ID: 2026
Presenting Author: Carolina Lemos
Session: 678 - Advancing government approaches to effective science communication in Impact Assessment
Status: pending
Ibama’s EIA methodology establishes cause–effect linkages among project activities, environmental aspects, and impacts, enhancing consistency and analytical rigor in federal licensing.
The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) developed a methodology to harmonize Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures within the Federal Environmental Licensing (LAF) framework. This initiative strengthens technical consistency, transparency, and analytical rigor in environmental licensing. Central to this approach is the establishment of cause–effect linkages defining relationships among project activities, environmental aspects, impacts, and corresponding mitigation measures. These linkages are structured across project phases—planning, installation, and operation—and supported by environmental programs with clear objectives, indicators, and expected outcomes. Initially applied to transmission systems, the methodology produced structured linkages identifying activities and impacts managed through targeted programs. More recently, Ibama finalized EIA Guides for hydroelectric plants, ports, and seismic surveys related to oil and gas exploration, expanding the scope and applicability of this framework. Its development involved multidisciplinary collaboration among analysts, stakeholders, and external experts, using mind mapping and consensus-based decision-making. This harmonized cause–effect approach enhances predictability, reduces discretionary interpretation, and improves the quality of environmental studies. The resulting guides provide standardized technical references for licensing processes and potential models for broader application.
Carolina Alves Lemos is an Environmental Analyst at Ibama with a PhD in Biology. Her work focuses on impact assessment, biodiversity monitoring, and species distribution modeling.
Coauthor 1: Giselle Fraga
Coauthor 2: Frederico do Amaral