Service Contract No 2007 / 147-446 Strategic ... - Swaziland

Assessment (StrEA 1 ) which will provide recommendations both to the EC and the GoS onhow to enhance the environmental performance of the NAS. Inclusion of sustainableenvironmental measures within the NAS is generally missing and the recommendationsemanating from this StrEA have required the inclusion of other state and non-state actors forimplementation. The implementation of the NAS touches in varying degrees on theenvironment (biodiversity, land degradation, water quality, habitats, etc) and it is criticallyimportant that NAS implementers endeavour to include broader participation of theSwaziland Environment Authority and other environmental actors into its programme of work.The first part of the StrEA was the Scoping Study, where key aspects were identified. Thesewere subsequently validated and adapted accordingly through a stakeholders’ workshop.Key aspects are categorised as High-, Medium- and Low-priority.The StrEA Study assessed the key aspects in further detail. An environmental baseline wasestablished; potential impacts were identified and assessed, under the assumption of noimplementation of the NAS (‘zero alternative’) and expected impacts with NASimplementation; and finally recommendations are made to address key aspects and optimiseenvironmental performance of the NAS, including performance indicators.The StrEA was based primarily on: a comprehensive literature review; bi-lateral and multilateralsemi-structured interviews with key actors; a stakeholders’ workshop using the ‘worldcafé’ format; use of Leopold-type matrices and cause-effect diagrams; site visits; expertjudgement; and a continuous communication with key stakeholders (e.g. consultations viatelephone and email exchanges). Furthermore opportunities were given to stakeholders tohave an input at key stages of the StrEA; and the scoping and StrEA Study reports werecirculated to key stakeholders for comments.It should be highlighted that the NAS was prepared in 2006. The fact that the StrEA wasnot done concurrently with NAS preparation inevitably limits the potential to influenceits contents. Nevertheless there are still opportunities to enhance the environmentalperformance of NAS implementation if the GoS and the EC have the willingness tostudy and integrate recommendations that this StrEA makes.High Priority AspectsKey Aspect 1. Water availability / climate change- Sugar cane is a water-intensive crop, and 100% of its cultivation in Swazilanddepends on irrigation.- Three main river basins feed most of the sugar cane farming areas: Usuthu, Mbuluziand Komati. These are all transboundary water courses and the management ofthese river basins is regulated under international agreements between Swaziland,South Africa and Mozambique.- Water availability is the main limiting factor for the expansion of sugar cane farming.The construction of irrigation schemes along the Usuthu (i.e. the Lower UsuthuSmallholder Irrigation Project - LUSIP) and the Komati (i.e. Maguga dam and KomatiDownstream Development Project - KDDP) has increased water availability for sugarcane expansion through purpose built storage reservoirs.1 The Acronym StrEA will be used throughout the document to designate the Strategic Environmental Assessment, and notthe internationally accepted SEA, as in Swaziland the acronym SEA designates the Swaziland Environment Authority. Theuse of the acronym SEA to designate the Strategic Environmental Assessment is nevertheless retained for the title of thereport, so it corresponds to the ToR and the common use of the acronym in the European Commission.RDMU (Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Adaptation Strategy) - Page 2