Figure 1: Image showing the General EIA aspects of consideration
The legal one is quite straight forward: to ensure that development projects such as a housing
estate, a road/bridge or some such construction project has a minimal impact on the
environment in its entire 'lifecycle' i.
e. during design, construction, use, maintenance, and
demolition. Many countries now have laws stipulating that unless an EIA study is carried out
(particularly for large infrastructure projects), permission for construction will not be granted
by the local authority. But countries in Africa will possibly see EIA processes as a
'hinderance' to development as environment is not yet a priority! The educational one is
equally important and probably a forerunner to the legal role to
educate everyone one
involved professionals
and users included, of the potential environmental impacts of
anything we do. We need to look at all our daily actions as eventually and cumulatively
affecting the environment. This includes our daily choices, where a delicate balance between
financial and environmental considerations needs to be made automatically without
thinking!