Storstroem County: The green region project and sustainable development

Abstract:

The Green Region Project of Storstroem was started in 1991 as a multi-task project in various environmental fields. The basic idea is to stimulate new initiatives with the help of a wide range of actors from different institutions and environmental organisations. In order to generate discussion and the elaboration of projects, the Green Council was founded as a forum for the exchange of ideas. The Green Region Project has to be regarded as an outstanding case study of good practice for the following reasons:

• integrated planning approach;
• setting up of an institutional framework;
• public co-operation and participation;
• dissemination of information and experience;
• integration of Agenda 21 activities.

Concept and aims

In 1992, the UN honoured twelve local government projects for their contribution to sustainable development. Together with the cities of Saarbrücken and Leicester, the County of Storstroem had been selected as a European winner of the UN environmental award.

The Storstroem Green Region Project started in February 1991 as a regional approach to promote environmental projects, campaigns, and guidance directed towards sustainable development. The basic idea of the Green Region Project is that sustainable development can only be achieved by the involvement of as many citizens and institutions as possible. This can take place either by direct participation in a project, or via affiliation to one of the member organisations of the Green Council (compare actors and structures section). The fundamental principles for all Green Region Projects are as follows:

• in every area there should exist a number of demonstration projects that show the environmental potentials of the issue and prove the viability of innovative measures;
• every project should commit itself to public co-operation with interested citizens, companies, and associations;
• every project should provide a green service in the form of information and guidance.

Implementation

Projects within the Green Region Project are directed towards the individual citizen, as well as special target groups. The following projects have been implemented in the first five years of the on-going Green Region Project:

1. Green citizens services

The green citizen services are designed to provide the people with information and advice on ecological methods and principles of good housekeeping. Since 1991, the following activities have been put into practice:

• The Green Phone offers general information on the topic of eco-housekeeping. On request, written material is sent to the advice-seeking person. In addition, a special advice service on solar heating has been set up. In 1996, the Green Region Project co-operated in the national information campaign on conversion from electrical heating to environmentally compatible forms of heating.
• Special lectures and courses are offered in adult education schools, in primary and lower secondary schools, in commercial colleges and universities, as well as at meetings and conferences of institutions and associations. So far, about 300 lectures have been held.
• Information campaigns have been carried out on the use and purchase of environmentally friendly detergents, the reuse of rain water and collection systems, and the use of environmentally compatible packaging.
• The Green Families Project is designed to help families adopt an environmentally conscious lifestyle. The project included information on the overall consumption of resources, as well as an introduction the method of diary keeping. The families had met once a month in order to discuss problems and progress in the period of change. In 1993, the Association of Green Families was founded.
• Whereas the Green Families Project was directed to in-house activities, a similar project, called the Green Garden Families, was concerned with the ecological cultivation of gardens. In total, 50 families participated, and later joined the Association of Green Families in Storstroem County.

2. Eco-education

The activities in the thematic group of eco-education consists of three elements:

• The Environment Show was held in 1992. This was a major exhibition of about 80 exhibitors such as: schools, institutions, environmental authorities, environmental groups, and other organisations which presented their environment-related work and activities at a central exhibition site. The main idea was to give an overview of the variety of initiatives, and to establish new contacts.
• The eco-education network was set up in 1995 in order to bring together the many forms of eco-education by the Green Regional Project and other organisations. In April 1996, the lectures were grouped according to themes, and a newsletter on the activities and forthcoming classes is regularly published.
• The Green School Service is a project of visiting teachers that act as joint lecturers at schools and provide first-hand information on ecological matters.

3. Green Business Development

The Green Business Development program aims to convince businesses to invest in cleaner technologies. Between 1991 and 1993, co-operation with eight industrial enterprises had been achieved. The project was designed as a special programme called SPURT (Storstroem County Programme for the Dissemination of Cleaner Technology), to identify areas of profitable investment in technology beyond the normal end-of-the-pipe technology. The projects were conducted in co-operation with the national Department of Industry and members from the Green Council. The experience from the projects laid the foundation of the Department of Industry's newly established Cleaner Technology Service.

Besides projects at the company level, the Green Business Development holds business seminars on the issue of cleaner technology. A first series of seminars was organised in 1993 as part of the SPURT programme. In 1996, a second round of meetings was held on related themes such as: green employment, environmental management, urban ecology, and ecological building methods.

4. Green tourism

The area of green tourism is particularly important for Storstroem county, as it is a coastal centre of tourism. Four initiatives have been implemented as information or demonstration projects:

• In 1993, the Green tours activity diary listed all environment-related events in the summer season in order to encourage visitors to take part in nature activities within the region. The idea was implemented again in 1996.
• The Angler`s Folder was published in 1992 and 1993 as an information compendium on best fishing policies and the ecological aspects of the fishing sport. The booklet was published in Danish and German.
• The coast guide aimed to provide environment-related insight into travelling along the coastal areas. It also gives information on available facilities. The folder was published in Danish and German in 1994.
• In 1996, the demonstration project "Environmentally Sound Tourist Enterprises was started. It studied the ecological possibilities at eight overnight accommodations of different types (hotels, hostels, camping sites). The project took into account different ecological impacts of tourism (water and energy consumption, packaging, detergents).

5. International co-operation

The international activities of the Green Region Project range from activities in the county region, to participation in international networks and exchange of information at various forums:

• In 1992, the European Environmental Campus took place in the municipality of Nykobing Falster. It was a three-week event which was attended by students from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Germany, England, and Ireland. In the courses, the possibilities for sustainable development were studied.
• Between 1993 and 1995, the Green Region Project participated in an EU-sponsored eco-education exchange programme with the University of Riga. The courses were held for employees from the Latvian Ministry of the Environment and local authorities, as well as university lecturers and school teachers.
• So far, the exchange of experience on the Green Region Project has been presented at conferences in 14 European countries and Japan. Furthermore, Storstroem County has been visited by environmental experts from 30 countries.

6. Organisation of the Local Agenda 21 process

In autumn 1994, the Green Region Project was started in order to incorporate the Local Agenda 21 policy into its organisational framework. The Green Region Project is responsible for the co-ordination of work on Local Agenda 21. A project group of eight people from the Storstroem County Council Department of Technology and Environment was appointed to work out the field of future activities. Many employees contributed ideas and recommendations for the content of Local Agenda 21, and the process of programme designing was completed in 1996.

Actors and Structures

In order to establish an organisational framework for the people in the projects and for the administrators in Storstoem County, the Green Council has been set up. The Green Council is open to all interested groups. The following member organisations have taken part in the Green Councilwork: The Farmers’ Organisations on Lolland-Falster and Mon, The Danish Employers Association, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions, The Consumer Council, The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the Danish Anglers` Federation, The Danish Ornithological Society, Nature and Youth, the Association of Water Works, the Agricultural Development and Innovation Centre, the Lolland-Falster Family Farmers, the Danish Forestry Society, the Joint Committee of the Danish Hunting Organisations, the County Museum Board, the Association of Municipalities in Storstroem County, and Storstroem County.

The Green Council is chaired by the chairman of the Committee on Technology and Environment of Storstroem County Council. The Green Region Project provides secretarial services to the Green Council, and in return it gets advice and expertise on forthcoming projects from the Green Council. The Green Council meets twice a year and discusses selected topics on current and future fields of activity.

Evaluation and Statements

The project managers of the Green Region Project stress the following achievements as important elements of the on-going learning process:

• every area of life is open to environmental measures and projects;
• environmental thinking has to be gradually incorporated into all areas of life: work, family, and leisure;
• there must be permanent assessment of new or expanded fields of activities;
• a shift in the focus of attention brings new people to the project;
• Local Agenda 21 issues are compatible with the Green Region Project.

Source of Information

Storstroem County 1996: A closer look at the Green Region Project in Storstroem County. Five years with the Green Region Project 1991-1996, Environmental Letter No.15, April

Contact:

Cities:

Storstroem County :

The County of Storstroem consists of 14 municipalities with a total population of 257,000. The county is located in the north-west of Denmark and covers an area of 3398 square miles. The main income comes from agriculture and tourism.

Population:

Project was added at 28.06.1996
Project was changed at 05.03.2001

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