Agricultural reform: strategic environmental assessment - post-adoption statement

Strategic Environmental Assessment Process

The 2005 Act requires public bodies in Scotland to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on their plans, programmes and strategies. SEA is a way of examining plans as they develop to identify any significant effects they may have on the environment. It ensures that environmental considerations are taken into account and, where required, proposes mitigation measures to avoid or minimise any potentially significant adverseenvironmental effects.

The SEA process was undertaken at a point when change was being considered at programme level to ensure that is was meeting the desired outcome for the environment and also act as a baseline for the future incremental improvement towards delivering the Vision for Agriculture.

The Post Adoption SEA Statement is the final output from the SEA process and is required under the 2005 Act. It outlines how the findings of the SEA and the views of the consultees have been taken into account as the Agricultural Reform was developed.