Application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the BDP

1. Application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the BDP Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Friday 17th October 2003

2. Outline • What is SEA • Why is it needed in the BDP • How could it be applied to the BDP • When & what tools • Next Steps • Update on RAOM

3. What is SEA?

4. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) • Developed to make sure that projects do not cause unnecessary damage to environment & people • LMB countries all have legislation requiring that EIA studies be completed for certain projects (e.g. Hydropower Dams) • BUT: legislation only covers assessment of impacts once a project is chosen

5. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) • EIA legislation does not help in selecting the most suitable TYPE and LOCATION of development • And what about the impacts that might arise from several small projects? • E.g. one 10,000 ha irrigation scheme may not cause significant impacts • BUT – 6 x such schemes in a watershed or sub-basin, could cumulatively have considerable impacts

6. Strategic Environmental Assessment • Many countries worldwide are now seeing the need to think about environmental impacts earlier in the decision-making process: • When developing programmes, plans and policies • Many countries have passed legislation on “Strategic Environmental Assessment” (SEA) • International institutions also require the consideration of environmental impacts at programme and plan levels

7. Strategic Environmental Assessment • Same purpose and concept as EIA • To identify potential environmental impacts and recommend ways to prevent or minimise impacts to acceptable levels • BUT – is applied to programmes, plans & policies (PPPs) • Because detail on developments is less at PPP level, SEA is less detailed than EIA

8. Value of SEA • Identifies potential impacts EARLY • Enables cumulative impacts to be taken into consideration • Ensures that PPPs – and later the projects they generate, are compatible with, and compliment each other

9. Examples of applying SEA • UK: Selection of river basin management options • Pakistan: National Drainage Plan • Nepal: National medium-sized hydropower programme • Argentina: Flood protection programme • Belgium / Holland: Master Plan for the Scheldt Estuary

10. Why is SEA relevant to the BDP

11. Why is SEA needed for the BDP • Sustainable Development of the basin • Existing tools do not take full account of environmental and social impacts e.g. • Water pollution • Loss of livelihoods • Increased disease • Many small national-owned projects could generate major cumulative & transboundary impacts

12. “Environment” • Taken in widest sense to mean: • Physical environment • Biological environment • Human environment

13. How could SEA be applied to the BDP

14. RAOM, DSF, etc. SEA (level 1) 1-2 Analysis (and, later on, monitoring) Implementation 3 Strategy formulation 4 Project long-listing Development, promotion CEA, EIA 5 Shortlisting: Classification & ranking DSF, SEA (level 2), etc. SEA & the BDP Cycle

15. Application of SEA within the BDP

16. Broad Description of types of development intervention Existing Environmental Conditions & Trends Scoping Matrix Objectives for Sustainable Development of the Basin Likely impacts identified Illustrative Criteria National policies & strategies for environment, SD, poverty reduction etc. Level 1 SEA Objectives & Principles for the BDP Strategy Description of impacts & suggested mitigation Level 2 SEA Intervention Intervention Intervention Intervention Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Feasibility Studies Short List Projects Long-list Projects Suggestions for Long-List Projects that have transboundary / basinwide significance Requirement for EIA / CEA studies identified (screening) & what those studies should cover (scoping) Project Execution CEA / EIA The SEA Process in BDP

17. Level 1 SEA: During Strategy Formulation • Propose, define & agree assessment criteria • Identify & describe types of development intervention • Scope the SEA (Scoping Matrix) • Describe each impact & suggest mitigation measures (Impact Description & Mitigation Table) • Analyse trends & refine strategy (objectives & principles) • Develop Level 2 SEA Checklists • Report results

18. Example Scoping Matrix

19. Example Impact Description & Mitigation Table

20. Level 2 SEA: For selection of short-list • Use Level 2 SEA Checklist of each Long-List Project

21. Level 2 SEA Checklist Part 1: Confirms whether project meets BDP’s strategic objectives Part 2: Screening projects to determine whether they could cause impacts and therefore require EIA or CEA Part 3: Recommends whether project is suitable for short list on environmental grounds

22. Long-list projects Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Part 2 “Screening” • Will cause major environmental impacts OR • Will cause some medium – large impacts Do you know how significant impacts are? No or Not Sure Complete Preliminary EIA • Will not cause significant environmental impacts Yes Could the project cause transboundary impacts? Could the project cause cumulative impacts with other existing or planned devels? No Are the resources needed to mitigate impacts known and included in the project budget? Yes No Have transboundary impacts been studied following the MRC’s Transboundary EIA “Principles”? Yes Yes Yes Yes No Do you know how significant these cumulative impacts are? No “Promote” or “Fast Track” on short-list (on env. grounds) “Develop” further to include costs No Complete a transboundary EIA Complete a CEA Level 2 SEA Results

23. Next Steps

24. Timing & Responsibilities

25. Next Steps Submission of Final Level 1 SEA Report on submission of Draft Final BDP Strategy to JC in July 2004

26. Discussion Points • Relevance of application • Relevance of Tools • Types of intervention • Value of Checklist • Environmental + Social Criteria – or Sustainable Development? • Responsibilities

27. Scoping Matrix Intervention Intervention Intervention Intervention Existing Environmental Conditions & Trends Broad Description of types of development intervention Objectives for Sustainable Development of the Basin Likely impacts identified Illustrative Criteria National policies & strategies for environment, SD, poverty reduction etc. Objectives & Principles for the BDP Strategy Description of impacts & suggested mitigation Project Execution Requirement for EIA / CEA studies identified (screening) & what those studies should cover (scoping) Suggestions for Long-List Projects that have transboundary / basinwide significance Feasibility Studies Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Abuiasah?_______ Short List Projects Long-list Projects CEA / EIA Figure 2 SEA process within the BDP