July 7, 2022, Kazakhstan | As part of the piloting of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Kyzylorda and Mangystau provinces, the ECO-ARAL project in cooperation with Ecoline International Ltd and Integra Consulting s.r.o. held the first online workshop on SEA in Kazakhstan. The workshop was organised to introduce the SEA basic principles and procedures and to discuss the pilot project with representatives of province Akimats and their structural subdivisions working in the field of economic planning, environmental protection, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Consultants of Ecoline International Ltd. and Integra Consulting s.r.o. presented the main elements, benefits and advantages of SEA as well as international experience on implementation of SEA in other countries.

As a result of the workshop, the participants (1) got acquainted with the SEA processes, (2) discussed the existing experience, legal framework and possible ways of SEA implementation, (3) agreed on the steps to start the pilot project, in particular the basic criteria for site selection, work planning and decision making.

Photo©: Executive Directorate of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in the Republic of Kazakhstan