principles of environmental mitigation and monitoring · · 2016-11-29principles of environmental...

Principles of Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring

USAID Staff Environmental Training Bagamoyo, Tanzania 2-6 June 2008

Principles of Mitigation & Monitoring. Visit www.encapafrica.org. 2

Mitigation is. . .The implementation of measures designed to reduce the undesirable effects of a proposed

action on the environment

Definition of mitigation

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The purpose of the EIA process is not simply to assess potential environmental impacts, but to change project design and implementation so that these impacts are avoided, reduced or offset. The term for this latter portion of the process is environmental mitigation. As such, mitigation is a critical part of ESDM and the EIA process. Monitoring is its essential complement, required to verify whether the mitigation measures are sufficient, effective—and actually implemented.


How does mitigation reduce adverse impacts?

Type of mitig measure How it works Examples

Prevention & Control measures

Fully or partially prevent an impact/reduce a risk by:

Changing means or techniqueChanging the siteSpecifying operating practices

PREVENT contamination of wells, by SITING wells a minimum distance from latrines.OPERATE wastewater treatment system for a coffee- washing station.

Compensatory measures

Offset adverse impacts impacts in one area with improvements elsewhere

Plant trees in a new location to COMPENSATE for clearing a construction site.

Remediation measures

Repair or restore the environment after damage is done.

Re-grade and replant a borrow pit after construction is finished

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Technique=“how you get things done.” Technique includes timing, technology, materials used, etc.


Example of Mitigation: Operating practices to prevent & control impacts

IrrigationPotential impact:salinization of soilsMitigation: avoid water-logging by using improved on-farm water management, including placement of drainage structures.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Photo: afghanistan diversion dam & canal reconstruction, irrigated fields. (credit: Rosenblum/The Cadmus Group)


Example of Mitigation: Change of site to prevent & control impacts

Rural road construction

Potential impact: route traverses nesting area for a threatened species of bird Mitigation: Re-route road to avoid nesting site.Also, minimize construction noise and other disturbance during nesting season

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Photo: Road construction, Uganda (illegal private road construction across a wetland.) credit: Stoughton/The Cadmus Group.


Prevention is best

Where possible, PREVENT impacts by changes to site or technique.

CONTROL of impacts with operating practices is more difficult to monitor, sustain.

!

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Of course, prevention is not always possible:


serious impacts

Do I mitigate EVERY impact?

NOT NECESSARILY.Mitigation is directed at two targets.

1

First, the most serious impacts identified by the EIA process should ALWAYS be mitigated.

easily mitigated impacts

2

After addressing the most serious impacts, there may be small impacts for which mitigation is easy and low-cost.


1.Systematic measurement of key environmental indicators over time (is the mitigation measure sufficient, effective?)

Definition: Environmental monitoring is BOTH. . .

2. Systematic verification of mitigation (are the prescribed measures being implemented?)

Environmental monitoring is a necessary complement to mitigation.

It should be a normal part of monitoring project results.

!


Systematic measurement of key environmental indicators over time, over the potentially affected area

Explaining monitoring, part I

Monitoring, part 1:Signals of or proxies for aspects of • Environmental health &• Ecosystem function

Indicators are:

Indicators are chosen to:• Measure the most

serious/uncertain impacts of an activity

And/or• Show whether

mitigation measures are effect

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Affected area: could be: a stream, lake or pond, a watershed, an ecosystem, a village, etc.


Examples of indicators

Water Quantity, quality, reliability, accessibility

Environmental components

Soils Erosion, crop productivity, fallow periods, salinity, nutrient concentrations

Flora Composition and density of natural vegetation, productivity, key species

Fauna Populations, habitat Special Key species ecosystems

Env Health Disease vectors, pathogens


Indicators: sometimes complex, often simple

Indicators may require laboratory analysis or specialized equipment & techniques

Water quality testing for fecal coliform, heavy metalsAutomatic cameras on game paths for wildlife censusEtc.

But indicators are often VERY SIMPLE. . .

. . . especially for small-scale activities Simple indicators can be more useful and appropriatethan more complicated ones! For example!


Examples of simple indicators

Topsoil loss from slopes upstream in the watershed (top) is assessed with a visual turbidity monitor (bottom).

Erosion measurement.

Visual inspection behind the latrine (top) reveals a leaking septic tank (bottom).

Surface sewage contamination

What are the limitations of this indicator?

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Limitations of the septic indicator: A septic tank that does not reveal surface leakage may still be a source of groundwater contamination. This type of visual inspection can verify gross sources of surface contamination ONLY.


Examples of simple indicators

Groundwater levelsAre measured at shallow wells with a rope and bucket.

Soil depletion. Visual inspections show fertility gradients within terraces. (Dark green cover indicates healthy soil; yellow cover indicates depletion)

Choose the simplest indicator that meets your needs!

!


Design of monitoring

Monitoring requires SYSTEMATICmeasurement of indicators. This means. . .

1measurement designed to distinguish the impacts of the activity from other factors.

requires decisions about:

2 Timing & frequency of measurement

Location of measurement

3 Other factors

and often. . .

For example


Design of monitoring

1

2 Timing & frequency Samples at different locations should be taken at the same time. Samples should be taken at high & low flow during the processing season

Location Water samples should be taken at the intake, and downstream of seepage pits.

Example: Water quality impacts of coffee-washing

Downstream

Water intake

Processing facility

Seepage pit

3 What else?

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Participants should explain: --WHY the 2 locations are needed? --Why high and low flow? --Why take samples at the same time?


Design of monitoringMeasuring water quality impacts from a point source of pollution (the previous example) is fairly straightforward

All are intended to show what the “normal” baseline conditions are, so the impacts of the activity can be distinguished from NORMAL VARIABILITY and other factors

Often monitoring can be more complicated. Some common monitoring strategies are:

Monitor the actual project, plus a similar

non-project area (a “control”)

Do research to obtain good

baseline data

Monitor at multiple stations/

sampling locations

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Remember, any indicator has a NORMAL VARIABILITY (seasonal, annual). Think of rainfall: Rainfall has a normal variability, which may be affected by changes in land use and cover. Monitoring strategies are designed to allow you to distinguish the impacts of the activity from normal variability.


Explaining monitoring, part 2

Systematic verification of mitigation

Monitoring, part 2:

ascertaining whether or not the measures have been implemented as specified by the EMMP.

Verification means. . .

Verification may be “from the

desk” or by field visit

This will often not show whether the measures are effective. This is the role of environmental indicators.


Information sources to evaluate implementation of mitigation

In the field. . .

Inspection shows clearly that segregation and incineration is NOT implemented implemented at facility B.

Mitigation measure is: “Clinic staff shall be trained to and shall at all times segregate and properly incinerate infectious waste.”

Desk assessment: You might ask the partner to report:

A

B• Percentage of staff trained?

• Spot inspections of waste disposal locations carried out? The result of these inspections?

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Field audits in this case could also include INTERVIEWS of clinic staff Picture B shows a picture of a clearly unused incinerator. (plants are growing out of the top.) the ground in front of the incinerator is littered with syringes, bandages, and all manner of mixed medical waste. Get the information you need using the simplest means of collecting it.


Monitoring: analysis and dissemination

Analysis is an essential element of monitoringRaw or unprocessed environmental data is not useful to decision makers or project managers

Dissemination of monitoring results is critical

Presenter

Presentation Notes

E.g., leaves of a indicator species turn yellow. What does this mean? Soil quality change? Water quality change? More mitigation?


Mitigation & monitoring in the project lifecycle

Mitigation and monitoring is a part of each stage of any activity.

Design Construct/ implement

Operate (may include handover)

1.Decisions made regarding site and technique to minimize impacts

2.Operating practices designed

1. Operating practices implemented2. Monitoring of:

Operating practicesEnvironmental conditions

Decommission (in some cases)

1. Implementation of design decisions. Monitoring of construction

2. Where required, capacity-building for proper operation


EMMPs

Mitigation and monitoring is set out in Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs)(also called an Environmental Management Plan, or Mitigation and Monitoring Plan)

EMMPs are the topic of an upcoming session and field visit


Making Mitigation & Monitoring effective

For mitigation and monitoring to be effective, it must be:

Realistic.M&M must be

achievable within time, resources &

capabilities.

Funded. Funding for M&M must be adequate over the life of the

activity

Targeted. Mitigation

measures & indicators must correspond to

impacts.

Considered early.If M&M budgets are not

programmed at the design stage, they are almost always

inadequate!

Considered early.Preventive mitigation is

usually cheapest and most effective. Prevention must be built in at the design stage.


Making Mitigation & Monitoring effective

But most of all, it must be:

IMPLEMENTED.Effective mitigation and monitoring requires implementing the EMMP.

!


AFR’s key resource for Mitigation & Monitoring

Environmental Guidelines for

Small-Scale Activities in

Africa

Each sectoral write-up presents mitigation options matched to impacts.

The annotated bibliographies provide links to key additional resources

Available on the ENCAP website at www.encapafrica.org

Coming next: getting acquainted with the Small- Scale Guidelines

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Both the small scale guidelines and the pesticide action network are both gateways to a large set of 3rd-party resources

http://www.encapafrica.org/


Summing up

Mitigation minimizes adverse environmental impacts

Mitigation & Monitoring are a critical part of environmentally sound design:

Monitoring tells you if your mitigation measures are sufficient & effective.

principles of environmental mitigation and monitoring · · 2016-11-29principles of environmental...

Documents