Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/4277
Title: Environment impact assessment for the proposed tourist resort and marina development project in Madivaafaru Island, Raa Atoll
Authors: CDE Consulting
Keywords: Project description
Policy and legal framework
Existing environment
Impacts identification
Significant impacts and mitigation measures
Alternatives
Environmental monitoring plan
Environmental management plan
Stakeholder consultations
Potential data gaps and assessment limitations
Issue Date: Apr-2014
Citation: CDE Consulting. (2014). Environment impact assessment for the proposed tourist resort and marina development project in Madivaafaru Island, Raa Atoll. Male': Maldives
Abstract: The purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed resort and marina development project in Madivaafaru Island, Raa Atoll. Madivaafaru Island was initially leased for tourism in 2011 in conjunction with the proposed airport development project in Ifuru. Both these islands were awarded on the condition that Ifuru Island Airport be operational before the resort opens. Ifuru airport is nearing completion and is scheduled to open in mid-2014. The proponent of this project is Ifuru Investments Pvt Ltd. The project is a joint venture between the Government of Maldives and Ifuru Investments to partly to ensure that the Ifuru airport is operation and partly to ensure that more beds are operational in Raa Atoll. The main rationale for the project is to develop tourism in the outer atolls of the Maldives to increase the tourism bed capacity and their contribution to the local and national economic growth. Tourism development lags behinds in Raa Atoll and this project is expected to increase the speed of development in the atoll. The objective of this project is to develop and operate a five star resort on Madivaafaru Island. The project broadly involves development and operation a stand-alone 56 bed resort and a 24 berth marina. The proposed project covers nine main components: construction of island transport infrastructure; construction of the back-of-the-house and administrative infrastructure; construction of guest rooms; construction of guest facilities; construction of utilities – sewerage, power and water infrastructure; construction of a 24 berth marina; Landscaping and; resort operations. The project is estimated to take 24 months to complete. All project designs are in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Decentralization Act, Tourism Act, tourism resort development regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees and Dewatering Regulation. Approvals have been granted for the concept by the Ministry of Tourism. Further approvals are required before construction and operations. An approval is required for the proposed channel clearing activity under the Dredging and Reclamation Regulation. Madivaafaru Island is a small island approximately 300 m long and 90 m wide, and has a land area of approximately 2.1 Ha within vegetation and 3 Ha within high tide line in March 2014. The island is generally in pristine condition, apart from its terrestrial environment. Its vegetation is very young comprising mainly of coastal littoral shrubs and a few introduced trees. The water quality is poor. It has deep lagoon and a natural reef entrance which is to be used for the marina development. Its reef condition is good on the eastern side but poor on the western side. One of the most important finding from this assessment is the volatility of the coastal environment particularly during the last 5 years. Over the last two years the impacts have been so dramatic that most of the structures initially planned on land based on 2012 studies are now all in the water. The size of the island combined with the volatility of beach environment makes it a very unsafe island to build land based structures closer to the beach. Given the limited land area, not building closer to the beach is also not an option. This island is highly vulnerable to climate change and potential sea level rise and could be among the first group islands that are severely affected. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with resort development in Maldives. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be the loss of live coral colonies due to reef entrance clearance, removal of limited vegetation, excavation and dewatering, changes to coastal processes due to coastal developments, degradation of the terrestrial and marine environment due to the worker activities, lost marine life due to overwater construction and disposal of waste. Main social impacts include potential conflicts with the atoll public if equal job opportunity is not available for construction stage or operations stage of the resort. Negative impacts during operations stage are the impacts on marine flora and fauna due to potentially high number of vessels using the lagoon and marina, impacts on the beach due significant erosion and accretion patterns and social impacts associated with foreign workers or general lack of opportunities. Apart from the impacts from this project on the environment, the coastal environment itself will have a major impact on the project itself. Severe erosion is likely to continue and if left unprotected, it will pose serious challenges and economic losses for the operation of the property. If the coastal structures are erected, it will reduce the aesthetic beauty of the island and will permanently later the coastal processes. The project mainly has positive socio-economic benefits, including increased direct and indirect job opportunities and tourism growth. The key mitigation measures proposed for the construction stage include finding options to mitigate severe erosion on the island. Uncontrolled erosion would have significant financial costs on the investment and will face severe erosion issues during operation stage. A number of mitigation measures have been proposed in this assessment to mitigate the most significant impacts associated with the development, including reef clearance, worker activities, vegetation removal, marine construction, excavation works and utilities operation. Alternatives options were evaluated for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on the project. The most important finding is that the environmental and financial costs of going forward with this project on Madivaafaru Island is higher than considering an alternative site. Alternative islands have been suggested for the project including Kottefaru, Naainfaru and Faarufushi. Other alternatives considered, should the project goes ahead in Madivaafaru, includes an extensive coastal protection system, alternative options for reef entrance, alternative methods for dredging and changes to site plan. It has been recommended to move this project to a more stable and slightly larger island. Consultations were held with the island councils and public of Ugoofaaru, Dhuvaafaru and Maakurathu. This project has strong support from the island communities and all site plans have been seen by the Island Councils. There is a general dissatisfaction due to the slow pace of resort development projects in the atoll. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition, provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical environment as well as operational aspects of the resort. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between US$15,000 per year. The main conclusion of this report is to relocate the proposed development to another island on grounds of its small size, coastal instability and future vulnerability to erosion hazards and climate change. It is also recommended to designate the island as a sensitive coastal environment and to prevent any physical developments on the island for the next 10 years. However, given the financial implications and legal complications that may be associated with such a drastic action, the final decision should rest on the outcome of a discussion between the proponent and the Ministry of Tourism. Should the project go ahead, extensive shore protection will be necessary and proponent should accept coastal adaptation may be an ongoing expenditure during operation as well.
URI: http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/4277
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