The ISEA is a tool that can be used both as a high level, long-term planning tool and also to fast track development in a post-conflict and post disaster situation while integrating conservation of environment and sustainable development with disaster and climate risk reduction. It gives more rapid guidance on which developments can go forward without Environmental Assessments (which can take several years in Nepal). In addition, ISEAs provide a forum for conflict resolution between conservation and
The project was undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE) and the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), which was established in 2016 to oversee post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. (See Annex 1 for a full list of contributors).
This lessons learnt report covers Nepal’s experience with ISEAs as an integrated approach to post-disaster/ post-crisis sustainable development planning with a focus on the road sector. It details the multi-stakeholder process undertaken to map environmental baselines, landslide susceptibility with regards to the roads designated for reconstruction under the NRA's “Post Disaster Recovery Framework”.
The resulting synthesis maps provide policy makers with a more integrated analysis and clear guidelines for “Building Back Better” in a post disaster situation. ISEAs provide data related to environmental and social issues for determining whether to conduct more in-depth EIAs. The ISEA approach is thus very useful for integrated development planning toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
