The global climate is changing rapidly, which pronounces the need for transforming the energy system. The Swedish municipalities have been identified as key actors in Sweden’s decarbonisation due to their far-reaching responsibilities, which encompass energy planning. The municipalities are required to have a Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) regarding the provision of energy, but have increasingly shown climate awareness. Further, the municipalities are responsible also for the spatial planning, and increased climate efforts will largely be dependent on how this planning is conducted. However, the energy system also affects various other environmental impacts. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) can aid to take these impacts and associated National Environmental Quality Objectives (NEQOs) into account, which is necessary in order to avoid that other negative environmental impacts occur due to a decarbonisation and that synergies between NEQOs instead could be utilised. Thus, this thesis aims to examine current municipal energy planning practice and the integration of energy and climate targets into comprehensive planning (Paper I), as well as to explore the performance of SEA and the consideration of NEQOs in municipal energy planning (Paper II). Further, suggestions for strengthening the practice is developed (Paper I and II).To achieve the aims, a document analysis, statistical analyses, thematic analyses and an interview study has been employed. This thesis shows that the Act on Municipal Energy Planning is not followed and that the municipalities proactively focuses on climate change mitigation instead. Moreover, a link between MEPs and Comprehensive Plans is seen regarding energy and climate-related targets, and a continuous energy planning can thus be one way of achieving a spatial planning in line with the climate objectives. SEA is seldom performed despite legal requirements, due to a deficient screening practice. However, when performed, SEA can increase the consideration of NEQOs, particularly those in which negative environmental impacts of climate efforts can occur. The consideration of NEQOs could thus help enhance synergies between a decarbonisation and other NEQOs, which could mobilise support for the MEP and aid its implementation. / <p>QC 20181120</p>

IntroductionLao People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR / Laos) has a population of 5.8 million people and is today one of the least developed countries in Asia. That Luang Marsh (TLM) is the largest remaining urban wetland (2000 hectare) in Vientiane Capital, which historically has supplied wildlife and local people with several eco-services. Some important functions are wastewater treatment, flood control (water storage), and several agricultural and aquacultural services. Due to the flat landscape and the low permeability in soil, the area becomes naturally flooded during the wet season when the water level in the Mekong River is high. All storm water in Vientiane is drained through TLM. There have been several projects in Vientiane aimed to solve the drainage and sanitarian situation. However, the problems have still not been completely solved today. Aim and objectives This Master of Science thesis aims at providing a prestudy for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which may be used for creating a full-scale SEA in the future. The main objectives that will be analyzed are: Wastewater treatment in Vientiane. The environmental impact caused by human activity and how it can be reduced in TLM / Vientiane / Mekong River. Sustainable development in Vientiane. The need of SEA in TLM. Flood control in Vientiane. • Agriculture and aquaculture in Vientiane. The WATER Project and New Town Development Project. Socioeconomic overview of Laos / Vientiane. Methodology This thesis is a collaboration between the Swedish university KTH and the Thai university AIT. The student (author of this report) was linked to Dr. Shipin, co-advisor at AIT through Dr. Frostell, supervisor at KTH, and Dr. Berg. A field study was made from October 2008 - December 2008 in Vientiane Capital, Laos. The student has collected information from NGOs, institutions, departments, laboratories, libraries, local people, and Internet in the form of hardcopy literature, electronic documents, e-mail contacts, and interviews. During two days the student had the favour to join a team sent out by WWF for collecting water samples around the marsh. The team consisted of representatives from WWF and the three districts that surround That Luang Marsh. Strategic Environmental Assessment The main purpose of a SEA is to support sustainable decision-making processes in an area. Except from environmental aspects, the SEA also considers socioeconomical aspects. SEAs may differ in terminology and practice between countries and organisations but do usually include stages like preliminary scan, conduction of SEA, preparation of the report, implementation of SEA in PPP (policy, plans, or programmes), and review of the implementation. This report gives a short briefing about how SEAs are produced by CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) and according to the European Directive. The European Directive is the standard SEA for several European countries. The report does also present the project oriented EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Wetland valuation Wetlands may be valuated in different ways. This report explains one method where the valuation is separated into: DUV (Direct Use Value), IUV (Indirect Use Value), OV (Option Value), and NUV (Non Use Value). These are added to TEV (Total Economical Value). WATER Project The WATER project is a response to the environmental and socioeconomical problems that have occurred in Vientiane. Several past projects have been less successful, which have resulted in adverse impact on the society and the ecosystem. The WATER project tries to highlight the wetland values and convince authorities to use CWs (Constructed Wetlands) instead of conventional wastewater treatment plants for treating wastewater. This project will first do five pilot studies in Vientiane. Three will be used for treating domestic wastewater and two for industrial. The project is a part of the Wetland Alliance Programme. Main partners during the project are the government of Lao PDR, WWF Laos, WWF Germany, Wild Fowl &amp; Wetland Trust (WWT). Other involved partners are CORIN, AIT, WFC, CIDA, and Sida. It seems that the authorities will allocate 22 hectares for constructing a CW that will purify Vientiane’s most polluted urban water canal Hong Ke. The WATER Project recommends that even Hong Xeng is included which totally requires 61 hectare CW area. New Town Development Project The New Town Development is a collaboration between the Lao and Chinese government. The plan is to develop the city so it attracts more foreign and domestic investors. 1000 hectares low valued land will be developed for business and 200 hectare will be used for creating an artificial lake aimed for compensating lost wetland area. As a part of the negotiations, the Chinese has already constructed a stadium that was used during the SEA Games 2009. 670 hectare will be developed in TLM, 100 hectare in Dongphosy Forest, and 430 hectare close to the new stadium. The Chinese investors will lease the developed land for 50 years. This may be used for business. When the project period is over, the Lao government have the right to reclaim all developed land without compensation. The Chinese Suzhou City stands as model for the development project in Vientiane. The estimated cost of the project is USD 800-1000 million. Discussion and conclusions Choosing SEA, CEA (Cumulative Effect Assessment), or another strategic assessment method should not be the main issue. As long as the method contributes to a strategic sustainable development and is internationally accepted it may be used for PPPs. The main issue of SEA is not to create a report, but convincing authorities about the importance of sustainable decision-making processes. Factors that may inhibit a sustainable development in Laos are low education, corruption, and greedy investors that devastate the environment for own profit. The laws are in several cases enough but due to the lack of a judicial organization and economical funding the legislative system becomes inefficient. It is difficult to valuate wetlands. The greatest challenge is to valuate OVs and NUVs. OVs are difficult because they are just options. NUVs are based on a subjective estimation because these consider cultural and aesthetical values. A problem with the New Town Development Project is that some vulnerable groups that live in TLM will be forced to live in a resettlement area. These people may have difficulties to adapt to the new environment. It is important that the authorities work extra hard with helping project affected people. Wetland degradation is probably a result of i) intense water pollution (wastewater from households and industries), ii) physical destruction (housing, filling, and artificial drainage), iii) overuse of wetland VI resources, iv) invasions or invitations of new species (golden apple snail). In theory, wetlands may be replaced with modern technology for protecting the city against flooding. One way is to build a cement layer in Houay Mak Hiao River for increasing the drainage capacity. However, because the country has very small economical margins and the hydrological situation is not completely investigated, this could be treated as a risk project. Another problem is that the wastewater capacity will reduce and the biodiversity in the river will be lost. The loss of wastewater treatment needs to be compensated with modern technology. Something needs to be done for increasing the sanitarian situation in Vientiane. This report has compared the benefits of using conventional wastewater treatment plants and CWs. Probably the most reasonable solution is to use a CW for treating the wastewater in Hong Ke while the new centre in TLM uses a conventional wastewater treatment plant. This is an optimal solution because a conventional wastewater treatment plant for treating the water in Hong Ke would require a completely new sewage system, which could become very expensive. Maintaining a conventional wastewater treatment plant is also expensive and requires special trained staff. An easier alternative would be to use CWs for the old part of Vientiane. Because the new centre will be built in a modern style with new infrastructure this part of Vientiane could treat wastewater conventionally. Building a conventional wastewater treatment plant would also save some high-valuated land. Conventional Wastewater TreatmentAdvancedStandardizedQuick turnover timeRequire small spaceCould be more sanitarianProcesses better evaluated Constructed WetlandLong lifetimeEffective in warm climatesNo chemical inputEasy to maintainLow sludge productionAestheticalLess need to change infrastructureLow running cost (flat topography) The author will not decide if Vientiane should develop into a top modern city or remain as a small sized capital as it is today. However, today the situation is unsustainable and something needs to be done. Better organization and planning is necessary for not repeating mistakes that were made during past projects. All decisions have to be based on a non-corruptive process and sustainable thinking. Integrating an environmental and socioeconomical strategy into the future of Vientiane should be of interest for all Laotians. Vientiane is the economical centre of Laos and an increased discharge of polluted water into the Mekong would increase the stress of the important river. A collapse of the biodiversity in the Mekong would strike hard on Laos’ fishing industry and economy. Decisions made today will surely more or less affect people at local, regional, national, and international level in the future. / Inledning Mänsklig aktivitet har på vissa håll resulterat i en allvarlig miljöpåverkan. Laos har en befolkningsmängd på 5,8 miljoner invånare och räknas idag som ett av Asiens minst utvecklade länder. That Luang Marsh (TLM) är huvudstaden Vientianes största urbana våtmarksområde (2000 hektar). Våtmarksområdet bjuder på flertalet ekologiska tjänster som under historiens lopp gynnat både människor och djur. Några av dessa är naturlig vattenrening och översvämningsskydd (vattenlager). Våtmarken bidrar till ett rikt jordbruk och akvakultur. Under regnperioden stiger vattennivån i Mekongfloden så att området naturligt svämmas över. Dräneringen av Vientiane försvåras eftersom landskapet är platt och permeabiliteten i jorden är låg. Huvudsakligen flödar vattnet ut via TLM och floden Houay Mak Hiao innan det når Mekongfloden. Flertalet projekt har försökt effektivisera Vientianes dräneringseffektivitet och minska de sanitära problemen. Dock finns det en hel del kvar att göra. Syften och mål Detta examensarbete är en förstudie till en Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Förstudien skulle kunna utnyttjas till uppbyggandet av en komplett SEA. Huvudområden som undersöks i denna rapport är: Vattenreningen i Vientiane. Den mänskliga miljöpåverkan och hur denna kan lindras i TLM / Vientiane / Mekongfloden. Hållbar utveckling i Vientiane. Behovet av SEA i TLM. Översvämningsskydd i Vientiane. Jordbruk och akvakultur i Vientiane. Projekten WATER Project och New Town Development Project. En socioekonomisk översikt för Laos /Vientiane. Metod Projektet är ett samarbete mellan det svenska universitet KTH och det thailändska universitet AIT. Författaren till denna rapport, Fredrik Olsson är mastersstudent på KTH och har genomfört och utvecklat projektet tillsammans med handledaren Dr. Frostell, KTH och bihandledaren Dr. Shipin, AIT. Även Dr. Berg har haft en viktig roll i utvecklandet och det praktiska genomförandet av projektet. Oktober 2008 – december 2008 genomfördes fältstudier i Vientiane, Laos. Fakta till rapporten inhämtades främst från NGOs (Non- Governmental Organizations), institutioner, laboratorier, bibliotek, lokalbefolkning och internet. Detta skedde i form av tryckta papper/avhandlingar, elektroniska dokument, e-mail kontakter samt intervjuer. Under två dagar genomfördes fältstudier i TLM i samarbete med WWF. Syftet var att mäta vattenkvaliteten i våtmarken på ett antal förutbestämda platser. Gruppen bestod av en representant från WWF samt representanter från de tre distrikt som delar TLM. Strategic Environmental Assessment (Strategisk Miljöbedömning) Syftet med en SEA är att skapa hållbarhet i myndigheters beslutsprocesser. SEA integrerar både miljö och socioekonomiska aspekter i samma studie där målet är att sträva mot en hållbar utveckling. Olika SEA kan skilja sig i utformningen beroende på vilken handledning som används. Dock är dessa skillnader små och inträffar oftast i form av annorlunda terminologi och utförande. Normalt ingår moment som preliminär undersökning, genomförande av SEA, förberedelse av rapport, implementering av SEA i PPP (Policy, Plan och Program) samt utvärdering av implementeringen. Den här rapporten redovisar ytligt hur VIII en SEA genomförs enligt CIDA-modellen (Canadian International Development Agency) och enligt Europeiska Direktivet. Den senare handledningen används som standard i flertalet europeiska länder. Denna rapport kommer även att redovisa grunderna i EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment). Värdering av våtmarker Det finns ett antal olika sätt att värdera våtmarker. Ett sätt som redovisas i rapporten är att separera värderingsområdena till DUV (Direct Use Value), IUV (Indirect Use Value), OV (Option Value), och NUV (Non Use Value). Dessa summeras sedan till TEV (Total Economic Value). DUV beskriver de direkt synliga värdena av att bevara en våtmark, IUV de värden som är indirekta, OV de värden som kan vara möjliga i framtiden, NUV de värden som inte kan bedömas ur ett ekonomiskt och TEV våtmarkens sammanlagda värde. WATER Project Detta projekt är ett svar på de sanitära och ekologiska problemen som förekommer i Vientiane. Flertalet projekt har varit mindre framgångsrika vilket påverkat både samhället och ekosystemet negativt. För att råda bot på de sanitära problemen pågår för närvarande ett försök att informera myndigheterna om fördelarna med att bygga konstruerade våtmarker. Dessa skulle kunna vara ett alternativ till konventionella reningsverk. För att bevisa våtmarkernas effektivitet planeras nu byggandet av fem pilotanläggningar i Vientiane. Tre kommer användas för att rena kommunalt avloppsvatten medan två är avsedda för industriellt bruk. Projektet är en del av Wetland Alliance Programme. Samarbetspartners för WATER Project är laotiska staten, WWF Laos, WWF Tyskland och Wild Fowl &amp; Wetland Trust (WWT), CORIN, AIT, WFC, CIDA och Sida. Indikationer tyder på att konstruerade våtmarker (22 hektar) kommer att byggas för rening av vattnet i dräneringskanalen Hong Ke. Detta är Vientianes mest förorenade kanal. Dock önskar WATER Project att totalt 61 hektar avsätts så att även kanalen Hong Xeng kan renas. New Town Development Project Projektet är ett samarbete mellan den laotiska och kinesiska staten. Planen är att ett omfattande utvecklingsprojekt ska locka flera utländska och inhemska investerare till Vientiane. Totalt kommer 1000 hektar lågt värderad mark att kommersialiseras. Ytterligare 200 hektar kommer att användas till byggandet av en konstgjord sjö som kompenserar för förlorad våtmarksyta. Kineserna har i gengäld lovat att bygga en sportarena för SEA Games 2009. 670 hektar kommer exploateras i TLM, 430 hektar i närheten av den nya sportarenan och 100 hektar i Dongphosy skogen. Kinesiska investerare kommer att arrendera marken under 50 år. Under denna period kan investerarna fritt göra affärer och har rätt att sälja marken till vem de vill. När 50 år har passerat har den laotiska staten rätt att ta tillbaka den arrenderade marken utan kompensation. Som modell för utvecklingsprojektet står kinesiska Suzhou City. Projektet beräknas kosta 800-1000 miljoner amerikanska dollar. Diskussion och slutsats Det spelar ingen större roll vilken metod som används för att nå en hållbar utveckling om den har någon form av internationell acceptans, är strategisk och tar hänsyn till att integrera både miljö och socioekonomiska frågor i samma studie. SEA och CEA (Cumulative Effect Assessment) är endast några alternativ. Målet med en SEA är först och främst inte avsedd för att skapa en rapport utan snarare hållbarhet i beslutsprocesser på PPP-nivå. Faktorer som motverkar hållbar utveckling i Laos är bland annat korruption, dålig utbildning och giriga investerare som maximerar sina ekonomiska vinster på miljön och samhällets bekostnad. Det är svårt att värdera OV eftersom denna parameter endast tar hänsyn till möjliga framtida värden. Samtidigt är NUV näst intill omöjligt att värdera eftersom denna parameter värderar kulturella och etiska värden. Värderingen av NUV blir då en subjektiv bedömning. Under New Town Development Project kommer flertalet människor i TLM tvingas flytta till en mer urban miljö. Dessa grupper är ofta speciellt sårbara eftersom de har bristfällig kunskap om urbana arbeten. Det är extra viktigt att myndigheterna följer upp dessa människor så att deras lidande minimeras. Förstörelsen av våtmarker beror troligtvis på i) stor tillförsel av vattenföroreningar (kommunalt och industriellt avloppsvatten), ii) fysisk destruktion (husbyggen, utfyllnad och konstgjorda dräneringssystem), iii) överutnyttjande av våtmarksresurser samt iv) invasioner och införanden av främmande arter som till exempel ”golden apple snail”. Teoretiskt skulle det vara möjligt att ersätta våtmarker med moderna tekniska lösningar för att undvika översvämningar. En lösning skulle vara att floden Houay Mak Hiao beläggs med ett cementlager för att öka vattenflödet ut från Vientiane. Dock har landet mycket svårt att finansiera denna typ av projekt och efterkommande underhåll på grund av små ekonomiska marginaler i statens budget. Det är heller inte helt kartlagt hur hydrologin i området fungerar. Ett annat problem med denna typ av lösning är att Houay Mak Hiaos vattenreningskapacitet och biodiversitet går förlorad. Om projektet genomförs måste vattenrening ske på annat sätt. Den här rapporten har försökt jämföra fördelarna med att använda konstruerade våtmarker (CW) istället för traditionella vattenreningstekniker. Att använda CW för att rena vattenmassorna i Hong Ke (avloppsvatten från gamla Vientiane) är nog det enklaste och billigaste alternativet medan den nya stadsdelen i mitten av TLM skulle kunna utrustas med ett konventionellt reningsverk. Detta eftersom de utländska stadsutvecklarna antagligen kommer ha tillräckligt med medel och kunskap för att stödja modern vattenreningsteknik som rymmer inom New Town Development Project. Infrastrukturen för att använda konventionella reningsverk är inte tillräckligt utvecklad i resterande Vientiane så att bygga ett konventionellt reningsverk i dessa delar av staden kan bli kostsamt. Dock blir situationen en annan i den nya stadsdelen eftersom denna byggs upp från grunden. Eftersom marken beräknas få ett avsevärt högre marknadsvärde kommer antagligen modern reningsteknik spara en del yta. Fördelar med konventionella reningstekniker är att dessa allmänt är mer avancerade, standardiserade, har en snabb omsättningstid på avloppsvattnet, är mindre platskrävande och processerna i dessa verk är bättre kartlagda. Däremot kan CWanläggningar användas under en längre tidsperiod, de har en hög effektivitet i varma klimat, har låg slamproduktion, kräver mycket små tillsatser av kemikalier, är enkla att underhålla, är mer estetiska, kräver enklare infrastruktur och har en låg driftskostnad. Författaren till denna rapport kan inte avgöra om det bästa för staden är att utvecklas till ett modernt urbant komplex. Dock är den nuvarande situationen ohållbar och därför bör någon form av åtgärder vidtas. Om organisationen och planering inom och mellan projekt förbättras minskar risken för misslyckade projekt. Det är viktigt att alla beslut som fattas grundas på ett korruptionsfritt hållbarhetstänkande. Om Vientiane strävar mot att ta ett större ansvar för miljö och socioekonomi så kommer landet som helhet att gynnas, eftersom huvudstaden är motorn i Laos ekonomi. Ett ökat okontrollerat utsläpp av vattenföroreningar från Vientiane kommer att öka belastningen på Mekongfloden. En biodiversitetskollaps i Mekongfloden skulle få allvarliga konsekvenser för landets fiske och ekonomi. De beslut som fattas idag kommer i framtiden att mer eller mindre påverka människor på ett lokalt, regionalt, nationellt och internationellt plan.

A agricultura é considerada uma das atividades antrópicas ambientalmente mais impactantes, sejam esses impactos em âmbito econômico, social e ambiental. Acarreta, portanto, interferência nos meios natural e socioeconômico, tanto positivos quanto negativos. Destaca-se, no Brasil, o cultivo da cana-de-açúcar, que utiliza práticas consideradas impactantes em todo o seu ciclo agrícola e industrial. Com o objetivo de praticar os valores de sustentabilidade, o setor sucro-alcooleiro precisa incorporar a variável ambiental na tomada de decisão desde as etapas iniciais do planejamento, permitindo a construção de cenários preditivos que tornem as atividades humanas menos impactantes negativamente para os sistemas ambientais, econômicos e sociais. Com isso, fazer esforços no sentido de praticar o desenvolvimento sustentável. Assim, o presente trabalho avalia as possíveis contribuições do instrumento de política ambiental Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica - AAE - para o setor agrícola, tendo como referência o Projeto Ambiental Etanol Verde Estratégico (PAEVE), do Governo do Estado de São Paulo, tomando como estudo de caso da região da bacia do rio Pardo. Para tanto, após uma revisão bibliográfica internacional dos conceitos, procedimentos e resultados do uso do instrumento (AAE), com maior enfoque para os casos realizados na agricultura, são analisados os procedimentos utilizados para a elaboração do PAEVE como um plano setorial estratégico da cana-de-açúcar no estado de São Paulo, à luz dos procedimentos comumente utilizados em AAE, por meio de uma matriz de avaliação da qualidade, técnica SWOT e análise crítica. Posteriormente é utilizado Sistemas de Informações Geográfica para avaliar aspectos relacionados ao Zoneamento Agro Ambiental do PAEVE e seus condicionantes técnicos, tendo como estudo de caso a região da bacia do rio Pardo, no estado de São Paulo. Dentre os resultados, merece destaque a indicação dos procedimentos dos planos e programas relacionados ao setor agrícola sucro-alcooleiro que podem ser influenciados pela Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica a fim de endereçar a sustentabilidade ao processo decisório. / Agriculture is considered one of the most environmentally impacting human activities. These impacts are in the economic, social and environmental aspects. Therefore, it entails interference in the natural and socio-economic, both positive and negative issues. It stands out in Brazil the cultivation of sugar cane, which uses practices considered striking all along its life cycle. Aiming to incorporate the environmental variable into decision make since its initial stages of planning, an important task is to build predictive scenarios on sugarcane sector activities for a less harmful development into environmental, economic and social aspects. Thus, this study assesses the possible contributions of environmental policy instrument Strategic Environmental Assessment - SEA - for the agricultural sector, with reference to the Strategic Green Ethanol Project of São Paulo State, in a case study on Pardo´s river basin. To do so, it is established an international review of the use of the instrument, with greater focus on the cases used in agriculture. So, it is analyzed the procedures of Strategic Green Ethanol Project within a SEA framework, throughout a quality assessment matrix, SWOT and critical analysis. Its used Geographic Information System for evaluating aspects related to the Agro Ecological Zoning of Strategic Green Ethanol Project, its conditioning technical factors, having as case study the region of Pardo´s river basin, in the state of São Paulo, Among the results, deserves attention the indication of the procedures in plans and programs related to agricultural sector of sugarcane that could have beneficial influential of Strategic Environmental Assessment towards promoting sustainable development into the decision making.

O estabelecimento e manejo de áreas protegidas constituem importantes estratégias para a conservação e proteção da biodiversidade. Para as Áreas de Proteção Ambiental (APAs), os planos de manejo são essenciais para a consecução dos objetivos. Para melhorar os resultados, alguns países utilizam a Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) na elaboração dos planos de manejo. Esta estratégia tem apresentado bons resultados, com a melhora do planejamento e da gestão da área protegida da categoria V da IUCN (equivalente à APA). No Brasil, a AAE não tem regulamentação e os planos de manejo não são submetidos a uma AAE. Para orientar a elaboração dos planos de manejo no Brasil, roteiros metodológicos são utilizados. Contudo, os planos de manejo das APAs têm apresentado uma baixa taxa de implementação. Ao constatar esse cenário, a presente pesquisa propõe diretrizes e procedimentos para a elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs a partir das contribuições da AAE. Para alcançar este objetivo, em um primeiro capítulo, as contribuições da AAE para os planos de manejo da categoria V da IUCN são avaliadas. Este cenário internacional é composto por uma avaliação de oito casos de dois Parques localizados na Escócia, onde os respectivos planos de manejo são submetidos a AAE. Para avaliar as contribuições da AAE para estes planos de manejo, critérios baseados nas diretrizes da IUCN para elaboração dos planos de manejo da categoria V e nas boas práticas da AAE (Diretiva Europeia (2001/42/CE), no Protocolo da UNECE e Therivel (2004) são utilizados. Um segundo capítulo avalia o cenário nacional do planejamento de 17 APAs localizadas nos Estados do Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco e no Distrito Federal. Para a avaliação do planejamento destas APAs, a metodologia proposta por Faria (2004), que avalia a eficácia da gestão das unidades de conservação, é adaptada para o contexto do planejamento das APAs por meio das recomendações da IUCN. Os resultados do Capítulo I mostram importantes contribuições da AAE para os planos de manejo, a saber: a compatibilização dos objetivos das dimensões ambiental, social e econômica com a minimização dos conflitos entre estas dimensões; a promoção do acompanhamento da qualidade do estoque ambiental; a identificação e a avaliação do impacto do plano de manejo sobre os objetivos e a base de dados da AAE, com a avaliação de como as ações propostas podem afetar o estoque ambiental; e outros. O segundo capítulo apontou os pontos fracos e os fortes do planejamento das APAs avaliadas, como, por exemplo: a baixa execução dos planos de manejo; os planos de manejo apresentam-se com pouca utilidade prática para o dia a dia da gestão; e o monitoramento e a gestão adaptativa são precários. Em contra partida a estes pontos fracos, o zoneamento apresentou-se como uma ferramenta essencial para a gestão e como suporte às tomadas de decisão. A partir da análise do cenário nacional foi possível verificar de que maneira a AAE pode potencializar os pontos fortes e minimizar os pontos fracos. Com isso, verificou-se que a AAE apresenta potenciais contribuições para o planejamento das APAs no Brasil, como: a articulação e minimização dos conflitos entre os objetivos dos planos de manejo com outras ações estratégicas; a inserção da variável ambiental no planejamento do uso do solo; a avaliação de outras alternativas para alcançar os objetivos do plano de manejo; entre outras. Assim, ao considerar o potencial da AAE para os planos de manejo das APAs, verifica-se que a aplicação da AAE para a elaboração dos planos de manejo das APAs é necessária para otimizar potencialidades e minimizar fraquezas. Sendo assim, com base nos resultados e discussões obtidas no capítulo I e II, um terceiro capítulo é apresentado com as diretrizes e os procedimentos para uma base metodológica para a elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs com a avaliação da AAE. / The plans establishment and management for protected areas are key strategies for biodiversity protection and conservation. The management plans are essential to achieving the goals for Environmental Protected Areas (EPA), one of the conservation areas types in Brazil (equivalent to IUCN category V). Some countries use Strategic Environmental Assessment to make management plans and they are getting good results. On the other hand, in Brazil, the management plans preparation applied in EPAs follow a specific methodological guide and the SEA is not applied in the context of protected areas in Brazil. However, the management plan of EPA have shown low implementation rate. In this context, the present research proposes guidelines and procedures for the preparation of EPAs management plans from the contribution of SEA. To achieve this goal, the first chapter evaluates the SEA contribution to management plans of IUCN category V protected areas. This international scenario consists of an evaluation of eight case studies of two parks of the Scotland, where theses management plans are subject to SEA. To evaluate the contributions of SEA for theses management plans, criteria based on the management guidelines for IUCN category V protected areas and on the best practice of SEA (European Directive (2001/42/EC) in the UNECE Protocol and the Therivel author (2004)) are used. The second chapter evaluated the planning of 17 EPAs in Brazil located in the States of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco and Distrito Federal. The method used to evaluate the planning of these 17 EPAs was proposed by Faria (2004) and adapted for planning context of EPAs in accordance with the recommendations of IUCN. The results show SEA important contributions for plans management, namely: the compatibility of the objectives of environmental, social and economical and the minimizing conflicts between these dimensions; the monitoring the quality of the environment stock; the impact assessment of the management plans on the objectives and baseline SEA, with the evaluation of how the management plan\'s actions can affect the environment stock. As a result of the second chapter showed the weaknesses and the strengths of the planning of the evaluated 17 APAs, such as: the low implementation of management plans; management plans present with little practical use for day to day management; and monitoring and adaptive management are precarious. In contrast to these weaknesses, the zoning is a good tool for the management and support decision-making. Based on these analyzes it observed how SEA can maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses. Thus, it was found that the SEA has potential contributions to the EPAs planning in Brazil, as an example: reconcile conflicts between the objectives of the management plan with other strategic actions; the integration of the environmental issue in land use planning; and the evaluation of other alternatives for achieving the objectives of the management plan. Considering the potential of SEA to EPAs management plans, it is found that the application of the SEA for the preparation of the APAs management plans is needed to optimize strengths and minimize weaknesses. Therefore, based on the results obtained and discussions in the first and second chapter, a methodology basis with guidelines and procedures for the preparation of EPAs management plans with the evaluation of SEA is presented.

Essa pesquisa estuda as contribuições e potencialidades da Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) como instrumento de planejamento urbano- territorial capaz de sugerir a implementação econômica, social e ambientalmente sustentável de políticas, planos e programas habitacionais e de prevenir os impactos socioambientais decorrentes, resultando na contribuição para sustentabilidade do desenvolvimento urbano. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar o Programa Minha Casa Minha Vida no& Brasil e as possíveis contribuições da AAE para a tomada de decisão sobre o programa habitacional em questão. Desse modo, a AAE é analisada como potencial instrumento para assegurar a integração ambiental com o planejamento estratégico do setor habitacional, utilizando, como estudo de caso, o programa Minha Casa Minha Vida (PMCMV). Através da construção de moradias, o PMCMV visa incrementar a indústria da construção civil, criando empregos e contribuindo para a movimentação econômica do país. Entretanto, muitas vezes, o programa é implantado em áreas urbanas sem a devida infraestrutura e os serviços necessários, provocando, muitas vezes, a deterioração ambiental e social da região. Esta pesquisa conclui que a sistemática da AAE para implementar os princípios do desenvolvimento sustentável no PMCMV é, senão essencial, recomendável para a tomada de decisão, pois considera as variáveis ambientais sociais e econômicas nas etapas de planejamento. / This research studies the contributions and potential of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a tool for urban planning for ensuring economic implementation, social and environmental sustainability of policies, plans and housing programs, as well as preventing environmental impacts, resulting in the contribution to sustainable urban development. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the Minha Casa Minha Vida program in Brazil, and the possible contributions of SEA to decision making regarding this housing program. Thus, SEA is analyzed as a potential instrument to guarantee environmental integration with the strategic planning of the housing sector, using, as a case study, the Minha Casa Minha Vida program (PMCMV). Through the construction of houses, the PMCMV aims to stimulate the construction industry, creating jobs and contributing to the increase of economic activity in the country. However, sometimes the program is deployed in urban areas without adequate infrastructure and services, causing environmental and social deterioration of the region. This research concludes that the SEA process to implement sustainable development principles in the PMCMV is highly recommended, if not essential, to decision making, since it considers the environmental, social and economic variables during planning phases.

O aumento da inundação em áreas do baixo curso do rio Taquari, no Pantanal do estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, tem transformado a pecuária desta região numa atividade com baixa rentabilidade, à medida que extensas áreas de campo passaram a ser inundadas vários meses durante o ano a partir da década de 70. A pecuária realizada em campos naturais de regiões úmidas do Pantanal indica que há necessidade de se investigar metodologias apropriadas para avaliação de impacto ambiental, que abordem impactos diretos, indiretos, cumulativos e processos do meio físico que alteram, de maneira prejudicial, o meio ambiente. Supõe-se que a inundação na planície do rio Taquari esteja relacionada com a ocupação antrópica nas áreas de planalto da bacia do rio Taquari. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar os impactos ambientais na planície de inundação do baixo curso do Taquari, decorrentes da ocupação antrópica da bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari em sua totalidade, considerando os impactos ambientais causados pela pecuária à medida que se configura como principal atividade econômica da bacia bem como os processos erosivos e de assoreamento no quadro atual do regime de inundações. As etapas de caracterização da área, de análise dos impactos e as propostas de ações mitigadoras, previstas num Estudo de Impacto Ambiental, foram aqui analisadas. Foram utilizadas informações sobre as características do meio físico, biótico e socioeconômico, selecionadas a partir do levantamento dos dados existentes com recorte efetuado para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari. Na maior parte dos temas, este foi um processo de levantamento, ordenamento e recuperação de informações, na escala original de 1:250.000, do Plano de Conservação da Bacia do Alto Paraguai-PCBAP, gerenciado no SPRING. Foram também realizadas viagens de campo para a complementação dos dados e para o levantamento de atividades antrópicas com verificações \"in loco\" da ocorrência de impacto ambiental. A maioria dos dados socioeconômicos compilados para o presente trabalho teve por base os censos agropecuários e demográficos realizados pelo IBGE. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que os impactos ambientais decorrentes da pecuária no planalto interferem no regime de inundação na planície da bacia, o que só foi possível de ser identificado a partir de análises integradas em toda a bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari. Verificou-se que os métodos de EIA são adequados para identificar os impactos diretos decorrentes da pecuária, mas não são adequados para identificar os processos e seus efeitos cumulativos na extensão da bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari. Além disto, a abordagem da avaliação ambiental estratégica, como procedimento para análise ambiental em políticas, planos e programas, mostra-se adequada para as análises na BHRT à medida que está centralizada nos efeitos do ambiente sobre as necessidades e oportunidades de desenvolvimento. Contudo, somente a recuperação de danos ambientais, o controle das origens dos impactos no ambiente e um sistema de gestão consciente de seus compromissos podem levar, juntamente com a melhora dos procedimentos técnicos e administrativos para análises ambientais, à uma maior proximidade da sustentabilidade ambiental na BHRT. / The increase of flooding in the low course areas of Taquari river in the Pantanal - Mato Grosso do Sul state, has been transforming the cattle raising activity to a low profit activity in the region, when that extensive areas of pasture started to be flooded throughout several months a year from the 1970s. Since these areas are located in the Pantanal region where cattle raising activity is carried on in natural pasture it is necessary to investigate suitable methodologies for evaluation of the ambiental impact, approaching direct, indirect and cummulative impact as well as the processes that change, in a harmful way the environment. The flooding in the floodplain in Taquari river is supposed to be related to the anthropic ocupation in the upland areas of the Taquari river watershed. This work aims to evaluate the environmental impact caused by the anthropic ocupation, the cattle raising activity in the basin and the erosion and silting process in the flood plain of the Taquari river low course. The steps for the area characterization, the analysis of the impact and proposals viewing to diminish the problem, projected in an EIA (Environmental Impact Study), were also considered here. Information on the physical, biologic and socio-economic environment, selected from pre existent data survey, carried on for the Taquari river watershed (BHRT) were used here. For most of the themes, this was a process of surveying and recovering information in the original scale of 1:250.000 from the PCBAP managed in the SPRING GIS model. Field work to complement the existent data to survey the environmental impact of anthropic activities were also carried on. Most of socio-economic data used here were based on the cattle raising activity and demographic census data from IBGE. The results show that the environmental impact caused by cattle raising in the upland interferes in the flooding system in the watershed flood plain, and this fact could only be identified from the integrated analysis of the whole Taquari river watershed. It was observed that the EIA methods are suitable to identify the direct impact caused by the cattle raising activity, but they are not suitable to identify the process and its cummulative effects along the Taquari river watershed. Moreover, it was observed that the approach of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a procedure for environmental analysis in the policies, plans and programs is suitable for the analysis in the BHRT when it is centralized in the effects of environment on the necessities and opportunities of development. However, only the recovering of ambiental damage, the control of the effects caused by impacts on the environment and a system of conscient management can lead to an improvement in the technic and administrative procedures for a really possible ambiental sustentability in the BHRT.

This three-year PhD study looks at heritage performance in impact assessment (IA) practices, analysing the urban planning context and management experiences of selected urban World Heritage (WH) sites in the UK. The research develops recommendations for assessing the impact of plans, programmes and projects on heritage values in culturally significant urban areas with the emphasis on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of large-scale projects in an urban environment. The research analyses theoretical and empirical approaches to heritage management, investigates methodologies for heritage IA and explores opportunities for and barriers to improved heritage IA in the context of current UK policy. In particular, the research contributes with the conceptual framework of identification, interpretation and management of the cultural heritage in the urban planning system. The review of academic and other relevant literature helped to develop the conceptual framework. The data was collected by means of desk-based documents analysis, case studies, focus-group seminars and an on-line Questionnaire with the experts in the heritage and IA fields. The world’s most well-known and arguably most protected sites with officially identified Outstanding Universal Value – WH sites – provide general lessons for the heritage management and IA of new developments and infrastructure projects. The management of UK WH sites could be said to have the features of what is known as a values-based approach to conservation. This approach emphasises the identification of cultural heritage significance with the early participation of different stakeholders in the planning process; the latter has a scope for improvement in the UK context. Research on the boundaries of the heritage and IA fields leads to an improved understanding of cultural heritage and provides a framework for the IA process. The developed framework and the criteria for an enabling environment could be useful for achieving agreement between the different stakeholders, and could allow a smoother planning decision-making process, leading in turn to a reduced need for monitoring from international bodies. The results are useful for planners and developers in the context of western practice, and could also be relevant to the development of international guidelines.

O estabelecimento e manejo de áreas protegidas constituem importantes estratégias para a conservação e proteção da biodiversidade. Para as Áreas de Proteção Ambiental (APAs), os planos de manejo são essenciais para a consecução dos objetivos. Para melhorar os resultados, alguns países utilizam a Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) na elaboração dos planos de manejo. Esta estratégia tem apresentado bons resultados, com a melhora do planejamento e da gestão da área protegida da categoria V da IUCN (equivalente à APA). No Brasil, a AAE não tem regulamentação e os planos de manejo não são submetidos a uma AAE. Para orientar a elaboração dos planos de manejo no Brasil, roteiros metodológicos são utilizados. Contudo, os planos de manejo das APAs têm apresentado uma baixa taxa de implementação. Ao constatar esse cenário, a presente pesquisa propõe diretrizes e procedimentos para a elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs a partir das contribuições da AAE. Para alcançar este objetivo, em um primeiro capítulo, as contribuições da AAE para os planos de manejo da categoria V da IUCN são avaliadas. Este cenário internacional é composto por uma avaliação de oito casos de dois Parques localizados na Escócia, onde os respectivos planos de manejo são submetidos a AAE. Para avaliar as contribuições da AAE para estes planos de manejo, critérios baseados nas diretrizes da IUCN para elaboração dos planos de manejo da categoria V e nas boas práticas da AAE (Diretiva Europeia (2001/42/CE), no Protocolo da UNECE e Therivel (2004) são utilizados. Um segundo capítulo avalia o cenário nacional do planejamento de 17 APAs localizadas nos Estados do Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco e no Distrito Federal. Para a avaliação do planejamento destas APAs, a metodologia proposta por Faria (2004), que avalia a eficácia da gestão das unidades de conservação, é adaptada para o contexto do planejamento das APAs por meio das recomendações da IUCN. Os resultados do Capítulo I mostram importantes contribuições da AAE para os planos de manejo, a saber: a compatibilização dos objetivos das dimensões ambiental, social e econômica com a minimização dos conflitos entre estas dimensões; a promoção do acompanhamento da qualidade do estoque ambiental; a identificação e a avaliação do impacto do plano de manejo sobre os objetivos e a base de dados da AAE, com a avaliação de como as ações propostas podem afetar o estoque ambiental; e outros. O segundo capítulo apontou os pontos fracos e os fortes do planejamento das APAs avaliadas, como, por exemplo: a baixa execução dos planos de manejo; os planos de manejo apresentam-se com pouca utilidade prática para o dia a dia da gestão; e o monitoramento e a gestão adaptativa são precários. Em contra partida a estes pontos fracos, o zoneamento apresentou-se como uma ferramenta essencial para a gestão e como suporte às tomadas de decisão. A partir da análise do cenário nacional foi possível verificar de que maneira a AAE pode potencializar os pontos fortes e minimizar os pontos fracos. Com isso, verificou-se que a AAE apresenta potenciais contribuições para o planejamento das APAs no Brasil, como: a articulação e minimização dos conflitos entre os objetivos dos planos de manejo com outras ações estratégicas; a inserção da variável ambiental no planejamento do uso do solo; a avaliação de outras alternativas para alcançar os objetivos do plano de manejo; entre outras. Assim, ao considerar o potencial da AAE para os planos de manejo das APAs, verifica-se que a aplicação da AAE para a elaboração dos planos de manejo das APAs é necessária para otimizar potencialidades e minimizar fraquezas. Sendo assim, com base nos resultados e discussões obtidas no capítulo I e II, um terceiro capítulo é apresentado com as diretrizes e os procedimentos para uma base metodológica para a elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs com a avaliação da AAE. / The plans establishment and management for protected areas are key strategies for biodiversity protection and conservation. The management plans are essential to achieving the goals for Environmental Protected Areas (EPA), one of the conservation areas types in Brazil (equivalent to IUCN category V). Some countries use Strategic Environmental Assessment to make management plans and they are getting good results. On the other hand, in Brazil, the management plans preparation applied in EPAs follow a specific methodological guide and the SEA is not applied in the context of protected areas in Brazil. However, the management plan of EPA have shown low implementation rate. In this context, the present research proposes guidelines and procedures for the preparation of EPAs management plans from the contribution of SEA. To achieve this goal, the first chapter evaluates the SEA contribution to management plans of IUCN category V protected areas. This international scenario consists of an evaluation of eight case studies of two parks of the Scotland, where theses management plans are subject to SEA. To evaluate the contributions of SEA for theses management plans, criteria based on the management guidelines for IUCN category V protected areas and on the best practice of SEA (European Directive (2001/42/EC) in the UNECE Protocol and the Therivel author (2004)) are used. The second chapter evaluated the planning of 17 EPAs in Brazil located in the States of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco and Distrito Federal. The method used to evaluate the planning of these 17 EPAs was proposed by Faria (2004) and adapted for planning context of EPAs in accordance with the recommendations of IUCN. The results show SEA important contributions for plans management, namely: the compatibility of the objectives of environmental, social and economical and the minimizing conflicts between these dimensions; the monitoring the quality of the environment stock; the impact assessment of the management plans on the objectives and baseline SEA, with the evaluation of how the management plan\'s actions can affect the environment stock. As a result of the second chapter showed the weaknesses and the strengths of the planning of the evaluated 17 APAs, such as: the low implementation of management plans; management plans present with little practical use for day to day management; and monitoring and adaptive management are precarious. In contrast to these weaknesses, the zoning is a good tool for the management and support decision-making. Based on these analyzes it observed how SEA can maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses. Thus, it was found that the SEA has potential contributions to the EPAs planning in Brazil, as an example: reconcile conflicts between the objectives of the management plan with other strategic actions; the integration of the environmental issue in land use planning; and the evaluation of other alternatives for achieving the objectives of the management plan. Considering the potential of SEA to EPAs management plans, it is found that the application of the SEA for the preparation of the APAs management plans is needed to optimize strengths and minimize weaknesses. Therefore, based on the results obtained and discussions in the first and second chapter, a methodology basis with guidelines and procedures for the preparation of EPAs management plans with the evaluation of SEA is presented.

O aumento da inundação em áreas do baixo curso do rio Taquari, no Pantanal do estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, tem transformado a pecuária desta região numa atividade com baixa rentabilidade, à medida que extensas áreas de campo passaram a ser inundadas vários meses durante o ano a partir da década de 70. A pecuária realizada em campos naturais de regiões úmidas do Pantanal indica que há necessidade de se investigar metodologias apropriadas para avaliação de impacto ambiental, que abordem impactos diretos, indiretos, cumulativos e processos do meio físico que alteram, de maneira prejudicial, o meio ambiente. Supõe-se que a inundação na planície do rio Taquari esteja relacionada com a ocupação antrópica nas áreas de planalto da bacia do rio Taquari. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar os impactos ambientais na planície de inundação do baixo curso do Taquari, decorrentes da ocupação antrópica da bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari em sua totalidade, considerando os impactos ambientais causados pela pecuária à medida que se configura como principal atividade econômica da bacia bem como os processos erosivos e de assoreamento no quadro atual do regime de inundações. As etapas de caracterização da área, de análise dos impactos e as propostas de ações mitigadoras, previstas num Estudo de Impacto Ambiental, foram aqui analisadas. Foram utilizadas informações sobre as características do meio físico, biótico e socioeconômico, selecionadas a partir do levantamento dos dados existentes com recorte efetuado para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari. Na maior parte dos temas, este foi um processo de levantamento, ordenamento e recuperação de informações, na escala original de 1:250.000, do Plano de Conservação da Bacia do Alto Paraguai-PCBAP, gerenciado no SPRING. Foram também realizadas viagens de campo para a complementação dos dados e para o levantamento de atividades antrópicas com verificações \"in loco\" da ocorrência de impacto ambiental. A maioria dos dados socioeconômicos compilados para o presente trabalho teve por base os censos agropecuários e demográficos realizados pelo IBGE. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que os impactos ambientais decorrentes da pecuária no planalto interferem no regime de inundação na planície da bacia, o que só foi possível de ser identificado a partir de análises integradas em toda a bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari. Verificou-se que os métodos de EIA são adequados para identificar os impactos diretos decorrentes da pecuária, mas não são adequados para identificar os processos e seus efeitos cumulativos na extensão da bacia hidrográfica do rio Taquari. Além disto, a abordagem da avaliação ambiental estratégica, como procedimento para análise ambiental em políticas, planos e programas, mostra-se adequada para as análises na BHRT à medida que está centralizada nos efeitos do ambiente sobre as necessidades e oportunidades de desenvolvimento. Contudo, somente a recuperação de danos ambientais, o controle das origens dos impactos no ambiente e um sistema de gestão consciente de seus compromissos podem levar, juntamente com a melhora dos procedimentos técnicos e administrativos para análises ambientais, à uma maior proximidade da sustentabilidade ambiental na BHRT. / The increase of flooding in the low course areas of Taquari river in the Pantanal - Mato Grosso do Sul state, has been transforming the cattle raising activity to a low profit activity in the region, when that extensive areas of pasture started to be flooded throughout several months a year from the 1970s. Since these areas are located in the Pantanal region where cattle raising activity is carried on in natural pasture it is necessary to investigate suitable methodologies for evaluation of the ambiental impact, approaching direct, indirect and cummulative impact as well as the processes that change, in a harmful way the environment. The flooding in the floodplain in Taquari river is supposed to be related to the anthropic ocupation in the upland areas of the Taquari river watershed. This work aims to evaluate the environmental impact caused by the anthropic ocupation, the cattle raising activity in the basin and the erosion and silting process in the flood plain of the Taquari river low course. The steps for the area characterization, the analysis of the impact and proposals viewing to diminish the problem, projected in an EIA (Environmental Impact Study), were also considered here. Information on the physical, biologic and socio-economic environment, selected from pre existent data survey, carried on for the Taquari river watershed (BHRT) were used here. For most of the themes, this was a process of surveying and recovering information in the original scale of 1:250.000 from the PCBAP managed in the SPRING GIS model. Field work to complement the existent data to survey the environmental impact of anthropic activities were also carried on. Most of socio-economic data used here were based on the cattle raising activity and demographic census data from IBGE. The results show that the environmental impact caused by cattle raising in the upland interferes in the flooding system in the watershed flood plain, and this fact could only be identified from the integrated analysis of the whole Taquari river watershed. It was observed that the EIA methods are suitable to identify the direct impact caused by the cattle raising activity, but they are not suitable to identify the process and its cummulative effects along the Taquari river watershed. Moreover, it was observed that the approach of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a procedure for environmental analysis in the policies, plans and programs is suitable for the analysis in the BHRT when it is centralized in the effects of environment on the necessities and opportunities of development. However, only the recovering of ambiental damage, the control of the effects caused by impacts on the environment and a system of conscient management can lead to an improvement in the technic and administrative procedures for a really possible ambiental sustentability in the BHRT.

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.