Strategic Environmental Assessment practices in European small islands: Insights from Azores and Orkney islands

Abstract

The literature concerning Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) often refers to the importance of context-specific approaches. However, there is a lack of systematised and consistent studies that enhance tailor-made SEA practices and procedures. Small islands are bounded units of study which may help explore SEA theory and practice in special territories. Small islands present particular features and unique values, such as, small size and population, geographic isolation, limited resources and vulnerable ecosystems. Hence, the main goal of this research was to profile SEA practices and procedures in European small islands and provide a background for future research aiming to improve context-specific SEA applications. To achieve this goal, an exploratory case study was developed using Azores (Portugal) and Orkney (Scotland) archipelagos. An analysis of the corresponding mainland was also carried out to contextualise both case studies. The data collection was achieved through a qualitative content analysis of 43 Environmental Reports. The research found that there is not an SEA context-specific approach used within these European small islands, including guidelines, assessment topics, assessment techniques, follow-up and stakeholders engagement. The debate concerning specific approaches to small islands must be re-focused on the enhancement of SEA capacity-building amongst different stakeholders (including decision-makers), on the development and implementation of collaborative approaches, and on the exchange of knowledge and experiences between small islands networks.

The dairy sector in the Azores Islands: possibilities and main constraints towards increased added value

“…Azores economy depends highly on the public sector, but also on traditional sectors, where livestock production and the related industries have a paramount importance (Polido et al 2016). However, due to the vulnerability conditions of all small islands (i.e., small size, geographic isolation, narrow economic base, limited resources, ecosystem vulnerability to external ecological influences, relatively small population, with limited skills base), national and EU structural funds are central to the development of the region (Polido et al 2016).…”

“…The Azores Islands (or Autonomous Region of the Azores) is a Portuguese autonomous region, with its own politicaladministrative status and government bodies (Polido et al 2016). The archipelago is composed by nine volcanic islands located in the center of the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1500 km from Lisbon and 3900 km from New York City (Ng et al 2019).…”

Exploring experts' views and perspectives on the enhancement of Strategic Environmental Assessment in European small islands

“…Although small islands (Kelman et al, 2015), and are vulnerable to climate change and sea-level rise, previous research showed that biodiversity, as well as climate change and sea-level rise, are sparsely addressed in the scientific literature concerning small islands (Polido et al, 2014). Furthermore, Polido et al (2016), while analysing SEA reports from the Azores (Portugal) and Orkney (Scotland), found that the assessment sistently addressed. It is noted T to Polido et al (2014), scored 12 out of 16 selections.…”

“…In addition, as highlighted by respondents, there is the possibility th on the SEA team. Though this could occur where the SEA system relies on consultants to develop the SEA process, as is the Portuguese case identified by Polido et al (2016), if the SEA is mainly developed by in-house practitioners, as observed by McLauchlan and João (2012) for the Scottish case, probably these practitioners may perceive the Nonetheless, the majority of the respondents stated that to have trained staff on SEA and sustainability-related issues is important in small islands, as suggested by Bass and Dalal-Clayton (1995) and Ramos et al (2009).…”

“…shown by Polido et al (2016). Literature focusing on small islands indicates that it is essential to promote and enhance sustainability in these territories (Crossley and Sprague, 2014;van der Velde et al, 2007), where SEA may play a leading role (Hay, 2013;Payet, 2011).…”