Tourism Development in Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest - Essay Example

Comparison between Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment and A Brief Proposal for Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Tourism Development in Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Introduction Located in the north western Washington, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is one of the most visited national forests in the U.S. It comprises of 1,282, 293 acres of land with 59 developed campgrounds. There are some scenic areas around the Forest that could be accessed by one of four mountain passes.1 The Forest is used as a recreational area for tourists because of its many natural attractions. The environment is a vital force to reckon with when thinking about developing tourism business concerning the Forest. Hence, it is important to utilize the best environmental assessment system. This paper offers a critical comparison between the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) with the view of identifying the one that is better appropriate for measuring the environmental conditions in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Comparison of EIA and SEA There are some differences between Economic Impact Assessment, EIA and SEA. 1. F. Dow and S. Dow, U.S. National Forest Campground Guide, Pacific North Region—Washington, Moon Canyon Publishing, Seiad Valley CA, 2005, p. 99. 2 While EIA aims to minimize impacts, SEA aims to prevent impacts right from the onset. EIA offers limited review of cumulative effects, SEA considers cumulative effects assessment as a primary task. It is a known fact that EIA focuses on standard agenda and treats systems of environmental deterioration while SEA focuses on sustainability agenda and handles sources of environmental deterioration. Similarly, EIA emphasizes on mitigating and minimizing impacts while SEA emphasizes on meeting environmental objectives and maintains natural systems. 2 Background of the SEA Commissioned to the Proposal of Tourism Development SEA is usually applicable to the proposal of tourism development through the action of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And this is done by adopting the methodologies of SEA through land-use planning, energy, waste management and transport. This multi-layered procedure requires that experts should be incorporated at every level or stage coupled with strong political will, constant funding and needful public participation in the process.3 The application of SEA supports the design of plans to regulate both the natural and infrastructural aspects of the management of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. 4 2. United Nations University, Strategic Environmental Assessment. August 2011. Viewed on 14 August 2011, http://sea.unu.edu/course/?page_id=30 3. B. Bramwell, Coastal mass tourism: diversification and sustainable development in Southern Europe, Channel View Publication, 2004, pp.147-8. 3 GIS for support generation towards Strategic Environmental Assessment It has been discovered that Geographic Information System (GIS) can be used a supporting tool towards Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Since SEA is concerned about land-use planning, spatial data and GIS can be used in SEA. This involves utilizing GIS applications and techniques that include but are not limited to digital mapping, spatial analysis (overlays and weighted overlays), modeling and participative GIS.5 The good news is that GIS can be applied to each stage of SEA, which is comprised of screening, scoping, baseline environment, strategic environmental objectives, development of alternatives, monitoring and public participation.6 This indicates that using GIS techniques will help to streamline the process of carrying out SEA. Although it is important that GIS methodology must be followed step by step before success could be recorded in this respect. There are limitations to the use of GIS towards SEA; for examples, some data are too complicated for SEA experts to analyze and apply, and they should be minimally utilized. 4. C. Jones, Strategic Environment Assessment and Land Use Planning: an International Evaluation, Earthscan, Oxford, 2005, p. 178. 5. Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), Current Practice and Potential on the Application of Geographic Information Systems as A Support Tool in Strategic Environmental Assessment, September 2009, viewed on 14 August 2011. < http://www.epa.ie/downloads/consultation/Updated%20Jan%202010%20Draft_GISEAManual.pdf> 6. Ibid. 4 Conclusion The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has the potential, as it is, to become the best Forest for visitors to flock into in the United States. However, to develop its tourism capacity, some factors should be put into consideration. As shown above, the benefits of applying Strategic Environmental Assessment are widespread compared with the Environmental Impact Assessment. SEA offers more proactive possibilities through the use of multi-system procedures to encourage land-use planning, energy conservation, waste management, transport and increasing public participation in the tourism development procedures. However, there must be a solid background for SEA implementation before a forest like Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest can have a higher tourism capacity. As a national forest, the duties to make sure that all the procedures are carefully attended to falls under the management of US Environmental protect Agency. The presence of US EPA will create more coordination that is needed to monitor stiff adherence to the procedures required in SEA. Another interesting twist in this analysis is that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to improve the processes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). This involves utilizing GIS applications and techniques that include but are not restricted to digital mapping, spatial analysis (overlays and weighted overlays), modeling and participative GIS. The wonder is that GIS, invariably, can be applied to each stage of SEA, which is comprised of screening, scoping, baseline environment, strategic 5 environmental objectives, development of alternatives, monitoring and public participation. These procedures should be regarded as a continuous process that must be carried out with the full cooperation of the public. The process of developing the tourism capacity of a site requires series of analyses: for instance, how could the natural topography of the site be developed? And what are the financial resources available for the project? To successfully develop the tourism capacity of the Forest, there must collaboration on the part of the political class, people, and the experts in charge of the systems. This may take a long time since correct and applicable assessments are required to have a reliable projection of how the site can be better utilized for tourism. And all these processes must be handled by US EPA. Read More