Background

How to incorporate environmental considerations in socio-economic development is a key question that needs to be addressed by many countries in Asia and Pacific region. It is also necessary to identify region's current stresses and their interactions, identify core datasets, analyze the data and information using modern information tools, and present the outcomes in an easy understandable way for policy makers and decision makers. In this respect, integrated assessment could help integrate, reconcile, organize, and communicate knowledge across domains. Integrated assessment is a process to understand complex and interwoven environmental problems and to evaluate and suggest resource management policy options for decision-makers. The overall goal of the present exercise is to develop, using good scientific principles, a framework and tools for conducting effects-based assessments that integrate across ecological resources over large geographic scales and that address major classes of environmental problems.

Goals/Objectives

The broad goal of the project is to improve the environmental conditions by initiating projects and programs that integrates five cross-cutting disciplines of

1. Development of an operational framework and methodologies for integrated assessment, applicable to developing countries in Asia;
2. Publication and dissemination of results;
3. In-house capacity building on Integrated Assessment; and
4. Collection and storage of shared databases.

Main activities of the project include reviewing of existing literature on integrated assessment and associated methodologies, prepare a draft framework, consultations with governments, review by expert group, testing of the methodology, and publication and dissemination of the framework.

Deliverables

The following outputs will be produced during the project.

1. framework for Integrated Assessment focussing on five cross-cutting sectors, namely, land, water, air, human resources and economies;
2. A report on methodological guidelines and components represented in the framework process;;

The Regional Coordinator of UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific

will coordinate the project. World-renowned experts will be involved in reviewing the framework. National environmental agencies, international organizations and NGO/NGI’s will also involve in the process.

Time Frame

Proposed time frame for the project is 10 months starting from July, 1999.

Geograpghic Scope

The framework will be developed that can be applicable globally with a particular focus on Asia and the Pacific region.

Achievement Indicators

The followings are the achievable indicators of the project.

• An Integrated Assessment Framework is available to the national governments in the region;
• Widespread use of the Integrated Assessment Framework by the decision-makers and policy-makers in the Asia and Pacific region.

A total amount of US$ 150,000 is proposed to carry out the above activities under this project

For Further Information:

Mr. Surendra Shrestha Regional Coordinator	Tin Aung Moe
UNEP Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific Asian Institute of Technology P.O. Box 4, Klongluang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand Tel: (66-2) 524-6235, Fax: (66-2) 516-2125 Email: info@rrcap.unep.org , Home Page: www.rrcap.unep.org