ADB Kyrgyz Republic CAREC Transport Corridor 1 BNT3 (2013-2016 Category A)

The Ecological Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) was completed to avoid and minimize ecological impacts in the CAREC corridor using a “no regrets” approach throughout the Chatyr-Kul protected area and national park. The International Projects Implementation Group within the ministry (IPIG in MOTC) were advised over a three year period on the planning and implementation of environmental and ecological safeguards for the Project adjacent to the Chatyr-Kul RAMSAR site; a wetland of international ecological importance on the border of Kyrgyz Republic (KGZ) and PRC. Regular interaction for resettlement issues and review of Resettlement Action Plans were included in the updated EMMP for monitoring, auditing and optimum safeguards management. Comprehensive ecological monitoring was coordinated with the local university covering habitats, birds, mammals, insects and stream benthos. Instrumented monitoring for water quality, noise and air emissions was coordinated with the Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC). During construction a legitimate and effective method for assessing the environmental status of habitats and ecosystems is by accounting species, numbers and distribution of birds. Birds respond first to environmental changes taking place in meteorology, vegetation, increased habitat disturbance, availability of prey species and vegetable foods. Using birds as indicatory species a baseline can be created against which future environmental changes to the ecosystem can be tracked indirectly through changes in the composition and diversity of the avian communities, being symptomatic of changes of environmental factors. The method uses counts of most common bird species of birds that can also help to organize the monitoring and evaluation of ecosystems by staff of nature reserves, as well as by zoologists during field work. Indirectly changes to birds populations can indicate changes to the condition of the host ecosystem and the degree of preservation or destruction by human activity. Such assessment was promulgated for conservation management being indicative of the degree of success of conservation measures and allows investigation of adequate ways to prevent and reduce risks of deterioration to the natural environment. Construction materials supply was complicated in such a remote protected area and detailed borrow pit management plans were prepared and supervised. Spill retention ponds were amended to the road design (servicing the established “no regrets” principle) and emergency response planning and training were completed for the local MOTC operational staff. Capacity development was provided for national nature reserve staff and management, contractors and national consultants. Due to the contractors limited environmental awareness and language abilities a “checklist” approach borrow pit environmental management spoil disposal and rehabilitation was developed (for implementation by the CSC) with significant success. Technical assistance also provided for the research, selection, sourcing and provision of portable specialist monitoring equipment and training including a mobile field laboratory. The implementation of safeguards for compliance with ADB safeguard policies was monitored throughout the construction and into the defects notification period. Site clean-up and restoration plans (SCURP) were implemented and monitored. Environmental documents were updated to reflect the improvements in design and construction requirements. Dr David Green led the ecological element of the environmental work stream, in close coordination with the CSC and IPIG safeguards teams, compiling all updated environmental reports in line with ADB procedures and checking compliance versus ADB safeguard policies. The environmental workstream was also subject to independent third party monitoring.