To learn more about SEA, ONEP carried out in 2007 a second SEA
exercise to assess the environmental potential in 5 provinces in the
south of Thailand. Interpretation of SEA in this case focused on an
assessment of potential of the area in carrying out development
projects such as eco-tourism, conservation, and industrial and
residential estates in balanced and sustainable way. The study was
scoped to four dimensions, consisting of environmental, social,
economic and technology aspects, particularly following the concept
as explained in the SEA guideline. (In addition to the results of the SEA
study, an integrated environmental management strategy and
strategic options for development policy were also drafted.) Although
GIS and a scoring method were used intensively to predict and
evaluate the impacts, there were uncertainties and difficulties in the scoring process such as, for example, what should be included in the
list of indicators and the criteria to be used for scoring (interview with
SEA practitioner, 2008).2 During the assessment, stakeholder participation
was considered by classifying major groups. However, the
majority of stakeholders who actually attended the public participation
event were only from the local authorities. There were no
representatives from NGOs and CSOs, and only a handful came from
the private business sector. According to the final report, major
problems encountered in the study were the following: lack of clear
procedures and guidelines for selecting suitable techniques, deficiencies
of data quality, and an imbalance between time and scope of work
required. After the project's completion, the proposed integrated
environmental management plan was distributed to the local
authority, but there is no official report nor verifiable evidence
pointing to the actual implementation or consideration of the plan
(interview, 2008).