The evaluation process in planning of river basin.Strategic Environmental Assessment methodology on the Po Valley Special Project

In our country the hydro-geological risk management was always considered a sector theme of territorial planning with weak results on effectiveness of precautionary actions and ex-ante land use policies. This situation is increasingly in the frequent episodes of instability that have interested, in recent years, large portions of the country with serious consequences for the urbanized area. The planning of the river basin is of particular importance to implement the greater integration between land use planning and hydro-geological resources management. In this perspective, the Po river basin Authority has promoted an innovative planning approach in the Po Valley Special Project has introduced new integrated and strategic goals. The paper discusses this new strategic vision, with particular focus on the methodology of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the planning of the Po river basin. The SEA methodology, developed and tested during the multidisciplinary research project coordinated for the Po river basin Authority in 2008, has been designed with the aim of strengthening the implementation of river basin planning at local level.