13 Case-studies

11/10/27
SEA OF THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF PARQUE
ALQUEVA (2004-07), ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL
Feb 2007
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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SEA general characteristics: !
!
-  voluntary private initiative in close linkage with the
master plan, EIA required for project development!
-  developed business sustainable development
objectives !
-  identified national/ regional sustainability objectives,
and environmental quality targets; !
-  focus on seven critical factprs that supported analysis
of opportunities and problems, !
-  impact assessment based on SWOT analysis, !
-  integrated management proposals to assist
implementation.!
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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Tourism investment programme SEA, Alqueva, Portugal,
2000 ha
Investment programme components!
!
• Residential areas!
• Senior services and infrastructures!
• Tourism accomodation (hotels and lodging units)!
• Tourism and leisure activities!
• Summer camp!
• Sports centre and Golf courses!
• Marina!
• Wine grain based spa!
• Cultural centre!
• Natural areas!
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
SEA objectives:
1.To assess the investment strategy regarding the
integration of environmental and sustainability issues;
2. To identify opportunities for action that can be translated
into environmental and sustainable added-values; and
3. To detect negative effects (risks) that might be avoided or
reduced through preventive measures and integrated
management.
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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Critical factors that structured the assessment:!
!
• Regional and local development!
• Social responsibility with local community!
• Physical planning and environmental management!
• Rational use of energy resources!
• Biodiversity and ecology of the “montado”!
• Cultural heritage!
• Water quality in the reservoir!
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
SEA methodology:
1.  SEA strategic framework
2. Analysis and assessment
3. Guidelines for implementation and development
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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Context!
SAIP Environmental and Sustainability Policy!
Objectives of
the initiative!
Concept of the
proposal for action!
Guidelines!
Assessment!
SAIP vision for the
sustainability of the
ParqueAlqueva!
Parque Alqueva activities
planning and location!
Source: AAE Estratégia SAIP, Partidário, 2003!
Environmental and
sustainability objectives!
!
Critical Decision
Factors!
SEA objectives!
Social and ecological
characteristics of the territory:
Potentials and sensitivities!
ToR – expert
studies!
Trend analysis: !
•opportunities and conflicts,
restrictions!
•objectives, indicators,
targets!
•alternative options !
Assessment: !
•Options comparison!
•Guidelines and
monitoring plan!
Strategic framework for sustainability: implementation plan and integrated management measures!
Programming: Urban-Tourism Development Programme; EIS; EMS; Community Engagement
programmes; Stakeholders Forum; Sustainability reports!
Scenarios
1.Evolution of land occupation in surrounding areas
C1.1 - Status quo or emptiness
C1.2 - Intensification
C1.3 - Controlled occupation
2.Evolution on water quality in Alqueva reservoir
C2.1 - Status quo
C2.2 - General improvement
C2.3 - Partial improvement
3.Evolution in land occupation within the real estate
C1 - Dispersed, with low occupation index
C2 - Nucleous with land occupation index
C3 - Increased concentration in land occupation
4.Connection between the three parcels
C1 - Self-sufficient parcels
C2 - Central place
C3 - Complementarity
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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SWOT
Strengths!
Weaknesses!
Accessibility!
Natural beauty!
Availability of water!
Cultural and historical context!
Tranquility, etc.!
Separate parcels!
Environmental sensitiveness!
Uncertainty regarding reginal
development strategy!
Limited autonomy regarding
enhancement of natural resources
quality!
Opportunities!
Threats!
Airport in Beja, HST and highways!
New commercial opportunities!
Regulations and incentives
regarding cultural heritage
protection!
Positive institutional and
community expectations!
Dispersion regarding solutions for
land occupation!
Increase in land occupation in the
surroundings!
Maintenance of water quality
contamination problems!
Licencing and context costs!
Integration of Environmental Component
Critical factor
Studies and plans developed
1. Regional and local development
2. Social responsibility with local community
3. Physical planning and environmental
management
-  Environmental Sensitivity studies
-  Territorial sensitivity map
-  Water resources plan
-  Waster management plan
-  Mobility plan
-  Carbon Zero programme
4. Rational use of energy resources!
-  Environmental energy plan
5. Biodiversity and ecology of the “montado”
-  Flora inventory
-  Caracterization of current situation regarding birds,
plants and reptiles
-  Territorial sensitivity map
-  Natural areas management plan
6.Cultural heritage
- Cultural heritage survey and management plan
7. Water quality in the reservoir
- Waster management plan
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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Management Programme - Guidelines
Planning!
Environmental planning of spatial areas
Utilization of natural areas and users sensitivity
Integration of energy in planning
Intergation of enhancement of cultural heritage in
planning
Institutional organization and partnerships
Relationship with the local community
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
Management guidelines (cont)
Monitoring
Performance analysis
Environmental Management Systems
Environmental reporting, social responsibility reporting
Sustainable management of the operation
Regional and local development management
Space and natural resources management
Energy resources management
Non-directly affected habitats management (montado)
Ecological management of affected areas
Water quality management in reservoir
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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SEA concluded the investment could mean:!
!
- risks on biodiversity, community issues!
- opportunities for cultural heritage, energy, water
quality, regional economy!
!
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
Lessons learned:!
!
Close linkage between SEA and planning is fundamental for
effective integration!
!
When development approach is strategic it is easier to link
up with a strategic approach in SEA!
!
Full acknowledgment of SEA role in decision-making - only
one year later, investors did not follow all SEA orientations
and later realized those would be environmental authority
requirements!!
!
Public engagement, and not only institutional, would have
benefit the public acceptance earlier!!
SEA of the Parque Alqueva investment strategy, Alentejo, Portugal
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