1.0 Title
The proposed title for this paper is Challenges to the Implementation of the EIA Process in Botswana. This paper will present the different methods, approaches, procedures and instruments to be used in order to implement the research in the future.
2.0 Background of the Study
Since its foundation in the late 1960s, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has progressed into a regulated and institutionalized procedure for recognizing, forecasting, evaluating and justifying the potential impact of development projects on environment (Noble and Bronson, 2006). EIA involves the process of examining, analyzing and assessing the planned activities which focus on ensuring environmentally sound and sustainable improvement. Thus, according to Hollick (1986), EIA is an effective planning and management tool.
It can be used in order to recognize the different types, magnitudes and possible changes in the environment as a result of an activity or policy. At the same time, it can also help in order to convey information to the decision-makers. According to Ortolano et al. (1987) the adoption and implementation of EIA is dependent on the framework of the institute as well as the political circumsntace of decision-making process.
In Botswana, the commitment to sustainable management of natural resources is supported by different policies and legislation and by Vision 2016, which states that:
By the year 2016, economic growth and development in Botswana will be sustainable. Renewable resources will be used at a rate that is in balance with their regeneration capacity… The wildlife of Botswana will be managed for the sustainable benefit of the local communities, and in the interests of the environment as a whole… By the year 2016, Botswana will have taken strong measures to limit pollution that would otherwise have resulted from rapid industrialization. (Mpotokwane and Keamtimilwe, n.d.).
3.0 Aims and Objectives
The main aim of the study is to investigate the different challenges connected to implementation of EIA process. In line with this, the following are the specific objectives of the study:
· To study the nature of environmental impact assessment;
· To present the purposes and benefits of environmental impact assessment;
· To examine the current issues in and current status of environmental impact assessment;
· To assess the current methods used in carrying out EIAs; and
· To evaluate the different environmental factors which can affect the EIA process;
4.0 Methodology
This study will be exploratory in nature. Thus, it can help in order to study, examine, analyze or investigate something. It can also help in order to be familiar with something by testing it, thus it can also help in order to discover things. Therefore, it can help in order to gain only the degree of familiarity with the properties of substances and procedures that are needed in order to manipulate them, at the same time, achieve the desired effect or product. Overall, it can help to implement a study that is broad-ranging, purposive, systematic, prearranged undertaking, which can help to maximize the discover of generalizations, which consequently lead to description and understanding of a specific area of social or psychological life (Stebbins, 2001, 2).
With this, qualitative method will be used in the paper. According to Denzin and Lincoln (2005) “a situated activity that locates the observer in the world. It consists of a set of interpretive, material practices which make the world visible”.
With this, the researcher can acquire more sensible and practical feel of the world which cannot be experienced and acquired with the use of numerical data and statistical analysis, at the same time, obtain flexible ways of collecting data, analysis and interpretation of the collected data (Fryer, 1991).
This paper will mainly use secondary data. Thus, it will implement secondary research. Secondary research is also known as desk research involves the process of summarizing, collating and/or synthesizing the existing researches and literatures, rather than primary research or collecting from research subject or experiments (Crouch and Housden, 2003).
With this, theories, information and data from different literatures, articles, journals and textbooks will be used. Different online libraries will be used in order to access necessary resources, which include EMERALD, SCIENCE DIRECT, EBSCO, QUESTIA and GOOGLEBOOK. In addition, different websites of government organizations in Botswana and other countries will also be used.
5.0 References
Crouch, S. and Housden, M. (2003). Marketing research for managers: The marketing series, Chartered Institute of Marketing. Butterworth Heinemann.
Fryer, D. (1991). ‘Qualitative methods in occupational psychology: Reflection upon why they are so useful but so little used’. The Occupational Psychologist. 14, pp. 3 – 6.
Hollick, M. (1986). ‘Environmental impact assessment: An international evaluation’. Environmental Management. 10, 157 – 178.
Mpotokwane, M. and Keatimilwe, K. Botswana. Retrieved 8th October, 2010, from SAIEA website.
Noble, B. And Bronson, J. (2006). ‘Practitioner survey of the state of health integration in environmental assessment: The case of northern Canada’. Environemntal Impact Assessment Revision. 26(4), 410 – 424.
Ortolano, B., Jenkins, B. And Abracosa, R. (1987). ‘Speculations on when and why EIA is effective’. Environmental Impact Assessment Revision. 7, 285 – 292.
Stebbins, R. (2001). Exploratory research in the social sciences. SAGE.
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