Abstract
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was formally adopted as a measure to protect the environment in Bahrain in 1998. A decade after its implementation, this paper evaluates the current EIA system in Bahrain using a set of criteria. The evaluation was based on review of literature, investigation of legislative and administrative framework and interviews with EIA practitioners. Several measures are required to further strengthen the EIA system in Bahrain including amending EIA laws to include whole aspects of EIA process, developing comprehensive guidelines on procedural EIA, increasing public participation, improving capacity building and integrating environmental concerns to higher-level policy making through existing national environmental strategies. Findings of this study could contribute to wider international experience of EIA performance in developing countries.
Highlights
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is considered a standard tool for decision-making in most countries throughout the world [1]
Foundation measures are actions undertaken to improve the effectiveness of EIA system including the existence of EIA guidelines, training, capacity building and professional recognition (Table 1)
This study initially evaluated the practice of EIA in Bahrain
Summary
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is considered a standard tool for decision-making in most countries throughout the world [1]. EIA aims at integrating environmental considerations in the decision-making system, minimizing or avoiding adverse impacts, protecting natural systems and their ecological processes, and implementing principles of sustainable development [2]. Recognizing the role of EIA in protecting environment from degradation and pollution associated with economic developments, many developing countries have developed EIA legislations [4]. Variations in EIA effectiveness and performance in developing countries have widely been reported and attributed to weaknesses in legal regulations, administrative procedures, impact prediction approaches, and decision-making processes [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Oil economies have enabled accelerated developments in Arabian Gulf countries. These developments are often associated with environmental degradation. While early EIA systems in several developing countries were introduced due to the requirements of donor institutions [12], EIA systems in the Arabian Gulf countries were nationally adopted to protect the environment from the rapid urbanization and industrialization [13]
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