Ecosystem Services Input in Environmental Impact Statements: Empirical Evidence in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Authors

  • Moema Pauline Barão Septanil Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
  • Lucila Pinto Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
  • Ligia Maria Barrios Campanhão Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v43i0.54163

Keywords:

environmental impact statement, ecosystem services, environmental services, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Facing the recent scenario of unsustainable use and degradation of ecosystem services (ESs), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a preventive instrument to introduce ESs in decision-making. This research aimed to assess the ESs input in the EIA process through the analysis of Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) in São Paulo state, Brazil. For that reason, one hundred and ten EISs from 2006 to 2014 were selected and searches for keywords related to ESs were done. A systematic review process examined the EISs containing the keywords based on a 12 criteria review and using an ‘Ecosystem Service Assessment Index’ (IASE). Twenty EISs presented keywords related to ESs, and while the adoption of this concept was unstable between 2006 and 2010, from 2011 the concept input increased, apparently in a voluntary way. Despite this result, those EISs did not adequately address ESs into the EIA process: ESs were poorly identified and few EISs detected potential impacts on the ESs and provided mitigation measures. Despite being more frequent in the EISs, the concept of ESs is not included in the EIA practice in São Paulo state, which suggests the need for explicit policies for this purpose.

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Published

2017-12-24

How to Cite

Barão Septanil, M. P., Pinto, L., & Barrios Campanhão, L. M. (2017). Ecosystem Services Input in Environmental Impact Statements: Empirical Evidence in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Desenvolvimento E Meio Ambiente, 43. https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v43i0.54163

Issue

Vol. 43 (2017)

Section

Environmental Impact Assessment

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