reke prihodnosti: krepitev okoljskega zagovorništva / rivers of the future: strengthening environmental advocacy

Reke, potoki in mokrišča v Sloveniji so vse bolj ogroženi zaradi onesnaževanja, gradnje infrastrukture in posegov v vodne ekosisteme. Pomembno vlogo pri njihovem varovanju imajo okoljski zagovorniki in civilne iniciative, ki pa se pogosto soočajo s pomanjkanjem sredstev, znanja, podpore in možnosti za povezovanje.

Projekt Reke prihodnosti: krepitev okoljskega zagovorništva bo povezoval okoljske zagovornike, nevladne organizacije, strokovnjake in širšo javnost ter jih spodbujal k aktivnemu varovanju voda. Vzpostavljena bo spletna baza varuhinj in varuhov celinskih voda, z izobraževalnimi delavnicami pa bodo udeleženci pridobili znanja in veščine za učinkovitejše okoljsko zagovorništvo.

Posebna pozornost bo namenjena vključevanju mladih in žensk. Z otroškimi predstavami, čistilnimi akcijami, kulturnimi in umetniškimi dogodki bo projekt ozaveščal o pomenu varovanja rek in spodbujal aktivno sodelovanje prebivalcev. Organizirana bo tudi prva konferenca v Sloveniji o možnosti, da bi reke dobile pravice, ki bi omogočale njihovo boljšo pravno zaščito. Pripravljen bo osnutek predloga zakona za podelitev pravne subjektivitete rekam.

Z medijsko in spletno kampanjo bo projekt povečal prepoznavnost okoljskih zagovornikov, spodbudil javno razpravo in prispeval k dolgoročnemu varovanju slovenskih rek in drugih celinskih voda.

Pričakovani rezultati

• Okoljski zagovorniki in civilne iniciative bodo bolj prepoznavni in povezani pri varovanju rek. Vzpostavljena bo spletna baza z najmanj 20 zagovorniki in štirimi organizacijami, njihove aktivnosti pa bodo predstavljene širši javnosti prek najmanj 70 spletnih objav in 15 medijskih prispevkov.
• Okoljski zagovorniki bodo bolje usposobljeni za zaščito rek in zastopanje svojih stališč v javnosti. Na treh strokovnih delavnicah bo najmanj 15 udeležencev pridobilo nova znanja in veščine za učinkovitejše okoljsko zagovorništvo.
• Okrepila se bo javna in strokovna razprava o pravni zaščiti rek. Na nacionalni konferenci bodo strokovnjaki in predstavniki civilne družbe oblikovali osnutek predloga za boljšo pravno zaščito slovenskih rek. Posebno pozornost bodo namenili tudi ohranitvi prostotekočega srednjega toka Save.
• Več mladih in žensk se bo vključilo v prizadevanja za varovanje rek in vodnih virov. Z izobraževalnimi, kulturnimi in umetniškimi dogodki bodo k sodelovanju spodbudili najmanj 40 študentov, 150 otrok in 10 izobraževalcev. Vloga žensk pri varovanju rek bo posebej predstavljena na dogodku »Ženske in reke«, ki bo združil najmanj 25 udeležencev.

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Rivers, streams and wetlands in Slovenia are increasingly threatened by pollution, infrastructure construction and interventions in aquatic ecosystems. Environmental advocates and civil society initiatives play an important role in protecting them, but they often face a lack of funding, knowledge, support and opportunities to connect with one another.

The project Rivers of the Future: Strengthening Environmental Advocacy will bring together environmental advocates, non-governmental organisations, experts and the wider public, encouraging them to take an active role in protecting water resources. An online database of guardians of inland waters will be established, while educational workshops will provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed for more effective environmental advocacy.

Special attention will be given to the involvement of young people and women. Through children's performances, clean-up campaigns, cultural and artistic events, the project will raise awareness of the importance of protecting rivers and encourage active participation among local residents. Slovenia's first conference on the possibility of granting rights to rivers to ensure their better legal protection will also be organised. A draft legislative proposal to grant legal personhood to rivers will be prepared.

Through a media and online campaign, the project will increase the visibility of environmental advocates, encourage public debate and contribute to the long-term protection of Slovenia's rivers and other inland waters.

Expected Results

• Environmental advocates and civil society initiatives will become more visible and better connected in their efforts to protect rivers. An online database featuring at least 20 advocates and four organisations will be established, and their activities will be presented to the wider public through at least 70 online posts and 15 media reports.
• Environmental advocates will be better equipped to protect rivers and represent their views in public. At least 15 participants will gain new knowledge and skills for more effective environmental advocacy through three expert workshops.
• Public and expert debate on the legal protection of rivers will be strengthened. At a national conference, experts and civil society representatives will develop a draft proposal for better legal protection of Slovenian rivers. Special attention will also be given to preserving the free-flowing middle section of the Sava River.
• More young people and women will become involved in efforts to protect rivers and water resources. Educational, cultural and artistic events will encourage the participation of at least 40 students, 150 children and 10 educators. The role of women in river conservation will be highlighted at the "Women and Rivers" event, which will bring together at least 25 participants.