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The '''Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs''' (Defra)  is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, [[agriculture]], [[fisheries]] and rural communities in the [[United Kingdom]]. Formal agreements also establish the  frameworks for co-operation between Defra and the [[Scottish Government]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/concord.htm|title=Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive}}</ref> the Cabinet of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/walesconc.htm|title=Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales}}</ref> and with representatives from the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/devolve/fishconc.htm|title=Devolution: Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries}}</ref> which have delegated responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.
The '''Czech Hydrometeorological Institute''' ('''CHMI''')  is within the Environmental Ministry of the [[Czech Republic]]. The head office of the CHMI is located in [[Prague]], the capitol of the Czech Republic.<ref>[http://portal.chmi.cz/portal/dt?JSPTabContainer.setSelected=JSPTabContainer%2FP1_0_Home&last=false&portal_lang=en New official website of the CHMI (in English)]</ref><ref>[http://old.chmi.cz/indexe.html Old officiial website of the CHMI (in English)]</ref>


The CHMI has five major divisions:<ref name=organization>[http://portal.chmi.cz/portal/dt?menu=JSPTabContainer/P5_0_O_nas/P5_3_Organizacni_struktura&last=false Organizational Chart]</ref>
Defra is also responsible for representing the UK at the [[European Union]] on agricultural, fisheries and environment matters and in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change, although a new [[Department of Energy and Climate Change]] was created in 2008 to take over this responsibility.


*[[Air quality|Air Quality]] Control
The headquarters of Defra are located on [[London]].
*[[Meteorology]]
*[[Hydrology]]
*[[Information Technology]]
*Finance and Administration


==Regional offices==
==History==


The CHMI has regional offices located in these seven cities:<ref name=organization/>
Defra was formed in June 2001 when the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] (MAFF) was merged with part of  the [[Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions]] (DETR) and with a small part of the [[Home Office]]. The department was created after the perceived failure of MAFF to deal adequately with the 2001 outbreak of [[Foot and Mouth disease]].  
*[[Praha]]: Located in the [[Central Bohemia Region]], the capitol and the largest city of the Czech Republic, referred to as ''[[Prague]]'' in [[English language|English]].
*[[Brno]]:Located in the [[South Moravian Region]] and the second largest city in the Czech Republic.
*[[Ostrava]]: Located in the [[Moravian-Silesian Region]] and the third largest city in the Czech Republic.
*[[České Budějovice]]: Located in the [[South Bohemia Region]] and often  referred to as ''[[Budweis]]'' in English.
*[[Plzeň]]: Located in the [[Plzeň Region]], the fourth most populous city of the Czech Republic and referred to as ''[[Pilsen]]'' in English.
*[[Ústí nad Labem]]: Located in the [[Ústí nad Labem Region]].
*[[Hradec Králové]]: Located in the [[Hradec Králové Region]].


==History of the CHMI==
The Department had about 9,000 core personnel as of January 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2007/chapter11.pdf|title=Defra departmental report}}</ref>


Shortly after the establishment of an independent [[Czechoslovakia]] (in 1918) at the end of [[World War I]], a National Meteorological Institute was established in 1919 to serve both economic and scientific purposes. At the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s, the Institute became involved in the problems of the environment.
In October 2008, the climate team at Defra was merged with the energy team from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to create the [[Department of Energy and Climate Change]].<ref name="Marrying energy demand and supply">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7651795.stm|title= Marrying energy demand and supply|last=Harrabin  |first=Roger |date=3 October 2008|work=BBC News|accessdate=2009-05-22}}</ref>


On January 1, 1993, [[Czechoslovakia]] peacefully split into two separate nations: the Czech Republic and the [[Slovak Republic]]. The National Meteorological Institute was re-named the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute and its charter was amended in June of 1994 and in August of 1995 by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.<ref>[http://old.chmi.cz/info/histe.html Basic information about the CHMI and its history]</ref><ref>[http://portal.chmi.cz/portal/dt?menu=JSPTabContainer/P5_0_O_nas/P5_2_Historie_ustavu&last=false History of CHMI (In the Czech language]</ref>
==Responsibilities==
Defra is responsible for the UK Government's  policy in the following areas: <ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/government-business/government-ministers-responsibilities.aspx Cabinet Office List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010]</ref>


==The activities of the Air Quality Control division==
* [[agriculture]]
* [[air quality]]
* [[animal health]] and welfare
* [[biodiversity]]
* [[conservation]]
* [[chemistry|chemicals]] and [[pesticide]]s
* [[fisheries]]
* [[flooding]]
* [[food]]
* [[forestry]]
* [[hunting]]
* [[canal|inland waterways]]
* [[land management]]
* [[sea|marine]] policy
* [[national parks in England|national parks]]
* [[noise]]
* [[plant health]]
* [[rural development]]
* [[sustainable development]]
* [[waste management]]
* [[water management]]


The Air Quality Control division has five sections:<ref>[http://old.chmi.cz/uoco/struct/structe.html Structure of the Air Quality Control Division]</ref>
Some policies apply to [[England]] alone due to [[devolution]], while others are not devolved and therefore apply to other nations of the [[United Kingdom]].


*Air Quality Information
==Executive agencies==
*[[Air pollution emission| Emissions and Sources]]  
The [[Executive Agency|executive agencies]] are:<ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/416777/lmr100701.pdf List of ministerial responsibilities (including Executive Agencies and Non-Ministerial Departments)]</ref>
*[[Atmospheric dispersion modeling|Modelling]] and Expertise
* [[Animal Health]] (launched on 2 April 2007), formerly the [[State Veterinary Service]]<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/News/070401-launch.htm "Launch of Animal Health"], news release by Animal Health, 2 April 2007 (from the Defra website)</ref>
*Airborne Monitoring
* [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]]
*Ambient Air Quality Standards
* [[Forest Research]]
* [[Forest Enterprise]]
* [[Food and Environment Research Agency]] (until April 2009 was called the [[Central Science Laboratory]])
* [[Rural Payments Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Laboratories Agency]]
* [[Veterinary Medicines Directorate]]


The work of the Modelling and Expertise section is focused upon: the development of [[Air pollution dispersion modeling|air pollution dispersion models]], the
==Key delivery partners==
application of such models in the preparation of expert reports and opinions, forecasts of air quality control, and the processing of operating information on pollutant concentrations obtained by the Airborne Monitoring section.  
The key delivery partners are:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2006/chapter6.pdf "Working with others: Defra's delivery partners"], Chapter 6, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)</ref>
* [[British Waterways]]
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Forestry Commission]]
* [[Natural England]] (launched on 11 October 2006), formerly [[English Nature]] and elements of the [[Countryside Agency]] and the [[Rural Development Service]].<ref>[http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/releases2006/111006.htm "New champion for the environment launches"], press release by Natural England, 11 October 2006 (from the Natural England website)</ref>
* [[Marine Management Organisation]] (launched on 1 April 2010, incorporates the former Marine and Fisheries Agency) <ref> [http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2010/marine-0401.htm "Marine Management Organisation established"], press release by Defra, 1 April 2010 (from the Defra website. </ref>
A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/delivery/landscape/map/index.htm|title=Delivery Landscape Map}}</ref>


The [[Air pollution dispersion modeling/Catalogs/Models#Models_developed_in_continental_Europe|SYMOS97]] air pollution dispersion model was developed at the CHMI. It models the dispersion of [[Air pollution dispersion terminology|continuous, neutral or buoyant plumes]] from single or multiple [[Air pollution dispersion terminology|point, area or line sources]]. It can handle complex terrain and it can also be used to simulate the dispersion of [[cooling tower]] plumes.<ref>[http://pandora.meng.auth.gr/mds/strquery.php?wholedb The Model Documententation System (MDS)] of the [[European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change]] (part of the [[European Environment Agency]])</ref>
==Defra in the English regions==
Policies for environment, food and rural affairs are delivered in the regions by Defra's executive agencies and delivery bodies, in particular [[Natural England]], the [[Rural Payments Agency]], [[Animal Health]] and the [[Marine Management Organisation]]. Increasingly, a range of policies are communicated locally by Government Offices for English Regions.<ref>[http://www.gos.gov.uk/national/ Government Offices for the English Regions] (from the Government Offices website)</ref>
 
Defra provides grant aid to the following flood and coastal erosion risk management [[operating authority|operating authorities]]:
* [[Environment Agency]]
* [[Internal Drainage Boards]]
* [[Local government in England|local authorities]]
 
==Aim and strategic priorities==
Defra's overarching aim is sustainable development, which is defined as "development which enables all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations." The Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that he saw Defra’s mission as enabling a move toward what the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] (WWF) has called "one planet living".<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/pdf/milibandtopm-letter060711.pdf "My priorities for Defra"], David Miliband's letter to the Prime Minister, 11 July 2006</ref>
 
Under this overarching aim, Defra has five strategic priorities:<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/5year-strategy/5year-strategy.pdf "Delivering the Essentials of Life: Defra’s Five Year Strategy"], Annex B</ref>
* Climate change and energy.
* Sustainable consumption and production, including responsibility for the [[National Waste Strategy]].
* Protecting the countryside and natural resource protection.
* Sustainable rural communities.
* A sustainable farming and food sector including animal health and welfare.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}]

Revision as of 22:05, 9 December 2010

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom. Formal agreements also establish the frameworks for co-operation between Defra and the Scottish Government,[1] the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales[2] and with representatives from the Northern Ireland Assembly,[3] which have delegated responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.

Defra is also responsible for representing the UK at the European Union on agricultural, fisheries and environment matters and in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change, although a new Department of Energy and Climate Change was created in 2008 to take over this responsibility.

The headquarters of Defra are located on London.

History

Defra was formed in June 2001 when the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) was merged with part of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and with a small part of the Home Office. The department was created after the perceived failure of MAFF to deal adequately with the 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.

The Department had about 9,000 core personnel as of January 2008.[4]

In October 2008, the climate team at Defra was merged with the energy team from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to create the Department of Energy and Climate Change.[5]

Responsibilities

Defra is responsible for the UK Government's policy in the following areas: [6]

Some policies apply to England alone due to devolution, while others are not devolved and therefore apply to other nations of the United Kingdom.

Executive agencies

The executive agencies are:[7]

Key delivery partners

The key delivery partners are:[9]

A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on the Defra website.[12]

Defra in the English regions

Policies for environment, food and rural affairs are delivered in the regions by Defra's executive agencies and delivery bodies, in particular Natural England, the Rural Payments Agency, Animal Health and the Marine Management Organisation. Increasingly, a range of policies are communicated locally by Government Offices for English Regions.[13]

Defra provides grant aid to the following flood and coastal erosion risk management operating authorities:

Aim and strategic priorities

Defra's overarching aim is sustainable development, which is defined as "development which enables all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations." The Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that he saw Defra’s mission as enabling a move toward what the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called "one planet living".[14]

Under this overarching aim, Defra has five strategic priorities:[15]

  • Climate change and energy.
  • Sustainable consumption and production, including responsibility for the National Waste Strategy.
  • Protecting the countryside and natural resource protection.
  • Sustainable rural communities.
  • A sustainable farming and food sector including animal health and welfare.

References

{{reflist}]

  1. ↑ Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive.
  2. ↑ Concordat between MAFF and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales.
  3. ↑ Devolution: Subject specific Concordat between MAFF and the Scottish Executive on fisheries.
  4. ↑ Defra departmental report.
  5. ↑ Harrabin, Roger. Marrying energy demand and supply, BBC News, 3 October 2008. Retrieved on 2009-05-22.
  6. ↑ Cabinet Office List of Ministerial Responsibilities, July 2010
  7. ↑ List of ministerial responsibilities (including Executive Agencies and Non-Ministerial Departments)
  8. ↑ "Launch of Animal Health", news release by Animal Health, 2 April 2007 (from the Defra website)
  9. ↑ "Working with others: Defra's delivery partners", Chapter 6, Departmental Report 2006 (from the Defra website)
  10. ↑ "New champion for the environment launches", press release by Natural England, 11 October 2006 (from the Natural England website)
  11. ↑ "Marine Management Organisation established", press release by Defra, 1 April 2010 (from the Defra website.
  12. ↑ Delivery Landscape Map.
  13. ↑ Government Offices for the English Regions (from the Government Offices website)
  14. ↑ "My priorities for Defra", David Miliband's letter to the Prime Minister, 11 July 2006
  15. ↑ "Delivering the Essentials of Life: Defra’s Five Year Strategy", Annex B
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