Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report
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SHRI SATISH CHOUDHARY BIODIVERSITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT SANDSTONE MINING LEASE (ML no. 11/12, area 4 ha), at Village Sirrond, Rupbas, Bharatpur . 1 | Page INTRODUCTION 3.10 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT 3.10.1 INTRODUCTION An ecological study of the ecosystem is essential to understand the impact of industrialization and urbanization on existing flora and fauna of the study area. Studies on various aspects of ecosystem play an important role in identifying sensitive issues for under taking appropriate action to mitigate the impact, if any. The biological study was under taken as a part of the EIA study report to understand the present status of ecosystem prevailing in the study area, to compare it with past condition with the help of available data, to predict changes in the biological environment as a result of present activities and to suggest measures for maintaining its health. A survey was conducted to study the flora & fauna in 10 km radius. Some of the information was gathered from the local habitants. All the collected data were classified to interpret the impact of pollution on the flora and fauna of that region. Survey of the wild plants as well as cultivated crop plants was made and all the available information was recorded. 3.10.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The present study was undertaken with the following objectives: To understand the spectrum of domesticated and wild biodiversity of the study area, prospect likely impact, if any, of the existing enterprise on the local biodiversity and suggest mitigation measure for vulnerable biota. To assess the biodiversity and to understand the natural resource potential. To assess the nature and distribution of vegetation in and around the existing mining activity. Ethno botanical survey in the villages to assess the usage of plants. Devise management & conservation measures for biodiversity. 3.10.3 METHODOLOGY The present study was carried out in given steps: (a) Estimation of Floristic components Field survey was conducted for ocular assessment of flora present within 2 | Page the 10 km radius study area of mine site. An inventory of all the floral species present within the study area was made. Ethno- botanical plants being used by the local people to treat their ailments were also inventoried. Sample of un- identified plant species was collected, and identification was done by referring to standard taxonomic guides and consulting the experts, when needed. (b) Survey and sampling for estimation of plant species diversity Site selection criterion: The mine site is located at Tehsil: Rupbas, District: Bharatpur, Rajasthan. The study area comprises of 10 km radial distance from the mine site, taking mill stone mine as center. In all, 15 locations were selected for study on biological aspects. List of sampling location is given below and sampling area marked on 10 km radius map in figure no. 3.14. The entire study area was divided into three categories namely; highly disturbed area, moderately disturbed area and mildly disturbed area, on the basis of prevalence of the wind in the region i.e. wind rose diagram, and proximity to the mining industry. Selection of sampling locations in these categories was made with reference to topography, land use, vegetation pattern, etc. The observations were taken on natural vegetation, roadside plantation and non- forest area (agricultural field, in plain areas, village wasteland, etc.) for quantitative representation of different species. To study the species diversity, standard method of analyzing vegetation i.e. Quadrat Sampling was done for determination of vegetation composition and richness. Comparative analysis of the outcome of the Quadrat Sampling was done to understand the frequency, dominance and abundance of species observed in the different zones of disturbance. Geographic co-ordinates of important locations were recorded using hand held Etrex Garmin GPS instrument. TABLE: 3.17 SAMPLING LOCATIONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY S. Sampling Location Distance from Direction from N mine site mine site o. 3 | Page 1. Nagla Jatwansi village 1.5 km SE 2. Nagla Pachhandra village 1.8 km SE 3. Richhoha village 3.0 km SSE 4 Nagla Hansraj village 2.0 km ESE 5 Nagla Mirzapur village 1.0 km S 6 Sirrond village 2.8 km WSW 7. Rupbas village 4.5 km E 8 Banpur village 5.0 km ENE 9 Jagnair village 4.8 km S 1 Khorpara village 5.0 km S 0 1 Daulatgarh village 6.5 km NNW 1 1 Badanpur village 5.0 km N 2 1 Ajitpur village 4.0 km NW 3 1 Rudawal village 3.0 km W 4 1 Tontpur village 0.7 km N 5 Source: Field Study .Estimation of Faunistic components i. Ground survey for fauna was carried out by trekking/ visiting and vehicular transects method for identification of animals groups such as butterflies, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals etc. ii. For Avifauna, Visual Encounter Survey (VES) technique was used in the Morning (06:00 to 10:00 hrs.) and Evening (15:00 to 18:00 hrs.) for inventorization and determination of diversity. iii. For Mammals, reptiles, amphibians etc., species have been recorded by calls, droppings, burrows, pug marks, indirect species- specific evidence, interaction with local people and actual sighting. iv. Nocturnal survey was conducted in late hours for crepuscular animals like Jackal, Fox, Reptiles, and Bats etc. Also, Light trap method was used to determine the diversity of insects. v. A route map has been prepared showing the trekking route used for inventorization by ground survey. vi. Photo documentation of all the avifaunal and faunal species, cropping pattern and important floral species has been done. (c) Assessment of green belt and plantation An assessment of green belt/plantation area and species planted has been done to check the compliance of the targets as proposed by the 4 | Page project proponent during the environmental clearance. 3.12.3 OBSERVATIONS i. Biological Environment of the Study area (Core and Buffer) Study of biological environment is one of the most important aspects in view of the need for conservation of environmental quality and biodiversity. Ecological systems show complex inter- relationships between biotic and abiotic components including dependence, competition and mutualism. Biotic components comprises of both plant and animal communities, which interact not only within and between them but also with the abiotic components viz. physical and chemical components of the environment. Generally, biological communities are the indicators of climatic and edaphic factors. Studies on biological aspects of ecosystems are important for safety of natural flora and fauna. Information on the impact of environmental stress on the community structure serves as an inexpensive and efficient early warning system to check the damage to a particular ecosystem. The biological environment includes mainly terrestrial ecosystem and aquatic ecosystem. Biological communities are dependent on environmental conditions and resources of its location. It may change if there is change in the environment. Several variables like temperature, humidity, rainfall, soil characteristics, topography etc., are responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of the environment. A change in any one of these variables may lead to stress on the ecosystem. The animal and the plant communities exist in their natural habitats in a well-organized manner. Their natural setting can be disturbed by any externally induced anthropological activities or by naturally induced calamities or disaster. So, once this setting is disturbed it becomes practically impossible or takes a longer time to come to its original state. Plants and animals are more susceptible to environmental stress. A change in the composition of biotic communities under stress is reflected by a change in the distribution pattern, density, diversity, frequency, dominance and abundance of natural species of flora and fauna existing in the ecosystem. These changes over a span of time can be quantified and related to the existing environmental factors. The sensitivity of animal and plant species to the changes occurring in their existing ecosystem can therefore, be used for understanding the implications of a project. The Core zone mainly hilly terrain and buffer zone mainly flat lands having 120 villages and Rupbas Township. In buffer zone Gambhir River, Kawar Nadi, Chulhai Nala, Moti Jhil, Loheri Nala, Bisundari Nala, Jhinjhan Nadi, Kakund Nadi are recorded and found they all are seasonal water bodies. 5 | Page The core zone of mining lease has no forest in it. The vegetation is also very sparse and scanty. Most part of the lease area is purchased from local people and some part is government land. The buffer zone has 11 Protected & Reserved Forest- Bansi Paharpur PF, Kathumari PF, Noni PF, Jagnair PF, Bidhauli PF, Sarendhi PF, Devretha RF and 3 unknown Protected Forest and 1 Reserved Forest area are recorded. These are control of Bharatpur Forest Divison and one part of Rupbas Range of State Forest Department. All these forest area are surrounded by villages. This caused great biotic pressure on forests, the forest administration closed the forest area with chain link fencing. This effective fencing resulted very well & forest vegetation responded very well. At present (2015) the density of forest is nearly 1.9 to 3.6. The Protected & Reserved forest area have Chital (Axis axis), Langur (Presbytis entellus), Monkey (Bonnet macaque), Stripped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Indian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Jackal (Canis aureus), Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) along with Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus), Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus), Grey francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus), House crow (Corvus splendens) etc. The forest department is planning to attract visitors and student to enjoy the bio-diversity of the area. Raptors diversity is much in that area. The forests have mixed crops with Holoptelea integrifolia (Papri), Pongamia pinnata (Karanj), Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Aegle marmelos (Bel patra), Buchanania lanzan (Char), Emblica officinalis (Amla), Mitragyna parvifolia (Mudi), Zizyphus nummularia (Ber), Tectona grandis (Teak), Butea monosperma (Palash), Gmelina arborea (Khamhar) along with shrubs, herbs and climbers.