Impact assessment

The practice of impact assessment has spread around the world since the 1970s and there is a system for it in nearly every country in the world. The World Heritage Committee is increasingly requesting States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). to carry out impact assessments in order to meet their obligations and make better informed decisions that prevent negative impacts and optimize positive benefits that can come from proposed actions. Impact assessments Nesciunt consequuntur repudiandae qui laborum labore rerum omnis. Aperiam placeat et qui est natus. Magnam veniam a ut corporis dignissimos voluptate beatae. come in different forms but those that are most commonly
carried out at a heritage place are:

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): these look at the potential positive and negative impacts of policies, plans or programmes that could affect a heritage place. By taking a strategic overview on a large landscape scale and considering cumulative impacts, such assessments have the advantage of being proactive in considering heritage before any specific changes are being proposed. This can provide a framework when considering individual projects, developments and uses in and around World Heritage.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA; also referred to as Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA): these are assessments of the potential positive and negative impacts of a specific project on the environmental and social aspects of a place, including heritage. If an assessment of a project looks largely at the potential impacts on heritage values, then it is often referred to as a Heritage Impact Assessment A Heritage Impact Assessment is an activity-specific or project-level assessment that is focused on identifying and assessing the potential effect of a proposed activity or project on the heritage/conservation values of a natural and/or cultural heritage place. In the context of World Heritage properties, a Heritage Impact Assessment should be particularly focused on identifying and assessing negative and positive impacts on the attributes which convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.   (HIA).

In the context of any type of impact assessment, the term ‘environment’ is used in its broadest sense and includes physical, biological, social and cultural aspects of a place. So any of these assessments can be applied to natural and cultural heritage places and should consider the full range of heritage values, the attributes that convey them and the interplay between these attributes. In the context of World Heritage it is important that there is a focus on identifying and assessing negative and positive impacts on the attributes which convey the OUV of the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. .

There is an advantage to using the different types of impact assessment as complementary processes. An SEA can provide a strategic framework that already includes heritage considerations which can be applied to assess individual projects in an ESIA/HIA. For example, an SEA can help ensure that a new regional land-use plan takes heritage values into consideration, defining appropriate uses for different areas in and around a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. . Subsequently, that land-use plan can be used to ensure that only suitable projects are proposed for each area and ESIA/HIAs can then assess those individual project proposals to ensure they are aligned. Such an approach is also useful to reduce the number of individual ESIA/HIAs and also to understand the cumulative impacts of multiple projects within and around the same heritage place.

There are a range of factors which can affect a heritage place, many of which are planned in advance such as creating infrastructure or buildings, new forms of biological resource use, or new activities that create pollution. Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment is a methodology that helps inform decision-making at places where there is a proposed action with potential impacts that can be evaluated in advance. By ensuring that an impact assessment fully takes into consideration OUV and other heritage values, it can help improve planning, as well as inform good decision-making about whether a proposed action should take place or not. Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines requests that the World Heritage Committee be notified in advance of any significant project that might affect a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List.
before any irreversible decisions or actions are taken. Impact assessments Nesciunt consequuntur repudiandae qui laborum labore rerum omnis. Aperiam placeat et qui est natus. Magnam veniam a ut corporis dignissimos voluptate beatae. are mandatory for World Heritage (OG, 118bis) and support States Parties The countries which have adhered to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. ) (UNESCO, 1972). in meeting their obligations under the Convention, reassuring the Committee that there will be no negative impacts on the OUV.

It is important that impact assessment takes a holistic approach to World Heritage and benefits from applying a heritage place approach. Impact assessment Impact assessment is the process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions prior to major approval decisions being taken and commitments made. It is undertaken for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts, and enhancing beneficial impacts. More generally, impact assessment can be appreciated as a way of thinking and planning that can be applied to all scales of activity. Impact assessment can be applied to development proposals at various levels – projects, plans, programmes and policies.

See also: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment needs to consider the type, size and characteristics of the proposed action; the sensitivity of the receiving environment; and the types of likely impacts. It is not only large development projects, or proposed actions near a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. , that need impact assessment and, as World Heritage properties are of international importance, any proposed action that may affect the property’s OUV should require an impact assessment, regardless of its size or location, within the property, its buffer zone or wider setting. A series of smaller proposed actions, while not needing impact assessment on their own, may also need to be checked for their indirect and
cumulative impacts on a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. .

The current state of the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. , its OUV and attributes, constitutes the baseline of impact assessment, which should compare the future of the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. with and without the proposed action. The baseline can also be used as a reference point to monitor the situation during and after project construction, to ensure the heritage is protected.

Analysis of the management system of the heritage place is needed for impact assessment. The consistency of the proposed action with existing policies and legislation needs to be reviewed, from national, regional and local policies and land-use plans relating to heritage and the attributes that support the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. ’s OUV. This allows a critical understanding of how the proposed action might affect the management system, and also the capacity of that management system to implement any proposed mitigation measures and monitor the actions implementation. Any previous Advisory or Reactive Monitoring mission reports, and impact assessments related to the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. , should also be reviewed to understand any key management concerns.

If there are any SEAs that were previously prepared for plans and policies that set the context for the proposed action, they can help identify strategic level alternatives and why they have been eliminated or chosen; expected mitigation measures; reasons why previous actions have been permitted or refused; and cumulative impacts that could be exacerbated or reduced by the proposed action.

Throughout the entire impact assessment process, the aspects of participation and proactive problem-solving are crucial. It is important that rights-holders, local or other associated communities, managers and any relevant stakeholders, are included appropriately through a range of engagement methods that can be used throughout the assessment. The process of impact assessment is an opportunity to consider a proposed action in advance and think creatively about whether it seems appropriate to the heritage place and if it has any potential contribution to sustainable development. A proactive and innovative problem-solving approach can help think ‘outside the box’ to identify alternatives that might be better for avoiding negative impacts while also gaining positive impacts. The more participatory the impact assessment process, the more likely that successful problem-solving takes place. These need to be based on the governance arrangements of the heritage place, through different legal frameworks and actors analysis.

Carrying out an impact assessment is generally easier and more effective where there is a robust management system with effective governance measures – data collection is more straightforward, public input is more easily facilitated, and impacts are easier to monitor and manage. However, even if a World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. does not have a well-functioning management system, impact assessment can help to improve proposed actions. For example, the baseline information collected through the impact assessment process can be used for other management purposes; it can act as a catalyst for stakeholders to come together and promote more participatory decision-making; and it can help to define what type of proposed actions are appropriate for the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. .

For World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   properties and other heritage places facing increasing pressure from diverse types of development projects within and around the sites, assessing the impacts of such projects, before deciding to proceed with their implementation, is essential to prevent damage to World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   and identify sustainable options.

The Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context is the reference that explains the process with practical tips and tools, including checklists and a glossary. It provides a framework for conducting impact assessments for both cultural and natural heritage sites. The Guidance fosters cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary collaboration to identify solutions for both protecting World Heritage All inherited assets which people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions between humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc.   sites and supporting good quality and appropriate development.