Abstract
Prior research has shown that ecological scoping is the most important factor in determining the quality of environmental impact statements in Israel. Hence, improved ecological scoping has been called for. This paper identifies and discusses four fundamental dilemmas that need to be addressed in the ecological scoping process: biodiversity assessments, appropriate spatial and temporal scales, and cumulative ecological effects. The scientific, procedural and economic aspects of these dilemmas are discussed and practical suggestions for scoping presented: a modular ecological scoping process for early identification of the most detrimental projects, and a generic blueprint for ecological scoping, to help craft case-specific ecological guidelines.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 55-63 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2005 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank the Ministry of the Environment, for their cooperation and hospitality, and an anonymous reviewer for helpful suggestions and insights. This research was supported by the Beracha Foundation, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies.
Keywords
- Biodiversity
- Cumulative effects
- Ecological impact assessment
- Ecosystem perspective
- Israel
- Scoping
