A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Round Table is a special form of >>SEA, in which participants from the interest groups affected, administrators and external experts collectively draw up a plan or programme (e.g. for handling traffic or waste management etc.). The focus here is not on individual projects, but on clarifying strategic principles with public participation.

Suitable

 

• for drawing up environmentally acceptable plans and programmes

Sequence of events

 

• Defining the goals of the plan or programme, and the environmental goals to be taken into account
• Defining the framework of investigation
• Describing the current situation in the area to be planned for, including existing trends
• Developing alternatives so as to achieve the goals defined
• Analysing and evaluating the various alternatives with respect to their environmental effects
• Drawing up an environmental report documenting the results obtained
• Taking these results into account in reaching a decision
• Announcing and justifying the decision (“SEA declaration“)
• Monitoring

Participants

Representatives of interest groups, experts, politicians and administrators

Point to note

 

• Strictly speaking, an SEA is not a participation process. However, public participation is a central aspect of every SEA. In particular, the SEA Round Table contains many elements of participation, which is why it is listed as a participation process here.