Assessing environmental impacts of mining projects: A methodological test based on the ecosystem services review approach

Abstract

The capacity of ecosystems to provide goods and services for society is known as ecosystem services. This concept is being applied to a number of analytical and decision-making contexts and can shed new light on decisions related to the approval of new undertakings potentially causing significant environmental impacts. This project aims at applying an ecosystem services review approach to environmental impact assessment. A test will be conducted by reviewing an iron ore mining project in Minas Gerais State whose impacts have already been assessed according to national and State regulations. The environmental impact statement prepared for this project will be revisited under the perspective of environmental services, by applying or adapting the approach under development by the World Resources Institute, seeking to compare the results obtained with the contents of the environmental impact statement (and its supplements) prepared for the selected project. (AU)