This Document provides for the definition and application of the Strategic Environmental Assessment to the Forestry Plan, in order to integrate environmental considerations into planning, develop the knowledge of the environmental effects of planned interventions, increase the rationality of decisions, and promote transparent and participatory processes, in line with the sustainable development objectives. According to the Document and in compliance with National and European Legislation, Strategic Environmental Assessment is defined as the preparation of a report concerning the impact on the environment resulting from the implementation of a specific plan or program to be adopted or approved, through the carrying out of consultations, the evaluation of the environmental report and the results of consultations in the decision-making process, and the provision of information on the decision. This Document is structured as follows: 1) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Process in the European, National and Regional Legislation; framework and purpose of the process. 2) Description and methodology of the SEA. 3) Linkage between Forestry Plan and SEA Process. 4) Structure and contents of the Plan in relation to the SEA. 5) Environmental Report, including: analysis of the environmental context; environmental topics and issues relevant to the plan; evaluation of the expected effects; identification and evaluation of alternatives; measures to reduce, prevent, or compensate for environmental effects. 6) Internal and external consistency analysis. Concerning the purpose of the SEA Process and the linkage between Forestry Plan and SEA Process, this Document provides for: subjection of the Forestry Plan to the SEA in compliance with the current legislation; regulatory framework and general framework of the Plan; methodological approach for the identification and evaluation of the effects of the Plan on environmental issues and aspects; methodological approach for identifying the interactions between the Plan and government sectors and for evaluating the possible effects deriving from them; methodological approach to identify the measures for monitoring the environmental effects of the Plan in the implementation phase. The SEA methodology concerns the following steps: initial stage of the Process, with consultation among involved authorities and stakeholders; definition of the Environmental Report; consultations and information about decisions; implementation of the Plan and monitoring. The Document defines four main objectives of the Forestry Plan in relation to the environmental protection: improvement of environmental conditions, through the maintenance, conservation and development of protective functions in forest management, improvement of hydrogeological structure, protection of water resources, soil conservation and improvement; conservation and improvement of the existing forest heritage and forest species, in order to increase the health and vitality of forest ecosystem and the conservation and development of forest biodiversity; sustainable development of production activities, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the forest-wood supply chain, for wood and non-wood forest products; development of local socio-economic and working conditions. The Environmental Report covers the following topics and issues, in respect of the precautionary principle and in view of the environmental evaluation: public health, as forests are a source of goods and services that produce positive externalities for citizens, in terms of health and quality of life; flora, fauna and protection of biodiversity, including: typology and degree of protection of the recognised natural areas, degree of fragmentation and isolation of natural and semi-natural habitats and valuable areas, incidence of intensive agriculture on forest habitats; protection of soil, including: danger of natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, erosion and desertification, land-use planning, agro-forestry pastoral practices and grazing, improvement of soil quality; prevention of fires; climate and atmosphere, including: level of greenhouse gas concentrations and interference of human activities on the climate system, climate change effects as vectors of increase of harmful organisms and invasive species into the forest environment, protection and extension of forests for the absorption of C02 emissions; use of forest biomass for production of renewable energy sources; protection and conservation of cultural heritage and landscape; interventions in agriculture and animal husbandry.
Italy · 2020-05-01