The workshops are part of the MEP-sponsored ACEDP project ‘Public Participation in Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and Basin Water Pollution Control’
Participants included representatives from the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIES), Nanjing University, the Australian contractor IDSS Pty Ltd in collaboration with its partner, the Centre for Integrated Agricultural Development CIAD at he China Agricultural University, Changzhou Environmental Protection Bureau, Changzhou Women Federation (WF), Wuxi NGOs and representatives from Yapu demonstration village.
The workshop at first summarized the project phase I work. The Chinese implementation team shared their draft public participation policy study paper and the Australian experiences and lessons learnt on public participation in water resource management learnt during Australian study tour 6~16 December 2009. During the workshop, the local NGOs and WF also introduced their public participation in the environmental protection in the communities. Based on the progress made to date, the workshop updated the work plan for Phase II to guide the future project implementation. The introduction of CCG framework was also discussed including its concept, objectives, composition, functions, operations, reporting mechanism and performances etc. This has paved the way for the following CCG training.
Following the workshop, participants travelled to the pilot area to conduct further CCG on-site training. The training included 2-day in-house public participation methodology and skill learning and 1-day practical exercise at Yapu demonstration village. Village people were actively involved in the training that will lay a good foundation for extending CCG work at selected pilot sites.
One of the important outcomes from the training was the development of improved procedures for the promotion of environmental awareness and public participation.
All the relevant outputs including manuals, workshop reports and videos will be available at ACEDP ‘ Project Portal’ in due course.