Guidance for Biodiversity-Inclusive Impact Assessment

Biodiversity plays a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems and human well-being. This guidance provides practical tools and methodologies for integrating biodiversity considerations into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in South Asia. It outlines a structured approach to assessing biodiversity impacts, emphasizing the importance of ecosystem services, ecological valuation, and sustainable development planning. The document presents a step-by-step framework for biodiversity-inclusive EIA, covering key elements such as screening, scoping, impact evaluation, and mitigation planning. It also highlights best practices, case studies, and policy recommendations to help practitioners ensure biodiversity is effectively incorporated into project assessments. This resource is essential for EIA professionals, policymakers, and conservationists aiming to enhance biodiversity protection and ensure that development projects align with long-term environmental sustainability.

This guidance manual was prepared through the IAIA initiative “Capacity Building for Biodiversity and Impact Assessment” (CBBIA), supported by grants from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CBBIA’s regional activities in Asia were coordinated by IUCN and the Wildlife Institute of India. 

Authors: Asha Rajvanshi, Vinod B. Mathur, and Usman A. Iftikhar