Combining Facts And Values In Environmental Impact Assessment: Theories And Techniques (Social Impact Assessment Series)

This book integrates theories and techniques from a wide range of disciplines in an effort to improve the practice of existing environmental impact assessment methods. The authors discuss benefit-cost analysis; land-suitability analysis; checklists; matrices; and networks; modeling, simulation, and resource management approaches; as well as multiple objective analysis. They also explore common pitfalls and suggest ways to improve the handling of facts and values, risk and uncertainty, and the presentation and communication of findings. The book extends current practices by drawing upon relevant theories and techniques from political science, economics, psychology, and ecology. From this broad, interdisciplinary perspective, the authors discuss and debate various means of estimating how the general public places social and economic value on the environment. To remedy the shortcomings of existing methods, the book concludes by presenting a new method for environmental assessment, including a case study application in land-use watershed management.