Many Rivers to Cross: Evaluating the Benefits and Limitations of Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Koshi River Basin

King, Hugh; Smith, Laurence

Abstract

This paper assesses the value of using Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to account for the spatially and temporally diverse and diffuse impacts of hydropower development in South Asia’s Koshi basin. A policy and practice review and key stakeholder interviews identified opportunities for SEA to improve existing planning procedures, but also barriers to effective adoption. Whilst stakeholders are interested in employing SEA to evaluate cumulative impacts, institutional blockages and an economic development imperative for power generation leave little space for consideration of alternative scenarios as part of SEA. The analysis is conducted through the formulation and application of a conceptual framework for SEA best practice which is then used to identify priority next-steps for SEA in the region.

Citation

King, H., & Smith, L. (2016). Many Rivers to Cross: Evaluating the Benefits and Limitations of Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Koshi River Basin. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 18(2), Article 1650011. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1464333216500113

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 1, 2016
• Publication Date: May 16, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 4, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management
• Print ISSN: 1464-3332
• Electronic ISSN: 1757-5605
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 1650011
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S1464333216500113