Integrating Environmental Value into Strategic Environmental Assessment: An Empirical Application to a Multipurpose Rural Water Development Project in South Korea

Abstract

This study examines the empirical feasibility of quantitatively integrating environmental value information into Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). An analytical framework was established to incorporate environmental cost estimates into the SEA process by utilizing ecosystem service unit values provided by the Environmental Valuation Information System (EVIS), a national platform developed to support the evaluation of policies and projects. The framework was applied to a case study involving a multipurpose rural water development project in South Korea. Ecosystem service losses resulting from the project were quantified using biophysical indicators, such as vegetation biomass, forest area, and hydrological functions, and subsequently monetized through the application of the market price method, replacement cost method, and contingent valuation method. The total annual environmental cost was estimated to be approximately KRW 56.18 billion, with the majority attributable to losses in forest conservation and climate regulation services. These findings demonstrate that quantified environmental data can serve as a robust basis for alternative comparison and site evaluation within SEA. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the advancement of SEA from a predominantly procedural tool focused on environmental protection to a more comprehensive sustainability assessment framework that integrates environmental, economic, and social considerations. Furthermore, the results suggest that EVIS-based quantitative information holds potential for broader application in other national evaluation systems, such as preliminary feasibility studies and regulatory impact assessments.