Abstract
There is an increasing interest in the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of policies, plans and programs in the world. Therefore some principles for SEA systems have been developed in several countries. Although there is no agreement on the common and universal definition of SEA, this article determines requirements proposed sucessful SEA system and summarizes a publicized environmental report as a SEA view in the case of Çanakkale, Turkey.
Introduction
Environmental assessment is an important tool for integrating environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of certain plans and programs that have significant effects on the environment. Also, SEA is becoming an accepted and widely used instrument for integrating environmental issues into the formulation of plans and programs throughout the world. SEA mainly refers to the environmental assessment of policies, plans and programs (Seht, 1999). It has been defined as a systematic process for evaluating and anticipating the consequences of decisions taken before the project stage (Sadler and Verheem, 1996). SEA is a formalized systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental impacts of a policy, plan or program and its alternatives, including the preparation of a written report on the findings of that evaluation, and using the findings in publicly accountable decision-making (Therivel et al., 1992).
Different SEA processes are being used in several countries today. Nations already seek considerable interests in the SEA. For instance, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, US, Denmark and Sweden have introduced some forms of SEA system. In addition to this, the European Parliament and Council of European Union already introduced Directive 2001/42/EC the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programs on the environment (EU, 2001). The purpose of the SEA Directive is to ensure that environmental consequences of certain plans and programs are identified and assessed during their preparation and before their adoption. The public and environmental authorities can give their opinion and all results are integrated and taken into account in the course of the planning procedure. After the adoption of the plan or program the public is informed about the decision and the way in which it was made. In the case of likely transboundary significant effects the affected Member State and its public are informed and have the possibility to make comments which are also integrated into the national decision-making process. Thus, SEA will contribute to more transparent planning by involving the public and by integrating environmental considerations. This will help to achieve the goal of sustainable development (EU, 2003; Risse at al., 2003).
Based on these definitions, we can say about SEA is a decision making process. This process supported by instruments. These instruments are proposals like policies, plans and programs used for sustainable spatial and sector policies aiming to ensure an appropriate consideration of the environment. The main course of the SEA is to strengthen the role of environmental issues in strategic decision-making. Also, relevant and accountable authorities should use the conclusions of this process when their decision-making.
The SEA Process
The process for a SEA, at first, should be informed by the political, institutional, socio-cultural, financial, economic, technical and biophysical environment in which the plan or program is being developed. The focus is on the identification of key elements for SEA, to be integrated into context-specific processes for plan and program formulation such as integrated development plans. Thus, SEA would be adapted to local requirements for decision-making. The key elements of a SEA process are illustrated in Figure 1 and summarized as (CSIR, 2000): Identifying broad plan and program alternatives; Screening; Scoping; Situation assessment; Formulating sustainability parameters for the development of the plan and program; Developing and assessing alternative plans and programs; Decision-making; Developing a plan for implementation, monitoring and auditing, and implementation. A well documented SEA process informs planners, decision-makers and affected public on the sustainability of strategic decisions, facilitates the search for the best alternative and ensures a democratic decision making process. For that reason, a good-quality SEA process is simply integrated, sustainable, information focused, accountable, participatory and iterative (IAIA, 2002).
Benefits and key success factors of SEA
SEA insists on forming the capacity and promoting more sound and environmentally sensitive and integrated policies, programs and plans. So that the SEA can play an important role in the promotion of sustainable development principles and practices by enabling a better context for the consideration of cumulative effects. Potential some benefits-advantages of using SEA are listed below (Seht, 1999; Partidario, 2000; CSIR, 2000). It:
q Provides useful information for future policies, programs and plans.
q Increases incorporation of environmental and sustainability considerations in decision making.
q Has the ability to integrate across areas, regions or sectors.
q Integrates the concept of sustainability into the formulation of plans and programs.
q Provides a process for participating to decision making.
q Ensures better possibilities addressing regional and global impacts than environmental impact assessment.
q Increases transparency, quality and acceptance by providing a framework for early public participation.
q Allows consideration of possible alternatives.
It is considered that priority needs for good practices of SEA or in other words a certain key success factors that are drawn broad examples could be identified such as: SEA (Sheate et al., 2001; Partidario, 2000):
q Requires policy framework for sustainability.
q Needs accountable decision making and needs to be a transparent, active and participatory process that allows environmental considerations to be highlighted.
q Refers simple, interactive and flexible approaches.
q Requires access to information.
q Needs to be designated objectives, criteria and quality standards framework.
q Focuses on process rather than on places.
q Involves widespread of stakeholders, policy makers and public.
q Needs to be a systematic process involving different institutions in a common reporting framework.
q There has to be a legal obligation to require it.
q Involves wide use and dissemination of baseline and assessment information.
q Requires an independent body that can review or audit the assessment process and content
q Successful SEA is a continuing and iterative process in which the responsible decision maker is being updated with the consequences of the implementation of the policy.
q Successful SEA depends on high quality and rigorous application of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
The SEA View in Çanakkale
Çanakkale and its nearby, first time, have been a subject for the preparing a strategic environmental assessment pilot project in Turkey. The conducted report mainly considers the environmental considerations to be used in land use planning decisions. This is the first local initiative in conducting the strategic environmental assessment pilot project study carried out and publicized by the Ministry of Environment in Turkey (Mof E, 2001).
Need for the study
Çanakkale, as an important settlement area since the early Bronze Age, lies on the one of the two passages connecting Anatolia with Europe and the Mediterranean with the Black Sea. This has led to a rich and varied history. In addition to its historical characteristics the natural beauty and quite variety of cultural attributes to be found in the area. A Historical Gallipoli Peninsula National Park; the Dardanells: The major waterway of the world that sparates the Asian and European continents; Troy: the ancient city associated with the Trojan war; Assos, which was founded in the 7th century B.C., has the ancient acropolis, gateways and he temple of Athena; Sultan and Nara Castles and Kilitbahir Fortress are the main locations of the region.
The conducted environmental report publicized in 2001 is the first local environmental assessment study aimed to ensure SEA pilot project. It mainly aims to be used in land use decisions. Actually, local and national complex quality of such decision processes in Turkey really obstructs the strategic contexts.
However, the study, has not emerged from the need of contextualize such decision-making and perform legal related aspects. However, there is no any national environmental legal regulation that requires SEA for sectors. As mentioned earlier, SEA is driven by the concept of sustainability that requests the integration of local, regional, national even international objectives and capacities into different levels of decision making within the spatial context of the plan and program. While the status of SEA as a planning tool in Turkey is still in its quite preliminary stages, this study indicates that SEA can be regarded as the main requirement that communities have to develop for environmentally sustainable future.
Objectives, outcomes and products of the study
The conducted report's main objective is to assess the environmental considerations to be used in land use planning decisions in Çanakkale. Air: Air pollution and regional status by pullutants; Conservation areas: National parks, wetlands, natural reserves and parks; Water sources: Lakes, thermal and mineral water; Water pollution with respect to water sources: Ground water pollution, drinking water supply and pollution, marine and coastal pollution; Natural resources and land potential: Forests, farming lands, pasture, grassland and others; Flora, fauna and endemic species; Noise; Coastal zones and tourism; Wastes; Cultural assets and mining are the main headings of the environmental report of Çanakkale. Furthermore the responsible key stakeholders in SEA process, the institutional framework for the development and implementation of the such policies and programs, the key values such sectoral agents, NGOs, public and participation, options and alternatives and quality control are the vital headings must be detailed in the study.
This environmental report of Çanakkale is conducted as a part of the SEA pilot project. But there is no evidence on the study's notable outcomes and products yet. Although SEA is a strategic participatory process linkages the various levels of decision-making via alternative scenarios, results and main findings of the study have not been measured already. At first, local outcomes and products of the study including identification and mapping of opportunities and constraints should be analyzed in detailed in a strategic environmental assessment report. Then, the report must be coordinated with the national environmental management plan.
Innovative approaches
The environmental report of Çanakkale carried out according to the SEA pilot project has to address issue of sustainability at local, regional, national and global levels. Conceptual options on the vision; Integration of sustainability objectives into planning and programming; Political, institutional, socio-cultural, economic, financial, technical and biophysical processes influencing the environment; Continual interactions with the stakeholders; Evaluation and coordination of previous studies; Participatory context and informative-environmental data availability; Developed scenarios; evaluation and monitoring aspects should be adressed in SEA process. Local agenda 21 initiatives may pose a suitable platforms and innovative approaches for communities to develop and implement such SEAs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SEA have an important role in integration of the environment into strategic decision-making. SEA as a strategic form of environmental impact assessment intends to identify and assess to likely significant effects of a policy, plan and program on the environment, the results of which are then taken into account in the decision-making process (Sheate et al., 2001). Thus, environmental considerations are included in policy, plan and program decision-making in all sectors.
SEA practices have already shown that the SEA process is formed by basically two disciplines: Natural resource management and political science. Therefore, SEA's role in environmental integration might be outlined as: SEA advocates for the environment within policy and plan-making; ensures environmental awareness; coordinates and connects policies and programs; enhances training; makes information available; increases transparency and accountability; facilitates learning from practices; allows suitable alternatives; ensures effective monitoring and quality control (Sheate et al., 2001).
SEA is not legally required in Turkey presently. At the same time, SEA related studies such as Çanakkale Environmental Report which conducted by national Ministry of Environment has shown that there are plenty of considerations should be paid attention. Related national literature and applicable practices must be considered by the specialists. The existence reliable strategic processes in local and national level, changing attitudes and culture in social and governmental levels, appropriate communication networks among stakeholders, transparency, participation, required environmental data availability and its accessibility are the main cases that have to be accomplished for promoting the SEA process to ensure sustainable future.
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