Eco NW - Applications
Where and how to use the Eco-region NW
Appraisal
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Sustainability Appraisal (SA) are different in legal terms, but overlapping in practice.
The current DCLG guidance on SA widens the SEA Directive's approach to include social and economic as well as environmental issues. However the general structure is similar, and the key stages in using the Eco-region / REAP data can be drawn out:
collecting and presenting baseline information - data from REAP can be summarized:
- identifying reasonable plan options and their effects - this needs alternative scenarios to be compared
- predicting the significant effects of the plan and addressing them during its preparation - this needs the plan effects defining
- in material / CO2 terms, and then comparing to the baseline trends
- involving the public and authorities with social, environmental and economic responsibilities as part of the assessment
- process - this involves debate on what is the scope and potential of policies at different levels
- monitoring the actual effects of the plan during its implementation - the REAP data for the current and projected trends should be updated and reported year on year
