CEEweb for Biodiversity was established in 1993 by NGOs from
a number of CEE countries (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia,
the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia, and Slovenia) with the support of the European Union
and two Hungarian NGOs taking the lead (the National Society
of Conservationists and Green Action). The original name came
from "Central and East European Working Group for the
Enhancement of Biodiversity."
From the establishment in 1993 our members have been assessing
national efforts for the protection of biodiversity. We have
developed mechanisms for improving communication and co-operation
both among our member NGOs and with local governments. We
have offered public education programs both for schools and
directly for the public. We have prepared several publications
and training programs related to nature conservation conventions,
international policy-making processes, ecological networks,
landscape planning, etc. Other programmes aimed at research
and advocacy of local, national, and regional biodiversity
interests.
Our first meeting took place in Jósvafo, Hungary on
the 7th May, 1993. The agenda addressed the scope of the operation,
the procedure of becoming a member and administration of membership
fees. The Ecological Institute for Sustainable Development
from Hungary undertook the task of co-ordination until the
official registration of the organization. A few months later
we became registered under the name of CEEWEB. Our first Headquarters
was established in Miskolc in order to take over the duties.
Currently our policy office is
in Budapest and works with seven professional staff members
and occasional interns.
