The development of ecological impact assessment in China. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Xuehua; Li, Zhouyuan; Liao, Chenghao; Wang, Qing; Zhu, Annah; Li, Dong; Li, Yajun; Tang, Zhuo
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 85(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Ecological impact assessment (EcoIA) -- Environmental impact assessment (EIA) -- Ecosystem -- Biodiversity -- China; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.08.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: The balance between economic development and ecological conservation in China has become a critical issue in recent decades. Ecological impact assessment (EcoIA) was established beginning in the 1980s as a component of environmental impact assessment (EIA) that focuses specifically on human-related changes in ecosystem structure and function. EcoIA has since been widely applied throughout the country with continuous refinements in theory and practice. As compared to EIA, EcoIA is often performed at a larger scale in the long-term, and thus requires more advanced tools and techniques to quantify and assess. This paper reviews the development of EcoIA over the past 30 years in China, with specific consideration given to refinements in legislation and methodology. Three stages in the development of EcoIA in China are identified, along with their achievements and limitations. Supplementing this qualitative analysis, the paper also provides a quantitative bibliometrics review of academic publications concerning EcoIA in China over the three identified stages. Lastly, general trends in the development of EcoIA are summarized with the aim of conveying potential future trajectories. This review is intended to introduce the EcoIA system to scholars interested in the growing field of environmental management in China. Graphical abstract: Highlights: The three stages in the development of ecological impact assessment over the past 30 years in China were identified. The progress with the cases of China's EcoIA are visualized in a spatially explicit manner. Bibliometric approach is applied to present a quantitative comprehension in EcoIA development and trends.