The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of forecasting and assessing the environmental hazard & effect of a proposed project or development scheme, taking into account co-related socio-economic, culture, and impacts due to human activity, both beneficial and harmful effects.
There are various human activities that affect the environment. These effects of human activities related to the use of environmental resources on the natural environment are known as Environmental impacts. The prediction and evaluation of environmental effects of human activities are collectively called Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The effects of human activities related to the use of environmental resources on the natural environment are called Environmental Impacts. The prediction and assessment of environmental effects of human activities are collectively called Environmental Impact Assessment.
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Types of Environmental Impact Assessment
It is categorized into 4 parts.
- Strategic Environmental Assessment
- Regional Environmental Assessment
- Sectoral Environmental Assessment
- Project level Environmental Assessment
1. Strategic Environmental Assessment
A Strategic Environmental Assessment is a methodical approach to a systematic approach to analyzing the environmental risks and outcomes of development policies, plans, programs, and other proposed strategic actions. SEA provides a proactive approach that takes environmental considerations into account in decision-making at a higher level beyond the project level when key alternatives are still open.
2. Regional Environmental Assessment
Regional environmental assessment refers to economic and environmental development plans. This approach makes it possible to properly integrate economic development with the management of renewable natural resources within the limits of our ability to achieve sustainable development. It meets macro-level environmental integration requirements that project-based EIAs cannot effectively address. Regional EIAs establish the environmental impact of regional development plans and, accordingly, contextualize EIAs at the level of subsequent projects in the region.
3. Sectoral Environmental Assessment
As an alternative to EIA at the project level, EIA should be carried out in the context of planning at the regional and sectoral levels. EIA’s scope at the project level is minimal when sectoral development plans address complex sectoral environmental challenges. Sectoral EIA help address specific environmental issues that may arise in the planning and execution of sectoral development projects.
4. Project level Environmental Assessment
In many countries around the world where EIA is enforced, development projects such as highway and highway construction, port construction, hydropower projects, manufacturing projects, mining projects, etc. undergo an environmental review before being allowed to be created and operated. The EIA study then recommends appropriate mitigation actions or monitoring and management plans within the project itself.