Location: Europe
Website: sidewalkinc.com
What, according to the Convention, does the term “landscape” cover? The landscape is part of the land, as perceived by local people or visitors, which evolves through time as a result of being acted upon by natural forces and human beings. "Landscape policy” reflects the public authorities' awareness of the need to frame and implement a policy on landscape. The public is encouraged to take an active part in its protection, conserving and maintaining the heritage value of a particular landscape, in its management, helping to steer changes brought about by economic, social or environmental necessity, and in its planning, particularly for those areas most radically affected by change, such as peri-urban, industrial and coastal areas.
The Convention sets great store by identifying and assessing landscapes through field research by professionals working in conjunction with local inhabitants. Each landscape forms a blend of components and structures types of territories, social perceptions and ever-changing natural, social and economic forces. Once this identification work has been completed and the landscape quality objectives set, the landscape can be protected, managed or developed.
One of the major innovations of the European Landscape Convention is the definition of “landscape quality objectives”, meaning, for a specific landscape, the formulation by the competent authorities of the aspirations of the public with regard to the landscape features of their surroundings. No longer the preserve of experts, landscape is now a policy area in its own right.
Management in line with landscape quality objectives also calls for education and training, including training for specialists, elected representatives and the technical staff of local, regional and national authorities, and school and university courses dealing with values attached to the landscape and its protection, management and planning.
Landscape has no borders.
Co-operation between Parties is designed to enhance the effectiveness of the measures taken in each state, provide mutual technical and scientific assistance and facilitate exchanges of landscape specialists and the sharing of information on all matters relating to the Convention. Trans-frontier cooperation is encouraged at local and regional level and, where necessary, can pave the way for the preparation and implementation of joint landscape programmes.
The Convention also established a Council of Europe Landscape Award, which the Council’s Committee of Ministers can award to a local or regional authority, or a group of such authorities (in one country or on a transfrontier basis) or a non-governmental organisation that has instituted a policy or measures to protect, manage and/or develop their landscape, which have proved lastingly effective and can thus serve as an example to other territorial authorities in Europe.
The European Landscape Convention introduced a Europe-wide concept centring on the quality of landscape protection, management and planning and covering the entire territory, not just outstanding landscapes. Through its ground-breaking approach and its broader scope, it complements the Council of Europe’s and UNESCO’s heritage conventions.
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Monday, June 1, 2015
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
EUROCITIES
Location: European Union
Website: www.eurocities.eu
Created in 1986, EUROCITIES brings together the democratically elected local governments of 134 cities including cities in the European Union (Full Members) and cities in other European countries (Associate Members). Membership is open to the municipal governments of cities which are recognised as important regional centres with an international dimension, and normally having at least 250 000 inhabitants.
EUROCITIES works along 3 complementary strands of activities:
The city of Warsaw is currently the president of EUROCITIES.
EUROCITIES members benefit from taking part in trans-national projects, research activities, policy seminars and workshops with regard to a wide range of urban issues and challenges.
Through networking cities can learn from each other by sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, comparing different approaches, testing innovative solutions and analysing best practices. Alongside the advantages for the participating cities, these thematic activities also provide a sound and solid basis for the development of EUROCITIES policy positions and proposals.
EUROCITIES is committed to working towards a common vision of a sustainable future in which all citizens can enjoy a good quality of life.
EUROCITIES aims at achieving a European context where cities can be inclusive, prosperous, creative, and sustainable, with democratic and effective governance, and where all citizens can be provided with opportunities for participation in all aspects of urban life - including political, cultural, social and economic aspects.
EUROCITIES provides a strong voice for cities in the European Union, and actively contributes to the development and implementation of European policies, legislation and programmes which are relevant for cities.
EUROCITIES is an important partner for dialogue with the European Commission, both on the political level and on the technical level. EUROCITIES also maintains close contacts with the Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament and the Member States.
The Brussels office carries out policy, project, human resources, finance, administration and communications work.
An executive committee, made up of twelve elected representatives, manages the business of the organisation. This is currently led by Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, mayor of Warsaw and president of EUROCITIES.
The executive committee meets at least three times a year and oversees our annual work programme, internal rules and budget, as approved by the annual general meeting (AGM).
Important decisions relating to the network are made at the annual general meeting (AGM), which is held during our annual conference. Each member city is represented at the meeting.
The 2012 annual conference took place in Nantes on 7-10 November 2012 (www.eurocities2012.eu) and the 2013 conference takes place in Ghent on 27-29 November 2013.
Our day-to-day work is conducted through six thematic forums and a number of related working groups in which our members can participate. Forums monitor developments in specific policy areas, addressing issues and coordinating activities. They also set up and monitor working groups, and draft EUROCITIES position papers. Each forum meets two to three times each year and elects its own chair and vice-chair.
The executive committee also has working groups on cross-cutting themes such as governance, neighbourhood policy and climate change.
Website: www.eurocities.eu
Created in 1986, EUROCITIES brings together the democratically elected local governments of 134 cities including cities in the European Union (Full Members) and cities in other European countries (Associate Members). Membership is open to the municipal governments of cities which are recognised as important regional centres with an international dimension, and normally having at least 250 000 inhabitants.
EUROCITIES works along 3 complementary strands of activities:
The city of Warsaw is currently the president of EUROCITIES.
EUROCITIES members benefit from taking part in trans-national projects, research activities, policy seminars and workshops with regard to a wide range of urban issues and challenges.
Through networking cities can learn from each other by sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, comparing different approaches, testing innovative solutions and analysing best practices. Alongside the advantages for the participating cities, these thematic activities also provide a sound and solid basis for the development of EUROCITIES policy positions and proposals.
EUROCITIES is committed to working towards a common vision of a sustainable future in which all citizens can enjoy a good quality of life.
EUROCITIES aims at achieving a European context where cities can be inclusive, prosperous, creative, and sustainable, with democratic and effective governance, and where all citizens can be provided with opportunities for participation in all aspects of urban life - including political, cultural, social and economic aspects.
EUROCITIES provides a strong voice for cities in the European Union, and actively contributes to the development and implementation of European policies, legislation and programmes which are relevant for cities.
EUROCITIES is an important partner for dialogue with the European Commission, both on the political level and on the technical level. EUROCITIES also maintains close contacts with the Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament and the Member States.
The Brussels office carries out policy, project, human resources, finance, administration and communications work.
An executive committee, made up of twelve elected representatives, manages the business of the organisation. This is currently led by Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, mayor of Warsaw and president of EUROCITIES.
The executive committee meets at least three times a year and oversees our annual work programme, internal rules and budget, as approved by the annual general meeting (AGM).
Important decisions relating to the network are made at the annual general meeting (AGM), which is held during our annual conference. Each member city is represented at the meeting.
The 2012 annual conference took place in Nantes on 7-10 November 2012 (www.eurocities2012.eu) and the 2013 conference takes place in Ghent on 27-29 November 2013.
Our day-to-day work is conducted through six thematic forums and a number of related working groups in which our members can participate. Forums monitor developments in specific policy areas, addressing issues and coordinating activities. They also set up and monitor working groups, and draft EUROCITIES position papers. Each forum meets two to three times each year and elects its own chair and vice-chair.
The executive committee also has working groups on cross-cutting themes such as governance, neighbourhood policy and climate change.
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