| 2006 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Environmental Protection Agency
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Law, technology and environmental protection: symbiosis in action
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Legislation has always played an important role in environmental protection, giving organisations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the means to enforce measures to protect the environment. Similarly, environmental science has depended on various monitoring and measurement technologies in order to assess and report on the status of our land, habitats, air and water. Law making and technological advances, however, are not traditionally seen as natural bedfellows.
Interesting legislative developments over recent years have resulted in a new symbiosis between law, technology and environmental protection. A key example has been the entry into force of the Water Framework Directive in December 2001. This heralded a new approach to water quality management, sweeping away traditional administrative boundaries in favour of a river basin focussed approach (see Fig 1). It is also one of the first ever EU Directives to insist on the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
In May 2005 Member States were required to collect and report data on the characteristics of each of the major river basins to the European Commission in digital map format. Creation of digital map layers representing the complexities of Ireland's river basins required a major collaboration between scientists in the EPA, along with experts in other public sector bodies, researchers in third level institutions and consultants acting on behalf of local authorities. The result has been an advance in GIS capabilities along with the creation of a major suite of national digital maps relating to all aspects of water quality and management.
These activities have been paralleled in Europe by the creation of a new Water Information System for Europe (WISE). Currently in its infancy, this EU initiative will allow Member States to report all their environmental data on-line.
GIS and the internet has been identified as a powerful tool for reporting complex data to the EU. It also has the capability to turn this data into meaningful information that is readily understood by the general public.
Contact: Contact: EPA Headquarters,
PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford.
Tel: 053 60600