Methods for Assessing Environmental Impacts: Their Effectiveness in Development Projects: Comparative Case Studies

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are now a key instrument of environmental governance, enabling the integration of ecological and social concerns into the design and implementation of development projects. This study analyzes the effectiveness of EIA methods and tools applied within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) through a comparative approach based on a literature review, a critical analysis of practices, and sector-specific case studies.The analysis focuses in particular on infrastructure, energy, mining, and agro-industry projects, such as the construction of the Ouesso-Bangui highway, the Djermaya solar photovoltaic power plant in Chad, the Gbago crushing project in the Central African Republic, and the Sud Cameroun Hévéa (SUDCAM) agro-industrial project. The results show that EIAs effectively contribute to identifying risks, defining mitigation measures, and strengthening environmental governance when Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) are properly implemented and monitored.