This document discusses environment impact assessments (EIAs), including their purpose, importance, challenges, and ways to improve them. EIAs are used to predict and mitigate environmental consequences of projects and policies before implementation. They are important tools to ensure biodiversity is considered in development plans. However, biodiversity is often inadequately addressed due to limitations like low priority, lack of awareness, data and monitoring. To strengthen EIAs, the document recommends introducing procedures to avoid improper assessments, considering impacts on biodiversity, promoting information sharing, and regulating international trade and liability for environmental damage. The overall goal is to deliver a healthy, well-managed environment for future generations.

1. ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT:
CONCEPT & CHALENGES
DR. NEELAM RAWAT DABHADE And ANAMIKA
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
SSDPC GIRL’S COLLEGE
ROORKEE-247667, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

2. INTRODUCTION
Environment impact assessment (EIA) is the process used
to predict the environmental consequences (positive or
negative) of a plan, policy, program, or project prior to the
decision to move forward with the proposed action.
The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision
makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding
whether or not to proceed with a project.
The International Association for Impact Assessment
(IAIA) defines EIA as "the process of identifying,
predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical,
social, and other relevant effects of development proposals
prior to major decisions being taken and commitments
made.

3. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?
EIAs have direct impact on biodiversity at all levels (plants,
animals & humans).
EIA is an important tool in ensuring that development (of any
kind & type) is planned and implemented with biodiversity in
mind.
EIAs have profound importance in international trade
assessments apart form social, health and other
developmental strategic policies such as the convention on
international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and
flora, convention on trans-boundary environmental impact
assessment, the protocol for the protection of the
mediterranean sea against pollution from land-based sources
etc.

4. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
Impact assessment processes are in place and applied in many
countries, yet biodiversity is often inadequately addressed.
There is a growing recognition of the need to better reflect
biodiversity considerations in environmental impact
assessments and in strategic environmental assessments.
Important barriers to the incorporation of biodiversity in
impact assessment include low priority for biodiversity and
limitations in one or more of the following areas: capacity to
carry out the assessments; awareness of biodiversity values;
adequate data; and post-project monitoring.
Strategic environmental assessments have high potential for
addressing biodiversity in planning and decision-making, but
there are challenges to their application.

5. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
Introduction of appropriate procedures with a view to avoid or minimize
the adverse impacts of wrong or illegal environmental procedures.
The programmes and policies that may have adverse impacts on biological
diversity should duly taken into account.
To Promote, exchange of information and consultation on activities which
are likely to affect adversely the biological diversity of other States or areas
beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, by encouraging the conclusion of
bilateral, regional or multilateral arrangements, as appropriate.
Regular checks on the activities or events which are caused naturally or
otherwise, presenting a grave and imminent danger to biological diversity.
Also, regular and strict measures should be adopted for international trade.
The Conference of the Parties shall examine, on the basis of studies to be
carried out, the issue of liability and redress, including restoration and
compensation, for damage to biological diversity, except where such
liability is a purely internal matter.

6. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE
DELIVERENCE OF A HEALTHY AND
MANAGED ENVIRONMENT TO
UPCOMING GENERATION.

7. THANKS TO ALL