1. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALIEnvironmental AspectsEnvironmental Aspects in HIMALI ProjectBusiness Plan Preparation and Environmental Management Dr. Mahendra Nath Subedi Environmental Safeguards Expert HIMALI Project, PMU

2. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsContents Main Purpose of Environmental protection Causes of Environmental Degradation in Nepal Major Environmental Issues envisaged in HIMALI projects Binding Rules Environmental criteria for subproject selection Revised classification of grant proposals Approved Business plans Environment Assessment checklist and management plan General process of environment studies Environment screening Rapid Environment Assessment (REA) checklist Environment management plan (EMP) of HIMALI Conclusion 3. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsMain Purpose of Environmental Protection/Conservation Maintain the delicate balance of natural ecosystem Promote sustainable development 4. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsCauses of Environmental Degradation in Nepal Exploitation of natural resources than their production capacity Deforestation Desertification Industrial pollution Drying up of rivers and river pollution Climate change 5. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsMajor environmental issues /impacts/risks envisaged in HIMALI Projects Change in landscape and land use system due to extraction of construction materials(stones, gravel, sand, etc) Environmental issues related to chemical usage(detergents, alcohol, pesticides, insecticides, preservatives, etc ) and waste management (solid waste /waste water/others) Loss of vegetation and biodiversity due to overexploitation, encroachment, unscientific harvesting, etc Social problems (to be addressed separately) 6. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsBinding Rules GON criteria Environmental Protection Act(EPA-1997); (2053 B.S.) Environmental Protection Rules(EPR- 1997); (2054 B. S.) Amended 1999, 2007 (Schedule 1 and 2) ADB Norms Category A: For big projects (Almost equivalent to EIA of GON) , Category B: For medium size projects (Almost equivalent to IEE of GON) , Category C: For Small size projects (Environment Due Diligence Report-EDDR) Category D : Involvement of ADB fund 7. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsEnvironmental criteria for sub-project selection(ADB norms) Must have their own landownership Not require involuntary resettlement Must have no negative impacts on downstream users No direct or indirect impact to ecologically sensitive areas(PA system) Avoid areas prone to frequent land slides Must not have potential for permanent drainage obstruction Avoid disruption the life and property of indigenous or tribal people Must not encroach on cultural features Must not have any adverse impacts requiring EIA(GoN) and category A of ADB 8. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALIStudy of Environmental Aspects (GoN Format) Existing Environmental Conditions Physical Environment: Climate(Rainfall, Temperature), Landuse pattern, Physical Resources, Soil, Geology Biological Environment: Forest/Vegetation, Flora, Fauna, Protected Plants/Animals (GoN, IUCN, CITES) Social Environment: (To be addressed separately) 9. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALIStudy of Environmental Aspects (In relation to Project Construction) Physical Environment -Construction Phase -Operation Phase Biological Environment -Construction Phase -Operation Phase Social Environment (To be addressed separately) 10. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsEnvironment Assessment checklist and Management Plan Environmental Risk Is the site within protected area ? Landownership CONSTRUCTION PHASE Getting stone, sand, timber, etc may damage the environment Short term construction impacts like soil erosion, deterioration of water quality, noise, etc OPERATION PHASE Env. impact due to processing Fire used Water usedYesNoMagnitudeManagement plan 11. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsContd.. Risk Env. Degradation due to waste Waste water and other effluents Solid waste Chemical waste Gaseous emissions Bottles, packing, etc Ecological disturbance due to NTFPs collection Social hazardsYesNoMagnitude Management plan 12. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsGeneral processes on environmental studies Example study Project activities > NTFPs collection Site of activity> Forest area, alpine habitat Envisaged impacts > Loss of biodiversity, habitat degradation, etc Possible mitigation measures > Seasonal collection, rotational collection, rehabilitation program, etc. Monitoring method assessment> General inspection, quantitative 13. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsContd Time of monitoring > Seasonal, Periodic Responsible Implementing agency > Proponent Responsible Monitoring agency > DPC, DFO, PMU, DDC State of Compliance > Complied, Not comp[lied, In progress Remarks > Reasons for not being complied 14. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsEnvironmental screening SNParameters1Enhancement of positive measures2Environmental problems due to subproject location3Environmental problems related to subproject design4Environmental problems related to construction stage5Environmental problems related to subproject operationImpacts (yes)Impacts (No)Remarks 15. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsEnvironmental Management Plan (General EMP format) Environmental Risk(Activities and Impacts)Suggested Mitigation MeasuresLocatio nImplementing Monitoring Agency AgencyCompliance Status 16. High Mountains Agribusiness and Livelihood Improvement Project HIMALI Environmental AspectsConclusion -Environmental Issues-major concerns of GoN and ADB -The main responsibility for preparing the IEE and DDR lies to the proponent, AEC and PMU(HIMALI Project) while the implementation of EMP lies mainly to the proponent -Environmental responsibilities are not additional burden but are meant to support the sustainable implementation of the project 17. High Mountain Area of Nepal 18. High Altitude Lake 19. Yarsa Gumba 20. Gravel collection from rivers 21. Stockpiling of Materials 22. Heavy Landslides in Mountain Area 23. Dust pollution in Road Construction 24. Urbanization(Concrete Forest) 25. Unpolluted River 26. Heavily Polluted River 27. Illegal Timber Collection 28. Environmental Awareness in Tourist Camps 29. Panchaunle 30. Alpine Goats 31. Dumsi 32. Langur Monkey 33. Social Interaction 34. Thank You for your kind attention