Environmental Information Management Flanders region (Belgium)

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Environmental Information ManagementFlanders
region (Belgium)

• Dick van Straaten - Lode Nulens
• dvs_at_milieuinfo.be - l.nulens_at_vmm.be
• Flemish authority of Environment

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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.

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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,

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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 !!

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Waste and soil management www.ovam.be
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Land management, land consolidation and manure
management www.vlm.be
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Water and air quality, pollution,
emission/immision, water purification www.vmm.be
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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

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www.gisvlaanderen.be/geovlaanderen
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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

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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.

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Portal-site Environmental information
www.milieuinfo.be

• Goal bringing all the available information
  together, using meta-information, a comprehensive
  and easy navigation system (principle of a
  clearing house)
• Question-based navigation FAQs 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 CMSs (websites) of the different
  governmental organisations

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Portal-site www.milieuinfo.be
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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.b
  e. Public inquiry will also be possible through
  the internet

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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,

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ChallengesE-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