The information campaigns, journalistic investigative materials on environmental issues and a normative-legal framework for protecting the natural areas can contribute to the protection of the environment in Moldova. A number of proposals for the authorities were formulated in the Forum of Environmental NGOs that was held in Chisinau on April 20 and 21. The recommendations made by the participants in the forum will be included in a resolution that will be placed on ecocontact.md, IPN reports.
Ecaterina Valcu, EcoContact communication officer, said among the recommendations formulated in the eight workshops of the event were to extend the civil society’s campaign and to engage the mass media in stopping the construction of the Dnestrovsk hydropower complex. A body should be constituted to ensure the integrated management of water resources, especially of small rivers. Also, a normative- legal framework is needed to protect the Lower Nistru National Park and the Lower Prut Reserve.
According to participants in the forum, special attention should be devoted to the further monitoring of the implementation of the Association Agreement’s provisions on environment. If there are incongruities, civil society should notify the authorities, the mass media and the general public of the non-adjustment of the national legislation to the European environmental standards.
Ecaterina Valcu said this year the forum centered on such new themes as integrity aspects and the fight against corruption in the environment sector. It was proposed conducting information campaigns, producing journalistic investigations and assessing the environmental costs in cases of corruption. The NGOs should ensure greater transparency and should publish not only annual reports on their websites, but also proofs of the impact their activities have on the protection of the environment. The integration of gender aspects in environmental projects was another proposed innovative approach. It was suggested strengthening the capacities of NGOs in integrating the gender capacities and working out thematic guides in this regard.
The forum involved representatives of environmental NGOs, national experts, governmental officials and representatives of donor organizations.
