A new eco-labelling project from the Lee Valley Enterprise Board is to be started on June 16th at Bealick Mill, Macroom, Co Cork. Its aim is to get local communities involved in better environmental standards, means of maintaining them and ways to improve things on the ground.
"Eco-labelling," according to the project organisers, "is a way of ensuring that development is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner. It also encourages every member of the community to take responsibility for managing and enhancing their local environment in areas such as energy awareness, recycling, waste management, water quality and nature conservation.
"This is done by awarding an environmental quality mark to areas with high environmental standards, somewhat similar to the blue flag system for beaches. This concept has already been applied in Ireland under the Beatha pilot project, through which a number of areas in Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Donegal have been awarded an eco-label.
"This achievement gives a clear signal that these areas have exceptional environments and are worthwhile places to visit."
Having recognised the value of the eco-label system, the enterprise board last year initiated a study on the development of the Lee Valley region as an eco-tourist destination. It is a wonderful place to visit. You can take the trails overlooking it and soak up the beautiful views or come closer to the river banks lower down where there are other delights.
The study commissioned by the board was undertaken by the department of civil and environmental engineering at UCC and funded by the Leader Programme in west Cork. Last March Ms Mary Barry, a development officer, was appointed to support and co-ordinate the initiative.
The benefits could be far-reaching and varied, Ms Barry said. They include "a clean and heal thy environment for local communities; the opportunity to market the area as a place of outstanding environmental quality and beauty; the possibility to market, promote and advertise local produce as environmentally superior; and the chance of attracting environmentally sound tourism and industry."
As the project develops, it is further hoped that sustainable employment will be created without interfering with the true character and culture of a beautiful place. "The success of the project depends on the local community getting actively involved in managing and enhancing the local environment in a sustainable way.
"It also presents an opportunity to build strong working ties with Cork County Council which, along with the West Cork Leader Co-Operative Society Ltd, FAS, Macroom UDC, the South Western Regional Fisheries Board and General Semiconductors Ireland, is supporting this initiative," Ms Barry said.
It will be worth following the progress of what seems to be a novel community-based scheme. Those behind the project deserve support from the people of the area.