Agriculture - Initial Environmental Assessment Series No. 1 (NORAD, 1995): Foreword

Agriculture - Initial Environmental Assessment Series No. 1 (NORAD, 1995)

(introduction...)

Foreword

Introduction

Part I: General account

1. Characteristics of agricultural projects

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Project categories

1.3 General characteristics of tropical plant production

1.4 Farming systems in tropical agriculture

1.5 Choice of technology

1.6 Industries associated with agriculture

2. The environment affected by the project

2.1 Climate

2.2 Eco-climatic zones

2.3 Soil characteristics

2.4 Economic and socio-cultural conditions

3. Possible environ mental impacts

(introduction...)

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Impacts on air and climate

3.3 Impacts on soil

3.4 Impacts on wafer resources

3.5 Impacts on ecosystems, natural and cultural landscapes, and historical relics

3.6 The spreading of pests and diseases

3.7 Impacts of the use of seeds and biotechnology

3.8 Changes in land use and impacts on traditional ways of life and the utilization of natural resources

3.9 Impacts on other existing or planned activities

4. Relevant literature

Part II: Documentation requirements for initial environmental assessment

1. Project description

2. Description of the environment

3. Checklist

Will the project

Foreword

The global natural resource base is currently exposed to constantly increasing pressures. Environmental problems are on the increase in developing as well as in developed countries. In developing countries, ecological stress strikes large and vulnerable population groups, and hinders social and economic development in many areas.

In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development, in their report "Our Common Future", described the problems we are facing and the measures which must be taken to solve them.

Environmental problems in the developing countries make demands on Norwegian development aid. Four Norwegian White Papers (Nos. 36 (1984-85), 34 (1986-87) and 51 (1991-92) on major questions concerning Norwegian aid to developing countries, and White Paper no. 46 (1988-89), on Norway's follow-up of the recommendations of the World Commission, have stressed the importance of taking environmental issues into account in Norwegian-assisted development aid projects. In 1990 this was further articulated in the NORAD strategy document "NORAD in the nineties". In the NORAD strategy document Part II, "Strategies for bilateral aid" (1992), it is determined that all ongoing and planned development aid projects must be assessed with regard to environmental impacts.

This booklet has been compiled to help desk officers and planners to consider at an early stage in the planning process the environmental impacts of projects and activities related to agriculture.

It is one of a series of booklets presenting guidelines for environmental impact assessment (EIA) of various types of development aid projects. Experience and ideas from corresponding material compiled by other countries (e.g. OECD, the World Bank) have been integrated into this ElA-system.