Littoral protection and conservation strategies and measures. Environmental impact assessment: A regulatory tool in the service of littoral protection.
€ 20,-
Type:
Presented during:
CEDA Dredging Days 2006 - Protection of the Coastline. Dredging and Sustainable Development, Tangiers, Morocco
Authors:
N. Tertre & N. Chauoq
Abstract : In most of the international regulations, the environmental impact assessment holds an important place in the procedures relating to territory development, as it helps the competent authorities to make decisions. In fact, to implement the sustainable development concept, it is necessary to assess the advantages and drawbacks of the projects on the socioeconomic and environmental aspects.
As for dredging works, the development of theses studies has made it possible to set up protocols that allow for assessing the main effects (favourable or harmful) on the works sites and their surroundings.
The environmental impact assessment begins with an initial set that requires a good knowledge of the area conditions before starting the works. As for dredging activities, investigations touch mainly on the aspects pertaining to: oceanographic and geomorphologic conditions, sedimentary dynamics, marine biology, socioeconomic practices...etc. The sensibility of the host milieu is thus determined.
Describing the exploitation modes, notably the volumes to be extracted, allows for assessing the scale of the works.
The most sensible part concerns the assessment of the impacts on the environment, a work that requires relating the initial set with the planned works. The main discussed themes examine point by point those examined in the initial set and allow for assessing the impacts on: the available sedimentary stock, littoral stability and its erosion risks, respect of biodiversity (marine fauna and flora), water quality and its related practices, local economic activities...etc
Finally, concerning the negative impacts, the environmental impact assessment should provide reduction or compensation measures, in addition to follow up measures to be set up during exploitation. It becomes then a veritable tool in decision making to orient the activities towards less possible nuisance and environment respect.
Dredging operators, in that way, do not merely meet regulatory obligations; they produce knowledge about their work environment and can participate in local sustainable development with full knowledge.