Environmental Impact Assessment Reports Research Articles

Evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures in environmental impact assessments: A comprehensive review of development projects in Korea

Rapid urbanization and development projects in Korea have posed significant threats to biodiversity; thus, effective mitigation measures are required to preserve natural habitats. Nevertheless, the factors underlying variations in mitigation measure effectiveness according to the disturbance level and surrounding environmental conditions have not been clarified. This study evaluated the effectiveness of mitigation measures implemented in environmental impact assessments (EIAs) of development projects in Korea, with a focus on their effectiveness with respect to the disturbance level and surrounding environmental conditions. A review of 288 EIA reports from selected projects that implemented all 10 mitigation measures classified according to the Wildlife Conservation Comprehensive Plan was conducted. Using the biodiversity tipping point framework, the effects of mitigation measures on biodiversity were categorized into four levels and analyzed. Analysis of variance and redundancy analysis were then performed to discern the variance in mitigation measure effectiveness in terms of the disturbance level, surrounding environment, and species. The results revealed significant variations in the effectiveness of mitigation measures depending on the surrounding environment and disturbance level. Linear projects exhibited a clear impact on various species as the disturbance level increased, whereas area-based projects did not exhibit such pronounced effects. All species demonstrated a negative relationship with development duration, development area, and distance from urban centers. Notably, avian and amphibian species showed a strong negative correlation with the digital elevation model while reptiles and mammals exhibited a strong positive relationship with pre-development biodiversity and distance from protected areas, respectively. Mitigation measures play a key role in alleviating the adverse effects of development projects; therefore, our findings indicate the need for spatially tailored mitigation plans to augment their effectiveness.

An evaluation of air quality impact prediction performance undertaken as part of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in India

Effective implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is recognised as a global issue, in particular the impact prediction stage, which is the ‘core’ of EIA. Consisting of four stages: impact identification, impact assessment, significance evaluation, and mitigation measures on the possible environmental repercussions of project developmental activities, the efficacy of impact prediction can define the quality of the EIA process, which will better align environmental decision-making to sustainable development. The weakness of impact prediction in EIA demands more study to enhance practice. Although this is widely explored in the context of developed countries such as the UK, it is particularly concerning in India. A specialised review package built from several sources is utilised to assess the efficacy of air quality impact prediction, based on Lee & Colley (1991). 20 EIA reports of Category A (mega-scale projects causing significant environmental impacts) are reviewed. This study's evaluation indicates that significance evaluation and mitigation actions are the weakest phases and a major concern while assessing air quality studies conducted as a part of EIA. Recommendations to improve the process include prioritising the cumulative impact assessment within the regulatory framework, enhancing capacity building, embedding public participation and instilling accountability among stakeholders, which can be adopted globally. Additional recommendations specifically for India are revising the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), restructuring the EIA review mechanism by EAC and improving mitigation measures by adopting GIS and remote sensing technologies.

Consideration of Climate Change on Environmental Impact Assessment in Tanzania: Challenges and Prospects.

The potential of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process to respond to climate change impacts of development projects can only be realized with the support of policies, regulations, and actors' engagement. While considering climate change in EIA has become partly mandatory through the EU revised Directive in Europe, African countries are still lagging. This paper assesses Tanzanian policies, laws, regulations, and EIA reports to uncover consideration of climate change impacts, adaptation, and mitigation measures, drawing from the transformational role of EIA. The methodology integrates content analysis, interpretive policy analysis, and discourse analysis. The analyses draw from environmental policy, three regulatory documents and three EIA reports in Tanzania using a multi-cases study design. The aim was to understand how considering Climate Change issues in EIA has played out in practice. Results reveal less consideration of climate change issues in EIA. The policy, laws, and regulations do not guide when and how the EIA process should consider climate change-related impacts mitigation and adaptation. The practice of EIA in the country is utterly procedural in line with regulations provisions. Consequently, environmental impact statements only profile the climatology of the study area without conducting a deeper analysis of the historical and future climate to enhance the resilience of proposed projects. The weakness exposed in the laws and regulations contributes to the challenges of responding to the impacts of climate change through the EIA process. It is possible to address climate change issues throughout the project life cycle, including design, approval, implementation, monitoring, and auditing, provided the policy and regulations guide how and when the EIA process should consider climate change issues. Additionally, increasing stakeholders' awareness and participation can enhance the EIA process's potential to respond to the impacts of climate change.

Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment legislation in Pakistan

ABSTRACT Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was introduced in Pakistan in 1997 with the enactment of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act followed by EIA regulations in 2000 both of which remained in use for over two decades. The legislation has recently been updated by two provinces which the study aimed to evaluate using the Next Generation Framework (NGF). NGF is based on good practice criteria which is used for the evaluation of legislation. Strengths of the legislation are that it has exclusive lists of projects requiring either a preliminary or a detailed EIA, clear timelines for review and decision-making, requirements for EIA follow-up, and penalties in case of non-compliance. However, the legislation has multiple shortcomings; for instance, there are no requirements to do scoping, consider alternatives, and make EIA reports public. The framework is helpful to evaluate the quality of legislation and explore reasons for weaknesses in EIA practice. The good practices in the framework may also be used to formulate guidance documents. The results hold importance not just for Pakistan, but the international policymakers may also learn from the strengths and weaknesses identified in this study and revise their respective legislation accordingly.

A Quality Review of EIA: A Comparative Study of State-Funded and International Aid Agency-funded Development Projects in Sri Lanka

A development project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a tool for mitigating the effects on the environment and promoting sustainable development. EIA is an expensive and professionally engaged process that involves the public. Many countries around the world have long-standing laws in place connected to this topic, as well as solid knowledge and experience. One persistent argument against the efficacy of EIA in developing nations is that the procedure and quality differ from country to country. The International Aid Agencies (IAA) have their guidelines for protecting the environment while following local environmental assessment standards for any financing requirements. IAA involvement in the EIA process might significantly affect how well- written EIA reports are. To evaluate the assessment quality, six EIA reports from state-financed development projects (SL-EIAs) and another six development projects EIAs funded by the IAA (IAA-EIAs) in Sri Lanka were randomly chosen. LeeCooley review package (1990) was used to evaluate the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) of each EIA. In this investigation, it was discovered that IAA-EIAs and SL-EIAs had a significant difference in overall quality. IAA-EIAs show values that range from highly satisfactory to satisfactory and each share 50 percent, whereas SL-EIAs indicate 83 percent satisfactory and 17 percent of borderline quality. In comparison to the SL-EIAs, all four review areas of the IAA-EIAs performed notably well. While the SL-EIA shows good to borderline quality (0.66-0.72), all evaluated IAA-EIA reports reveal highly satisfactory to satisfactory (0.81-0.93) quality. The engagement of IAA in the environmental assessment has a considerable impact to improve assessment quality in comparison to the only domestic assessment. Finding the weak area in the SL-EIA process and adhering to the IAA standards would elevate the standard of the report.
 Keywords: EIA quality, Review, International Aid Agency, Development projects

Assessing the existing guidelines of environmental impact assessment and mitigation measures for future hydropower projects in Pakistan

Introduction: More than 16% of the total electricity used worldwide is met by hydropower, having local to regional environmental consequences. With positive indicators that energy is becoming more broadly available and sustainable, the world is moving closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). Pakistan became the first nation to include the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its national development strategy.Methodology: The current study sought to investigate the structural limits of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidelines for hydropower development in Pakistan. The study included the document review of the EIA reports about hydropower projects in Pakistan, scientific questionnaires from decision-makers, and public consultation.Results and Discussion: The document evaluates that an adequate mechanism is available, and donors like the Asian Development Bank and World Bank observe the implementation process of EIA in Pakistan. However, a comprehensive analysis of the EIA system found several things that could be improved, not only in the institutional framework but also in actual implementation and practices. More than 20% of respondent decision-makers disagreed with the compliance of the current Institutional Framework with EIA guidelines, and 25% think that the existing guidelines followed in Pakistan are not aligned with international standards and practices for Hydropower in actual practice. EIA has a limited impact on decision-making due to insufficient technical and financial resources.Recommendations: There should be a think tank with experts who can meet the needs of present and future epochs. The public should be communicated with and educated about EIA. For better efficiency, the officers and decision-makers should be trained internationally, i.e., the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).

Disregard of aquatic shrews in the Environmental Impact Assessment reports regarding hydropower dams in the Nepal Himalayas

AbstractThe rate of hydropower dam construction on rivers is increasing in emerging economies in South Asia, to achieve economic development goals. These large infrastructure projects are likely to have many negative consequences on freshwater species but have not yet received much consideration. Among freshwater small mammalian species, water shrews are seriously impacted by these large structures. This paper aims to determine if water shrews have been considered during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of these hydro dam project sites, as well as present the sightings of the water shrews from Nepalese rivers with hydropower potential. We reviewed 44 EIA reports of such projects in Nepal using a set of four criteria and 15 questions to analyze the methods of impact assessment for mammals and the reports on the presence of water shrews in each built area. The study found that the number of mammal species reported during the EIA varied from five to 55 species but no relationships between the hydropower structure's size and any water shrew species were considered in the studies. In almost all EIA reports, the term aquatic ecosystem was prioritized over the term aquatic small mammals, and the latter was not considered in the assessment. The major reason for not considering these species is probably due to the lack of robust methods to capture small mammals such as shrews, or due to survey methods focused only on terrestrial mammals. The Aquatic Animal Protection Act was fully reviewed and assured to be followed in a majority of the reports, yet the monitoring parameters and indicators were not available for aquatic small mammals. Ignoring the presence of these mammals while constructing hydropower plants is a serious threat to their persistence. We also reported the Himalayan water shrew in the Barun River and the elegant water shrew in the Upper Tamakoshi River of Nepal. Therefore, a better understanding of these species among hydropower developers, and all concerned agencies, is essential.

Mainstreaming Climate Change into EIA Process in Nigeria: Perspectives from Projects in Northern Nigeria

The persistent issue of drought in Northern Nigeria is exacerbated by the reduction in precipitation and rise in temperature. Nigeria is being impacted by climate change in diverse ways, necessitating the immediate implementation of proactive measures to tackle its challenges. It is crucial to integrate adaptation and mitigation into the country's development plans. The objective of the study is to identify current practices, gaps, and opportunities for incorporating climate change into the EIA framework; and the integration of climate change considerations into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process from projects in Northern Nigeria. The study assesses various criteria in EIA reports, such as vulnerability assessments, climate projections, adaptation measures, stakeholder engagement, and policy compliance. A self-created questionnaire titled "Mainstreaming Climate Change within EIA" was utilized to collect data. The questionnaire was designed with an interactive format, divided into three main categories (Category A, B, C). It was conducted between February and April 2022, with 400 potential volunteers receiving electronic and hard copies of questionnaires, resulting in 127 valid responses. The findings from five EIA reports of projects in Northern Nigeria revealed significant gaps in addressing climate change, including limited attention to vulnerability and risk assessments, inadequate reporting of adaptation measures, and insufficient stakeholder engagement. Key stakeholder interviews conducted support the relevance and significance of incorporating climate change adaptation skills into the EIA process. However, the study contends that in order for stakeholders to accept mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation, institutional and policy changes are needed.

Stakeholder Engagement: Analyzing the Role of Community Participation in EIA Document Crafting for PT Semen Indonesia's Cement Plant

This study aims to clarify the community involvement process in preparing AMDAL papers for the construction of a cement plant by PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk in Rembang Regency, Central Java Province. An Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) document is mandatory for any development and mining operation and must be prepared by the party responsible. The community's involvement in decision-making and evaluation stages is crucial for the construction site. This research utilizes a normative technique incorporating a statutory, conceptual, and case-based approach. The findings illustrate community engagement through their involvement in preparing AMDAL papers. This study investigates the level of community engagement in preparing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for establishing a cement factory by PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk in Rembang Regency, Central Java Province. Furthermore, it examines the disputes between PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and the local community on regulating community involvement in preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) document

JUSTIFICATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF NORMALIZING THE LEVEL OF GREENING OF SANITARY AND PROTECTIVE ZONES OF OPERATING QUARRY ROCK DUMPS IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

To reduce the impact of polluted air on human health it is important to expand the areas of green spaces and create healthier conditions for the local population to live and reproduce biodiversity. Dumps of overburden the surface of which has reached intensive self-overgrowth with grass and tree-shrub vegetation and the industry of the adjacent land should be considered as fabricated objects with a high potential of gas-absorbing capacity of pollutants from the surface layer of atmospheric air. A comparison of the amount of emissions of pollutants which are directly during the dumping of overburden dumps with the ability of vegetation to adsorb them during the growing season revealed the following: rather high indicators of the absorption capacity for sulfur oxide and the ability to self-clean the surface layer of the air as well as an additional balance of regenerated oxygen due to green vegetation. Calculations of emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from vehicles were made taking into account unloading operations from the dumping of mining mass into a dump and taking into account their formation during the combustion of fuel from internal combustion engines of special equipment according to specific indicators. The analysis of the cartographic material showed a sufficient level of greening of the sanitary and protective zone of the dumps in accordance with the territory planning recommendations. The possibility of self-cleaning of the surface air layer should be considered during the preparation of relevant environmental impact assessment reports of the planned economic activity and during the planning of dumping, the volumes of which are related to the gradual advancement of the work front in the quarry. This will make it possible to consider industrial lands with a high level of greening as one of the ways to increase the ESG rating of economic activity in terms of the impact of environmental risks on atmospheric air quality and its minimization due to a sufficient level of industrial lands greening.

THE EXPERT OPINION VS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT

In the presented study, the author raised the issue of the environmental impact assessment report as evidence in administrative proceedings. The article presents mainly the position of case law in this regard. Considerations in this area concerned two means of evidence carried out within the framework of administrative proceedings; namely, expert opinion evidence and private document evidence.

Gaps between Stakeholders` Concerns and Mitigation Measures in ESIA Reports of Geothermal Energy Projects: A Case Study of Geothermal Energy Projects in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya

Geothermal energy serves as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in developing countries, catering to electricity needs, supporting socio-economic development, and striving towards sustainable development goals. It also poses potential negative impacts on the environment and society. This study conducted a comparative analysis of mitigation measures and stakeholders' concerns across eight environmental and social impact assessment reports (ESIA) for geothermal energy development projects in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Mitchell's mitigation hierarchy guideline (1997) was used to examine the purpose of 708 proposed mitigation measures for eight environmental and nine social criteria extracted from the literature and then a deductive qualitative content analysis were used to categorize these measures according to 18 criteria collected from the literature. Additionally, using an inductive qualitative content analysis, the study analysed 680 stakeholders' concerns sourced from public participation materials in the ESIA reports, identifying four main thematic categories and twenty-two subcategories. Stakeholders expressed concerns predominantly about socio-economic (52%) and development matters (20%), while ESIA reports offered fewer social mitigation measures (28.7%) compared to environmental ones (71.3%). Nonetheless, a strong correlation between the environmental and social mitigation measures proposed for our 17 criteria demonstrates a higher proportion of measures in power plant construction projects. Despite this, communities voiced apprehensions about new involuntary resettlement plans, economic opportunities, and unrealized corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. Furthermore, the study revealed that local communities complained about the adverse effects of previous geothermal development projects, including air, water, and soil pollution, impacting their health, crop production, and livestock. This research highlights the discrepancy between stakeholders' concerns and mitigation measures in ESIA reports, attributed to possible inadequacies in the conduct of social impact assessment and public participation, leading to misunderstandings regarding project impacts and benefits among local communities. To address these issues, this paper recommends a more comprehensive understanding of social aspects, the consideration of cumulative impacts from other geothermal projects in the same area, and transparent communication to avoid unrealistic or costly promises during the realization of ESIA reports for geothermal energy projects

Review of Polish practices used in landscape assessment in the environmental impact assessment with a recommended procedure

The landscape impact assessment of planned developments is an important tool that supports landscape protection. As part of the analysis, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports were reviewed in terms of the methods of landscape impact assessment (LIA) and landscape visual impact assessment (LVIA). The study was conducted in two stages, which made it possible to compare analyses prepared in Poland in 2004-2017 and 2018-2022. The conclusions of the review, supported by our scientific and practical experience, were the basis for developing a diagram for preparing landscape impact assessments. Considering the specificity of the given location and the type of the planned development, we recommend taking a reliable inventory and conducting a valuation of the landscape and creating alternatives of possible changes caused by anthropogenic interference and assess them in terms of landscape consistency.

Quality of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports for Lodge Developments in Protected Areas: The Okavango Delta Case, Botswana

This paper evaluates the quality of environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports for lodge developments in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which is a wetland of international importance and forms part of a transboundary conservation area and world heritage site. A quality review of 31 EIA reports, approved between 2013 and 2021, was conducted by applying a context specific EIA report quality review package. The review package consists of four review areas with seventeen categories and 64 sub-categories, adapted from similar international packages to address the specific legal requirements for EIA in Botswana as well as best practice. Results show that the overall quality of the reports are poor, with 71% graded as ‘unsatisfactory’. In general, descriptive areas of the EIA reports fared better, while the performance of the more analytical areas was ‘poor’. Key areas of weakness include - the identification of impacts; prediction and assessment of impact magnitude; as well as identifying alternatives and mitigation measures. Overall results suggest that currently EIA report content is insufficient to inform decision-making towards sustainable tourism development in the Okavango Delta. It is recommended that areas of weakness can be addressed by providing clear strategic direction; developing a central data management system; setting norms and standards for tourism development as well as building capacity and awareness of key stakeholders. This will ensure that EIA remains a tool of choice for decision making and avoid becoming a mere ‘red-tape’/administrative process aimed at securing development approvals.

Roads as conduits for alien plant introduction and dispersal: The amplifying role of road construction in Ambrosia trifida dispersal

The initial disruption caused by road construction, combined with ongoing vehicular traffic and regular road maintenance, can repeatedly disturb the environment in ways that favor introduced alien plants. We hypothesized that several characteristics of road construction influence the introduction of alien plants and analyzed 444 Environmental Impact Assessment reports for insights into the relationship between the progression of construction and alien plant richness. Additionally, we believed that roads enhance seed dispersal post-construction, and tested this using Ambrosia trifida patches on completed roads. In 41 construction sites, a total of 137 alien plant species were identified, with 120 introduced after the onset of construction. Significant correlations were found between alien plant richness and road characteristics, with wider roads experiencing more newly introduced species, while longer roads had more total alien plants. As construction progressed, the richness of alien plants generally increased, with around 88 % of sites showing this trend. Changes in alien plant composition during construction revealed a transition from perennial to annual dominance. Post-construction, we found that vehicles played a role in Ambrosia trifida seed dispersal, with seeds predominantly dispersing in the direction of traffic. This study provides information on alien plant species that are commonly introduced and rapidly dispersed due to road construction. Overall, we showed that road construction and subsequent vehicle traffic are primary factors in the spread of alien plants, necessitating early management measures during construction to prevent their proliferation.

Geodynamic processes in the territory of the Svidovets mountain massif of the Ukrainian Carpathians (in the zone of the planned creation of a tourist and recreation complex)

The purpose of the research is a comprehensive analysis of various geodynamic natural processes on the territory of the Svydovets mountain massif of the Ukrainian Carpathians - the zone of the planned creation of a tourist and recreational complex for the development of a program for their further detailed study in the area of the planned activity (PА). The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis of the manifestation and course of dangerous geodynamic processes based on source information and individual studies of the authors. The Svydovets massif is located within the Central Synclinal Zone of the Carpathians, which is composed of Eocene and Oligocene chalk flysch. The highest part of the ridge with the southwestern and southern slopes and peaks Chorna Kleva (1720 m), Ruska (1678 m), Bratkivska (1788 m), Gropa (1759 m) is confined to the territory of the PA. The massif is characterized by a complex division of thrust structural slices of the Porkuletsky, Duklyansky and Chornohirsky nappes (covers). There are very steep north-eastern and gentle south-western slopes. The main forms of relief that characterize relict glacial relief are cirques, glacial valleys, rocky cirque ridges, steep rocky walls of cirques, moraine deposits, etc. On the southern and northern macroslopes of the Bratkivska Range, stone placers have been preserved from the Ice Age. Slope placers on the south-western macroslopes (areas of the Gropa, Ruska and Chorna Kleva mountains) are potentially dangerous for the formation of landslides and screes. Activities on the middle and lower slopes require special attention, where there is a possible negative impact during the construction of roads, felling and transportation of forest. Earthquakes, mudslides, landslides, debris flows, landslides, and avalanches are among the most dangerous processes on the territory of the PA. Earthquakes are of minor magnitude. Landslides and ossips are common on the northern and eastern slopes of the Svydovets massif, including on the watersheds and southwestern slopes of the Bratkivsky ridge. They are confined to slopes of considerable steepness (more than 35°) and occupy a small area. Small landslides with a volume of several tens of cubic meters of rock predominate, and rockfalls with fragments of 1-1.5 m in size. Landslide processes are widespread in the Ukrainian Carpathians, in particular within the PA in the Krosno tectonic subzone, which covers the latitudinal segment of the upper basin of the Chorna Tysza and the Yasinya syncline. Manifestations of avalanche activity on the Svydovets massif occupy one of the first places in the Ukrainian Carpathians along with the Chornohora and Borzhava ridges. The length of avalanches can be more than 1.5 km, and the volumes of avalanches - more than 400,000 m³. The Bratkivsky ridge is a non-avalanche active area, while the northern slope of the Svydovets massif and the Chorna Tysza valley are avalanche- dangerous. Considering that the PA territory covers mainly the southern slope of the Bratkivsky ridge, the avalanche danger is insignificant. Scientific novelty. The manifestation and activity of various dangerous geodynamic processes within the territory of the Svydovets massif - a zone of possible anthropogenic impact on the environment as a result of PA for the development of the ski resort - are analyzed in detail. Practical significance. The results of the research will help to the future developer of the ski tourist and recreational complex to develop a program for further detailed study of dangerous natural phenomena at the planned construction site, and can be partially used in the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for PA. They also inform the public about the possible impact of PA on the environment.

Assessment of the Level of Biodiversity Integration in Environmental Impact Assessment Reports in Nigeria

Inclusion of biodiversity into Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) process has been recognised as a means of addressing biodiversity loss. This study evaluated the extent of biodiversity inclusion in Nigeria`s EIA reports. One Hundred (100) sectoral EIA reports from Power, Manufacturing, Agric/Roads, Petroleum, and Infrastructure were assessed using the Biodiversity Inclusion Index obtained from 6 blended criteria and 38 attributes used across the globe for similar research. Results showed: above average assessment of biodiversity in the Project areas, integration of different levels of biodiversity elements, elucidation of short and long-term impacts on biodiversity, description of impact identification methodology/approaches as well as the rationale for using them. There were clear identification of project vulnerable stakeholders / beneficiaries of ecosystem services and allocation of responsibilities for managing impacts. In contrast, maps of the project area did not highlight biodiversity sensitive areas, urban and other industrial establishments, and projects, including distances to coastal area, water bodies and their ecologically sensitivities. There was insufficient identification of biodiversity components likely to be affected by project activities to enable impact prediction; non or poor identification and assessment of species habitats; limited explanation of ecosystem interactions and services rendered by endemic species. The study found gaps on the description of primary, secondary, and cumulative biodiversity impacts at ecosystem, species, and genetic levels as well as in species compositions and functions. Thus, specific measures for biodiversity conservation / restoration plans as well as financial allocation for biodiversity related action plan were poorly provided or non-existent. The results indicated biodiversity inclusion mean score of Power (65.7%), Petroleum (60.5%), Manufacturing (53.7%), Infrastructure (53.1%) and Agric/Road (42.5%)) with overall mean of 55.7%. The results confirmed significant biodiversity inclusion mean difference between Agric/Roads, Power, and Petroleum sectors. Recommendations were made to improve EIA processes in Nigeria by domesticating advancements in biodiversity conservation.

Assessing the Inclusion of Critical Habitat Evaluation in Nigeria's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reports: A Crucial Step towards Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development

Assessing the Inclusion of Critical Habitat Evaluation in Nigeria's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reports: A Crucial Step towards Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development

Protecting the Habitats of Endangered Species Through Environmental Public Interest Litigation in China: Lessons Learned from Peafowl Versus the Dam

Abstract Green Peafowl stands as a landmark lawsuit in China where environmental NGOs successfully halted a project threatening habitat of endangered species. By examining this case, this analysis evaluates the promise and limitations of China’s civil environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) in protecting habitat. Under civil EPIL’s broad and flexible framework, environmental NGOs can convince the courts that a government-approved project would destroy the ‘biological habitat’ for endangered species and hold project developers accountable. By arguing that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) institution is jointly liable by preparing a flawed report, environmental NGOs can also use civil EPIL as an alternative avenue to challenge the quality of an approved EIA report. However, the timing of judicial intervention, uncertainties of litigation outcomes, the scope of protection, and the court’s attitude towards EIA claims limit the effectiveness of civil EPIL. This analysis highlights the need to address regulatory failures revealed by Green Peafowl.

A framework of stakeholder analysis for public participation in EIA process: a case study of Thailand

ABSTRACT This study aims to 1) investigate current stakeholder analysis in Thai Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, 2) explore the opinions of key informants regarding the elements of stakeholder analysis relevant to Thai EIA, and 3) develop a framework of stakeholder analysis for public participation (PP) in the Thai EIA process. Qualitative methods were employed by reviewing 18 EIA reports, interviewing 36 key informants, and brainstorming in a workshop to develop a framework. The proposed framework of stakeholder analysis includes five domains: 1) context exploration, 2) stakeholder identification, 3) stakeholder categorisation, 4) determination of participation level, and 5) participatory technique selection. The finding suggested that key elements considered in the domains should include the identification of vulnerable groups, the characterisation of stakeholders, getting multiple groups of people involved in determining participation level, and assigning professional facilitator(s) in PP. This study recommends applying conflict resolution strategies e.g. generating informal contact with potential mainstays before public consultation, involving key stakeholders in an advisory committee, and using a local academic mediator.