Evaluation of the environmental impact assessment system in Syria

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Environmental Impact Assessment Review

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2009.11.003· OSTI ID:21499133

Haydar, F ^[1]; Pediaditi, K ^[2]

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1. Rural Development Division, National Agricultural Policy Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Airport Highway, 5th Bridge, Damascus, 4251 (Syrian Arab Republic)
2. Department of Environmental Management, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Alsylion Agrokepion, Chania, P.O. Box 185, 73100, Crete (Greece)

Syria is a country experiencing rapid change, undergoing a process of political and governance decentralisation, opening its markets to the private sector, and experiencing a rise in infrastructure development. In light of these economic growth targeted changes, knowledge of the status and capacity of the Syrian EIA system to ensure environmental protection becomes of paramount importance. Syria first introduced EIA as a Draft Decree in 1995, which was not formally adopted until 2008. To date, no structured evaluation of Syria's EIA system has been conducted, a knowledge gap addressed through this paper. The research presented herein comprises a review and comparative evaluation of Syrian legislation and procedures, to the EU EIA Directive and World Bank Operational Directive, as well as a series of interviews with Syrian stakeholders involved in EIA implementation. The investigation concluded that the new EIA provisions provide a sound legal basis. From interviews however, it was ascertained that EIA implementation faces a number of barriers such as, a lack of EIA integration into existing decision making and licensing processes and persistent exclusion of public projects from EIA. A number of recommendations are proposed, perceived necessary for the enhancement of EIA implementation in Syria.

• OSTI ID: 21499133
• Journal Information: Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol. 30, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2009.11.003; PII: S0195-9255(09)00144-9; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0195-9255
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECISION MAKING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
IMPLEMENTATION
LEGAL ASPECTS
LEGISLATION
MARKET
RECOMMENDATIONS
SYRIA
ARAB COUNTRIES
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
EVALUATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MIDDLE EAST