elected representatives of a given community organized to identify problems and possible solutions, as well as to discuss controversial subjects.

Participation of public groups in the development and implementation of specific programmes

In situations where strategies or large water quality control projects are implemented, the public commissions may supervise various parts and stages of the projects. In view of the variety of aspects involved, the problem of water eutrophication control will require division of work into particular areas. It is advisable to divide responsibilities between sub-commissions. For example, there may be a sub-commission dealing with agricultural and settlement problems, or a sub-commission for organizing and supervising education.

Public involvement in monitoring

Involvement of particular public groups is especially well trained through the direct participation in monitoring of water resources. It allows people to understand matters concerning eutrophication. Those activities can involve various social groups crucial for effective management of water resources, such as women, youths, farmers. There should be recommended the "learning-by-doing" approach which gives excellent results in achieving a high level of public awareness, social integrity, and increase in social activity focused on preventing measures.

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• International Year of Forests
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