Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 15
54. The public participation has played a very important role in the EIA and project design. For
example, the width of the road from Jinniuping to Caihulu via Shouyangshan, in the in-situ area, has been
reduced from 6 m to 1.5 m with a saving of about USD 1.7 million. Some of the other proposals like
hotspring resorts in Meidenbao and Dianzhen, scientific research base in Fenghuangling, cable-car project
in the in-situ area have been cancelled, saving costs of about USD 2 million. To minimize the potential
impact on the aquatic ecosystem, the proposed 20 km riverbank engineering proposal was also deleted
from the Project. All these adjustment will not only save the project cost, but reduce the potential
environmental impact on the fragile ecosystem in the PA and contribute to a sustainable and cost effective
investment.
CONCLUSIONS
55. The analysis undertaken in this SIEE indicates that the majority of the Project’s impacts are
environmentally beneficial; many of the project’s activities are explicitly designed to have a large and
positive impact on securing long-term biodiversity conservation and sustainability in the QM. Some minor
adverse impacts are associated with the Project, mainly related to construction activities; all of these can be
mitigated by appropriate measures. It is therefore concluded that no Environmental Impact Assessment is
required.
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