Widening the scope: strategic environmental assessment - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 377

Table 12.2 Table for describing the baseline
(illustrative only)

Indicator Quantified

data

Comparators
and targets

Trend Problems/

constraints

Data
sources

Conserve and enhance biodiversity at the ecosystem, species and genetic levels
% SSSIs in
good condition

42 % in
authority A

58% nationally;
target 75% in
2012

getting
worse: 45
% five
years ago

Problem: below
target, worse than
average and getting
worse

…

Area of
seminatural
woodland

16 % of
authority A

8% England-wide getting

better: 13%
ten years
ago

Not a problem: better
than average and
improving

…

(Based on Levett-Therivel 2004.)

• Problems/constraints: the foregoing information may help to identify problems, for
instance where the authority is doing worse than other similar authorities and trends
are getting worse.
• Data sources.

The baseline can be presented in many different ways: as text, maps (e.g. of designated
areas, areas of deprivation, tranquil areas) and matrices (e.g. Table 12.2).
Other relevant PPPs and environmental objectives should be analysed to identify
constraints on the plan in question, and requirements that the plan must achieve. Table
12.3 shows how the relationship between the plan in question and the other plans could
be documented: the final column can help to clarify any clashes or inconsistencies
between the other policies/etc. or between the plan being assessed and the other
policies/etc.

Table 12.3 Links to other policies, plans,
programmes or objectives

Relevant policy, plan,
programme or objective

Requirement of
the policy/etc,

How the requirement is
(or may be) integrated into
the plan

Any gaps or
problems?

International

EU Habitats Directive Art. 2—[which

says…]

Plan provides (or is expected
to provide) for this by:…

Art. 3.1—[…]

…

National/regional