Environmental Management

Specialist Studies for EIAs

Specialists (are):-
• people qualified (usually with a postgraduate
degree) in a specific field such as ecology,
toxicology, or social sciences
• may focus more broadly on the environmental
impacts of projects and need to be brought in
early in the process
• may be expects in more specific fields and
should be brought in late
 Specialist Studies for EIAs
Specialists (are):-
• determine the status quo
why is this important?
• assess how activities may impact on the key
issue e.g. negative versus positive impacts
• identify possible mitigation measures
• set quantifiable standards
• rehabilitate the environment (where applicable)
• monitor and review programmes
 Specialist Studies for EIAs
Examples of Specialist Fields include:-
• Air Quality Management
• Archaeology and Palaeontology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Ecology
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Hydrology
• Social Studies and Economics
• Soil Science
• Toxicology
• Traffic Management
• Waste Management
• Zoology
Examples of Specialist Studies
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Specialists
• Animal scientist
– Mammalogist
– Herpetologist
– Ornithologists
– Invertebrate specialist
– Aquatic Invertebrate specialist
– Ichthyofaunal specialist
• Botanist
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Specialists (cont.)
• Ecologist
• Hydrologist
• Soil Scientist
• Wetland Specialist
• Microbiologist
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Specialist Report
Status Quo
• Habitat identification
• Species diversity
• Sensitive species
• Sensitive areas/habitats
• Critical areas for threatened species
• Sensitivity map
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Specialist Report
Possible impacts to affect the area
Possible mitigation measures to be
employed
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
How can activities impact natural resources?
Threats to ecology
– fragmentation, mortality, physical destruction
- creation of barriers
- contamination, degradation
- over-use
(think of examples of each type of threat)
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
How can activities impact natural resources?
• It is important to consider cumulative impacts
• Certain geographic and/or climatic factors can
exacerbate environmental impacts (examples?)
• Some habitats e.g. wetlands, rocky outcrops,
and pristine grasslands, are more sensitive to
environmental impacts
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Activities resulting in impacts For example
For example during construction
– constructing roads (to construction site)
– clearing (removal of vegetation and topsoil)
– ground breaking
– dumping
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Ecological Consequences of Impacts
Ecosystems consist of networks of
interdependent elements
Disturbance of any one of these elements can
affect the functioning and resilience of the
entire ecosystem
 Impacts on Fauna/Flora
Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Functioning
Possible Mitigation Measures
• Limiting the footprint of the impact area
• Ensuring habitat continuity
• Preventing dumping, accidental fires, etc.
• Maintaining buffer zones
• Relocation of species where feasible
• Prevention of poaching and overharvesting
• Educating employees
Impacts on Water Resources
Impacts on Water Resources
Socio-Economic Impacts
 Socio-Economic Impacts
Quantitative and qualitative measurements
- Increased income, job creation etc.
- Public perception (consistent with preservation
of community character)
Socio-Economic Impacts
 Socio-Economic Impacts
Social Impacts
Changes to:-
– people’s way of life
– their culture
– their community
– their political systems
– their environment
– their health and wellbeing
– their personal and property rights
– their fears and aspirations
 Socio-Economic Impacts
Examples of Social Impacts
employment, preferential procurement,
community investment, dust, noise, traffic
congestion, loss of land, loss of structures,
loss of sense of place, visual impacts, grave
relocation, displacement
Social Impact Assessment
 Socio-Economic Impacts
Examples of Economic Impacts
– Risk to other businesses
– Job creation
Heritage Impact Assessment
 Heritage Impact Assessment
• Mitigation
– Avoid impact, full-site protection may require redesign of project
– Mapping and recording of data
– Excavation
– Salvage
 Visual Impact Assessment
Triggers for VIA
The nature of the receiving environment:
– Areas with protection status, e.g. national parks
– Areas with proclaimed heritage sites
– Areas with intact wilderness qualities
– Areas with intact/outstanding rural or townscape qualities
– Areas with a recognized special character
– Areas lying outside a defined urban edge line
– Areas with sites of cultural or religious significance
– Areas of important tourism or recreation value
– Areas with important vistas or scenic corridors
– Areas with visually prominent ridgelines or skylines
 Visual Impact Assessment
Triggers for VIA
The nature of the project:
– High intensity type projects (examples?)
– A change in land use from the prevailing use
– A use that is in conflict with an adopted plan or vision for
the area
– A significant change to the fabric/character of the area
– A significant change to the townscape or streetscape
– Possible visual intrusion in the landscape
– Obstruction of views of others in the area
Visual Impact Assessment
Visual Impact Assessment
Visual Impact Assessment
Other Impacts to Consider?