Research Reports

ELI publishes Research Reports available for free download that present the analysis and conclusions of the policy studies ELI undertakes to improve environmental law and policy. These reports contribute to education of the profession and disseminate diverse points of view and opinions to stimulate a robust and creative exchange of ideas. Those publications, which express opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Institute, its Board of Directors, or funding organizations, exemplify ELI’s commitment to dialogue with all sectors.
Improving Public Participation in the Environmental Impact Assessment Process in
Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Adriana Aurazo, Susan Bass,and Wendy Sandoz
January 2004
Prior Informed Consent and Mining: Promoting Sustainable Development of Local Co
Susan Bass, Environmental Law Institute
January 2004

While nations and multinational corporations profit from mining operations around the world, local communities face the resulting negative impacts. Mining communities have begun to exercise their right to prior informed consent to mining operations, despite skepticism in the international community and business world. However, in December 2003, the World Bank’s Extractive Industries Review endorsed prior informed consent for its projects and private projects.

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African Perspectives on Genetic Resources: A Handbook on Laws, Policies, and Ins
Kent Nnadozie, Robert Lettington, Carl Bruch, Susan Bass, and Sarah King, Editors
December 2003

Researchers developing innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems - disease, hunger, and poverty - rely on access to genetic resources. Regulating the conservation, use, and exchange of these resources - who has access to them under what circumstances, who has the right to benefits accrued through their use, how they are conserved - is a complicated process, and many nations lack adequate laws and policies. This book examines how 12 African nations are meeting this challenge and provides a resource for nations to develop a common policy framework.

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Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners
Environmental Law Institute
December 2003

Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners provides a review and synthesis of information from the most up-to-date scientific literature to provide basic thresholds to land use planners to rely upon when making decisions affecting biodiversity. With more than 1,400 papers and abstracts reviewed for the project and a total of 160 papers selected for inclusion in the review, the report covers conservation thresholds on habitat patch area, percent suitable habitat, edge effects, riparian buffers, and corridors.

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Issues Relating to Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environ
Environmental Law Institute
October 2003

Issues Relating to Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation analyzes recent Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Council resolutions that limit public review and hinder the citizen submissions process of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. The report finds that, by limiting the scope of investigation in each of the records examined, the Council jeopardized the ability of the citizen submitters to fully expose the controversy at issue.

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