Integrated Environmental Management Information Series

Other topics in the series of overview information documents on the concepts of, and approaches to, integrated environmental management are listed below. Further titles in this series are being prepared and will be made available periodically. Sequence of release and titles are subject to change. PLEASE NOTE: This document is intended as an information source and cannot take the place of legal advice in a specific situation governed by legislation. The document is not a guideline document, but serves as a reference and supportive text. This document will not take the place of official guidelines and regulations published by DEAT. This document is copyright under the Berne Convention. Apart from the purpose of private study, research or teaching, in terms of the Copyright Act (Act No. 98 of 1978) no part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from DEAT. Likewise, it may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. PREFACE This document is one of a series of overview information documents on the concepts of, and approaches to, Integrated Environmental Management (IEM). IEM is a key instrument of South Africa's National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). South Africa's NEMA promotes the integrated environmental management of activities that may have a significant effect (positive and negative) on the environment. IEM provides the overarching framework for the integration of environmental assessment and management principles into environmental decision-making. It includes the use of several environmental assessment and management tools that are appropriate for the various levels of decision-making. The aim of this document series is to provide general information on techniques, tools and processes for environmental assessment and management. The material in this document draws upon experience and knowledge from South African Strategic Environmental Assessment page 2 practitioners and authorities, and published literature on international best practice. This document is aimed at a broad readership, which includes government authorities (who are responsible for reviewing and commenting on environmental reports and interacting in environmental processes), environmental professionals (who undertake or are involved in environmental assessments as part of their professional practice), academics (who are interested in and active in the environmental assessment field from a research, …