At A Glance

The Response

The project will help to ensure systematic considerations of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) processes and procedures for mining and tourism development plans in Sichuan Province. Technical guidelines will be developed and capacities will be built to improve this interaction and the enforcement of the environmental requirements. This will include institutional capacities and partnership building between government, NGOs and business. Lessons learned will be catalogued and results will be shared with other local and national authorities for potential replication.

Project Focus

Ø  To establish a biodiversity database and information system for future SEAs in Sichuan；
Ø  To support Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) of Mining and Tourism Development in Sichuan with focus on preventing biodiversity impacts；
Ø  To strengthen capacities at central and local level to integrate biodiversity in SEA；
Ø  To use the Sichuan case to design national guidelines for SEA for mining and tourism development plans；

Cooperating Agency
Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Administration

Partners
1. Conservation International
2. Sichuan Appraisal Center for Environment & Engineering
3. Transport Research Laboratory

The Challenge

China’s Western Development Strategy places emphasis on expanding mining and tourism industries in Western China. However, mining development can lead to destruction and fragmentation of landscapes and tourists may flock to attractive sites and increase the demand for construction of roads, hotels, and other facilities - which may have negative impact on ecosystem and other biodiversity resources.