Implementation of an Environmental Management System for the Eden Valley

Abstract

Implementation of an Environmental Management System for the Eden Valley

Summary

The Eden Valley Wine Group (EVWG) identified the need to formalise environmental management systems (EMS) in response to regional strategic planning activities. A training day held in October 2002 introduced participants to the concepts of EMS and initial assessments were carried out with the aid of the Viticare Environmental Risk Assessment tool and committed to further development of a regional Environmental Management System.

The development of a draft regional EMS progressed through four half day workshops held over a six month period from the end of 2005 to May 2006, while the results of the initial EMS training day held in October 2002 formed the basis of a code of practice for the Eden Valley Wine Group.

Recommendations for further work to build on the progress so far include;

1. Continued development of a regional EMS for Eden Valley
2. Further development and acceptance of the Code of Practice for Environmental Management in Eden Valley
3. Development of Irrigation Best Practice for Eden Valley
4. Other training session on vineyard management practices to support the continued development and implementation of the above recommendations

A copy of the draft Code of Practice and suggested framework for the Irrigation Best Practice are included as Appendix 1 and 2.