ES 361 Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment
Programme: B.A. Environmental Studies
Credit value: 12
Level: Year 3, Semester 6
General objectives
This course is designed to introduce and familiarize students with
the full planning cycle, from the planning stage through impact assessment and
implementation till monitoring and evaluation taking into account policy and
legal frameworks which immediately affect it.
Learning
outcomes
On successful
completion of the module, students will be able to:
- describe the
(project) planning cycle and its distinct phases;
- understand the
need for EIA in development projects, plans and policies;
- describe EIA
terminologies and standard methods for conducting EIA;
- review and
critique EIAs of projects and be able to make sound decisions;
- describe the
process of public policy formulation, the impact of policies on the
environment and on planning and the various policy instruments available;
- describe the
global, regional and national policies and laws, rules and regulations
that influence the project cycle.
Approach to
learning and teaching
The course will
consist of 15 teaching weeks, one self-study week and two examination weeks.
Each week will consist of:
- 3 theory hours
during which the theoretical background will be discussed;
- 2 other hours
which will be used for reading and analysis of scientific articles and
opinion articles, guest lectures, presentations and group discussions and
the practical implementation of impact assessment and project planning
through planning of (fictive) project and conducting a (fictive) impact
assessment or providing critique on an existing one;
- 2 hours of
self-study this will be used for self-study of the theory available,
collecting information, and preparing papers and presentations.
Assessment
● End of semester examination 60%
●
Individual assignments 20%
●
Group assignments 20%
Prerequisite: None
Course
content
Environmental
Planning:
- environmental
planning instruments within rural and urban contexts;
- project
planning cycle;
- considerations
for environment in planning and development processes;
- carrying
capacity in planning and development;
- environmental
planning for sustainable use and management of land and other resources
(harvesting of natural products, wildlife, forests, land, mining, waste
disposal etc.);
- environmental
planning for aesthetic land use, and planning for green cities;
- bio -
engineering plans for soil erosion control for road constructions;
- environmental
considerations in project planning for industrial development;
Environmental
Impact Assessment
- introduction
to environmental impact assessment;
- impact
assessment policies and legislations (general);
- EIA as
planning tools for sustainable development;
- role of EIA in
national project formulation, planning, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation;
- EIA
principles, processes and methodologies;
- multi –
disciplinary approach to EIA studies;
- public
participation and decision making in EIA processes;
- application of
EIA principles and processes in nationally executed projects;
- areas of
national development concerns where EIA may be applied;
- national and
international case studies in EIA;
- Bhutan
specific EIA, policies, norms, standards, methods and
- legislations;
- procedures for
issuance of environmental clearance to national development plans and
projects’; areas where policy applied;
- strengths and
weaknesses of EIA, reviewing of EIAs that have been completed by National
Environmental Commission of Bhutan.
Social and
Policy Impact Assessments
·
traditional EIA policies and approaches in
different countries; and their limitations;
·
cost–benefit analysis of EIA policy and
applications, review of EIA; and current status of EIA in different countries;
policy EIA and strategic environmental impact assessments; social impact
assessments (SIA) and requirements for other countries.
Reading list
Texts
- Abbasi S. A
& Ramesh, N., 2003, The Theory and Practice
of Environmental Impact and Assessment. …………….
- Morgan, R. K.,
1998, Environmental Impact Assessment: A
Methodological Approach. Springer.
Reading list:
- Anjaneyulu, Y.,
2002, Environmental Impact Assessment Methodologies. ……
- Glasson, J., 2005, Introduction to
Environmental Impact Assessment. Spon Press
(UK)
- Gilpin, A.,
1995, Environmental Impact Assessment: Cutting Edge for the 21st Century. Cambridge
University Press.
- Kaesmir, B.,
Jager, J., Jaeger, C. C & Gardner, M. T, (edn) 2003, Public
Participation in Sustainability Science. A hand Book. Cambridge University
Press.
- Mapualim,
R., 2006, Cultural Sustainability and Development: Drukpa and Burma
Vernacular Architecture. In Designing Sustainable Cities in the
Developing World (Edn) Zetter, R & Watson, G. B). ASHGATE. U.K
- Marriott, B.
B., 1997, Environmental Impact Assessment: A Practical
Guide. McGraw-Hill Professional.
- Morris, P
& Therivel, R., 2001, Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment. Spon Press (UK)
- National
Environment Commission, 1999, EIA- Background document, sectoral
guidelines (full set). National Environment Commission. Royal
Government of Bhutan.
- Ramachandra, T.
V & Kulkarni. V., 2006, Environmental Management. Capital
Publishing Company. New Delhi
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