Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report ANNEXURE – 1: ECOLOGICAL IMPACT STUDY Section - 9: Conclusions and Recommendations 237 Ecological Impact Study STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN (SDP) FOR RAVI RIVERFRONT URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT January-2021 Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Ecological Impact Study TABLE OF CONTANTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... 1 SECTION - 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives of the Ecological Impact Assessment Study ...... 1 1.2 Methodology to conduct Ecological Impact Assessment... 1 1.3 Legislation and Guidelines ..................................................... 1 1.4 Study Team .............................................................................. 3 SECTION - 2: OBSERVATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS................................................. 1 2.1 Section-1 Ecological Baseline Study of the project .............. 1 2.1.1 Project Study Area................................................................... 1 2.1.2 Steps in Ecological baseline study ......................................... 2 2.2 Section-2 Ecological Mapping of the Study Area .............. 51 2.3 Section-3 Assessment of Ecological Impacts from the Development in the project area ........................................ 53 2.3.1 Construction impacts ............................................................ 53 2.3.2 Operational impacts ............................................................. 58 2.4 Section –4 Mitigation Measures ............................................ 62 2.4.1 Impact avoiding/minimizing ................................................. 62 2.4.2 Restoration and Compensation ........................................... 63 SECTION - 3: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................... 65 Table of Contants TOC-I Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Ecological Impact Study APPENDICES: Appendix-1: Appendices of CITES ................................................................................. 68 Appendix-2: Punjab Wildlife Act (amendments) 2007 ................................................. 71 Appendix 3: List of plant species recommended to be planted on riverbank.......... 76 Appendix 4: List of trees for buffer zones and roadside ............................................... 81 Appendix 5: List of Palms, Gymnosperms, shrubs and ferns for Parks and Gardens .. 83 Appendices: TOC-II Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Ecological Impact Study LIST OF TABLES: Table 1-1: Ecology Study Team .................................................................................... 3 Table 2-1: GIS based estimated existing landuses with their areas within the project site. ................................................................................................... 2 Table 2-2: Criteria used for evaluating a site/habitat. ............................................... 3 Table 2-3: Criteria for evaluating species found within a habitat ............................. 4 Table 2-4: Evaluating the significance of an ecological impact. ............................. 4 Table 2-5: Details of the forest areas within the project boundary. .......................... 5 Table 2-6: Evaluation of forests in the Project area .................................................. 10 Table 2-7: Evaluation of low-lying grassland in the Project area ............................ 11 Table 2-8: Evaluation of Agricultural fields in the Project area ................................ 12 Table 2-9: Evaluation of orchards in the Project area .............................................. 13 Table 2-10: Evaluation of ponds in the Project area. ................................................. 14 Table 2-11: Evaluation of River in the Project area .................................................... 15 Table 2-12: Evaluation of Islands in the Project area ................................................. 16 Table 2-13: Evaluation of wastelands in the Project area ......................................... 17 Table 2-14: List of plant species collected from ponds and river in the project area. .................................................................................................................... 18 Table 2-15: List of plant species collected from different habitats in the project area. ........................................................................................................... 19 Table 2-16: Status of plant species recorded within the study area ......................... 31 Table 2-17: List of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians of the project area ... 34 Table 2-18: Species richness of fauna and flora of the habitat types in the study area. ........................................................................................................... 39 Table 2-19: List of insect species identified in different habitats................................ 40 Table 2-20: List of zooplanktons and protoctists found in the ponds and river of the study area .................................................................................................. 42 Table 2-21: List of the fish species found in the river Ravi. .......................................... 43 Table 2-22: Status of Mammals Species recorded within the Study Area ................ 50 Table 2-23: Status of Amphibian Species recorded within the Study Area .............. 50 Table 2-24: Status of Reptile Species recorded within the Study Area. .................... 50 Table 2-25: Status of Birds Species recorded within the Study Area ......................... 51 List of Tables: TOC-III Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Ecological Impact Study Table 2-26: Human Impacts on River Ecosystem. ....................................................... 53 Table 2-27: In-depth Impacts of Riverfront Development on Ecological Resources of the River Ravi ......................................................................................... 61 Table 3-1: Visiting season of the migratory birds found at the project site............. 66 List of Tables: TOC-IV Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Ecological Impact Study LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2-1: Map of the Project area showing the locations of ecological study sites ...................................................................................................................... 1 Figure 2-2: GIS based estimation of the forest areas in the project ........................... 7 Figure 2-3: GIS based estimation of the forest areas affected by channel widening of River Ravi after development. ............................................................... 9 Figure 2-4 (a): Birds of the study area ......................................................................... 44 Figure 2-5 (b): Birds of the study area ......................................................................... 45 Figure 2-6 (c): Birds of the study area ......................................................................... 46 Figure 2-7 (d): Birds of the study area ......................................................................... 47 Figure 2-8: Mammals of the studuy area ................................................................... 48 Figure 2-9: Reptiles and Amphibians of the study area ............................................ 49 Figure 2-10: Biodiversity map of the protected species and their linkage with their habitats....................................................................................................... 52 Figure 2-11: Simplified Food web in the Project Area. ................................................ 52 Figure 2-12: Ecological and astronomical light pollution (Longcore and Rich 2004). .................................................................................................................... 60 Figure 3-1: Fixtures that enhance and reduce light pollution .................................. 69 Figure 3-2: Proper installation of fixtures can save energy and reduce light pollution http://physics.fau.edu/observatory/lightpol-prevent.html .... 70 Figure 3-3: Kites diving to get sacrificial meat at Shahdara Bridge. ........................ 71 Figure 3-4: People selling and buying sacrificial meat at Shahdara Bridge. .......... 71 Figure 3-5A: Spotlight on building height and bird migration (San Francisco Planning Department 2011) ...................................................................... 73 Figure 3-6B: Portion of the buildings most susceptible to bird strikes. (San Francisco Planning Department 2011) ...................................................................... 74 Figure 3-7: Bird scaring devices (a) spikes, (b) flex track, (c) net ............................. 75 List of Figures TOC-V Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project Ecological Impact Study LIST OF PLATES: Plate – 1A: Prosopis glandulosa invasion at Shahdara reserve forest. ....................... 1 Plate - 1B: Livestock in the Mohlanwal forest .............................................................. 1 Plate - 2A: Thick understory and herbaceous cover in Bhaini Forest. .......................