S U C C E S S  S T O R Y

  Vladimir Rimmel, managing director of the Regional Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Center, is the founder of this successful and versatile environmental training institution in the Czech Republic.

  "One of our main activities is training, he says, "but we deal with many aspects of environmental training."

  Rimmel, who has an economic background and was first engaged in a state enterprise, decided in 1992 to establish his own private company. It has now two co-owners.

  In setting up the enterprise, Rimmel found few legal difficulties. "It was a relatively easy move because it was immediately approved by the by the state," he said.

  The EIA services cover three areas: Environmental Impact Assessment; projects, studies, expert opinions; and waste management. The steady development of the EIA Center has been punctuated by a series of significant conferences.

  "Our first EIA conference was based on training programs and EIA workshops that we had created ourselves," Rimmel said. "In 1995, we organized the EIA Conference. Through these events, I have been involved in various training modules."

  The EIA director is a great believer in the benefits of such conferences.

  "They give you a chance to meet potential clients, make contact with people from various backgrounds and exchange information," Rimmel said. Over time, Rimmel has seen substantial growth in interest in the environment in the Czech Republic.

  "When we started off, there was a conspicuous lack of interest in the environment, but later people started to take it into account and to become actively involved in environmental events," he said. "It even created some competition among different activists. Environmental issues are far from being solved - the industrial region of Ostrava has still many problems - but there has been an evident improvement."

  Unlike many environmental training institutions, the Regional EIA Center does not see cost-recovery as a major issue. At first, the courses were funded by U.S. institutions, but now charging participants is the main source of funds.

  "There has been a decrease in the number of participants due to high fees, Rimmel said, "but if the courses are good, participants are willing to pay. So for the time being funding is not a problem, although it may become one later."

  In the future, Rimmel hopes to develop an international cooperation with the EEC countries.