Cumulative impacts result from from multiple types and intensities of human uses that co-occur in space and time.
Cumulative impact analyses should include all types of impact to the ecosystem not just impacts from similar projects.
Principle: 6. Accounting for Cumulative Impacts
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To determine the cumulative impact to the ecosystem, it is necessary to identify the overlap of impacts to the system in space and time. This includes impacts from past, present, and probable future impacts as well as impacts that originate in other jurisdictions.
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Mapping the location of stressors in an area can help to determine how many impacts to the system overlap and what species and habitats are likely to be impacted.
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Multiple impacts may accumulate via different mechanisms in the ecosystem, creating additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effects. If possible, identify how multiple impacts are likely to accumulate such that the level of impact is properly identified.