Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report for the proposed Bulbulla Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (IAIP) and Shashemene Rural transformation Centre (RTC) Prepared by- Kahsay Gebretensae January 2018 i Table of contents Page 1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………..1 2. Project Area Baselines……………………………………………………………….1 2.1. Physical Conditions.…………………………………………………………..1 i. Location and Topography………………………………………………………1 ii. Climate …………………………………………………………………………….2 2.2. Flora and Fauna …………………………………………………………….…2 i. Flora …………………………………………………………………………….....2 ii. Fauna ………………………………………………………………………………3 iii. Species of Conservation Concern ……………………………………………….4 2.3. Protected and Non Protected Biodiversity Sites..………………………….4 i. Protected Areas……………………………………………………………………..4 ii. Wetlands………………………………………………………………………….....9 3 Shashemene RTC …………………………………………………………………10 4 Impact Assessment and Mitigation for Bulbulla IAIP and Shashemene RTC…………………………………………………………………....11 i) Assessment Methodology ……………………………………………………….11 ii) Bulbulla IAIP - Impact Description and Mitigation Measures……………..12 iii) Shashemene RTC - Impact Description and Mitigation Measures………….17 iv) Residual Impacts and Conclusion………………………………………………21 5 References/ Bibliography…………………………………………………………22 6 Annexes…………………………………………………………………………............24 ii Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report for the proposed Bulbulla Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (IAIP) and Shashemene Rural transformation Centre (RTC) 1. Introduction This section provides a description of the existing biodiversity components and associated key features which include typical flora and fauna, protected areas and non protected sensitive resources that are found inside and within the vicinity of the project sites. The baseline conditions within the proposed project areas have been determined through desk-based reviews of available information, field surveys and consultations with concerned authorities. 2. Project Area Baselines 2.1. Physical Conditions i. Location and Topography The proposed Bulbulla IAIP covers 263 hectares (ha) of an area. The site is located approximately 200 km South of Addis Ababa, immediately adjacent to the main highway connecting Addis Ababa and Hawassa. It is situated in the Adamitulu-Jido- Kombolcha wereda of the East Shewa Zone of the Oromia Regional State, at the geographic UTM 37N 458642.052 up to 460744.7941 Easting and UTM 37 N 856019.4476 - 858304.6467 Northing (Fig. 1)’. Fig. 1: Location of Bulbulla IAIP The IAIP will include open area production zones, controlled environment growing, precision farming, knowledge hubs and research facilities, rural hubs, agri-infrastructure, collection centres, primary processing hubs, social infrastructure and agri-marketing infrastructure, and will be served by a proposed network of rural transformation centres (RTCs), one of which is located at Shashemene. 1 ETHIOPIA The Bulbulla IAIP is situated in the lower northern part of the Great Rift Valley at an average altitude of 1,650masl. The northern floor of the rift valley was previously occupied by one large lake, of which Lakes Ziway, Abijata and Langano are remnants, occurring at altitudes of around 1,640 m for Ziway and 1,580 m for the other lakes. This broad flat plain is cut by the Mareko Ridge running from Koshe to Aje to the west of the lakes. The specific site for the proposed industrial park is characterized by similar topography of flat floored landscape. ii. Climate The climate of the project area is characterized by a semi-arid climatic zone. The maximum and minimum temperature of the project site ranges between 22.50C and 28.20C, and between 10.30C and 16.10C respectively. The dry season, which occurs from late October through January, is the period of the lowest monthly daytime and night time temperatures. The mean annual precipitation from the three adjoining meteorological stations, namely the Adami Tulu, Bulbulla and Ziway stations, are 113.18mm, 57.34mm and 72.72mm, respectively. Rainfall in the site and its surroundings occurs during two distinct rainy seasons, the “small” rains and the “big” rains. The small rains, which usually begin in February and go to the end of April, and the big rains, which are more reliable, occur from July through September. 2.2. Flora and Fauna i. Flora As there is no significant variation in altitude and habitat range, the vegetation types of the project area are categorized into transformed scattered woodland and open grassland. The woodland areas are characterized by Acacia seyal, Acacia tortilis, Acacia senegal and Balanites aegyptiaca. Along the edge of the abandoned and present cultivation areas of crops, consistingmainly of maize, Opuntia cactus and Euphorbia tirucalli have been used as enclosures and thus predominantly occur. The grassland areas are dominated by Cynodon dactylon, Hypharrenia spp. and Pennisetum plicatulum (Figure 2). 2 Fig. 2: Grassland areas covered by Cynodon dactylon at Bulbulla IAIP Based on the preliminary survey conducted, a total of 10 species of plants have been recorded within the project site (Table 1). Even though all identified species are not threatened (according IUCN Red List Category), five of the species are included in the list of ‘useful trees and shrubs of Ethiopia’ as they are considered very important for various purposes. Table 1: Checklists of common plant species recorded at Bulbulla IAI Species Scientific Name Local Conservation Usefulness No. Name Status (IUCN Red Category List* List Category) 1. Acacia seyal Girar LC L 2. Acacia tortilis Girar LC L 3. Acacia senegal Girar LC L 4. Balanites aegyptiaca Bedeno LC L 5. Opuntia cactus Beles LC NL 6. Euphorbia tirucalli Kinchib LC L 7. Cynodon dactylon Sar - Grass Species 8. Hypharrenia spp. Sar - Grass Species 9. Pennisetum plicatulum. Sar - Grass Species 10. Eragrostis spp. Sar - Grass Species Where, LC – Least Concern *According to Azene Bekele (2007) categorization of ‘Useful Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia’; where L= Listed; NL= Not Listed. ii. Fauna Surprisingly, this area is named after the African elephant (Arba – in Oromifa) since it used to be a potential range during the 1930s. However, no wild mammal was observed during the 3 field survey except foot prints of Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon). According to local informants the area is located within the home range of various other species including Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) Aardvark (Orycteropus afer), Common Jackal (Canis aureus), Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis), Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris), Abyssinian Hare (Lepus habessinicus) and Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata). Cattle (ox, cow), sheep, goat and equids are among the domestic animals largely reared by the local residents and thus they are part of the existing biodiversity. This site is also a location for numerous species of birds. During the survey, 40 species, which constitute 18 avian families, were recorded in the site and its environs (Annex1). The dominant bird species in the area include Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis pururopterus), Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus), White-browed Sparrow weaver (Plocepasser mahali), Northern Masked Weaver (Ploceus taeniopterus), Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus), Emerald- spotted Wood Dove (Turtur chalcospilos), Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola), Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus), Gabar Goshawk (Melierax gabar) and Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur). iii. Species of Conservation Concern Considering the specific project site, no threatened wild mammal is found in the area. However, among the avian species observed at the proposed Bulbulla IAIP about 4 species of birds (all vultures) are critically endangered or endangered and one species (Bateleur) is near threatened though they are found abundantly throughout Ethiopia (Table 2). Table 2: List of Threatened Bird Species of the Project Site N Species Common Scientific Name Conservation o Name Status (IUCN Red List Category) 1 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus NT 2 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus EN 3 White -backed Vulture Gyps africanus CEN 4 Ruppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppellii CEN 5 White -headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis EN Where NT – Near Threatened; EN – Endangered; CEN – Critically Endangered 2.3. Protected and Non Protected Biodiversity Sites i. Protected Areas According to the existing wildlife laws of Ethiopia, there are four clearly defined and one indirectly explained category of Protected Areas (PAs) and all PAs and their IUCN conservation status is indicated below (Table 3). Table 3: Categories of Protected Areas (PAs) in Ethiopia and their Conservation Status 4 Type of Protected Possible IUCN Definition (as per the existing wildlife laws**) Area Category 1. National Park II An area designated to conserve wildlife and associated natural resources to preserve the scenic and scientific value of the area which may include lakes and other aquatic areas; 2. Sanctuary IV An area designated to conserve one or more species of wildlife that require high conservation priority 3. Wildlife V An area designated to conserve wildlife where Reserve indigenous local communities are allowed to live together with and conserve the wildlife 4. Controlled VI An area designated to conserve wildlife and to carry Hunting Area out legal and controlled hunting 5. Community VI PAs owned and administered by local Conservation Communities; they can practice both consumptive Area * (hunting) and non consumptive (tourism) utilization types. *Its definitions is not directly stated