ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED COCONUT PALM RELOCATION PROJECT IN MAALHOS, BAA ATOLL January 2016 Prepared for Dhigufaru Investments Private Limited, Maldives Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives ްނުޢޫރްޝަމ ެގުމުއިދްނެގ ްސަގްއުރ ްނުހޮޅާމ .ބ ްޓޯޕިރ ާރުކްނާޔަބ ުރަވްނިމ ެނާރުކުރަސައ ްށަޓްއެވާމިތ ީރައުނެޖ2016 :ުރާޔިދެއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޓެވިއަރްޕ ްސްޓްނަމްޓްސެވްނިއ ުރަފުގިދ :ްޓްނަޓްލަސްނޮކ ޭއ.ިއައ.ީއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޓެވިއަރްޕ ީއ.ީޑ.ީސ EIA for the Proposed Coconut Palm Relocation Project in Maalhos Island, Baa Atoll Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... x Lead Consultant’s Declaration ....................................................................................................... xi Proponent’s Declaration................................................................................................................ xii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... xiii 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the EIA ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Proponent ............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Background and Rationale ................................................................................... 1 1.4 Project Scope .................................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Aim and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 2 1.6 Consultants, Contractors and Government Institutions.................................................... 3 1.7 Project Financing.............................................................................................................. 3 1.8 Scope and Terms of Reference of EIA ............................................................................. 3 1.9 Summary of Assessment Methodology............................................................................ 4 1.9.1 The Study Area.............................................................................................................. 4 1.9.2 Field Observations ....................................................................................................... 5 1.9.3 Desk Study Review ........................................................................................................ 7 1.9.4 Public and Key Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................... 8 1.9.5 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 8 1.9.6 Report Format .............................................................................................................. 8 1.10 Study Team Members ...................................................................................................... 8 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Project Outline and Project Site Plan ............................................................................... 9 2.3 Detailed Project Outline and Work Methodology.......................................................... 16 2.3.1 Site Mobilisation and setup ........................................................................................ 16 2.3.2 Land clearance ........................................................................................................... 16 2.3.3 Backfilling holes ......................................................................................................... 17 2.3.4 Dredging ..................................................................................................................... 18 Prepared by: CDE Consultancy Page|i EIA for the Proposed Coconut Palm Relocation Project in Maalhos Island, Baa Atoll 2.3.5 Transportation ............................................................................................................ 19 2.3.6 Replanting of trees in Dhigufaruvinagandu ............................................................... 19 2.3.7 Environmental Management ....................................................................................... 19 2.4 Project Schedule and Life Span ..................................................................................... 20 2.5 Labour Requirements and Availability .......................................................................... 21 2.6 Summary of Project Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................ 21 2.7 Demobilization ............................................................................................................... 22 3 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................. 23 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 Relevant Legislation ....................................................................................................... 23 3.2.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93).................................... 23 3.2.2 Agricultural Legislation ............................................................................................. 24 3.3 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................................ 25 3.3.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ................................................ 25 3.3.2 Regulation on Sand and Coral Mining ....................................................................... 25 3.3.3 Regulation on Cutting Down, Uprooting, Digging Out and Export of Trees and Palms from One Island to Another ................................................................................................... 26 3.3.4 Regulation on Dredging and Land Reclamation ........................................................ 26 3.4 Guiding Policies and Documents ................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Third National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP III) ............................................. 27 3.4.2 National Strategy for Sustainable Development ........................................................ 29 3.4.3 Carbon Neutral Policy................................................................................................ 29 3.4.4 Waste Management Policy ......................................................................................... 29 3.5 Environmental Permits required for the Project ............................................................. 29 3.5.1 EIA Decision Note ...................................................................................................... 29 3.6 Relevant International Conventions, Treaties and Protocols ......................................... 30 3.6.1 United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol ................................................................................................................................. 30 3.6.2 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) ................................. 30 3.6.3 United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCCD) ......................................... 30 3.6.4 Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety .............................................................................. 31 3.6.5 International Plant Protection Convention ................................................................ 31 3.6.6 Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol ................................................................ 31 3.6.7 Male Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia ................................................................................... 31 Prepared by: CDE Consultancy Page|ii EIA for the Proposed Coconut Palm Relocation Project in Maalhos Island, Baa Atoll 3.7 Responsible Ministries and Institutions in the Maldives ............................................... 32 3.7.1 Ministry of Environment & Energy ............................................................................ 32 3.7.2 Baa Atoll Council ....................................................................................................... 32 3.7.3 Island Council............................................................................................................