Importance of an EIA in Environmental Protection

At the very least, environmental impact assessments take the health of local ecosystems under consideration.

According to the Five Winds International consulting organization, "Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made."

Function

Environmental impact assessment is a process by which decisions are made to reduce negative effects on the environment that result from human activity. An assessment may alter activities or prevent them entirely.

Legislation

Many nations now have legislation or policies that provide for environmental impact assessments. In the United States the concept is enshrined under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Procedures

Before a project begins, determine whether an EIA is needed. If so, the environmental concerns are identified before the actual assessment gets under way.

Significance

Industry, government and international organizations, such as the World Bank, conduct environmental-impact assessments before proceeding with large-scale projects that raise environmental concerns.

Considerations

The methods of conducting environmental impact assessments continue to evolve. Today, there is recognition that the effects of each new project must be considered in light of the cumulative impact of past and future projects.

References

• Five Winds International: Environmental Impact Assessment
• U.S. National Parks Service: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

Resources

• Global Development Research Center: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Mekong River Commission: Mekong-Kampong Cham Bridge: Environmental Impact Assessment
• International Association For Impact Assessment: Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment