The XIV Republican Ecological Forum will be held in Vitebsk on May 11, jointly with the VI International Economic Forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects," as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
The XIV Republican Ecological Forum will be held in Vitebsk on May 11, jointly with the VI International Economic Forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects," as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
The merging of the two events, according to the organizers, will emphasize the priority of rational use of natural resource potential, as well as attracting investments and implementing innovative technologies to promote a gradual transition to a green economy. More than 250 delegates are expected to participate, including representatives of environmental protection services from Belarus and abroad, state administration bodies, UNDP, republican environmental centers and funds, educational and cultural institutions, and public associations. The main venue will be the territory of the Regional Sports Palace. Exhibition stands of a specialized exhibition will be set up here, and a section on "Water" will be organized. Its participants – leading specialists from Belarus – will discuss the ecosystem approach in managing water resources of Belarusian river basins, problems of calculating and justifying the conditions for receiving industrial wastewater into the sewage systems of settlements, pilot testing of wastewater treatment technologies for industrial enterprises, and other issues. The signing of protocols, agreements, plans, letters of intent, and a ceremony for awarding enterprises, organizations, and institutions for their significant contribution to environmental protection are planned.
A round table discussion titled "Promotion of the Green Economy in the Republic of Belarus: Principles, Mechanisms, Prospects" will be held at the KRC "Planeta" venue. The event will showcase the practice of organising resource-efficient and cleaner production at Belarusian enterprises; using the example of Polotsk, it will cover sustainable urban mobility, opportunities for Belarusian cities to improve their transport systems, safety, and environmental situation; a presentation on environmental certification issues; a presentation on the functioning of a certified environmental management system at OJSC "Orsha Tool-Making Plant "Krasny Borets", and others. A seminar "Practical Use of Software Products in Emission Inventory and Reporting Procedures in Accordance with the Gothenburg Protocol Requirements" is planned. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony for the winners of national environmental competitions, as well as legal entities and individuals who have made a significant contribution to environmental protection, at the same venue.
The forum's programme will not be limited to discussions; environmental initiatives will add an interactive element. Participants will plant trees at the intersection of Beshenkovichskoye Highway and Novo-Lucheskaya Street and will participate in the introduction of the wide-clawed crayfish into Lake Osinovskoye in Vitebsk District. Additionally, guests will visit the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station, the construction of which is nearing completion.
The forum is organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, the Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, and the Regional Marketing Centre. The event is held with the assistance of the international technical assistance project "Assistance in Transitioning the Republic of Belarus to a Green Economy", funded by the EU and implemented by the UNDP, and the international technical assistance project "Technical Assistance to Support the Development of the Green Economy in Belarus", funded by the EU and implemented by a consortium managed by Hulla and Co Human Dynamics.