Impact Assessment

This article was based on an article prepared for the NGO Handbook by Jennifer L. Tavis, titled, "Impact Assessments and Risk Evaluation.

Impact assessments are conducted in the early stages of a proposed project to try to predict the potential positive and negative effects of the project on the environment and society. They are defined by the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) as “the process of identifying the future consequences of a current or proposed action.” (www.iaia.org) Carrying out an impact assessment involves conducting a thorough analysis of current conditions, reviewing the effects of past changes and projects in the affected area, and working with experts and stakeholders to extrapolate what may happen as a direct or indirect consequence of carrying out the proposed project.

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