ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Proposed Coastal Modification Works at Ayada Maldives GDh. Magudhdhuvaa Island August 2019 Prepared for: Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) PLC Prepared by: Mohamed Zuhair (EIA01/15) & Ibrahim Shakir (BP03106) Page | 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 14 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 17 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................................... 21 2.2 LEGAL REQUIREMENT .................................................................................................... 22 2.3 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RATIONALE .............................................................. 23 2.4 DONORS AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS ................................................... 25 2.5 EIA BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE ......................................................................... 25 2.6 EIA APPROACH, SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE ................................................................... 25 2.7 EIA METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 26 2.8 REVIEW OF RELEVANT STUDIES ................................................................................. 27 2.9 EIA TEAM ............................................................................................................................ 28 2.10 EIA TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) ............................................................................ 29 3. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................. 30 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................... 32 4.1 PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING ............................................................................. 32 4.2 PROJECT PROPONENT ..................................................................................................... 32 4.3 PROJECT OUTLINE ........................................................................................................... 33 4.3.1 Scope of the Project ...................................................................................................... 33 4.3.2 Coastal Modification Concept ...................................................................................... 33 4.4 KEY PROJECT DEVELOPEMNT ...................................................................................... 33 4.4.1 Temporary Setup and Arrangement .............................................................................. 34 4.4.2 Beach Nourishment Works ........................................................................................... 34 4.4.3 Burrow Site ................................................................................................................... 36 4.4.4 Coastal Protection ......................................................................................................... 38 4.4.5 Environmental Monitoring During Project Implementation ......................................... 39 4.4.6 Key Measures for Environmental Protection During Project Implementation ............. 40 4.5 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 40 4.5.1 Project Duration ............................................................................................................ 40 4.5.2 Communication ............................................................................................................. 40 4.5.3 Work Safety .................................................................................................................. 40 4.5.4 Fuel Management .......................................................................................................... 41 Page | 2 4.5.5 Emergency Plan ............................................................................................................ 41 4.5.6 Key Project Inputs ......................................................................................................... 41 4.5.7 Key Project Outputs ...................................................................................................... 41 4.6 ACTIVITIES THAT ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 42 4.7 AFFECTED BOUNDARIES ................................................................................................ 42 5. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ........................................................................ 44 5.1 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.................................................................... 44 5.1.1 Tourism Act of Maldives (Law No. 2/99) .................................................................... 44 5.1.2 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law No. 4/93) and Amendments, 2014 45 5.1.3 Maldives EIA Regulation and Amendment, 2018 ........................................................ 46 5.1.4 Penalty and Liabilities Regulation, 2011 ...................................................................... 47 5.1.5 Waste Management Regulation and Amendments, 2018 ............................................. 47 5.1.6 Dredging and Reclamation Regulation, 2013 ............................................................... 49 5.2 RELEVANT POLICIES ....................................................................................................... 49 5.2.1 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2016-2025 ........................................ 49 5.2.2 National Solid Waste Management Policy, 2007 ......................................................... 50 5.3 RELEVANT AUTHORITIES .............................................................................................. 51 5.3.1 Ministry of Tourism, MOT ........................................................................................... 51 5.3.2 Ministry of Environment, MOE .................................................................................... 51 5.3.3 Environmental Protection Agency, EPA ....................................................................... 51 5.4 PERMITS OBTAINED AND REQUIRED ......................................................................... 52 6. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 53 6.1 DATA COLLECTION METHODS ..................................................................................... 53 6.1.1 Geophysical Environment ............................................................................................. 53 6.1.2 Climate Environment .................................................................................................... 53 6.1.3 Coastal and Marine Environment.................................................................................. 54 6.1.4 Derivation of Environmental Indicators........................................................................ 54 6.1.5 Uncertainties on Data Collection Methods ................................................................... 54 6.2 ASSESSMENTS UNDERTAKEN....................................................................................... 55 6.3 GEOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 60 6.3.1 Geography and Environmental Setting ......................................................................... 60 6.3.2 Geology and Geomorphology ....................................................................................... 60 6.3.3 Characteristics of Seabed Sediments ............................................................................ 61 Page | 3 6.4 CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 63 6.4.1 Climatic Setting............................................................................................................. 63 6.4.2 Monsoons ...................................................................................................................... 63 6.4.3 Temperature .................................................................................................................. 63 6.4.4 Rainfall .......................................................................................................................... 65 6.4.5 Sunshine ........................................................................................................................ 66 6.4.6 Winds ............................................................................................................................ 67 6.5 COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT.................................................................... 70 6.5.1 Coastal Geomorphology ............................................................................................... 70 6.5.2 Seasonal Erosion and Accretion.................................................................................... 72 6.5.3 Tides .............................................................................................................................