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Biodiversity Management Plan

HEC HSE Manager and THL E&S Person Responsible Manager

DATE REV. DESCRIPTION PREPARED CHECKED APPROVED (dd/mm/yyyy)

Version 1 issued for Lender’s 1 31/12/2019 HEC HEC review

2 02/05/2020 Version 2 issued for OE’s HEC Review

Version 2 issued for Lenders’ 3 02/06/2020 HEC OE (JG) Review – Access Road Lot 1

Version 3 issued for Lenders’ OE (PF, KS, 4 17/09/2020 OE(JG) Review – Access Road JG)

Version 3 resubmitted for OE (PF, KS, 5 13/11/2020 Lenders’ approval (Access OE(JG) JG) Road)

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Revision Log

Date Revised Detail Rev. (dd/mm/yyyy) Item Page Article Description

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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 8

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE 8 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 10 1.3 MANAGEMENT APPROACH 11 1.3.1 Adaptive Management 11 1.3.2 Ecosystem Approach 14 1.3.3 Four BMP Elements 14 1.3.4 Biodiversity Capacity Support and Stakeholder Engagement 15 1.4 UPDATES 16 1.5 DEFINITIONS 16

2 BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT 18

3 ECOLOGICAL STUDIES UNDERTAKEN 19

4 BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT 21

4.1 REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT 21 4.2 LOCAL BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT 22 4.2.1 Terrestrial Ecology 23 4.2.2 Aquatic Ecology 27

5 EXISTING PRESSURES ON LOCAL BIODIVERSITY 29

5.1 CLEARING AND LOGGING 29 5.2 INVASIVE SPECIES 29

6 APPLICABLE POLICIES, STANDARDS AND LEGISLATION 31

6.1 LENDER POLICIES AND STANDARDS 31 6.2 CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES CONVENTION 34 6.3 CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 34 6.4 RELEVANT LAWS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS 34 6.4.1 Biosecurity Act 2013 34 6.4.2 Environment Act 1998 and Environment Regulation 2008 34 6.4.3 Fisheries Management Act 2015 35 6.4.4 Fisheries Management (Prohibited Activities) Regulations 2018 35 6.4.5 The Forests Act 1999 35 6.4.6 Protected Areas Act 2010 36 6.4.7 Wildlife Protection and Management Act 1998 36 6.5 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING BIODIVERSITY VALUES AGAINST LENDER POLICIES AND STANDARDS 38 6.5.1 Project Area of Influence 38

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6.5.2 Analysis of Natural and Critical Habitat 40

7 SUMMARY OF TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS AND OFFSET REQUIREMENTS 46

8 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 49

9 ELEMENT ONE. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT 53

9.1 INTRODUCTION 53 9.2 ACTION PLAN 53 9.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION 68 9.4 WILDLIFE PROTOCOL 73 9.4.1 Wildlife Shepherding Protocol 73 9.4.2 Injured Wildlife Protocol 74 9.5 INVASIVE FLORA MANAGEMENT 76 9.5.1 Invasive Flora Management Protocol (IFMP). 76 9.5.2 Preventing Invasive Plant Dispersal and Establishment 78

10 ELEMENT TWO. RIVER MANAGEMENT 80

10.1 INTRODUCTION 80 10.2 ACTION PLAN 81 10.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION 85 10.4 ADDITIONAL BASELINE STUDIES 87 10.4.1 Algae and Macro-Invertebrate Surveys 87 10.4.2 Fish Studies 88 10.5 FISH PASSAGE MECHANISM 89 10.6 ALTERNATIVE GENERATION REGIMES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW ANALYSIS 91 10.7 RIVER ENVIRONMENT BIODIVERSITY OFFSETS 92

11 ELEMENT THREE. WATERSHED ENGAGEMENT 93

11.1 INTRODUCTION 93 11.2 ACTION PLAN 93 11.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION 98

12 ELEMENT FOUR. TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY OFFSET 101

12.1 INTRODUCTION 101 12.2 ACTION PLAN 102 12.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION 108 12.4 ADDITIONAL BASELINE STUDIES 112 12.4.1 Relevant studies previously undertaken 112 12.4.2 Assessment of unique features of Cliff and Riparian Habitat 112 12.5 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY OFFSET AREA 112

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13 AUDITING 114

14 BMP PROGRAMME AND BUDGET 116

15 REFERENCES 117

ANNEX A – SPECIES LISTED AS THREATENED ON THE IUCN RED LIST AND / OR RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES THAT ARE PRESENT OR POTENTIALLY PRESENT WITHIN THE TRHDP AREA 118

ANNEX B – SPECIES LISTS FROM ESIA (FLORA, AMPHIBIANS, BIRDS, MAMMALS, REPTILES) 129

ANNEX C – DR LAVERY’S REPORT 130

ANNEX D – DRAFT OUTLINE TOR FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSULTANTS 131

ANNEX E – INDICATIVE COSTS AND PROGRAMME FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BMP (FIRST 10 YEARS) 132

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ACRONYMS

Name Description AZE Alliance for Zero Extinction Site BAG Biodiversity Advisory Group BMP Biodiversity Management Plan BOOT Built, Own, Operate and Transfer CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CESMP Construction Environmental and Social Management Plan CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CH Critical Habitat CR Critically Endangered DBMP Drill and Blast Management Plan DD Data Deficient DESCP Drainage, Erosion and Sediment Control Plan DIA Direct Impact Area EFMP Environmental Flows Management Plan EIS Environmental Impact Statement EN Endangered ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESMP Environment and Social Management Plan ESS Environmental and Social Safeguards FAMMP Fish, Algae, and Macro-Invertebrate Monitoring Plan FCP Forest Clearance Plan FFMP Flora and Fauna Monitoring Plan FPP Fish Passage Plan GPS Global Positioning System GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism HEC Hyundai Engineering Corporation Limited HMMP Hazardous Materials Management Plan HSE Health, Safety and Environment IA Implementation Agreement IBA Important Bird and Biodiversity Area IBAT Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool IFMP Invasive Flora Management Protocol IMP Influx Management Plan IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature KBA Key Biodiversity Area K-water Korea Water Resources Corporation LC Least Concern masl Metres above sea level MECDM Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology MMERE Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification MW Mega Watt NT Near Threatened NVMP Noise and Vibration Management Plan OE Owner’s Engineer (Stantec New Zealand)

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PA Protected Area PO Project Office PCRRMP Post Construction Rehabilitation and Revegetation Management Plan PPA Power Purchase Agreement RoW Right of Way RR Restricted Range SECP Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Plan SIEA Solomon Islands Electricity Authority SMP Security Management Plan SIG Solomon Islands Government STMP Spoil and Top Soil Management Plan TBA To be appointed TCLC Tina Core Land Company THL Tina Hydropower Limited TMP Traffic Management Plan TRHDP Tina River Hydro Development Project (the Project) VU Vulnerable WMPSPP Waste Management and Point Source Pollution Plan

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP or “Project”) is a hydropower development located in Central Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, managed by a dedicated Project Office (PO) under the national Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE). Tina Hydropower Limited (THL) was established by Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and Hyundai Engineering Corporation Limited (HEC). THL will Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) the Project under an Implementation Agreement (IA) and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and Solomon Islands Electricity Authority, respectively. The BOOT concession is expected to last for a 30-year period, following commissioning.

HEC will be responsible for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the Project, while THL will be responsible for the Operation and Maintenance contract. THL will sell electricity to the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) trading as Solomon Power, the state-owned power utility, for the duration of the concession. At the end of the concession, the hydropower infrastructure will be transferred to the SIG or SIEA.

This Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP; P2), is part of a suite of environmental and social management plans (ESMPs) that have been prepared for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (the Project). An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the TRHDP was completed in 2017, with a revision in 2019. The ESIA includes requirements for a set of plans to guide implementation of the various phases of the project, including a Construction ESMP (CESMP; P1). One of the plans required to be developed in the preparation phase is the BMP (this plan).

The purpose of the BMP is to outline actions and methods required to avoid, minimise, mitigate, and offset potential impacts of TRHDP activities on biodiversity. To ensure the project leads to the conservation or enhancement of biodiversity outcomes, the scope of the BMP is focused on the Tina River Catchment as a whole, and encompasses all biological areas that have the potential to be directly and indirectly impacted by the project.

The geographical extent of Tina River catchment and key elements of the project disturbance (namely the Direct Impact Area) that will be included within the scope of the BMP are shown in Figure 1-1.

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Figure 1-1: Map of the Project DIA boundary within the Tina River catchment

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Unlike other sub-plans under the CESMP, the temporal scope of this BMP covers both the construction and operational phases. The technical scope of the BMP includes the requirements of the Lenders policies and standards, the Solomon Islands legislation and the international agreements to which Solomon Islands are signatories. The BMP includes roles and responsibilities for the Project Office and THL, not just for HEC as Contractor. The BMP is therefore an anomaly in the CESMP architecture, reflecting the integrated layers of biodiversity impact management and responsibilities that are planned together, and as prescribed in the ESIA. HEC, as lead author, is required to ensure that all parties understand their roles and implement the parts of the plan under their responsibility.

The scope and detail of the BMP is based on the framework of mitigation proposed in the ESIA and based on currently available data. It is acknowledged that there are key biodiversity data gaps that limit the current scope of the BMP. As further data is obtained and analysed the BMP will be updated.

The BMP:

• addresses the management of impacts on terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity as identified in the ESIA and subsequent technical studies; • integrates the requirements of a ‘Biodiversity Action Plan’ in accordance with IFC Guidance Note 6; • follows the mitigation hierarchy; • connects the project biodiversity aims and objectives with other conservation initiatives and watershed management related to the project; and • will use an adaptive management approach, with appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes, to assess progress and modify actions in order to achieve the BMP aims and objectives.

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The overarching aims of this BMP are to achieve and maintain (over the 30-year timeframe of the BOOT contract):

• No net loss of biodiversity values of 104 Ha of disturbed and remnant lowland forest (natural habitat) impacted by the project; • Net gain of biodiversity values of critical river habitat and no net loss of biodiversity values of natural river habitat1; • Net gains of biodiversity values of 81 Ha of primary lowland forest, riparian forest and cliff forest (critical habitat) impacted by the project.

1 Values yet to be defined.

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The objectives of the BMP were originally outlined in the ESIA, Appendix P, and are presented in Table 1-1. Since the completion of the ESIA, and to provide a clear pathway towards success, the objectives have been refined to ensure they are SMART, i.e. Specific, Measurable, Attainable and Relevant (also shown in Table 1-1).

Table 1-1 Refined Objectives of the BMP

Objective Original objective contained in ESIA Amended SMART Objective Number 1 Protecting and, if possible, enhancing 1. Protect and restore at least 220 Ha of remaining significant habitats within, and lowland forest, riparian and cliff habitat to a particularly adjacent to, the TRHDP area, in similar or improved quality compared to particular, reducing pressure on the upper baseline (to offset the loss of 81 Ha of critical Tina River catchment area, upstream of the habitat and 104 Ha of natural habitat). TRHDP. In particular, the TRHDP is to achieve 2. No measurable forest habitat degradation in no net loss of biodiversity, in areas of natural the upper Tina River catchment that can be habitat, where feasible. attributed to improved access via the Project access road. 2 Protecting and, if possible, improving the Continued presence of all species identified in chances of survival of listed threatened the baseline (pre-construction) studies as species in the TRHDP area. The BMP must critically endangered, endangered or provide clear guidance on how to protect vulnerable as defined in the IUCN Red List. and restore habitats in the TRHDP site to Prevent incursions of new invasive plant or protect and manage listed threatened animal species within the Core Area. species and to prevent the further incursion of invasive species. However, the approach Reduce the spatial extent of plant pest species to biodiversity management will be in protected areas within the Core Area (e.g. ‘adaptive’, following continuous monitoring Mikania micrantha “Mile-a-Minute”). of success. The BMP requires flexibility to allow changes to the outlined approach, Reduce the population density of animal pests depending on the on-going achievements or (cane toads, marine toad, giant toad, wild cats, setbacks in the field. Polynesian rat, house rat) in protected areas within the Core Area. 3 N/A Provide access to non-timber forest products in the Core Area to land owners to maintain the pre-project harvesting activities.

1.3 MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Biodiversity management will be integrated and holistic with the other environmental and social management measures of the project and will be based on the premises of adaptive management and focused on ecosystem-based solutions. There are four key elements to the management plan and management actions are based on the mitigation hierarchy.

1.3.1 Adaptive Management

Also known as ‘adaptive resource management’ or ‘adaptive environmental assessment and management’, adaptive management is a formal, systematic, and

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The World Bank and IFC Performance Standard 6 prescribes adaptive management as an accepted approach for managing complex mitigation of project impacts. Mitigating the long term and significant impacts from hydropower is complicated and not all of the mitigation measures will have predictable outputs and outcomes. The complicated cumulative and iterative impacts of existing stressors such as climate change and land use changes add to the difficulty in accurately predicting impacts and mitigation measures. Impact assessment becomes less accurate for longer time periods. The data on species and habitats in Solomon Islands is not comprehensive and therefore it has been difficult for THL to determine an accurate baseline. For all these reasons, adaptive management becomes a feasible and practical solution to biodiversity management for the Project.

The fundamentals of adaptive management are:

1. Biodiversity management and action plans are prepared based on robust impact assessment and sound evidence, but plans are regularly reviewed and updated during implementation, based on the feedback from monitoring and evaluation.

2. The plans must have been detailed monitoring and evaluation framework, with accurate and useful monitoring indicators and thresholds. This is so that data can trigger remedial action or alternative mitigation measures before the impacts cause harm, and certainly before they become irreversible.

3. Adaptive management allows for flexibility and allows a project to go ahead without all of the mitigation measures fully scoped, but it comes at the cost of having to regularly monitor and analyse progress and respond in a timely manner with updated management techniques. It also relies on skills and expertise to manage the dynamic process and a commitment by the stakeholders to learn and adjust approaches over time.

4. To be effective, the evidential basis must provide a high level of confidence that the adaptive management approach will achieve the goals of 1) sufficiently reducing uncertainty and 2) adequately managing any remaining risk. It is not a random trial and error approach; it is not trying out something that is untested or unknown to see what might happen.

5. There must be a very good understanding of the baseline conditions, including existing environmental and social stressors, so that the project impacts can be adequately monitored and measured. This BMP provides actions to improve the knowledge of the baseline conditions (such as determining fish taxonomy).

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6. The plan needs a process of incorporating lessons learnt from monitoring and evaluation (M&E) into future decision making and BMP updates.

7. The M&E framework should be designed to provide the basis of scientific evidence for adaptive management. It should measure things to reduce uncertainties and to provide evidence of progress towards goals and objectives, and to provide evidence of environmental or social harm (or the potential for harm).

Adaptive management is an integral part of project implementation. Evaluation and learning leads to an adjustment of the inputs and activities as shown in the image below:

The various components of adaptive management within the BMP are detailed in Table 1-1Error! Reference source not found..

Table 1-2 Summary of adaptive management components for the Project BMP

Adaptive Management Component BMP Detailed action plans based on ESIA Refer to Section 9.3, and subsequent sections for each Project phase (e.g. Section Actions are based on reducing risk and 10.2 for construction) uncertainty and managing residual risk. Detailed monitoring and evaluation Refer Section 14 framework Ensure skilled people are designing, implementing and interpreting the monitoring and evaluation. Validate evaluation and adaptation by peer review where necessary. Provide an evidence base to adapt management actions and outputs. Provide a timeline with key milestones.

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Adaptive Management Component BMP Good understanding of baseline conditions Refer Sections 4 and 5 and further baseline data gathering as required (e.g. Section 11.3 aquatic baseline studies) Decision making and decision makers must Refer Section 14 be flexible to change as a result of M&E feedback, particularly where there are significant impacts that need correction. Communications and engagement Refer Section 14 strategies should be used to inform and engage stakeholders on the approach.

1.3.2 Ecosystem Approach

Biodiversity outcomes will be achieved by addressing the ecosystem requirements of biodiversity in the area affected by the Project, considering the interconnected and integrated nature of the forest, cliff, riparian and river habitats in the catchment and across the island. The approach also takes into account the social needs of natural habitats in the area and the cultural connectedness to land and sense of place and the maintenance of ecosystem services that support the health and wellbeing of people.

1.3.3 Four BMP Elements

The biodiversity management strategy is a matrix of four elements that address the mitigation hierarchy, as illustrated in the matrix below.

BMP Avoid Mitigate and Remedy Offset Enhancements Element

Land clearance controls Layout design 1. Construction River works controls Road / site access Management Site restoration controls Invasive species control

E-flow Issues and options study Generation regime 2. River Management Location of infrastructure Issues and options study Contribution to scientific Reservoir management knowledge of aquatic Invasive species control biodiversity values

Land owner engagement 3. Watershed Road access controls Road access controls Land owner engagement Land owner engagement Engagement Ecosystem-based Invasive species control Controls to be decided Controls to be decided livelihoods

Core Area restoration and protection of 4. Terrestrial Biodiversity Ecosystem-based DIA restoration Invasive species control remaining habitat Offset liveilhoods Invasive species control Invasive species eradication

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The four elements of the BMP are summarized below. The detailed action plans are included in Sections 9, 10, 11 and 12:

1. Element One Construction Management - management of construction impacts during the construction phase on terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity values. (HEC responsibility); 2. Element Two River Management –Management of the reservoir, generation regime, e-flow, aquatic habitat and water quality management during hydropower operation phase (THL responsibility); 3. Element Three Watershed Engagement – working collaboratively with land owners to develop long term strategies to protect the watershed ecosystem services for the Tina River, the Project, land owners and communities, and to enhance, protect and mitigate the indirect biodiversity impacts from the Project. This is a collective responsibility of THL and PO with the support of lenders and SIG. 4. Element Four Terrestrial Biodiversity Offset – The ‘Biodiversity Action Plan’ for the establishment and ongoing management of restoration conservation activities in the Core Area to offset the direct lowland forest, riparian and cliff habitat loss (THL responsibility with support from HEC in the construction phase). The activities will achieve the BMP Goals of no net loss of natural habitat and net gain of critical habitat (THL responsibility);

For each of the four BMP elements, management measures and specific actions have been outlined in tabular format, with key responsibilities and timing for action assigned. Following the management measures outlined, monitoring and evaluation measures have also been identified.

The measures apply for the duration of the BOOT contract (30 years) and include, inter alia, relevant measures presented in ESIA Section 13.10 (Summary ESMP Matrix) and Appendix P, Annex 1 (Overview of ESMP Biodiversity Management Measures during Operations). Indicative costs to implement the BMP over the first 10 years have been estimated based on knowledge of similar projects in the Pacific and Australasia, but these costs will need to be validated and refined once a Biodiversity Consultant is engaged by THL. Costs have been estimated in the region of USD $6-7 million (including 10% contingency) for this initial 10 year period (see Annex E).

More detailed guidance of specific measures is presented in special purpose plans and protocols highlighted in bold. The measures outlined are to be read in conjunction with these special purpose ESMPs (e.g. C3 - Forest Clearance Plan).

1.3.4 Biodiversity Capacity Support and Stakeholder Engagement

Biodiversity Specialists: THL will engage a specialist biodiversity firm with capacity to support the implementation of Element Two River Management and Element Four Terrestrial Biodiversity Offsets, to support the supervision of HEC to implement Element One Construction Management and to coordinate with the PO regarding the

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Biodiversity Advisory Group: Some mitigation measures benefit from coordination with regional conservation initiatives. This is particularly so for measures with larger spatial relevance, such as support for the conservation of the Tina River catchment within the suite of biodiversity offset measures proposed for the TRHDP, and for the control of invasive species. A process for engaging with relevant conservation interests will be developed as part of the implementation of this BMP. As a result of this process, a Biodiversity Advisory Group will be formed. Apart from key individuals from overlapping conservation initiatives, such a group will also consist of interested and relevant provincial and national government officials, NGO/CSO, available biodiversity experts and academic personnel.

1.4 UPDATES

This BMP focuses on using an adaptive management approach. Therefore this is a “living” document to be reviewed and updated as additional information becomes available through the monitoring and evaluation process throughout the development of the project. Any changes will be subject to review by THL, and potentially require the approval of the Project Office (PO) and Lenders (according to the management of change procedure outlined in the Construction ESMP (CESMP); P1).

1.5 DEFINITIONS Biodiversity Values Biodiversity values means the values attached to particular biodiversity attributes by relevant local, national and international stakeholders. Critical Habitats Critical Habitats are areas with high biodiversity value, including (i) habitat of significant importance to Critically Endangered or Endangered species; (ii) habitat of significant importance to endemic and/or restricted range species; (iii) habitat supporting globally significant concentrations of migratory species and/or congregatory species; (iv) highly threatened or unique ecosystems; and/or (v) areas associated with key evolutionary processes (IFC Performance Standard 6, January 1, 2012) and areas having biodiversity of significant social, economic, or cultural importance to local communities (ADB SPS). Habitat Habitat is defined as a terrestrial, freshwater, or marine geographical unit or airway that supports assemblages of living organisms and their interactions with the non-living environment. Modified Habitats Modified habitats as areas that may contain a large proportion of plant and/or animal species of non-native origin, and/or where

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human activity has substantially modified an area’s primary ecological function. Note that a modified habitat may also be a critical habitat if it meets any of the criteria in the critical habitat definition above. Natural Habitats Natural habitats are areas composed of viable assemblages of plant and/or animal species of largely native origin, and/or where human activity has not essentially modified an area’s primary ecological functions and species composition.

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2 BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT

The Project consists of a 53 metre high Roller Compacted Concrete dam (from riverbed to dam crest) in the central area of Malango Ward of Central Guadalcanal, located 20 km southeast of Honiara, at an elevation of approximately 122 metres above sea level (masl) and roughly 30 river km from the sea. It also incorporates a 3.3 km tunnel to a powerhouse and a tailrace at elevation 73 masl, centreline elevation, according to the Technical Proposal.

The reservoir formed by the dam will extend upstream approximately 2.6 km and will have a surface area of about 0.31 km2 at an elevation of 175 masl. The powerhouse will be located 5.4 km downstream from the dam on the left bank of the Tina River, and water will be diverted to the powerhouse from the reservoir through the underground tunnel. Initially, the powerhouse will have 3 turbine/generator units, each with a capacity of 5 MW, allowing a maximum discharge of about 18 m3/s and a minimum discharge of 2.4 m3/s. An environmental flow of 1 m3/s will be maintained between the dam and the powerhouse tailrace, a distance of 5.7 km.

Additional infrastructure elements of the project will include:

• An access road from Mangakiki Village to the powerhouse and dam site; • An infrastructure Corridor comprising a 50 m wide corridor from Mangakiki Village to the Black Post Turnoff to accommodate an access road and dual 66kV transmission lines, and the transmission line route from Black Post Road to the existing Lunnga Power Station; • Two concrete batch plants (one established during Access Road construction, the other established for Main Dam construction) • A workers camp; and • At least two land based and/or riverbed quarries (described in the Quarry Management Plan, QMP; C5) and associated mobile or static crushing plants.

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3 ECOLOGICAL STUDIES UNDERTAKEN

A number of ecological field surveys and desk top reviews have been undertaken for the project that have informed the development of this BMP and are presented in Table 3-1.

Table 3-1 Ecological Assessments completed to date

Assessment Scope Description Timing Authors/ Type Surveyor(s) Aquatic, ESIA Scoping Survey of the Tina River System, 10 to 12 Entura and Flora and Study which included a rapid ecological September Pacific Fauna assessment survey. 2010 Horizons (Field Consultancy survey) Group Aquatic ESIA A field survey of the Tina river 30 July to 07 Loïc Trébaol, Ecology Baseline system, which encompassed water August 2013 and Robson S. (Field Study quality sampling, observations on Hevalao survey) fish and river system, and interviews with local fishermen.

Flora and ESIA Flora Field visits and sampling were carried 5 to 17 Edgar Pollard Fauna and Fauna out and included a total of 24 flora August 2013 Myknee (Field Baseline stations and 22 fauna stations. Sirikolo, survey) Assessment Three categories of sampling area (Flora) were selected: Upper Stream within Eric Deneut, undisturbed lowland forest; Middle (terrestrial Tina River that represents the main fauna) location of potential impact generating activities; and the Transmission line. Aquatic ESIA Fish and water quality survey. February Robson S. Ecology Baseline 2014 Hevalao in (Field Study survey)

Aquatic ESIA A supplementary study of March and Jowett Ecology Baseline environmental flow requirements July 2016 Consulting Study and habitat suitability for migratory with Robson fish. S. Hevalao and David Boseto. Threatened Literature Review of impacts and mitigation for 2016 Dr. Lavery, Mammals review and threatened mammals of Oceania (Desktop desktop Guadalcanal. The assessment Ecology review) assessment reviewed information available for Group Pty. threatened species and proposed Ltd. mitigation strategies for potential impacts from the Project.

Flora and ESIA Critical and Natural Habitat May 2017 John Pilgrim Fauna, assessment, impacts, Habitat

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Assessment Scope Description Timing Authors/ Type Surveyor(s) (Desktop mitigation, and monitoring, rapid review) review based on information in the ESIA. Terrestrial Post-ESIA Rapid terrestrial ecology and 4 to 7 and MYKNEE’S Ecology and biodiversity survey conducted to 12 to 14 Ecological Biodiversity revisit and revise information on the August 2020 Consultancy (Field flora and fauna within the core area survey) of the Project.

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4 BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT

4.1 REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT

The Solomon Islands are part of the East Melanesian Islands group, recognised as one of the most biologically important regions on earth in terms of species richness and endemism (CEPF 20121). The Solomon Islands is home to about 4,500 species of plants (MECM 2008), 245 species of bird, 72 species of mammal, 51 species of reptile, 19 species of amphibian, and 1,282 species of fish (IBAT 2019).

The Islands contain a total of 94 protected areas, most of which are in marine habitat and governed by local communities (IBAT 2019), reflecting the dominance of customary land tenure within the Solomon Islands (CEPF 2012). There is one National Park; the Queen Elizabeth National Park near Honiara on Guadalcanal Island, outside the Tina River catchment. Another protected area is the Naro Controlled Forest area, some 16 km north-west of the TRHDP, within the catchment of the Matepono River.

In addition, the Solomon Islands counts 37 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA2), including 11 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA3), five Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites (AZE4), and 36 sites identified thorough CEPF supported hotspot profiles (IBAT 2019). Two KBAs occur on Guadalcanal Island, including the Mount Gallego KBA in the western part of the island, and the Guadalcanal Watersheds KBA, covering most of the southern part of the island, including parts of the Tina River catchment. The Guadalcanal Watersheds KBA is also an IBA and includes forest catchments and lowland valleys, as well as Mounts Popomanaseu (on the edge of the Tina River catchment) and Makarakomburu, which are the highest mountains in the Solomon Islands. The area has been nominated on the basis of its rich endemic bird diversity.

1 The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is designed to safeguard the world’s biologically richest and most threatened regions, known as biodiversity hotspots. This document is Ecosystem Profile for the East Melanesian Islands Hotspot, which includes the island the Solomon Islands. The East Melanesian Islands qualify as a hotspot due to their high levels of plant and animal endemism and accelerating levels of habitat loss, caused chiefly by widespread commercial logging and mining, expansion of subsistence and plantation agriculture, population increase, and the impacts of climate change and variability. 2 The Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (IUCN 2016) sets out globally agreed criteria for the identification of KBAs worldwide. Sites qualify as global KBAs if they meet one or more of 11 criteria, clustered into five categories: threatened biodiversity; geographically restricted biodiversity; ecological integrity; biological processes; and, irreplaceability (http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/what-are-kbas) . Key Biodiversity Areas are designed to expand the IBA network to include all biodiversity, thereby strengthening the level of advocacy for protected areas. 3 BirdLife aims to identify, protect and manage a network of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) that are places of international significance for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity. They are recognised world-wide as practical tools for conservation; identified using robust, standardised criteria; and sites that together form part of a wider integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment (https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/programme-additional- info/important-bird-and-biodiversity-areas-ibas). 4 The Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) was established to designate and effectively conserve the most important sites for global biodiversity conservation. It engages governments, multilateral institutions and non-governmental biodiversity conservation organizations working to prevent species extinctions. AZE members have identified 853 AZE sites, which are the areas that hold the last-remaining populations of one or more species evaluated to be Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

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A map showing the extent of the two KBAs (and associated IBA) on Guadalcanal in the context of the project location is presented in Figure 4-1.

Figure 4-1: Map of KBA and IBA on Guadalcanal in the context of the project

Guadalcanal TRHDP Watershed KBA and IBA

Mount Gallego KBA

Mount Popomanaseu

Source: World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas, Birdlife International, (http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/site/mapsearch)

Furthermore, the Mt. Popomanaseu region of Guadalcanal Province has also been tentatively listed as a Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Solomon Islands World Heritage Site of Outstanding Universal Value.

In addition to the aforementioned areas, there are also many small, culturally significant areas called ‘Tambu’, where the local population protects these areas in a traditional manner. Two such sites were identified and recorded during the most recent ecological survey, on the 6th of August 2020. The local place names of these sites are Bela and Kambi respectively and are both located adjacent to the access road, outside of the proposed clearing area of the project.

4.2 LOCAL BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT

The ESIA identifies three sub-regions of the Tina River catchment based on elevation: the higher elevation area of the upper catchment (above 400 masl) which lies to the south, and is dominated by undisturbed montane forests; the mid-elevation river gorge area which is dominated by lowland forests modified by extensive legal and illegal logging and semi-commercial timber operations, as well as gardens and habitation clearings; and the lower elevation area which is dominated by grassland and plantations within the downstream (northern) catchment. The degree of anthropogenic modification increases markedly with decreasing altitude, with a large proportion of the catchment comprising modified habitats.

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The Project is located within the mid-elevation river gorge and downstream catchment areas where human settlements and commercial logging activities have previously contributed to habitat alteration.

4.2.1 Terrestrial Ecology

Habitat types within the Project DIA have been mapped as part of an ecological assessment undertaken in August 2020 and are presented in Figure 4-2. This assessment was additional to previous studies (described in Section 3 above). The assessment identified the upper area of the project mainly comprises remnant lowland forest1 and undisturbed primary lowland forest habitat, with extents of riparian and cliff habitats along the Tina River. The lower area of the project comprises primarily disturbed secondary lowland forest habitat, with small sections of remnant forest and riparian habitat.

Figure 4-2: Mapped habitat types2 within the Project Area

1 Remnant forest is secondary lowland forest colonized by pioneer species, formed by natural regeneration of cleared areas. Very few large trees are present.

2 The brown coloured polygons shown on the figure are infrastructure footprints associated with the Project, and are not habitat types. The mapping will be updated and refined as part of the mitigation strategies of the BMP

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The ESIA identifies the majority of habitat within the proposed Project DIA consists of disturbed habitat comprising disturbed secondary forest and remnant forest colonised by pioneer species (refer to Table 4-1). Nevertheless, the reservoir, dam and powerhouse areas provide important habitat with 159 flora species and 60 fauna species recorded during ESIA baseline surveys, including restricted range species and species listed as threatened under the IUCN Red List. A complete list of threatened species (as defined by the IUCN Red List) and restricted range species observed or potentially occurring in the TRHDP are provided in the Annex A. This list has been checked and revised according to the IUCN Red List as of September 2020.

Table 4-1 provides an estimate of the spatial distribution of different vegetation habitats within the DIA only. These estimates have been refined on the basis of the August 2020 survey (see Figure 4-2 above).

Table 4-1 Major Vegetation Communities within the Project DIA (August 2020)

Community Description Estimated area (Ha) Total DIA Area (excluding Infrastructure Corridor) 423.19 ‘Undisturbed Refers to predominantly forested areas that have undergone 342.57 Primary little disturbance from human activities. Forest’ Intact forest areas are in pristine condition and have a high Lowland ecological value. They are home to a wide variety of species Forest and the intactness of the forest supports great biodiversity. ecosystem. From Senge upstream, the Project area is solely made of Critical lowland forests. Primary forest (undisturbed forest) become habitat1 increasingly dominant upstream as access for logging becomes more difficult. Primary forest is characterized by tall canopy trees. However, regrowth species are also common due to occasional cyclones which make canopy uneven. Most fruit trees are found in lowland forests. Indicator species include: Ficus sp. (fig), Dysoxylum excelsum and Cyathea sp. (Tree Fern). This habitat covers the majority of Tina River’s catchment at altitude below 600 m, but reaches to the dam site in parts. ‘Disturbed Refers to lowland forested/vegetated areas that have 80.62 Secondary undergone disturbance by human activities in the last 30 Forest’ and years, such as timber extraction. These lowland forest areas ‘Remnant are not in pristine condition and have a moderate ecological Forest’ value. Remnant forests are recently recolonized areas, Lowland dominated by pioneer species and a lack of mature trees. forest Secondary forests are dominated by regrowth species such ecosystems. as Ficus sp. (fig), Pometia pinnata and Calophyllum sp. Shrubs include the Macaranga species. Common non-ligneous Natural species include Alpinia purpurata, Calamus sp. These are habitat8 indicator species. This habitat is a significant component of

1 Refer natural and critical habitat assessment in Section 6.5.2

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Community Description Estimated area (Ha) the vegetation cover downstream of Choro. Regeneration in the Solomon Islands is fast as long as soil remains available. In disturbed forests, logging roads are quickly colonized by regrowth species of shrubs, plants and trees. Overlays – Vegetation types within the DIA (both disturbed and undisturbed areas, total) Riparian Riparian refers to habitats along and adjacent to Tina River 19.66 vegetation and other waterways. These habitats are of high ecological Critical value because they are home to many unique species that habitat8 are dependent on the water ecosystems such as aquatic insects and amphibians. Riparian habitats at a greater distance from settlement areas are in pristine conditions. This habitat is typical along rivers such as Tina River. It is made of many epiphytic plants and orchids, vines (climbers and creepers shrubs) as well as fern trees that are indicator species. Many medium sized trees and shrubs are present. Cliff Cliff refers to habitats on and adjacent to very steep areas 32.38 vegetation (vertical slopes), usually adjacent to the river. They are of Critical high ecological value because they house unique species that habitat8 may use the cliffs as feeding and breeding habitats. They are of a relatively pristine nature because cliff areas are hard to be modified by local peoples. Tree fern (Cyathea), ficus, palm, epiphytic orchids and ferns are common on cliffs. Other indicator species include: Pholidota sp., Macaranga sp., Timonius timon, and Alpinia purpurata. Tambu sites The exact location of tambu sites is culturally sensitive 3.47 Critical information, and so not all tambu sites may be known/have habitat8 been reported. There are two known sites which have been mapped by HEC (Bella = 3.23 Ha; Kambi = 0.24 Ha). Vegetation cover is dominated by remnants of the original primary forest and old secondary forest with Trichospermum psilocladum being the most dominant species in both areas. Other tree species are Pometia pinnata, Vitex cofassus, Elaeocarpus sphaericus, Calophyllum peekelli, Canarium indicum and Canarium salomonense. Many other shrubs and herbaceous plants such as gingers (Alpinia oceanica, Alpinia purpurata, Alpinia pommeraniae, Hornstedtia scottiana and Heliconia solomonensis) and the tree Cinnamomum solomonense.

Myknee Ecological Consultancy (August 2020) did not present detailed descriptions of communities of plants and animals within each major habitat type, but some further, specific biodiversity values were identified: • A cave on Jarikela stream just opposite of Camp 2 site at the Temporary Storage Area provides a roosting habitat for bats. • Other caves were identified in the upper area of the DIA, where bats and flying foxes are known to roost. • Some birds ,such as Lorikeets, Parrots, Pigeons and Doves, have very restricted distributions and are very territorial in their niche ecosystems.

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• Many fauna species will use a variety of habitats in the area for foraging, roosting, nesting, etc.; between primary, disturbed and modified forest areas, and between the river, riparian and forest areas. Therefore, the continuity and connectivity of the various habitat types is a key biodiversity value.

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4.2.2 Aquatic Ecology

The Tina River is derived from the combination of three rivers: The Mbeambea, the Voraha and the Njarimbisu rivers. The Tina River catchment area is roughly 150 km2. At its headwaters, Tina River is a low nutrient river, flowing through a very narrow, steeply sided and incised, limestone gorge. In its mid reaches, the slopes gradually become less steep and are dotted with a few human settlements and gardens. The Tina River joins the Toni River, a much smaller river with a catchment of about 45 km2, to form the Ngalimbiu River, which flows through a coastal plain before discharging into Iron Bottom Sound on Guadalcanal’s North coast. This coastal plain is more highly developed than the upstream areas of the catchment, and has more settlements and agriculture activity.

While several species remain unidentified at this stage, a total of 59 species of fish were recorded within the Tina/Ngalimbiu River system, from the upstream catchment area to the mouth of the river, including 57 native species and two exotic species common in the lower reaches (Mozambique tilapia - Oreochromis mossambicus, and Mosquito Fish - Gambusia holbrooki). Among the native species, Gobioid fishes within families Gobiidae (25 species), Eleotridae (8 species) and Rhyacichthidae (1 species), are the dominant group. None of the fish species is endemic, and all are migratory. The main migratory patterns are catadromous and amphidromous species. Catadromous fish, such as eels, are species whose adults migrate to the ocean to spawn, and juveniles migrate back into freshwater systems to grow to maturity. During their upstream migrations, juvenile eels are able to climb to the upper reaches of the Tina River. Amphidromoous species, such as Gobioids, Mesopristes and prawns, are animals that spawn in the rivers, and their larvae drift passively to the ocean before migrating back as juveniles to the freshwater system where they grow into adults. The factors triggering upstream migration of juveniles are not completely understood. However, it is postulated that flooding, which causes high turbidity, and lunar cycles, play a role for triggering migration in some species.

During the earlier studies no freshwater fish species were identified as threatened under the IUCN Red List categorisation (Vulnerable [V], Endangered [E], Critically Endangered [CR]). However, several fish species encountered during the surveys were not identified positively. Further identification of fish species occurring within the Tina River will be conducted as a priority task for the BMP during pre-construction and early construction (Year 1), with a full set of taxonomic specimens and/or photographs to be collected during a further baseline survey in November / December 2020 (refer to the M3 - FAMMP for more detail regarding survey methodology) along with further validation work in the dry season of 2021.

Twelve species of macroinvertebrates have been recorded in the Project area, four of which are endemic to Solomon Islands and eight endemic to Guadalcanal. The macro- invertebrates include species in the orders Hemiptera (families Notonectidae, Gerridae, Mesoveliidae, Ochteridae, Saldidae and Veliidae), Odonata (families

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Chlorocyphidae, Coenagrionidae, Protoneuridae and Libellulidae), Coleoptera (family Dystiscidae) and Diptera (family Dolichopodidae). An endemic, endangered dragonfly, Lieftinckia lairdi, is recorded on the IUCN Red List as being in the area.

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5 EXISTING PRESSURES ON LOCAL BIODIVERSITY

5.1 CLEARING AND LOGGING

While the upper Tina River catchment remains relatively undisturbed, the middle catchment and particularly the lower catchment have been subject to clearing and other disturbance as a result of human occupation. Within the TRHDP Direct Impact Area (DIA), land has been cleared for settlement, gardens, and other purposes, much of which has occurred on a rotational basis, resulting in a mosaic of regenerating forest, semi-cleared forest, gardens and other agricultural land, and settlements, with only small areas of undisturbed forest remaining.

Forests are a traditional source of materials for homes as well as timber for sale to the construction sector in Honiara. The main timber species targeted by locals are Vitex (Vitex cofassus), Kwila (Intsia bijuga), Calophyllum species, and Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus). Parties of two to three men work with a chainsaw to fell selected trees, and then mill them on site into timber according to required sizes. The cut timber is then carried to the river, made into rafts, and floated downstream to pick up points with road access, for example, near Tina village. Most villages are involved in timber extraction. Additional commercial logging has also occurred along logging tracks on the ridges of the middle catchment, as visible on Google Earth. Some of the timber extraction is focused on the Toni River and others on forest areas adjacent to the upper parts of the Tina River, especially around Koropa and upstream as far as Choro. Damming the river would prevent floating down of timber down the river, while the access road to the TRHDP site will be controlled. This will reduce illegal logging within the catchment up from the proposed reservoir, assisting in the preservation of upper catchment forests in the future.

5.2 INVASIVE SPECIES

Evidence of invasive plant species in the study area was observed in the ESIA, especially within anthropogenically affected areas, including along roads. Merremia (Merremia peltata) and Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) were widely distributed, mostly in secondary forest. The invasive vine Mikania micrantha (Mile-a-Minute) can grow up to 1 m in a month, and is considered one of the most important weeds of this region of the Pacific. This vine invades subsistence gardens and tree plantations (oil palm) forming thick ground cover that competes with crop plants. The seeds are easily dispersed by wind, and by people when seeds attach to clothing or vehicles. In the study area, the vine is already widely distributed in open areas along Black Post Road and in villages along the Tina River (e.g., Senge). It not only competes with crop species, but also smothers native vegetation.

Mimosa invisa and Mimosa pudica are two invasive plant species from Brazil that have also been observed in the TRHDP area and are weeds affecting agricultural and garden

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Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is by far the biggest threat to any hydropower projects in tropical countries. It is the world’s worse invasive aquatic plant in dam reservoirs, as it can quickly colonize entire reservoirs, reducing electricity production by clogging water intakes and interfering with reservoir uses (such as fisheries). Water Hyacinth is present everywhere in the South Pacific including in the Solomon Islands. Water Hyacinth has not been observed in the TRHDP area likely because of the fast- flowing nature of the Tina River. Moreover, if it was to be accidentally or intentionally introduced, it may not thrive in the reservoir due to the extreme daily fluctuations in water levels and the expected low concentration of nutrients.

Other invasive plant species within the Solomon Islands with the potential to cause infestations within the Project area are numerous and include African Tulip (Spathodea companulata), Wild Tamarind (Leucaena leucocephala), Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrical), Sweet Acacia (Vachellia farnesiana), Lantana (Lantana camara), Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), Sida (Sida rhombifolia, S.acuta), Devil’s Apple (Solanum torvum), Tobacco Tree (Solanum mauritianum), and Guava (Psidium guajava) (MECM 2008).

Apart from invasive flora, the Project is also subject to invasion by exotic fauna. Within the Project area, invasive species encountered include non-native rats and cats, Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica), Cane Toad (Bufo marinus), and Little Fire Ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) in terrestrial areas and Gambusia and Tilapia in the aquatic habitat. Other fauna species occurring within the Solomon Islands, and potentially posing a risk to the Project area, include Black Twig Borer (Xylosandrus compactus), Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros), Crazy Ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes), Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus), Indian Myna Bird (Acridotheres tristis), and the Brown Tree snake (Boiga irregularis) (MECM 2008).

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6 APPLICABLE POLICIES, STANDARDS AND LEGISLATION

6.1 LENDER POLICIES AND STANDARDS

In addition to national legislation, the Project will need to comply with the Lender policies and standards. With respect to this BMP, the key standards are: • Asian Development Bank Safeguard Policy Statement (June 2009) Appendix 1, Safeguard Requirement 1: Environment • IFC Performance Standard 1 – Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts (January 1, 2012) and IFC Performance Standard 6 - Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources (January 1, 2012) • World Bank Operational Policy and Bank Procedure 4.03 • World Bank Operational Policy and Bank Procedure 4.04: Natural Habitats • World Bank Operational Policy and Bank Procedure 4.36: Forests • IFC Guidance Note 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources (January 1, 2012 and updated June 27, 2019)

The above policies and standards (and associated guideline) complement and reinforce national legislation and ensure the TRHDP is undertaken under best practices in a way that minimizes risks, impacts and ensures compliance and fair practices. The international performance standards and guidelines provide guidance on how to identify risks and impacts, and are designed to help avoid, mitigate, and manage risks and impacts as a way of doing business in a sustainable way, including stakeholder engagement and disclosure obligations of the client in relation to project-level activities.

Table 6-1: World Bank Performance Standards

Performance Standards Objectives

Performance Standard 1 - Assessment • Impact identification and assessment. and Management of Environmental and To identify and assess social and Social Risks and Impacts underscores the environmental impacts, both adverse and importance of managing social and beneficial, in the project’s area of environmental performance throughout influence the life of a project (any business activity • Mitigation. To avoid, or where avoidance that is subject to assessment and is not possible, minimize, mitigate, or management). compensate for adverse impacts on workers, affected communities, and the environment • Stakeholder engagement. To ensure that affected communities are appropriately

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Performance Standards Objectives engaged on issues that could potentially affect them • Effective management. To promote improved social and environment performance of companies through the effective use of management systems.

Performance Standard 6 - Biodiversity • To protect and conserve biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable • To maintain the benefits from ecosystem Management of Living Natural Resources services recognizes that protecting and conserving • To promote the sustainable management biodiversity—the variety of life in all its of living natural resources through the forms, including genetic, species and adoption of practices that integrate ecosystem diversity—and its ability to conservation needs and development change and evolve, is fundamental to priorities sustainable development

Table 6-2: World Bank Operational Policy and Bank Procedures

Operational Policy Objectives

OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment Sets out the general policies and principles for environmental and social protection and requirements for assessment of impacts and implementation plans and measures to mitigate or manage impacts.

OP 4.04 Natural Habitats OP 4.04 supports the protection, maintenance, and rehabilitation of natural habitats, and a precautionary approach to natural resource management. It provides that the Bank does not support projects that involve the significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats. It further provides that the Bank does not support projects that involve the significant conversion or degradation of (other) natural habitats unless there are no feasible alternatives for the project and its siting, and comprehensive analysis demonstrates that overall benefits from the project substantially outweigh the environmental costs.

OP 4.36 Forests OP 4.36 provides for the use of forests and their associated resources to reduce poverty in a sustainable manner, integrate forests effectively into sustainable economic development, and

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Operational Policy Objectives protect the vital local and global environmental services and values of forests.

Table 6-3: Asian Development Bank Safeguard Requirement 1: Environment

Safeguard Element Objectives

Overview • Ensure the environmental soundness and sustainability of projects • Support the integration of environmental considerations into the project decision-making process.

Natural Habitat Natural habitat will not be converted or degraded unless all of a number of conditions are met, and the key requirement for mitigation measures is they are to be designed to achieve no net loss of biodiversity. The three conditions are: • No alternatives are available • Comprehensive analysis demonstrates that the overall benefits from the project will substantially outweigh the project costs, including environmental costs • Any conversion or degradation is appropriately mitigated.

Critical Habitat Critical Habitat: A subset of both natural and modified habitat that deserves particular attention. Critical habitat includes areas with high biodiversity value, including habitat required for the survival of critically endangered or endangered species; areas having special significance for endemic or restricted- range species; sites that are critical for the survival of migratory species; areas supporting globally significant concentrations or numbers of individuals of congregatory species; areas with unique assemblages of species or that are associated with key evolutionary processes or provide key ecosystem services; and areas having biodiversity of significant social, economic, or cultural importance to local communities. Furthermore, it is stated project activities are not implemented in areas of critical habitats, unless (i) there are no measurable adverse impacts on the critical habitat that could impair its ability to

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Safeguard Element Objectives function, (ii) there is no reduction in the population of any recognized endangered or critically endangered species, and (iii) any lesser impacts are mitigated.

6.2 CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES CONVENTION

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Convention (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The Solomon Islands is a signatory of the CITES convention. There are 918 species listed on the CITES convention that have been recorded within the Solomon Islands.

6.3 CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) (CBD) is an international treaty and includes the requirement for the development of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as well as legislative measures to manage biodiversity within countries bounds. The Solomon Islands is a signatory to the CBD. A NBSAP was produced in 2009 (Pauku and Lapo 2009).

6.4 RELEVANT LAWS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

6.4.1 Biosecurity Act 2013

The Biosecurity Act 2013 controls the establishment and spread of plant and animal pest species in the Solomon Islands. It also regulates the movement of animal and plant pest and diseases of animals and plants and their products, and facilitates international co-operation in respect of animal and plant diseases and related matters.

6.4.2 Environment Act 1998 and Environment Regulation 2008

The TRHDP is a prescribed development under schedule 2 (section 16) of the Environment Act 1998 and, therefore, requires the preparation and submission of an Environment Impact Statement (EIS) through the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Process. The ESIA for the TRHDP was prepared by the SIG PO (2017).

The scope of the Environment Act and its Environment Regulations encompass a number of processes, and procedures, and the establishment of an institution, to regulate them. The following key issues are addressed by the legislation: • Provides the guiding principles and definition for environmental management.

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• Establishes the Environment and Conservation Division as a key institution responsible for managing environmental issues in the country. • Sets out the procedures for undertaking and approving Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. • Develops requirements for robust stakeholder engagement processes through public consultation as part of assessment and decision-making process. • Requires the formulation of appropriate environmental and social safeguards as part of the environment and social impact assessment process (section 31) • Requires environmental monitoring of the development (section 31) • Establishes the Environment Advisory Committee as the appeal body where the Developer or any person may, within 30 days of the publication of the Director's decision, appeal against the Director's decision concerning the issuing of development consent.

6.4.3 Fisheries Management Act 2015

The Act is concerned with the conservation, management and development of fisheries and marine resources. The Act provides a regime for licensing commercial fishing as well as for establishing fisheries management plans that can cover commercial and non-commercial fishing.

The Act may become relevant to any future use of the reservoir for commercial fishing, whether as a livelihood development project for communities or otherwise. It would also be relevant if any fisheries management plan were applied to the Tina River.

6.4.4 Fisheries Management (Prohibited Activities) Regulations 2018

The Regulations outline prohibited activities in relation to fishing, including the prohibition of catching certain species for any size and some species below minimum sizes.

6.4.5 The Forests Act 1999

The objectives of the Act are:

• Ensuring effective and ecologically sustainable management of forest resources • Promotion of a sustainable commercial timber industry, and; • Protection and conservation of forest resources, habitats and ecosystems including the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity.

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The Act superseded the repealed Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation Act 1969, and includes provisions for prescribing a code of practice for timber harvesting and forest management.

The Act requires a felling license to be obtained to fell any trees for the purposes of sale. Whilst the intention of law is not to cover vegetation removal for construction or other purposes, there is a possibility that a “felling license” could be required for the project if any commercially valuable trees felled are later sold, whether by the developer or landowners. Further consultations will be undertaken with the Ministry of Forestry based on the amount of vegetation to be removed during the construction phase of the TRHDP.

6.4.6 Protected Areas Act 2010

The Act sets out the process for landowners to formally protect their land. Once protected, land cannot be used for commercial logging or mining, and other uses of the land will be subject to the terms of the management plan established for the land.

For an area to become a Protected Area (PA), a community or organization shall prepare an application to the Director of Environment for their site to be declared. The application shall include a PA management plan and scientific studies to show that the areas is of significance to biological diversity and to the community in terms of natural resources. The application will also include an estimated budget for the PA, and evidence of agreement by all customary landowners, as well as a map showing the boundary and size of the site. The director, upon receiving the application, will review the application and make recommendations to the Minister. The Minister shall consider whether:

(a) Conservation objectives of the proposed PA are identified and are in accordance with sound conservation practices

(b) Boundaries of the area are accurately identified, or otherwise demarcated and surveyed

(c) Consent and approval are obtained from persons having rights or interests in the area

(d) Appropriate conservation, protection or management plan is developed for the area, to ensure that the conservation objectives of the protected area will be achieved.

The Protected Areas Committee has been established and the country’s first Protected Area was declared in 2016.

6.4.7 Wildlife Protection and Management Act 1998

The legislation primarily protects wildlife by limiting the import of potentially harmful species, preventing the export of listed protected species and requiring a permit (for

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The Act also empowers the Minister to make an order to approve a management program which can include measures for the breeding or study of certain species, and the setting aside of reserved areas for their protection. There are no known orders currently in place.

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6.5 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING BIODIVERSITY VALUES AGAINST LENDER POLICIES AND STANDARDS

Analysis of the existing biodiversity values against the lender definitions of natural and critical habitat is provided in this section, to determine the appropriate management approach to achieve policy outcomes. Lender standards and policies requires the following to be achieved in the management of biodiversity impacts:

• In areas of natural habitat, mitigation measures will be designed to achieve no net loss of biodiversity where feasible. • In areas of critical habitat, mitigation measures will be designed to achieve net gain of biodiversity values for which the critical habitat was designated.

6.5.1 Project Area of Influence

The Project’s Area of Influence is defined as the geographical area in which biodiversity may potentially be significantly impacted by the TRHDP’s construction and operation activities. This area excludes the wider area which may be affected by cumulative impacts. The Area of Influence includes the following (Figure 6-1): • Direct Impact Area (DIA): The DIA is the direct physical footprint of the project being the land on which all project related infrastructure will be located and all construction will be undertaken. The DIA consists of: o Core Area – 397 ha site acquired by the Solomon Island Government in 2014 encompassing all land required for the construction and operation of the dam, reservoir, power station, and the portion of the access road from Mangakiki Village to the powerhouse and dam site (also known as Road Lot 2). The Tina Core Land Company (TCLC) will own the Core Area, including the access road. The company is a joint venture between customary landowners and the Solomon Islands Government. o Infrastructure Corridor – Encompassing a 50 m wide corridor from Mangakiki Village to the Black Post Turnoff to accommodate the access road and dual 66kV transmission lines, and the transmission line route from Black Post Road to the existing Lunnga Power Station. Management of this infrastructure corridor is the responsibility of Solomon Power (transmission line) and the Solomon Islands Government (road). • Downstream Area: The Downstream Area is the area downstream of the dam to tide-water, (i.e., dam to the confluence with the Toni River, where the Tina and Toni Rivers then become the Ngalimbiu River, and beyond to where the river enters Iron Bottom Sound). The downstream area may be affected by changes in the Tina River flow pattern and water quality, potentially impacting on aquatic biodiversity. • Upstream Area: The Upstream Area is the portion of the Tina River Catchment located upstream of the dam and reservoir. Impacts considered in this area include impacts on migratory fish and other aquatic species and

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impacts of potential reduced access to the hunting and fishing grounds of local communities.

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Figure 6-1: Area of Influence associated with the Project

6.5.2 Analysis of Natural and Critical Habitat

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A Critical and Natural Habitat assessment was undertaken by Pilgrim (2016) . The analysis was based on information in the ESIA and found that the project is situated within a watershed comprising both undisturbed and disturbed/remnant forests as well as the Tina River and its tributaries. A map showing areas of Critical, Natural and Modified Habitat is presented in Figure 6-2 within the Tina River freshwater discrete management unit (DMU) and the Tina River catchment DMU. These DMU were considered by Pilgrim as ecologically relevant scales for assessment of biodiversity values, as per footnote 12 of the IFC PS6. The Catchment DMU is also featured in Figure 1-1 above (Section 2).

Figure 6-2: Mapped Critical, Natural and Modified Habitat

Across the lower reaches of the project area where forest has been degraded and/or removed by logging and small-scale agriculture, and a number of invasive species are now prevalent in the area, is considered modified habitat.

Away from the coast a large proportion of the catchment remains largely forested and ecologically functional and is considered to be Natural Habitat. Pilgrim also notes the

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The terrestrial Critical Habitat assessment conducted by Pilgrim (2016) identified the undisturbed (both lowland and montane) forests in the Tina watershed are globally restricted as an ecosystem type and hold a particularly unique assemblage of species. This, Pilgrim argued; their recognition as part of a KBA, IBA and proposed World Heritage Site; and their importance in providing ecosystem services for local communities, meant that the upper and outer forests of the catchment qualified as Critical Habitat. Furthermore, two restricted-range bird species (Guadalcanal Boobook and Black-headed Myzomela) and one reptile (Guadalcanal Bow-fingered Gecko) also qualify the Tina watershed as Critical Habitat. In addition, Pilgrim notes some threatened species might remain undetected in the area and – if present – would also qualify it as critical habitat (King Rat and White-eyed Starling). Further work on vulnerable species was carried out by Dr. Lavery and Myknee Ecological Consultancy.

The individual biodiversity values that have been assessed to qualify the Tina River catchment lowland and montane forests as Critical Habitat are summarized in Table 6-4.

Table 6-4 Biodiversity Values of the Catchment that qualify as Critical Habitat

Common Scientific name IUCN Comments name Status Guadalcanal Ninox granti NT Endemic to Guadalcanal, where its population is Boobook relatively small and is inferred to be undergoing continuing decline as forest habitat is converted for small-scale agriculture and human settlement (BirdLife International, 2020). It is known only from forests up to 1,500 m elevation on Guadalcanal (BirdLife International 2017a). The Tina River catchment contains c. 180 km2 of forest within this elevational range, representing about 3% of the known range of this species. It thus seems quite possible that the catchment holds more than 1% of the species’ global range or population. Black- Myzomela LC This fairly common restricted-range species occurs headed melanocephala only on Guadalcanal, including in the Tina River Myzomela catchment and nearby Nggela Sule. It has a range estimated at 10,200 km2 (BirdLife International 2017a) and occurs up to 1,550 m elevation (Dutson 2011). The Tina River catchment contains c. 180 km2 of forest within this elevational range, representing about 1.7% of the known range of this species. Without further information on the distribution and ecology of this species in the project area, higher

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Common Scientific name IUCN Comments name Status quality forest within the project area is preliminarily assessed as Critical Habitat for this species. White-eyed Aplonis VU Endemic to Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and Starling brunneicapillus Choiseul, Rendova and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. It is rare and patchily distributed. This naturally scarce species is suspected to be undergoing a slow to moderate decline, owing to forest degradation, and possible harvesting of nest colonies for food (BirdLife International, 2020). The birds nest in primary forest (in trees with high epiphyte cover), but are found foraging in modified habitats. There is potential for the species to use the direct and indirect impact areas of the project, for example on a seasonal or periodic basis in response to fruit availability. In the absence of any evidence of its presence Pilgrim recommends that the area should not be considered as Critical Habitat for the species. However as a precaution, an adaptive management approach is applied in this BMP, with low-level monitoring for the species recommended over the project lifetime and help to protect nesting colonies should they be located. King Rat Uromys rex EN The species’ area of occupancy is considered to be less than 500 km2 (Helgen et al. 2016). The Tina River catchment includes about 192 km2 of forest considered Natural Habitat and thus potentially suitable for this species. On a precautionary basis, and given that the population distribution of this species is not well understood, the BMP assumes the Tina River watershed could be of significant importance to the King Rat, and that any habitat degradation could potentially impact the long-term survivability of the species. Guadalcanal Cyrtodactylus LC This fairly common restricted-range species occurs Bow- biordinis only on Guadalcanal. It is known from elevations of fingered 300-500 m, rarely lower, and mainly lives on smaller Gecko trees and vines in the understorey of forest (Allison 2013). It appears to have been recorded from the project area, on the basis of local knowledge (ESIA Appendix C). Within the Tina River catchment, there is only about 33 km2 of suitable habitat. Nonetheless, given the limited range of this species, this is likely to represent more than 1% of the species’ global distribution and population. Pteralopex Guadalcanal EN There is little known about the habitat and ecology atrata Monkey-faced of this species. Flannery (1995) observed animals Bat feeding upon unripe mangoes in an old garden. The most recent record was a subadult male captured in September 2015 on the edge of primary forest adjacent to a garden area with fruiting trees,

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Common Scientific name IUCN Comments name Status including mangoes, ngali nuts (Canarium indicum), a stem-fruiting fig (Ficus sp.), and coconut palms. A large adult animal had been observed in the same location hanging from the fig in November 2014 (T. Lavery pers. comm). The species is probably dependent on undisturbed, old growth forests, and seems to roost in tree hollows. Its roosting habits likely render it subject to similar hunting and roost destruction threats faced by P. anceps on Bougainville (S. Hamilton pers. comm.), and also make it vulnerable to commercial logging. Dr Lavery considers this species to be likely present, as it has been recorded approx. 20km from the site between 2016 and 2019. Haliaeetus Solomon Sea- VU/RR It prefers forested coasts (G. Dutson pers. obs. sanfordi Eagle 1997-1998, Read 2013) where it scavenges and kleptoparasitises Osprey Pandion haliaetus (Blaber 1990, Webb 1992, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997- 1998). Some pairs also hunt far inland and others, especially on the eastern islands, appear to have entirely inland ranges where they prey largely on northern common cuscus Phalanger orientalis and perhaps arboreal rats and fruit bats (Buckingham et al. 1995, Olsen 1997, J. Hornbuckle in litt. 1999). It has been observed along primary rainforest lined rivers and over peaks in montane forest at elevations of 1,100 m, away from freshwater lakes (Pikacha et al. 2012). This species makes significant use of primary forests (Buckingham et al. 1990) but also hunts over open habitats such as deforested areas where it is reported to scavenge dead mammals including feral dogs (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998). Observed by Myknee Ecological Consultancy August 2020 in the upper dam area.

An assessment and mapping of habitat types in the DIA has been provided by Myknee Ecological Consultancy, as illustrated in Figure 4-2 and discussed in Table 4-1 Translating the values of natural and critical habitat defined above to the habitat types in the DIA, it is concluded that the primary lowland forest, riparian areas and cliff areas are critical habitat and the secondary lowland forest and remnant lowland forest are natural habitats. The total areas of each habitat type in the DIA (excluding the infrastructure corridor) are provided in Table 4-1.

Myknee Ecological Consultancy (August 2020) has not concluded whether the riparian and cliff habitats are unique from the lowland forest habitat or whether they contain the same / similar biodiversity values as the adjacent lowland forest. There

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is no separate analysis of plant and animal communities in these locations. It is not yet certain whether restricted range species rely on these micro-habitats. Myknee Ecological Consultancy (August 2020) did identify the connectivity between micro- habitats and lowland forest, and therefore the biodiversity values are at least considered similar. As a precautionary approach, because of the geological features, it is assessed that the riparian and cliff habitats may contain unique biodiversity values compared to primary lowland forest and contain restricted range species due to this uniqueness and therefore are considered critical habitat. Further data gathering and analysis is required to determine any unique biodiversity values and provide a micro-habitat analysis of critical habitat as per the GN6 guidelines. This analysis is more precautionary than the ESIA, which concluded that cliff habitat was natural habitat but not critical.

6.5.2.1 Assessment of Critical Aquatic Habitat

Pilgrim notes critical information gaps associated with fish species within the catchment precluding the conclusion that the natural habitat of Tina River is also critical habitat. Specifically, three Schismatogobius (S. cf. ampluvinculus, S. cf. marmoratus and S. cf. roxasi) and three Stiphodon (S. cf. atropurpureus, S. cf. multisquamus and S. cf. ornatus) were found during the ESIA surveys, but not conclusively identified. All of these fish species urgently need identification. If any are identified as Schismatogobius or Stiphodon species known from the Solomon Islands, many of these are known to be restricted-range species and their presence would be likely to qualify the Tina River and its tributaries as Critical Habitat. Any undescribed fish species would also likely be restricted-range and thus qualify the Tina River and its tributaries as Critical Habitat. The ESIA states that fish within the Solomon Islands do not show natal stream homing behavior which means that fish could return to any similar river on Guadalcanal or neighboring islands, however this is to be confirmed once the species are identified and ecological needs assessed. As such, the BMP contains actions to accurately identify collected specimens of these fishes as soon as possible and their ecological requirements, to adapt the approach to river habitat management as a result.

The potential presence of an endangered and restricted range dragonfly indicates that the river and / or riparian margins may be critical habitat for this macroinvertebrate. This also requires a precautionary approach and further data analysis on its presence and vulnerability, before concluding whether the river is critical habitat.

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7 SUMMARY OF TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS AND OFFSET REQUIREMENTS

The residual direct impacts on terrestrial habitat are based on the layout of temporary and permanent physical works, as provided in Table 7-1 below. Table 7-2 summarizes the total areas to be cleared based on habitat type (modified, natural and critical) and ecosystem type (primary lowland forest, riparian, secondary lowland forest, cliff, remnant forest (recently regenerating), grassland and bush). Table 7-2 also estimates indirect impacts (mainly from induced development), including the total estimate of offset areas to meet the no net loss of natural habitat values and net gain of critical habitat values.

Table 7-1 Summary of direct areas to be cleared for infrastructure in the DIA

Project area Area of modified Area of undisturbed Total area habitat to be vegetation classed as to be permanently cleared Critical Habitat to be cleared (Ha) permanently cleared (Ha) (Ha) Access Road corridor 3.9 3.9 – Lot 1 Access Road corridor 5.84 7.35 13.19 – Lot 2 (4.39 lowland forest; 2.96 riparian)

Access Road corridor 3.79 3.79 – Lot 3 Dam site/Intake 1.24 1.24

Powerhouse & 1.12 1.12 Outlet Reservoir Area 28.7 28.7 (21.62 riparian, river, cliff – total areas of each TBC) 7.08 lowland forest

Quarries TBC TBC TBC

Disposal Area No. 1 8.31 8.31

Disposal Area No. 2 14.61 14.61

Disposal Area No. 3 8.11 8.11

Disposal Area No. 4 27.12 27.12

Disposal Area No. 5 1.34 1.34

Office 1.03 1.03

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Project area Area of modified Area of undisturbed Total area habitat to be vegetation classed as to be permanently cleared Critical Habitat to be cleared (Ha) permanently cleared (Ha) (Ha) BP and Storage Area 1.3 1.3

Powder Magazine 0.5 0.5

Total (Ha) 76.97 37.29 114.26

The direct and indirect impacts on various ecosystem types have been calculated from ESIA figures and the updated assessment of critical habitat in this BMP, in Table 7-2.

Table 7-2 Quantitative estimate of direct and indirect residual project impacts on natural, modified and critical habitat

Habitat Ecosystem Direct Sub Total Indirect Total Total type Impact Direct Impact Direct Direct and (Ha) Impact estimate and Indirect (rounded (Ha) Indirect Quality up) (Ha) (rounded Hectares up) (using quality (Ha) multiplier1) Critical Undisturbed 9.54 49 10 81 81 habitat forest (primary lowland forest)

Riparian 21.62 22

Cliffs 16.12 0

Natural Disturbed 29.65 52 30 104 50 habitat forests (secondary lowland forest)

Remnant 21.87 22 forests (secondary lowland forest

1 Assumes: critical habitat is 100%, Disturbed forests are 60% and remnant forests are 30%, as per ESIA.

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Habitat Ecosystem Direct Sub Total Indirect Total Total type Impact Direct Impact Direct Direct and (Ha) Impact estimate and Indirect (rounded (Ha) Indirect Quality up) (Ha) (rounded Hectares up) (using quality (Ha) multiplier1) colonized by pioneer species)

Modified Grasslands 6.09 13 0 13 habitat Fallow bush 6.40 0 land

Total 114 197 131

The two tables above show slightly different figures for total critical habitat and total hectare of habitat directly impacted. This discrepancy is due to rounding, and changes in layout plans or the interpretation of GIS data through the ESIA and BMP development processes.

The ESIA predicted that the indirect impacts will be the same scale of impact and suggested that a further 31.1 Ha of critical habitat (most likely undisturbed forest) and 67.74 Ha of natural habitat (most likely disturbed and remnant forest) would be impacted over a 25 year timescale due to encroachment, conversion for agriculture and forest degradation as a result of the project increasing access into the forested areas. It is unlikely that cliff habitat will be further degraded due to the difficulty of access and unsuitability for development. Riparian habitat may be degraded downstream as a result of changes in hydrology from scheme operations.

For the purposes of Element Four Terrestrial Biodiversity Offsets the following figures from Table 7-2 will be used as a pre-project reference point to compare BMP outputs and outcomes:

• Total of 81 Ha of critical habitat will be directly and indirectly impacted. • Total of 104 Ha of non-critical natural habitat will be directly and indirectly impacted. With the quality multipliers applied (in Table 7-2), this correlates to 50 quality-hectares.

The actual areas will change based on changes in temporary and permanent works over the course of the project and will change as a result of more accurate data input and analysis using GIS. More definitive detail on the habitat types, quality and location, and more accurate mapping, will be provided during BMP implementation.

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8 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

HEC and THL will be responsible for implementing the majority of tasks outlined in this plan. The Solomon Islands Government will be directly responsible for the clearing of the reservoir, and biodiversity management relevant to that clearance, and Solomon Power will be responsible for biodiversity management in the transmission line corridor. SIG will prepare their own plans for this purpose (including a Reservoir Preparation Plan). HEC will be responsible for the restoration of the disturbed forest due to the construction activities at the Project site (within the DIA and Infrastructure Area).

Successful delivery of the BMP will require a dedicated team that is locally and regionally specialized in terrestrial and aquatic ecology. At this stage, it is estimated that a core team of up to four specialists located may be required comprising one to two terrestrial ecologists and one to two aquatic ecologists, alongside a project manager. A key action will be the engagement of a Biodiversity Consultancy by THL to further develop and implement this BMP.

Table 8-1: Summary of Position and Responsibilities

Position Responsibilities

HEC Project Manager • Ensure that adequate resources are established to successfully implement Element One Construction (Mr Eu Man Moon) Management of and HEC responsibilities under Element Two, Three and Four. • Ensure that all HEC project managers and subcontractors understand and fulfil their BMP responsibilities.

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Position Responsibilities

HEC HSE Manager • Maintain this BMP in partnership with THL and SIG (note: THL and SIG will contribute to Maintaining (Mr Dae Yong Kim) Element’s Two, Three and Four. Note biodiversity management for transmission line is the responsibility of Solomon Power; biodiversity management at the reservoir during reservoir clearance is the responsibility of the SIG). • Review and approve reports for Element One Construction Management, including monitoring reports, pre-clearance site plans, post-clearance site clearance reports, and HEC Quarterly HSE reports prepared by HEC E&S Supervisor. • Liaise with community, government, and other stakeholders regarding Element One Construction Management activities. • Coordinate monitoring and community consultation (including pre-clearing) activities with the HEC Environmental and Social Team, including Community Liaison Officers (in accordance with the SECP; P3). • Convening the TRHDP Biodiversity Advisory Group (BAG) to ensure national and regional engagement in biodiversity issues and actions. • Ensure that all personnel including subcontractors and vendors are adequately trained and informed on the requirements of this BMP. • Coordinate contracting/management of a security subcontractor (Midland Security Services) to restrict access to the upper catchment, and control access into the DIA. PO E&S Monitoring team • Monitor that HEC and THL have: (with Lenders Technical • complied with all requirements, guidelines, Advisor, LTA) procedures, timetables and other specifications set forth in the BMP at all times • obtained, maintained and complied with all applicable laws, regulations, permits, licences and consents. • Audit HEC and THL E&S performance.

HEC E&S Supervisor • Undertake field inspections to monitor BMP implementation for Element One Construction (Ernest Kolly) Management, reporting any issues directly to the HEC HSE Manager on a daily basis.

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Position Responsibilities

• Contribute to weekly and incident HSE reports prepared by the HEC HSE Manager. • Ensure the HEC E&S team conducts all monitoring and reporting as set out in the ESMPs. • Provide support to HEC HSE Manager in updating this BMP as necessary. • Assist in worker training on local wildlife, biodiversity values (and their protection). THL Biodiversity • Support THL to implement the BMP (this Plan) Consultancy Firm • Develop biodiversity offset area and implementation plan and other activities in the TOR. • Provision of advice and training to HEC • Supervise the actions and outcomes of the HEC terrestrial and aquatic consultants. • Develop local capacity for implementing invasive species, wildlife injury, sheparding, invasive species, restoration replanting. • Management of biodiversity database and GIS. • HEC E&S Staff • Implement wildlife management protocols • Manage weed and pest control measures • Clearance surveys

HEC Subcontractor – • Undertake field surveys and report monitoring in Terrestrial Ecologist – terrestrial environment as detailed in this BMP Myknee Sirokolo

HEC Subcontractor- • Undertake field surveys and report monitoring in Aquatic Ecologist – David aquatic environment as detailed in this BMP Boseto and Team Spotter/catchers and • Wildlife shepherding wildlife carers - HEC appointed sub-contractor Owner’s Engineers (OE) – • Review BMP and any subsequent updates, for Stantec New Zealand compliance with the E&S Standards and GIIP • Monitor and audit project delivery and HEC activities in accordance with the detailed project design, method statements, BMP, related ESMPs, and detailed site plans. • OE Site Engineer (Vilive Anise and/or William Waddell) will undertake regular site supervision, and report any E&S non-compliances to the HEC HSE Manager, THL E&S Manager and OE Environmental & Social Safeguards (ESS) Lead (Jessica Grinter – Off Shore).

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Position Responsibilities

• Audit HEC performance with respect to the requirements of the EPC Contract, and health, safety, environmental and social obligations (including but not limited to the E&S Standards, and Schedule 7 of the EPC Contract). Auditing will include a site visit conducted every six months from commencement of construction, for the duration of the construction phase, by the OE ESS Lead at minimum. " THL E&S Manager • Implementation of Element Two River Management and Element Four Terrestrial Biodiversity Offsets (to be confirmed; with support from HEC. currently Mr Jihun Lee, • CFO is primary contact) Engage and manage specialist biodiversity consultancy firm to provide advice and services relating to the BMP. • Review BMP compliance with the E&S Standards and GIIP. • Assist HEC HSE Manager with the set-up and management of Biodiversity Advisory Group (BAG). • Participate in weekly site inspections with HEC and subcontractors during construction (following early works). • Prepare monthly E&S performance reports, advising HEC of any non-conformances and required corrective actions. • Audit HEC compliance with the BMP.

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9 ELEMENT ONE. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

9.1 INTRODUCTION

Lead Responsibility: HEC

Supervision: THL and OE

Objectives: To avoid and minimize the direct and indirect impacts on terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity from construction-related activities. To develop capacity to support the achievement of other BMP elements led by PO and THL.

9.2 ACTION PLAN

The action plan for implementation of Element One is outlined in Table 10-1 below, with monitoring and evaluation actions described in Table 10-2.

.

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Table 9-1 Management measures – Element 1 Construction Management

No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

1.1 Engage and maintain All Appointment of suitably qualified and experienced HEC HSE Manager HEC Project All times. resources to manage with responsibility for: Manager biodiversity to achieve responsible for • Promoting the responsible avoidance and management of As required. the Element 1 outcomes biodiversity impacts from construction activities, including recruiting and

and support activities led implementing all biodiversity management measures outlined in retaining resources by THL and others in Element 1 and associated plans, corrective action plans and and allocating Elements 2, 3 and 4. monitoring of same, support to activities led by THL and others in sufficient budget. Element 2, 3 and 4 of the Plan. HEC HSE Manager • Identify ongoing regional programs that BMP actions and responsible for measures can link with and/or support such as invasive and alien implementing all All times. species prevention and control. bulleted actions. • Consultation with local communities, government officials, and regional conservation interests, such as through participation in the TRHDP Biodiversity Advisory Group (BAG) • Manage the monitoring activities as required in the C-ESMP and subplans. • Oversee and/or conduct reporting as required in this BMP Engage and manage consultants, experts and laborers as required to survey, study, advise, consult, train, develop training and consultations resources, report, demarcate, monitor, manage wildlife, manage restoration and replanting, establish and manage nurseries and other activities as required by the C-ESMP and subplans and as described elsewhere in this plan.

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing Contract and maintain security firms to control and monitor access road area to upstream as per the Security Management Plan. Allocation of sufficient budget to achieve all activities in Element 1. 1.2 Engage Terrestrial All • Prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) and engage local consultants to HEC, with support ToR approved and Ecologists and Aquatic undertake the following tasks for Element 1: from Supervision engagement process started Ecologists to provide o Prepare materials for community engagement and Engineer to within three months of the biodiversity services. public signage (presentation, posters, signage). prepare TOR and approval of this plan by o Support HEC to undertake community engagement engage and lenders. activities relating to bio. manage the Consultants engaged for the o Assist HEC to collaborate with the Biodiversity Action consultants. duration of the construction Group and contribute to the outcomes of Elements THL Biodiversity phase, with annual work 2, 3 and 4 of the BMP. Consultants to plan approved. o Undertake pre-clearance survey and reporting under provide quality instruction from THL Biodiversity Consultants. review. o Supervision of clearance activities, including leading the wildlife shepherding protocols. • 1.3 Workers Code of Conduct All HEC Upon engagement of all The Workers Code of Conduct outlines appropriate worker behaviour employees and when wildlife is encountered, and obligations to refrain from hunting, subcontractors fishing, or plant collection for non-traditional personal uses. Pets will not be allowed. Hunting shall be prohibited throughout the Core Land Offset Area, except for non-native species such as wild pigs.

The WCC also prohibits any wildlife capture, purchase of bushmeat, caged birds or other wildlife products.

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

The project’s food service providers are prohibited from purchasing locally caught fish to avoid adding pressure to the Tina-Ngalimbiu River system. 1.4 Training All • New employee and subcontractor induction training on THL’s Biodiversity New employees and biodiversity issues and management plans within one month of Consultants to subcontractors: within one their commencement date (all people working on the site). prepare training month of commencement • Refresher training annually for all employees and subcontractors modules and train date (all people working on the site). the HEC Terrestrial All employees and • Training will be aimed at raising the awareness of the ecological and Aquatic subcontractors: annual sensitivity of the core area, priority species (Table 6-4) and critical Ecologist refresher training habitat (Table 4-2), and the identification of key invasive species consultants to Ad hoc training as required with the potential to invade or spread within the area (e.g. African deliver training. in relation to the staff / snail, ‘Mile-a-minute). subcontractor role and • Training will include instruction on the Workers Code of Conduct responsibility. (as part of the general induction for all workers). (as described above). • Training will include instruction on procedure for requesting assistance from HEC Terrestrial Ecologist to capture and remove fauna in distress or fauna presenting a danger to workers (e.g. venomous snakes). • Biodiversity Values and Implementation Training (Wildlife Interaction) • Knowledge on species identification, threats to flora and fauna, shepherding protocols to workers and communities to report and carryout in cases of sightings of stranded fauna. • Wildlife protocol training

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Daily toolbox as a means of communicating E&S management requirements to workers • Training in species identification, CITES law, and forestry law for the security team so they can surveil for hunting/poaching, illegal animal and plant trade, illegal logging, and the logging, hunting or live capture of species classified as threatened under the IUCN Red List. 1.5 Develop and implement Fauna injury Implement the Injured Wildlife Protocol (Section 10.3). HEC (all staff) All times Injured Wildlife Protocol HEC HSE Manager Identify and engage the services of a wildlife care facility with to appropriately experienced personnel for receiving and treating injured Engagement to start within native fauna. Local service providers will be identified and otherwise 3 months of approval of the a new facility will be prepared for the Project. THL BMP by lenders. Service to be in place for the duration of the construction phase.

1.6 Enforcement of wildlife Harm to Upon discovery of employees and/or contractor’s involvement in HEC Project All times infringements biodiversity poaching ,hunting, illegal logging and wildlife trade* (particularly in Manager relation to threatened species), corrective measures will be taken THL Project where necessary including appropriate actions against infringements. Manager Based on employment contracts, HEC and THL will develop appropriate levels of penalisation against degree of infringement ranging from fines, suspension and employment termination, and reporting to local authorities for prosecution (for most severe cases).

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing * Punishable actions include the possession, purchase, trade or collection of wildlife or forest resources that are legally protected, CITES listed, or classed as threatened by the IUCN Red List.

1.7 Wildlife Infringement All • Establish and maintain a communication system with the local HEC HSE Manager Establish the system within Reporting authorities and report to authorities immediately any signs of 3 months of clearance of illegal hunting and deforestation, wildlife conflict and forest fires this BMP by Lenders. within the TRHDP area. This includes any such risks or issues Maintain the system at all identified within or outside of the area under the control of HEC. times. • Furnish this report with photographic documentation where possible and the date and time of observation. Incident will also be recorded via TRHDP's incident reporting mechanism. • Report any witnessed logging activity in the catchment immediately to MECDM, PO and Ministry of Forestry and Research. 1.8 Minimise forest clearing Loss of • Forest clearance will be in accordance with the C3 - Forest HEC HSE Manager. During detailed design or (primary lowland forest, biodiversity Clearance Plan (FCP). The FCP provides a range of measures to identification of new areas riparian, cliff, secondary and/or habitat ensure minimum impacts on biodiversity. The total land cleared to be developed or cleared. will impact directly on the BMP aims and objectives of meeting lowland forest) due to clearing Prior to land clearance net biodiversity gain, and therefore avoiding and minimizing activities. forest clearance is the goal of construction management. During forest clearance • Project elements and infrastructure which will be linked to clearance will be identified during detailed design phase, such as quarries, laydown areas, spoil areas etc. HEC will inform THL and the THL Biodiversity Consultants will be engaged to do a desk-top review of the layout and screen for risks. A standard TOR/approach to screening will be developed by the Consultants. This includes ensuring the offset area is not disturbed, and no new

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing areas of critical habitat is disturbed or damaged within the DIA, reservoir and upper catchment areas, protection of tambu sites etc. • A short report will be provided by the consultancy firm for action by HEC including any recommendations to change design/location based on potential biodiversity impacts. Any significant change is managed under the protocols in P1 CESMP. If required, the HEC Terrestrial and / or Aquatic Ecologist will undertake field work to gather information on the ground to contribute to the assessment of risk. • The maximum extent of clearing will be strictly limited to the minimum footprint required for construction and as marked on the site plan approved by THL and Supervision Engineer. • Prior to disturbance, proposed disturbance areas will be physically demarcated (paint and/or ribbon/tape) and inspected by HEC’s Terrestrial and /or Aquatic Ecologists for aspects which will require protection or mitigation during the works (nesting or roosting sites, seedlings and seeds to collect and save prior to disturbance, graves, tambu sites etc.). Changes to layout and design to achieve the targets set out in Element Four Terrestrial Biodiversity Offsets will be communicated to HEC and agreed between HEC and THL prior to works starting. Lenders will be involved where high risks are identified (in accordance with the management of change process in the C-ESMP, P1). • Refer to FCP for more detail. • As required, implement the Wildlife Shepherding Protocol. • As required, implement the Injured Wildlife Protocol.

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

1.9 Removal of material for Loss of • All management measures identified in C5 – Quarry Management HEC HSE Manager construction (river biodiversity due Plan (QMP) and C11 – Drill and Blast Management Plan (DBMP) will prepare TOR, gravel, aggregates, to materials will be implemented engage and limestone etc) though extraction and • Site-specific impact assessments will be carried out and manage Terrestrial extraction and/or quarrying Biodiversity Consultants and / or the HEC Terrestrial and / or and / or Aquatic quarrying Aquatic Ecologist consultants. Ecologist • HEC to submit environmental and social impact assessment to consultants, with THL, Supervision Engineer and Lenders for review and clearance support from THL prior to works starting. Supervision Engineer. THL will engage the Biodiversity Consultants where significant risks are possible and international expertise is required.

1.10 Public engagement Community • Provision of education and public awareness materials to schools THL Biodiversity To start no later than one impacts on and communities on importance of ecosystem services (including Consultants to year from the clearance of biodiversity from what these are in the catchment), species and livelihood that prepare materials. this BMP by lenders and to would convince and increase peoples’ knowledge of conservation lack of HEC Terrestrial and continue throughout the concepts. awareness. / or Aquatic construction phase. Ecologist consultants to

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing carry out consultations.

1.11 Implement acceptable Collisions with • All traffic management measures identified in C11 - Traffic HEC HSE Manager All times traffic management wildlife Management Plan (TMP) will be implemented. Vehicle speeds will measures including be limited to 20 km/h along access roads in accordance with the restricting traffic speed TMP to avoid wildlife collisions • Specified speed limits will be enforced • Safe driving practices will be emphasised during personnel induction training and will be monitored. This includes random breath testing • As required implement the Injured Wildlife Protocol 1.12 Prevent and /or control Competition • Vehicle washing facilities will be installed at Black Post area to HEC Preparation and invasive and alien between native remove dirt and plant material from vehicle wheels prior to implementation of IFMP: species and invasive entering and leaving the DIA. Inspections will be carried out by Prior to forest clearance security inspection officer, trained by HEC Terrestrial Ecologist. species Other measures: All times • Washing facilities are targeted not only at invasive plant species but are also the key measure ensuring African snails are not transported into the project site. • Ensuring vehicles are free of African snails and invasive flora species before entering the project site. • Water from washing facilities will not be discharged directly into natural watercourses, but instead passed through to a bunded weed containment and evaporation area which is regularly managed for weeds. • Invasive plant species will be controlled in accordance with the Invasive Flora Management Protocol (IFMP) procedure outlined in Section 10.3.

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • The designated security inspection officer will be responsible for issuing “clean vehicle certificates” after inspection of vehicles and equipment prior to entry. No vehicle will enter the site without current “clean vehicle certificate” • HEC personnel and site visitors will be instructed during induction on the importance of invasive plant management and on the recognition of key invasive species to be reported to the HEC Environment and Social Supervisor upon detection. • Posters of key invasive species will be displayed in TRHDP (reception area, locker rooms, mess rooms etc) to inform personnel and visitors. • Undertake invasive and alien flora control according to the IFMP (Section 9.5.1)based on a detailed baseline survey of each work area during the pre-site clearance survey by the Terrestrial and / or Aquatic Ecologists and map of the occurrence of problem invasive species. The map will be entered into the TRHDP GIS system managed by the Biodiversity Consultants on behalf of THL for documentation and monitoring. A protocol for the preparation of the IFMP is provided in Section 9.5.1. • The IFMP will show location and density of key species, present priorities for control, control methods, and monitoring methods. 1.13 Prevent and/or control Competition • Consultation will be initiated with the BAG to develop methods to HEC Consultation to begin of invasive and alien between native control introduced fauna including African giant snails, rats, feral immediately on the fauna and invasive cats, feral dogs, mongoose etc in a coordinated manner, clearance of the BMP by the animal species consistent with other national actions and priorities. lenders and continue throughout the construction phase.

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Ongoing pest management for introduced rodents will be initiated Pest management and around the construction site yards, camp, buildings and other training: All times infrastructure to prevent build-up of populations. Invasive species monitoring: • Workers will be instructed during induction on the importance of monthly, all times. invasive species management. • Regular live trapping and euthanasia of non-native rats and feral cats caught from within the project area; • Implement measures to exclude free-roaming dogs, cats or other pets within the construction and core areas and the capture and removal of pets and roaming animals; • Monthly monitoring of DIA for other invasive and alien species by biodiversity consultants. 1.14 Minimise noise and Disturbance to Noise, vibration, and blast impacts will be managed according to the HEC All times vibration disturbance sensitive wildlife Noise and Vibration Management Plan (NVMP) and Drill and Blast Management Plan (DBMP), and monitored as per Air Quality and Noise Monitoring Plan (AQNMP): • Noise will be minimised using construction and transport equipment fitted with exhaust silencers and mufflers • Roads will be well maintained • Turn around areas will be provided to minimise reversing of vehicles • Provide regular driver behaviour training to ensure drivers are not excessively accelerating and to minimise compression breaking of trucks near sensitive receptors • Machinery and vehicles will be switched off when not in use and not left running unnecessarily

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • When purchasing new equipment or machinery, noise emissions will be considered as part of the procurement process • The outdoor playing of loud music or radios (which can significantly disturb wildlife) in construction areas or elsewhere in the Core Area will be prohibited. • Vibration will be minimised using hydraulic instead of pneumatic drills, and using blasting mats to reduce noise, fly rock and dust • Blasting will only be permitted during day light hours between the hours of 11 am to 3 pm, when birds and other wildlife are least active. In cases where it is clearly impracticable during preferred times, the number of blasts will be limited and stricter air blast overpressure and round vibration limits will apply. 1.15 Shield night lighting Disorientation of • Avoid or minimise outside lights and light intensity to maintain HEC All times wildlife at night safe working conditions • Screen outside lights to project down and inwards, rather than sideways, up, or outwards • Lighting towers will be supported with wires attached mid-tower, rather than to the top of the tower (to avoid collision hazard to birds and bats), or use free-standing towers 1.16 Prevent wildfire Degradation of • No burning of waste during forest clearance, as per the FCP HEC All times habitat • Fires for any other purposes will only be allowed under controlled conditions • Appropriate fire-fighting equipment will be available. Firefighting equipment will be regularly inspected to ensure it is in good working order

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Personnel will be instructed on the potential danger and prevention of wildfires, and trained in the use of firefighting equipment 1.17 Ensure continuity of Loss of wildlife • Review of detailed design by biodiversity consultants to provide HEC Review of design prior to wildlife movements and change in advice on the location and design of connectivity infrastructure. works starting Adjustments of design where necessary based on biodiversity species Installation during forest consultant advice. composition clearance and construction • Install fauna-friendly underpasses underneath roads at stream crossings to provide safe crossing opportunities during dam construction. These culverts will be large enough to allow water flow and to ensure permanent dry passage using ledges. The dry passage will provide suitable cover such as rock piles, logs, and brush. • As per FCP, preferentially retain tall trees with wide canopies across access roads and tracks, to maintain canopy connectivity across roads. 1.18 Wooden power pole Electrocution of • Metal shield to be installed on wooden power poles to prevent Solomon Power When Solomon Power fauna Cuscus from climbing poles and becoming electrocuted. install wooden power poles • Implement best practice design and mitigation (e.g. as advocated During design, construction by Avian Power Line Interaction Committee or BirdLife) including and operation of the commitment to procure pylons with downward-facing transmission line conductors (refer ESIA Figure 2-20) or comparably effective bird- friendly design features to reduce potential for wildlife electrocution and collision. 1.19 Solid waste and litter Reduction of • Prohibit the littering of the project area by construction workers HEC All times control Water quality (including plastics and other unauthorised solid or liquid waste disposal). Provide appropriate waste collection receptacles so

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing and impacts to that wastes are not disposed illegally. These controls are further wildlife detailed in the WMPSPP.

1.20 Prevention of explosives Dynamite fishing • Left over (post construction) explosives will be removed from site HEC During construction misuse causing fish kills, and disposed of in a safe manner consistent with the water quality requirements of the Solomon Islands Explosives Act 1968 and with impacts and permits held by HEC for the import, storage and use of explosives destruction of (as per the DBMP and Hazardous Materials Management Plan). habitat • Dynamite fishing will be prohibited in the Project area for all employees, and will be discouraged in local communities. 1.21 Rehabilitate and Loss of • Undertake post-construction rehabilitation and revegetation as HEC All times revegetate/achieving no biodiversity due per the Post-Construction Rehabilitation and Revegetation net loss to clearing and Management Plan (PCRRMP). This includes rehabilitation and habitat revegetation of remaining areas cleared for construction purposes degradation (cleared workspaces around buildings and infrastructure), the spoil and topsoil storage area, temporary roads, quarry sites and accommodation camp.

1.22 Maintain Water Quality Changes in • Soil disturbance will be avoided or minimised, and erosion and HEC/THL All times aquatic sedimentation controls in place prior to any soil disturbance, with biodiversity regular maintenance as per Drainage, Erosion, and Sediment composition Control Plan (DESCP) and the Post Construction Rehabilitation (abundance and Plan. diversity) • The following parameters will be monitored to maintain water quality: o Odour and colour o Temperature o pH

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing o Electrical Conductivity o Dissolved Oxygen o Turbidity o Salinity o Oil and grease o Nutrients NH4-N o Nutrients NO3-N o Faecal contamination (E. coli) 1.23 Sewage/wastewater Harm to aquatic • All workers will use installed toilets, with wastewater treated on- HEC/THL All times treatment and terrestrial site or transported off-site for treatment, as per Waste biodiversity Management and Point Source Pollution Plan (WMPSPP) Release of chemicals to • Minimisation and control of site runoff (stormwater) discharges to ground and waterways natural waterways Release of untreated wastewater (both human and industrial sources) to waterways

1.24 Hazardous materials use Harm to aquatic • No use of chemical defoliants or herbicides in clearance or HEC/THL All times and storage and terrestrial invasive plant control activities biodiversity • Address in the waste management plan, transported off-site for treatment, as per Waste Management and Point Source Pollution Plan (WMPSPP) • Registration, labelling, safe handling and storage of hazardous materials will be conducted in accordance with measures outlined in the Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) (covered, on sealed, drained surface with appropriate sized bunding)

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No. Activity Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Fuel depots and maintenance areas for logging trucks will be located outside of the future reservoir area and at least 100 m from streams, and in accordance with the HMMP and Spill Prevention and Emergency Response Plan (SPERP; P14). • Disposal of hazardous wastes and materials (i.e. fuel soaked rags, empty fuel barrels and waste oil) will be conducted in accordance with measures outlined in the WMPSPP and HMMP.

9.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Table 9-2: Monitoring and Evaluation – Element 1 Construction Management

Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Indicator Evaluation Responsibility parameter

Biodiversity TRHDP Biodiversity Policy Prior to clearing and N/A Biodiversity Policy in place N/A HEC Project governance construction Manager/THL E&S activities Manager

Appointment of HEC HSE Six months prior to N/A Qualified & experienced N/A HEC Project Manager clearing and HEC HSE Manager in place Manager construction activities Availability of trained As required for N/A Management measures Personnel availability and HEC Project environmental personnel biodiversity and monitoring tasks training Manager management tasks outlined in BMP and

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Indicator Evaluation Responsibility parameter other than HEC HSE (e.g. invasive flora associated plans Manager control, fauna undertaken shepherding, revegetation) Non-conformance records Annually, at a Minutes of any Each corrective action Review responsibilities HEC E&S raised by recordable minimum meetings conducted in implemented within four and personnel resources Supervisor incident relation to BMP weeks of incident implementation and corrective actions No. workers Training records • Prior to • Training records All workers trained at Increase surveillance HEC Training trained commencement maintained induction and refresher Supervisor of works and • Summary in training every year for all new Quarterly HSE workers report • Refresher training yearly Incident • Incident records • Daily (incident • Incident records • Zero incidences • Training of relevant HEC E&S reporting • Drone surveys records records) summary personnel Supervisor (infringements, • Daily patrolling • Monthly (drone • Summary in • Increase surveillance illegal logging, survey) Quarterly HSE • Check procedures in wildlife report SSMP, IMP, TMP hunting, fishing, injured fauna, fauna mortality)

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Indicator Evaluation Responsibility parameter

Unauthorised Monitoring records As per FCP As per FCP • As per FCP • Training of relevant HEC E&S forest • Zero unauthorised personnel Supervisor clearance forest clearance • Increase intensity of clearance survey Access road • Baseline survey report Prior to forest N/A Key biodiversity features Review road alignment HEC E&S constraints • Records of meetings clearance retained versus key Supervisor analysis with design team biodiversity features • Design revisions cleared Presence and • Incident records As per IFMP or Annual HSE reports No new invasive species • Review wash bay HEC E&S distribution of • IFMP survey reports PCRRMP present operations Supervisor terrestrial • PCRRMP reports • Review IFMP, invasive PCRRMP species • Review personnel/equipment resources • Review training • Review community consultation efficacy Fauna • Noise and vibration • As per AQNMP As per AQNMP • Noise and vibration • Review NVMP, HEC E&S disturbance monitoring records (noise and levels to be below DBMP, lighting Supervisor • Lighting inspection vibration) threshold levels as per requirements records • Once weekly AQNMP during construction (lighting)

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Indicator Evaluation Responsibility parameter

Fire Field observation Daily • Incident records No wildfire within TRHDP • Training of relevant HEC E&S occurrence summary land personnel Supervisor and • Summary in • Review firefighting H&S Supervisor Quarterly HSE equipment report • Increase surveillance • Check procedures in SSMP, IMP Electrocution • Incident records • Daily (incident • Incident records No fauna electrocuted • Review transmission HEC E&S records) summary line design (poles, of fauna • Transmission line • Monthly • Summary in conductors) Supervisor and H&S inspection records (transmission Quarterly HSE Supervisor line inspections) report Wildlife • Underpasses installed at • During • Annual HSE report Native fauna movement • Review needs for HEC E&S Movement stream crossings construction of across roads further underpasses roads and Supervisor and • Continuous canopy tracks • Review design of H&S Supervisor across roads and tracks underpasses retained • Plant trees adjacent to roads post- construction Revegetation Revegetation and habitat As per PCRRMP As per PCRRMP • As per PCRRMP • Review PCRRMP HEC E&S and habitat restoration records and • All remaining cleared • Personnel availability Supervisor restoration reports areas revegetated to and training standard two weeks post construction • No revegetation failure

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Indicator Evaluation Responsibility parameter • Increased canopy covers in restoration area • Species diversity and abundance approaching reference site Water quality Monitoring records At least once a week Monthly, against • No deleterious change • Review DESCP, HEC E&S (monthly for certain guideline values/limits in water quality WMPSPP and HMMP Supervisor parameters as specified in SSMP (M1) and their described in WQMP; and WQMP (M2) implementation M2), and • Compliance with additionally specified guideline following rainfall or values/standards for any spill events (but water quality not during flood • Changes in water conditions) quality and quantity over time

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9.4 WILDLIFE PROTOCOL

9.4.1 Wildlife Shepherding Protocol

Wildlife Shepherding Protocol

The Wildlife Shepherding Protocol set out guidelines and actions for shepherding wildlife animals (especial priority species) that are considered Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Restricted Range species listed in the IUCN Red list. This Wildlife Shepherding Protocol includes the identification of an established Protected Area (a Traditionally Conservation Area or Area under the Environment Act) and Veterinary facility with appropriately experienced personnel for receiving injured fauna, and recording procedures (Incident Reporting Mechanism) to effect adaptive management of Project activities to avoid future injury to fauna.

Prior to work commencement these areas need to be considered: i. EIA-focusing on flora and fauna ii. Pre-clearance survey iii. The Protected Area and the Veterinary Capacity iv. Animal transportation v. Person Protection Equipment vi. Maintain Wildlife in captivity vii. Decontamination Procedures

The Protected Area and Veterinary Capacity

The Protected area must meet basic ecological services that the animals need for survival. The veterinary facility should be able to provide the required services expected under the FFMP and Wildlife Protection Act.

Upon discovery of an animal (especially priority species), the following actions will be taken: • Record the date, time, location, condition of animal and circumstances concerning the incident, including photographic evidence wherever possible. • Stop work in affected area • Observe from a distance what the animal is doing • If NOT in immediate danger, wait for animal to move off before carrying on with work • If animal is in immediate danger or clear distress, assess feasibility of capture depending on its size, location and safety of capture to both animal and personnel. • Capture animal and transfer to nearby appropriate location and habitat that would has less adverse impact from noise pollution, ecosystems damage and better environmental conditions and or transport to Protected/ Conserved area nearby or adjacent Project site where can be reached easily. • For injured native animals, transport to veterinary personnel or Veterinary clinic for treatment (see Injured Wildlife Protocol). • Injured invasive / pest species shall be euthanized.

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• Alert the HEC HSE Manager on incident and arrange a same-day appointment for transfer of animal to wildlife care facility.

In maintaining Wildlife in Captivity, these must be adhered to; • Temporary animal housing – Be safe, environmentally friendly and conducive (less than 24 hrs.). • Permanent Animal Housing - Be safe, environmentally friendly and conducive (Course of the treatment period). • Diet Supplementation or Alteration carried out by the veterinary doctor or officer.

For wildlife capture (live capture or kill trapping) • Use of hand gloves and net traps to capture, avoid causing serious body harm or injuries to the animal • Place captured animals in animal cages, one animal per cage. Captured animals should only be kept in animal cages for less than 12 hours and transported to the designated protected area or to temporary / permanent animal houses or veterinary facility for injured animal cases. • Ensure the animal cages do not cause harm to the animal, and safety of the animal and the personnel is guaranteed • Native treated animals are to be brought back and released into protected area or undisturbed ecosystem. • Decontamination procedure: humane euthanasia of animals should be done in a way to reduce pain or ease pain during death to the animal and proper disposal. • Person Protection Equipment - Hand Gloves, safety footware, net trap, etc. • Monitoring the Health of Captured Animal - To be carried out by the Veterinary Personnel and or with environmental team of Project Office. - Records of each species and animal are kept and updated each time the species or animal is observed and monitored.

9.4.2 Injured Wildlife Protocol

Upon discovery of an injured native animal (especially priority species), the following actions will be taken: • Record the date, time, location, condition of animal and circumstances concerning the incident, including photographic evidence wherever possible. • Stop work in affected area • Observe from a distance what the animal is doing • If NOT in immediate danger, wait for animal to move off before carrying on with work • If animal is in immediate danger or clear distress, assess feasibility of capture depending on its size, location and safety of capture to both animal and personnel • Alert the HEC HSE Manager on incident and arrange a same-day appointment for transfer of animal to wildlife care facility

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• In case of wildlife care facility, there is no related facility in Honiara. Therefore, it will be treated depending on the veterinary’s determination until SIG develop the wildlife care facility.

When the native animal is to be contained: • All staff involved in the containment exercise will be equipped with a pair of gloves and towel/gunny sack that is appropriately sized to cover the animal • A vehicle will be immediately ready to transport the animal back to site without delay • An adequately sized covered box or cage will be prepared to contain the animal immediately. The bottom of the box/cage will have towels or rags placed at the bottom to protect feet of animals. Use separate boxes for animals, never place two animals in the same container • Approach the animal from behind slowly and carefully, pausing when needed to let the animal calm down and habituate to human presence • When picking the animal up, use a towel to gently wrap around its back (and wings, if bird or bat) and cover the head. Keep voices down to avoid further stress to the animal • Handling of animals will be kept to a minimum to avoid stress caused by handling

For treatment: • Pass the animal to the wildlife care facility/veterinary surgeon, as nominated in the detailed site plan. • If the animal must be kept overnight, place it in a ventilated box with a secure cover. The bottom of the box/cage will have towels or rags placed at the bottom for comfort and to protect feet of animals. Keep it in a quiet, dark area and do not attempt to feed, handle or release it. Transfer the animal to the wildlife care facility the following day. Discard all boxes used for transporting injured wildlife to avoid transfer of disease. For cages, clean out thoroughly before re-use. • All staff involved in the capture will wash and sterilize their hands immediately upon return from site. • All clothes worn during the capture will be washed the same day and not re-worn. • Where an animal is injured due to clearance activities the animal will be assessed as to the nature of the injuries. Where it is determined that the animal is severely injured, the animal will be captured and taken to a veterinary for treatment. Veterinary will be notified in advance of clearing operations to ensure there is enough capacity to respond in the case of numerous injured wildlife being found. • Once recovered, the animal will be collected from the veterinary for release into suitable habitat adjacent to the location of its capture. • In case a veterinary is not available, or cannot be reached in time, a method for euthanasia appropriate for the species and circumstances will be employed to ensure minimal pain and suffering. This may include shooting with a rifle for large animals, stunning followed by cervical dislocation for small birds and mammals (less

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than 0.5 kg), or stunning followed by decapitation and/or destruction of the brain for reptiles and amphibians. Under no circumstances are the following to be used: Suffocation, freezing or burning, carbon dioxide, poisoning using household products, air embolism, exsanguination or decapitation without stunning, electrocution or microwave irradiation, chloroform or strychnine, or neuromuscular blocking agents • Fauna that require euthanasia will not be exposed to additional stressors such as large numbers of onlookers, people touching it, loud noises or extremes of temperature.

Post-incident: • Follow up with wildlife care facility staff on condition of animal and date of release. • The HEC HSE Manager to investigate further circumstances of incident. • Interview workers on site that day and record their observations. • Identify potential activities that could have led to animal injury. • If injury attributed to TRHPD activities, identify corrective actions to avoid future incidents. • Record actions formally under the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) Management-of-Change and Incident Reporting System. • The HEC HSC Manager to disseminate actions via email to all staff and share during daily toolbox meetings.

9.5 INVASIVE FLORA MANAGEMENT

The TRHDP area provides habitat for a number of invasive flora species, such as Merremia (Merremia peltata) and Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) (mostly in secondary forest), Mile-a-Minute (Mikania micrantha) (along Black Post Road and near villages), and Sensitive Plants (Mimosa invisa and Mimosa pudica) (in gardens and agricultural areas). Invasive flora species compete with native species for space and edaphic resources. To control the presence of invasive flora, as well as the potential influx of new species of invasive flora, the invasive flora (weed) management measures outlined below will be implemented.

9.5.1 Invasive Flora Management Protocol (IFMP).

The IFMP will be undertaken as outlined below.

9.5.1.1 Prepare invasive plant inventory

Subdivide the TRHDP area into homogenous blocks bound by roads, gates, streams or other demarcations. In each block mark the location (and boundaries of large infestations) of invasive plants by GPS, and note species and density. The following abundance scale may be used:

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1 = less than 100 plants/ha

2 = clumps with 100-1000 plants/ha

3 = extensive infestation, over 1000 plants/ha

Use the field results to prepare a map to be stored in the TRHDP GIS system. This map will be updated every year. Surveys will be undertaken twice yearly, as many annual species may not be detectable outside of flowering season (which varies from species to species).

9.5.1.2 Set Priorities

The inventory will be reviewed and priorities set on the basis of: • The density of invasive weed infestations in particular blocks: The priority is to control isolated infestations first before they spread. Once isolated infestations are controlled, other areas, such as heavy, wide spread infestations can be approached. • The dispersal strategy and competitive behaviour of the invasive plant species: The priority is to control species that disperse quickly, usually annuals. These typically thrive in disturbed areas. Other species, such as African Tulip, that are dispersed by animals and can invade undisturbed forest are also priority species. It is suggested that priority species for control be selected in consultation with the MECDM and regional conservation groups.

Priorities may be set a range of levels (e.g. Priority 1 for highest level, through to Priority 4 for lowest level).

9.5.1.3 Control and Management

Total eradication of many invasive species within the TRHDP area may be impossible without prohibitive effort. It is more realistic to manage these invasive plants by lowering the densities of species, which will help contain their spread and reduce their impact on remnants of native vegetation, fauna and fauna habitats and the operation of the site.

On the TRHDP site, this can be achieved by using a combination of methods such as hand weeding, mechanical control, minimisation of earth disturbance, grazing management and encouragement of beneficial species. Herbicides can also be used as a method of control, but their use is prohibited on the TRHDP site. Biological controls are often slow acting and take several years to show any impact. They are best suited to larger continuous infestations.

Weed control measures need to be carried out for a number of years to deplete the soil seed bank for weeds. Ongoing control will be required to suppress weeds that may spread into the TRHDP area from adjacent land. This will require ongoing monitoring across the TRHDP site, with biannual surveys at the commencement of key flowering times, before the onset of seed/propagules. Where priority invasive pant infestations are encountered, these will be controlled immediately, prior to seed setting to avoid self-seeding of the species.

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Regeneration and establishment of native species will assist in weed control. Mulching can be used as a temporary suppressant while native species are establishing.

Complementary weed management of adjacent lands will also greatly assist weed management because this will limit the number of propagules that may enter and establish from outside the TRHDP.

9.5.2 Preventing Invasive Plant Dispersal and Establishment

To prevent the entry and/or dispersal of invasive species in the TRHDP site, the following measures will be implemented: • Wash bays with high pressure hoses will be installed at a strategic location to remove dirt and plant material from vehicle wheels, tracks, buckets, and other parts of machinery that may have come in contact with mud or soil, prior to entering and leaving the site. Vehicles internally and which come into contact with invasive plant within the TRHDP site, will also be cleaned regularly • Water from wash bays will not be discharged directly into natural watercourses, but instead passed through to a bunded containment and evaporation area which is regularly managed for invasive plants • Avoid working in or travelling through weed (particularly annuals) infestations when they are in flower or seeding • Stay on formed tracks wherever possible • Work from the clean to infested areas when slashing and start weed control from the outer edges of infestations and work inwards • Establish a 3 to 5 m buffer which is regularly slashed to remove weeds along all major roadways in the TRHDP area to prevent seeds being spread along roadways by movement of people or vehicles • Always re-establish vegetation immediately after earthworks, using species native to the TRHDP area • Monitor disturbed areas such as the earthworks and prescribe follow-up weed control • Prevent overgrazing by stock (if any) • Opportunistically undertake follow-up control after disturbances such as floods, because these can trigger major invasive species germination events • Use invasive species free mulch when carrying out revegetation works to prevent competition from invasive species and reduce invasive plant invasion • Use topsoil harvested from areas within the TRHDP site that are free of invasive species. • Topsoil harvested from areas with invasive plant infestations will be “rested” for some time to allow invasive plants propagules to germinate and be destroyed on the topsoil stockpiles • Soil/mulch import from outside the TRHDP area will be prohibited

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Further information on identification and eradication of invasive native species can be found at: • Global Invasive Species Database: www.iucngisd.org/ • Invasive Species Compendium: http://www.cabi.org/isc/

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10 ELEMENT TWO. RIVER MANAGEMENT

10.1 INTRODUCTION

Lead: THL

Support: HEC

Supervise: THL (for HEC) and PO (for THL)

Objectives:

To maintain biodiversity values, species composition and ecosystem function of the Tina River upstream and downstream of the Project.

To confirm the critical habitat status of the Tina River, based on the biodiversity values.

If the critical habitat status is confirmed, to identify the need for an offset management area within the Tina River catchment or similar catchments to achieve net gain of biodiversity values for the survival of key fish species affected by the damming of the Tina River.

Where an offset management area is required, to identify suitable areas / activities, identify partnerships and stakeholders and develop a plan for Lender and stakeholder review.

Overview:

The catchment is presumed, on a precautionary basis, to be critical habitat because of the potential for fish species to have a restricted range. Furthermore, an endemic, endangered dragon fly is possibly present in the catchment. These biodiversity values are discussed in Section 4.2.2 and the analysis of critical habitat in Section 6.5.2.1. Because of the lack of data, the BMP approach is first to fill data gaps to conclude on whether the river is natural or critical habitat under Lender definitions, and therefore what the required mitigation and offset requirements are. The approach is as follows:

1) Conclude the species of fish and macroinvertebrates (particularly the dragon fly and other endemic species) in the river and their ecological niches and habitat requirements, including their range and their migratory behavior. 2) Conclude the relevant ecological scale for assessing biodiversity values of the fish and macroinvertebrates (based on range of species and ecological niches). 3) Conclude the biodiversity values and whether the river is natural and / or critical habitat as per Lender definitions. 4) Conclude the nature and scale of impacts on these fish and macroinvertebrate species and associated biodiversity values. 5) Reconfirm the proposed mitigation measures such as construction controls, e-flow and fish passage to conclude the residual impacts and conclude whether no net loss

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or net gain of biodiversity values for these fish and / or macroinvertebrate species is required and how this may achieved, including the requirement for offsets. 6) Identify options for offset management and provide recommendations for offset that can be discussed with stakeholders and Lenders.

10.2 ACTION PLAN

The action plan for implementation of Element Two is outlined in Table 10-1 below, with monitoring and evaluation actions described in Table 10-2.

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Table 10-1: Management Measures – Element 2 River Management

No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

2.1 Additional Aquatic Changes in aquatic • Additional Aquatic Studies will be undertaken, as HEC/THL Q4 2020 and 2021 dry Studies health and species described in Section 10.4. These include a baseline season composition of aquatic assessment for algae and macro-invertebrates life (indicators of aquatic health), taxonomic study of fishes in the Tina River, and a review of fish migration patterns. Fish, algae, and macro-invertebrates will be monitored as per Fish, Algae and Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan (FAMMP)

2.2 Reservoir preparation Water quality • Reservoir Preparation Plan will be prepared and THL Prior to preparation of degradation in the cleared prior to works starting. The plan will consider land for filling of reservoir and the water quality, erosion, sedimentation and habitat reservoir. downstream rehabilitation / improvements that will assist to maintain the biodiversity values in the Tina River. The Plan will reconsider the advice in the ESIA to remove all trees, and consider the selective logging of high value trees and retaining the rest to protect soil structure, reduce erosion and provide some habitat for fish. 3 2.3 Maintain water and Changes in aquatic • The ESIA states there will be a minimum flow of 1m /s THL Post-reservoir fill, and sediment flow biodiversity composition at all times in the bypassed section of the river during hydro operations and quantity between the dam and power station, and a minimum 3 downstream of dam flow of 3.4m /s downstream of the power station. Flushing of the reservoir will be undertaken periodically via the outlet near the power intake.

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • THL to engage the Biodiversity Consultants to work with HEC/THL generation experts and undertake analysis of alternative generation and flow regimes, including e-flows (Section 10.6) within the constraints of the available hydrological data. • If the analysis identifies significant mitigation of impacts compared to the current proposed energy generation operational regime consultations will be led by THL, between THL, HEC, PO, Ministry of Energy, Solomon Power, Lenders communities and other stakeholders regarding the benefits and costs of alternative flow regimes / energy generation regimes to the project. • 2.4 Facilitate fish passage Barrier to fish passage The ESIA concludes that fish passage will be facilitated by a HEC Detailed dam design ‘trap and haul’ system. • HEC to engage an Aquatic Ecologist to undertake the Fish Migration Study (Section 10.4.2.2) • THL to engage the Biodiversity Consultants to work with HEC/THL generation experts to undertake an analysis of flow regimes and e-flows (Section 10.6).

2.5 Eradicate aquatic Changes in aquatic • Development of an invasive species management plan THL During construction invasive species biodiversity composition for reservoir operation. phase and structure

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • THL to prepare a TOR for the Biodiversity Consultants to undertake a risk assessment and develop a practical operational plan. • The TOR should include as a minimum: • Confirm list of species at risk from colonisation in the reservoir • Develop surveillance protocols for identifying species • Develop operational controls to prevent or minimise the risk of species colonising the reservoir • Develop response protocols and practical actions that are triggered if species are found during surveillance; which includes targets for maintenance / control or eradication of the species and practical measures for controlling and / or eradication (nets for trapping fish), booms for manual or mechanical removal of water hyacinth) • Develop monitoring procedures for incursions. • • Implementation of the Invasive Species Management Plan

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10.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Table 10-2: Monitoring and Evaluation – Element 2 River Management

Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter

Presence of Monitoring records As per FAMMP As per FAMMP • As per FAMMP Eradicate invasive species HEC E&S aquatic invasive • No new aquatic within reservoir upon Supervisor species invasive species discovery Monitoring of Monitoring records Weekly or regular As per FAMMP • No. and type of Review effectiveness of fish HEC E&S fish passage monitoring of the fish migratory fish species passage measures and Supervisor passage • Entrapment / address issues under stranding of fish guidance of fish passage during construction specialist and operation Additional Baseline assessment • Prior to commencement As per FAMMP • Species assemblages; Review of baseline survey HEC E&S Aquatic studies and on-going of clearing and in-river diversity and findings; compare results of Supervisor and monitoring monitoring records works abundance any ongoing surveys (during –for algae and • Monitoring as per approaching construction/operational macro- FAAMP reference sites (no phase) against baseline invertebrates, net loss) taxonomic • No new invasive study of fish in species (and no new Tina River, and a review of fish toxic algal species) migration • No increase in patterns abundance of macroinvertebrate

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter species which are highly tolerant of perturbation

Water flow and Monitoring records Stream gauge (continuous TBC • Minimum flow of Minimum flows maintained HEC during 3 sediment flow monitoring ) – to be 1m /s at all times in (e.g. E-flows, fish passage) construction confirmed prior to the bypassed section downstream of the dam

completion main dam of the river between detailed design the dam and power THL during E-flows above the dam (e.g. operational station, and a wetted perimeter) minimum flow of phase 3.4m3/s downstream of the power station. • Reservoir flushing

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10.4 ADDITIONAL BASELINE STUDIES

10.4.1 Algae and Macro-Invertebrate Surveys

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are globally the most widely used biological indicators for assessing the health of the aquatic environment because they are abundant and diverse, and can be sensitive to changes in water quality, flow regime and habitat conditions. Macroinvertebrates have differing levels of sensitivities to impacts to the riparian environment. Based on differential sensitivities, macroinvertebrate indices can be used as a measure of ecosystem health. Assessing the aquatic environment for algae also provides an indication of the health of the ecosystem, with an abundance of algae indicating high nutrient loads in the system.

Baseline aquatic survey has been proposed for May and August and be undertaken prior to commencement of clearance and construction within or adjacent to the aquatic habitats. The survey will be carried out on the following aquatic organisms;

• Algae • Macro-invertebrates • Fish Taxonomy; and • Fish migratory pattern in the Tina River

Parameters for assessment are listed in Table 10-3. These are subject to the availability of suitable analysis facilities in the Solomon Islands or the wider Pacific region (where samples can be easily preserved and exported). To allow for seasonal variation, sampling will occur over two seasons (wet and dry).

For statistical purposes, sampling will occur in the following locations at minimum per sampling round (three sites in each area):

• Upstream of the Dam • At the Dam • Downstream of the Dam • Analogue (reference/control) sites outside of Tina River catchment

Table 10-3: Algae and macro-invertebrate sampling

Assemblage Field Survey Methods Laboratory Processing Producers: • A multi-habitat composite sample • Identification of species under Phytoplankton to be collected from the 100m microscope. river reach at each monitoring • Measurement of metrics (total station. Sample fixed for analysis. cell count, total biomass, species richness). • Description of assemblage structure (major taxon)

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Assemblage Field Survey Methods Laboratory Processing • Chlorophyll a sample to be Chemical analysis at a commercial collected and send to laboratory laboratory. for analysis

Producers: • A multi-habitat composite sample • Identification of periphyton Periphyton to be collected within 100m river species and measurement of reach at each monitoring station. metrics (species richness, relative Sample fixed in the field and abundance). transported for analysis to the • Index of biotic integrity (suitable laboratory. for Solomon Island systems) Producers: Estimate percentage cover of • Species list Macrophytes macrophytes (algae and vascular • Percentage cover per species plants) within the 100m river reach at each monitoring station. Low level • Collect in-situ water quality • Identify organisms to species heterotrophs: parameters level or the lowest taxonomic Macroinvertebrat • Undertake habitat assessment level possible. es with the 100m river reach at each • Obtain metrics: species richness, monitoring station. relative abundance per species, • Collect a multi-habitat composite and relative density (per species, sample, sampling the per order), allocate species to macroinvertebrate assemblage feeding groups and tolerance to with a kick net in proportion to disturbances. habitat cover within the reach. • Analysis: nMDS, ANOSIM and • Undertake live-sorting for up to BIOENV (or equivalent 1hr and collect photographic assemblage structure analyses). records of species/taxa. Storage the live-sorted organisms in labelled vials for identification in the lab. Fix the remaining of the composite sample.

10.4.2 Fish Studies

10.4.2.1 Fish Taxonomy

The identification of fish species listed in the ESIA was incomplete. Some species’ names appear to be incorrect, while the identity of others was not available. A further taxonomic assessment will be conducted to assign correct species names to the specimens collected during the ESIA surveys.

The approach will be to review the list of species presented in the ESIA studies. Where possible, taxonomic clarifications will be made from voucher specimens/photographs collected during the ESIA studies, and from additional specimens and photographs of these fish species collected during the additional aquatic survey (baseline survey) in Q4 2020. Further detail regarding methodology is provided in the FAMMP (M3).

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10.4.2.2 Fish Migration Study

The study will be undertaken by a consultant with significant experience in the passage of gobies and eels in the Pacific, and with significant experience in hydropower fish passage design. The work should be supported by a Solomon Islands’ nationals with a doctorate in aquatic biology, and significant experience with local gobiidae and eel species.

Survey data and information on aquatic flora and fauna species and the migration pattern of freshwater fish will be helpful to assist in the design of the fish passage system. Gobies and eels are the focused species of study since they are common species and the importance of their migratory pattern along the river. The main migratory patterns are catadromous (eels) and amphidromous (gobies) species:

▪ Catadromous fish, such as eels, are species whose adults migrate to the ocean to spawn, and juveniles migrate back into freshwater systems to grow to maturity. During their upstream migrations, juvenile eels are able to climb to the upper reaches of the Tina River. ▪ Amphidromous species, such as Gobioids, Mesopristes and prawns, are animals that spawn in the rivers, and their larvae drift passively to the ocean before migrating back as juveniles to the freshwater system where they grow into adults. The factors triggering upstream migration of juveniles are not completely understood. However, it is postulated that flooding, which causes high turbidity, and lunar cycles, play a role for triggering migration in some species.

The Ngalimbiu River mouth is more critical to the life cycle of most fish species than upstream areas, as it is the only entry point to all fish that live within the catchment.

The aim of the review is to investigate the appropriate design and operation for the fish passage system to maintain to the greatest extent feasible, current species composition and population structures within the upper Tina River post construction of the dam (and associated reservoir).

10.5 FISH PASSAGE MECHANISM

Fish passage mechanism(s) would be installed, operated, and maintained during the life of the TRHDP. The current proposal from the ESIA is to install a trap and haul system which would provide upstream passage for gobies and eels. This would comprise a simple ramp into a trap. The fish in this trap would be transferred into the reservoir at intervals of 3-7 days. Further detail on the design and operation of a fish passage mechanism (whether trap and haul, fish elevator, fish ladder or other type of facility) will be determined by THL’s Biodiversity Consultants. The ToR will be prepared by THL (with support from the OE) to cover the following:

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• Based on the findings of the additional baseline studies, conduct a literature review and case study review of fish passage systems in design or in use for similar species in similar habitats. This should include analysis of the successes and barriers / difficulties. Prepare an issues and options paper and conclude on a recommended approach (or approaches) for fish passage for all key native species. • Support THL to consult with HEC, landowners, NGOs, BAG and others regarding options and recommendations. • Select or design the hardware required to entice, capture, transport and release fish across the dam face (and potentially across the reservoir). This may include ladders, tanks, ponds, elevators, traps, pipelines, etc. This may also include creating or enhancing natural features (diversion channels, breeding areas, refuge areas etc.) that may be needed to support fish passage upstream or downstream of the dam and reservoir. Solutions should be proven through research trials or in other dams in similar environments. Identify ancillary works that may be required (access tracks or roads, culverts, bridges, huts etc.). Identify personal protective equipment, vehicles, cages, tagging equipment, electric fishing equipment or other equipment that will be needed. • Select or design the hardware required to avoid entrainment in the power station mechanisms such as bottom outlet and tailrace (screens, diversion channels etc.). Solutions should be proven through research trials or in other dams in similar environments. Provide operational and maintenance procedures. • Develop fish passage operational procedures and recommend implementation arrangements (such as a commercial operator, THL staff, community or NGO) to maintain and operate the mechanism. This will consider the season / time of year / period in life cycle, passage up and / or down river, incentives for successful transfer, controls on poaching and illegal harvesting or commercial or personal gain, monitoring of fish populations, age and health (including tagging if necessary), protocols for handling and releasing live and dead fish, and managing ‘bycatch’. The procedure will identify the location for fish release (such as refuge areas, side tributaries above the reservoir, the use of holding tanks or cages, etc.) and any other conditions (such as time of day, maximum holding periods, regularity of checking traps and transfer of fish etc.). Implementation arrangements will take into account the expertise required and available, management of corruption risk, cost and social / socio- economic benefits. • Provide operational procedures for the dam and powerhouse for supporting fish passage. Include the specifications for operation (flow rate, duration, ramping up and down etc.), time of year, time of day and other requirements to support the passage of fish. These procedures are to be adopted into THL’s Operational ESMP. • Adaptive management approaches – monitoring and evaluation programme, indicators and trigger values. • Prepare training materials. • Deliver training to THL as dam / plant operators and to the community members, NGO or other group who will operate the fish passage mechanism. • Supervise the installation of hardware.

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• Supervise the first two years of fish passage, providing ad hoc advice, collect relevant data and provide further training as required. • Review monitoring reports and provide advice on adaptive management.

10.6 ALTERNATIVE GENERATION REGIMES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW ANALYSIS

The environmental flow is one mitigation measure, and probably the most important measure, as this will maintain the aquatic habitat and fish populations. Provision of fish passage is another measure that will sustain fish communities in the upper river. Sudden increases in water level can be dangerous to people in the river bed and it might be advisable to ramp up generation from minimum to maximum load over a period of 1 to 1.5 hours to give people sufficient warning of increasing flows. Sudden reductions in water level can strand fish. Therefore, it is recommended that an adaptive management approach be taken to determining whether ramping flows are needed to mitigate potential fish stranding.

The ESIA states there will be a minimum flow of 1m3/s at all times in the bypassed section of the river between the dam and power station, and a minimum flow of 3.4m3/s downstream of the power station. Flushing of the reservoir will be undertaken periodically via the outlet near the power intake.

THL will engage the Biodiversity Consultants to work with HEC/THL generation experts to undertake the following analysis of flow regimes and e-flows:

• Review the outputs and outcomes of the additional baseline studies to assess the ecological needs of the fish species and the Lieftinckia lairdi dragonfly and other key / indicator macroinvertebrates. Identify the needs regarding flow rate, change in flow rate, depth of water, wetted area of river bed and other key habitat indicators on a daily / diurnal and seasonal basis, particularly at key periods of the life cycle (breeding, egg laying, migration). • Model alternative energy generation / flow regimes and e-flow regimes to mitigate significant impacts on key species and their life cycle needs. This should include options to ramp up and ramp down flow, peak generation vs run-of-river generation, variations to e-flows and flushing flows, and the implications for energy generation and grid stability. Compare this to the current proposed generation regime. • Consultant to provide a summary of issues and options and recommendations, including the potential environmental and social impacts of alternatives to the current proposed generation regime. • Provide recommendations on the dam design for automatic, passive and permanent release of at least 1m3/s, for ramping up and ramping down of flow according to ecological needs of river species and for the passage of sediment as to minimise adverse impacts and maximise ecological benefits.

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10.7 RIVER ENVIRONMENT BIODIVERSITY OFFSETS

THL will prepare a TOR for the Biodiversity Consultant to undertake investigations to conclude on the definition of habitat type for the Tina River (natural and / or critical) based on Lender policies and standards. The TOR will include the following:

• Analysis of outputs and outcomes of additional baseline studies. Identify and scope any additional field work or desk-based research to achieve the outputs of the TOR. Additional field work may include research on similar local river systems. • Using the additional data, conclude on the type of habitat (natural or critical) as per Lender definitions, at the ecologically relevant scale. Conclude the likely extinction risk on restricted-range species. Conclude the desired aquatic biodiversity outcomes – no net loss of biodiversity values or net gain. • Using the additional data, conclude on the nature and scale of impacts of the TRHDP on the biodiversity values and reassess the proposed mitigation measures to achieve the required goal of no net loss or net gain. Recommend additional or amended mitigation measures, including rehabilitation of habitats as necessary. • Assess the requirement for a biodiversity offsets to achieve no net loss or net gain in biodiversity values, if this is unlikely to be achieved through mitigation and rehabilitation. If recommended, the consultants are to provide an issues and options study and conclude suitable option or options for offsets, including an offset management area. • Support THL and BAG to consult with SIG, land owners, local and international NGOs, community members, fishers and other interested groups to discuss and agree upon the mitigation, rehabilitation and offset measures. • Update the BMP with the agreed actions, roles, responsibilities, budgets, monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management procedures. • Prepare at least one scientific paper on the results of the additional baseline studies and the analytical work to determine the impacts and offsets to achieve BMP outcomes, to contribute to the publicly available data on Solomon Islands freshwater ecosystems.

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11 ELEMENT THREE. WATERSHED ENGAGEMENT

11.1 INTRODUCTION

Responsibility: THL with significant collaboration and support from PO, SIG and lenders.

Support: HEC

Objectives: To ensure that watershed engagement with land owners and resource users integrate biodiversity outcomes to achieve the aims and objectives of the BMP. To protect the upper catchment by preventing access and monitoring for illegal activities and other activities that would lead to degradation of habitat.

Overview:

The primary forest located towards the upper Tina River is marked for reservation as water catchment for the dam. The forest is intact and undisturbed by logging activities. This particular area has important natural features including cliffs, riparian zones, nesting and feeding sites for fauna and tropical montane forests reaching above 400 meters in elevation.

Cliffs provide opportunities for a wide range of habitats. The dynamic nature of cliffs creates an important habitat for a range of specialist plants and animals and may have significant nature conservation interest. Vertical or near vertical ‘hard’ rock cliffs often provide nesting habitat for birds, and a certain extent of freedom from predation. In addition, the relative inaccessibility of steeper slopes makes them amongst the habitats least disturbed by human activity. Taken together, the interplay between geology, geomorphology and climate provide opportunities for the development of a biologically diverse habitat in cliff areas (Doody, 2015).

A riparian zone is seen as the portion of the terrestrial environment that influences a stream and (or) that is influenced by the water body.

The benefits of protecting these areas is to further offset the impacts from the reservoir inundation of cliff and riparian habitat, and also to protect the upper catchment from indirect impacts from improved access and the associated lure of forestry and hunting (legal and illegal). Protection of biodiversity in the upper catchment relies on a participatory approach with the land owners and is best managed as part of a long term engagement to maximise benefits to them and to the TRHDP in partnership. It is recognized that there is already a process of engagement with these land owners and the BMP proposes to support and enhance that process to ensure biodiversity outcomes are maximized.

11.2 ACTION PLAN

The action plan for implementation of Element Three is outlined in Table 11-1 below, with monitoring and evaluation actions described in Table 11-2.

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Table 11-1: Management Measures – Element 3 Watershed Engagement

No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

General

3.1 Development of Future • The protection of the upper catchment is conceived as a staged THL with support Initiate relationship within watershed management degradation of approach reflecting the ownership of the land by indigenous from PO the first year and develop plan or agreement with watershed customary landowners. PO as SIG representative to develop a an MOU within 2 years (or land owners habitat due to partnership with the land owners to support integrated land use as agreed between PO and increased access management in the watershed above the reservoir for multiple land owners). and pressure for benefits – livelihood, carbon capture, biodiversity protection, forest and land protection from erosion. resources. • This process will be led under a separate TRHDP activity, but will Sedimentation of be integrated with the BMP as part of the multi-benefit reservoir from approach. land clearance • This protection work will be furthered by the TRHDP funding for activities. an NGO to facilitate consultations with landowners to seek support for the creation of a protected area in the upper catchment (or similar type of mechanism) and to conduct mapping and forestry studies, towards preparation of a management plan. • Consider the funding models for any conservation activities that are integrated into the broader discussions on livelihoods benefits. • Develop an MOU that outlines the responsibilities and obligations of the land owners, land / resource users and the SIG.

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Identify opportunities to collaborate with other SIG initiatives such as REDD+, NBSAP and community development initiatives. • Work with HEC and THL to maximise the interconnections with the biodiversity offset initiatives within the DIA.

3.2 Consultation All • Engage with local community through awareness and THL to lead, At least quarterly for the consultation meetings on biodiversity and ecosystem services supported by HEC first year, six monthly issues, including potential encroachment of invasive species, subsequently, or as needed illegal hunting, forestry and plant/animal collecting. based on community needs • Consultation will be undertaken to increase awareness raising and incidents or issues and determine the most effective actions to address illegal arising. hunting, forestry and plant/animal collecting. Results from such consultation will be used to undertake appropriate and practicable actions adequate to facilitate the reduction in the level of illegal hunting and plant/animal collecting to baseline (pre-project) levels or below. • Meetings will also be used for agricultural outreach programs to improve crop yields or more efficient gardening methods, avoiding the need to clear additional forest areas. This may include provision of information posters and literature. Engagement mechanisms to follow Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Plan (SECP) and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). • THL will identify and implement actions to reduce illegal hunting, forestry and plant/animal collecting to baseline levels (or below). • Consult with the SIG rep PO and Land custodians to extend conservation concepts to land areas adjacent to the project core area.

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Sharing of Information and technical knowledge about threatened species. HEC will use community consultation activities and networks to develop this wider awareness of issues such as: • Wildlife shepherding protocol for villagers to report and what to do if any sighting of threaten fauna species. • Protection of tambu sites within the project core area and beyond. 3.3 Restrict access to road Induced impacts The access road between Managikiki and the dam will be gated, with HEC All times in upper vehicular access restricted to TRHDP personnel and approved Project catchment related visitors, throughout construction and operation. Access to the land by the TCLC and local community members will be strictly limited to pedestrian access only. Commercial logging trucks will be prohibited. The gates at the road entry will be attended by a security guard 24 hrs/day who will record the particulars (name, address, vehicle registration number, personal identification number) of all vehicles who are allowed into the access road, as per Security Management Plan (SMP). Visitors will also be accompanied by an authorised representative at all times. The security officers will be trained to identify species and the behaviour associated with poachers and vehicle searches for items such as wild animal products. Evidence of such inspections/ vehicle searches will be recorded and available for review.

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

3.4 Restrict access to land Induced impacts A settlement policy will be developed and implemented with the HEC/THL Policy implemented prior to in upper assistance of the TCLC. The policy will outline enforcement measures clearing and construction catchment to: activities • Manage entry to the upper catchment to meet the needs of Enforcement all times watershed management and the MOU or plan between PO and land owners. PO to provide ongoing instructions and updates to HEC. • Routinely inspect vehicles entering and exiting the THRDP site for illegal wild animal products, logs and plant and animal species classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List. • Prevent the use of the TCLC land for worker’s accommodation, except where strictly required for TRHDP activities, such as for rangers and security staff accommodation, as per Influx Management Plan (IMP) • Prevent the use of the access road by people seeking to settle beyond (upslope of) the TCLC land • Engage with PO and the land owners to address settlement and livelihoods in the watershed management plan / MOU. 3.5 Monitoring for the upper Residual impacts Low level surveillance on the upper catchment by using drone’s HEC For the duration of the catchment aerial imagery to monitor changes in forest coverage, monitor construction phase. logging truck activities on existing logging roads, sightings of tree felling, commercial millings, road constructions and clearings.

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11.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Table 11-2: Monitoring and Evaluation – Element 3 Watershed Engagement

Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter

Watershed • Establishment of • Initiate management Watershed Management • Establishment of Plan • Establishment of SIG/PO Management plan plan within first year of Plan • No. of landowners Watershed Plan and • MOU with project under MOU Management Plan and Landowner landowners • Develop MOU within 2 MOU agreement years (or as agreed with • Annual review PO and landowners) Consultation • Records of Quarterly for the first Routine reports – • Increase number of Audit reports – Internal HEC THL E&S team – with Minutes of calendar year, six-monthly weekly, monthly, stakeholders monthly audit reports, THL leading communities meetings & subsequently and as quarterly and the Annual consulted as per E&S team audit reports, consultations (via and other consultation required. HSE report recorded in the OE’s six-monthly audit SECP) with stakeholders • Consultations & Stakeholder reports and LTA’s quarterly stakeholders and engagement Engagement audit reports. HEC H&S recorded in database Supervisor & Stakeholder team provide • Reduce number of Engagement assistance. database. grievances recorded • Records on in the grievance number & registry monthly. achievements of • Reduced number of consultations held illegal hunting, plant in the Quarterly & animal collection Report compare to its baseline data.

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter • Increase number of villagers participate in agricultural activities. • Increased crop yields by villagers (stakeholders) compare to its baseline crop yield data. • Increased number of protected species (flora & fauna) compare to its baseline data. Upper Drone surveys records Monthly (drone survey) • Summary in • % change in upper • Training of relevant HEC E&S catchment during construction Quarterly HSE report catchment forest personnel Supervisor monitoring - coverage • Increase surveillance changes in • Reported incidents forest coverage, monitor logging truck activities on existing logging roads, sightings of tree felling, commercial millings, road

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter constructions and clearings.

Access road HEC Security Daily access record sheets Summary in Quarterly No. of vehicles accessing • Increase surveillance HEC E&S restrictions monitoring of access HSE report area and security Supervisor through core area to • Training of security staff upstream areas. Settlement Implementation of Implementation prior to Summary in Quarterly • Policy implemented • Increased engagement SIG/PO Policy (as per Settlement Policy clearing and construction HSE report • No. of enforcement with local community Livelihoods Team Land Acquisition notices and landholders and Livelihoods Restoration Plan)

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12 ELEMENT FOUR. TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY OFFSET

12.1 INTRODUCTION

Lead Responsibility: THL

Support: HEC

Supervision: PO

Objectives:

To identify, prepare and manage an offset management area of at least 220 Ha within the DIA to protect and restore natural and critical terrestrial habitat to achieve net gain of critical habitat and no net loss of natural habitat as per BMP aims and objectives.

“Biodiversity offsets are measurable conservation outcomes resulting from actions designed to compensate for significant residual adverse biodiversity impacts arising from development plans or projects after appropriate prevention and mitigation measures have been taken. The goal of biodiversity offsets is to achieve no net loss and preferably a net gain of biodiversity on the ground with respect to species composition, habitat structure, ecosystem function and people’s use and cultural values associated with biodiversity.” (ICMM IUCN, 2012)

A terrestrial Offset Management Area of 220 Ha of lowland forest, cliff and riparian habitat will be established within the DIA. The concepts are provided in this version of the BMP. The detailed design of the Offset Management Area will be done by biodiversity consultants engaged by THL to achieve the following:

• No net loss of biodiversity values of 104 Ha of disturbed and remnant lowland forest (natural habitat) impacted by the project; • Net gains of biodiversity values of 81 Ha of primary lowland forest, riparian forest and cliff forest (critical habitat) impacted by the project.

THL will need the support of the Biodiversity Consultancy Firm to develop and implement the terrestrial offset area.

They will also need the support of the BAG and possibly other NGO partners with them to achieve conservation outcomes in the medium to long term. The BAG and others will bring expertise, knowledge, and funding opportunities and community engagement. This approach will also help to create linkages (spatial and collegial) with other conservation efforts on Guadalcanal / Solomon Islands / Melanesia. The mitigation measures outline an approach to engaging with such an organization and developing the partnership.

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12.2 ACTION PLAN

.The action plan for implementation of Element Four is outlined in Table 12-1 below, with monitoring and evaluation actions described in Table 12-2.

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Table 12-1: Management Measures – Element 4 Terrestrial Biodiversity Offset No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

General 4.1 Engage specialist All • Prepare ToR and engage consultancy firm, with a mix of THL, with support ToR approved and consultancy firm to international and local experience to undertake the following for from Supervision engagement process provide biodiversity Element 1: Engineer to prepare started within three services. o Prepare the detailed plans and approaches for the TOR and engage and months of the approval of offset management area (refer Section 12.5). manage the this plan by lenders. o Collate, review, evaluate and report on the work consultant. Consultancy firm engaged and outputs of individual consultants engaged for for the duration of the surveys and other biodiversity work. construction phase, with o Responsible for managing the biodiversity annual work plan database. approved. o Provide GIS data management and visualization services to collate, analysis and reporting of biodiversity data, as part of the biodiversity database. o Assist THL .to collaborate with the Biodiversity Action Group o Design review and pre-clearance survey and reporting (including any design changes to protect biodiversity values). o Supervision of clearance activities, including leading the wildlife shepherding protocols. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of as per CESMP monitoring plans (e.g. BMP, FFMP, FAMMP, WQMP).

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing

4.2 Collaboration and All Establish and maintain Biodiversity Advisory Group (BAG), composed THL with support Inaugural meeting within technical advisory of representatives of regional conservation groups with interests from HEC and the PO three months of clearance overlapping with those of the TRHDP, relevant government officials, of the BMP by lenders, six and local experts (e.g. from academia). The process for establishing a monthly meetings BAG will be in accordance with the SECP. Meetings will be held six subsequently and as monthly and as required, aimed at coordinating conservation efforts, required potentially including control of invasive species, such as non-native rats and cats, Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica), Cane Toad (Bufo marinus), and Little Fire Ant (Wasmannia auropunctata). THL or HEC to provide secretariat services to the BAG. HEC E&S team working closely with BAG to extend establish conservation sites beyond the project core area.

4.3 Biodiversity Database All THL biodiversity consultants to set up and manage a database to THL Within 3 months of the Management store all biodiversity baseline and monitoring data. This includes clearance of the BMP by GIS capabilities to present and analyse data spatially. lenders and maintained The database will be shared between TRHDP, MECDM officials, and throughout construction other interested parties upon request. phase. Database will be transferred to THL on the conclusion of the construction phase. For duration of BOOT contract.

4.4 Development of Loss of natural At least 220 Ha of contiguous lowland forest, cliff and riparian habitat THL with support Area identified, consulted, Biodiversity Offset and critical will be identified and demarcated in the DIA as the biodiversity offset from HEC agreed and demarcated Management Area habitat. management area to achieve the BMP aims and objectives – net gain within 1 year of BMP of critical habitat and no net loss of natural habitat. Options for the clearance by Lenders.

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing area(s) will be scoped and identified by THL biodiversity consultants to ensure the biodiversity gains will be maximized. The area(s) will be confirmed in consultation with land owners to ensure that livelihoods and cultural connections to land will not be impacted, and if possible, enhanced. The design parameters are described in Section 12.5. • The biodiversity consultants will undertake field and desk studies to conclude the uniqueness of the cliff and riparian habitat and whether they have unique biodiversity values that would define them as critical habitat..

4.5 Offset implementation Loss of natural • Biodiversity consultants to develop an implementation plan for THL Within 8 months of the risk assessment and critical offset management within the Project Core Area. As part of this BMP clearance from the habitat. process the consultant will carry out a risk assessment. The lenders. objective is to understand the capacity and capability within THL to manage these areas, identify conservation partners that could support THL, understand the needs of land owners and how they can be incorporated into design and / or conflicts or risks between land owner needs and biodiversity offset aims and objectives. • This is to include the following: o Detailed implementation framework. o Risk assessment and key actions to reduce risks. o Capacity building plan for THL, HEC and others. o A draft MoU or similar to outline the rights and obligations of THL as BOOT operator, SIG, land

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing owners and the conservation organization (or partner/NGO/consulting team). o ToR for the BAG to support the Offset Management Plan. 4.6 Preparation of Detailed Loss of natural • Following the site identification and implementation plan, and THL Within one year of the Offset Management Plan and critical consultations, THL biodiversity consultants to prepare a detailed BMP clearance from the habitat. offset management plan, with tasks, outputs and budgets on a lenders. yearly basis. Detailed work plans for years 1 and 2, with general budgets for the following 3-10 years. • Roles and responsibilities for THL, HEC, SIG, land owners, conservation organization / partner and BAG. • Provides detailed methodologies for restoration, which may be passive, active or a combination • Monitoring programme to ensure the aims and objectives of the BMP and the offset management plan in particular are met. • Adaptive management procedures. • Meets all requirements of the lenders policies and standards and the laws and policies of SIG. • Updates required to the C-ESMP and subplans 4.7 Baseline assessment and Changes in flora • A baseline assessment will be conducted for targeted biodiversity HEC/THL Baseline prior to monitoring and fauna elements, particularly for priority species and flora and fauna commencement of clearing composition along the proposed access road. An additional Baseline Survey and construction activities has been undertaken by Dr Lavery to provide current information Monitoring to occur during on the terrestrial fauna including several priority species (notably life of TRHDP Uromys spp. and Pteralopex spp.)

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing • Flora and fauna will be monitored as per Flora and Fauna Monitoring Plan (FFMP) • TRHDP vegetation and habitats will be mapped accurately of twice annually, using drone imagery and field verification. This map will be used as base map for future management of the TRHDP area. 4.8 Monitoring Changes in flora • Terrestrial Flora and fauna will be monitored as per Flora and HEC/THL Monitoring to occur during and fauna Fauna Monitoring Plan (FFMP). life of TRHDP composition • Priority species are those listed as critically endangered (CR), endangered (E) and having restricted range (RR) (see Table A5.1 in Annex A), and include the following species: - Guadalcanal Monkey Faced Bat (Pteralopex atrata) - King Rat (Uromys rex) - Emperor Rat (Uromys imperator) - White-eyed starling (Aplornis brunneicapilla) - Guadalcanal Rat (Uromys porculus) - Borneo Teak (Intsia bijuga) - Wild Rice (Oryza schlechteri) • Papua New Guinea Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus) • Monitoring plans will be updated with the detailed Offset Management Plan. 4.9 Implement Injured Fauna injury The TRHDP will implement the Injured Wildlife Protocol to apply to HEC During construction phase Wildlife Protocol all TRHDP phases and sites. The protocol is to include the identification of a wildlife care facility with appropriately experienced Duration of BOOT contract. personnel for receiving injured fauna, and recording procedures THL

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No. Task Impact Measure Key Responsibility Timing (Incident Reporting Mechanism) to effect adaptive management of TRHDP activities to avoid future injury to fauna

4.10 Implement Biodiversity Maintain and HEC and THL will implement the various actions that will be HEC/THL Following the completion Offset Management Area improve critical prescribed in the Plan, such as demarcation of the area on the and clearance of the Management Plan and natural ground, avoiding land clearances, data gathering, setting up nurseries detailed Offset habitat and supervising planting and managing invasive species. To be Management Area Plan, developed once the plan has been prepared and cleared. throughout construction phase and duration of BOOT contract.

12.3 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Table 12-2: Monitoring and Evaluation – Element 4 Terrestrial Biodiversity Offsets

Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter

Collaboration Meeting minute Inaugural meeting one Quarterly Safeguard • Number of reports on Audits Reports – THL E&S HEC Manager - and technical records of month prior to clearing & Reports successful Quarterly audits reports, secretary to the advisory Biodiversity Advisory constructions, then on six- measures/studies OE’s Six-monthly audits BAG assists by Group (BAG) monthly basis and as conducted in reports, HEC internally THL E&S team. required controlling invasive monthly audits & LTA’s species (coordinated quarterly audit reports. efforts by regional conservation groups,

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter relevant government officials & local experts). • Reduced number of invasive species compared to its baseline data • Progressive reports on coordinated efforts in progressing the establishment of conservation sites beyond the project core area. Biodiversity Establishment of Prior to clearance and Quarterly Safeguards Biodiversity Database and Review responsibilities and THL Database Biodiversity Database maintained throughout Report number of trained GIS personnel resources Management construction for the duration personnel in place of the BOOT contract Biodiversity Establishment of Prior to clearance and Monthly reports to THL At least 280ha to offset Monitoring of extent and THL with support Offset Biodiversity Offset construction activities by HEC; THL aggregates 64 ha of critical habitat species composition from HEC Management Management Area to Quarterly Safeguards and 180 ha of natural Area (including Report habitat to achieve net demarcation) gain of biodiversity values.

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter

Offset Completion of Risk Prior to main dam THL to confirm • Review of capacity Assessment is completed THL Implementation Assessment process construction assessment has been and capability within and actions Risk Assessment complete in next THL to manage Offset identified/assigned Quarterly Safeguards Management report (for the quarter in Delivery Partners identified / which assessment was • Identified negotiations underway completed) conservation partners • Identified risks and opportunities Detailed Offset Implementation of Within 1 year of BMP THL to confirm detailed • Site identification and Detailed plan completed by THL Management Plan clearance from Lenders plan has been completed plan implementation specialist consultant, and Plan in next Quarterly • Engagement of monitoring program is Safeguards report (for specialist biodiversity established the quarter in which plan consultant to prepare was completed) plan • Monitoring program established Baseline Implementation of Prior to commencement of As per FFMP No decline in terrestrial Establishment of baseline HEC Assessment and baseline assessment clearing and construction flora and fauna Monitoring monitoring program activities composition for targeted Vegetation and habitats biodiversity priority mapped twice annually species

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Indicators/ Means of verification Timing/Frequency Reporting Key Performance Evaluation Responsibility Indicator parameter

Monitoring for Established flora and Quarterly survey monitoring As per FFMP No decline in terrestrial Comparison with baseline HEC threatened flora fauna monitoring throughout the life of TRHDP flora and fauna species and fauna program presence / composition species Injured Wildlife Implementation of Prior to commencement of Incident reporting • Protocol Reduction in wildlife injured HEC Injured Wildlife clearing and construction implemented / deceased as a result of the Protocol activities • Wildlife care facility project identified • Training for work site staff

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12.4 ADDITIONAL BASELINE STUDIES

12.4.1 Relevant studies previously undertaken

Terrestrial fauna baseline studies have been undertaken for the ESIA. However, the surveys were undertaken in 2013, and the age of the data, as well as the information provided on several priority species (notably Uromys spp. and Pteralopex spp.), indicated a need for further information to understand potential impacts of the TRHDP and the manner in which potential impacts can be avoided and mitigated.

The terrestrial fauna of the Solomon Islands, including the Tina River catchment, has been surveyed over the last few years by Dr Tyrone Lavery, who has gained a good understanding of the distribution and ecology of a range of threatened species and species similar to those during this time. On this basis, Dr Lavery was commissioned to prepare a review document of his work, which is attached in Annex C. The BMP and FFMP have been updated on the basis of the measures to mitigate and monitor mammals as proposed by Dr Lavery.

12.4.2 Assessment of unique features of Cliff and Riparian Habitat

A study will be undertaken to conclude the biodiversity values of the cliff and riparian habitats and whether they are critical habitat due to their unique geological and botanical features and contain restricted range species or whether they are critical habitat due to their similarity with primary lowland forest. This will be part of THL Biodiversity Consultant’s TOR.

12.5 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY OFFSET AREA

At least 220 Ha of contiguous lowland forest, cliff and riparian habitat will be identified and demarcated in the project DIA to achieve the BMP aims and objectives – net gain of critical habitat and no net loss of natural habitat. Options for the area(s) will be scoped and identified by THL biodiversity consultants to ensure the biodiversity gains will be maximized. The area(s) will be confirmed in consultation with land owners to ensure that livelihoods and cultural connections to land will not be impacted, and may be if possible, enhanced. The THL Biodiversity Consultants will design the offset area. Within their TOR will be the following design parameters: • The total area will be at least 220ha to offset 81 ha of critical habitat and 104 ha of natural habitat to achieve net gain of biodiversity values. The area will include the original set aside area identified by HEC, as averted loss. • The total area will encompass lowland forest, riparian, cliff and tambu areas.

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• The area will be in the project DIA to enable protection and control by HEC during construction phase and THL during the remainder of the BOOT phase. This will assist to achieve the offset objective of permanence. • The objective will be to improve the disturbed and remnant lowland forest habitat to the same quality as the primary lowland forest. Quality will be determined based on the species composition, including community of plants and animals and the presence of threatened animal species. This will meet the offset objective of additionality and equivalence. • The protection of the primary lowland forest will be averted loss, preventing future degradation and deforestation related to gradual land clearances related to logging and agriculture that is a risk to lowland forests across the island and likely to have occurred over the next 30 years without the project. • The recommended approach is that disturbed lowland forest will be left to naturally regenerate and remnant forest areas will be replanted in key species to support he natural regeneration process. Since the site is adjacent to natural and critical habitat and at a similar altitude, slope and soil type, this site is likely to achieve equivalence to the forest habitat lost due to land clearance activities using these two techniques. • The selected area must contain unmodified or modified riparian habitat and cliff / cave habitat to protect existing biodiversity values of these unique micro- habitats and to achieve equivalence in the offset area to the riparian and cliff habitat that will be lost to the reservoir. • The area will be contiguous with the primary lowland forest within and outside of the DIA if possible to allow for connectivity and minimising edge effects. If this is not possible, will be designed to minimize and manage edge effects. • The area will not include the footprint of infrastructure for the Project. • The area will be demarcated on the ground and in GIS for management purposes. • An invasive species management plan will be prepared. • The area will be controlled by HEC during the construction phase and will be controlled by THL for the duration of the BOOT contract. • Prohibit hunting except for non-native species such as pigs. • Encourage and develop livelihood opportunities for non-timber forest products, where the activities will achieve (or not interfere with) the BMP goals and objectives. • Connect the terrestrial offset management area with any river-based initiatives for biodiversity protection, particularly where there are benefits for species that use the forest and river habitats. • Conduct a capacity assessment and identify capacity building requirements for implementation. Prepare a detailed implementation plan and budget.

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13 AUDITING

HEC will be subject to internal and external audits. The internal audit will be conducted by the HEC Headquarter to the onsite team according to HEC’s internal corporate HSE Audit Procedure (HEC-AH-H04-H13). The internal examinations performed by the on- site staff are referred as inspections. The external audits will be conducted by the E&S Manager from THL, E&S Safeguards Manager from the PO, and the Owner’s Engineer (OE).

The detailed structure and content of auditing process is presented in the Construction Environmental Social Management Plan (CESMP; P1). The below Table 13-1 summarises the process.

Table 13-1 Summary of auditing process

Auditor Auditee Frequency

THL E&S Manager HEC Every three months

PO E&S Safeguards Manager and HEC and THL Every three months Monitoring team (with LTA)

HEC Headquarter HSE Team HEC on-site team Every six months

HEC HSE Manager Subcontractor Every three months

HEC HSE team (with THL) On-site workers Every week

OE – Stantec New Zealand HEC Every 6 months

External and Internal auditors shall notify by email the HEC Project Management Team (Project Manager, Construction Manager and HSE Manager) about upcoming audit events. This will provide a mechanism to communicate the schedule, activities and objectives of the audits. If urgent, the Project Site may be notified via phone or fax.

The audit process involves reviewing onsite activities to assess compliance with the management plans and / or HEC internal standards. The auditor will review all records of previous audits and evaluate historic compliance and the use of appropriate corrective actions.

Findings from the audit will be summarised in an audit report. A copy of the resulting audit report is to be made available upon request for reference and, where necessary, implementation of any identified corrective actions.

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The key performance indicators to be considered when auditing this management plan, in addition to those already identified in Sections 10 – 13 above, are:

• Number of incompliances recorded; • Number of incompliances resolved; • Number of incidents recorded related to the BMP; • BMP monitoring is up to date and available; and • Number of training sessions completed.

All reports are to be maintained at the Project site for the entire construction period.

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14 BMP PROGRAMME AND BUDGET

As described above in Section 1.3.3, an indicative programme and budget for the first 10 years of implementation of the BMP have been prepared, on the basis of the scope presented in Sections 8 through 12. These are presented in Annex E to inform preliminary discussions about ongoing funding and management structures, and will be further refined by THL’s Biodiversity Consultants as one of their priority actions once they are engaged.

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15 REFERENCES

CEPF – Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (2012) Ecosystem Profile: East Melanesian Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. University of the South Pacific in collaboration with Conservation International and University of Papua New Guinea. Report prepared for Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.

MECM – Ministry of Environment Conservation and Meteorology (2008) Solomon Islands State of Environment Report 2008. Report prepared by Pacific Horizon Consultancy Group for Ministry of Environment Conservation and Meteorology. Honiara.

Pauku, R.L. and W.Lapo (2009) National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for the Solomon Islands. Report prepared for the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Meteorology.

TRHDP PO – Tina River Hydropower Development Project Project Office (2017, 2019) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. Report prepared for the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Solomon Islands Government.

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ANNEX A – SPECIES LISTED AS THREATENED ON THE IUCN RED LIST AND / OR RESTRICTED RANGE SPECIES THAT ARE PRESENT OR POTENTIALLY PRESENT WITHIN THE TRHDP AREA

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Species at the TRHDP site listed on the IUCN Red List (from IBAT1 search, Appendix Q in ESIA and Myknee’s Ecological Consultancy August 2020) IUCN and CITES2 Status (only threatened and / or restricted range species)

Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Plants

Intsia bijuga Borneo Teak VU - Yes Lowland rainforest

Intsia bijuga Kwila, Intsia, Ironwood VU Yes Observed by Mykee Ecological Consultancy at Powder Magazine Site, August 2020.

Oryza schlechteri Wild Rice EN - - Landslips and beside rivers in shade or partial sun (70-340m asl)

Pterocarpus indicus Papua New Guinea EN - Yes This large tree species can grow up to 40 m in height. It grows within lowland Rosewood rainforests as a emergent, canopy or subcanopy tree. The species is a pioneer and can occur in both primary and less commonly in secondary forests. The tree grows on all soils types and is most frequent along tidal creeks, rocky shore and some coastal sites.

Amphibians

Litoria lutea Solomon Island’s VU - Yes This species is arboreal, and found in tropical rainforest. It possibly breeds in Treefrog swamps in forests. In Bougainville it has been observed laying eggs on the vertical surface of trees above water-filled tree holes; the tadpoles then fall into

1 IBAT Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool

2 CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2 the water. Observed by Mykee Ecological Consultancy at Powder Magazine Site, August 2020.

Cornufer malukuna (aka Malukana Webbed DD/RR - Yes Known to occur at 760 m. Not observed since 1968 in the literature. Observed Discodeles malukuna) Frog by Myknee Ecological Consultancy at Camp #1 and Vurapokilo Stream, August 2020.

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Mammal

Uromys imperator Emperor Rat CR/RR - - It seems as though this was a largely terrestrial species that was at one point found throughout much of Guadalcanal, including the dry northern lowlands and areas close to the coast. Later reports suggest that the species became restricted to mossy montane forest (Flannery 1995). Dr Lavery considers this species unlikely to be present at the site, as it has not been recorded since 1888.

Pteralopex atrata Guadalcanal Monkey- EN/RR - There is little known about the habitat and ecology of this species. Flannery faced Bat (1995) observed animals feeding upon unripe mangoes in an old garden. The most recent record was a subadult male captured in September 2015 on the edge of primary forest adjacent to a garden area with fruiting trees, including mangoes, ngali nuts (Canarium indicum), a stem-fruiting fig (Ficus sp.), and coconut palms. A large adult animal had been observed in the same location hanging from the fig in November 2014 (T. Lavery pers. comm). The species is probably dependent on undisturbed, old growth forests, and seems to roost in tree hollows. Its roosting habits likely render it subject to similar hunting and roost destruction threats faced by P. anceps on Bougainville (S. Hamilton pers. comm.), and also make it vulnerable to commercial logging. Dr Lavery considers this species to be likely present, as it has been recorded approx. 20km from the site between 2016 and 2019.

Uromys porculus Guadalcanal Rat EN/RR - This species is known only from the holotype. However, it is considered that Guadalcanal has not been adequately surveyed for this species. Dr Lavery considers this species unlikely to be present at the site, as it has not been recorded since 1888.

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Uromys rex King Rat EN/RR - - This arboreal species has been recorded from primary tropical moist forest, including relict patches of native forest. Dr Lavery considers this species likely to be present at the site, as it has not been recorded only 5km from the site in 2015.

Melonycteris fardoulisi Fardoulis’ Blossom Bat LC/RR - It has been recorded from primary montane tropical forest (Mount Makarakomburu, Guadalcanal) and in many other habitat types (e.g., lowland forest, disturbed areas).

Melonycteris woodfordi Woodford’s Blossom LC/RR - It is known from primary tropical forest, but is also commonly found in disturbed Bat habitats including secondary forest, rural gardens, and coconut plantations (Bonaccorso 1998, Flannery 1995). It roosts in foliage in small groups or individually and likely forages over a relatively small home range (S. Hamilton pers. comm.).

Pteropus rayneri Solomon’s Flying Fox NT/RR II Yes This species often roosts in large colonies, but is also commonly seen roosting in small groups of 5-12 individuals or singly underneath caves and limestone overhangs, within the hollows of strangler figs (Ficus spp.) and concealed within the dead overhanging leaves of Pandanus. Favoured colony sites are close to the coast and among mangroves or swamp vegetation. The species is estimated to have a generation time of five to six years (S. Hamilton and T. Leary pers. comm).

Reptiles

Cyrtodactylus biordinis Guadalcanal Bow- LC/RR - Understood This fairly common restricted-range species occurs only on Guadalcanal. It is fingered Gecko to occur known from elevations of 300-500 m, rarely lower, and mainly lives on smaller within the trees and vines in the understorey of forest (Allison 2013). It appears to have TRHDP been recorded from the project area, on the basis of local knowledge (ESIA

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2 based on Appendix C). Within the project DMU, there is only about 33 km2 of suitable local habitat. Nonetheless, given the limited range of this species, this is likely to knowledge represent more than 1% of the species’ global distribution and population.

Hipsilurus macrolepis Solomon’s Tree Dragon NT/RR Yes This lizard is endemic to the eastern Solomon Island of Makira and its smaller offshore islands of Ugi, Olu Malau (three islets) and Santa Ana, according to the IUCN red list website in November 2020. Observed at Vurapokilo Stream by Myknee Ecological Consultancy, August 2020. Loveridgelaps elapoides Solomons Black- VU/RR - - Cryptozoic, sheltering under fallen leaf litter and fallen timber and tends to be banded Krait crepuscular or nocturnal (McCoy 2006). It appears to be limited to primary forest (M. McCoy pers. comm. December 2011). It may be that this species has a diet consisting exclusively of snakes (M. McCoy pers. comm. December 2011). Its main prey appears to be blind snakes.

Tribolonotus schmidti Schmidt's Crocodile LC/RR - - This small 'crocodile skink' is "cryptozoic in habit and generally lives in moist Skink conditions under fallen timber in forest areas. .... and is dependent upon cool, moist conditions...it is probably mostly diurnally active...feeds mainly on small insects and their larvae....and gives birth to a single young" (McCoy 2006).

Birds

Aplonis brunneicapillus White-eyed Starling VU/RR - - It has been recorded breeding colonially in both lowland swamp and hill forest. It is not known whether it usually nests in isolated trees or whether colonies were originally in closed forest (Coates 1990). Foraging birds have been recorded in forest, forest edge and secondary growth, feeding on fruit, sometimes in flocks (Beecher 1945, Finch 1986, Gibbs 1996, Marki et al. 2014).

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Columba pallidiceps Yellow-legged Pigeon VU/RR - - It has been recorded only in primary or tall secondary forest, with most records from hills up to c.650 m, but also in lowlands and one recent record at 1,300 m (Dutson 2011). It appears to be principally a subcanopy species, often seen feeding on fruiting gaivou trees at Hauta (Buckingham et al. 1995, R. James in litt. 1999), but its long stout legs suggest that it is partly terrestrial, and is thought to be partially nomadic. It is not exclusively a ground feeder, and congregates in gaiwou trees (Lauraceae, possibly a Litsea species) when they are fruiting. Between 1995 and 1996, it was common to see up to five Yellow-legged Pigeons feeding in a fruiting gaiwou tree. While occasionally seen in lowland coastal forest, it was most frequently seen in hill forest between 400 and 600 m altitude in the Bauro area.

Ducula brenchleyi Chestnut-bellied VU/RR - - It is usually recorded in primary forest but also occurs in fruiting trees in Imperial Pigeon degraded forest and gardens (Cain and Galbraith 1956, Buckingham et al. 1995, R. James in litt. 1999). Recent records have been from sea-level to 700 m, but has been reported by local villagers on Guadalcanal as occurring in mist-forest (Cain and Galbraith 1956, Buckingham et al. 1995). It appears to be nomadic (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-8, J. Waihuru verbally 1998, R. James in litt. 1999): at Hauta, birds congregate to feed on banyan figs for about a week until the fruit is finished and then disperse, often over large distances (Cain and Galbraith 1956, J. Waihuru verbally 1998, R. James in litt. 1999).

Eurostopodus nigripennis Solomons Nightjar VU/RR - - Occurs in forests and woodland alongside beaches and is confined to coasts, occurring from sea level to 300 m. (Holyoak 2001, Cleere 2010). Often roosts and nests on sandy beaches, but not lagoon beaches, as well as beside mature lowland moist forest (Dutson 2011). Breeding is thought to take place between October and December (Cleere 2010).

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Haliaeetus sanfordi Solomon Sea-Eagle VU/RR II Yes It prefers forested coasts (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998, Read 2013) where it scavenges and kleptoparasitises Osprey Pandion haliaetus (Blaber 1990, Webb 1992, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998). Some pairs also hunt far inland and others, especially on the eastern islands, appear to have entirely inland ranges where they prey largely on northern common cuscus Phalanger orientalis and perhaps arboreal rats and fruit bats (Buckingham et al. 1995, Olsen 1997, J. Hornbuckle in litt. 1999). It has been observed along primary rainforest lined rivers and over peaks in montane forest at elevations of 1,100 m, away from freshwater lakes (Pikacha et al. 2012). This species makes significant use of primary forests (Buckingham et al. 1990) but also hunts over open habitats such as deforested areas where it is reported to scavenge dead mammals including feral dogs (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998). Observed by Myknee Ecological Consultancy August 2020 in the upper dam area.

Charmosyna margarethae Duchess Lorikeet NT/RR II - It is usually found in lower montane forest, it occurs from sea-level to 1,350 m and in coconut plantations (Cain and Galbraith 1956, Diamond 1975b, Schodde 1977, Buckingham et al. 1995, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998). It may be nomadic and reliant on a combination of habitats at different altitudes. It feeds on pollen, nectar and some small fruits such as Schefflera.

Edolisoma holopolium Solomon Cicadabird NT/RR - - It occupies the canopy of hill and lowland forest from sea-level to 950 m.

Hypotaenidia woodfordi Guadalcanal Rail NT/RR - - It had been assumed to be a species of lowland forest, as supported by records from Guadalcanal in patchy forest (Webb 1992, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998). It may nest at any time of the year (Hadden 2002) and may do so near to streams

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2 (Webb 1992). It is said to be omnivorous (Webb 1992) and has been observed wading into streams to feed (Hadden 2002).

Ninox granti Guadalcanal Boobook NT/RR II Yes It inhabits forest, including edges and patches of forest, up to 1,500 m, with some roosting in thickets (Dutson 2011). Observed by Myknee Ecological Consultancy August 2020.

Reinwardtoena crassirostris Crested Cuckoo-Dove NT/RR - Yes It inhabits primary forest in the hills to a maximum of 1,500 m, more usually to 1,000 m (Cain and Galbraith 1956, Schodde 1977, Coates 1985, Webb 1992, D. Gibbs in litt. 1994, Buckingham et al. 1995, G. Dutson pers. obs. 1997-1998, R. James in litt. 1999) and is considered a frugivore (Davies et al. 2015).

Symposiachrus barbatus Solomons Pied NT/RR - - It occurs in primary and old-growth closed-canopy secondary forest to at least Monarch 1,200 m (Cain and Galbraith 1956, Schodde 1977, Coates 1990, Webb 1992, Buckingham et al. 1995, Dutson 2011). It is rare in flat lowland forest and heavily degraded forest (Dutson 2011).

Accipiter albogularis Pied Goshawk LC/RR II - Range of forests, including moist lowland and montane forests, as well as degraded and urban areas

Aplonis grandis Brown-winged Starling LC/RR - Yes Moist lowland forest as well as degraded and urban areas

Cacatua ducorpsii Solomons Corella / LC/RR II Yes Dry and moist lowland forest Cockatoo

Centropus milo Buff-headed Coucal LC/RR - Yes Moist lowland forest, dry and moist shrubland, and degraded forests and gardens

Ceyx nigromaxilla Guadalcanal Dwarf LC/RR - Yes Occurs in forested habitats, not necessarily near watercourses and may tolerate Kingfisher secondary forest and plantations as noted in other Ceyx (del Hoyo et al.2001).

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Chalcopsitta cardinalis Cardinal Lory LC/RR II - Moist lowland and mangrove forest as well as plantations

Coracina welchmani North-melanesian LC/RR - - Moist montane and lowland forests, mangroves, savannah and arable land Cuckoo-Shrike

Corvus woodfordi White-billed Crow LC/RR - Yes The species is found in forest and some degraded forest habitats to an altitude of 1,000 m, occasionally 1,250 m.

Dicaeum aeneum Midget Flowerpecker LC/RR - Yes Wide range of forest, shrublands, grasslands, and disturbed habitats

Ducula pacifica Pacific Imperial Pigeon LC/RR - - Moist lowland and montane forest, dry and moist shrubland

Gymnophaps solomonensis Pale Mountain-pigeon LC/RR - Moist lowland and montane forest

Lorius chlorocercus Yellow-bibbed Lory LC/RR II Yes Moist lowland and montane forest, dry and moist shrubland, plantations and degraded habitat

Micropsitta finschii Green Pygmy Parrot LC/RR II Yes The species occurs in lowland forests to about 1,000 m

Monarcha castaneiventris Chestnut-bellied LC/RR - Yes Moist lowland and montane forest and dry forest and shrubland Monarch

Myiagra ferrocyanea Steel-blue Flycatcher LC/RR - Yes Moist lowland and montane forest, mangroves, gardens, degraded forests

Myzomela melanocephala Black-headed LC/RR - Yes Moist lowland forest, rural gardens Myzomela

Pachycephala orioloides Oriole Whistler LC/RR - - Moist lowland and montane forest, dry forest, savannah, mangroves, swamps

Pachycephala implicata Guadalcanal Hooded- LC/RR Yes Observed by Myknee Ecological Consultancy, August 2020. Whistler

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Scientific Name Common Name IUCN status CITIES Observed Habitat status2

Petroica pusilla Pacific Robin LC/RR - - Lowland moist and dry forests, gardens, degraded forest, savannah, urban environments, plantations

Ptilinopus solomonensis Yellow-banded Fruit- LC/RR - - Moist lowland and montane forests, degraded forests, rural gardens Dove

Rhipidura cockerelli White-winged Fantail LC/RR - - It occurs in primary and closed secondary forest and forest edge to about 1,150 m. It is fairly uncommon and intolerant of degraded forest

Todiramphus leucopygius Ultramarine Kingfisher LC/RR - - Moist lowland forest, moist and dry shrubland, plantations, rural gardens

Zosterops rendovae Grey-throated White- LC/RR - - Moist lowland and montane forests, moist shrublands eye

Insects

Lieftinckia lairdi Dragonfly EN - - Freshwater /Swamps

1 CR = Critically Endangered; E = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable; NT = Near Threatened; LC = Least Concern; DD = Data Deficient; RR = Restricted Range

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ANNEX B – SPECIES LISTS FROM ESIA (FLORA, AMPHIBIANS, BIRDS, MAMMALS, REPTILES)

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ANNEX C – DR LAVERY’S REPORT

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ANNEX D – DRAFT OUTLINE TOR FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSULTANTS

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ANNEX E – INDICATIVE COSTS AND PROGRAMME FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BMP (FIRST 10 YEARS)