REVIEW BACKGROUND

1. REVIEW BACKGROUND • 2006 SPREP Council Decision • 2007-08 Review Implementation • Review Consultant: • CARDNO LTD of Australia • Matt McIntyre • Erin Young • Report available in cds

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • Part I: Review: • 1.Context, • 2.Objectives, • 3. Methodology, • 4. Findings & • 5. Recommendations • Part II: Strategies for the Way Forward • Part III: Support for Current Activities • Discussions

3. UNEP GOE-IEA Regional Workshop, Thailand, ‘08 Regional Review of Environmental Impact Assessment in the Pacific (EIA & SEA Capacities)

4. Part I-1. REVIEW CONTEXT- The Image of the Pacific - It’s Paradise?

5. Part I-1. REVIEW CONTEXT- The Reality -

6. 100 – 300 metres 2 –4 metres Part I-1. REVIEW CONTEXT- The Situation - Small, Vulnerable, Isolated with Extreme Limiting Factors to Any form of Development

7. Droughts Cyclones Coastal Erosion Flooding Part I-1. CONTEXT- Vulnerabilities & Threats -

8. Beach Mining: Salt water Intrusion, Erosion, Coral Impacts Causeways for necessary Access: Stops flushing of Lagoons – coral Reef deaths, lack of land protection, Pits for materials Land and Coastal Clearing: Foreign investment, Infrastructure Infrastructural developments replacing agriculture & food production Part I-1. CONTEXT- Development Pressures -

9. Part I-1. REVIEW CONTEXT- Why interest in EIA & SEA - • Vast and ever growing areas of land and marine resources degradation; such as the loss of native forests and viable coral reef ecosystems through the pressures of population demands and development activities; • Increasing pressures from the impacts of climate change – variability, rising temperatures & sea level rise. • In-adequate supply of basic resources such as nutritious food and fresh water - under increasing demand and of deteriorating quality; • Increasing population growth and urbanization affecting quality of life choices & environmental resources.

10. Part I-2: OBJECTIVES • Update the review of EIA capacities in 1997 • Establish current baselines on individual and institutional EIA & SEA capacities • Identify barriers to assessing development impacts • Identify priorities for effective impact assessments and resources to implement those priorities • Identify opportunities and recommend actions for the long-term improvement of EIA & SEA in the region

11. Part I-3: METHODOLOGY • Literature Review • Consultation with EIA & SEA stakeholders -national, regional & international • National: visits to Tuvalu, Samoa, Guam & Palau • Regional: CROP Agencies • International: International Association for Impact Assessment • Capacity Needs Electronic Questionnaire Survey

12. Part I-4: FINDINGS- EIA Capacity Building Processes - • Short-termed, ad hoc and externally driven • Practices are inhibited by ineffective land-use planning system, limited human and capital resources, lack of know-how, deficiencies in information & experience requirements, and weak state and community commitment

13. Part I-4: FINDINGS- Policy & Legislative Frameworks - • Weak legislative basis • Weak monitoring and enforcement • Outdated legislative frameworks with • Persistence national legislation conflicts/contradictions with traditional governing practices

14. Part I-4: FINDINGS- Science & Technology - • Limited capacities to access and utilize modern science applications • Limited technical know-how of both government agencies & locally available consultancy services • Limited expertise or reference materials available to assist scoping, research & compliance monitoring

15. Part I-4: FINDINGS- Institutional Capacities - • Many PICTs have established centralized agencies/units that administer EIA regulatory processes • Limited awareness and weak involvement of institutions and communities in the EIA process • Political Influence determines EIA enforcement & compliance

16. Part I-4: FINDINGS- Individual Capacities - • Most PICs have critical human capacities limitations for effective EIA processes • Lack of national EIA/SEA knowledge base • Limited available training and development opportunities • PICs with smaller and isolated populations more vulnerable to human resources constraints • General absence of guidelines and standards for assessments and reporting quality

17. Part I-4: FINDINGS- Financial Aspects of EIA - • Limited funding for EIA system • Burdensome requirements on developers • Absence of information for user pay systems (resource rents) • Limited understanding for assessing impacts on subsistence economies

18. Part I-4: RECOMMENDATIONS- Improving Enabling Environments - • Institutional Arrangements: • Linkages and synergies; • Coordinate policy, • Criteria & actions, • Case studies & choices; • Mechanisms for participation • Legislative Frameworks: • Plethora of laws not the answer • Integrated, simple & strategic legal bases required

19. Part I-4: RECOMMENDATIONS- Improving Enabling Environments - • Land Use / Environmental Planning Systems: • support to current & planned activities • land suitability, • soil conservation, & resource use. • Information: • Support GIS/ RS capacities • Clearinghouses • Assist with Indicators, benchmarks & strategic reporting processes • SEA • Precautionary measures • Controls/Limits/Thresholds • Standards

20. Part I-4: RECOMMENDATIONS- Improving Enabling Environments - • Training, Awareness and HR Capacity Development • regional, • national/local focus and ownership of direction necessary • Technology & Expertise • Exchanges & energy efficient alternatives • Financial Support • strategic, consistent, streamline & coordinated

21. Part II: THE WAY FORWARD • National/Local Focus • Systematic development of human resources through training, planning, practical services and consultations (sharing of experiences, lessons learned, etc.) • Development of Networks (Individual & Institutional) • Strengthen EIA/SEA legislation & governance • Regional/International Focus • Training Courses & Case Studies development • Technical Support & Advisory Services • Exchange & Attachment Services/Sharing of Experiences across the three sub-regions • Accessing International IA Professionals Networks (IAIA) • Regional EIA/SEA Support Center, Network & Forum for Impact Assessment Professionals

22. PART III: SUPPORT FOR CURRENT ACTIVITIES (National Focus) • Niue – Development of EIA Regulations, Guidelines & Training • Tuvalu – Awareness & Training • Solomon Islands – Development of EIA Guidelines & Training • Marshal Is – Training for New Staff & Case Studies/Guiding References • Samoa – Improving standards of EIA research, analysis and other regulatory compliance standards • Kiribati – Training & strengthening of the national EIA system • Vanuatu – Training & strengthening of the national EIA system • Fiji – Health Impact Assessment training

23. PART III: SUPPORT FOR CURRENT ACTIVITIES (Regional Focus) • Training Courses, Practices/Services – UNEP, USP, In-Country, etc. • Access to & Networking with International IA Professionals (IAIA, UNEP, etc.) • Development of a Regional IA Professional Capacity Building Strategy, Network & Forum for Exchange of Knowledge and Experiences • Advisory Services for EIA Research and Reporting, and National IA Networks

24. DISCUSSIONS THANK YOU!