In May 2006 the cabinet of Ministers approved a cabinet paper mandating that in future all new policies, plans & programmes should undergo Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) prior to Implementation 

SEA is a systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the potential environmental effects of a policy, plan or a program and its alternatives, while giving due consideration to social and economic aspects, which in turn promotes integrated decision making.  

The main objective of the proposed SEA is to identify the remaining environmental areas in the Northern Province after 30 years of armed conflict. The study will describe the environmental features in particular those which are unique to the Northern Province with the emphasis on forest lands, catchment areas mangroves, marshes, coastal ecosystems, mineral stocks, archeological &cultural monuments etc. The identification of the remaining environmentally sensitive areas and unique environmental features in the Northern Province is vital, as such areas require protection with the rapid development taking place in this area.

The UNDP is providing financial support for this task. CEA convened a meeting with all relevant stakeholders to discus the importance of this study and to get an idea about the Regional Development plan for the Northern Province which is being prepared by the UDA.  CEA hopes to complete this study by the end of 2010.