ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Proposed Landscaping works in Tourism zones of Hulhumeedhoo, Addu City Proponent: Addu City Council January 2021 EIA for the Proposed Landscaping Works in Tourism Zones of Hulhumeedhoo, Addu City Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... I TABLE OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ V TABLE OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. VI LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. VII CONSULTANT’S DECLARATION ................................................................................. VIII PROPONENT’S DECLARATION ...................................................................................... IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... X 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PREFACE.......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 SCOPE OF THE EIA .......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 RELEVANT STUDIES ........................................................................................................ 2 1.4 EIA IMPLEMENTATION AND METHODOLOGIES ................................................................ 3 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................ 4 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 PROPONENT ..................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 PROJECT LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES ........................................................................... 4 2.4 THE PROJECT ................................................................................................................... 6 2.5 ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES ................................................................. 6 2.5.1 Vegetation Clearance ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.5.2 Landscaping ..................................................................................................................................... 7 2.5.3 Area in which palms will be replanted ............................................................................................. 7 2.5.4 Work Methods .................................................................................................................................. 8 2.5.5 Project duration ................................................................................................................................ 9 2.6 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ....................................................................................... 9 2.7 NEED AND JUSTIFICATION ............................................................................................. 10 3 LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS.................................. 14 3.1 PERMITS REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT .......................................................................... 14 3.1.1 EIA Decision Statement ................................................................................................................. 14 Proponent: Addu City Council Page | i Consultant: Amir Musthafa EIA for the Proposed Landscaping Works in Tourism Zones of Hulhumeedhoo, Addu City 3.1.2 Design Approvals ........................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS ......................................................................... 14 3.2.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act ............................................................................ 15 3.2.2 Maldives Tourism Act .................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation .............................................................................. 17 3.2.4 Regulation on Protected Areas ....................................................................................................... 17 3.2.5 Regulation on Migratory Birds....................................................................................................... 18 3.2.6 Regulation on Uprooting, Cutting and Transportation of Palms and Trees ................................... 18 3.2.7 Dredging and Reclamation Regulations ......................................................................................... 19 3.2.8 Regulation on Fuel Storage, Handling and Usage .......................................................................... 20 3.2.9 Regulation on Environmental Damage Liabilities ......................................................................... 21 3.2.10 Waste management regulation ....................................................................................................... 22 3.2.11 Ozone Layer Protection Act ........................................................................................................... 23 3.2.12 Regulation on Ozone Depleting Substances ................................................................................... 23 3.2.13 Regulation on the Construction Safety Standards .......................................................................... 24 3.3 POLICY GUIDANCE ........................................................................................................ 24 3.3.1 Fourth Tourism Master Plan .......................................................................................................... 24 3.3.2 Strategic Action Plan 2019 to 2023 ................................................................................................ 25 3.3.3 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan............................................................................. 25 3.3.4 National Environmental Health Action Plan .................................................................................. 26 3.4 REGULATORY BODIES ................................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Ministry of Tourism ....................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.2 Ministry of Environment and Energy ............................................................................................. 27 3.4.3 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...................................................................................... 27 3.5 INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT ................................................................... 28 3.5.1 Environment Sector ........................................................................................................................ 28 4 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................... 30 4.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 30 4.2 METHODOLOGIES .......................................................................................................... 30 4.2.1 Location identification ................................................................................................................... 30 4.2.2 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................. 31 4.2.3 Bathymetry ..................................................................................................................................... 31 4.2.4 Marine Ecology .............................................................................................................................. 31 4.3 OVERVIEW OF PROJECT SITE ......................................................................................... 31 4.4 CLIMATE ....................................................................................................................... 33 4.4.1 General meteorological conditions ................................................................................................. 33 4.4.2 Temperature ................................................................................................................................... 34 4.4.3 Rainfall ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Proponent: Addu City Council Page | ii Consultant: Omni Solutions EIA for the Proposed Landscaping Works in Tourism Zones of Hulhumeedhoo, Addu City 4.4.4 Wind ............................................................................................................................................... 35 4.4.5 Waves ............................................................................................................................................