The implementation of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in South Africa

Abstract

The public outcry over environmental damage caused by ill­considered planning has led many countries to institutionalise the EIA in regulating environmental change. In South Africa the growing public concern over the environmental damage caused by major projects, the formation of a council to represent all conservation bodies and the concensus over legislation the council has reached with the planning professions, clearly indi­cate that an EIA of development projects will in future also become compulsory here, possibly within the next three years.