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Strategic Environmental Assessment Biodiversity and Geodiversity Considerations in Strategic Environmental Assessment

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Strategic Environmental Assessment Biodiversity and Geodiversity Considerations in Strategic Environmental Assessment Scottish Natural Heritage Biodiversity and Geodiversity Considerations in Strategic Environmental Assessment Biodiversity and Geodiversity Considerations in Strategic Environmental Assessment Contents Paragraph Number Purpose 1 - 2 Background Definition 3 - 6 Why are these important? 7 - 9 Biodiversity, Geodiversity and the SEA process 10 - 15 How Your Plans Can Affect Biodiversity and Geodiversity 16 - 18 Likely land use changes by plan topic Table 1 At the Outset - Screening Likely significant effect on the environment – biodiversity and geodiversity 19 - 22 Screening Checklist Table 2 Initial Preparation - Scoping What to think about at Scoping stage 23 - 24 Environmental baseline 25, Table 3 Other relevant plans and programmes which set the context for biodiversity and geodiversity in your plan 26 - 27 Defining Objectives/outcomes and Indicators/checklists 28 - 30, Table 4 Assessing the Effects Assessing effects on biodiversity and geodiversity 31 - 33, Table 5 Assessing options and reasonable alternatives 34 - 37 Assessing the Aims, policies and proposals of your plan 38 - 40, Fig 1, Table 5 Reporting significance of effects 41 Mitigation 42 - 45, Table 7 Monitoring 46 - 49, Table 8 List of Acronyms Table 9 Annex 1 The Biodiversity and Geodiversity Resource Where Biodiversity and Geodiversity Fit with other SEA Topics Annex 2 Biodiversity and Geodiversity Related Plans and Strategies Annex 3 The Ecosystem Approach and where biodiversity and geodiversity fit in. Purpose 1. This guidance deals with considerations of biodiversity and geodiversity in the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. It defines biodiversity and geodiversity, looks at how plans can affect these elements, and details the key relevant stages of the SEA process. 2. It is aimed at those who have to prepare plans, programmes and strategies and carry out SEA as a Responsible Authority or as consultants. It is also guidance for consultees in the process e.g. Scottish Natural Heritage and SEPA. The guidance assumes a level of knowledge of the SEA process. Further guidance on the SEA process can be found in the Scottish Government’s website Background Definition 3. ‘Biodiversity’, ‘flora’ and ‘fauna1’ are topic areas which require consideration in any plan or strategy undergoing the SEA process. Flora and fauna are building blocks of biodiversity. Reference in this guidance to biodiversity includes the necessary consideration of flora and fauna. However we also can’t disconnect biodiversity from geodiversity which underpins it – in the natural world, geodiversity and biodiversity are intricately interlinked. Thus geodiversity also needs consideration. 4. Biodiversity is the variety of life - all living things; the plants, animals and insects in our forests, mountains, rivers, seas, gardens and parks, right down to the things living in our soils. It supports all our lives, our livelihoods and quality of life. Biodiversity provides us with crucial resources like fresh air and clean water for our daily lives, and because it is basically our life support system it is really important that we look after it properly. 5. Biodiversity is all around us and some areas are protected by designations which represent the very best examples as well as some of the rarest and most threatened of Scotland's habitats, plants and animals. The main designations include our Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Whilst a variety of areas are covered by these designations, the qualifying interests of these sites cover only a fraction of what exists and many species are mobile and found outwith protected areas. It is therefore highly important that the biodiversity value of non-designated areas, terrestrial, freshwater and marine, is understood and recognised. Further details on the importance of biodiversity can be found at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/safeguarding-biodiversity/ 6. Geodiversity is the variety of rocks, minerals, fossils, soils, landforms and the natural processes which form and alter them. It is the foundation of our natural environment, supports our biodiversity and ecosystems, and provides the raw materials for construction, the soils for growing our crops and clean water. Geodiversity also shapes the spectacular landscapes for which Scotland is famed and together with the 1 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna are specifically included in EC Directive 2001/42 on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment, Annex I and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, Schedule 3. biodiversity of these landscapes is a source of inspiration for art, literature, poetry and music. Why are these important? 7. Biodiversity and geodiversity have a crucial influence on the well-being of the people of Scotland and they also have a key role in respect of climate change adaptation and mitigation. Understanding the natural processes that shape our landscapes and ecosystems has an important role to play in their sustainable management. All new pubic plans and policies must be developed based on a clear understanding of their effects on biodiversity and geodiversity and other environmental interests. 8. A resilient and diverse natural environment is the essential foundation for a greener, more robust, healthier, wealthier and smarter Scotland. Scotland will be the poorer if the road and rail verges and hedgerows we travel past; the riversides, mountains, woods and moorlands we walk through; the estuaries, coasts and seas that inspire and invigorate us continue to lose wildlife and natural features through inappropriate development and land management. 9. All Responsible Authorities have a duty to further the conservation of biodiversity under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. This has to be reported on under section 36 of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. In addition, Regulation 3A(8) of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 as amended requires that “so far as lies within its powers, a competent authority must use all reasonable endeavours to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats of wild birds in Scotland”. Biodiversity and Geodiversity and the Assessment Process 10. SEA allows for greater consideration of impacts on the environment arising from plans, programmes or strategies (abbreviated to ‘plans’ for ease of reading). It allows the plan maker the opportunity to take into account the environmental impacts from their plan early in the preparation process and endeavour to find the means to avoid or reduce adverse effects, while enhancing the positive ones. 11. SEA legislation requires the plan maker to consider the inter-relationship between the various SEA topic areas. Annex 1 Table A2 looks at how biodiversity and geodiversity can interconnect and fit with other SEA topics. Geodiversity can be considered to some extent within Material Assets, for example mineral resources and hydrology and also in the soil topic. This guidance focuses on how to assess the impacts on wider aspects of geodiversity. 12. Soils are a key part of geodiversity and provide important ecosystem services and functions. However, soil is a separate topic within SEA and guidance has already been produced by SNIFFER in 2009 on this topic and is updated regularly. The SNIFFER soil guidance covers specifically the following issues; Soil quality/Soil organic matter/ Soil structural degradation & compaction / Soil erosion / Soil sealing & loss /Soil contamination. This document is designed to provide complementary guidance directly related to the sensitivity of soil biodiversity and the role of soils in the context of geodiversity and landform processes. In addition, this guidance also includes updated environmental baseline information for the SEA soil sub-topic. 13. As indicated above, biodiversity and geodiversity are part of a wide range of factors to be considered in the assessment process. It is important to emphasise that the assessment should always be appropriate to the scale of the plan and the likelihood, nature, scale and location of significant effects on the environment. The guidance below should assist with achieving a more successful and robust assessment and which is proportionate to the likely impacts. 14. Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) – links with SEA, biodiversity, flora and fauna HRA and SEA If a plan or project could affect a Special Protection Area or Special Area of Conservation (known as a Natura or European site) there is a requirement to consider the effects of that plan or project on the site under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, and c.) Regulations 1994 as amended (the ‘Habitats Regulations’). This process is commonly referred to as Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA). Guidance on Habitats Regulations Appraisal of Plans can be found at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and- development/environmental-assessment/habitat-regulations-appraisal/ SEA is mandatory for all plans which have been determined to require an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive (the Habitats Directive is transposed into domestic law by the Habitats Regulations). In a HRA, where a likely significant effect on the qualifying interests of a Natura site has been identified then the Competent Authority must carry out an appropriate assessment. An appropriate assessment is not the same as the assessment process in SEA, (for further guidance see - http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/environmental-assessment/habitat-
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