 |
|
Cooperation with Russian partner
|
by Liisa Rohweder
The bilateral cooperation is an excellent
example of the proactivity of the partners of the UBC to
contribute to the safe and healthy environment in the Baltic
Sea Region. The UBC should enhance partners of the network
to such practical level initiatives within its all operational
activities.
Visiting oil spill resource centre in St. Petersburg.
The key beneficiaries of the cooperation are citizens living
around the Gulf of Finland. Rapid response is needed in
order to minimize natural, human and economic disasters.
Development seminars in St.Petersburg and
in Porvoo were a central part of the activities in 2008.
Seminars formulated the framework for the development work
which was done by the Committee, IUPL and H-H. The work
focused on increasing the competence in oil spill management
and in risk management & safety of people. In 2008 both
the Committee and IUPL organized oil spill exercises (one
in St. Petersburg and one in Porvoo). As part of the project
activities benchmarking of the exercises was done in order
to develop oil combating further. During the seminars practical
oil spill management systems and equipments were introduced
and evaluated. This included a field trip to an oil spill
resource centre in St. Petersburg. In Porvoo the state of
the art cooperation principle in shoreline oil spill response
between authorities and World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Finland)
was introduced. This included a site visit to a bird cleaning
unit for contaminated birds. Practical oil spill management
was developed further in both cities. The Russian and Finnish
principals of educating citizens were presented in order
to set the framework for further development of bilateral
and areal safety management. In December 2008 new development
ideas were raised based on the joint development work done
during 2008. They include e.g.:
- Estimation of the basic resources (personnel and equipment)
needed for keeping the preparedness level in oil spill
combating and operational processes at an adequate level;
- Developing the model of integration of volunteer troops
to assist authorities on shoreline oil spill response;
- Further development of the methodology of risk analysis
in order to increase the safety of citizens.
Committee of Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety - City of St. Petersburg (Committee) and the city of Porvoo/ Ita-Uusimaa Rescue Services (IUPL) signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in 2007. Porvoo unit of HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences (H-H) has been nominated to manage the cooperation. The general aim is to develop management principles in the field of environmental and safety management of the territory and population. The practical cooperation started in 2007 andis destined to last till 2010.
|
