The II National Water Forum
16-17 April 2008, Gromada Hotel – Warsaw.
The II National Water Forum will take place on 16-17 April 2008 in Gromada Hotel in Warsaw. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to continue open dialogue between different communities in the field of water management. It will also serve as a platform for discussion on water management problems which have already been identified. The II Water Forum is open to public participation. Representatives of authorities responsible for water management planning (state and local administration), commercial organizations, non-governmental and ecological organizations, local groups which are involved in solving local problems (e.g. farmers associations); research units and above all water users’ representatives will participate in the forum.
In order to give all participants the possibility to express their opinion on important water management issues, the subjects for discussion were divided into smaller theme groups:
- Quantitative and qualitative issues concerning groundwater and surface water.
- Natural water morphology and catchment use.
- Natural disasters: floods and hydrological drought.
These issues are discussed in relation to the Vistula basin area (together with its sub-basins) and the Odra basin (together with its sub-basins).
Will the planned measures receive social acceptance? Is there anything important that needs to be addressed?
Your opinion and the fact that you care about the environment are important!
We are counting on your commitment and therefore we would like to invite you to participate in the II National Water Forum which will take place on 16-17 April 2008 in Warsaw.
All information and the application form can be obtained in the seat of the National Water Management Authority and under the following phone no.: (22) 37 20 240 or 269.
Files to download (in Polish only):
Invitation to the II National Water Forum [
- 80 kB]
II National Water Forum Programme [ - 169 kB]
II National Water Forum application form [
- 42 kB]
Information concerning the reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs [ - 29 kB]
Working materials for theme groups during the II National Water Forum [
- 87 kB]
Warsaw hotel guide [ - 116 kB]
Poland as an EU Member State has committed itself to implementing measures aimed at achieving good status of water and water environment by 2015. On October 23, 2000 European Parliament and the Council passed the Framework Water Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework of community action in the field of water policy. However, the directive only defines a general framework for water management planning. The actual planning process has to be conducted by a member state. That is why in Poland the measures aimed at water protection and improving water status as well as measures promoting sustainable water use were covered by the Water Act dated July 18, 2001 in compliance with the Framework Water Directive.
Water management planning and public participation
The Water Act in compliance with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC defines three kinds of public participation: informing about subsequent stages of water management plans, public consultations and active participation in the planning process at all process stages.
Public participation is highly valued in the Water Framework Directive. Information, consultation and incorporation of a variety of social circles into the planning process are considered important factors for the successful achievement of Water Framework Directive objectives. Water management plans prepared for each river basin will help to achieve a good water status. They will also be a basis for making decisions which will influence the status of water resources and future water management principles. The measures described in water management plans will influence both social and economic development in the whole country. In order to ensure public participation in the preparation and updating of river basin management plans the general public should be adequately informed an incorporated into planned undertakings even before the final decisions concerning the necessary measures have been taken.
In Poland public opinion was sought by means of a consultation process on three occasions:
- 22 December 2006 – 22 June 2007 – on the issue of "The schedule and the programme of works related to river basin water management plan preparation together with the summary of measures to be implemented after consultation”,
- 22 December 2007 – 22 June 2008 – on the issue of "The review of important river basin water management problems", and
- 22 December 2008 – 22 June 2009 – on "The draft proposal of river basin water management plan".
However, active public participation is something more than three kinds of information and consultation related to the process of water management plans described above.
Recently the second round of public consultations started on 22 December 2007. The best form of social dialogue are face-to-face meetings with the public. That is why National Water Forum was created to serve as an important platform for the exchange of opinions on key issues related to water resources management and finding compromise solutions. The first National Water Forum meeting took place in April 2007 during the first stage of public consultations on "The schedule and the programme of works related to river basin water management plan preparation together with the summary of measures to be implemented after consultation".
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