Training Outline. Sub-regional Training on Transboundary Law Enforcement on Water and Nature Protection 9-11March 2016 Ohrid

Transcription

1 Training Outline Sub-regional Training on Transboundary Law Enforcement on Water and Nature Protection 9-11March 2016 Ohrid 1. Trainer s professional experience in brief Description of your professional background in 15 to 30 lines: -Insert your photo here- (optional) Name: Andris Širovs Current Position & Organization: Director of Pierīga Regional Administration; Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia Contact: andris.sirovs@daba.gov.lv; Phone: My professional experience during last 14 years is related to nature conservation. In I started my work in Environmental State Inspectorate (ESI) as a senior Environmental State inspector. In this position I dealt mostly with complains and applications, and carried out site visits in Latvia regarding the protected species, habitats and protected areas. Special attention was devoted to using and protection of Baltic Sea coastal zone - mostly building s and forestry s compliance with legal regulation was controlled. Because of amendments of legal acts in the end of 2002, the supervision of Environmental State inspectors in the Regional Environmental Boards was introduced realised by the ESI. Besides this, I took part in the EMERALDA project which resulted in the establishment of the Natura 2000 territories network in Latvia. Also I did work for elaborating and publishing the Nature inspectors manual which was provided for nature inspector s routine work. In 2005 Environmental State inspectorate and the Regional Environmental Boards were consolidate and the State Environmental Service (SES) was created. In SES I took the head position of the division responsible for protection species, habitats and protected areas. During this period I Page 1 of 5

2 continued the supervising of the work of inspectors in SES s regional units as well as methodical management and trainings took place. From 2006 during the next several years I took part in the IMPEL green expert activities in the frames of GreenForce network. The meetings and experience exchanges were organized by this network for specialists, who were involved in the Natura 2000 management topics. Following to the legal acts changes in 2009, which had separate environmental inspection from the nature inspection, I shifted my job from SES to the Nature Conservation Agency (Agency) where I work currently. Till 2011 in the Agency I supervised inspectors in the administrations of protected territories (strict nature reserve, 4 national parks and a biosphere reserve), did the work with different kind of documents regarding applications, claims, court cases etc. In the same time, my department provided nature education and interpretation as well as public relations of Agency. In 2011 I have started to fulfil the position of director of the Pierīga regional administration of the Agency (Administration). For all 4 regional Administrations of the Agency main tasks are: issuing the permits and conditions for the activities and planning documents regarding species, habitats and protected areas, making site visits, maintaining the state owned land and infrastructure as well as creating the new infrastructure s objects for the visitors of the protected territories, realising the projects and activities for conservation and restoration of the habitats, the public awareness etc. A big part of Administration s work has devoted for Ķemeri national park, which is one of the 4 national parks in Latvia. At the same time I have represented the Agency in the EUROPARC federation, European Environmental Agency and other international organisations and institutions. My favourite topics for the future exploring are implementation of the ecosystems services approach in Latvia, introducing Page 2 of 5

3 sustainable tourism principles in Latvia s protected areas and promotion of the Nature for people wellbeing. My educational background: Master degree in the field of Biology, Master degree in the field of Law as well as professional Lawyer qualification. 2. Learning objectives Main goal for this session is to introduce training s participants with the planning and carrying out the Cycle of Nature Inspection. To achieve this goal, session has several tasks: - To present IMPEL guidelines Doing the Right Things II. Step by step guidance book for planning of environmental inspection (2008); - To present Latvia s experience for planning and realising of the Inspection Cycle, according to the IMPEL guidelines; - To give the examples, how to reach Birds and Habitats directive s targets by using the Inspection Cycle approach. In the case of necessity, the practical guidance for Inspection planning and carrying out can be provided. As the outcomes from the session will be: participants knowledge about Inspection Cycle based on the IMPEL recommendations and EU member state s (Latvia s) experience; practical skills to set up an Inspection Plan, based on the obtained knowledge and a better understanding how to link Birds and Habitats directive s targets with the Inspection Plan. 3. Training session abstract The presentation is divided in several, interlinked parts. 1. The Introductory part is going to start with information about the speaker speaker s professional experience, current position and legal status, educational background; secondly, this part provides country specific data about Latvia location, area, population, land use, biogeographical region etc. The basic information about Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia will follow, for example, organisation s structure and functions, regional division, employees and their legal status (inspectors and experts). After that presentation is going to introduce Latvia s nature conservation system responsible authorities, categories of protected territories, Natura 2000 network, landowner structure in protected territories etc. Page 3 of 5

4 Given information is necessary for better understanding of the context of the similarities and differences between the nature conservation systems in Latvia and Macedonia and Albania. Time needed: minutes. 2. Second part is going to set up the main steps for the planning and execution of Inspection based on IMPEL recommendations: 2.1. Short introduction about the IMPEL network and history of developing of the IMPEL guidelines Doing the Right Things II. Step by step guidance book for planning of environmental inspection ; 2.2. Inspection Cycle and basic steps: planning, execution, reporting and evaluation (see figure). Figure. Inspection Cycle st step of the Inspection Cycle planning (setting up the Inspection s plan): Describing the context (legal framework and common viewpoint); Setting the priorities (risk assessment); Defining the objectives and strategies; Planning and review. Planning and setting up the Inspection Plan are very important for future execution of Inspection work, because the Inspection Plan should provide a guideline for next steps nd step of the Inspection Cycle execution: routine and non routine inspections as well as investigations (accidents, incidents etc.). Page 4 of 5

5 rd step of the Inspection Cycle reporting: reporting on the site visits, forms used for reporting (check lists and others), necessary sanctions (penalties, informing the competent authorities); identifying the damage to species, habitats and protected areas and possible measures restoration, compensation and loss caused to the natural heritage th step of the Inspection Cycle evaluation the Inspection s results using for the evaluation of the Inspection plan, for statistics and monitoring. Time needed: minutes. 3. Inspection s planning and execution Latvia s experience Defining the Inspection s targets, existing context, priorities In Latvia; statistics about the Inspections in 2015; 3.2. Carrying out the Inspections practical aspects and strategies, and technical support strengths and weakness; 3.3. Reporting on the site visits and results forms used, sanctions, dealing with damage caused for species, habitats and the protected territories setting up restoration or compensation works and the calculations of the biodiversity s loss, statistical data.; 3.4. The future use of Inspection s results for the updating the data base, monitoring, situation surveillance Latvia s best practice for the improving the Inspection work organisation s strategy, Guidelines for nature Inspectors, EU habitats handbook, cooperation with other authorities and separation of competencies between authorities by agreements; public environment inspectors and Junior rangers. Time needed: minutes. 4. Means to bind Inspection Plan with the targets of Birds and Habitats directives. This section is going to offer ways how to connect Inspection s planning and execution processes to reaching booth nature directives targets by using the existing data bases and information systems, species and habitats inventory and reports to EU, designation of the habitats of the EU importance etc. Time needed: minutes. Page 5 of 5