Systemic Value of Functional Based Clusters and Strategic Environmental Assessment Framework in Integrated River Basin Master Planning

Abstract

This article explores the systemic value of integrating the Function-Based Clusters (FBCs) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) framework into Thailand’s river basin master planning. The FBC–SEA approach combines functional zoning (F1–F6 with sub-zoning) with strategic assessment processes, thereby linking spatial logic with systemic analysis. The study highlights five key dimensions of water management: domestic water supply, productive and economic uses, water-related disasters, water quality and environment, and governance and management. Drawing from empirical studies on risk mapping, SEA implementation, and participatory water governance, the analysis demonstrates that FBC–SEA enhances upstream–downstream causal reasoning, strengthens participatory governance through functional-zone forums, improves climate resilience by facilitating scenario development, and provides measurable outputs such as policy maps, indicators, and dashboards. Furthermore, risk maps superimposed on FBC zones identify vulnerable areas and enable spatial prioritization to achieve equity across urban, agricultural, and marginalized communities. In contrast, conventional SEA applied without spatial-functional integration tends to remain fragmented and less effective in capturing systemic relationships and more oriented toward short-term measures. The study concludes that adopting the FBC–SEA framework in full can transform river basin master plans into living plans that are transparent, adaptive, and aligned with global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.