Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool to support development planning by making environmental sensitivities, threats and opportunities explicit to decision-makers. If used appropriately it can help to balance economic, social and environmental factors in the decision-making process, minimise unavoidable damage and reduce mitigation costs.

Montserrat faces considerable challenges in terms of environmental sustainability due to intense competition for space, the need for expansion of settlements and economic activities and the value and fragility of its ecosystems and biodiversity.

Against a background of environmental damage caused by natural hazards, development can give rise to effects such as loss of cultural heritage, soil erosion, siltation of wetlands and the marine environment, pollution and other land use changes that could affect the resilience of the island’s environment in future.

In a 2 day workshop, 21 January to January 22, 2015, organized by UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, Montserrat National Trust and the Government of Montserrat.

These sessions are exploring the role of EIA in assessing and managing potential risks and opportunities associated with planning of development in sensitive environments. The implications of recent changes in international standards will be reviewed and practical cases will be used to explore the roles of different “players” in the EIA process and its common strengths and weaknesses as a planning-support tool.