A critical analysis of the SIA process in Turkey: current problems and recommendations for improving the practice of SIA

Abstract

This article assesses the quality of the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) process in Turkey through an exploration of the legal status and practical dimensions of SIA. We examined a randomly selected sample of SIAs, implemented in 67 development and investment projects between 1993 and 2011, using non-mandatory indicators of quality assessment. We found that, although this period has seen substantial improvements in the legal status of SIA and some improvement in certain dimensions of SIA in practice, much remains to be done in respect to international principles, guidelines and best practices. In practice, SIA is often considered an informational and consultation activity to be fulfilled during the public participation meeting. Moreover, in most cases mechanisms of impact identification/prediction and mitigation/monitoring exist only in theory. On the basis of these findings and assessment of relevant legislation, we offer some recommendations to improve the SIA process in Turkey in hopes that an understanding of the problems plaguing SIA in practice renders these recommendations appropriate to other contexts as well.

Socio-Economic Assessment in Environmental Impact Assessment: Experience and Challenges in Lithuania

“…Inclusion of other stakeholders (e.g., business, education, and health care institutions) also remains an issue. Creation of possibilities for the discussion at the earlier stages of EIA, that is, not only during EIA preparation but also already during the screening or scoping stage, holding public meetings (Woloszyn 2004;Değirmenci, Evcimen 2013) and aiming that the public concerns are taken into account in the programme content, would be an option.…”

“…Although the socio-economic aspects are identified as one of the EIA objectives, the EIA reports are usually dominated by the environmental issues (Kruopiene et al 2009;Değirmenci, Evcimen 2013). The EIA directive (2011/92/EU) is aiming to protect the environment and quality of life and at the same time to ensure that national legislation is aligned with respect to the environmental impacts of public and private projects.…”

Life Cycle Optimization Analysis of Bridge Sustainable Development

“…Essentially, it involves the harmful impact, development goal, and development process. It aims to maximize project benefits, minimize costs, and predict expected and unexpected positive and negative consequences by using accurate methods to formulate mitigation mechanisms for adverse impacts (Değirmenci & Evcimen, 2013).…”