Assessing possible cumulative impacts with other plans and projects

During screening, the assessment of the likelihood of potentially significant effects should be done of the plan or project, either alone or in combination with other projects or plans. The assessment of such cumulative impacts is often less detailed at the screening stage than in the appropriate assessment. But there is still a need to identify all other plans or projects that could give rise to cumulative impacts with the plan or project in question. The ‘in combination’ screening requires the identification of other plans and projects that can have potential effects on the same Natura 2000 sites and then assessing their capacity to cause significant effects when considered together with the plan or project under assessment. If this analysis cannot reach definitive conclusions, it should at least identify any other relevant plans and projects that should be scrutinised in more detail during the appropriate assessment. Obtaining information on other plans and projects that can combine to generate cumulative impacts on the Natura 2000 site can be challenging. It is very useful to have databases or information systems that can provide this information in a selected area, as some countries already have or are in the process of developing (19). Existing databases to inform the public about SEA and EIA of plans and projects may also be used to identify possible cumulative effects (20). In any case, the competent authorities (environmental or sectoral) should be consulted and should be able to provide information about other plans/projects to consider during the screening. Table 2 outlines the key steps for assessing cumulative effects on a Natura 2000 site. Table 2 Cumulative impact assessment When a protected habitat or species in the site is already in an unfavourable condition or when critical thresholds of impacts for the habitats’ or species’ specific attributes are being exceeded (or if the site is subject to cumulative effects that will lead to either of these states), any additional plan or project which, either alone or in combination, adds further impacts to these levels is likely to have a significant effect on the Natura 2000 site.

← d1e1156-1-1__para__11 · All articles · d1e1244-1-1__para →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-25 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.