Strategy
The strategy for
the networking and other activities in SedNet is
described below. You can also download it as a document,
entitled “SedNet Strategy Paper”.
The SedNet strategy will be revised whenever deemed
necessary by the SedNet Steer Group
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SedNet today
• Organization
• Cooperation with others
SedNet today
We are a network for professionals
SedNet brings together experts from science,
administration and industry. SedNet interacts with the
various networks in Europe that operate at the national
or international level or that focus on specific fields
(such as science, policy making, sediment management,
industry, education).
Our mission
To be a European network aimed at incorporating sediment
issues and knowledge into European strategies to support
the achievement of a good environmental status and to
develop new tools for sediment management.
Our focus
On all sediment quality and quantity issues on a river
basin scale, ranging from freshwater to estuarine and
marine sediments.
Our aims
The aims of SedNet are:
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To
contribute to the further development of a
holistic understanding of sediments and their
management; |
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To be a
multidisciplinary platform for communication of
sediment management and the needs for future
action;
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To be main
contact / information point for the European
Commission (EC) on sediment related questions. |
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Organization
Network structure
SedNet is structured in order to enhance communication
on sediment issues. For that reason it is essential that
SedNet exchanges information with other networks and
organizations.
To date SedNet is formed by individual and institutional
members, supported by a Steer Group and a Secretariat,
as presented in Figure 1.
Fig. 1. The SedNet network structure with some
examples of strategic alliances and partnerships
Steer Group
The Steer Group (SG) is formed out of delegates of the
SedNet founding organisations. The SG decides on new
SG-members. The ambition is to have a SG representing
all fields of sediment professionals.
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For SG meetings, coordinators or other contact persons
of specific (joint) activities can be invited as guests.
The SG tasks/responsibilities are consultation, guide
and approval on issues related to the SedNet network: |
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Defining
the objectives of SedNet; |
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Further
development of the network; |
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Defining
and/or approval of the specific working program
at the beginning of each year (including the
“Detailed secretariat work plan” see under
header ‘Secretariat’);
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Decision
and guidance on major activities; |
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Public
relations and promotion (Dissemination plan);
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Authorization of products, such as: Strategy
Paper, Dissemination Plan, Advise Papers,
Statement and/or Position Papers, Written
Responses to questions sent to the network; |
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Guidance
of the secretariat. |
Furthermore, the SG is responsible for extension of the
network/SG with additional sponsoring organisations.
Secretariat
The SedNet secretariat is run by:
Mrs. Marjan Euser
Deltares
P.O. Box 85467
NL-3508 AL Utrecht
The Netherlands
E-mail: Marjan.Euser@deltares.nl
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The generic tasks of the secretariat are: |
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Update and
maintenance of website, based on input by all; |
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Preparation of a three-monthly E-newsletter,
based on input by all; |
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Organisation of Steer Group (SG) meetings (where
appropriate, hosted by Home-base); |
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Coordination of dissemination of SG approved SedNet
products (existing and new); |
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Assistance
to maintenance and extension of the network; |
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Assistance
to preparation of joint research/project
proposals (EC and other possibilities); |
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Coordination of SG approved advice on sediment
management issues and/or SG approved response to related
(e.g. EC) questions; |
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Yearly
preparation of ‘detailed secretariat work
plan’.* |
* This ‘detailed secretariat work plan’ describes the
generic tasks and the specific tasks for a specific year,
and it gives an estimation of their costs. These yearly
detailed secretarial plans will have to be approved by
the SG.
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Cooperation with others
The idea behind the cooperation is to join forces and
capabilities in order to assist each other in achieving
common goals/objectives. However, this will only work if
there is no conflicting mission, vision and ambition.
Under that condition, cooperation on a ‘case-by-case’
basis will also be considered.
Cooperation with sediment related networks or
organisations
Below a brief description of is given of the cooperating
networks and organisations.
CEDA
The Central Dredging Association, CEDA, is an
independent, non-profit, non-governmental, professional
society. It provides a forum for all those involved in
activities related to dredging and who live or work in
Europe, Africa or the Middle-East. CEDA encompasses a
wide range of disciplines and activities and does not
represent the interests of any particular industry
sector. CEDA is a member of the
World Organisation of
Dredging Associations, WODA .
DGE
The
Dutch-German Exchange, DGE, was started as an
informal bilateral platform for exchanging knowledge,
information and experiences in the field of sediment
management. Since its start in 1999, several meetings
were organized, in which subjects such as legislation,
risk assessment and sediment treatment were discussed.
The results of these discussions have been put down in
thematic reports. The DGE has thus achieved an increased
understanding of management of dredged material both on
policy level (national) and practical (project) level.
In the course of 2005, DGE was extended to DGE+ with the
introduction of a few new countries (UK, France) in the
platform. DGE+ wants to collaborate with SedNet and
would like to make her thematic reports available to
others via the SedNet website.
ESPO
The mission of the
European Sea Ports Organisation, ESPO,
is to influence public policy in the EU to achieve a
safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable European
port sector, operating as a key element of a transport
industry where free and undistorted market conditions
prevail, as far as practicable.
LOICZ
Land-Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone, LOICZ, seeks
to inform the scientific community, policymakers,
managers and stakeholders on the relevance of global
environmental change in the coastal zone. The LOICZ
Project Office is based at the Royal Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research in the Netherlands. LOICZ is
a core project of the International Geosphere Biosphere
Programme (IGBP) and the International Human Dimensions
Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP). The
International Council for Science (ICSU) is the
scientific sponsor of the four international global
environmental change programmes IGBP, IHDP, World
Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and DIVERSITAS (An
international programme of biodiversity science). The
LOICZ Project has run for more than 13 years (1992-2005)
and is scheduled to run until 2012. The new Science Plan
and Implementation Strategy for LOICZ has been ratified
by IGBP and IHDP and is available through the LOICZ
website.
PIANC
The
International Navigation Association, PIANC, is a
worldwide non-political and non-profit making technical
and scientific organization of private individuals,
corporations and national governments. The term 'Navigation'
was adopted because PIANC's object is to promote the
maintenance and operation of both inland and maritime
navigation by fostering progress in the planning,
design, construction, improvement, maintenance and
operation of inland and maritime waterways and ports and
of coastal areas for general use in industrialized and
industrializing countries. Facilities for fisheries,
sport and recreational navigation are included in
PIANC's activities. PIANC was founded in 1885 and is the
oldest international association concerned with these
technical aspects of navigation. It has made - and
continues to make - a vital contribution to technical
development in this field.
River Basin Commissions
The catchment areas of several important European rivers
fall within the territories of more than one country.
International Commissions were established by the
countries along these rivers and by the European
Commission to jointly ensure the sustainable and
equitable use of waters and freshwater resources in the
transboundary river basins. To date SedNet already
co-operates with the International Commissions for the
Protection of the
Rhine, of the
Elbe, of the
Danube, and
of the Oder.
SETAC
The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, SETAC, is a nonprofit, worldwide professional society
comprised of individuals and institutions engaged in:
1)
the study, analysis, and solution of environmental
problems;
2) the management and regulation of natural
resources;
3) environmental education,
4) research and
development.
SETAC's mission is to support the
development of principles and practices for protection,
enhancement and management of sustainable environmental
quality and ecosystem integrity. SETAC promotes the
advancement and application of scientific research
related to contaminants and other stressors in the
environment, education in the environmental sciences,
and the use of science in environmental policy and
decision-making.
UNESCO ISI
The
International Sediment Initiative (ISI) has been
launched by UNESCO as a major activity of the current
Sixth Phase (2002–2006) of the International
Hydrological Programme (IHP). ISI is expected to add a
new dimension to ongoing efforts aiming at sustainable
sediment management, in the context of sustainable water
resources development at global scale. With direct
access to stakeholders represented in the IHP National
Committees and the Intergovernmental Council, ISI should
be viewed as a vehicle to advance sediment management at
the global scale.
Euraqua
Euraqua is an European network of Freshwater Research
Organisations. The aim of this network is to contribute
to the development of European freshwater science and
its dissemination on a European scale. Thus it has a
significant input on the development of the scientific
basis of European water management. The EurAqua Partner
institutions are leading, generally governmental,
freshwater research institutions in the Member States of
the European Union plus Norway and Switzerland.
Cooperation with sediment related EC projects
An up-to-date overview of sediment related EC projects
can be found here.
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