1. Endemic spp ~12000 Threatened species ~ 2000 Planning for biodiversity: SEA as a tool IAIA Prague’05: Session C6:1

2. “The most important lesson of the last ten years is that the objectives of the Convention will be impossible to meet until consideration of biodiversity is fully integrated into other sectors. The need to mainstream the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources across all sectors of the national economy, the society and the policy-making framework is a complex challenge at the heart of the Convention.”(Hague Ministerial Declaration from COP VI to WSSD, 2002)

3. Biodiversity-inclusive SEA helps:  Build results of biodiversity planning into development plans  Ensure uses and values for biodiversity are recognised  Identify better outcomes for biodiversity  Identify and manage cumulative threats  Plan for no net loss of biodiversity or for net +ve gain  Identify monitoring needs  Strengthen biodiversity partnerships and information networks

4. Barriers to good practice Biodiversity not mainstreamed as a planning consideration People depending on biodiversity are not involved in the planning process Policy directions and legal requirements unclear (eg aspirational targets only) Biodiversity data held by many parties without coordination Insufficient data to enable reliable comparisons or predictions

5. Conditions for good practice SEA has clear and transparent role as an integral part of a coordinated planning process and this process recognises biodiversity as a fundamental issue Biodiversity policies shape decisions. Clear policy framework and priority actions Biodiversity values and needs are well understood and fully accounted for Well-established partnerships and coordinated data and information management Reliable data on distribution, status, trends for biodiversity indicators

6. Q1 Does biodiversity planning need SEA?

7. Which ecosystem services need to be sustained for different people’s needs to be met: will the proposed plan have a positive or negative effect on biodiversity uses and values? Q2 Is SEA a good way to engage the public and to ensure planners recognise biodiversity uses and values?

8. Q3 Does good planning build biodiversity into plans anyway?