ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 examined the SEA Protocol, which is the only international legal instrument to regulate the assessment of strategic proposals, albeit largely in a national context and currently not in force. This chapter considers other MEAs that, while not requiring SEA, suggest its use as a means of implementing treaty provisions. In most cases SEA is recommended as a significant aspect of EA, which has been shown to have benefits generally in protecting biodiversity through the application of the precautionary principle. The role of EA has also had positive benefits in developing collective approaches to the implementation of these conventions, the most significant of which have had a focus on conservation. As such, the chapter first considers the relationship between the precautionary principle, EA and biodiversity conservation, before examining the role of treaties in promoting the use of SEA to conserve biodiversity. The remainder of the chapter analyses the place of SEA within four specific conventions, before conclusions are drawn.
