Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: NGOs play an important role in creating environmental awareness. In this example, a local NGO called the Nature Society Singapore (NSS) had played an important role, not just in creating awareness, but to present useful information that had lead the government to discontinue a project that could have resulted in environmental damage.

     Meeting information requirements: This example demonstrates how an Environmental Impact Assessment can produce different outcomes if done by 2 different groups of researchers and with different background interest.

Background in summary:

     To create awareness and support conservational researches: The Nature Society Singapore (NSS) is the oldest NGO in Singapore and is very active in its pursuit of its objectives, which is to promote environmental awareness and initiate research projects related to conservation of nature and environment.

     The case of the Pierce Reservoir golf course: Perhaps the most notable contribution in the recent years was the EIA it conducted sometime in 1992 when the Public Utilities Board (PUB) proposed a golf course to be constructed at the Pierce Reservoir. This project was to convert part of the Lower Pierce Reservoir, which is a water catchment area, into a golf course.

     Disagreeing EIA outcomes from the PUB and NSS: The PUB had conducted an ad hoc EIA but as there is no legislation on EIA in Singapore, there was no requirement that the results be published. The Nature Society (Singapore) conducted its own EIA, and the results showed that it would be an ecological disaster to build such a course.

     Shelving the golf course project: Buttressed by some 17,000 signatures, NSS published an EIA report on the project and made a petition to the government. Although the government decided to shelve its plan but did not attribute it the NSS's petition, it must have been influenced by it.

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
2	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	2	Cost efficient.
2	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		-	Participation of the community
3	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	-	Participation of resource owners/users
3	Socio-cultural adaptability.	2	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	-	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
2	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
3	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	2	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:       Environmental Impact Assessment is an essential framework for identifying negative environmental effects that could arise from proposed decisions. Although this rarely occurs, but sometimes important information were left out from the assessment, either intentionally or inadvertently. Integrating various interest groups or stakeholders into the process will help widen the perspective and control the quality of the assessment. Fortunately for Singapore, good information provided by the NSS has directed the government towards a better decision, because not always, that good information would lead to good decisions. Sustainability of the project:      Awareness and visions: NGOs can be good environmental watch dogs and can make governments and the people aware of issues pertaining to environmental degradation. However, NGOs in most instances have been highly biased towards the environmental aspects only, paying less attention towards socio-economic concerns and the development as a whole. Many developing countries in Asia urgently need rapid development if, they need to move forward. Amid growing social unrest development has become a crucial factor which needs immediate attention. There needs to be a balance between the two, if the environment is to be concerned. The needs of the people will have to be met. NGOs will need to have an open mind and look beyond environmental conservation if, they need to fulfil their role effectively. Adaptability of the project to other situations:       Process of decision making and implementation:      Meeting information requirements: In most countries EIAs are mandatory, but cannot be considered as the effective tool in environmental conservation. There is a strong possibility that EIAs are carried out to suit different conditions and may not provide accurate information. Cost efficiency: