What is the purpose of an environmental baseline in EIA?

• A. To forecast future environmental conditions after project completion.
• B. To determine project financing options.
• C. To establish the existing environmental conditions prior to project implementation.
• D. To replace the need for an EIS.

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is to have a reference point for what the environment looks like before any project activity begins. An environmental baseline provides a detailed snapshot of current conditions—air and water quality, soils, biodiversity, noise, land use, and even social and cultural aspects. This baseline serves as the yardstick for measuring any changes the project might cause. With it, you can predict which effects would be significant, assess how those effects would alter the environment over time, and design appropriate mitigation and monitoring plans. It also helps distinguish changes caused by the project from natural variation or other outside factors. So, the purpose is to establish the existing environmental conditions prior to project implementation.