| Abstract: | This EIA report is prepared in accordance with Environmental Impact Assessment
Regulations, 2007 under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law No. 4/93).
The purpose of this EIA is to fulfill the requirement of the Law and to conduct an assessment
of possible impacts on biophysical and human environment arising from proposed
development project at Vattaru island (in Noonu Atoll, Maldives) as a farming and
aquaculture island. The project is proposed by Husna Abdul Latheef, Ma. Vavathi, Buruzu
Magu, Male’ 20177, Republic of Maldives.
Vattaru is one of the several islands leased on Varuva and proposed for development by the
lessee through submission of a detail development proposal to Ministry of Fisheries,
Agriculture and Marine Resources to develop agriculture in the country. The island is leased
for 21 years by Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resourses.
The main construction activities of the proposed project involves creating safe access to the
island, deepening of navigation channels in the lagoon, construction of a jetty, deepening of
a mooring area adjacent to the jetty, clearance of land for cultivation of vegetables and
fruits and floriculture, poultry farming, goat rearing, building accommodation and facilities
clearing walk paths for the operation of the project and aquaculture of sea cucumber. The
Kulhi in north of the island will be used for sea cucumber aquaculture. In addition the
eroding area of the beach will be restored by filling in the eroding areas with sand for
coastal protection. Construction activities will be completed within one year from the start
of the construction phase.
The main operation activities will be cultivation of vegetables, fruits, flowers, poultry
farming, goat rearing and storage and transportation of these products to nearby islands,
Male’ and to the resorts that will be developed in the atoll in future. In addition sea
cucumber will be cultured, processed packed and transported to Male’ for export.
Implementation of the proposed project will last for 20 years.
Location
The proposed agriculture and aquaculture development project is located in the island of
Vattaru in Noonu Atoll at 5°40’17.22”N and 73°23’15”E. The nearest airport is Hinimaadhoo
Airport approximately 122km north of Vattaru. Male” International Airport is approximately
167km south of Vattaru.
The closest islands to the project location are; inhabited islands of Manadhoo the capital of
the atoll (population 1428) approximately 11km northeast, Magoodhoo (population 325)
approximately 12km north, Miladhoo (population 1237) approximately 13km north,
Velidhoo (population 2100) approximately 12km east, Holhudhoo (population 1885) approximately 16km northwest and Lhohi (population 683) approximately 16km north of
Vattaru.
The closest uninhabited islands leased for tourism development to the project location are
Randheli approximately 6km northwest and Medhafushi approximately 11km northwest of
Vattaru.
The project location, Vattaru island is located on southern rim of Noonu Atoll. Vattaru is
formed within a separate coral reef system (within a separate Falhu). Any part of Madulu
island or reef is not included in the list of sites requiring special protection.
Alternative developments
Various alternatives to the proposed development have been suggested in this study
including alternative location for the jetty, a smaller scale project, alternative. The proposed
location was found to the most appropriate in terms of minimizing negative environmental
and maximizing social positive impacts. No development option can have negative socioeconomic impacts as the economic opportunities for the locals will not be created if no
development option was selected.
Key impacts
Key negative impacts of the preferred development option of the proposed project are
related to a few development activities. Approximately 4% of the marine and terrestrial
environment will be physically impacted from mobilization of equipment and materials. Less
than 1% of the reef will be impacted from reef clearance. Approximately 13% of the lagoon
water will be impacted due to turbidity increase due to channels and mooring area
deepening. Approximately 9% of the Kulhi in north of the island will be impacted due to
deepening of Kulhi for sea cucumber culturing. Approximately 3% of the coastal vegetation
maybe impacted due to beach filling in for coastal protection. Approximately 4% of the
vegetation may be impacted due to construction of buildings, structures and facilities.
Partial vegetation clearance will impact approximately 43% and total vegetation clearance
impact approximately 2% of the island vegetation. The most significant impacts were
identified as vegetation clearance and deepening of channels and the Kulhi.
Long-term ecological impacts of the proposed project can assessed through long-term
monitoring of the entire island environment in relation to the proposed development and
operation. Thus an on-going monitoring programme will be conducted in order to assess the
long-term ecological impacts of the proposed project. |
