Strategic Environmental Assessment mainstreaming Ecosystem Services. The role of Stakeholders: Sustainable development through high levels of involvement and participation
Author
Botero Baez, Lydia Patricia
Term
4. semester
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-06-04
Pages
52
Abstract
Hurtig urbanisering og økonomiske samt miljømæssige kriser får myndigheder på internationalt, nationalt og regionalt niveau til at søge mere bæredygtig udvikling. En vigtig del er at anerkende økosystemtjenester – de goder mennesker får fra naturen, som fx rent vand, oversvømmelsesdæmpning og rekreative muligheder – fordi de understøtter sundhed, udvikling og livskvalitet. En økosystemtilgang anbefaler derfor at inddrage interessenter og lokalsamfund aktivt i miljøvurderinger for at styrke vidensgrundlag, fælles beslutninger, gennemsigtighed, forudsigelse af langsigtede effekter og udvikling af stærke alternativer. Denne afhandling undersøger udfordringer, gevinster og muligheder ved at inddrage interessenter tidligt i miljøvurderinger, når økosystemtjenester integreres i vurderingsprocessen. Fokus er på strategisk miljøvurdering (SMV), som vurderer miljøeffekter af politikker, planer og programmer. Studiet anvender kvalitative metoder: tre SMV-cases fra forskellige lande, interviews med forskere og praktikere samt en spørgeskemaundersøgelse blandt erfarne miljøprofessionelle; resultaterne kombineres og analyseres. Samarbejdsplanlægning bruges som ramme til at forstå, hvordan deltagelse understøtter integrationen af økosystemtjenester i SMV. Egenskaber som vidensintegration, meningsfuld inddragelse, velfungerende styring og bæredygtig arealanvendelse kan afspejles i SMV-processer. Afhandlingen fremhæver mindst tre metoder til at integrere økosystemtjenester i SMV, hvor interessentinddragelse er afgørende, og præciserer aktørernes roller. Samtidig er der udfordringer: metoder skal tilpasses lokale sociopolitiske, socioøkonomiske og miljømæssige forhold. Mere inddragelse kræver tid og økonomiske ressourcer, men disse omkostninger forventes at blive opvejet af højere kvalitet i resultaterne af SMV.
Rapid urbanization and ongoing economic and environmental crises are pushing action at international, national, and regional levels toward more sustainable development. A key element is recognizing ecosystem services—the benefits people receive from nature, such as clean water, flood control, and recreation—because they support health, development, and quality of life. An ecosystem approach therefore encourages involving stakeholders and local communities in environmental assessments to improve knowledge, share decisions, increase transparency, anticipate long-term effects, and generate stronger alternatives. This thesis examines the challenges, benefits, and opportunities of engaging stakeholders from the early stages of environmental assessment when ecosystem services are included in the evaluation. It focuses on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which assesses the environmental effects of policies, plans, and programs. The study uses qualitative methods: three SEA case studies from different countries, interviews with academic and practitioner experts, and a survey of experienced environmental professionals; findings are combined and analyzed. Collaborative planning is used as a framework to understand how participation helps integrate ecosystem services into SEA. Features such as integrating different kinds of knowledge, meaningful involvement, effective governance, and sustainable use of areas can be achieved in SEA processes. The thesis highlights at least three methodologies for integrating ecosystem services into SEA, all of which rely on stakeholder engagement, and clarifies the roles of different actors. At the same time, challenges remain: methods must be adapted to local socio-political, socio-economic, and environmental contexts. Greater participation requires time and money, but these costs are expected to be offset by higher-quality SEA outcomes.
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Keywords