Environmental impact assessment in a harbour area, Argentina

Abstract

An environmental evaluation is carried out to define the impact that some man-made modifications done on tidal plains some years ago has produced into an adjacent harbour area understanding of marine processes and the behavior of the coastal ecosystem in Puerto Rosales is important to the successful implementation of any coastal projets. The environmental characteristics of surroundings of the harbour were studied with the objetive to analyze the involved process, as well as the alteration the human-modifications could generate. Once the impact was recognized a solution is proposed. The case discussed here highlights the necessity for carrying out an environmental impact assessment study before implementing a harbour project and any coastal modification. This approach that integrates the bahaviour of coastal structures, impacts and alternatives, provides promising information for the planners of coastal projects, decision makers and impact assessment practitioners