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Identification of Environmental Impacts: Concepts and Methods

Any economic development project, whether it is a simple and small or a large and complex it has some environmental implications. The environmental implications may be beneficial or adverse, but the main objective of impact identification is to specify areas that are likely to be affected by the implementation of a project. Environmental impact, by definition, implies an alternation of environmental conditions or creation of a new set of adverse or beneficial environmental consequences caused by the action under consideration. Impact identification starts at the early stage of scoping when data on both the project and surrounding environment are made available. As the EIA study progresses, more data become available on the environment and socioeconomic conditions. The preliminary identification of impacts from scoping may be confirmed or new impacts may be identified as requiring investigation.

A. Biological and Physio-chemical Impacts: Impacts in this category relate to effects on biological resources such as vegetation,...(more)

B. Social Impact: A study of socio-economic impacts would examine project action that alters the existing social and economical condition...(more)

C. Cultural Impacts: Project impacts on cultural heritage include historic sites, religious areas, or traditional practices...(more)

D. Health Impact: The links between health and social impacts are apparent. Often, not always, health impacts depend on environmental impacts...(more)

E. Economic Impact: The focus in economic impact assessment is the estimation of the change in economic variable caused by...(more)

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