ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN RWANDA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) AS a PLANNING TOOL AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN RWANDA:ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT(EIA) AS A PLANNING TOOL AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS Presentation Outline Definition of EIA; Historical Background and Context of EIA in Rwanda; Policy and Legal Framework on EIA; International Context of EIA; EIA Practice in Rwanda: EIA Process and Procedures in Rwanda The EIA Process in Practice; Challenges to operationalise EIA: Screening;Scoping and Terms of Reference; Quality of the EIAs ; Decisionmaking and appeals against decisions; Inadequate expertise

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN RWANDA RWANDA : : ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) AS A PLANNING TOOL AND ITS (EIA) AS A PLANNING TOOL AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS EFFECTIVENESS Theobald MASHINGA Theobald MASHINGA Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA ) ) Rwanda. Rwanda. IAIA 07, Seoul, Korea IAIA 07, Seoul, Korea 3 3 rd rd -9 -9 th th ,June 2007 ,June 2007 Presentation Outline Presentation Outline  Definition of EIA; Definition of EIA;  Historical Background and Context of Historical Background and Context of EIA in Rwanda; EIA in Rwanda;  Policy and Legal Framework on EIA; Policy and Legal Framework on EIA;  International Context of EIA; International Context of EIA;  EIA Practice in Rwanda EIA Practice in Rwanda : :  EIA Process and Procedures in Rwanda EIA Process and Procedures in Rwanda Presentation Outline (Cont… ) Presentation Outline (Cont… )  The EIA Process in Practice; The EIA Process in Practice;  Challenges to operationalise EIA: Challenges to operationalise EIA:  Screening Screening ; ; Scoping and Terms of Scoping and Terms of Reference; Quality of the EIAs Reference; Quality of the EIAs ; ;  Decision-making and appeals against Decision-making and appeals against decisions; Inadequate expertise decisions; Inadequate expertise Presentation Outline (Cont… ) Presentation Outline (Cont… )  Public Participation; Data Inadequacy; Public Participation; Data Inadequacy;  Cost of Conducting EIA and Processing Cost of Conducting EIA and Processing Fees; Fees;  Opportunities for Improving the EIA Opportunities for Improving the EIA Process: Process:  Publicizing and developing the EIA Publicizing and developing the EIA Legislation; Private Sector and Public Legislation; Private Sector and Public Participation Participation Presentation Outline (Cont… ) Presentation Outline (Cont… )  Environmental Management Plans and Environmental Management Plans and Audits Audits ; ; Strengthening Public Private Strengthening Public Private Partnership; Partnership;  Promoting and Developing Capacity Promoting and Developing Capacity Building Building ; ; Strengthening Enforcement Strengthening Enforcement Mechanisms; Mechanisms;  Conclusion Conclusion Definition of EIA Definition of EIA  EIA is defined as a systematic process EIA is defined as a systematic process to to identify identify , , predict predict and and evaluate evaluate the the environmental effects of proposed environmental effects of proposed actions and projects. This process is actions and projects. This process is applied prior to major applied prior to major decisions decisions and and commitments being made, and particular commitments being made, and particular attention is given in EIA practice to attention is given in EIA practice to preventing preventing , , mitigating mitigating and and offsetting offsetting the the significant significant adverse adverse effects of effects of proposed undertakings proposed undertakings . . Historical Background and Context of Historical Background and Context of EIA in Rwanda EIA in Rwanda  The EIA adoption in Rwanda was triggered by The EIA adoption in Rwanda was triggered by environmental challenges posed by environmental challenges posed by environmental degradation: environmental degradation:  soil erosion; soil erosion;  Deforestation; Deforestation;  wetland drainage; wetland drainage;  water degradation; water degradation;  climate change, and climate change, and  the loss of biodiversity. the loss of biodiversity. Historical Background and Context of Historical Background and Context of EIA in Rwanda (cont…… ) EIA in Rwanda (cont…… )  These problems are exacerbated by: These problems are exacerbated by:  low levels of environmental awareness; low levels of environmental awareness; inadequate technical & human resources; inadequate technical & human resources;  low intra-sectoral coordination on low intra-sectoral coordination on environmental issues environmental issues . .  Various initiatives taken by the GoR Various initiatives taken by the GoR to to address the environmental issues address the environmental issues include: include: Policy and Legal Framework of EIA Policy and Legal Framework of EIA  Formulation of environmental policy (2003); Formulation of environmental policy (2003);  enactment of environmental Organic law No. enactment of environmental Organic law No. 04/2005 of 08/04/200 (2005 04/2005 of 08/04/200 (2005 ; ;  established Rwanda Environmental established Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), to coordinate Management Authority (REMA), to coordinate and oversee all aspects of environmental and oversee all aspects of environmental management for sustainable development). management for sustainable development). Policy and Legal Framework of EIA Policy and Legal Framework of EIA  The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, adopted in June 2003, ensures the protection adopted in June 2003, ensures the protection and sustainable management of environment; and sustainable management of environment; and and  encourages rational use of natural resources; encourages rational use of natural resources;  other socio-economic development policies and other socio-economic development policies and strategies such as “Rwanda Investment and strategies such as “Rwanda Investment and Exports Strategic Action Plan, Exports Strategic Action Plan, 2005-2007”. 2005-2007”. [...]... developer and EIA experts as the developers in most cases are adamant to pay the EIA expert on ground that the EIR is substandard because it has been rejected by the authority (REMA) Quality of the EIAs   on the basis that EIA is still new in Rwanda , the latter has been encouraging as many individuals as possible to participate in carrying out EIAs, this created problem of increasing number inexperienced... understanding the impacts beyond its boarders; provides a basis for future international cooperation and conflict resolution concerning environmental impacts at a regional level EIA Practice in Rwanda   Under the present legislation, several government departments, private companies, and parastatal organisations undertake EIAs; that some forms of environmental assessments have occasionally been carried on... African Ministerial meeting on Environment held in Durban, South Africa (1995) to all of which, Rwanda is a party Why adopting EIA System in Rwanda? Adaptation of EIA in Rwanda hinges on its importance as:  a key component of a more systematic and objective approach to environmental issues;  provides a framework for promotion of efficient decision-making in project approval;  enables implementation... of environmental safeguards to mitigate significant negative impacts;  avoid ecological damage and large-scale irreversible loss of natural resource  Why adopting EIA System in Rwanda? (cont)…     an invaluable tool for environmental management in a trans-boundary context; plays the role of information dissemination between Rwanda and neighbouring countries; widens the scope of understanding... related activities, agriculture, processing and manufacturing industries, electrical infrastructure, EIA Process and Procedures in Rwanda (cont…….)   construction of pipelines, construction of petrol stations, Construction of Coffee washing stations, and waste disposal facilities; REMA in addition to the mandates of administering and supervising EIAs, it has also power or responsibility to issue a. .. private sector to prepare quality EIRs;  This problem is compounded by increasing demands placed upon REMA by new development initiatives especially in areas of great economic activity such as methane (CH4) gas, and various donors and development agency requirements;  training needs that have been expressed by many staff include formal training on EIA, SEA techniques and assessment of trans boundary... of the public feel they are important and needed in the EIA process so as to attract their interest and participation;  Government of Rwanda need to take the leading role in financing EIAs, majority are financed through loans from financial institutions;  Government need to take its international commitments and agreements to ensure that environmental concerns are integrated in the development process;... mitigation measures and preparation of the report; 1 The decision-making & authorization phase entails review of EIA reports leading to decision-making; 1 environmental management Plan and follow-up phase: deals with monitoring and costing of activities of the project during its implementation EIA Process and Procedures in Rwanda (cont…….)  The law provides that an EIA must be conducted before a developer... cannot receive authorization for implementation unless issued with a certificate of clearance (EIA Certificate of Authorisation) EIA Process and Procedures in Rwanda (cont…….)  1 EIA process involves the following four stages, namely: the Environmental Impact Initiation phase, which involves: screening and scoping; 1 the Impact Study Phase, which includes: impact identification and analysis, development... for Improving the EIA Process       publicize the environmental organic law, developing new legislations and Ministerial orders; increasing private sector and public participation in the process; Developing EIA Audits Guidelines and conducting EIA Audits; strengthening the private-public partnership; promoting and supporting capacity building; strengthening and developing enforcement mechanism Conclusion . ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN RWANDA RWANDA : : ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) AS A PLANNING TOOL AND ITS (EIA) AS A PLANNING TOOL. TOOL AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS EFFECTIVENESS Theobald MASHINGA Theobald MASHINGA Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA ) ) Rwanda. Rwanda. IAIA. EIA System in Rwanda?  Adaptation of EIA in Rwanda hinges on its Adaptation of EIA in Rwanda hinges on its importance as: importance as:  a key component of a more systematic and a key