You are here: Home > Orientation Hall > Modules > VII > Assessment of data

F. Assessment/analysis of data

Types of Environmental data
Assessment parameters of Environmental data
Role on improvement of Environmental Assessment Process

For environmentally and economically sustainable development of any country, environmental parameters are to be integrated into national economic policies, development planning and budgetary allocation along with adequate institutional set up for effective implementation and monitoring mechanism. In this line, role of environmental assessment holds high importance as it contributes to environmental management planning.

Introduction of natural resource accounting into national accounting is necessary, as it provides linkage between changes in the economy and in the environment. Pricing of natural resources will help to account environmental and social costs incurred during the development of any project. However virtually all countries of south east Asia do not practice natural accounting system, as national accounting system ignore value of natural resources in economic production and degradation. This has led incentive for overexploitation of resources rather than conservation. It emphasizes integration of natural resource accounting into national accounting system in member countries under regional environmental strategy.

An integrated approach consist of economic activities, conservation initiatives and a whole range of supporting factors encompassing political, social, cultural and institutional dimension. To promote a real integrated approach, emphasis should be placed on viable economic activity. Economic activities provide financial incentives for local community which can directly contribute to achieve conservation objectives and social sustainability.

Types of Environmental data

Physical environment

• Water: Relevant key Water quality parameters as per World Health Organization (WHO) standards
• Air: Relevant key air quality parameters as per WHO standards
• Water: Relevant key water quality parameters as per WHO standards
• Land/Soil: Relevant physico-chemical data on soil e.g key nutrients, pH, and toxic residues compared with international standard for a healthy soil quality
• Land use data for spatial analysis using GIS will indicate where environmental changes is occurring
• Noise: Noise level by using decibel meter compared with WHO standard.

Biological environment

• Plants: composition and distribution pattern of vegetation including major growth forms, forest types, rare/endangered species, Ethno botany
• Animals: Composition and distribution pattern of wildlife including large mammals, fish, birds, rare/endangered spp., ethno zoology
• Human: Population size, ethnic composition, household size, settlement pattern

Socio-economic environment

• Social aspect: Impact on public health, stakeholders’ concern, community based conservation initiatives.
• Economic aspect: Per capita income, sources of income, health, education facility, amenity level, Community level effort in forest management, watershed conservation Living standard: Impact on human health, farming system.
• Cultural aspect: Major cultural programs, religious/ archaeological sites, traditional conservation practices.

Top

Assessment parameters of Environmental data

• Critical review of reports: Environmental statements, EA reports, IEE reports.
• Public hearing on draft reports.
• Legal/ regulatory perspective.
• Environmental standard, guidance values.

Top

Role on improvement of Environmental Assessment Process
 

Formulation and application of environment friendly legislation is necessary. Empowerment of local community and participation in conservation activities hold political context as it involve political commitment to transfer bureaucratic authority to local community. This implies a shift in paradigm of controlled, unsustainable to participatory sustainable approach.

Common weak points encountered in EA practice in developing countries pointed out as follows; need to be improved for gaining wider public confidence of EA.

• Inadequate application of Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
• Inadequate implementation of prescribed mitigation and enhancement measures
• Inadequate monitoring and feed back- restoration mechanism
• Inadequate public participation
• Inadequate trained manpower and lack of provision of certification of EA professional
• Weak institutional capacity in sound implementation of EA
• Ad hoc EA/IEE during post design and post construction phase
• Reluctance for action against violation of environmental regulations

To achieve the goal of sustainable development, the economic self sufficiency and development of self–confidence hold key role so as to take charge of own community development. Capacity building for sustainable development needs due emphasis, as sustainable development occurs only when people are enabled to make decision to address their need, participate effectively in project/program implementation and monitoring. Skill, knowledge and benefit can only sustain when community themselves are able to generate and implement ideas for their own problem solving process.

Top       Next