Environmental impact assessment for the partial renovation and upgrading works of Six Senses Laamu, L. Olhuveli

Abstract

1. The present report is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regarding the partial renovation and upgrading works projected on Olhuveli Island in Laamu Atoll. The report has been developed in compliance with the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives (Law No. 4/93, article 5a) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 requiring such an assessment study before implementation of any activity that may have a significant impact on the environment. The assessment exposes the solutions and preferred alternatives as well as mitigation measures to minimize any negative impacts whilst trying to derive the maximum positive impacts from the project. 2. Laamu Six Senses is looking to upgrade its facilities with some modifications over the current building scheme. Essentially the upgrade is required in order to diversify the current facilities looking forward to meet the existing tourist demand. 3. The present EIA is assessing the construction of improvements in several villas at the resort with the construction of swimming pools and minor modifications. 4. Olhuveli is located on the southern part of Laamu atoll. The fact of being placed in the southern rim of the atoll implies that the island is exposed to strong swell wave interaction all year around, whether it is NE or SW monsoon. 5. 6 photographic transects were used to assess the benthic cover of 6 sites. Each picture was analysed using 25 point grids to obtain quantitative substrate cover data of morphological characteristics of the reef community. The main substrate encountered on the hard substrate reef of L. Olhuveli was rock with 45.40±7.87%. On the northern side of the house reef live coral cover is slightly superior, varying between 30% and 50.4%. On the south side, live coral cover varies between 39.6% and 29.6%. 6. For the fish community survey, data was collected using the methodology outlined by FishWatch Maldives, where 3 x 15 minute fish counts were carried out at each site. Surveyed area is a band of 2.5m on either side of the recorder and 5m up the water column. Surveys were carried out at 3 different depths (5, 10 and 20 meters) on 2 different sites. 39 of the 76 FishWatch target species were recorded among 17 families. Surprisingly no large schools of fish were observed. At the family level, the Chaetodontidae were the most abundant (28.15%) followed by the Serranidae (26.29%). 11 out of the 16 species of Serranidae were represented in this survey, which would be considered as a diverse collection from this family. At the species level, species on the target list with the greatest density were Chaetodon auriga (11.88%) and Zanclus cornutus (10.63%). 7. The main potential environmental impacts identified associated with the new structures are construction impacts, in relation to the construction works themselves (loss of habitat, temporary rise in turbidity and modification or damages to the seabed through direct physical damage). 8. A monitoring plan has been proposed in order to assess the impact of the works over the years and long term changes to the environmental conditions. The plan will aid in implementing mitigation measures during construction and operation of the project. 9. The no-project scenario will lead to the lack of updated facilities for the resort’s operation. 10. Alternatives to the proposed project have been studied -including different locations of the buildingsfinding many disadvantages. 11. Mitigation measures will be adopted for each of the impacts mentioned. 12. Monitoring to determine the efficiency of the mitigation measures and environmental impact monitoring will be carried out under the supervision of environmental consultants.