Number of participants: 24

1. Rated satisfaction of participants with the course.

 In terms of % = 84%

2. Rated aspects of the course.

 Worthwhile things learned during the course

• Set of rules/ process to follow EIA
• Internationally accepted steps in EIA evaluation and upstreaming biodiversity in EIA steps
• Assessment of biodiversity through rapid surveys.
• How to integrate aspects like habitat use, animal behaviour etc. in to EIA studies.
• Had a very good exposure to EIA process in totality and for including through a very good use of PowerPoint presentations
• Case studies on developing viable mitigation measures/ offsets.
• Assessment, prediction and mitigation of impacts.
• Learnt from basics to application related to EIA and biodiversity and the team work of lecturers.
• Secondary impacts evaluation for connecting unforeseen linkages in EIA.
• Exercise on scoping and offsets.
• Knowledge gained from case studies, rapid inventorying techniques and importance of green belts.
• Importance of a good EIA report and mitigation measures.
• Details of EIA notification 2006; Good sharing of practical experiences.
• Directives for bringing out improved EIA report; Integrated approach towards EIA report preparations.

 Things that helped the participants work effectively

• Mode of presentation by the various speakers.
• Excellent faculty; Rich relevant experience; Good communication skills.
• Resource persons from different fields / consultants as well as from approving authorities made the delivery of context very effective.
• Now I can plan EIA studies more meticulously in time bound manner. Baseline surveys, focussing, mitigation measures and preparation of reports can be done effectively in future.
• Interactive learning of good resource material, nice facilities, inclusive of case studies.
• Exercise on scoping and offset made the things very much clear.
• Case studies, exercises and good presentations.
• Detailed of case studies and success stories.
• Scoping mitigation plan and evaluation of EIA; Tools of biodiversity, rapid survey and monitoring and evaluation.
• EIA report writing involving various components.

 Things that ket the participants from being more effectivep

• Field trip would have been useful.
• Nothing at all.

Comments on specific content of the course found useful

• Ecological assessment; Process for EIA.
• Methodological issues in biodiversity assessment.
• Narmada Sagar case study.
• Exercise, assessment, valuation in terms of economic are very useful.
• Systematic EIA valuation/ documentation.
• Habitat evaluation.
• Rehabilitation of mined/ mining areas.
• EIA framework, gaps, experience, methods.
• EIA planning, executing and report preparation.
• Various case studies included in the course.
• The rapid survey of birds and fishes and the framework for biodiversity.
• Biodiversity offsets: concepts and practice.
• Different case studies on EIAs.
• Importance of scoping and mitigation aspects.

 General comments and suggestions

• Overall excellent arrangements, good food, perfect time management and meticulously planned course.
• All the arrangements were excellent. We were comfortably put up in the hostel, food was good and course was planned with utmost care.

 Areas of impact assessment in which perceive future training needs

• Environmental Economic Threshold Level; Disaster management; Social displacement.
• Tools for socio-economic assessment like PRA techniques.
• Wildlife conservation plans as part of Mitigation Planning.
• Focus on mining sector w.r.t. impact assessment and mitigation measures; Social impact assessment on R&R plans.
• Specific training for EIA of HP projects.
• Specific training for EIA of mining projects.
• Strategies for evolving mitigation measures.
• Niche/ Habitat modelling GIS EIA & SIA.
• GIS, ecosystem modeling and economic evaluation approaches for biodiversity inclusive impact assessment.
• Economic evaluation of biodiversity.
• Economic Valuation of biodiversity with special reference to aquatic ecosystem.