Training Proposal. Multilevel Approach for Biodiversity Friendly Infrastructure

Transcription

1 Training Proposal Multilevel Approach for Biodiversity Friendly Infrastructure IAIA Theme: Integrating biodiversity in IA Section 1 Course title: Multilevel Approach for Biodiversity Friendly Infrastructure Level: Intermediate Prerequisites: General knowledge of the EIA process and an interest in the long term biodiversity impact of infrastructure development Delivery Language: English Duration: 1 day Maximum number of participants: Laptop requirement: Participants do not need to bring their own laptops Contact details of trainers: Juan Quintero Aradhna Mathur Environmental Engineering Consultants, LLC 8127 Ridge Creek Way 1811 Cliffe Hill Way Rockville, MD USA Springfield VA USA Tel: Tel: eecjdq@gmail.com mathuraradhna@gmail.com Both are IAIA members and have signed the code of conduct Section 2 Purpose, content and anticipated learning outcomes Infrastructure development has direct, indirect and cumulative impacts with impacts extending beyond the immediate surroundings where construction and use occur. Many impacts on biodiversity are long term eventually leading to a reduction in available natural habitat, restriction in the movement of fauna and decline in population sizes of species. The impacts tend to be complex affecting not only wildlife population dynamics but also ecosystems on which both humans and wildlife depend. As traditional mitigation approaches based on Environmental Impact Assessments are project specific not capturing the impacts of infrastructure on a landscape level, they are not sufficient to halt biodiversity loss. With development continuing at a rapid pace throughout the world, a 1

2 different approach i.e. multilevel approach, is required to ensure that infrastructure development is not detrimental to the surrounding environment. It is essential to avoid impacts on biodiversity and where avoidance is not possible, minimize and mitigate impacts and then compensate for any remaining impacts. The key is to apply this from the onset i.e. planning stage, throughout the project cycle. This intermediate course is open to participants from all countries having a general knowledge of the EIA process and an interest in the protection of natural habitats and biodiversity in infrastructure projects. Recognizing that the potential effects of infrastructure development on biodiversity are significant, and that increased attention towards taking into account natural habitat issues is warranted, the course, teaches participants how to promote natural habitat and biodiversity protection in infrastructure development. The course will discuss: the multilevel approach to infrastructure development, upstream tools such as SEAs and cumulative impact assessment including fragmentation analysis tools; good engineering practices at the project level such as design of fauna crossings and fish passages and construction management in sensitive areas. Target Audience The target audience are project level practitioners like managers, engineers, EIA experts, implementers, as well as well people involved in the infrastructure decision making process. Locally, all actors involved in the infrastructure development process such as EIA practitioners (public and private), EIA consultants and agencies involved in EIA evaluation will find the course beneficial. Learning outcomes Participants will be able to: Understand the need for biodiversity friendly infrastructure Apply biodiversity principles at all levels of infrastructure development cycle Understand the basic engineering approaches for green infrastructure Detailed Course Content The course will be developed through a series of interactive sessions concentrating on specific building blocks of biodiversity friendly Infrastructure, illustrated by examples, and followed by discussions among students. The trainers will begin by introducing themselves and presenting an overview of the Course. The participants introduce themselves, describing their professional interests, experience and 2

3 responsibilities. The trainers will explain the objectives of the course and topics to be covered in the course. Session 1: A multilevel approach to biodiversity friendly infrastructure The multilevel approach at the policy, sector, and project levels is explained: The increasing pace of infrastructure development and its impact on natural habitats and biodiversity. Key problems due to infrastructure development such as fragmentation. The mitigation hierarchy; The limitations of a project level and EIA-only approach to address biodiversity impacts from infrastructure developments; The need for a multilevel approach at the policy, sector, and project levels;; Applying the mitigation hierarchy at every stage of the project cycle. Discussion: Participants will discuss the practical application of the multilevel approach in their countries and potential road blocks. Session 2: Upstream conservation This will explain the various options that should be considered before focusing at the project level. The basic elements and process of Strategic Environment Assessment and Cumulative Impact Assessment The approaches to implement biodiversity inclusive SEAs and CIA Tools for biodiversity friendly infrastructure sector planning: fragmentation analysis, GIS. Examples of SEA and CIA in the hydropower sector. Discussion: Participants will discuss SEA frameworks in their own countries, experience in SEAs and CIAs. Session 3: Options at the project Level At the project level, engineers have a number of options available to them to help ensure that fragmentation, habitat loss and induced impacts, such as poaching, and road kills are minimized. This block will present options at the project level such as: The need and benefits of engineering structures: fauna crossings, fish passageways, Basic design parameters for fauna passages Ecological flows in hydroelectric projects Good construction practices in sensitive areas: camp management, waste management etc. Examples from the road, hydropower and mining sectors will be used. 3

4 Discussion and question and answers. Session 4: Group Exercise Screening for natural habitats: Based on a developmental scenario, participants will identify natural habitat issues and possible mitigation measures. Materials, Technology and Communication After the course, all participants will receive a copy of the training materials presented and a list of additional references and readings for more information about the concepts learnt. This includes but is not limited to: Ledec, G. and Quintero, J.D Good Dams and Bad Dams: environmental criteria for site selection of hydroelectric projects. Latin America and Caribbean Region, Sustainable Development Working Paper 16. World Bank, Washington D.C. Quintero, J.D., Mathur, A., et al, A guide to good practices for environmentally friendly roads. Latin American Conservation Council. Quintero, J.D., Posas, P., Shi, X Protecting natural habitats in road development: A Multilevel approach. The World Bank. Quintero, J.D., Mathur, A Biodiversity offsets and infrastructure. Conservation Biology, Vol 25, No 6. Quintero, J.D., Roca, R., Morgan A., Mathur A., and Shi, X Smart green infrastructure in tiger range countries. The World Bank. The course does not require any special equipment beyond the usual flip charts and PowerPoint projectors. The trainers can/will communicate with the participants pre and post the course via and face to face during the conference. Section 3 Abridged curriculum vitae for each trainer is attached as Annex. History of course and comparable course A similar training workshop titled Green Roads: Infrastructure in Natural Habitats was delivered by Aradhna Mathur in Assam, India in February This 3 day workshop was organized by the Public Works Department, Government of Assam, India in collaboration with the World Bank. It was highly successful with over 60 participants and received positive feedback and a demand for more such courses. It was attended by engineers, EIA practitioners and NGOs from India, Nepal and Bangladesh. 4

5 A similar course has been prepared by the trainers for the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC. The course materials have been prepared and discussion for delivery of a pilot the course are underway. Juan D. Quintero delivered a Graduate Level course in Colombia on Green Roads: design and construction of roads in sensitive areas at the Javeriana University in May, 2016: 120 hours, 37 participants from the Colombia National Park System. Juan D. Quintero has also delivered the following training courses for the World Bank: - Environmental and Social Management of Construction: Philippines, Indonesia (May 2016) - Environmental Supervision of Projects: Philippines Evidence of Success For the training course on Environmental and Social Management of Construction in Indonesia (May 2016), Juan Quintero was rated as below on a 5 point scale (5=very good and 4= good): Section 4 Juan Quintero has conducted numerous trainings. In addition to the above mentioned ones, he has conducted the following in the past 4 years: Protecting Cultural Resources in Development Projects: at IAIA in Porto, Portugal, Cumulative Impact Assessment: at IAIA Panama symposium

6 Aradhna Mathur has conducted Green Roads: Infrastructure in Natural Habitats : Assam, India 2016 No trainings offered by the trainers have been cancelled or course structure amended. The trainers are committed to the course and plan to be in Montréal. There are two trainers for the course so if due to circumstance beyond ones control, one trainer can not be in Montréal, the other one will deliver the course. The trainers encourage student participation and agree to accept free places to students based on description given. Annex: CV of Juan D. Quintero and Aradhna Mathur JUAN D. QUINTERO Environmental Specialist; eecjdq@gmail.com Civil and Environmental Engineer, with over 40 years of experience in risk assessment, mitigation and compensation of environmental and social impacts associated with development projects, especially transport and hydroelectric projects around the world. Sr. Environmental Specialist at the Word Bank from 1993 to 2010 in charge of ensuring compliance with World Bank environmental and social safeguard policies in infrastructure projects. Specialist in the application of construction environmental management plans, and regional, cumulative and strategic environmental assessments of hydroelectric programs. Currently I am member of Panel of Experts/independent monitoring teams for several hydroelectric projects including the 2400 MW Ituango hydroelectric project in Colombia (since 2012), the 305 MW Reventazon Hydroelectric Project in Costa Rica (since 2013), and the 456 MW Chaglla Hydroelectric Project in Peru (since 2012). Other hydroelectric projects include Tumarin in Nicaragua (due diligence for MIGA), Alto Maipo in Chile (Cumulative Impact Assessment for IADB and IFC), Trishuli and Kabeli in Nepal (World Bank environmental specialist), Nandarivatu in Fiji Islands (World Bank environmental specialist), Nam Then II in Lao PDR (World Bank environmental specialist), Yacyreta in Argentina (Environmental Impact Assessment as consultant and then as World Bank Environmental Specialist), and several run-of river plants in Vietnam. Recent publications include Sustainable Hydropower Development in Latin America, Good Dams- Bad Dams, Mainstreaming Conservation in Infrastructure Projects, Green Infrastructure in Tiger Range Countries: a Multi-Level Approach, Protecting Natural Habitats in Road Development and Biodiversity Offsets and Infrastructure ; Mainstreaming Environmental and Social Safeguards in Gas Pipeline Projects: the Bolivia-Brazil GS Pipeline Project. A Certified Assessor for the application of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) Sustainable Protocol for Hydropower development (sustainability assessment of Hidro-Sogamoso and Canafisto Hydroelectric Projects in Colombia). 6

7 An independent consultant from 2010 until present, experience including: (i) support to infrastructure projects with IADB (roads in Bolivia, Metro in Quito, wind power in Mexico); (ii) preparation of a Manual for JICA on Protecting Natural Habitats in Infrastructure projects ; (iii); support to Safeguard Coordination Team in the East Region of the World Bank in charge of preparing manuals for health, education and community development projects; (iv) preparing paper for IADB on Natural Habitats issues in LAC; (v) assessing the Peru EIA system for Bank Information System (BIC); and (vi) delivering training courses at Birmingham University on environmental management of roads (as part of the annual Senior Road Executive Program). I have also prepared a Guide for Sustainable Roads for The Nature Conservancy (2015). Board of Directors IAIA IAIA Life-time Achievement Award for significant contribution to impact assessment leading to mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in infrastructure projects around the world ; May, IAIA Regional Award for the 'Promotion of Quality of Environmental Impact Assessments in Latin America" (2001) Aradhna Mathur Environmental Specialist; mathuraradhna@gmail.com Aradhna Mathur is a conservation Biologist with over 13 years of experience ranging from conducting EIAs, promoting the concept of green infrastructure, assessing and working to minimize illegal wildlife trade and promote wildlife conservation. As an independent consultant since 2009, projects have included (i) developing and promoting the concept of Smart Green Infrastructure to ensure infrastructure development is biodiversity friendly with World Bank Global Tiger Initiative, (ii) preparation of a Manual for JICA on protecting Natural Habitats in Infrastructure projects, (iii) reviewing numerous World Bank project for compliance with the environmental safeguards, (iv) reviewing the SEA practice in East Asia for the World Bank, (v) rapporteur to the UNEP Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at the 15th and 16th Conference of Parties at Doha, Qatar (2010) and Bangkok, Thailand (2013). Recent publications include: A Guide to Good Practices for environmentally Friendly Roads ; Green Infrastructure in Tiger Range Countries: a Multi-Level Approach ; Guidance note for infrastructure projects affecting natural habitats ; World Bank SEA experience in East Asia and the Pacific: A tool for environmental safeguarding ; Biodiversity Offsets and Infrastructure and CITES and Livelihoods: Converting Words into Action. 7