A Two-week Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) sponsored ‘Professional Development Programme (PDP) for Enhancing EIA effectiveness’ is being conducted at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun from 25^th February to 8^th March, 2019.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a management tool used by decision-makers, regulators and stakeholders to understand the potential environmental, social and economic impacts of proposed development projects. Experience from EIA review suggest that there are some inherent gaps when it comes to incorporating biodiversity concerns in impact assessments.

In this context, the Professional Development Programme (PDP) has been designed for MoEFCC officials involved in reviewing EIA reports and engaged in environmental decision-making. The programme is intended to significantly contribute to the professional development of these officials so that biodiversity concerns are mainstreamed in the decision making for enhancing the effectiveness of EIA as a tool against a background of rapidly declining natural heritage.

Shri N. Ravi Shanker, Former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand while inaugurating the programme highlighted on the need to harmonize conservation concerns with developmental imperatives. Dr V.B. Mathur, Director, WII, emphasised that capacity constraints in EIA remain one of the biggest challenges for straightforward and clear recommendations as an outcome of EIA appraisals. He said that the outcome of the programme would help guide responsible development in consonance with conservation of natural resources.

28 officials from MoEFCC, State Forest Departments and Pollution Control Boards are participating in this programme.