National SEA system capacity building: key issues, needs and drawbacks (Ukraine) Olena Borysova, Yevgeniya Varyvoda Contact info: SEA Prague: “International experience and perspectives in SEA” September 2005 Prague, Czech Republic

Results of the country review assessing the capacity needs for the implementation of the SEA Protocol: key obstacles for SEA implementation in Ukraine 1. The problem of legislative and regulative basis adaptation 2. Undeveloped practice of public participation in environmental assessment process 4. Discrepancy of the SEA methodology to the existing system of environmental assessment 5. Absence of the adapted terminological apparatus of the SEA 3. Insufficient regulation of the planning process 6. Shortage of the knowledge on SEA Protocol/Procedure SEA Protocol introduction

IS SEA PRACTICABLE IN CURRENT UKRAINIAN SITUATION? RESEARCH QUESTION

SEA APPLICATION FOR THE STATE PROGRAMME FOR NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE CASE STUDY

 STATE PROGRAMME FOR THE NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE WAS DEVELOPED BY THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF UKRAINE;  PROGRAMME WAS ADOPTED BY THE STATE LAW IN 21 SEPTEMBER 2000;  THE AIM OF THE PROGRAMME IS TO INCREASE THE LAND AREAS WITH NATURAL LANDSCAPES UP TO THE LEVEL SUFFICIENT FOR THE BIOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY RESERVATION;  THE TERM FOR THE PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION IS YEAR;  THE SOURCES FOR FINANCING: STATE BUDGET STATE FUND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LOCAL RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL GRANTS FOCUS INFORMATION

CURRENT ISSUES IN PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND NEEDS FOR SEA APPLICATION 1. CONTRADICTION BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT TO STRICTLY PROTECT NATURAL AREAS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS 1. SEA APPLICATION HELPS TO TIE UP ECOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL GOALS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN EACH OTHER AND WITH ECOLOGICAL, NATURAL RESOURCE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CAPACITY OF THE TERRITORY 2. EXHAUSTION OF RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL AS A RESULT OF STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES 2. SEA APPLICATION HELPS TO REVEAL AND ANALYZE FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES A SET OF CONCRETE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISING FROM THE LAND PRIVATIZATION 3. SEA IS AN EFFICIENT TOOL FOR INFORMATION PREPARING FOR DECISION MAKERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

THE MAIN LESSONS LEARNED  SEA HAS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR APPLICATION IN UKRAINIAN PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING PROCESS;  AT THE PRESENT TIME PRACTICE OF SEA APPLICATION DEVELOPS FROM LOCAL INITIATIVES, IN OTHER WORDS DEVELOPS BOTTOM – UP. IF THE CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE IT CAN TAKES TOO MUCH TIME FOR SEA PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE;  BENEFITS OF SEA APPLICATION IS UNDERESTIMATED BY NATIONAL ACTORS BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON SEA PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURE;  SINCE THERE IS NO LEGAL PROVISION FOR SEA YET, SEA RESULTS HAVE LIMITED IMPACT ON DECISION-MAKING PROCESS EVEN WHEN SEA PROCEDURE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT THE LEVEL OF PRIVATE INITIATIVE.

Main steps for successful implementation of SEA Protocol in Ukraine in the frames of acting legislative basis Distribution of information on planned activity among broad public Study of the international methodologies of public participation Development of the methodological basis of SEA corresponding to the acting system of environmental assessment Definition and agreement of the SEA thesaurus Successful implementation of the SEA Protocol/Procedure Carrying out of the multy stages campaign on dissemination of information on SEA

Main steps for successful implementation of SEA protocol in Ukraine involving changes of legislative basis Introduction of the changes and specifications in to the Law “On ecological expertise” Development of the mechanism for financing of the public participation procedure Legislative regulation of preparation and adaptation of the strategic documents and decisions Distribution of information on planned activity among broad public Study of the international methodologies of public participation Development of the methodological basis of SEA corresponding to the acting system of environmental assessment Definition and agreement of the SEA thesaurus Successful implementation of the SEA Protocol/Procedure Carrying out of the multy stages campaign on dissemination of information on SEA