Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

7.6.4 Impact Description and Significance: Summary
Table 7.17 provides a summary of the significant impacts likely to arise during
construction, operation and decommissioning prior to the implementation of
mitigation measures (see Chapter 8).
Table 7.17
Summary of Impact Significance Pre-mitigation
Phase Impact Significance (premitigation)
Construction Potential contamination of water resources Moderate Negative
Potential over-exploitation of groundwater
resources
Insignificant Negative
Operation Potential contamination of water resources Minor Negative
Potential over-exploitation of groundwater
resources
Decommissioning Potential contamination of water resources
Potential over-exploitation of groundwater
resources
Minor Negative
Minor Negative
Insignificant Negative
7.7 BIODIVERSITY
The general ecosystem profile across Edo State is a combination of lowland
rainforest, farm land, and plantations. In keeping with Edo State’s profile the
Project site was found to be largely characterised by secondary forests,
abandoned and functional subsistence and commercial farmland and
plantations (chiefly oil palm and rubber). All ecosystems surveyed
demonstrated a presence of grasses, shrubs and sedges. The plantations are
established as monocultures and hence have relatively low biodiversity.
The interaction of people with the surrounding environment was also evident
across the Project site, including felling of trees for firewood in the
surrounding secondary forests, agricultural activities (mostly typical slash and
burn practice), road construction, dwellings and footpaths. The Project area
and the surrounds have largely been modified by infrastructure projects such
as the neighbouring NIPP plant. The selected location for the Project is
located on degraded and re-growing secondary forest (some of which is
situated in the Ihovbor-Evboeka community), plantations and fallow land.
Although the Project site is not considered an area of high biodiversity status,
some faunal and floral species of ecological significance were identified
during the sampling that was conducted in the Study Area.
AZURA EDO IPP
7-44
DRAFT EIA REPORT