Course background

Considerable experience from most developing countries establish that development initiatives in major sectors have resulted in ecological crisis stemming from degradation of ecosystems and decline in natural resources and the unsustainable flow of economic and social benefits. This obviously led to the requirement of an effective means of regulating development through a more responsive environmental management planning. Over the years, EIA has become established as an important planning and decision making tool and is gradually maturing into discipline of paramount importance for biodiversity conservation and better resource management. In response to this felt need for capacity building in EIA at WII , a one week modular course on EIA with major thrust on biodiversity impact assessment was introduced as part of the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Wildlife Management in 1996. This course was subsequently also opened for lateral entrants.

This course is primarily designed for natural resource managers, conservationists, foresters, academicians and environmental professionals.

Course objective

	Provide participants with a broad understanding of the principles of environmental impact assessment
	Enhance capability and skills of participants to independently plan, conduct and review impact assessments of development projects.
	Acquire better insight into impact identification and mitigation planning approaches specially in the context of developing country situation.
	Share information and experience so as to ensure the incorporation of biodiversity conservation concerns in future developmental initiatives.

Course contents

	Background and Introduction to the EIA process.
	Rationale for EIA and its scope.
	Historical review and global situation.
	EIA legislation, national guidelines for environmental assessment and international conventions.

EIA tools and methods

	Guidelines for planning and designing impact assessment studies (with major thrust on biodiversity impact assessment) and selection of parameters for establishing biological baselines.
	Introduction to rapid field techniques and computer aided tools for habitat and biodiversity evaluation for impact assessment.
	Identification of impact indicators for determining key environmental issues.
	Recognition of ecological issues and their attendant human aspects.
	Criteria based logical evaluation of impact significance.
	Introduction to mitigation and enhancement options and other criteria for feasibility analysis.
	Guidelines for preparing and reviewing the EIA reports.

EIA in practice/case studies

	Demonstration of good practices of impact assessment from a range of case examples from various sectors viz. hydropower, transportation, pipeline, mining etc.
	Demonstration of good practices of environmental review of forestry and conservation projects in and around protected areas and other ecologically valued ecosystems.

Training methods

The training course involves lecture inputs, group work, case studies and visual tours of developmental sites through audiovisual aids and participation of class in exercises for designing appropriate assessment methodologies based on real/simulated situations. One day field trip to a nearby project site is also planned during the course.

The announcements for the course can be seen at the website and can also be made available by directing request to the Faculty In-charge, EIA Cell at ar [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in.

Information on past courses