Transcript ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

MEASURING
CHANGES OF THE
SYSTEM
Environmental Gradients
Human Impacts
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s)
Modified from DARLENE OEHLKE
Assessment Statements
• 2.7.1 Describe and evaluate methods for
measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components
of an ecosystem along an environmental gradient.
(review)
• 2.7.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring
changes in abiotic and biotic components of an
ecosystem due to a specific human activity. (review)
• 2.7.3 Describe and evaluate the use of environmental
impact assessements (EIA’s)
Environmental Gradients
• Environmental Gradient: A gradual change in an
ecosystem through distance, depth, altitude, or
time.
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Distance from the edge of a water source
Increase in altitude
Distance from human made path
Depth in water source
Time from environmental disturbance (succession)
Environmental Gradients
• Measurements
cannot be random.
• Sampling must be:
• Systematic
• Stratified
http://www.trunity.net/sample_textbook/view/article/51cbf397789
6bb431f6ad713/?topic=5242dff00cf264abcd85d549
Measuring
Environmental Gradients
• Sampling Methods:
• Line Transect (tape lies in
direction of gradient)
• Belt Transect (belt of
quadrats along line)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYrEV2F_CWM
• Continuous everything along
transect is included
• Interrupted samples taken at
regular intervals
Human Induced Change
http://nuclear-energy.net/nuclear-accidents/fukushima.html
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/dec/14/
first-dead-dolphin-spotted
http://stateofwilderness.com/2013/05/10/gryesof-the-world-and-great-pacific-garbage-patch/
http://www.argentinaindependent.com/socialissues/envir
onment/amazonian-deforestation-soars/
Human Induced Change
• Sundurban Oil Spill (2014)
• Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2013)
• Kuwaiti oil fires (1991)
• Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989)
• Chernobyl (1986)
• Bhopal Disaster (India) (1984)
• Great Smog (1952)
Review our class
environmental
timeline! How many
of these events are
human caused?
25-biggest-man-made-environmental-disasters-in-history
EIA definition (IBO)
• A method of detailed survey required, in many countries,
before a major development.
• Such a survey should include a baseline study to measure
environmental conditions before development
commences, and to identify areas and species of
conservation importance.
• The report produced is known as an environmental
impact statement (EIS)
• The monitoring should continue for some time after the
development.
Environmental Impact
Assessment, EIA
• An EIA is a report prepared BEFORE a
development project or large change in the
way an area of land is used.
• The use of EIA’s is a fairly recent process.
1970’s USA
1985 Europe
Development projects
• Road construction
• A hydroelectric power plant
• A dam on a river
• An airport
• An extension of a city for housing
• A mine
Examples of projects from
the AECOM company
Examples of Projects that
would conduct an EIA
Examples of Projects that
would conduct an EIA
Examples of Projects that
would conduct an EIA
Examples of Projects that
would conduct an EIA
Examples of Projects that
would conduct an EIA
Purpose of an EIA
• To aid in planning of development
• To understand the environmental impact that
may occur from a project before it is put into
place (scoping)
• To help determine ways to minimize the
damage done to the environment
An EIA will examine:
• The original environment
• Possible impacts on human life and the
environment
• Ways to reduce negative impacts
• Economic benefits and other benefits of the
project
Baseline Study
The baseline study will include measurements of:
• Microclimate
• Biodiversity: Biotic components
• Scenery
• Abiotic components
• Human populations in the area
Scoping
• Identify the key issues and concerns of the
interested parties
• Who is concerned?
• What are the concerns?
• What is the level of concern where the
development becomes unacceptable?
Summary of the purposes of
the EIA:
• Support the goals of environmental protection
and sustainable development
• Integrate environmental protection and economic
decisions at the earliest stages of planning
• To predict environmental, social, economic and
cultural consequences
• To mitigate any adverse impacts
• To provide involvement of the public and
government agencies
Sample flow chart from a
project in Malaysia
http://www.njv.com.fj/waisoi-project-environmental-impact-assessment/
Examples…
• EIA Mojave Wind Farm
• EIA review checklist for mining
• Guidelines for EIA in Bangladesh
EIA
• “EIA may be defined as a formal process used to
predict the environmental consequences of any
development project. EIA thus ensures that the
potential problems are foreseen and addressed at an
early stage in the projects planning and design.”
• Manu and Anshu, UEMRI-India
Bibliography
• Environmental Impact Assessment UNEP
• http://www.unep.ch/etb/publications/enviImpA
sse.php
• IB ESS Course Companion pages 299-300