The Custodian Project attended a two-day conference called by the Department of Environment and Tourism (DEAT). After ten years of using the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)process, the DEAT commissioned a study to evaluate how effectiveness and efficiency of the EIA process.

This year marks the tenth year of formalised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in South Africa. It is therefore appropriate at this point in time to review the effectiveness and efficiency of this important instrument.