Environmental Impact Assessment in Historical Context

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) emerged in the 1960s and 70s as a response to growing environmental awareness and the harms caused by unchecked industrialization and development. Initially focused on large projects like dams and highways, EIA evaluates potential environmental effects before project approval. In environmental historical geography, EIA reflects society's evolving relationship with nature, highlighting how decisions about land use impact ecosystems and communities. By requiring assessments, it aims to balance development needs with ecological preservation, promoting sustainable practices that consider historical environmental contexts.