Biodiversity Consultancy Services for the Burullus Power Plant Project

• EEHC is in the process of developing three large combined cycle power plants in Beni Suef, Burullus and New Capital; projects that are to receive finance from financial institutions and are committed to the Equator Principles and IFC PSs. Environics is providing technical environmental, social and biodiversity services within the scope of this project.
• EEHC Burullus Power Plant is under construction within an area that is considered a protected area, a Ramsar Site, an Important Bird Area (IBA) and an Important Plant Area (IPA).
• Within the scope of this project, Environics carried out the following:
  • Ecological Assessment based on implementing extensive ecological surveys providing description and analysis of the:
    • Ecology of the wider area (flora and fauna);
    • Ecology of the project area, and
    • Biodiversity value.
  • Winter Ornithological Survey to monitor and assess the impact of disturbance due to construction activities on wintering birds in adjacent wetland and marine/coastal habitats during the winter season of 2016, which entailed:
    • A bird monitoring program along two transects adjacent to the project site and surveyed bird populations in the main waterbirds habitats along the two transects.
    • Survey design following a sampling approach to maximize the coverage and representation of the key habitats of concern and importance for wintering waterbirds within the Burullus region.
    • Research design relying mainly on Point Counts data collection protocol, and to a lesser extent on opportunistic observations.
    • Environics prepared the study report which included: the methodology, a brief description of the different types of habitat, birds numbers by habitat/location and date, and analysis of the results to show bird population, responses to disturbance and other factors.
• Based on the Ecological Assessment and the Ornithological Survey, a Critical Habitat Assessment was performed.
  • Critical Habitat Assessment, in association with ERM, which:
    • Identified project’s Area of Influence (AoI);
    • Assessed the habitats within the AoI to determine the presence of natural or modified habitat;
    • Assessed the presence of critical habitat, and
    • Carried out an additional assessment of the project in relation to the requirements of IFC PS6 for natural and critical habitats and protected and recognized areas.
• Since the area was assessed as a Critical Habitat (CH), a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was prepared.

• Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), in association with ERM, which:
  • Identified the residual impacts on critical habitat triggers;
  • Identified measures for managing impact on natural habitat, critical habitat and general biodiversity mitigation and monitoring;
  • Included defining required training, awareness and competency, as well as Marine Monitoring Plan.
• Support to BAP Implementation, which entailed:
  • Capacity building for the staff of the Northern Protectorates (Burullus and Ashtoum ElGamil Protectorates), including: Training Needs Assessment (TNA), preparation of a training plan and delivering selected training courses, as well as the Development of Guidelines for the Preparation of a Species Action Plan.  Moreover, training is to be provided to the staff of the Burullus Power Plant.
  • Monitoring surveys of marine bottom fauna.
  • Noise monitoring surveys to determine impact on ecological receptors.
  • Study of the Rehabilitation and Re-vegetation of the Habitats surrounding the project.
  • Preparation of a plan to Raise the Environmental Awareness of the Burullus Local  Community.
  • Preparation of a plan to Support the Development of Alternative Livelihood Activities within the Burullus Community.
• Selection and Preservation of a Burullus Power Plant Offset Area, which entailed:

Phase I – Scoping Study:

• • Preliminary desktop review and analysis of satellite images
  • Selection of a suite of eco-regions and locations along the Mediterranean Coast from which a set of potential offset areas could be selected, as well in the exclusion of other eco-regions and locations.
  • Additional data collection, field activities and interviews with relevant stakeholders resulting in accurate identification of six potential offset areas.
  • Thorough description of each of these areas, including habitat types, flora and fauna, biodiversity value and potential presence of critical habitat triggering species.
  • Ranking of the proposed offset areas in a preferential order based on the findings of the previous activities, according to a set of criteria specifically developed for this project.
  • Identification of two most ecologically similar areas showing the highest compliance to the key ranking criteria, as well as other proposed areas along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Phase 2-Offset Area Preservation Study-El-Showeila:

• • Based on coordination between EEHC and EEAA representatives in October 2018, in which Environics was involved, El-Showeila area located on the Western Mediterranean Coast within Matrouh Governorate, was selected as the offset area for potential future preservation.
  • To that end, Environics carried out a detailed study, which included:
    • Delineation of the offset area boundaries.
    • Data collection, encompassing desktop review and analysis of satellite images; interviews with local stakeholders; field surveys, and identification of constraints.
    • Data analysis (flora and fauna)
    • Detailed description of El-Showeila, encompassing: Eco-geographic location; physical, biological, socio-economic and marine environments, and threats facing the offset area.
    • Assessment of El-Showeila’s value as a Burullus offset area, its value for biodiversity and landscape preservation, and as a potential protected area.
    • Characteristics of the proposed protected area, including its final delineation, proposed management category and proposed protective zones.
    • Preliminary management plan, including: Regulatory framework; Activities prior to the declaration of the protected area; Required staffing and equipment; Specific conservation actions; Monitoring activities, and Review and update of the management plan.
    • Conclusions and recommendations, which discussed the inclusion of marine environment as well as recommended activities.