The IAIA has produced a Special Publication relating to biodiversity in Impact Assessment: this can be downloaded here from the IAIA website (pdf 95Kb).
In essence, this document sets out the values of biodiversity and the importance of impact assessment.
In assessing the impacts on each level of biodiversity, key considerations are: composition (what is there, how abundant is it?), structure (the way biodiversity units are organised in time and space) and function (the role different biodiversity units have in maintaining natural processes). These give an idea of the likely responses of biodiversity to proposed activities; the significance of the responses being heavily dependent on the value and uses of the biodiversity.
This page introduces the basic principles of impact assessment, particularly with regard to the ways biodiversity should be considered in the process
Basic principles
The EIA process should:
- inform decision making and result in appropriate levels of environmental protection and community well-being.
- apply "best practicable" science, employing methodologies and techniques appropriate to address the problems being investigated.
- result in information and outputs which assist with problem solving and are acceptable to and able to be implemented by proponents.
- provide sufficient, reliable and usable information for development planning and decision making.
- achieve the objectives of EIA within the limits of available information, time, resources and methodology.
- impose the minimum cost burdens in terms of time and finance on proponents and participants consistent with meeting accepted requirements and objectives of EIA.
- concentrate on significant environmental effects and key issues; i.e., the matters that need to be taken into account in making decisions.
- be adjusted to the realities, issues and circumstances of the proposals under review without compromising the integrity of the process, and be iterative, incorporating lessons learned throughout the proposal's life cycle.
- provide appropriate opportunities to inform and involve the interested and affected publics, and their inputs and concerns should be addressed explicitly in the documentation and decision making.
- ensure that the appropriate techniques and experts in the relevant bio-physical and socio-economic disciplines are employed, including use of traditional knowledge as relevant.
- be carried out with professionalism, rigor, fairness, objectivity, impartiality and balance, and be subject to independent checks and verification.
- address the interrelationships of social, economic and biophysical aspects.
- have clear, easily understood requirements for EIA content; ensure public access to information; identify the factors that are to be taken into account in decision making; and acknowledge limitations and difficulties.
- result in full consideration of all relevant information on the affected environment, of proposed alternatives and their impacts, and of the measures necessary to monitor and investigate residual effects.