EMAS for managing municipalities and

territories – practical ways of improving

environmental performance around Lake Balaton

Zita Egerszegi

Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency

November 13, 2015 Frankfurt

Lake Balaton Development

Coordination Agency (LBDCA)

• Established on 1st January 2000

• 100% owned by the Lake Balaton Development Council

• Non-profit, public interest company

• 3 offices (Siófok HQ, Keszthely, Balatonfüred)

• 21 permanent staff

Main Activities:

• multilevel co-ordination

• programming and coordination

• promotion of bottom-up initiatives

• project management

• management of grant-aid schemes

• international cooperation

Competence Area

• Lake Balaton Recreational Area (180 municipalities)

EMAS plays a role for managing

biodiversity in our territory

Nature – Lake and its surroundings

One of the most significant natural treasure of Hungary, a unique ecological asset of the CE region

Large areas of nature and landscape protection, such as the Balaton Upland National Park, and Ramsar sites

Territory of Lake Balaton Recreational Area: 3625 km2

Size of the lake: 594 km2

Protected area: 616 km2 of which 147 km2 is under Ramsar Convention

Natura 2000 sites 1981 km2 (43 sites)

207 species of protected plants

37 species of protected animals

Vision set in the strategy … – leading lake destination in CE

The Lake Balaton region aims to become a model of naturalness with high standards of living in the Central-European Region. Building on the unique natural and cultural

features of the lake and its surrounding landscape, the region offers an exclusive and attractive living, recreational and working environment.

Main target: To Become a Zero Emission Region

Priorities of the strategy

1. To improve economy and income-generation capacity

2. Coordinated development of tourism products and services

3. To improve health condition and quality of life of visitors and inhabitants

4. Encouraging consumption and processing of local food and products

5. Harmonious development of the society

6. To preserve natural value and cultural heritage, sustainable land use and preserving biodiversity

7. Eco-friendly and resource efficient transport system

Capitals of Biodiversity

• Environmental competition for municipalities 2010 and 2011 in France,

Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain

• Principal objective of the project was to increase nature and biodiversity

protection in urban areas by local authorities in Europe

• We sought the most engaged municipalities in 5 countries (requirement:

filling in questionnaire)

• The best municipalities were honoured at national and international level

www.capital-biodiversity.eu

Financed by LIFE+ Programme

Involvement of citizens and other local stakeholders

• Management of Grant aid scheme - Encouraging the Involvement

of Non-Governmental Organisations in Environment Protection in

the Lake Balaton Region (Norwegian fund)

• Improving the quality of natural and built environment

• Increasing the level of waste collection and treatment

• Organize training programmes, capacity building, field trips

• Implementation of Balaton Partnership Programme (workshops)

• Theoretical and practical lessons / workshops

Participants: local governments, local/regional authorities, NGOs,

citizens, schools, companies, research institutes, chambers…

Training programmes concerning EMAS

• Local authorities play an important role in climate change

adaptation; however, for that they have to dispose the

adequate capacities.

• Exchanging experience, knowledge and best practices help

local authorities successfully overcome the challenges of

climate change.

• Key of effective adaption can be the introduction of

environmental management systems, such as the EMAS

eco-management and audit scheme.

Participants: 11 local governments, 2 companies, 1 University

student

www.localmanagement.eu

Financed by LIFE+ programme

EMAS in our communication activities

• LBDCA received the EMAS registration on April 2, 2008 (HU 000016)

• Presently 28 organizations are registered by the Hungarian EMAS Competent Body

• LBDCA try to integrate the EMAS objectives and our environmental policy into the regional projects, development programmes (tourism, economy, in the field of environmental protection) the long-term goal is to reach the sustainable management of the region.

• Using EMAS logo in our brochures, leaflets

• Elaboration of a special brochure about using chemicals (use environmentally friendly domestic and health chemicals; use the minimum number of synthetic chemicals) → improvement of water quality

We encourage municipalities, cities

and regions to join the scheme!

National / regional level

• Giving presentation, organize training programmes

• Planning Activities / Programming – propose the inclusion of EMAS aspects into the climate strategy, environmental programmes

• Consultancy / Advisory services – draw attention to the EMAS and Integrated management system

International level

• Giving presentations on international forums, conferences

• Networks (Living Lakes Network)

Living Lakes Network - international cooperation

102 members belong to the network, they are composed 33 international partner lakes as well as 13 candidates, 55 national partners and the honorary member, Lake Vostock

Lake Balaton is member since 2004

Thank you for your attention!

Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency

H-8600 Siófok, Batthyány u. 1.

Tel./Fax: +36 84 317 002

website: www.balatonregion.hu