Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) For
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) for Nam Ngiep Power Company (NNP1) FINAL Prepared for By July 2015 Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) RECORD DISTRIBUTION Copy No. Company / Position Name 1 Director, ESD NNP1 Mr Prapard PAN-ARAM 2 Manager, EMO Mr Viengkeo Phetnavongxay 3 Deputy Manager of Watershed / Biodiversity Management Dr Hendra WINASTU 4 Senior Environmental Specialist, EMO NNP1 Dr Souane THIRAKUL DOCUMENT REVISION LIST Revision Status/Number Revision Date Description of Revision Approved By Rev0 11th May 2015 Working Draft Nigel Murphy Rev1 21st May 2015 Draft Nigel Murphy Rev2 28th May 2015 Final Draft Nigel Murphy Rev3 16 July 2015 Final Nigel Murphy Rev4 24 July 2015 Final(revised) Nigel Murphy This report is not to be used for purposes other than those for which it was intended. Environmental conditions change with time. The site conditions described in this report are based on observations made during the site visit and on subsequent monitoring results. Earth Systems does not imply that the site conditions described in this report are representative of past or future conditions. Where this report is to be made available, either in part or in its entirety, to a third party, Earth Systems reserves the right to review the information and documentation contained in the report and revisit and update findings, conclusions and recommendations. FINAL 1-1 Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) Contents LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................... 1-5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 1-7 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1-7 Context for Biomass Removal ....................................................................................... 1-7 Project Reservoirs ................................................................................................. 1-7 Biomass Profile ...................................................................................................... 1-7 Commercial Logging .............................................................................................. 1-8 Environmental Modelling ............................................................................................... 1-8 Analysis and Section of Biomass Removal Options ...................................................... 1-9 Environmental and Social Considerations for Biomass Removal ........................... 1-9 Selection of Priority Biomass Removal Areas ........................................................ 1-9 Salvage Logging Management .................................................................................... 1-10 Residual Biomass Removal Management ................................................................... 1-10 Code of Practice ......................................................................................................... 1-10 Targets, Actions, Monitoring Framework and Budget .................................................... 1-11 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 12 1.1 The Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) ..........................................................................12 1.2 Project Background .................................................................................................12 1.2.1 Project Overview ............................................................................................12 1.2.2 Project Reservoirs .........................................................................................13 1.2.3 Reservoir and Dam Operation Characteristics ...............................................16 1.2.4 Project Schedule ............................................................................................16 1.3 Environmental and Social Setting ............................................................................17 1.3.1 Physical Setting .............................................................................................17 1.3.2 Biological Setting ...........................................................................................20 1.3.3 Social Setting .................................................................................................22 1.3.4 Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) ........................................................................22 1.3.5 Estimate of Biomass in the Reservoir Areas ..................................................24 1.3.6 Commercial Timber and Harvest Activities in the Reservoir ...........................25 FINAL 1-2 Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) 1.4 Legal and other Requirements .................................................................................26 1.4.1 Guidelines for Biomass Removal ...................................................................26 1.4.2 Project Concession Agreement ......................................................................26 1.4.3 Other Lao PDR Regulatory Requirements .....................................................27 2 PRESENTATION OF DATA AND MODELLING RESULTS ................................. 29 2.1 Impacts of the Inundation of Biomass ......................................................................29 2.2 Environmental Modelling ..........................................................................................29 2.2.1 Model Data Inputs ..........................................................................................29 2.2.2 Summary of Results.......................................................................................31 2.2.3 Conclusions and Recommendations ..............................................................33 3 ANALYSIS AND SELECTION OF BIOMASS REMOVAL OPTIONS .................. 34 3.1 Analysis of Removal Options ...................................................................................34 3.1.1 Do Nothing .....................................................................................................34 3.1.2 Partial Biomass Removal (Salvage Logging) .................................................34 3.1.3 Complete Biomass Removal ..........................................................................35 3.1.4 Salvage Logging and Biomass Clearance of the Drawdown ..........................35 3.1.5 Fill and Flush (or partial fill and flush) .............................................................36 3.2 Selected Removal Option(s) ....................................................................................36 3.3 Environmental and Social Considerations for Biomass Removal .............................36 3.3.1 Potential Environmental Impacts ....................................................................36 3.3.2 Potential Social Impacts .................................................................................37 3.4 Analysis of Priority Areas for Biomass Removal .......................................................38 3.4.1 Analysis of Potential Clearance Areas ...........................................................38 3.4.2 Priority Biomass Removal Areas ....................................................................39 4 SALVAGE LOGGING MANAGEMENT ............................................................... 41 4.1 Roles and Responsibilities .......................................................................................41 4.2 Status of Salvage Logging Activities ........................................................................41 4.2.1 Status of Commercial Timber Harvesting .......................................................41 4.3 Priority Areas for Salvage Logging ...........................................................................42 4.4 Approach for Remaining Salvage Logging Activities ................................................42 4.5 Salvage Logging Techniques ...................................................................................43 5 RESIDUAL BIOMASS REMOVAL MANAGEMENT ........................................... 44 FINAL 1-3 Biomass Removal Plan (BRP) 5.1 Roles and Responsibilities for Residual Biomass Removal ......................................44 5.2 Residual Biomass Removal Approach .....................................................................44 5.2.1 Pre-Impoundment Biomass Removal .............................................................44 5.2.2 Post Impoundment Biomass Removal ...........................................................44 5.3 Priority Areas for Biomass Removal .........................................................................44 5.4 Biomass Removal Techniques .................................................................................45 5.4.1 Lesser Value Biomass Extraction ...................................................................45 5.4.2 Residual Biomass Clearance .........................................................................45 5.4.3 Floating Log / Debris Removal .......................................................................47 6 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR BIOMASS REMOVAL ............................................ 49 6.1 Environmental and Social Management and Mitigation Measures ...........................49 6.2 Summary of ‘No Go’ Areas .......................................................................................49 6.3 Contractors ..............................................................................................................49