To what extent are threatened plant species considered in impact assessment decision-making? Insights from southeastern Brazil

• Published in: Environmental impact assessment review Vol. 86; p. 106516
• Main Authors: Pimenta, Mariana Antunes, Fonseca, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Brazil; Environmental impact assessment (EIA); Environmental licensing; Minas Gerais; Plant biodiversity; Threatened plant species; Minas Gerais; Environmental impact assessment (EIA); Brazil; Threatened plant species; Plant biodiversity; Environmental licensing
• ISSN: 0195-9255; 1873-6432
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2020.106516

The world's declining plant biodiversity depends on the efficacy of many policy tools, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). While scholars have long been trying to understand how biodiversity information affects EIA decision-making, very few studies have addressed the specific challenges associated with threatened plant species. Based on content analysis of 83 EIA processes that proposed vegetation removals in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, this study evaluated the extent to which threatened plant species were considered in decision-making. The study found that the developers of 31 projects (37% of the 83 analyzed EIA projects) disclosed the occurrence of threatened plant species in the potentially affected areas. The detailed content analysis of their respective Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review reports revealed that the majority of the identified impacts and respective compensation programs targeted tree habits, and under a variety of rationales. Developers' proposed compensation rates of impacted tree species varied from 1:1 to 50:1. The reviewing process reported issues related mostly to the baseline conditions. Overall, the study found that EIA, in Minas Gerais state, has been functioning mainly as a diagnostic and compensation tool for the removal of tree species. The study calls for improvements in existing legislation and the development of technical guidance and capacity-building programs for EIA stakeholders. •The extent to which threatened plant species are considered in EIA is unclear.•In the sample, developers tended to communicate impacts in connection with tree habits.•Identified compensation rates of removed tree species varied from 1:1 to 50:1.•EIA, in the study area, was essentially helping to identify and compensate impacts on tree species.