Fifth Stakeholders’ Consultation of the Pilot SEA Project: Prioritizing Mitigation Measures for Tourism-Related Environmental Issues
May 7, 2024
Category
Bostonlik, Uzbekistan, May 7, 2024 – Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Uzbekistan conducted the fifth stakeholders’ consultation meeting on the project “Support for the Realization of a Pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)” implemented by GGGI in partnership the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan (MEEPCC), funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The consultation was conducted to discuss ecological implications of establishing Charvak Free Touristic Zone (Charvak FTZ) in the Bostonlik district and to engage the stakeholders in the prioritization of issue mitigation measures identified on the fourth stakeholders’ consultation on February 21, 2024.
Tourism significantly impacts the environment of the Bostonlik district. While the area’s enchanting nature, scenic views, and fresh air draw visitors looking to escape urban life, these attractions are increasingly at risk due to environmental degradation caused by tourism. That is why it is essential to include SEAs into touristic planning. SEA is a vital tool for integrating environmental considerations into the development of policies, programs, and plans, such as Charvak FTZ Masterplan in our case, promoting sustainability and informed decision-making at a strategic level.
The consultation gathered representatives from various relevant organizations including Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Bostonlik khokimiyat, FTZ “Charvak”, Ugam Chatkal National Park, Center for Progressive Reforms and several other local entities.
The stakeholders compiled and prioritized a list of environmental issues in the area:
- Insufficient waste management and collection services for building construction waste
- Insufficient waste management and collection services for non-residential/guest houses
- Air pollution due to congestion by cars
- Degradation of forests, protected areas, and biodiversity due to tourism
- Landscape erosion and landslide risk due to inappropriate infrastructure
- Insufficient supply and excessive use of electricity by tourists/guest houses
- Insufficient sanitation capacity and impact on water quality and health
- Insufficient regulation and tax collection for tourism in private residence
Participants also assessed environmental problems and mitigation measures, prioritizing 10 main sustainability issues in Bostonlik with more than 80 solutions to address them. The measures and issues were scored based on their feasibility and impact respectively. This resulted in a list of mitigation measures with high feasibility solutions chosen for potential implementation. For instance, to mitigate the effects of air quality problems, the recommendation of promoting green building standards for tourism infrastructure to minimize energy consumption and emissions was found to be the most feasible and impactful.
Mr. Shakirov Qanot, Chief specialist of the Eco-tourism department of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, stated the profound impact of the tourism sector on the environment, highlighting the relevance of ongoing projects to protect natural areas and ecosystems. “Once the Strategic Environmental Assessment pilot is developed, this type of assessment can be scaled up and implemented in other sectors,” said Mr. Shakirov.
As the project progresses, multi-stakeholder engagement remains to be essential in integrating local knowledge and expertise into the SEA project. To continue such collaborations, GGGI plans to organize a follow-up meeting with governmental representatives to discuss investment-centric solutions and recommendations.
About Pilot SEA Project:
On 15 February 2023, GGGI and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed an agreement to promote sustainable development through the SEA project. The project is assessing the Free Tourist Zone (FTZ) Charvak masterplan which considers three policies at both national (Decree No. DP-5611) and regional levels (Decree No. PF-5273 and the Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, on measures to organize the activities of the FTZ “Charvak). The project consists of four phases, the first two (Screening and Scoping) have already been completed.
The third phase, the implementation of the SEA Study, is currently under development by Civitta, a consulting firm, while GGGI is supporting additional data collection and project fulfillment.
For more information, visit the project webpage: Pilot SEA project