ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the Proposed Reclamation Nilandhoo Faafu Atoll, Maldives Proponent: F. Nilandhoo Council S ndc ys July 2013 EIA for the Proposed Reclamation in Nilandhoo, Faafu Atoll Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... I TABLE OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ V TABLE OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. VI CONSULTANTS DECLARATION ................................................................................... VII PROPONENT’S DECLARATION ................................................................................... VIII COMMITMENT LETTER ................................................................................................... IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... X 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 14 1.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 14 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE EIA ............................................................................................ 14 1.3 SCOPE OF THE EIA AND APPROACH .............................................................................. 15 1.4 RELEVANT STUDIES AND EXPERIENCES ........................................................................ 16 1.5 EIA IMPLEMENTATION AND METHODOLOGIES .............................................................. 17 2 LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS.................................. 18 2.1 POLICY GUIDANCE ........................................................................................................ 18 2.1.1 National Framework for Development 2009-2013 ........................................................................ 18 2.1.2 Third National Environment Action Plan ....................................................................................... 19 2.1.3 Maldives National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2009-2013 .......................................... 20 2.2 REGULATORY BODIES ................................................................................................... 21 2.2.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy ............................................................................................. 21 2.2.2 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...................................................................................... 22 2.2.3 Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure .......................................................................................... 22 2.2.4 Atoll, City and Island Councils ...................................................................................................... 22 2.3 LAWS AND REGULATIONS ............................................................................................. 22 2.3.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act ............................................................................ 22 2.3.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 ..................................................................... 23 2.3.3 Regulation on Environmental Damage Liabilities ......................................................................... 23 2.3.4 Dredging and Reclamation Regulations ......................................................................................... 24 2.4 INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT ................................................................... 24 2.4.1 Environment Sector ........................................................................................................................ 24 Proponent: Nilandhoo Island Council P a g e | i Consultant: Ahmed Zahid (EIA08/2007) EIA for the Proposed Reclamation in Nilandhoo, Faafu Atoll 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 26 3.1 GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY ................................................................................ 26 3.2 THE PROPONENT ........................................................................................................... 26 3.3 PROJECT LOCATION AND STUDY AREA ......................................................................... 26 3.4 THE PROJECT ................................................................................................................. 27 3.4.1 Reclamation.................................................................................................................................... 28 3.4.2 Planting trees on the reclaimed land ............................................................................................... 28 3.4.3 Fish Processing ............................................................................................................................... 29 3.5 WORK METHODS ........................................................................................................... 30 3.5.1 Dredging and Reclamation ............................................................................................................. 30 3.5.2 Shore Protection Measures ............................................................................................................. 30 3.5.3 Relocating Plants ............................................................................................................................ 30 3.6 PROJECT DURATION ....................................................................................................... 32 3.7 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ..................................................................................... 32 3.8 NEED AND JUSTIFICATION ............................................................................................. 33 4 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................... 34 4.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 34 4.2 NO PROJECT OPTION ...................................................................................................... 34 4.3 ALTERNATIVE SHAPE FOR RECLAMATION ...................................................................... 35 4.4 ALTERNATIVE DREDGING METHODS .............................................................................. 37 4.5 ALTERNATIVE BURROW AREAS ..................................................................................... 37 4.6 ALTERNATIVE SHORE PROTECTION OPTIONS ................................................................ 38 4.7 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................... 39 5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................... 40 5.1 METHODOLOGIES .......................................................................................................... 40 5.2 GENERAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 40 5.2.1 Wind ............................................................................................................................................... 42 5.2.2 Waves ............................................................................................................................................. 43 5.2.3 Evaporation Rates and Relative Humidity ..................................................................................... 43 5.2.4 Tides ............................................................................................................................................... 44 5.2.5 Currents .......................................................................................................................................... 44 5.2.6 Bathymetry ..................................................................................................................................... 45 5.2.7 Marine Water Quality..................................................................................................................... 46 5.2.8 Housereef of Nilandhoo ................................................................................................................. 46 5.2.9 Marine Ecological Survey Results ................................................................................................. 48 Proponent: Nilandhoo Island Council P a g e | ii Consultant: Ahmed Zahid (EIA08/2007) EIA for the Proposed Reclamation in Nilandhoo, Faafu Atoll 5.2.10 Status of the coral reef .................................................................................................................... 58 5.3 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................. 58 5.3.1 Demography ................................................................................................................................... 58 5.3.2 Employment condition ................................................................................................................... 60 5.3.3 Transport .......................................................................................................................................