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In the last decade there has been increasing emphasis on the use of voluntary environmental protection tools such as corporate environmental reporting (CER) and environmental management systems (EMS). There has been relatively little research, however, on the impact of these tools on the actual environmental performance of

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This paper categorizes and reviews different approaches to environmental impact assessment (EIA) system evaluation. It then describes the application of Wood's (1995) 'ideal' EIA system evaluation criteria to the Republic of Maldives. Few of the criteria are actually met. Is the Maldivian EIA system therefore fundamentally flawed or deficient? Field observations suggest that this is not so and, while many improvements can be made, the system is quite locally appropriate. It is concluded that there are a number of factors contributing to the positive development of the Maldavian EIA system, and these should be added on to Wood's list as supplementary criteria appropriate to small developing countries. HE IMPORTANCE OF EIA in the mix of environmental policy instruments is now i nternationally accepted. It has only been in the last ten years or so, however, that the development of 'formal' EIA systems (those given legal or administrative backing) has accele rated. This rapid growth has been predominantly in the developing world, where multilateral and bilateral donors and development agencies have supported the formalization of EIA systems.Clearly we now have much experience in the design of EIA systems at the national level. As a consequence we have a better understanding of how to compare and evaluate EIA systems, so as to strengthen and improve them.The purpose of this paper is to apply a set of EIA system evaluation criteria to an existing impact assessment administrative process in a small developing country (the Republic of Maldives), as a method of review leading to administrative reform. It begins with a brief discussion focused on choosing an appropriate set of EIA system evaluation criteria. It then moves on to outline the historical development of the Maldivian EIA system.The next section applies the chosen set of EIA system evaluation criteria to the Maldives EIA process and analyses the outcomes of the evaluation. The paper concludes by suggesting a range of EIA system evaluation criteria that might be appropriate for small developing countries.

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