an overview of threats to biodiversity from energy ... · an overview of threats to biodiversity...

An overview of threats to biodiversity from energy development in Oil & Gas and Hydropower Sectors

Dr. Vinod B. MathurProfessor & Dean,

Wildlife Institute of IndiaEmail: [email protected]

IAIA Pre-meeting Course 27-28 May, 2012. Porto, Portugal

The Global Energy Scenario…

Oil and Gas Development: Meeting Global Energy Demands

¨ World energy demand is expected to grow by 66% by 2020, with demand for natural gas doubling in that time frame (IEA World Energy Outlook, 2002)

¨ In the short and medium term, much of that

Source: sandyfordcontinental.com

¨ In the short and medium term, much of that demand will be met by oil and gas

¨ Natural gas will be an important bridging fuel to a renewable energy mix

¨ Challenge to society: Ensure continued global development while managing oil and gas activities to minimize long-term disturbance to valuable ecosystems

Oil and Gas Development: Meeting Global Energy Demands

¨ There are growing signs of conflicts between energy needs and biodiversity values

¨ Many areas that are potentially valuable for oil and gas are also recognized for biodiversity values

¨ Oil and gas development can have a wide range of impacts on biodiversity

Potential impacts of oil and gas projects on biodiversity

Source: Shell, 2002

Oil and Gas Exploration and Marine Turtle Conservation in India

http://www.tnmine.tn.nic.in

Mass Nesting of Olive Ridley Turtle

Ongoing & proposed oil

exploration blocks with

respect to 1

respect to ecologically

sensitive coastal and marine

biodiversity areas

2

3 4

5

67

8

Generalized life cycle of Sea Turtles

Source: http://www.euroturtle.org/biology/lifec.htm

Impact Assessment Study…

¨ To estimate abundance and spatial distribution of adult mating turtles of the mass nesting sites in Orissa to determine their critical marine habitat requirements during breeding season.

¨ To study the movement of satellite tagged turtles in coastal ¨ To study the movement of satellite tagged turtles in coastal water along the east coast of India in Bay of Bengal and beyond.

¨ To determine various other environmental parameters and possible impacts of developmental activities both in marine and coastal nesting habitats and suggest strategies for harmonizing conservation with development.

Fixing of Satellite Transmitters on Olive Ridley Turtles

Movement Patterns of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle May, 2011

Study Outcomes….

¨ Study results have provided precise information about the distribution and movement patterns of Olive Ridley Turtles in spatio-temporal dimension.

¨ The study indicates that pro-active planning and effective co-ordination between sectoral ministeries effective co-ordination between sectoral ministeries is needed for promoting development with conservation.

¨ Application of appropriate modern tools and technology is needed to evaluate conservation significance of sites and for reducing conflicts between conservation and development goals.

Current Trends in Hydropower DevelopmentHydropower Development

Current Trends in Hydropower Development

¨ Large scale hydropower development in the industrialized world has now become almost negligible

¨ In the developing world led by China, India, Brazil ¨ In the developing world led by China, India, Brazil and Nepal investment in hydropower is continuing but there is a stiff opposition due to environmental concerns.

¨ Huge human and livestock population displacement and loss of biodiversity are prime factors against hydropower development


¨ Electricity consumption per person per year

● USA: 12,000 KW hr

● China: 1200 KW hr● China: 1200 KW hr

● India: 500 KW hr

¨ Over 2 billion out of 6 billion people have no access to electricity

World Hydropower

National hydro contributions National hydro contributions

Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2003

Major Hydropower Producers

¨ Canada, 341,312 GWh (66,954 MW installed)

¨ USA, 319,484 GWh (79,511 MW installed)

¨ Brazil, 285,603 GWh (57,517 MW installed)

¨ China, 204,300 GWh (65,000 MW installed) ¨ China, 204,300 GWh (65,000 MW installed)

¨ Russia, 173,500 GWh (44,700 MW installed)

¨ Norway, 121,824 GWh (27,528 MW installed)

¨ Japan, 84,500 GWh (27,229 MW installed)

¨ India, 82,237 GWh (22,083 MW installed)

¨ France, 77,500 GWh (25,335 MW installed)


¨ Over $2 trillion have been invested in hydropower development

¨ Over 80 million people have been displaced world wide due to hydropower development to hydropower development

¨ 25% of GHG is emitted by the vegetation rotting in hydropower reservoirs

¨ 60% of world’s river flows is regulated by over 40,000 large dams and by more than 100 dams with height >150m.

¨ Freshwater species and ecosystems are among the most imperiled by dams.

Major Environmental Impacts of Hydropower Projects

Contributing Impact Description Direct ImpactsHabitat loss ¨ Terrestrial: Flooding of reservoir site; ancillary

infrastructure ¨ Aquatic/riparian: Increased water levels and altered

flow regimes flow regimes Habitat fragmentation ¨ Terrestrial: Access roads and transmission lines and

inundation area ¨ Aquatic/riparian: Can be fragmented by on-river dams.

Direct loss of species ¨ Loss of populations of endemic species when located in the reservoir area;

¨ Drowning of wildlife during filling; ¨ Small populations become isolated (due to habitat

fragmentation or impediments to migration) and at risk of expiration or extinction. more…


Contributing Impact Description Impediments to species migration

¨ Terrestrial: Species migrations impeded by the inundation area and access roads or power line easements.

¨ Aquatic/riparian: Migration impeded by dam construction

Genetic isolation of ¨ Genetic isolation of ecosystems and populations as a Genetic isolation of populations

¨ Genetic isolation of ecosystems and populations as a result of habitat fragmentation or impediments to migration can threaten viability of species.

Invasive species propagation

¨ Terrestrial: Invasive species can be transmitted via access roads, or power transmission lines.

¨ Aquatic/riparian: Vulnerable to invasive species; ¨ Changes to water quality and availability of nutrients can

enhance invasive species growth. Inter-basin transfers of water can facilitate movements of exotic species.

more…


Contributing Impact Description Indirect Impacts Water quality deterioration

¨ Aquatic /riparian: Habitats and species are vulnerable to changes in water quality –

¨ Changes in temperature of released flows, ¨ Salinisation caused by reduced freshwater flows or ¨ Salinisation caused by reduced freshwater flows or

changes to groundwater recharge, or the release of nutrients from decomposing vegetation

Hydrological flow regime changes

¨ Natural flow regimes being replaced by artificial downstream hydrological conditions:

¨ Reducing longitudinal and lateral connectivity, increasing homogeneity of habitats or facilitating the success of invasive species.

more…


Contributing Impact Description

Indirect Impacts

Changes to sediment patterns

¨ Dams retain sediment that is vital for mangrove and coastal ecosystems.

¨ Irregular releases of large amounts of sediments can ¨ Irregular releases of large amounts of sediments can cause erosion and result in loss of aquatic habitat through channel simplification.

Changes to flooding regimes

¨ Effects species that rely on some part of the flood cycle for reproduction, seed dispersal, availability of food sources etc.

more…


Contributing Impact Description

Indirect Impacts

Changes to natural shorelines in riparian

¨ The density of plant species adjacent to new dams and downstream river rebounds but eventually degenerates as a result of substrate erosion and lack shorelines in riparian

ecosystems of species pools. ¨ Absolute number of species is lower along river

because of the narrower, regulated shoreline.

Increased pressure on natural resources

¨ Temporary impacts due to exploitation of natural resources by construction workers;

Impacts of Hydroelectric Dams

Source: StephenLawrence, University of Colorado

Case Example 1: Bodhghat Hydroelectric Project Bodhghat Hydroelectric Project

Case Example 1: Bodhghat Hydroelectric Project

LocationChattisgarh State

Concrete gravity dam height90 m

Total area under submergence13783 ha

Forest area under submergence5704 ha

Rehabilitation42 villages (1748 families)


¨ The Indian wild buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) is an highly endangered species. Population of wild buffalo in Bastar is genetically the purest of all populations of this species in the country.

¨ Of the four relict populations, two population occur in ¨ Of the four relict populations, two population occur in protected areas located in the vicinity of Bodhghat projects.

Wild buffalo(Bubalis bubalis)


¨ The project will jeopardize the survival of one of the two Bastar population by the flooding of the riverbed grassland in the project area that are extensively used by the buffaloes.

¨ The project will have additional impact on wild buffalo of Bhairamgarh Sanctuary located down stream due to heavy Bhairamgarh Sanctuary located down stream due to heavy discharges as a result of peaking power generation.

Submergence of wild buffalo habitat within Bhairamgarh Wildlife

Sanctuary would have been the immediate consequence of

Bodhghat Hydel Project


¨ The direct impacts of submergence of wildlife habitats under Bodhghat and other anticipated projects and the degradation of remnant habitats were seen as most obvious threats to conservation of wild buffalo in a Protected Area (Bhairamgarh)(Bhairamgarh)

¨ Such a project that fails to ensure the ecological security of natural ecosystems and threatens the conservation of critical gene pool resources of endangered species cannot be justified on the economic rationale alone.

¨ The ecological prudence dictated the avoidance of such projects on the basis of the 'precautionary approach' in environmental assessment of development projects.

Case Example 2: Mitigation planning for an Mitigation planning for an

irrigation project in Central India

Case Example 2: Mitigation planning for an irrigation project in Central India

● Protected Area:National Park

● Protected Species:Tiger

● Valued Ecosystems:Forests, Wetlands

● Local Communities:Resource dependent

¨ IA helped to overcome inconsistencies and uncertainties that had constrained decision-making.

¨ IA played a meaningful role in addressing


¨ IA played a meaningful role in addressing biodiversity concerns and thereby facilitating decision making.

¨ IA approach was effective both as a process for mainstreaming biodiversity in developmental planning and as a decision making tool.

Case Example 3: Mahaweli Hydropower Project, Mahaweli Hydropower Project,

Sri Lanka

Case Example 3: Mahaweli Hydropower Project, Sri Lanka

¨ The Mahaweli Hydropower Project is the largest Multi Purpose Development Project ever undertaken in Sri Lanka. Mahaweli Master Plan drawn up during 1964 –1968 for harnessing the waters of the Mahaweli envisaged the development of 365,000 ha for envisaged the development of 365,000 ha for agriculture and installation of 600 MW of Hydro-Power capacity.

¨ The Mahaweli Hydropower Project Area covered 39% of the whole island, 55% of the Dry Zone, and included 60% of the irrigable land area of Sri Lanka.

Case Example 3: Mahaweli Hydropower Project, Sri Lanka¨ The Project was designed to provide irrigation for agriculture

and water for domestic use, generate hydro-power for the whole range of agro-based industry in the Mahaweli areas and elsewhere, provide effective flood control and most importantly open up new land for agriculture development.importantly open up new land for agriculture development.

¨ The Project ignored the impacts of large scale clearing of forests, which were habitats for elephants.

¨ This led to escalation of elephant human conflicts, which till date has not been resolved.

Case Example 3: Mahaweli Hydropower Project, Sri Lanka¨ The anticipated economic developments due to this project

from enhanced agriculture production have led to disastrous ecological imbalance resulting into to a ‘Lose-Lose Situation’.

Source: http://safersrilanka.blogspot.in/Source: http://www.millenniumelephantfoundation.com/projects/habarana/

In ConclusionWhat can Impact Assessment Offer?

¨ A baseline to describe the conservation values of the site

¨ Possible scenarios to go ahead or stop the project

¨ Assessment of risks and their likely mitigation

¨ In essence, a framework for informed decision-making.

an overview of threats to biodiversity from energy ... · an overview of threats to biodiversity...

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