Environmental Impact Assessment

The main aim of this course is to introduce students on the Diploma of Field and Conservation Ecology to the history and practice of environmental impact assessment. This course will provide students with knowledge of when an assessment is necessary and the stages involved in producing one. The course will draw on students existing knowledge of land management, but will also introduce students to the social and economic aspects of the process.

This module is based around a series of formal lectures, seminars and group discussions. Students will be introduced to the history and ideas upon which EIA is based, and encouraged to explore its potential and its limitations. Students will be expected to undertake background reading to examine examples from around the world; for this purpose, use of the internet will be encouraged.

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

Outline the main stages in conducting an environmental impact assessment
Discuss the problems which may arise if an environmental impact assessment is not conducted
Describe the input of different experts and the public in the environmental impact assessment process
Explain the historical development of environmental impact assessment and the current legislation controlling it.