Environmental Planning Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Environmental Planning distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/environmental-planning/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A systematic process for evaluating the potential environmental consequences of a proposed project, plan, or policy before a decision is made. EIAs identify likely impacts, propose mitigation measures, and inform decision-makers and the public.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This concept, defined by the 1987 Brundtland Commission, balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.

Land-Use Planning

The process of regulating and managing the use and development of land in a way that is efficient, sustainable, and equitable. It involves zoning, comprehensive plans, and development regulations to guide where different activities occur.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size or level of human activity that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the resource base, ecosystem functions, or environmental quality upon which it depends.

Environmental Justice

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, income, or national origin in the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. It addresses the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards on marginalized communities.

Green Infrastructure

A strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas, including parks, greenways, bioswales, rain gardens, and urban forests, designed to deliver ecosystem services such as stormwater management, air purification, and heat reduction.

Watershed Management

An integrated approach to managing the land, water, and biological resources within a watershed (drainage basin) to protect water quality, control flooding, and sustain aquatic ecosystems while accommodating human uses.

Climate Adaptation Planning

The process of adjusting policies, infrastructure, and practices to reduce vulnerability and build resilience to the current and projected effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and shifting precipitation patterns.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

A systematic evaluation of the environmental implications of a proposed policy, plan, or program, conducted at a higher strategic level than project-specific EIAs to address cumulative and large-scale impacts.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans derive from functioning ecosystems, categorized as provisioning (food, water), regulating (climate regulation, flood control), supporting (nutrient cycling, soil formation), and cultural (recreation, aesthetic value) services.

Key Terms at a Glance

Biodiversity:The variety of life at all levels of biological organization, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity within a given area.

Brownfield:A previously developed property that may be contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants and is available for redevelopment.

Buffer Zone:An area of land separating two distinct land uses or protecting a sensitive resource, such as a vegetated strip along a stream to filter runoff.

Carbon Footprint:The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly by human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide.

Carrying Capacity:The maximum population or activity level an environment can sustain without long-term degradation of its resource base.

Climate Adaptation:Adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to actual or expected climate change and its effects.

Comprehensive Plan:A long-range planning document adopted by a municipality that guides future development, land use, transportation, housing, and public services.

Cumulative Impact:The combined, incremental environmental effect of multiple past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions.

Ecosystem Services:The benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):A document required by NEPA that analyzes the environmental effects of a proposed major federal action and evaluates alternatives.

Environmental Justice:The equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across all communities regardless of race, income, or origin.

Floodplain:A flat area of land adjacent to a river or stream that is subject to periodic flooding and often regulated to limit development.

Geographic Information System (GIS):A computer system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced spatial data.

Green Infrastructure:Natural and engineered ecological systems that provide ecosystem services such as stormwater management and urban cooling.

Greenfield:Previously undeveloped land, often agricultural or natural, that is being considered for development.

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