Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also:
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment
has been described as ‘thinking before acting’ (Morrison-Saunders, 2018). It informs the decision-making process by exploring consequences that proposed actions may have on the environment, or in the case of World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   properties, on their OUV. It should always be carried out before any irreversible decisions or actions are taken, so that any findings can genuinely inform a final decision. This ensures the best outcomes for the world’s most exceptional places and for society, both today and in the future.

There are multiple stages in the development and implementation of a
proposed action (Figure 4.1). An impact assessment needs to take place early enough to be able to influence planning: the later an impact assessment takes place, the less potential it has to influence the outcome. The final impact assessment report needs to be ready in time to help inform the decision on whether the proposed action should proceed, be modified or not be carried out at all – before construction or any other preparatory actions on the ground take place.

Figure 4.1. Development and implementation of a proposed action. An impact assessment needs to take place at an appropriate point in the lifecycle of a proposed action so that it can influence that planning process and inform decision-making.
Note: depending on the type of the proposed action, the ‘construction’ phase might instead involve other forms of preparations; while the ‘operation’ phase could be any longer-term implementation and running of the proposed action.
 

Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also:
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment
has been used since the 1970s and is now a well-established system in nearly all countries. Nowadays, many international finance institutions and major commercial banks require borrowers to show that they are safeguarding the natural and cultural
heritage as a prerequisite to any lending – impact assessment can help with this. By the 1980s, the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Committee’s Advisory Bodies The three international organizations which are named in the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Convention to advise the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Committee in its deliberations are ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

The Advisory Bodies have the following functions:
Advise on the implementation of the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Convention in the field of their expertise Provide expert advice on how to conserve and manage properties included on the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   List Assist the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Centre in preparing the Committee’s documentation, the agendas of its meetings and in implementing the Committee’s decisions Assist with the development and implementation of the Global Strategy for a Representative, Balanced and Credible World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   List, the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Capacity Building Strategy, Periodic Reporting, and the strengthening of the effective use of the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Fund Monitor the state of conservation of World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   properties (including through Reactive Monitoring missions at the request of the Committee and Advisory missions at the invitation of the States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind.
) (UNESCO, 1972).
)
Review requests for International Assistance Attend meetings of the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Committee and the Bureau in an advisory capacity. The Advisory Bodies are involved in the review of proposed actions and and any related impact assessments when they are requested by the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Committee.
had begun to highlight how impact assessment could be used in a World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   context; over the last decade, the World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   Committee has requested impact assessments for more than 200 World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   properties.

4.1.1 The Impact Assessment Process

Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also:
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment
should start early in the development of a
proposed action, and inform the entire planning process.

The assessment itself consists of a series of 11 steps (Table 4.1) which are flexible and can be adapted to the type and location of the action being proposed.

Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also:
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment
is normally carried out by an independent team of specialists, who are commissioned to inform:
i) the proponent’s planning of the proposed action
ii) the relevant authority’s decision on whether the proposed action should be permitted.


Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also:
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment
should also include an important component of participation by rights-holders and other stakeholders, including
environmental and heritage authorities and communities.

Unlike other impact assessment guidance documents, this Guidance advocates that participation of rights-holders and stakeholders, and proactive problem solving should take place throughout the entire impact assessment process. This is because of the importance of involving rights-holders and other stakeholders in the protection and management of World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   properties, and because a fundamental purpose of impact assessment is to consider alternatives and mitigation to impacts on their Outstanding Universal Value.

Table 4.1. Overview of the impact assessment process

Table 4.1. Overview of the impact assessment process (cont.)

Table of contents