Environmental And Social Impact Assessment Report - MIGA

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valley1.3.2Collection of Available InformationThe consultant collected and reviewed published national and regional state policies,legislatives, regulations and guidelines as well as international conventions andprotocols ratified by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), CentralStatistical Authority (CSA) Census Reports and Performance Standard on social andenvironmental sustainability documents.The existing environmental and socio-economic data were also gathered from relevantsources at Raya Azebo district. Primary data and information on the study area werecollected using different tools and techniques including household questionnaires, focusgroups interviews, local community representatives’ consultations, checklists andmatrices appropriate for this project.1.3.3Field SurveySite visits were made from October 10 - 16, 2011 to assess the baseline environmentaland social conditions of the proposed project; to define impacted areas and identifyenvironmental and socio-economic components that are likely to be significantlyaffected by the proposed project. During field survey, basic data and information on thebiophysical resources, socio-economic as well as historical and cultural sites have beencollected.1.3.4Key Stakeholders ConsultationsDiscussions with decision making bodies, key stakeholders, sector institutions and areaspecialist experts were made on the very concepts and nature of the proposed projectand the importance of fruit and vegetables cultivation, giving emphasis on levels ofpublic participation, role of key stakeholders and joint contributions of these actors tothe success of the project. In addition, the scope of the proposed project and possiblemeans of maximizing local communities’ social, economic and environmental benefitsfrom the project implementation were underlined.Key stakeholders and authorities with whom consultations made at the project studyareas were Raya Azebo district administrators and cabinet members. The officesUnifruit Ethiopia4

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valleyconsulted were Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Health Office, Finance andEconomic development office and Land and Environmental Protection Office of RayaAzebo district. Similar discussions and consultations were also conducted with TigrayRegion, Investment promoting & supporting team to air their issues of concerns on theproject in relation to people who derive their means of subsistence and income fromresources available at the project site and anticipated project impacts on localcommunities.Figure 1-1: Consultation Mehoni administration1.3.5Public ConsultationsPublic Consultation was undertaken in two phases, one during identifying social andenvironmental issues (scoping) and the other during impacts assessment study. Duringthe impact assessment, individuals and group community members were interviewedand consulted on the project social, economic and environmental impacts. Localcommunities’ consultation meeting was conducted in Raya Azebo district administrationpremises as part of the EIA methodological process. The participants in the discussionsUnifruit Ethiopia5

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valleywere represented from all the local farming communities that are found in Raya Azebodistrict. Community participants were represented from the Peasant Associationssurrounding the project.The consultation discussion involved those local communities who directly affected bythe project implementation. The participants were community elders, localityrepresentatives and youth group members in the target communities. The meeting wasused by the participants to air their issues of concern in relation to the proposeddevelopment project. Following the consultation meeting, an agreement was reachedon the issues of the community and their opinions and ideas were incorporated in thestatement report.Unifruit Ethiopia6

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya ValleyFigure 1-2: Community Consultation Kara Adishaw PA of Raya Azebo district1.3.6Public ParticipationsThe proposed fruit and vegetables production project is modern irrigation mechanizedfarm project. The existence and success of this project strongly tied with strongparticipations of local communities through all the project life cycles from planning,implementation to progress evaluation. Accordingly, public participations and level ofparticipations were underlined at the initial environmental examination (scoping), andemphasis given to lay down detail procedures of local communities’ participation duringimpacts assessment study period.Accordingly, discussions were conducted with local community to gather their opinionsand views on public participations in general and local community in particular withregard to the fruit and vegetables cultivation.Unifruit Ethiopia7

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya ValleyThe participants in the discussions were represented from local communities living inthe vicinity of the project site (Raya Azebo districts and specifically Kara Adishsawlocality). The communities were represented with participants and one day meeting washeld. Similarly, consecutive meeting and discussions were held with other local keystakeholders from the districts’ administration offices and sector bureaus on proceduresof initiating and promoting local community participations in the projectimplementation and responsibilities of key stakeholders to promote and enhance publicparticipations. Representatives from local community and key stakeholders willregularly discuss on the project’s overall benefits and impacts on socioeconomic aspectsof the area. Accordingly, quarterly meeting will be arranged on which the projectproponent, key sectoral stakeholders and representatives from the local communitydiscuss on benefits and impacts of the project to ensure project’s sustainability andmaximize its socio-economic and environmental benefits.1.4Report StructureThe main body of the ESIA report is structured under 8 sections. The first section dealswith the introduction part; Section 2 discusses about the initial environmentalexamination and scoping; Section 3 reviews the policy, legal and institutionalframeworks that are relevant to the project under consideration. This is followed by thedescription of the project, which is presented under section 4. The description of theexisting baseline environmental and social conditions is covered under section 5. Thissection deals with the bio-physical, socio-economic and cultural resources.Section 6 is the section that covers the environmental and social impact assessment andproposed mitigation/enhancement measures. Under this section, the potential positiveand negative impacts as well as their enhancement/mitigation measures are covered.Section 7 of the report presents Environmental Management Plan for theimplementation of the mitigation measures and the proposed EnvironmentalMonitoring Program. In the last section; section 8 of the report, conclusive remarks andrecommendations are highlighted under the conclusion and recommendation section.Unifruit Ethiopia8

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valley2 Environmental ScopingIn the aim of defining the limits of the study area for the project and drawing lists ofactivities and impacts to be studied during the assessment, the Consultant carried outan initial environmental examination and scoping.The scoping exercise has been carried out with the following main objectives: To define the limits of the study area, To define list of Valued Ecosystem Components within the study area, To define lists of activities, type and magnitude of the proposed project, and To assess and include views and concerns of key stakeholders on the scope ofESIA study.In order to carry out the above tasks, the Consultant employed different toolsand techniques relevant to the proposed project like using environmental scopingchecklists, consultations with different stakeholders (including experts, project affectedcommunities, local administrators and sector institutions, etc) and informal discussionsand talks with prominent individuals, local elders, women groups and general public inthe project area.2.1Limits of the Study AreaThe Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study is conducted for those areasthat would be influenced or impacted by the fruit and vegetables production projectimplementation. The project site is defined as the fruit and vegetables areas located inthe Raya Azebo district on 1000ha of land. The study also considers peasant associationsurrounding the project area which could be directly or indirectly affected by theimplementation of the project.Unifruit Ethiopia9

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valley2.2Concerns of Key StakeholdersViews and concerns of key stakeholders were assessed in Raya Azebo district withspecial emphasis to communities around the project which probably affected directly orindirectly by the project. The stakeholders’ concerns in the implementation of theproject are about ensuring community participation, employment opportunity priorityfor unemployed local community, assisting local community with supply of electricpower and water for home consumption and irrigation to ensure sustainability of theproject.Unifruit Ethiopia10

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valley3 Relevant Policies, Legislative and InstitutionalFrameworkThis section covers the policy, legislative and institutional issues that are most relevantto agricultural projects in general and the fruit and vegetables project in particular. Thefirst part this discussion looks at the national economic development policies andstrategies. The second section deals with sectoral policies and strategies related to theproject. The third part focuses on existing environmental policies and strategies at thenational and international levels. Finally, the fourth section presents the existinginstitutional framework for environmental protection and management.3.1International ConventionsIn addition to national environmental legislations, the federal democratic republic ofEthiopia is also a party to a number of regional and international conventions andprotocols on environment. The government has established an EnvironmentalProtection Authority, and this Authority is designated as focal point for theimplementation of these conventions and protocols.Accordingly; Article 9(4) of the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic ofEthiopia provides that once an international agreement is ratified through the acceptedor established procedure, it automatically becomes an integral part of the law of theland. Consequently, the convention and the protocol are the laws of this land.Therefore; the following international conventions and protocols are relevant to theproposed fruit and vegetables production project.Unifruit Ethiopia11

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya ValleyI.International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Guidance on Performance Standardson Social & Environmental SustainabilityThese Guidance Notes offer helpful guidance on the requirements contained in thePerformance Standards, including reference materials, and on good sustainabilitypractices to improve project performance.IFC expects that each client will employ methods best suited to its business tomeet the requirements of the Performance Standards. In assisting the client tomeet the Performance Standards, IFC will take into account variables such as hostcountry context, the scale and complexity of project impacts, and the associatedcost-benefit considerations, as well as those of project performance beyond thelevel required in the Performance Standards.II.Convention on Biological DiversityThe convention on biological diversity has three goals. These are: Conservation of biodiversity; Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity; and Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of geneticresources.The convention was ratified by Ethiopia through proclamation No.98/94 on May 31,1994.III.Framework Convention on Climate ChangeEthiopia ratified this convention through proclamation No. 97/1994 on May 2/1994.This convention takes into account the fact that climate change has trans-boundaryimpacts. The basic objective of this convention is to provide for agreed limits on therelease of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere so as to prevent the occurrence ofUnifruit Ethiopia12

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valleyclimate change. It also aims to prepare countries to minimize the impact of climatechange, should it occur.IV.The United Nations Conventions to Combat DesertificationThe objective of the convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects ofdroughts in countries experiencing serious drought and desertification, particularly inAfrica. Ethiopia has ratified the convention through its proclamation No. 80/1997.V.The Basel ConventionThe objective of the Basel convention is to control and regulate the Trans boundarymovement of hazardous wastes. The Bamako convention of 1991 plays a similar role atthe level of the African continent. Ethiopia ratified the Basel convention through itsproclamation No. 357/2002. Its amendment was ratified through proclamation No.356/2002. The count

Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Report: Raya Valley 5 consulted were Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Health Office, Finance and Economic development office and Land and Environmental Protection Office of Raya Azebo district. Similar discussions and consultations were also conducted with Tigray