Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)

An Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) is a ‘process of identifying, quantifying and evaluating potential effects of development-related or other proposed actions on habitats, species and ecosystems’. An EcIA can form part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or it may be a stand-alone ecological assessment. Additionally, an EcIA may also inform a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) where projects may have the potential to affect designated sites protected by the EU Habitats Directive.