In EIA, baseline data is used to establish reference conditions for what purpose?

• A. To evaluate potential impacts and reference conditions
• B. To determine tax incentives
• C. To set marketing strategy
• D. To compute construction timetables

Answer: (A)

Baseline data capture the pre-project state of the environment, providing a reference condition against which any predicted changes from the proposal can be measured. This reference allows you to assess potential impacts by comparing anticipated alterations to what already exists, helping to determine which aspects may be affected, how large the changes might be, and whether they are significant. It also supports ongoing monitoring and the design of mitigation if needed. The other options don’t fit because they relate to financial incentives, marketing, or timelines rather than evaluating environmental consequences.