Strategic Environmental Assessment & Land Use Planning in Lebanon Funding: European Commission LIFE Third Countries Programme Execution: Ministry of Environment (MoE) Service of Conservation of Nature Management: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Aim of the Project Integrate environmental, social & economic considerations into public decisions and undertakings in order to alleviate major problems facing national sustainable development. 2
Public Decision Pyramid Constitution Laws Decrees & Decisions Public Policies & Strategies SEA Public Plans Public Programmes Defined Public or Private Projects EIA 3
Our National Context Law 444 (08/08/02) - Framework Law for Environmental Protection: Article 4: emphasises the principle of Environmental Impact Assessment as a tool for planning & management. Article 21: stipulates that private and public proponents must undertake an environmental assessment for all projects which are likely to affect the environment due to their sizes, nature, impacts or activities. 4
National Context Article 22: defined the term project as inter alia any study or programme or investment or planning proposal which concerns a complete area or sector of activity. EIA Initiatives Draft decree completed for discussion & approval by the Council of Ministers A series of national training on EIA application was undertaken by MoE/ World Bank. 5
National Context Initiatives in the pipeline: (Capacity Building 2015) UNDP is currently assisting MoE in developing a new initiative relating to the decentralisation of environmental management & planning, where EIA will be used as a tool. All the above opens a window of opportunities for the development & adoption of SEA. 6
Expected Results Main areas of intervention: Policy & regulatory Aspects Capacity Building Institutional Strengthening Dissemination & General Awareness Demonstration Activity 7
Policy Aspects Develop a framework for SEA suitable to the Lebanese context, including regulatory, institutional and procedural arrangements. Develop environmental guidelines for land use planning. 8
Capacity Building Train concerned public institutions on mainstreaming: SEA application, monitoring and evaluation in their planning and decision-making processes Environmental guidelines in urban planning & land use management procedures Train public sector consultants on: Scope & significance of SEA process Mainstreaming proposed environmental guidelines in land use planning studies. 9
Institutional Strengthening Develop a national strategy for the application and monitoring of the SEA process in priority sectors Develop a national strategy for incorporating and monitoring the application of environmental guidelines in urban planning and land use management procedures. 10
Dissemination & General Awareness Draft a guiding manual on SEA process and application procedures Prepare a guidebook on the application of environmental guidelines in land use planning Disseminate a general advocacy brochure for strategic decision-makers Organise regional meetings to disseminate SEA to NGOs and local authorities. 11
Demonstration Activity Apply SEA procedures & environmental guidelines for land use planning in a pilot project and publish a good practice case study for future reference. 12
Why land use planning? National land use planning initiative executed by the Council for Development & Reconstruction (CDR) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Urban Planning, which covers the preparation of a National Land Use Plan. 13
Few Planned Areas in Lebanon Approximately 80% of the national surface area is still unclassified (White colour) (Source: SOER, 2001) 14
A Multi-Lateral Example Land Use Planning Directorate General for Urban Planning Higher Council for Urban Planning Directorate General of Urban Planning Ministry of Environment Directorate General of Roads & Buildings Ministry of Justice Ministry of Interior Director General of Municipalities & Local Councils Director General of Housing CDR Order of Lebanese Engineers & Architects Council for Development & Reconstruction (CDR) Municipalities 15
A Participatory Approach Our Partners & Stakeholders: Ministry of Environment Directorate General of Urban Planning Council for Development & Reconstruction Parliamentary Committee for the Environment Other concerned public institutions Municipalities Non Governmental Organizations Private Consultants Academia & Research Centres 16
Activities in Progress (1) Developing a national framework for SEA, options under consideration include: 1. Formal legal instruments (ex. EU Directive, ESPOO/ SEA Protocol) 2. Near-equivalent processes of policy and plan appraisal (ex. E-test in the Netherlands, Policy Appraisal, UK) 3. Para-SEA approaches, which meet only some of the characteristics of formal SEA instruments but have the same aims (ex. World Bank Regional & sectoral assessments, CEA, EERs). 17
Activities in Progress (2) The draft decree for SEA application will be completed during the first quarter of 2004. 18
To Contact Us Alissar Chaker Project Manager, SEA Project Ministry of Environment P.O. Box 70-1091 Antelias - Lebanon Tel: (04) 522222 extn. 423 Fax: (04) 418911 E-mail: sea@moe.gov.lb 19