workshop neei & natura 2000 1 17 september 2008 technical workshop on neei and natura 2000...
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Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
117 September 2008
Technical Workshop on NEEI and Natura 2000
Assessment and Design of Activities to Minimise Impacts on
Biodiversity
Presentation on behalf of IMA-Europe by Eric Turner, Rio Tinto Minerals
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
317 September 2008
High Level Framework
Policy Planning law
• Strategic supply
• Jobs/value creation
• Know how maintenance
NEEI development is vital in the EU for:
Minerals development has a comparable status to other land uses
NEEI development may, under certain circumstances be permitted within N2K sites
Articulation and communication of the high level position
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
417 September 2008
Commission / Member State Workflows
Strategic Environmental AssessmentStrategic Environmental Assessment
Minerals Planning Minerals Planning
FrameworkFramework
Natura 2000 Habitat Data
Geological Survey Data
Mineral Maps
NK2 Maps
EU-25 Map
COMMISSION/MEMBER COMMISSION/MEMBER STATE WORKFLOWSSTATE WORKFLOWS
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
617 September 2008
• The Guidance document could put forward the approach of a mix of regulatory and voluntary measures
• These measures should be constructed around the full Sustainable Development agenda, obviously including, but not limited to, habitat and species conservation.
NEEI Entreprises
There could well be aspects and arguments from a holistic SD perspective which favour NEEI development in an N2K site.
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
717 September 2008
The NEEI Objective
Net Positive Local Net Positive Local Social EffectSocial Effect
Net Positive Net Positive Biodiversity EffectBiodiversity Effect
Net Positive Net Positive Carbon Capture Carbon Capture
EffectEffect
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT COMPLIANCE
THE NEEI OBJECTIVETHE NEEI OBJECTIVE(a proposal for consideration)
SEASEA SEASEA
EIAEIA AAAASASA
(A proposal for consideration)
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
917 September 2008
• Make a prediction of the negative biodiversity impact that could arise from the development
• Assess how this may be reduced through a) avoidance, b) Mitigation and c) rehabilitation/natural recolonisation
• Assess what the residual negative impact is by summing a, b and c
• Create offsets, conservation actions to more than compensate for the residual negative impact resulting in a net positive effect.
The work is carried out by a mixture of in-house experts and external experts with specifically relevant knowledge, some of whom would be local.
Rio Tinto voluntary commitment for net positive effect on biodiversity
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1017 September 2008
Rio Tinto voluntary commitment for net positive effect on biodiversity
BIODIVERSITY VALUES
+
-
-
Avoidance Avoidance Avoidance
Minimisation Minimisation Minimisation Minimisation
Avoidance Avoidance
Rehabilita-tion
Rehabilita-tion
Rehabilita-tion
B1B1B1B1
Offset Offset
ACA*
Improvement in Practice
Net positive impact
Residual impact
* Additional Conservation Actions
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1117 September 2008
• Specific tools are needed and should be developed, such as:
• The work itself is carried out by a mixture of in-house experts and external experts with specifically relevant knowledge, some of whom would be local.
Rio Tinto voluntary commitment for net positive effect on biodiversity
- protocols for establishing significant biodiversity values
- methodology for agreeing type and nature of offsets
- biodiversity action plans
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1317 September 2008
Characteristics of Impact Assessment Approaches
EIA SEA SIA
Subject of assessment
Projects with potentially significant environmental impacts
Plans and programmes (sometimes policies) with potentially significant environmental impacts
Strategies, policies, plans, programmes and projects with potentially significant SD impacts
Frame of reference
Environmental policy Environmental policy NSDSs and/or SD policy frameworks
Scope of assessment
Environmental aspects Environmental aspects, sometimes referring to socioeconomic aspects
SD issues (economic, social and environmental), policy integration as focus
Implementation by governments
Established in a majority of national and regional governments
Established in an increasing number of national and regional governments
Introduced on the EU level and in few European countries, mostly on an experimental basis
It is proposed here that the AA be viewed in the light of the wider SEA and SA, in order to understand the full range of implications of NEEI development in N2K sites.
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1517 September 2008
• Environment: steep hill woodland, with numerous fast-flowing, small rivers
• No ore processing takes place at the mine site.
Minimal environmental disturbance or damage • In 2001 the ore deposit approached exhaustion. Consultations
began with the authorities and local interested parties to close this mine and establish a new similar one nearby.
Case 1: Leucophyllite Underground mine
Kleinfeistritz, Austria
By being open and transparent with stakeholders, including employees the closure of the old mine and the development and opening of the new one proceeded in a smooth way and with no disruption in output to customers.
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1617 September 2008
Before
After
These photos show the creation of the surface infrastructure from the initial logging of the trees to the vegetation of the small land buffer around the site.
Case 1: Leucophyllite Underground mine
Kleinfeistritz, Austria
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1717 September 2008
A 35 ha N2K site is shown close to the workings. Between is a 35 ha zone managed by Natagora, a recognised organisation for the management of natural habitat.
Case 2: Leffe open-cast workings of Gralex Belgium
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1817 September 2008
• Extensive area, over 60 km2 (6000 ha) of previous and current mineral extraction
• large-scale active mineral extraction is taking place right next to previous workings which have been restored
• the continuing NEEI activity is contributing to expansion of one of the habitats most under threat that is wetlands, vital to many species of bird.
• This Action Plan was developed with wide consultation and participation of stakeholders.
• Key habitat facts:
Case 3: Cotswold Water Park, UK
- important site for wintering wildfowl- important for breeding birds - Up to 200 species of bird visit each year- Regionally important dragonfly population
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
1917 September 2008
Aerial view of the Costwold Water Park with the active workings on the right hand side
Case 3: Cotswold Water Park, UK
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
2017 September 2008
• 100 years of production• Neighbouring land has been strongly developed for
agriculture
species diversity declined greatly due to monoculture cash crops together with fertiliser and pesticide use.
• Closure preparation began 2 years prior to the actual closure date and during that time the company worked with all affected parties to achieve satisfactory outcomes in each of the 3 pillars of SD.
Case 4: Azemuth talc mining rural Bavaria, Germany
- alternative employment
- alternative sources of talc supply
- site was the subject of an environmental master plan
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
2117 September 2008
Case 4: Azemuth talc mining rural Bavaria, Germany
Before
After
The site is managed as a nature park and academic studies are being undertaken to monitor biodiversity developments
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
2217 September 2008
Case 4: Azemuth talc mining rural Bavaria, Germany
Before
After
All the mine buildings have been demolished, the concrete surfacing removed and the soil and vegetation re-established.
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
2317 September 2008
5. Integrating Biodiversity into the Mining Project Cycle
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
2417 September 2008
Integrating Biodiversity into the Mining Project CycleINTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO THE INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO THE
MINING PROJECT CYCLEMINING PROJECT CYCLE
System tools & processes can applyAt any stage of the project cycle
Source: ICMM – Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity
Workshop NEEI & Natura 2000
2517 September 2008
Five steps to harmony
A. Design for closure
B. Understanding the baseline
C. Plan the extraction around specific biodiversity outcomes
D. Consider Climate Change
E. Build confidence by volunteering to go beyond the bare minimum and working in partnership