Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the socio-economic, cultural, and human-impacts of a proposed project on the environment. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning. By using EIA both economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) also ensures that the environmental consequences of the proposed plans or policies are addressed. There are several differences between environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. For instance, SEA covers a wider area and often over along time span compared to EIA. However,it does not replace the need for environmental impact assessment.
environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment
Benefits and strategic environmental assessment
Various sectors benefit from the environmental impact assessment. The government and donor agencies benefit by having an improved project design. Other benefits include avoidance of clean-up costs and reduced cost and time of project implementation. Therefore, the benefits of environmental impact assessment to local communities include a healthier environment and maintenance of biodiversity, among others. The main rule is to carry out the assessment at the earliest possible stage in a project’s development. It is much easier to resolve a problem that threatens a project’s objectives early on in a project. This, therefore, applies to both EIA and strategic environmental assessment.
benefits of environmental impact analysis
Fundamental components of environmental impact assessment
Depending on the location, nature and scale of the project, the environmental impact assessment report should contain several components. There are seven main fundamental components of EIA. The first component is screening. This, therefore, entails determining which projects or developments require partial or full assessment study. The second fundamental component of environmental impact assessment is scoping. It entails identifying potential impacts that are relevant to assess and alternative solutions to adverse impacts on biodiversity. Also, these components aim to protect the air, land, water, biological, and socio-economic and health environment. Lastly, they help to streamline and focus the incorporation of environmental concerns into the decision-making process.
fundamental components of environmental impact assessment
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