A presente pesquisa foi realizada com o intuito de identificar as contribuições da AAE para a elaboração dos planos de manejo das Áreas de Proteção Ambiental (APA) relacionados à conservação da biodiversidade e áreas protegidas. Para atingir este objetivo a pesquisa foi divida em três etapas. Na primeira, as questões relacionadas à biodiversidade e às áreas protegidas foram identificadas nos procedimentos metodológicos da AAE. Assim, na segunda etapa estas questões foram relacionadas com os benefícios da AAE. Com base nesta relação foi possível elaborar um quadro para comparar e analisar os estudos de caso (Plano local do Parque Nacional Cairngorms na Escócia e o Projeto de expansão do Parque Nacional Elefante Addo na África do Sul) com o roteiro metodológico para elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs quanto aos benefícios da AAE (terceira etapa). Desta maneira, verificou-se que os benefícios que a AAE proporciona aos PPPs não podem ser verificados em sua totalidade no roteiro metodológico para os planos de manejo de APA. Entretanto, há um potencial para que estes sejam alcançados, mas para isso seria necessário um instrumento, como a AAE, para auxiliar e avaliar o processo de elaboração dos planos de manejo de APAs. / The present work identified the contribution of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the development of management plan of Environmental Protected Area (EPA) related to biodiversity conservation and protected areas. The research was divided into three stages. First, the issues related to biodiversity and protected areas were identified in the methodological framework of the SEA; in the second stage, they were related to the benefits of the SEA. Based on these previous stages, a framework was elaborated to compare and analyse the case studies (Cairngorms National Park local Plan and the Greater Addo Elephant National Park Project) with a methodological guide for the management plans of EPA, taking into consideration the SEA benefits. It was possible to conclude that the benefits of the SEA cannot be identified in their entirety in methodological guide. However, there they can be achieved by the development of SEA to assist and evaluate the process of preparing management plans for EPA.

A presente pesquisa foi realizada com o intuito de identificar as contribuições da AAE para a elaboração dos planos de manejo das Áreas de Proteção Ambiental (APA) relacionados à conservação da biodiversidade e áreas protegidas. Para atingir este objetivo a pesquisa foi divida em três etapas. Na primeira, as questões relacionadas à biodiversidade e às áreas protegidas foram identificadas nos procedimentos metodológicos da AAE. Assim, na segunda etapa estas questões foram relacionadas com os benefícios da AAE. Com base nesta relação foi possível elaborar um quadro para comparar e analisar os estudos de caso (Plano local do Parque Nacional Cairngorms na Escócia e o Projeto de expansão do Parque Nacional Elefante Addo na África do Sul) com o roteiro metodológico para elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs quanto aos benefícios da AAE (terceira etapa). Desta maneira, verificou-se que os benefícios que a AAE proporciona aos PPPs não podem ser verificados em sua totalidade no roteiro metodológico para os planos de manejo de APA. Entretanto, há um potencial para que estes sejam alcançados, mas para isso seria necessário um instrumento, como a AAE, para auxiliar e avaliar o processo de elaboração dos planos de manejo de APAs. / The present work identified the contribution of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the development of management plan of Environmental Protected Area (EPA) related to biodiversity conservation and protected areas. The research was divided into three stages. First, the issues related to biodiversity and protected areas were identified in the methodological framework of the SEA; in the second stage, they were related to the benefits of the SEA. Based on these previous stages, a framework was elaborated to compare and analyse the case studies (Cairngorms National Park local Plan and the Greater Addo Elephant National Park Project) with a methodological guide for the management plans of EPA, taking into consideration the SEA benefits. It was possible to conclude that the benefits of the SEA cannot be identified in their entirety in methodological guide. However, there they can be achieved by the development of SEA to assist and evaluate the process of preparing management plans for EPA.

Monitoring is an important tool for gaining insight into an organisation’s environmental performance and for learning about the environmental condition and the effectiveness of environmental management measures. Development of environmental monitoring has generally relied on research aiming at improving monitoring methodology, technique or practice within a particular management tool. Little empirical research has taken into account the organisation’s reality where several management tools are used in parallel. This thesis analyses the practice of environmental monitoring in public authorities with the aim of identifying barriers and possibilities for environmental monitoring as an instrument for improving environmental performance, using the Swedish Rail Administration as a case organisation. The study identified two different types of environmental monitoring: environmental performance measurement (EPM) and activity monitoring, both important for achieving environmental improvements. EPM involves gathering and evaluating data to determine whether the organisation is meeting the criteria for environmental performance set by the management of the organisation. EPM can further be used for judging the success and failure of environmental objectives and strategies. Activity monitoring provides each project of the organisation with information to minimise the negative effects on the natural environment or human health and to ensure that the organisation’s operations conform with regulations. Problems encountered comprised a variety of little co-ordinated monitoring activities, poor utilization of the monitoring results as well as limited internal feedback on monitoring results. Some of the problems identified seem to be an effect of the management transition from a traditional ‘command and control’ system to a self-administered organisation managed by economic incentives and voluntary management systems. This thesis suggests several improvements to make monitoring more efficient. Primarily, the monitoring systems must have a clear structure and be adapted to its specific function. The EPE system would benefit from being integrated with the organisation’s central performance measurement, presenting progress towards organisational strategic objectives as well as operational objectives. The system for activity monitoring must not only focus on inputs and outputs to the system but must also include the environmental condition of the system. In order to improve communication and learning, monitoring data within both EPE and activity monitoring must be better transmitted and utilised within the structure of the permanent organisation. Experience from all monitoring activities that now is scattered and inaccessible to the individuals of the organisation could beneficially be stored within a well-structured organisational ‘memory‘. Such a system would facilitate an iterative management process where the monitoring results and the knowledge gained are used for making future plans and projects more adaptive, thereby improving the environmental performance of the organisation. / QC 20100729

Abstract SEA is currently becoming an important tool for sustainable development. The main principles of SEA are to incorporate environmental considerations to the process of development of strategic documents and to make the process of the decision-making more transparent. Over the past years, there have been an increasing number of countries especially transitional and developing countries such as Belarus that consider joining the international conventions for SEA such as EU Directive 2001/42/EC (the SEA Directive) and UNECE SEA Protocol. This research focuses on the capacity assessment for SEA implementation in Belarus. The benchmarks for SEA capacity assessment were defined. For identifying the approaches for SEA implementation in the countries in transition, the experience of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe was analyzed. The capacity assessment for Belarus was made involved three levels, namely, system level, as well as organizational and individual levels. The paper analyses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for SEA implementation in Belarus. The study concludes with some suggestions that might help to improve capacity for SEA implementation.