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

Hugh King and Laurence Smith
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Hugh King: Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London WC1H 0XG, UK
Laurence Smith: Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London WC1H 0XG, UK

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2016, vol. 18, issue 02, 1-21

Abstract: This paper assesses the value of using Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to account for the spatially and temporally diverse and diffuse potential 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, and 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 (CFW) for SEA best practice which is then used to identify priority next-steps for a more dynamic application of SEA in the region.

Keywords: Strategic environmental assessment; SEA; environmental assessment; EA; sustainability assessment; SA; cumulative impact assessment; CIA; cumulative effects assessment; CEA; environmental policy; integrated water resource management; IWRM; hydropower; dam; South Asia; Nepal; India; Himalaya; Koshi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1142/S1464333216500113

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