A number of public meetings were held in 1996 in response to the growing pressures facing the Wicklow Uplands. It emerged that an organisation was needed, which would address the concerns of the local people. Consequently, in January 1997, Wicklow Uplands Council was established. The organisation became fully operational in 1999.
It was envisaged that Wicklow Uplands Council would represent the views of the local people and present their case to the statutory decision makers. It would seek to facilitate the balanced use of the Wicklow Uplands in partnership with the people who live, work and recreate there.
At its inception, WUC established its primary objective; to ensure community participation in decision making processes that affect the sustainable development of the Wicklow Uplands and to work towards full partnership with statutory stakeholders in the spirit of Local Agenda 21.
Local Agenda 21 was signed by 179 nations, including Ireland at the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The U.N charter identifies sustainable development as a key principal for governance in the 21st Century hence the term Agenda 21.
Local Agenda 21 is a process which facilitates sustainable development at community level. It is an approach, based on participation which respects the social, cultural, economic and environmental needs of the present and future generations and states that:
‘individual governments should invite non governmental organisations to be involved in making policies and decisions on sustainable development’
Wicklow Uplands Council seeks to:
• Build
consensus and trust
• Foster a partnership approach to sustainable
development
• Manage/ transform conflict
• Protect
and enhance the uplands environment
• Undertake initiatives with
support from the local people
• Engage in initiatives that make
economic sense
Wicklow Uplands Council:
• Acts
as a strong reference point and community forum for the uplands region
• Undertakes
projects which benefit the community, environment and users of the Wicklow
countryside.
• Is a watchdog for local people, recreational
users and the environment
• Informs local people about what is
going on in their local area
• Networks with other relevant bodies
to work in partnership towards the sustainable development of the Wicklow
Uplands
• Influences policy and presents opportunities for change