E-Kolumna 2010 - networking and information exchange for environmental NGOs.

The project aims to integrate and strengthen non-governmental organizations in Poland and to improve the quality of their long term actions on the environment. It also enables the exchange of information and experiences and develop positions between the organizations of the group. It?s most focusing on environmental problems and the strengthening and professionalization of youth environmental organizations.

Actions in the project include meetings of a nationwide organization of environmental organizations, preceded by  working group meetings, creating documents held positions on the major ecological problems and submitting them to the authorities, and action to support youth organizations, ekofestyn, publication.

The project is implemented in partnership with the organization of Bulgaria (Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation), and the Polish partner of the Foundation "Institute of Civil Affairs.

In 1993-1997 Intercollegiate Environmental Lobby organized the village column national meetings of environmental organizations. From 1960 to 1980 they were attended by representatives of environmental organizations, also invited guests: scientists, representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the President's office. As a result of these meetings arose including networks and partnerships: A list of 21, Environmental Lobbying Support Office. The most important result was the direct knowledge of the environmental activists, the exchange of information, establishment of partnerships. Many of the contacts established in Kolumna continues today and results in joint actions.

Unfortunately, for 12 years there are not organized meetings for the national environmental organizations. There are only  local and thematic group meetings, for example, the Green Federation Congress, meetings of the Polish Green Network, meeting in the Ministry of the Environment (eg on the issue of GMOs). Also holiday festivals, trainings, thematic conferences. However, none of them fits the role of Kolumna. Many groups have been disappeared. Currently, traffic is disintegrated, the activists did not know each other, so cooperation is much more difficult. And this is crucial when it comes to environmental issues. Only joint efforts of many people will ensure the effectiveness of the activities for the environment. Today, the Internet provides a degree of exchange of information. However, a direct meeting and discussion live, getting to know the activists, is incomparably more effective.

Another problem is the lack of space  in which that could be discussed and developed strategies and common positions in a larger number of environmental groups. These documents are expected from the authorities and society. They have a stronger impact than scattered and often divergent positions dozens of groups.

There is also a problem that for the new organizations is extremely difficult to start. At first with a small step: informal group of enthusiasts which turns to the role of an effective organization with the knowledge and resources. On one hand, Poland has at least a dozen highly experienced organizations willing to share knowledge with other groups, while a large number of young people struggling with basic problems.

FERSO employees with 16 years working experience in the environmental movement know what is needed. The organisation helped in the previous meetings in the Kolumna and still engaged in environmental issues. However, the need for having to take the actions outlined in this project have also been investigated using questionnaires sent in the autumn of 2008 to several Polish environmentalists. All the surveyed organizations expressed the need for the organization of national meetings. Most organizations indicated that it would meet with other groups irregularly and intermittently, and evaluate the work of medium and low. There is therefore a real need to examine efforts to integrate the environmental movement.