Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a significant, anticipatory, environmental management tool. International debate focuses on its enhancement to meet the challenges of sustainable development, as well as facilitating scientifically robust, integrated and participative decision-making. This handbook hopes to contribute an international, multidisciplinary, ready-reference source to this debate.

This first volume addresses EIA principles, process and methods. Part 1 maps the EIA process and its impact on decision. It positions EIA in the context of sustainable development and relative to other decision tools, including economic valuation. It also positions strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in a similar way. Part 2 addresses the elements of the EIA process and significant impact assessment topics--air, water, ecological, social, risk, landscape and visual--not only in terms of good practice but also methodological evolution. This volume concludes by addressing cumulative impact assessment and SEA methods.

Volume 2 provides a unique consideration for EIA implementation and practice in Europe, Africa, the Far East, South America and North America. It uses a number of project types to provide 'how to do' guidance and addresses practice in policy and plan assessment.

This volume should be read by legislators, decision-makers, economists, developers, industrial managers and consultants involved in this significant field.

Judith Irene Petts CBE is the Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University. She graduated from the University of Exeter and Loughborough University.