Environmental Information ManagementFlanders region (Belgium)

Dick van Straaten - Lode Nulensdvs@milieuinfo.be - l.nulens@vmm.be

Flemish authority of Environment

Flanders: environmental policy Most of the environmental issues and policy is the

competence of the three regions (Flanders, Walloon and Brussels) in Belgium

Flanders has its own Environmental Policy Plan 2003-2007: formal planning process with public involvement/participation

Environmental Policy Plan is approved by the Flemish government and Parliament

Dissemination of environmental information and public involvement in decision-making is explicit part of the Environmental Policy Plan

Action force: Environmental Management Information System: linking all existing environmental information in one logical database easily accessible to all (governmental) organisations, policy-makers (management system) and the public.

Channels of dissemination environmental information

Through the internet: different websites of existing (governmental) organisations. This information is scattered and not integrated. Environmental information is available service-minded (what is available) , not really question-based (what is needed)

Special task force on e-government during the last 3 years, supported by the Flemish government, for all the different policy domains: one portal site for the Flemish governmental organisations and an integrated backoffice. Organised through the different policy domains such as Environment.

Other channels: paper, telephone, the old-fashioned desk, digital television,…

Public access to environmental information through the internet

The different governmental organisations concerning the environment (on the level the the Flemish region) have internet-sites that supplies specific environmental information on their activities and tasks: air, water, soil, waste management, nature conservation, biodiversity, land management, ….

Information is scattered !!

Waste and soil management www.ovam.be

Land management, land consolidation and manure management www.vlm.be

Water and air quality, pollution, emission/immision, water purification

www.vmm.be

Geographical maps on internet: integrating environmental spatial information

One website covering and integrating or combining relevant environmental information: thematic maps (biological valuation map, forestry maps,..) policy maps (Nature 2000, Flemish Ecological Network,…) integrated maps (watercourses with water quality/quantity, biological data,….

www.gisvlaanderen.be/geovlaanderen

www.gisvlaanderen.be/geovlaanderen

Governmental scientific institutes Flanders

Scientific institutes provide specific environmental information, published on their websites

Institute of Nature Conservation: biodiversity, state of nature: http://www.instnat.be

Institute of Forest and Game Management: Forestry, acidification, fishery, mamals,… http://www.ibw.vlaanderen.be

Flemish Institute for Technological Research: best available technologies, environmental resaerch (environment and health): http://www.vito.be

Other websites concerning environmental information

Environmental law and legislation: special search application: http://milieunavigator.milieuinfo.be

Environmental impact assessment in Flanders: www.mervlaanderen.be

Integrated Watermanagement in Flanders: www.viwc.be, e-zine on ‘Water’ (quality, quantity, use, research, databases,…

Sustainable use of water resources (target groups: agriculture, enterprises and citizens): www.waterloketvlaanderen.be

Aarhus website: www.mina.be/aarhus Floods prediction:

www.overstromingsvoorspeller.be Etc, etc….

Portal-site Environmental information

www.milieuinfo.beGoal: bringing all the available information together,

using meta-information, a comprehensive and easy navigation system (principle of a clearing house)

Question-based navigation: FAQ’s linked to lifeline moments (citizans and enterprises), thematic, target-groups

No content, only direct links to the appropiate websites with environmental information - specific taxonomy/categorisation to structure meta-information

Unique site for internet application (front-office e-government): environmental licensing, emission reports enterprises, environmental taxes

CMS linked to CMS’s (websites) of the different governmental organisations

Portal-site: www.milieuinfo.be

Decision-making and public participation by the use of internet

In 2002: preparation of the formal Environmental Policy Plan (to be approved officially by government and parliament). Public enquiry was included and the draft Environmental policy plan was available through the internet. A special internet-application was set up to guide the public through the content of the plan. There was a possibility to give your own opinion about the plan through the internet. Also the follow-up of the plan can be followed through the internet-site http://www.milieubeleidsplan.be

Spatial planning in Flanders is arranged by specific execution plans. Changes of these plans inquiry public opinion and participation. All information is published on a website http://www.ruimtelijkeordening.be

Environmental Impact Assessment (SEA and EIA): new legislation in Flanders (end 2003), public participation at the scoping phase, all information, including summaries will be published on a website: http://www.mervlaanderen.be. Public inquiry will also be possible through the internet

Challenges: front-office Improving front-office to a more question-based

navigation system focused to the public, enterprises and organisations - clearing house

Using different channels to disseminate environmental information: internet, digital television, sms, telephone,…

Legal base for public inquiry through the internet, unique identification of citizens and enterprises

Extent the availability of information through the internet such as environmental licenses (enterprises), emissions, flooding previsions,…

Challenges:E-government backoffice -

environment Extranet between all (governmental)

organisations concerning the environment: information exchange

Centralized information systems to support environmental policy and to link different dossiers: centralized database on enterprises, environmental licences and emission activities (important for EPER, IPPC, greenhouse gasses,…)

Linking different administration processes (follow-up of dossiers) between organisation: improving efficiency, service and dissemination of environmental information