Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
Consultation conducted with Authorities at Gibe III downstream
Photo 8.8: Consultation with South Omo Zone,
Dasenech Wereda Council
8.6 Consultation for National Parks and Protected Areas
Photo 8.9: Consultation with South Omo Zone,
Hammer Wereda Council
8.6.1 Views of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
The Wildlife Conservation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(MoARD/WCD) which is the responsible governmental body for the Omo and Mago national parks was
requested to forward its comments towards the potential negative impacts of the project upon the parks and
the surrounding areas. These parks are situated on the right and left banks of the Omo River downstream of
the hydropower project.
According to the office, there is no wildlife that is entirely dependent on grass grown on floodplain. The
livestock and wild animals have abundant grazing lands outside the river courses and therefore they will not
be affected by the project.
There will also be no any significant effect upon the aquatic life in the National Park areas.
Currently, a “community tourism“ is initiated and this is taking tourists from Lake Turkana to the upstream
of the Omo River through small hand operated as well as motorized boats. By this package a tourist will visit
the national parks as well as the indigenous people of the area. Therefore, the fluctuating water levels caused
by operation of the plant (reduction in discharge when no energy is generated from the power station and the
increased discharge as the power station begins to operate) may affect the operation of this programme.
8.6.2 Views of the Office of National Parks and CHA
The Omo and Mago National Park and Murule Controlled Hunting Area (CHA) are found within the
downstream of the Gibe III scheme. The potential impact of the project on these protected areas was assessed
through consultations with the officials from the two parks and the CHA. As an introduction, the study team
made brief presentation about the general features of the project. According to the information obtained from
them, currently the parks have started community tourism program by means of boat transport from Lake
Turkana via Omo gorge to the upstream of the parks. The officials’ perceive that the high fluctuation in the
river flow may hinder boat transportation and could be a cause for the interruption of the program. Therefore,
the operation of the hydropower scheme could have a significant negative impact on the program.
CESI SpA - Mid-Day International Consulting Engineers Page 252