Practices of EIA in Nepal

Event: Training on Planning and Design of Smart Linear Infrastructure for Biodiversity Protection

Practices of EIA in Nepal

26 April 2022
Author / Speaker: 
Prakash Gaudel, Nepal Electricity Authority - Email the author | Other materials by the author

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As a developing country, Nepal has been taking great measures in environmental protection and management including the requirements for EIA, which was first stressed in its seventh Five-Year Plan  (1985 - 1990). Several policy initiatives had been issued over the years, among the latest are the Environment Protection Act (EPA) of 2019 and the Environment Protection Rules (EPR) of 2020. Meanwhile, the government issued the Guidelines for Construction of Wildlife-friendly Infrastructures in 2022, which defined critical habitats as areas with high biodiversity value, including habitats of significant importance to Critically Endangered and/or Endangered species and endemic and/or restricted-range species. The EIA system allows the reduction of damages (and compensation for damages) through the use of mitigation measures. There are challenges in implementation so it is recognized that the enforcement of EIA and post-construction monitoring needs should be made more stringent. Data on critical habitats/wildlife should also be enriched. A more holistic and integrated approach in EIA is also recommended.

Geographical Focus: 
Nepal
Type of Content: 
Learning Event

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