In the EIA mitigation hierarchy, what action takes precedence over all others when addressing potential adverse environmental impacts?

In the EIA mitigation hierarchy, avoidance takes precedence over all other actions when addressing potential adverse environmental impacts. Avoidance means preventing the impact from occurring in the first place. This is achieved by carefully considering alternative project designs, locations, or technologies that eliminate the potential for environmental harm. For example, instead of building a road through a sensitive wetland area, an alternative route that bypasses the wetland would be selected. Avoidance is prioritized because it is generally the most effective and cost-efficient way to protect the environment, as it eliminates the need for costly and potentially less effective mitigation measures later on. When impacts are avoided completely, there are no residual effects to manage or compensate for. If impact avoidance isn't possible, the mitigation hierarchy then proceeds to minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination, and finally, compensation, but avoidance is always the first and most desirable option.