Introduction:
In preparation for the 3rd National River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) and considering the current environmental crises of extreme biodiversity loss, the climate change emergency and growing stress on water resources the Water Forum is hosting this webinar to consider academic research on why our collective response needs the involvement of many stakeholders. It is recommended that educators, communities, social enterprise, local and national decision makers work together to enhance democratic decision making to deliver achievable and sustainable environmental solutions. Participative and deliberative engagement processes provide potential pathways to achieving these goals but further supports are likely to be required.
Session 1: Presentations on the research that supports the need for and benefits of public participation to develop solutions focused decision making for positive environmental outcomes for water, biodiversity and climate
Dr Patrick Bresnihan, Maynooth University; An Introduction to best practice in public participation in water governance
Dr Clodagh Harris, University College Cork; ‘Participatory and deliberative approaches to climate mitigation – the Imagining 2050 project’.
Dr Alexendra Reves, from the Imagining 2050 research team at University College Cork; An Introduction to the Deliberative Democracy Toolkit
Session 2: Organisations working with communities at local level to deliver outcomes for water will present their learnings
Mark Horton, Rivers Trusts development co-ordinator in Ireland will present his learnings from developing catchment visions with communities and delivering the Oriel River and Coastal Catchment Association local community actions.
Micheál O’Cinneide, founder of Corrib Beo Partnership outlines of the development of Corrib Beo and potential future opportunities.
Sean Corrigan, National Federation of Group Water Schemes will discuss how community action for biodiversity also protects water quality.
Fran Igoe, Local Authority Waters Programme will present learnings from the 2nd RBMP cycle on enabling community engagement and participation for water quality outcomes.
When
3rd February 2022, 10:00-12:30 – FREE online registration.
More information and registration
Target audience:
Public authorities working in environmental management, EPA, LAWPRO, IFI, NPWS, CARO, Department personnel, members of LAWPRO Regional and Operational Committees, Local Authority staff including biodiversity officers, heritage officers, tidy towns co-ordinators, environmental awareness officers, PPN staff. Community organisations such as Rivers Trusts, catchment associations, tidy towns groups, group water schemes.