key biodiversity projects of terracon ecotech pvt ltd

8/12/2019 Key Biodiversity Projects of Terracon Ecotech Pvt Ltd

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/key-biodiversity-projects-of-terracon-ecotech-pvt-ltd 1/6

Key Biodiversity

Projects of TerraconEcotech Pvt Ltd

Projects pertaining to Biodiversity assessments and

impact identification



Client : ACC Cement Limited Project Duration: January 2014– April 2013 Operations of the extractive industry have the potential to affect biodiversity

throughout the lifecycle of a project directly or indirectly. In turn, extractive indus-tries are directly or indirectly affected by biodiversity loss and the consequent loss

of ecosystem services.

ACC Cement, one of the foremost Indian cement manufacturers and a subsidiaryof Holcim Group, initiated a Rapid Biodiversity Survey and Assessment (RBSA)

for one of their sites in south India. This project was a part of the larger Biodiver-sity Management System project initiated by Holcim in partnership with IUCN.

The assignment involved a RBSA of the Plant Site and all the land at a distance of

10 km from the fringes of the site. A rapid ecological assessment is defined as a synoptic assessment, which is often undertaken as a matter of urgency, in the

shortest timeframe possible to produce reliable and applicable results for its de-

signed purpose. They are thus carried out in the shortest possible time to give a

snapshot of all that exists at the selected site and provides just the adequate amount

of information (not too much, not too little).

In the field survey, habitats were assessed, plant and animal checklists wereformed and important areas for conservation were noted. The survey concluded

that the site is close to a reserve forest of the Western Ghats, and the area around

the site is regularly used by a wild elephant populations. Invasive species were

noted, and a management plan for their removal was formed. Sites for more de-

tailed surveys were marked.

Additionally, a formal impact assessment study carried out by using Holcim’s in-

house risk-based matrix . It showed that the Site falls in ‘Medium’ Biodiversity

Risk category and that according to Holcim’s BMS, the site would need a Biodi-

versity Action Plan for better management of its biodiversity.

TERRACON ECOTECH PVT LTD

Rapid Biodiversity Survey and

Assessment

Biodiversity Projects



Client : Hindustan Zinc Limited Project Duration: October 2013—March 2014 Businesses the world over are waking up to emerging risks and opportunities asso-

ciated with biodiversity loss and ecosystem service degradation. Vedanta formally

began its commitment to biodiversity protection in 2011 by drafting its Biodiver-sity Policy. As the next logical step in the process Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), a

subsidiary of Vedanta, initiated the creation of Biodiversity Action Plans for its

operations. Terracon was inducted to create BAPs for two of its sites in Rajasthan,the Rajpura Dariba Complex and Rampur Agucha Mines.

The Project was a six month study of biodiversity and ecosystem services around

these sites. A baseline analysis helped in knowing the presence of ecologically sig-nificant plant and animal species. Baseline was collected through ecological as

well as socio-ecological surveys. This data was used to form a unique Biodiversity

Sensitivity Map for the site. A detailed threat analysis identified potential threatsto biodiversity from HZL’s operations or any other surrounding activities and fit-

ted the potential risks in a Biodiversity Risk Matrix. The threat analysis helped to

prioritize the recommendations that followed. A benchmarking of ecosystem ser-vices was adopted from an internationally recognized protocol created by the Na-

ture Value Initiative. This helped in identifying the gaps in biodiversity manage-

ment at the site.

Thus, the study was multi-faceted in that it involved the merging of seemingly dis-

jointed components to give a comprehensive view of biodiversity and ecosystem

services around the Project Area. The outcome of this study was a set of recom-mendations aligned with Vedanta’s Biodiversity Policy on conserving biodiversity


Biodiversity Action Plan for a mining

company

Biodiversity Projects



Client : Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra, INDIA Project Duration: January 2013- March 2013

Vasai Virar City is located north of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. Pressures from ever

expanding developmental activities make the stretches of mangroves along its coast vulnerable.

The work entailed mangrove biodiversity assessment, impact identification and formulation of a

conservation plan. Extent of mangrove cover was assessed using satellite imageries and ground

truthing. It was followed by surveys on foot within the mangroves during which the floral and fau-

nal composition of the mangrove site was assessed. Based on our observations and further analysis,

a mangrove conservation plan for the site was created.

Through our GIS analysis, it was concluded that the mangroves spanned over an area more than7,500 acres. Ten species of mangrove plants were recorded along with 13 species of mangrove as-sociated meio-fauna such as crabs and mollusks. Amount of disturbance levels at various sites were

used to find priority areas for conservation.

The work entailed mangrove biodiversity assessment, impact identification and formulation of a

conservation plan. Extent of mangrove cover was assessed using satellite imageries and ground

truthing. It was followed by surveys on foot within the mangroves during which the floral and fau-nal composition of the mangrove site was assessed. Based on our observations and further analysis,

a mangrove conservation plan for the site was created.

Through our GIS analysis, it was concluded that the mangroves spanned over an area more than7,500 acres. Ten species of mangrove plants were recorded along with 13 species of mangrove as-

sociated meio-fauna such as crabs and mollusks. Amount of disturbance levels at various sites were

used to find priority areas for conservation.


Mangrove Biodiversity Survey and

Conservation Plan

Mangrove Biodiversity Projects



Client : Mira Bhainder Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra, INDIA

Project Duration: January 2013‐ March 2013

In light of the various economic and environmental pressures faced by coastal cities at

large, Mira Bhainder Municipal Corportaion inducted Terracon to study its mangroves.

Total area under mangrove cover has been estimated by satellite images and ground

truthing. Sampling techniques were employed in the field to ascertain density of man‐

grove trees. Mangrove trees were also counted on the basis of their maturity class –

adult, sapling and seedling.

The net area under mangrove cover at Mira Bhainder was found to be 20.7 sq km. 10

species of mangrove trees, while 31 species comprising strand vegetation were found in

the course of our survey. An additional survey of fauna at the mangrove sites was con‐

ducted to obtain a holistic picture of the status of the mangroves. Epi‐benthic faunal di‐

versity and avifauna were chosen for the survey due to their ecological and economic

importance. A total of 15 species of epi‐benthic fauna and more than 50 bird species

were recorded.

Parallel to the mangrove survey report, we also compiled a plan for conservation of man‐

groves of Mira‐Bhainder. It takes into account the spatial distribution of mangroves

within Mira Bhainder and highlights the degraded areas where special attention needs to

be given. Detailed analysis and a plan to establish a strong linkage between the man‐

groves of north & south of the city has been illustrated in the conservation plan.

In the long run this data will enable future policy decisions in the areas of urban devel‐

opment as

well

as

conservation

in

Mira

Bhainder.


Mangrove Biodiversity Survey and

Conservation Plan

Mangrove Biodiversity Projects

key biodiversity projects of terracon ecotech pvt ltd

Documents