Enhancing Environmental Impact Studies with Advanced Biodiversity Monitoring Techniques

Abstract

The current threats to the natural capital and essential ecosystem services highlight the urgent need for more effective biodiversity monitoring toward risk mitigation. Despite legislative frameworks and certification schemes, environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are often viewed as bureaucratic and costly by developers. However, advancements in technologies like environmental DNA (eDNA), passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), camera traps, and drones provide non-invasive, cost-effective methods that enhance the accuracy and potential effectiveness of EIAs. These tools offer real-time data collection and improved spatio-temporal analysis, transforming EIAs into powerful tools for ecosystem management and conservation. This paper explores the potential integration of these modern monitoring techniques into EIAs to better address environmental risks from human activities.