The role of impact assessment in the development of urban green infrastructure: a review of EIA and SEA practices in Thailand

ABSTRACT Impact assessment (IA) processes can potentially play important roles in driving green infrastructure (GI) planning and design, as well as establishing how GI can contribute to environmental planning objectives. In this paper, we explore how IA (strategic environmental assessment – SEA and environmental impact assessment – EIA) can support the development of GI in Thailand. A framework is designed which is used to reflect on how IA addresses and integrates GI in development at strategic and project levels. Based on a review of 18 EIAs and 4 SEAs from Thailand, it is established that whilst the consideration of GI in SEA (which is not yet compulsory in Thailand) has remained limited, consideration of green spaces for mitigating negative impacts in statutory EIA has been happening frequently. An important reason for this is that regulatory requirements imply that EIA should consider GI (referred to as ‘green spaces’). An important recommendation arising is that GI functions should be addressed in IAs, on the one hand to integrate different policies related to GI; and on the other hand to strengthen implementation of urban GI development.