| Abstract: | This report is based on the on-going and proposed coastal protection works in Angasana
Ihuru Island Resort. Ihuru island is located in Kaafu atoll, 17 km and 20 minutes speed boat
ride away from the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in Hulhule’. The operations of the
island are under Angsana Hotels and Resorts, which is managed by the renowned Banyan
Tree group.
An Environmental Impact Assessment was necessary for the works outlined in this report as
they fall under the Schedule D of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012
of the Maldives. In addition to meeting the regulatory requirements, the report would further
assist the proponent and important stakeholders to make decisions based on favourable
environmental conditions with the main focus on sustainability.
The coastal management project is divided into three main components including; Pumping
sand from the beach, importing sand to the island bought from local suppliers, construction
of temporary groynes.
In order to ensure a uniform volume of beach is available all around the island for its guests
throughout the year, the operators have been undertaking an occasional sand pumping
operation in the island. Sand had been pumped from the area, which undergoes the
maximum accretion on a particular season, to where the maximum erosion had occurred.
However, this method is only used when they are not able to maintain the beach using
temporary groynes field alone. Sand pumping is a last resort occasional action taken in
order to maintain the beach.
Sand filled nylon bags are laid side by side perpendicular to the shoreline in the form of
groynes. As such, a groyne field is made around the island in an arc facing SW during the
SW monsoon and NE during the NE monsoon. The groynes are relocated depending on the
seasonal variation to the long shore sediment transport. Sand used for the sand bags are
bought from local contractors who mine sand from designated lagoons without the use of
any machinery. However, a small volume of sand is bought annually and there have been
occasions where sand has been obtained from the beach to fill the bags.
Under the Ministry of Fisheries, and Agriculture’s Regulation on Coral, Sand and
Aggregate Mining, sand mining from the beaches have been banned irrespective of the
activities the sand is used for. Therefore, in the process of undertaking this Environmental
Impact Assessment, the operator has decided to stop the sand pumping operation all
together and depend entirely on temporary groynes for beach nourishment and on importing
sand to the island in severe cases of erosion.
EIA for Coastal Protection Works at Ihuru Island Resort
viii
The overall environmental impacts of the project have been assessed using frameworks
found on literature and the results indicate that the proposed project has a net positive
impact. However, there are some significant impacts on the environment during the
construction phase of the project and these needs to be mitigated to avoid any significant
damage to the environment. Significance of the impacts and mitigation measures have been
provided based on previous similar projects undertaken in the Maldivian environment and
based on literature. Apart from the sand pumping operation, the project does not have any
significant impact on the environment. In general, soft engineering techniques as used for
this project are favourable to the environment and it is the wish of the operators that such
techniques be employed as much as possible without resorting to hard engineering
solutions.
Alternatives, including the no project option and alternatives for each project component
have been given. The most significant alternative is to entertain the no project option for the
sand pumping operation, as it leads to significant detrimental effects. Alternative designs
have been given special emphasis in the report. As such, the possibility of utilising hard
engineering solutions are discussed including, creations of near shore breakwaters, rock
revetments and creating feeder headlands. Eventually, the original project methodologies
for the temporary groyne construction are recommended, however with a change in design.
Additionally a new component to the project has been recommended in the form of closing
2 existing channels previously made in the islands reef.
It is recommended to continue to monitor the impacts of the proposed project by regular
monitoring of shorelines and near shore currents and the changing marine environment. A
two stage monitoring plan is given, which recommends monthly monitoring during the 1st
year and less frequent monitoring for the next 5 years. Undertaking the monitoring, along
with the mitigation measures is necessary to ensure the sustainable development of the
project with minimum harm to the environment.
It is thus recommended that given the positive socio economic and environmental impacts
from the project far outweighs the negative impacts, and since the project has major socioeconomic
benefits and environmental benefits, it is advisable to allow the project to proceed
as proposed. |
