Exploring cumulative effects and impacts through examples

Abstract

While previous chapters in this book explored the many challenges posed by cumulative impacts relative to the environment, communities, and human health and well-being, our goal is to develop a common framework for examining cumulative effects and impacts that is inclusive of those perspectives. Therefore, specific on-the-ground examples can be helpful to better understand the complexities, tensions, and interactions among cumulative impacts and foster more integrative approaches to addressing these. To that end, this Chapter includes eight vignettes that help to illustrate recurrent messages about the failure of current thinking and approaches, and why we must develop a more inclusive perspective and ultimately integrative process for addressing cumulative impacts. Topics covered include determining the necessary spatial and temporal scale for examining cumulative impacts, identifying important ecological and human values before development takes place, and making the integration among potential ecological, economic, community, recreational, and health considerations and consequences more explicit. Together, the vignettes highlight why current assessment approaches are ineffective and they build the argument for a needed dramatic shift in how we consider cumulative impacts.