Evaluation of Community Involvement in The Process of Environmental Impact Assessment in Indonesia

Abstract

Community involvement in the process of environmental impact analysis in Indonesia was evaluated in this research. This research employed literature review of international journals, books, and the research results of EIA regarding community involvement in EIA process from 1995 to 2013. The result of literature review shows that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is actually an activity that estimates what the consequences of the next action are taken, and examines what following steps are required to enlarge and minimize the consequences of that action. The Environmental Impact Assessment is an activity involving community starting from informing action plans, identifying and evaluating environmental changes as a result of project activities, as well as involving community in the making of environmental feasibility decision. Community is a primary component in the EIA process because they are the final recipients of both economic benefits and environmental damage. As a result, the process of community involvement is not only related to data contribution for decision-making, but the community can also be involved in influencing existing decisions. Moreover, community involvement in EIA process is a practice of democracy in which the community has the ability to develop a more complex understanding as well as expanding their knowledge in contributing to the making of environmental feasibility decision. Furthermore, there are four ethical principles of community involvement, namely Equal opportunity to be involved, equal access to information, discussion, and mutual commitment.