Download Strategic Environmental Assessment

Strategic Environmental
Assessment
for the
National Adaptation
Strategy
Mary M. Matthews, Ph.D.
Glenroy Ennis
SEA Consultants for European Delegation
Overview
SEA Objectives
SEA Parameters and Direction
Policy & Institutional Framework
Baseline
Alternatives - Sectors
Environmental Concerns for Alternatives
Agriculture
Residential
Industrial
Recommendations for improving conditions
and reducing costs
Discussion
Strategic Environmental
Assessment Objectives
To identify concerns, priorities and roles of
key stakeholders pertaining to the specific
planning, programme and policy making
process
To identify negative environmental impacts
and positive environmental effects of the
divestment from Caroni (1975) Ltd.
To make recommendations within the current
institutional context towards more sustainable
and beneficial environmental efforts.
SEA Parameters
Caroni (1975) Ltd.
Affected areas and issues
Assessment within context of what is already
being done
Agriculture - Mega Farms & 2 Acre Plots
Residential - EMBD Housing Estates
Industrial - E-Teck and NEC Plans
Methodology Used
Policy & Institutional
Framework
Vision 2020 Development Strategy
Environmental Policy and Institutional
Frameworks
Agricultural Policy and Institutional
Frameworks
Residential Policies and Plans
Energy and Industrial Policies and
Strategies
Wide Range Planning Mechanisms
(WASA, Town & Country, International Etc.)
Baseline
Caroni (1975) Ltd. Properties
Prior to 2004
Baseline Environmental Issues
ISSUES
BASELINE CONDITIONS
Water
 Rain fed crops (predominantly)
 River withdrawal ponds
 Water generated from sugar processing
 WASA potable water – Small for residential
Soil
 Acidic, heavy urea fertilizers
 Poor soil structure
 Minimal erosions
 Agro chemical application
Air Quality
 Fly ash in sugar mills (scrubber)
 Aerial spraying
 Burning and particulate matter
Climate
Change
 CO2 sequestration in sugarcane
 Burning release CO
Bio Diversity
 Mono culture
 Aerial Spraying/pesticide use resulting in:
 Loss of fauna – birds and fish, mammals and reptiles
 Loss of beneficial insects
 Food web disruptions
Baseline Social Issues
ISSUES
Baseline Conditions
Human Health
 Frequent medical check ups for workers
 Affordable health facilities available
Social Inclusiveness
 Direct and indirect employment
 Provide social amenities
 Social infrastructural development
 More cohesive communities “company towns”
Cultural Heritage
Landscape
 Preserve little cultural heritage
 Deterioration of sugar estate
 Deterioration of sports club
Economics
 Employment driven economy 7000+ employees
 Dependence on subsidies
 Access to economic security
 Good apprenticeship programme
Material Assets
 Ongoing infrastructure network
 Ongoing maintenance programme
 Generated power and water
Caroni Land Allocation
Acres
13 Mega Farms
2,263
2 Acre Plots
Caroni Non-cane Agriculture
Agricultural Squatters
Existing Tenants
39 EMBD Residential Estates
NEC Industrial Estate
6 E-Teck Industrial Estates
Unassigned Lands
Total
20,319
11,109
4,222
11,861
4,053
3,500
578
16,703
76,608
Agricultural Impacts - Env.
CONCERNS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - Agriculture
Water
- Increase demand for water resources
- Increase pressure on aquifer
- Silting of waterways due to erosion
- Susceptible to flooding events
Soil
- Short term crop lowers soil fertility
- Frequent tillage and erosion
- Loss of useful soil organisms
Air Quality
+ Improved due to a lack of burning of cane
- Potential problems with excessive agro chemical
uses
Climate Change
- Loss of sugarcane as a carbon sink
+ Improvement of other carbon sequestering crops
Bio Diversity
+ Improved biodiversity health without aerial
spraying of pesticide/herbicide
+ Increase in beneficial insects
Agricultural Impacts - SocioEcon
CONCERNS
SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS - Agriculture
Human Health
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
+ Increase in access to affordable foods
Social Inclusiveness
+ Strengthening farming communities
+ Improved inclusion of segments of society
into agriculture - schools, labor, etc.
Cultural Heritage
Landscape
+ Maintaining cultural linkages to agriculture
Economics
+ Guaranteed market for farm produce
+ Increase rural income & employment
+ Strengthened agricultural enterprises
Material Assets
- Demands on existing infrastructure
- Potential demand on water infrastructure
+ Possible use of grey water/ drainage water
Residential Impacts - Env.
CONCERNS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS - Residential
Water
- Increase flooding and silting of waterways
- Increase water consumption
- Potential sewerage overflows during storms
Soil
- Erosion (wind and rain)
- Lack of recharge/flooding due paving
- Contamination runoff from automobiles etc
Air Quality
- Increased dust during clearing and construction
- Particulate matter
- Fumes from building, painting, operation
Climate Change
- Increased energy consumption, air conditioning etc
- Loss of carbon sinks
Bio Diversity
- Loss of habitats
- Loss of indigenous flora and fauna
Residential Impacts - SocioEcon
CONCERNS
SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACT - Residential
Human Health
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
+ Improved living conditions
Social Inclusiveness
- Neighborhood “adjustments period”
+ Improved social networking
Cultural Heritage
Landscape
+ Stronger community
- Loss of “natural” landscapes
- Potential vacant lot syndromes, dumping
Economics
+ Construction sector employment
+ Increase in personal capital investment
+ Strengthened agricultural enterprises
Material Assets
+ Improved infrastructure development
- Increase demand on existing
infrastructural systems (road, water,
electricity)
Industrial Impacts - Env
CONCERNS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - Industrial
Water
- Increase flooding due to paving
- Contaminated surface & ground water
- Increase demand on water resources
- Increased effluent discharges
Soil
- Soil contamination due to spills,
- Soil Erosion in construction
- Decline in soil quality, increase silting due to
construction
Air Quality
- Increased emissions
- Increase particulate matter during construction
Climate Change
- Loss of carbon sinks
- Increase use of energy and Carbon Emissions
Bio Diversity
- Loss of habitats and sensitive species
- Potential impacts on sensitive coastal estuaries
Industrial Impacts - SocioEcon
CONCERNS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - Industrial
Human Health
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
- Noise pollution
Social Inclusiveness
+ Increased workforce opportunities
Cultural Heritage
Landscape
- Potential damage to coastal landscapes
Economics
+ Improved employment opportunities
+ Growth of GDP and downstream industry
+ Strengthened industrial enterprises
Material Assets
- Increase demands of existing
infrastructure - roads, water, power
- New infrastructure developments required
Recommendations for Mitigation
& Enhancement Macro Level
Integrated Water Resource Management
Plan with all impacting and affected sectors
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy with
realistic and realizable objectives
Socio-economic Assessment, focusing on
Labor Availability and Capacity Needs
Assessment specific for each sector
Recommendations for Mitigation
- Agricultural
Sustainable Agriculture and
Environment Education Programme at
all levels
Concerted soil remediation and water
retention management scheme
Interagency/ multi-stakeholder capacity
building efforts for low impact, high
yield sustainable agriculture
Recommendations for Mitigation &
Enhancement - Residential
Increase mixed use, high occupancy
dwellings with enhanced green spaces
surroundings
Incorporation of social infrastructure with
development plans and responsibilities for
development assigned
Institutionalize access to Green Fund for
local/individual kitchen, community gardens,
and park developments
Recommendations for Mitigation &
Enhancement - Industrial
Enhanced use of Best Available
Technologies, including citing of industry for
all new industries
Develop mixed use facilities with significant
green buffer zones to all water ways
Consult with local stakeholders to enhance
the social support for projects early on and
incorporate their suggestions into project
design (social infrastructure)
Questions
and
Comments
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