Strategic Environmental Assessment: A Sourcebook & Reference Guide to International Experience

This unique sourcebook provides a global, state-of-the-art review of the rapidly evolving field of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) that is intended to serve as a baseline for the work of an OECD Task Team on SEA and a UNEP initiative on integrated planning and assessment. It describes trends in application and experience in different contexts worldwide, providing in-depth coverage of the status of SEA systems, and practice in developed, transitional and developing countries by a range of development agencies. The book draws on a large body of published and unpublished material, and contributions from a wide range of individual experts, organizations and agencies. It provides an unparalleled and invaluable understanding of the emerging scope and potential of SEA and describes how, when and where it is being used. The sourcebook includes a probing review of concepts, terminology, approaches and tools of SEA, and a comparative analysis of the different types of existing SEA systems. The volume also contains many case examples illustrating SEA practice in different countries and contexts, a full set of references and a number of appendices containing source materials.

* The only comprehensive international sourcebook of SEA principles, approaches, and instruments with coverage of all major industrialized countries including the U.S., the U.K./Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Korea, and more than 50 transitional and developing countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific
* The essential reference for all impact assessment practitioners, researchers, policymakers, aid and development agencies, and funders
* Written by two world-renowned practitioners with support from the OECD, UNEP, and IIED

This unique sourcebook provides a global, state-of-the-art review of the rapidly evolving field of strategic environmental assessment (SEA), describing trends in application and experience and practice across the globe in a variety of agencies and contexts. Drawing on published and unpublished material, and contributions from a wide range of individual experts, organizations, and agencies, it provides an unparalleled and invaluable understanding of what constitutes SEA and how and when it can be applied. It includes an international review of experience, practice, terminology, approaches, and tools of SEA, covering developed, transitional, and developing countries. A collection of case studies illustrates SEA practice in a range of countries and contexts. Included also: a full set of references and several appendices.

Barry Dalal-Clayton is Director for Strategies, Planning and Assessment at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and author of "Sustainable Development Strategies" (Earthscan, 2002).

Barry Sadler is an Environmental Impact Assessment Advisor to UNEP and contributor to "Assessing Impact" (Earthscan, 2004).