The contribution of public participation in a good-quality strategic environmental assessment (SEA)

The public participation is an indispensable part of environmental assessment systems. Thanks to these systems, all interested stakeholders in the decision making process are recognized and respected in the final decision as well as their inquiry rights about the proposed activity. Involvement is one of the important ways for productive working of environmental assessment processes and for increasing the quality of these works. Therefore, the public involvement has a vital role on the most accurate decisions about investments. In project level-environmental assessment practices, important steps have been taken in receiving and evaluating the public's point of views for long years. However, how the participation should be can not be solved in strategic decision making processes about policies, plans and programs. This is one of the problems requiring solution in the integration of SEA into national legislation system and its effective practice. In every phase of strategic decision-making processes, preparations for a social infrastructure related to this issue-more productive public participation at the expected level-are required. The socio-economic structure of a country, the education level of people, environmental awareness level and efficiencies of volunteer organizations are important factors on the success of the participation. This article sheds light on the basic principles related to the process of public participation and how an effective participation can be attained in SEA practices at the policy, plan and program level. © 2016 PSP