1. Basic Information on LEAP 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Goals and Tasks Of
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MUNICIPALITY OF MAKEDONSKA KAMENICA 1. Basic information on LEAP 1.1. Introduction LEAP is developed as a result of the obligation of the law for protection and promotion of the environment (Government gazette of R.M. no. 51/2000)in which it is clearly stated that municipalities and the city of Skopje are obliged to produce local action plans for envi- ronment protection and promotion, in accordance with the National action plan for environ- ment protection and promotion. According to the law for local self-government (Government gazette of R.M. no. 5/2002), ‘preservation of the environment and nature through means for protection and prevention from pollution of water and land, nature conservancy, protection from noise and the non-ionization radiation’ is one the municipalities’ competences. Moved by the legal duties and aware of the environment conditions in their municipal- ity, citizens of Makedonska Kamenica approached LEAP as a plan of activities for surpassing problems in the environment. 1.2. Goals and tasks of the process of developing LEAP Primary goal of LEAP for the municipality of Makedonska Kamenica is creating mea- sures and activities for environment protection and promotion, which are based on a consen- sus between local authorities, the population and NGOs. It is of particular importance that LEAP is built on realistic, economically acceptable and justifi able solutions for identifying and overcoming problems in the environment. It is considered a fi rst step towards creating atmosphere for sustainable development of the municipality. LEAP presents analysis of the environment conditions and identifi es needs for surpass- ing problems. This is realized through the following tasks: » Identifi cation of the problems (identifying current conditions) with the envi- ronment quality, their impact on people’s health and on the possibilities for further municipal development; » Identifying priorities; » Making a dynamic plan of measures and activities; » Defi ning specifi c projects (if possible). The local plan of activities for environment protection and promotion is signifi cant for identifi cation and application of principles for sustainable development, as well as for the creation of good basis for proper local democracy. The plan represents basis for creating an economy which incorporates quality of waters, air, soil, biodiversity, natural values and rari- ties for obtaining better living standard and sustainable usage of the resources. As a systematic and developmental document of the municipality, LEAP was approved by Municipal Council. It has the purpose of obtaining the following: » Stimulating local community to take specifi c measures and care for the environment; » Basing the development of the municipality on realistic disposable resources, according to the principles of sustainability; » Making further efforts of the local self-governance in cooperation with other institutions, for achieving the identifi ed priorities; » Maintaining a balance in the environment system on local level; 4 LOCAL ENVIRONMENT ACTION PLAN » Initiating specifi c activities on a local level, such as actions for promotion of the living quality in the municipality, which will result into raising awareness for the importance of environment protection and promotion; » Developing conections on local, regional, national and international level, in order to provide better living and working conditions. In conclusion, LEAP should contribute for surpassing negative effects of environment (non)quality, and for improving people’s health, which is an absolute priority in NEAP for R. Macedonia. The action plan for environment protection and promotion, for the municipality of Makedonska Kamenica should be regarded as a possibility for promotion and establishment of organizational and economical foundations. In addition, LEAP should serve the purpose of implementing principles for sustainable development of the municipality. The realization of the proposed activities is a long-term process, which should be fulfi lled through small steps, rationally and pationatelly. The fi nal effect will be positive, provided that a realistic approach towards solving every specifi c problem is achieved. In other words, that legal regulations are respected, and also that the institutional, material-fi nancial and personnel foundations of the municipality strengthen. 1.3. Concept and process of development LEAP for the municipality of Makedonska Kamenica was developed due to the accurate estimation of the environment conditions and identifi cation of problems. More precisely, the current state of the environment is defi ned and presented with the estimation and opinions of local experts. The local self-governance and the citizens are given an opportunity to identify and to pinpoint the most important problems, according to their personal opinion. The process of development of LEAP is a result of the cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning as an initiator, the local self-governance through the Mayor and Municipal Council as direct and main pursuers of the project and the Regional Center for Sustainable Development from Delcevo, as implementer (contract no.03-689/1 date 08.08.2007). During the preparation phase, the development and fi nal shaping of the LEAP for the municipality of Makedonska Kamenica was obtained due to locals’ active participation. Lo- cals are most concerned segment in this process. Also, LEAP contributed to the regulations affi rmation of Arhusk Convention for free access to information for the environment condi- tions. The unit of the local self-governance made a decision for establishing a coordinative body, to produce LEAP. The body is composed of representatives of the local self-governance, the public, private and NGO sector. The NGO sector has a special role in the affi rmation of the LEAP and incorporating public in all phases of its developing. A team composed of local experts estimated the environment current state; made catego- rization (ranking) of the problems; defi ned priorities and made draft- document, available for public remarks and suggestions. A methodology based on “DPSIR” SWOT analysis was used for designing LEAP, considering that it a successful practice in many other municipalities. 5 MUNICIPALITY OF MAKEDONSKA KAMENICA Scheme of the methodology for developing LEAP for the municipality of Makedonska Kamenica Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Launching LEAP Identifying condi- Establishing and 1. Preparation of tions in the environ- Training coordi- LEAP-draft with an 1. Writing ment through: native body, con- action and dynamics 1. Defi ning problems sisted of: plan for the period 2. Approval and priorities а) Coordinator 2008 - 2012 . b) Team of experts 2. Plan revision 3. Public promotion 2. Incorporating the c) Civil advisory te- 3. Finalising the doc- of the document public am ument The foundation elements which experts took into consideration in the elaboration of LEAP are: » Protection of people’s health; establishing measures and activities for decrea- sing negative pollution infl uence on the environment; » Establishing a new system for environment management, or improving the existing one, and thus, improve the environment conditions; » Raising human awareness of the problems related to the environment quality, as a basis for preventing further environment pollution; The solutions for surpassing problems of the environment (non) quality are bases on the research and estimations of local experts, referring to priority and economical opportunities and conditions in the time of the programme preparation. The fi nal version of the document is a result of the incorporated suggestions and opin- ions of all who participated in the process of its creation, the experts’ analysis of the envi- ronment, and opinions and initiatives of citizens. The document will be considered citizens’ property after its approval by the Municipal Council. The working atmosphere while creating LEAP for the municipality of Makedonska Kamenica 6 LOCAL ENVIRONMENT ACTION PLAN 2. Final summary 2.1. Conditions » According to the law for environment protection and promotion (“Government gazette of R. Macedonia” no. 51/2000) the municipality of Makedonska Ka- menica took an initiative for making LEAP. The project is fi nancially supported by Foundation Institute Open Society and is realized in cooperation with the team of local experts, civil advisory team and external expert. The local self- governance and the population were also part of the project. » The municipality has 9 settlements with a population of 8110 citizens in total. » The municipality of Makedonska Kamenica is situated in the north-east part of R. Macedonia, in the foot of Osogovo massif. It borders the municipality of Delcevo on the east, the municipality of Vinica on the south, the municipality of Kocani on the west, and the municipality of Kriva Palanka and the state border with R. Bulgaria on the north. It occupies total area of 189 km2. » In terms of economy, the dominating branches are mining, industry, agriculture and the building industry. Also, there is an increased percentage of the tertiary sector (trade, catering and local economy. » There is not environment-quality monitoring in the municipality. There are only occasional measurings of specifi c parameters, which are insuffi cient for obtain- ing relevant estimation of conditions. » State and local authorities are in charge of the environment. The solutions of problems in the municipality depend a great deal