Developing a Conceptual Framework for Delivering Better Cumulative Impact Assessment Through Ecosystem Services...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecosystem Services Assessment
• Impact Assessment

Background:

• Cumulative impact assessment (CIA) is challenging for practitioners.
• Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) can identify impacted services and indirect/cumulative effects.
• Integrating ESR into impact assessment is proposed to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conceptualize and test an approach for delivering cumulative impact assessment using Ecosystem Services Review.
• To combine existing integrated assessment methods from Brazilian hydropower planning with ESR methods.
• To evaluate the feasibility of this integrated approach for assessing cumulative impacts.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualizing an integrated approach combining Brazilian hydropower planning's integrated assessment with ESR.
• Partially assessing a Brazilian hydropower plan using the conceptualized approach.
• Analyzing the bundling of ecosystem stressors for practicable cumulative impact analysis.

Main Results:

• The conceptual approach effectively bundles ecosystem stressors for cumulative impact analysis.
• The integrated approach makes cumulative impact analysis more meaningful to affected communities.
• The feasibility of the integrated impact assessment (IA) and ESR process was demonstrated in a partial assessment.

Conclusions:

• The integrated impact assessment and Ecosystem Services Review approach shows promise for improving cumulative impact assessment.
• Further testing in diverse contexts is necessary to fully evaluate the efficiency and potential of this integrated process.
• The approach offers a more practicable and meaningful way to analyze cumulative impacts, especially for local communities.