Environmental Valuation & Cost-Benefit News

Abstract: Value assessment is a central element in an EIA for the understanding of the impacts of specified projects. The value assessment contains subjective elements and this may cause errors and difficulties in numeric value assessment methods. There is a need for transparent common criteria to promote discussion and understanding. A common criteria base already exists, but lack of communication between different management systems and different disciplines, all with different traditions in value assessment, makes the situation complex. In this article we have looked into the basic understanding of value linked to the investigation themes of natural environment, cultural heritage and society. The investigation themes linked to social science is difficult to incorporate into a common system, basically because they have less focus on land use and contain different value types.

Much of the relevant literature about value assessment is linked to the assessment of sites of special interest as candidates for legal protection or conservation. In an EIA a much broader range of areas is introduced, including the “every day landscape” with a lower and more general level of value. Together with a focus on mitigation and adjustments of plans, this results in a need for a more detailed value assessment scale than is normally in use today. We have suggested a new scale to ease communication between different disciplines and management systems.

How we understand value is not constant over time, nor is the level of knowledge. This makes it necessary to sustain an ongoing debate on value assessment. The need for a dynamic value assessment system increases with the increasing use of database modelling, digital analysis of map data (GIS) etc. Lack of a ongoing value debate will rapidly lead to misleading and biased results.

Keywords: EIA; Value; Natural environment; Cultural heritage; Social impact

by Lars Erikstad 1, Inge Lindblom 2, Gro Jerpåsen 2, Martin A. Hanssen 3, Trine Bekkby 4, Odd Stabbetorp 1 and Vegar Bakkestuen 1 and 5
1. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; Tel.: +47 73801708; fax: +47 22 60 04 24
2. The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Box 736, Sentrum NO-0105 Oslo, Norway
3. Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR), Box 44 Blindern, NO-0313 Oslo, Norway
4. Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
5. Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway

Environmental Impact Assessment Review via Elsevier Science Direct www.ScienceDirect.com
Volume 28, Issues 2-3; February-April 2008; Pages 131-143
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.03.005