Biodiversity considerations form an essential component of Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA), especially in areas with both a high biodiversity value and development
pressure such as the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) in South Africa. Limited research has
been conducted within the South African context on the quality of biodiversity inputs to EIA.
The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality of biodiversity input to EIA in the CFR.
To address this aim, a customised review package was generated to evaluate the quality of
26 Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) reports in the CFR. The results were then
compared with international trends of biodiversity input to EIA in order to show how prevalent
such trends are within an area with high biodiversity value. This comparison showed that the
quality of biodiversity input to EIA in the CFR generally concur with inadequacies identified in
international EIA literature. Typically, significant weaknesses identified during the review
were the lack of public participation and an insufficient evaluation of alternatives. Specialists
also failed to develop adequate monitoring programmes. Furthermore, a very pertinent
limitation was that, in general, assessments are conducted during inappropriate seasons and
over insufficient time periods. However, some variations to the international trends are also
present within the Region. For example, a particular strength was that a precautionary
approach was adopted by most of the specialists to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity.
In addition, specialists did not merely focus on lower levels (species and habitats) of
biodiversity, but incorporated ecological processes in assessment techniques. The
inadequacies identified in this dissertation pose particular challenges for biodiversity
management and conservation practices. The development and implementation of
mechanisms such as Best Practice Guidelines and improved biodiversity related legislation is
proposed to improve biodiversity input to EIA. / M Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/11031 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Hallatt, Trevor Winston |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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