LNAK10010U Environmental Impact Assessment

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Agricultural Development
Erasmus Mundus - Agris Mundus
MSc Programme in Agriulture
Content
The aim of the course is to introduce the components and structure of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as well as discuss how national guidelines and requirements for EIAs influences the outcome.
Modern EIA includes both environmental and social and impacts of development projects, hence the course is interdisciplinary by nature and is relevant for a range of academic disciplines.
Students will obtain a comprehensive overview and thorough knowledge of EIA procedures and methodologies.
All major development projects are legally required to undergo an 'environmental screening' and - if major environmental effects are considered likely - an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). An EIA requires insights into a wide spectrum of methodologies and procedures, as well as a range of professional qualifications. Current EIAs include an evaluation of both environmental, economic and social impacts. EIA is a rapidly evolving and expanding field of activity and a potentially important professional field for candidates interested in natural resource management and development. The course will introduce basic concepts and generic methodologies, and will focus on EIA within the fields of agriculture and forestry, natural resource management, infrastructure and water resource management projects. The problems and pitfalls of EIA will be discussed. The course is mainly focussing on EIA in developing countries.
After completing the course, the students should have a comprehensive overview and thorough knowledge of EIA procedures and of relevant EIA methodologies. In combination with the professional knowledge from their individual subjects, the students should be able to contribute to design and implement EIAs in developing countries.

Course contents:
-The aims and history of EIA
-Development of EIA, e.g. 'Strategic Environmental Assessment' and 'Social Impact Assessment'.
-Guidelines and administrative procedures
-Public involvement
-The EIA-process (initial work, screening, scoping, assessing, mitigation and impact management, reporting, reviewing, decision making, monitoring/implementing/auditing)
-Methodology: Checklists, matrices, models, expert systems, networks etc.
-EIA-management (incl. economic valuation)
The course components will be integrated in case studies
Learning Outcome
The aim of the course is to introduce the components and structure of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as well as discuss how national guidelines and requirements for EIAs influences the outcome.

Knowledge:
-Show overview of the components of an EIA and their respective requirements and outputs

Skills:
- explain specific methods and tools used in EIA
- apply assessment principles and expand applicability to other cases

Competences:
- apply methods and approaches used in environmental impact assessment (EIA) outside own disciplinary field.
- discuss impacts and weigh them against benefits from concrete development projects
- evaluate desirability of development plans based on an evaluation of impacts, mitigation options and the likely benefits.
The course is relevant for students with an interest in environmental management in developing countries. All disciplines are welcomed.
Lectures followed by class discussions and exercises with case material. Severeal guest lecturers with practical experience from developing countries and international donor organisations will be invited during the course. Group work, partly dealing with case studies. Role games. Individual preparation and group work. Guided excursion
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 30
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Excursions
  • 7
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 88
  • Project work
  • 50
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 min
Written assignment
Two mandatory group reports are submitted during the course, which contribute with 40% of the final mark.Individual contribution in the reports is marked. The rest of the final mark (60%) is based on an individual oral exam in the reports and the general curriculum.
Exam registration requirements
Active participation in exercises and excursions. Participate in 80% of the group assignments and full participation in 2 group reports.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
See the learning outcome