Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Protecting the Environment and Wildlife Through Environmental Law
- Seoyoung Kwon
- Jul 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 23
Hello! My name is Ava Leonard, and I am currently an intern at JHSUSTAIN. This article is an English adaption of an original blog written by Sang-eun Lee. I translated and edited the content of the blog to make it accessible to our English-speaking audience.
I hope you enjoy learning about Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and its role in supporting sustainable development!
Recently, as the weather has warmed up, I was walking home along the Cheonggyecheon stream near our office when I saw a white heron catch a live, flopping silver fish in its beak and swallow it whole. I stopped and watched for quite a while.
Herons became popular on YouTube a few years ago through mukbang videos, and it was fascinating to watch one catch a fish and swallow it whole in real life.The videos I had seen on YouTube looked just like what I witnessed. This bird, which is sometimes mistaken for a crane, is actually a heron, and the silver fish I saw appears to have been a willow fish.
Source: Seoul Metropolitan City https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/archives/2018764
As you walk along the Cheonggyecheon stream, it's easy to spot one or two herons. They were first sighted here in October 2005, and their population has steadily increased in recent years. Seeing these birds return is a clear sign that nature is gradually recovering as a result of the stream's environmental restoration.
Although more work is needed to restore the area to a more natural state where a greater diversity of plants and wildlife can thrive, seeing wildlife flourish in the heart of downtown Seoul reminds me that the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project has been a successful example of urban ecological restoration. The project has also helped prevent flooding and reduce the urban heat island effect, making it an excellent example of development that carefully considers its environmental impact.
Today, I'd like to introduce Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), an important process for considering environmental impacts during development projects, and explain why it plays a vital role in river development and wildlife protection. In particular, we'll explore why Environmental Impact Assessment is essential for sustainable development cooperation projects.
March 3 is World Wildlife Day. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, World Wildlife Day raises awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation while celebrating the incredible diversity of plant and animal species found around the world.
Source: World Wildlife Day https://wildlifeday.org/en
Wildlife Day aims to raise awareness of the following issues.
Habitat destruction and fragmentation
Climate change
Poaching and illegal wildlife trade
Pollution and habitat degradation
Human–wildlife conflict
Invasive species
Overexploitation
Each year, World Wildlife Day adopts a different theme. In 2026, the theme is "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods."
This theme highlights the vital role that wild plants play in human health, cultural heritage, and local livelihoods, as well as the urgent need to protect them. Over 20 per cent of plant species used globally for medicinal and aromatic purposes are considered to be threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List.
The institutional process used to incorporate these environmental considerations into project planning and decision-making is known as Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) .
What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?
First, let's take a closer look at what an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is.
"Environmental Impact Assessment"
As the name suggests, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project.
EIA is used in development projects across a wide range of sectors. In development cooperation, it involves predicting, analyzing, and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a project during the planning stage. It also identifies measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate these impacts before the project is implemented.
The United States first introduced the Environmental Impact Assessment system in 1969 through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Since then, countries around the world have developed their own EIA systems to reflect regional conditions and priorities. While some systems focus primarily on protecting the natural environment, others also incorporate social and economic considerations.
In Korea, Environmental Impact Assessments are conducted under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act. The Ministry of Environment's Environmental Impact Assessment Information Support System defines Environmental Assessment as follows:
“Environmental Assessment is a process of comprehensively predicting, analyzing, and evaluating the environmental impacts of policies, plans, programs, and projects, including Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Its purpose is to prevent environmental degradation and pollution while promoting Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development (ESSD).”
The purpose of an Environmental Impact Assessment is to ensure that development cooperation projects are carried out in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner by carefully considering both potential environmental impacts and the needs of local communities.
Rather than requiring decision-makers to choose the option with the least environmental impact, EIA provides clear and objective information so that environmental considerations can be fully integrated into the decision-making process. When conducted effectively, Environmental Impact Assessments support sustainable development while contributing to long-term economic growth.
Environmental Impact Assessment is a fundamental component of sustainable development cooperation because poorly planned development can harm not only ecosystems but also the communities that depend on them.
Components of Environmental Impact Assessment
The components of an environmental impact assessment are generally as follows.
1. Scoping | Scoping defines the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment by identifying the environmental issues that should be evaluated, as well as the relevant stakeholders and experts who should be involved. |
2. Baseline Data Collection | This stage involves collecting baseline information about the project's existing environmental conditions, including physical, biological, and socioeconomic characteristics. |
3. Impact Assessment | Impact Assessment is the core analytical stage of the EIA process. It evaluates the project's potential environmental impacts, including direct, indirect, and cumulative effects. |
4. Mitigation Measures | This stage identifies practical measures to avoid, reduce, or mitigate potential negative environmental impacts. |
5. Environmental Management Plan | An Environmental Management Plan establishes procedures for monitoring and managing environmental impacts throughout the project. It also includes contingency plans for potential accidents and emergencies. |
6. Public Consultation | Public Consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders—including government agencies, local communities, and other interested parties—to share their views, discuss concerns, and contribute to the decision-making process. |
7. Environmental Impact Assessment Report | The final stage is preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment Report that summarizes the assessment findings and recommends measures to avoid or minimize potential environmental impacts. |
Environmental Impact Assessment in Water Sector Development
Now, let's explore how Environmental Impact Assessment is applied to river basin development projects.
Environmental Impact Assessment is especially important in water sector development because projects such as dams, irrigation systems, and hydroelectric power plants can significantly affect the natural environment. Potential impacts include habitat loss, biodiversity decline, changes in water quality and quantity, and disruptions to ecosystem services.
For this reason, a systematic and comprehensive assessment is essential to identify, evaluate, and mitigate these environmental impacts before a project begins.
For example, an Environmental Impact Assessment for a river basin development project may consider the following areas:
(1) Social Environment | (2) Natural Environment | (3) Pollution |
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These factors are carefully evaluated during the Environmental Impact Assessment process. If any potential negative impacts are found to be significant, the project must be modified or supplemented to reduce those impacts before implementation.
River Development and Wildlife
River management and conservation play an important role in creating new habitats for wildlife and improving the quality of existing ones. For example, constructing fish ladders and removing barriers to fish migration can help restore fish populations, which are an essential part of healthy river ecosystems. Likewise, restoring river basins and creating wetlands helps provide valuable habitat for birds, amphibians, and many other wildlife species.
However, if river development projects are not carefully planned and properly implemented, they can also have negative impacts on wildlife. For example, the construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants can alter natural river flows and disrupt habitats, resulting in declines in fish populations and other aquatic species. Similarly, riverside development and the construction of roads and other infrastructure can destroy habitats and make it more difficult for wildlife to move freely between ecosystems.
To ensure that river development remains sustainable and minimizes harm to wildlife, environmental considerations must be integrated into every stage of planning and implementation. Environmental Impact Assessments should be carried out with the participation of local communities and other stakeholders, while project designs should prioritize sustainable practices, such as minimizing habitat disturbance and reducing the use of hazardous chemicals.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Wildlife Protection
Environmental Impact Assessment enables us to identify and evaluate potential impacts on wildlife and their habitats before development begins, allowing appropriate mitigation measures to be developed in advance.
For example, an Environmental Impact Assessment may identify the need for wildlife corridors, habitat restoration, or the relocation of endangered species to reduce the impacts of development. It is also important to collect information on the presence and distribution of wildlife, their habitat requirements, and their ecological sensitivities so that appropriate mitigation measures can be developed and incorporated into the overall decision-making process.
Environmental Impact Assessment is therefore a critical process that helps ensure water and river development projects are planned and implemented in ways that minimize negative environmental impacts while maximizing benefits for local communities. By ensuring compliance with both domestic and international environmental regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment strengthens stakeholder confidence, promotes effective cooperation, and supports the long-term sustainability of development projects.
Today, we explored why Environmental Impact Assessment is such an important part of sustainable development in the water sector.
Considering environmental impacts through Environmental Impact Assessment is essential for ensuring that water resources and river ecosystems are managed sustainably for future generations. Ultimately, our goal is to create a society where people and nature can coexist in harmony for years to come.
Thank you for reading! I look forward to sharing more useful information with you in future blog posts.
Author: Lee Sang-eun
English Translation & Editing: Ava Leonard (Intern), Seoyoung Kwon (seoyoungkwon@jhsustain.com)
References
Kim, Kyung-tae, & Song, Ji-min, 2015. The Impact of the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project on the Urban Heat Island Phenomenon https://doi.org/10.17208/jkpa.2015.06.50.4.139
Lee Beol-chan, July 20, 2020. Chosun Ilbo. [Unusual News] Why Do Herons Live in Cheonggyecheon https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/04/04/2018040400060.html
Environmental Impact Assessment Information Support System https://www.eiass.go.kr/
JICA, and The Study on Vientiane Water Supply Development Project, Chapter 8 Environmental Impact Assessment https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11751278_14.pdf
World Wildlife Day https://wildlifeday.org/en
IUCN, 2023. World Wildlife Day 2023: Inclusive conservation partnering to protect the incalculable value of wild fauna and flora. https://www.iucn.org/story/202303/world-wildlife-day-2023-inclusive-conservation-partnering-protect-incalculable-value
UNEP, 2023. World Wildlife Day 2023 (and 50th Anniversary of first signing of CITES) https://www.unep.org/events/un-day/world-wildlife-day-2023-and-50th-anniversary-first-signing-cites
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