Not retrievable A natural resource (water course, fishery, wetland, wildlife habitat, etc ) which would be lost forever due to the implementation of a project action
If you talk about irretrievable damage or an irretrievable situation, you mean that the damage or situation is so bad that there is no possibility of putting it right. a country in irretrievable decline. = irreparable + irretrievably ir·re·triev·ably Eventually her marriage broke down irretrievably
One of the categories of impacts mentioned in the National Environmental Policy Act to be included in statements of environmental impacts An irretrievable effect applies to losses of production or commitment of renewable natural resources For example, while an area is used as a ski area, some or all of the timber production there is irretrievably lost If the ski area closes, timber production could resume; the loss of timber production during the time that the area was devoted to winter sports is irretrievable However, the loss of timber production during that time is not irreversible, because it is possible for timber production to resume if the area is no longer used as a ski area
Applies to losses of production, harvest, or a commitment of renewable natural resources For example, some or all of the timber production from an area is irretrievable lost during the time an area is used as a winter sports (recreation) site If the use is changed, timber production can be resumed The production lost is irretrievable, but the action is not irreversible
An impact is considered irretrievable when it would eliminate a resource, its productivity and/or utility for the duration of the IPM program