UCLG Position Paper v_2 (eng)
22/12/09
18:13
Página 58
A Compilation of Case Studies
issues and sustainable development, among both decision makers and inhabitants. One of the most successful and visible results related to this has been the implementation of Environmental Awareness Week in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. The event was first kick started in 2003 as a part of the activities identified under the North South Local Government Cooperation Programme. The event follows the same principles that guide the environmental week in Lahti initiated in 1997. The purpose is to bring environmental awareness to the communities and residents through different environmentally related themes. The Environmental Week is now implemented and funded by the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and local sponsorship. This success now serves as an educating example for the Northern partner as a community-driven, grassroots approach to address environmental issues. All in all, it is a good case example of mutual learning in cooperation.
has increased the effectiveness of the cooperation between Lahti and BPDM. The partners have been able to accumulate knowledge of each other’s working methods and operations over the years through long-term personal contacts. This decreases cultural miscommunication and helps in planning and implementing activities. Another key lesson learned is the importance of involving the municipal administration as broadly as possible, and especially getting the involvement of the top-level management. The development of effective cooperation takes time and is a continuous learning process. It is good to start with the basic information, to create contacts and to learn to understand the differences in local administrative cultures and working methods. The cooperation between Lahti and Bojanala Platinum District Municipality has been developed further by taking lessons learned into account during yearly meetings.
The work done to reach the third objective, transferring and exchanging technical expertise, has had important results in water management and monitoring, air quality and monitoring, climate protection assessment and implementation of methods, waste management as well as development of information technology by video conferences and staff training to upgrade the existing web sites. For example, waste management was identified as one of the areas of co-operation in 2005 when a delegation from the local municipalities of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality visited the local waste site in Lahti and became familiar with the waste disposal strategies and programs in operation. The lessons learned from Lahti’s waste reduction, land filling and the handling of recyclables and hazardous waste materials have been since incorporated into the Rustenburg Local Municipality’s new waste transfer stations and the new regional landfill site. Similarly, the water protection efforts of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality have been benefiting from sharing the experiences gained in the lake remediation processes conducted in the Lahti Region over the years. The co-operation has supported the rehabilitation processes of the Bospoort and Hartbeespoort Dams. Both dams currently suffer from severe eutrophication, but are targeted in the development strategies for recreation, housing, fishing and tourism.
For more information about the Partnership of Lahti and Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, please contact lahdenseudunymparistopalvelut@lahti.fi. For more information about the North-South Local Government Co-operation Programme, please contact the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA), info@kuntaliitto.fi
Conclusion The long-term municipal international cooperation approach around the theme of environmental management 58