The UK Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management have     
published guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment. The Guidelines     
are intended for ecologists, developers, planners, local and national     
planning authorities, environmental managers, statutory organisations,     
NGOs or for local groups. These Guidelines provide a recommended     
procedure for the ecological component of Environmental Impact     
Assessment.   
  
These Guidelines have been developed by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) to promote good practice in Ecological Impact Assessment 
(EcIA) relating to terrestrial, freshwater and coastal environments to the mean low water mark in the UK.   
   
The Guidelines set new standards for the assessment of the    
ecological impact of projects and plans, so as to improve the    
consideration of the needs of biodiversity and thereby reduce the impacts    
of any development. They can also be used, for example, to provide    
environmental information to accompany an application for a consent, to    
guide a development brief or to inform a management plan.   
   
Link: http://www.ieem.org.uk/ecia/EcIA%20Appro ...