Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099 stream) locations of the river for the animals that move, provided a satisfactory protection is made by the regional government or the project. These sites can be a sanctuary for the animals that tend to occupy them. 2) Although minor, it is inevitable that the flooding will disturb and deprive the few wildlife inhabiting the area and their existing habitat and they will be pushed to the proposed buffer area. Hence, animals (especially the browsing animals) search for a new suitable habitat for feed source, shelter, breeding, egg laying and hatching sites. This may make the wildlife vulnerable to poachers, when they leave their usual dwelling and hiding sites. 3) Not all the valley land is topographically uniform; therefore the inundation at some sites may also cause fragmentation of habitat and disrupt the movement of some animals. 4) It is mentioned already that the steep cliffs of the gorge and the riverine forest along the river are important for several groups of birds such as herons and egrets, king fishers, barbets, chats and thrushes, wood peckers, pigeons, shrikes, warblers and flycatchers, etc. As the reservoir level increases some of their existing habitats will be flooded. However, because of the availability of wide areas in the River Basin (upstream and downstream of this project site) in which these birds are found, it is unlikely that the project will significantly affect the survivorship and well-being of these species. 5) As reported by settlers at Soro wereda specifically at Gortancho and Asawincho kebeles there were lions which have been turned to man-eating which extensive search have been made by experts from the Department of wildlife of ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Although the experts have found none, they speculated the existence of four such lions. This was later found to be true, and as a protection measure it was possible to hunt two of the lion legally (Kahsay and Chere 2007). Furthermore these authors have indicated that hunting was permitted only to get rid of these lions otherwise no hunting is allowed in the area. Although the local communities from the kebeles located close to the reservoir have expressed their concern that the incidents of wild animals’ attack on humans and domestic animals may increase due to flooding their habitat there is no risk to human and wildlife conflict in the area. This is because during the survey it was observed that due to a very high risk of malaria and trypanosomiasis humans and livestock do not inhabit the area close to the future reservoir. However, a wildlife emergency response team has been proposed to deal with any such unforeseen risks. The following mitigation measures are recommended to offset these adverse impacts posed by the project: • Establish Buffer Zone: During our survey we were able to observe that because of the risk of Malaria and Trypanosomiasis humans and livestock do not inhabit most of the hill-slope of terraces III and IV (altitude below 1,300 m a.s.l). Therefore, it is recommended to establish a buffer zone on an estimated 50,000 ha of land in the area between altitudes 900 and 1,100 m a.s.l (See Figure 7.1) and EEPCO to initiate a discussion with the Regional Governments to secure a protection zone status to the buffer zone. The buffer area will serve as a refuge for the wildlife to move to the area downstream or upstream of the reservoir. It will also support the bio-diversity conservation and enhance the biological value of the area. Given time there will be the reestablishment of the riparian zone on the edges of the reservoir from the woodland vegetation at the initial stage since the species composition of the woodland vegetation and riparian vegetation are more or less similar except differences in size. As the reservoir water level increases relatively slowly, wildlife (animals) that will be affected will have time to adapt themselves to the new habitat and move to the dry place. CESI SpA - Mid-Day International Consulting Engineers Page 205
Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099 Those animals which afford to remain within the newly created condition will occupy the habitat. Those that are not comfortable with the modified situation will use the corridor as temporary refuge and later may move up stream or down stream along the river. However, it will be required to identify and protect corridors that may lead the wildlife to the potential alternative habitats (upstream or downstream). It is also recommended to erect easily recognizable permanent marks such as concrete poles at appropriate intervals to mark the buffer zone. • Establish a Rescue Team: When the reservoir fills, the animals will be displaced and can be vulnerable to poachers when they move upwards. They may also be drowned or stranded in the islands formed when higher sites are encircled by water. These necessitate some kind of human intervention to save the wildlife. In this respect, it is recommended to establish a rescue team. A rescue team trained by wildlife specialists will have the duty to identify areas that can be safe from the inundation so that animals are assisted to move to safer areas before the inundation takes place. When assisted by the rescue team, the wildlife will have ample opportunity to find their most preferred route to the nearest refugia. During Construction and reservoir filling, it is recommended to assign competent personnel in charge of the team who is knowledgeable with the existing regulations and policy for wildlife of the regions and federal government who can assist for protection of wildlife and their habitat. He will organize and co-ordinate the management of the threats, through well organized patrolling plan. He would also involve relevant institutions such as the police and Kebele guards to deal with problems such as those posed by harnessing wildlife by the movement of people and vehicles. • Organise Awareness Creation Campaign: Rural people usually have limited knowledge about wildlife and their importance. As a result, their cooperation for their conservation may be minimal. Therefore, for the protection of the wildlife resources it is recommended to conduct a well coordinated community awareness creation program. The awareness creations will contribute to the protection of wildlife resources from most human induced problems. This awareness creation program should be organised in all villages adjacent to the reservoir and to the authorities responsible for the different kebeles. Apart from village level awareness creation, the Contractor for the project should also be encourage for on-job awareness creation training so that the construction workers refrain as much as possible from adversely affecting wild animals by avoiding unnecessary deforestation and creation of noise and by locating construction camps as much as possible away from wildlife concentration sites. • Improve Enforcement Measures along the Buffer Area: During the impoundment of the reservoir, animals will move upward from sites they were enjoying for a long time and will be exposed to human disturbance. Unless this is coupled by an organized patrol, the existence of the animal will be at risk. Therefore, this requires the increase in enforcement measures and can be done by assigning game guards along the buffer area at regular intervals. The game guards will carry out patrolling and need to concentrate on such kind of work for example, the abolishing of the use of firearm in the area and the establishment of new settlements etc. • Strengthening the existing Protected area along the Omo River Basin: The Omo, Mago, Mazie and Chabera- Chorchora national parks which are explained earlier are located downstream of the dam (See Figure 5.18) and therefore, it is recommended to strengthen these parks. They all harbour at least some or all species of the animals and birds of the project area and these sites are eventually potential refuge for some of these animals in the project area. CESI SpA - Mid-Day International Consulting Engineers Page 206
Page 2 and 3:
Gibe III - Environmental and Social
Page 4 and 5:
Page 6 and 7:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167: Gibe III - Environmental and Social
Page 266 and 267:
Page 268 and 269:
Page 270 and 271:
Page 272 and 273:
Page 274 and 275:
Page 276 and 277:
Page 278 and 279:
Page 280 and 281:
Page 282 and 283:
Page 284 and 285:
Page 286 and 287:
Page 288 and 289:
Page 290 and 291:
Page 292 and 293:
Page 294 and 295:
Page 296 and 297:
Page 298 and 299:
Page 300 and 301:
Page 302 and 303:
Page 304 and 305:
Page 306 and 307:
Page 308 and 309:
Page 310 and 311:
Page 312 and 313:
Page 314 and 315:
Page 316 and 317:
Page 318 and 319:
Page 320 and 321:
Page 322 and 323:
Page 324 and 325:
Page 326 and 327:
Page 328 and 329:
Page 330 and 331:
Page 332 and 333:
Page 334 and 335:
Page 336 and 337:
Page 338 and 339:
Page 340 and 341:
Page 342 and 343:
Page 344 and 345:
Page 346 and 347:
Page 348 and 349:
Page 350 and 351:
Page 352 and 353:
Page 354 and 355:
Page 356 and 357:
Page 358:
show all

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?