The potential role of value management in environmental impact assessment: a Maseru case study

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies are undertaken to assess the anticipated environmental impacts of proposed projects. Such studies typically address biophysical and socio-economic issues. Using a case study approach, the effectiveness of the EIA process adopted for a landfill project in Maseru, Lesotho, is reviewed. It was found that the Maseru environmental impact statement (EIS) was not fit for the purpose as it did not facilitate effective decision-making. This failure was to a large extent due to inadequate briefing by the client and ineffective study implementation and review procedures. It is proposed that value management (VM), a value-adding technique mainly applied in the manufacturing and construction industries, could improve the effectiveness of EIA.