Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management

Sustainability assessment processes are increasingly being applied towards integration of the sustainability agenda within diverse decision-making jurisdictions. This paper seeks to contribute insights from a process undertaken within rural areas in Lesotho. A learning-by-doing and people-centred approach was explored within a qualitative multiple case study to integrate biodiversity considerations within the broader livelihoods sustainability context. Stakeholders collectively determined interpretations, aspirations and priorities for action planning and pathways that sustain biodiversity. This process yielded a functional context-specific sustainability assessment framework to guide stakeholders when embarking on biodiversity interventions that enhance supply of ecosystem services in and outside protected areas. However, the effectiveness of the process requires that it should be nested within an enabling environment characterised by relevant international and national biodiversity policy and strategic frameworks, decision- making structures, funding, tools and expertise, sensitisation and capacity-building.

A substantial portion of private sector investments in emerging market economies internationally is routed through the use of Financial Intermediaries (FIs). FIs act as important gateways for channeling the resources from large Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), to micro, small and medium-sized (SME) projects and enterprises whose comparatively limited business portfolios would otherwise make them ineligible for funding. During a MDB's scoping, FI clients are classified into a unique Category FI, whereby the onus for Environmental Assessment (EA) is transferred from the MDB to the FI. Although EA guidelines exist, FI institutions often fail to adequately incorporate them in their sub-project review. This increases the potential for environmentally and socially harmful development decisions being made by the FI with financial resources originating from MDBs. This paper identifies the factors limiting the successful incorporation of EA in FI subproject financing, in an attempt to develop tools to assist MDB's and their FIs to attain compliance with local, national and international EA laws and regulations.

This paper advocates a modification of the impact-based approach to strategic environmental assessment (SEA) which seems unable to address institutional weaknesses in most conventional SEA cases in China. It identifies a possible alternative approach, i.e. an impact-centred SEA with institutional components, and presents an analytical framework for institutional analysis, including a four-phase methodology to address and improve institutional weaknesses. Subsequently, the analytical framework is applied to an SEA pilot for a provincial transport plan in China. The case study demonstrates (1) that the proposed approach is adequate even in relatively fixed SEA processes; and (2) that the components and the logical relationships among factors elaborated on in the analytical framework are reasonable. In addition, the components of the framework that need to be improved and the perspectives for future application are discussed.

Screening is a crucial stage in the environmental assessment process, because by this process a decision is made whether or not further assessment of a plan or project is required, and by doing so, the likelihood of implementing plans and projects harming the environment is to be decreased. In the Habitats Directive, it is explicitly stated that the competent authority should ascertain that no harm will be done to EU sites belonging to the Natura 2000 network before authorisation for further action is granted. A review of some of the national guidance documents concerning the Natura Assessment developed by EU Member States showed diversity in the scope and depth prescribed for the assessment. A five-year review of screening decisions in Estonia demonstrated that the Habitats Directive and the respective EU guidelines are poorly applied. The majority of the EIA and SEA screening decisions in 2004–2009 did not consider the impacts on Natura 2000 sites. Those decisions that did consider them addressed primarily the location-induced aspects of the proposed plan or project, with respect to the location of the relevant Natura 2000 site. Less than one third of decisions considered location, likely effects and their significance together. In the rest of the cases, the reasoning was missing or unclear. Since the study demonstrated important deficiencies in the screening stage of the Natura Assessment, the Estonian EIA Act urgently needs to be modified to comply fully with the requirements of the Habitats Directive and to ensure that the conservation objectives of nearly 600 Estonian Natura 200 sites are not compromised.

The concept of "High Conservation Value" which was initially used by the Forest Stewardship Council, now plays an increasingly important role in several areas, and most significantly in the design and implementation of development projects. Within the framework of certification of community forests in Cameroon, this concept has been implemented in close collaboration with interested communities. Based on the activities conducted, it is worth noting that the consideration of informal management methods appear to result in better protection of biodiversity. Several categories of High Conservation Values were identified in 2 community-managed forests (Coopérative des Paysans de la Lékié & Bimbia Bonadikombo Community Forests) in Cameroon. Rare or endangered ecosystems, more than 300 plant species and more than 20 wildlife species, including endemic, rare, threatened or endangered species were found. Traditional conservation methods based on culture, as well as some ancestral practices and beliefs help to achieve this protection. Decision-makers and academics should learn from this empirical knowledge for protection programmes and projects of biodiversity.