Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project (RRP CAM 51159-002)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Draft

April 2019

Cambodia: Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project Stung Chinit South Subproject

Prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology for the Asian Development Bank.

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS

(as of 8 April 2019)

Currency unit – riel (KR)

KR 1.00 = $0.00025

$1.00 = KR 4,050

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB – Asian Development Bank

BAP – Biodiversity Action Plan

CDRA – climate and disaster risk assessment

DRR – disaster risk reduction

EIA – environmental impact assessment

EMO – environmental management officer

EMP – environmental management plan

FFS – farmer field school

FWUC – farmer water user community

GHG – greenhouse gas

IBBA – Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

IFC – International Finance Corporation

IPM – Integrated Pest Management

IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature

JOROP – Joint Reservoir Operation

KPI – key performance indicator

MAFF – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

MOE – Ministry of Environment

MOWRAM – Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

NCDM – National Committee for Disaster Management

NTSPL – Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape

O&M – operation and maintenance

PDWRAM – Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology

PMIC – project management and implementation consultant

PMU – project management unit

PPCU – project public complaint unit

PRC – People’s Republic of China

SEMP – site environmental management plan

SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement

SRP – Sustainable Rice Platform

TRTA – transaction technical assistance

USEPA – United States Environmental Protection Agency

WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society

WRIS – water resources information system

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

ha – hectare

km – kilometer

m – meter

m3 – cubic meter

mm – millimeter

NOTES

In this report, “$” refers to United States dollars.

This environmental impact assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not

necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in

nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. Background

1. This environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been prepared as part of the feasibility studies for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project (the project).

2. The project will assist the Government of Cambodia to: (i) rehabilitate, modernize, and climate proof four irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Takeo provinces; (ii) ensure sustainability of irrigation schemes by strengthening institutional and financial arrangements as well as capacity of the government staff and farmer water user communities (FWUCs) in operations and maintenance; (iii) improve farming practices for increased agriculture productivity and crop diversification; and (iv) improve water resources information system, and irrigation asset management system for better water resources planning and investment.

3. The project will have two outputs: (i) efficiency and climate resilience of irrigation systems enhanced; and (ii) water resource management improved

4. This EIA and the environmental management plan (EMP) are for the Stung Chinit South irrigation subproject in Kampong Thom Province. Investments in the subproject will combine civil works to rehabilitate and modernize canals and drainage channels and support FWUC activities and capacity building for farmers on water resource management. This will provide robust infrastructure for the irrigation of both wet and dry season crops. Works at the water source point (repair and/or consolidation of the Stung Chinit reservoir wall and/or spillway) will safeguard long- term water availability.

B. Regulatory Framework for Environmental Impact Assessment

5. ADB projects are assigned to an environment category depending on the significance of the potential environmental impacts and risks. Stung Chinit South is classified as Category A because there is a significant risk of induced adverse impacts through extension of irrigation into critical bird habitat to the west of the command area and on a precautionary basis, such impacts are considered irreversible. An EIA, including an EMP is required under the ADB Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS) (2009).

6. Since the project (comprising four subprojects) involves the refurbishment of existing irrigation infrastructure providing and servicing a combined command area in excess of the threshold of 5,000 hectares (ha) under Royal Government of Cambodia Sub-decree No. 72 ANRK.BK, environmental approval is required under that statute. Baseline data and impact assessments for this are provided by the transaction technical assistance (TRTA) EIA and social and poverty impact assessments. Khmer language versions of the TRTA environmental document executive summaries have been provided to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM). MOWRAM will obtain subproject approvals from the Ministry of Environment prior to civil works contractor mobilization.

C. The Subproject

7. The Stung Chinit South subproject has been subject to full due diligence examination on all aspects of feasibility, including technical, economic, environment and social safeguards,

climate change and disaster vulnerability, irrigation efficiency and water productivity.

Figure 1: Project Location

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA Consultants 2018.

8. Investments in the subproject will combine civil works to rehabilitate and modernize canals and drainage channels with support for FWUC establishment and activities and capacity building for farmers on water resource management. The planned increases in irrigated cropping during wet and dry seasons are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Planned Increases in Irrigation for the Subproject

Subproject Province

Existing Command Area (ha)

New Command Area (ha)

Wet Season and

Recession

Dry Season

Cumulative Total Irrigated

Wet Season and

Recession Dry Season

Cumulative Total

Irrigated

Stung Chinit South

Kampong Thom

16,000 1,200 17,200 16,000 6,000 22,000

ha = hectare. Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Reports, TRTA Consultants 2018.

9. To provide irrigation services to achieve these cropping targets at the Stung Chinit South subproject, the following infrastructure facilities will be improved and upgraded: (i) Stung Chinit South main canal and associated structures; (ii) 10 secondary canals and 5 tertiary canals; and (iii) regulatory irrigation and drainages structures. It also includes rehabilitation of the spillway at the Stung Chinit reservoir. This latter work is preventative repair, since the base of the spillway is being undercut by turbulent water and if left untreated will ultimately fail. Repairing the spillway will have no effect on the irrigation system, irrigated areas or yield, but will have potential construction impacts which require management.

D. Baseline Environment

10. Geology and soils. The majority of the Stung Chinit South subproject area is mainly Alluvial Plain Deposits which have weathered in situ to a gley plinthic acrisol under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization soil classification.1 There are small intrusions of Peneplain Laterite Deposits and these weather to a plinthic acrisol. Both soils are sandy and

1 From the Japan International Cooperation Agency 2005 soil landscape mapping, using UN Food and Agriculture

Organization soil classification system.

extremely low in organic matter content. They are low in soil fertility to support short-term crops and, because of their sandy nature, are susceptible to drought and losses of surface applied nutrients by leaching. Along the western boundary, the geology changes to extensive Lake Bed Deposits associated with previous levels of Tonle Sap. It is on these deposits, with decreasing elevation, that flooded grassland-dominated landscapes occur.

11. Land-use and natural resources. The entire command area of Stung Chinit South is devoted to rice paddy and small village gardens. There are many villages within the command area, with National Route 6 passing through the area. The wet season rice crop is 16,000 ha but in the dry season, due to diminishing levels of water in the main and secondary canals, only 1,200 ha are grown. 80% of farmers grow a wet season crop while only about 7.5% grow a second dry season crop.

12. In the southern part of the command area, vegetation along the main and secondary canals is Acacia auriculiformis (Black wattle), Acacia obliquefolia (Madras thorn), Zizyphus mauritania (Indian jujube) and Jatropha gossypiifolia (Bellyache bush). Few trees grow along paddy dykes in the south and these are mainly Zizyphus jujube and Jatropha gossypiifolia. In the north of the command area the main and secondary canals are often lined with Pandanus humilis, with Borassus flabellifera (Sugar palm) scattered among the paddies. In the central section of the main canal where it passes through a rocky landscape there is potential for more impacts to vegetation along the banks due to the more extensive excavation required, and special note was taken of the vegetation. It included Zizyphus jujube (Indian jujube), Jatropha gossypiifolia (Bellyache bush), Calotropis giganteum (Crown flower), Uvaria sp. (Custard apple), and Borassus flabellifera (Sugar palm).

13. Biodiversity. None of the flora species recorded for the subproject is listed as threatened nationally or on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The Stung Chint South subproject landscape does, however, include some important sites for fauna. Screening using Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool2 showed that the subproject lies between 1 kilometer (km) and 6 km to the east of the Baray and Taing Kork section of the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape (NTSPL), and is directly adjacent to the larger Stung Sen, Santuk, and Baray Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBBA) which encompasses the Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL. The NTSPL and IBBA are characterized by seasonally-inundated grassland.

14. In order to better understand project risks to critical habitat, a specialist report3 was commissioned by the TRTA. The report found that local people have seen floricans within 1.5 km of the subproject boundary. Given this, a second survey for endangered birds with more extensive and systematic field survey and structured interviews was commissioned by ADB.4 This survey confirmed presence of critical breeding habitat for Bengal florican in the IBBA, just 1 km - 2 km west of the command area.

15. The IBBA includes critical habitat for the globally critically endangered Bengal florican and possibly for the globally critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting. The IBBA and command area also support an additional globally critically endangered bird species (white-shouldered ibis) outside of the breeding season, as well as a number of other globally threatened species

2 International Biodiversity Assessment Tool is a multi-institutional programme of work involving BirdLife International,

Conservation International, IUCN, and United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre which provides a geographical- and data-based decision support tool.

3 H. Chamnan. 2018. Rapid Environmental Assessment Report for Kampong Thom Province. Unpublished. 4 Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

(Table 2).

Table 2: Bird Species of Conservation Concern Known from the Baray and Taing Kork Section of the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape

Species IUCN Red List Status

Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) Critically Endangered

Sarus crane (Grus antigone) Vulnerable

Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) Near Threatened

Black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) Near Threatened

Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) Endangered

Lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) Vulnerable

Oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) Near Threatened

Greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) Vulnerable

Grey-headed fish-eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus) Near Threatened

IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature Sources: H. Chamnan. 2018. Rapid Environmental Assessment Report for Kampong Thom Province. Unpublished. and Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

16. The second survey also identified the likely regular occurrence in small numbers of yellow-breasted bunting across the IBBA and command area. Global data on the bunting are extremely poor, so it is not currently possible to definitively identify critical habitat for this species,5 and the subproject should assume that the area may possibly comprise critical habitat for the species. The survey further confirmed non-breeding season presence of white-shouldered ibis and other threatened species in both the command area and the IBBA to its west, though in numbers too small to qualify the areas as critical habitat. The two baseline bird surveys were based on both recent field records and historic information from local people, and provide sufficient information to understand the status of Bengal florican and other threatened bird species in the area (particularly when distinct habitat preferences of these species are taken into account).

17. The current situation in the IBBA is one of continuing conversion of grassland to rice cultivation, and thus of decline in biodiversity. The NTSPL has been impacted in the past by issuance of agricultural concessions, which have converted habitat across large parts of the northern Baray and Taing Kork section. Hunting also impacts both Bengal florican and yellow-breasted bunting, and collision with powerlines is a further threat to Bengal florican. Without this project, it is very likely that conversion of grassland to wet season rice cultivation would continue in the IBBA. Even with effective protection, the southern part of the Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL may not be sufficiently large to retain a viable population of Bengal florican. A without project scenario may well thus see this population of Bengal florican disappear, leaving only one remaining population in Cambodia.

18. Fisheries. Informal fisheries are undertaken in the canals of the subproject. These are sustenance fisheries rather than commercial operations. Fish species reported by fisher families along the canal were recorded and none are listed as threatened nationally or on the IUCN Red List.

19. Hydrology – Stung Chinit. The Stung Chinit is one of the tributaries of the Tonle Sap River with a catchment area of 8,236 square kilometre (km2). The Stung Chinit catchment is bounded between the Stung Sen on the west and Mekong River on the east. The catchment area of Stung Chinit lies on the slopes of the Dangrek Mountain Range bordering with the Lao PDR.

5 i.e., the species’ global population is not known, even to two orders of magnitude, and so it is not possible to evaluate

the numbers recorded in the subproject area and environs against quantitative criteria for critical habitat based upon proportions of global population (e.g., those in the 2019 International Finance Corporation Guidance Note 6).

20. The Stung Chinit Irrigation System comprises two command areas: Stung Chinit North and Stung Chinit South. Only Stung Chinit South is included in the subproject. The combined system includes a reservoir with a lake area of approximately 11.5 km2, an overflow spillway, two gated sluiceways (with fish passage and riparian outlets) and two head regulators for the north main canal and south main canal, which regulate the flow leaving the reservoir.

Figure 2: Stung Chinit System

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA Consultants 2018.

21. Stung Chinit River Flow – Baseline. There is a streamflow gauging station on the Stung Chinit River at Kampong Thmar operated by MOWRAM. The streamflow records cover 45 years. The data shows a strong seasonal pattern with very low flow from January to April, gradually increasing to a peak flow in October. The average annual inflow is 56.59 cubic meter per second (m3/s). The Kampong Thmar station is located downstream of the offtakes for both Stung Chinit North and Stung Chinit South systems, and measures water flow after the extraction from the subproject command area. It can therefore be viewed as average baseline flow before the implementation of the project.

22. Floods. In Kampong Thom, the floods of 2011 and 2013 are the two highest annual flood-years observed for the past decade. Both floods significantly affected the subproject area. The

nature of the floods in this area are that during the annual Mekong floods, cumulative rainfall in the upper catchments throughout the rainy season causes a slow but steady rise in water levels lasting for several days. The most severe floods occur when heavy rains coincide with the arrival of tropical depressions and storms, affecting southern provinces that include Kampong Thom.

23. Water quality. At Stung Chinit South, surface water quality was sampled in the subproject area at two points in August 2018: one in the southern end of the main canal just before it empties into the Stung Kompong Sor; and one adjacent to the offtake in the Stung Chinit reservoir. Three groundwater samples were collected in August 2018: one at 50.8 meters (m) depth at Thol Keong village; one at 10 m depth in Samrong Commune in the center of the command area; and one at 38 m depth at the pagoda and school in Chong Dong village in the north of the command area. In all cases residents reported that the well water was only used for washing and cleaning and not for drinking or cooking.

24. Surface water was found to be generally clear of heavy metals and shows little sign of fertilizer runoff (although sampling in the rainy season provided a high dilution factor). All surface water samples had detectable coliform levels, although only the sample at the end of the main canal at Stung Chinit South (SW3) exceeded the Cambodian standard for raw (untreated) water.

25. Groundwater samples from Stung Chinit South had background arsenic levels and very low heavy metals. No herbicide or pesticide residues were detected, but coliforms were present especially at the shallowest well (GW5) most vulnerable to pollution from the surface.

26. Acoustic environment. Site ambient noise levels at Stung Chinit South are relatively high for a rural setting in Cambodia. The command area is well populated and harvest/drying activities for the late dry season crop were underway during the sampling period. Typical recorded daytime noise levels in the command area are 1 hour averages of 37.9, 38.9, 55.4, 51.7 and 44.8 decibels (dB).

E. Anticipated Impacts and Mitigation Measures

1. Project benefits

27. Project benefits, over and above the increases in cropping area and yields which result in higher incomes for farmers, include increased flood storage in higher capacity canals and faster drainage of excess water which will improve climate resilience, promotion of lower overall use of agricultural chemicals through integrated pest management (IPM) and matching fertilizer to crop and nutrient status, and the adoption of water conservancy practices. These benefits will accrue from the combination of civil works rehabilitation and expansion of the irrigation infrastructure and capacity building through farmer field schools, demonstrations and direct training supported by the project.

Table 3: Summary of Project Agronomic Benefits Agronomic Parameters and

Inputs Cropping Unit

Without Project

With Project (Year 5)

Stung Chinit South

Cropping intensity 1st EWSC % of Target 100 100

2nd EDSC % of Target 7.,5 37.5

1st EWSC ha 16,000 16,000

2nd EDSC ha 1,200 6,000

Yield 1st EWSC t/ha 2.5 4.0

2nd EDSC t/ha 3.0 5.0

Fertilizer 1st EWSC Adopting, % 100 100

2nd EDSC Adopting, % 100 100

Pesticides 1st EWSC Adopting, % 50 10

2nd EDSC Adopting, % 100 20

Quality Land Preparation Deep and Puddled Adopting, % 50 100

Seed Quality Poor Quality Adopting, % 80 20

Certified-Seed Quality Adopting, % 20 80

EDSC = early dry season crop, EWSC = early wet season crop, ha = hectare, t/ha = ton per hectare. Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Reports, TRTA Consultants 2018.

28. In order to enhance project agricultural outcomes and mitigate potential induced impacts on threatened birds, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will be contracted to undertake a $0.92 million6 sustainable rice cultivation program during project implementation at Stung Chinit South. There will also be community-based disaster risk reduction measures implemented alongside each subproject. Biodiversity benefits from this component will potentially be a net gain, through protection of grassland habitat and bird populations. These are key performance indicators of the project Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and will be monitored as part of the EMP.

2. Pre-construction Impacts and Mitigation

29. Screening and design issues for the subproject focused on: (i) no encroachment on protected areas; (ii) no induced impact on critical habitat; and (iii) matching the total planned irrigation area for a wet season rice crop and a second dry season rice crop with water availability from a sustainable source.

30. Protected areas and critical habitats. The Bengal florican, and possibly the Yellow-breasted Bunting, regularly visit the command area during the non-breeding season and critical breeding habitat for Bengal florican is located in the IBBA, just 1 km - 2 km west of the command area. The western boundary of the command area was delineated to ensure that it did not encroach upon the Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL. Following initial site survey, the western boundary was further amended to provide a larger separation between the subproject’s command area and the NTSPL (see Figure 3). This amended boundary also avoids encroachment on the IBBA, which encompasses the NTSPL and forms an unprotected buffer zone.

6 See procurement plan in the project administration manual for cost details.

Figure 3: Amendment of Stung Chit Subproject Boundary to Provide Buffer Zone for Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape

Source: TRTA consultants.

31. ADB appointed an expert in critical habitat management to develop a BAP for Bengal florican to be implemented alongside the EMP. The mitigation measures include a program, led by WCS, to establish a sustainable rice cultivation program at Stung Chinit South, before the commencement of the construction phase. This program has a strong biodiversity focus, including awareness raising for farmers and direct protection of critical habitat in the IBBA to the west of the command area. The benefits of the program are discussed further below, with regard to mitigation of post-construction and operation impacts.

32. Water availability. The water from the Stung Chinit reservoir provides irrigation water for Stung Chinit South system (the subproject), Stung Chinit North system (which also links with the Traing Krasang system) and the continued flow of the Stung Chinit River down to Tonle Sap.

33. The hydrological survey undertaken by the TRTA for the feasibility of the Stung Chinit South subproject included a review of the reservoir system and its catchment areas, collection and assessment of the available data, estimation of the crop irrigation requirement and long-term streamflow data and simulation of reservoir operation and proposal for joint reservoir management. Currently a rainfed early wet season crop is grown over the whole command area (16,000 ha), but because of the poor condition of canals and structures only 1,200 ha of irrigated rice is grown in the early dry season. A water balance study for Stung Chinit reservoir was carried out to account for all water uses, the survey concluded that there is sufficient water for a second crop in the early dry season of 6,000 ha after the project. This is an overall increase in cropping area utilized annually within the command area of 4,800 ha. At this level of water demand, calculated for a dry year with 80% exceedance7, there is still water for the other irrigation systems which draw their water from the reservoir as well as maintaining natural flows in the downstream Stung Chinit River in all months.

3. Construction Impacts

34. During construction of the subproject, the main potential impacts will be air and water pollution, earthworks, spoil disposal and damage to adjoining lands, all of which can be managed by strict control of construction contractors and effective implementation of EMP mitigation and monitoring measures. Mitigation will extend to making construction workers aware of the need to protect, and not hunt, birds and nests and avoiding activities and placement of temporary facilities in the grassland area west of the command area. The preparation and approval of works schedules and method statements for key construction activities is required as part of each contractor Site Environmental Management Plan (SEMP).

35. The work plan and scheduling will be approved by the commune councils, taking into account the need for access during harvesting and planting periods. Special measures to minimize impacts on residents, including agreed working hours and access, will be developed in consultation with residents. In the subproject there is currently minimal cropping in the dry season, but since rehabilitation work on the canals must be undertaken during the dry season, careful scheduling of work will ensure any concurrent irrigation activities are not impacted.

36. Construction at the reservoir spillway will involve the construction of coffer dams and extensive concrete works. Mitigation measures will be needed to ensure that sediment loads do not enter the Stung Chinit River or the offtakes for the north and south main canals. Concrete batching, hauling and pouring will be controlled to avoid spills into waterways.

37. At Stung Chinit South, the large number of villages within the command area means that there are sensitive receptors which will be impacted by noise and dust from works along the main canal and secondary canals. Specific environmentally sensitive receptors will be identified during detailed design and mitigation measures included in the EMP and SEMP.

38. Dredged spoil will be used in embankments and surplus excavated materials will be removed and reused only in locations defined in the SEMP. These locations will not be in the IBBA or grassland areas, the working and off-limit areas will be clearly demarcated. The construction easement, including stockpile sites and access ways will be clearly delineated in the plan and marked on the ground to ensure equipment operators stay within these boundaries. Any temporary damage that is not covered in the marked and agreed construction easement will be

7 When 80% of rainfall readings for a normal year would exceed the readings for the subject (dry) year.

compensated promptly by the contractor in line with the project entitlement matrix.

39. During the rehabilitation of the main canal, there will need to be rock excavation to deepen and widen the canal near Kdam Ha village. Here, there is potential for impacts from rock drilling and use of jack hammers. Noise and dust will be prevalent during these operations and mitigation measures will be applied to protect sensitive receptors. Vehicle movements and rock haulage will also be planned to minimize disruption to livelihoods.

40. Access roads within the command area follow the main and secondary canals. Traffic impacts on narrow tracks and at choke points can cause environmental and safety issues. Traffic management will include (i) sequential work scheduling (to ensure that only short stretches are worked on at a time); and (ii) provision of access to existing residences and services is maintained and any damage is repaired to pre-project condition.

4. Post-construction and Operation Impacts

41. Agricultural chemicals. One of the main concerns for an irrigation subproject is local increases in the levels of agricultural fertilizer and pesticide residues and their effects on water quality and people. Pesticide residues were not detected in groundwater samples. To safeguard against increases, post-construction mitigation will focus on capacity building and training under the project to use fertilizers and pesticides efficiently and responsibly. This will involve the promulgation of IPM practices and the application of fertilizer based upon soil nutrition needs and environmental circumstances, rather than as routine operation. This will be undertaken as part of the project-supported Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and also included in the project’s capacity building program of field schools and training.

42. Stung Chinit Reservoir management. A Joint Reservoir Operation Plan (JOROP) already exists for the Stung Chinit Reservoir and manages releases for Stung Chinit South, Stung Chinit North, and Taing Krasang. It is implemented by the Kampong Thom Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDWRAM) office in cooperation with the FWUC for the North main canal and village leaders on the South main canal. A computer based operational model has been prepared as part of a previous ADB project8 to manage the scheduling and distribution of water. The model will compute the gate openings for the head and cross regulators and some secondary canal offtakes which will then be passed on to the FWUC leaders for implementation. The project will assist in training of operators and in the upgrading of some hydromet stations which have fallen into disrepair.

43. Induced impacts of canal extension. The rehabilitation of secondary canals by the project may potentially cause induced impacts through farmers extending these secondary canals or pumping from them to irrigate new areas outside the subproject boundary which include critical habitats for threatened birds. This impact will be mitigated by stopping the canal rehabilitation 100 m - 200 m inside the subproject command area boundary to limit the effectiveness of any pumping or newly constructed tertiary canals to supply water for areas outside the boundary. However, to fully avoid these potential impacts MOWRAM is committed to not extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorised third party pumping from command area canals during and after the project period. A covenant will be included in the loan agreement to this effect.

44. Sustainable rice cultivation and Biodiversity Protection. The sustainable rice

8 Water Resources Management Sector Project.

cultivation program to be developed and implemented by WCS will deliver enhanced agricultural outcomes, complementing project goals, but is primarily designed to provide biodiversity mitigation and compensatory benefits. In particular, it will reinforce MOWRAM commitments to avoid potential induced impacts through protection of the IBBA to the west of the subproject command area. This will continue into the operations phase. This component will include: (i) supporting FWUCs, PDWRAM and MOWRAM in identifying unauthorized pumping of water or extension of canals from the command area into the IBBA, so that MOWRAM can halt such activities; (ii) participation in development of MOWRAM’s water resources management plan for the wider Tonle Sap Basin Group; (iii) supporting expansion of the existing Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL or creating an additional, adjoining conservation area, to further protect remaining grasslands west of the command area from potential project-induced impacts; (iv) supporting zoning and implementation of the adjoining conservation area in a way that will conserve natural habitat and threatened birds, while also benefiting local livelihoods; (v) monitoring of grassland extent and threatened bird populations to determine the strategy’s success; and (vi) seeking ongoing long-term financing to sustain this environmental mitigation for the duration of the project’s potential impacts.

45. For mitigating potential direct impacts of increased pesticide use, the sustainable rice cultivation component will also include: (i) encouraging adoption of the SRP standard by local farmers; (ii) supporting farmers to meet threshold values for all SRP sustainability measures, and to further increase scores for water use, agricultural inputs and biodiversity; and (iii) facilitating access to international buyers of SRP rice.

46. By the time of the operations phase of the project, farmers and the community in the subproject command area and surrounds will be fully versed in sustainable rice cultivation and wildlife conservation principles. Results from other areas where similar programs have been instituted (e.g., the Chi Kreng section of the NTSPL in Siem Reap where 2-3 rice crops are grown each year) indicate that a net gain of targeted biodiversity can be expected, compared to a without project scenario.

47. The project has developed a BAP for Bengal florican. The WCS supported sustainable rice cultivation program will provide the core foundations of mitigation of both direct impacts and potential induced impacts on biodiversity, and the BAP describes and codifies this intervention and its ongoing goals.

F. Climate Change

48. Greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the increased area of paddy sown, as a result of the subproject (4,800 ha), will come from paddy gas production and the additional use of pumps (powered by internal combustion engines) for water movement from canals. The GHG emissions have been estimated at approximately 29,203 tons (t) CO2e/annum (12,367 t/year from paddy gas and 16,366 t/year from pumps).

49. This calculation assumes all water delivery to paddy fields is by pumping. However, for much of the year, water will flow through the main canal and along the secondary canals by gravity. The rehabilitation and deepening of canals will also allow this flow into tertiary canals for longer periods each year. This calculation of pump use for all irrigation water is therefore a worst case figure. The reduction in the use of small pumps (which accounts for more than 55% of the total GHG generation of 29,203 tons CO2e/annum) will significantly reduce the GHG generation from this source.

50. Climate and Disaster Risk. The TRTA has prepared a Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) for the project. The project’s climate risk without mitigation is classified as medium. Key climate risks include increased precipitation intensity and variability and associated flood risk in the wet season as well as increased drought risk through higher temperatures and lower rainfall in the dry season. The project’s civil works have been designed for resilience against projected climate changes.

51. At Stung Chinit South, projected increasing temperatures in the dry season and higher rainfall and more intense rainfall events require more efficient movement of irrigation water into the paddy fields and flood waters out of the command area – both via tertiary canals. These tertiary canals or field channels will be constructed by the FWUCs themselves, with initial financial support for the initial five canals from the IAIP. Repair and strengthening of the Stung Chinit Reservoir weir/spillway will ensure water security (prevent water loss through leaks), but more importantly will ensure weir safety (strengthening the weir against failure), since the engineer’s report, cited in the TRTA Feasibility Study for Stung Chinit South concludes that the weir in its current condition will ultimately fail. The civil works at the weir/spillway will therefore address flood catastrophe (weir failure) and drought (loss of stored water).

52. Also at Stung Chinit South, the promotion and establishment of the SRP as part of the project’s sustainable rice cultivation component will develop a cohesive and resilient farming community with higher incomes. This will increase communities’ disaster preparedness and ability to get through a range of disasters and restore livelihoods.

53. Capacity building will also address climate change and disaster risk. FWUC establishment and capacity building will address the increased need for coordinated and managed water allocations and the practice of water conservancy in future higher water demand situations. To reduce the impacts of seasonal low water availability on agricultural production and increase the adaptive capacity of farmers, the project’s training component will include FWUC and farmer training and awareness raising on climate change and its impacts. Farmers field schools will also include a component on climate change and effects on productivity. In the subproject area training of commune councils and village leaders in disaster risk reduction and disaster management will be contracted by the project. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities within the project focus on capacity building to increase disaster preparedness at the commune and village levels.

54. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures have been integrated in the design of the Stung Chinit South Irrigation System. Climate proofing costs were estimated to be $289,850 and disaster risk reduction is $3,305,000. A full breakdown of these costs is provided in the project CDRA.

G. Public Consultation

55. The first round of public consultation for the environmental impact assessment was held in Stung Chinit South communes on 21 to 22 September 2018. It comprised Information dissemination and workshop discussion. The consultations were undertaken by the TRTA national environmental specialist, and national irrigation engineer. The topics covered included present experience and perceptions of environmental problems and anticipated environmental issues in subproject construction and operation. Issues and concerns raised have been recorded and addressed in the mitigation measures in the EMP. Readiness to complain if things go wrong and the most appropriate avenues of complaint/redress were also assessed and contributed to the design of the project grievance redress mechanism (GRM). The second round of public

consultation was undertaken on 21 March 2019 at Baray District Meeting Hall. 70 participants attended, including 5 females. The meeting format comprised information dissemination, questions, and discussion. Information dissemination covered: (i) results of environmental assessment and mitigation measures presented by the national environment specialist of the project; and (ii) Bengal Florican protections and Sustainable Rice Platform.

H. Grievance Redress Mechanism

56. A project-specific GRM has been designed to receive and manage any environmental issues that may arise due to the subproject. The project management unit (PMU) will coordinate the GRM. All stakeholder project agencies and staff will be initiated into the GRM procedures by the implementation team and will take an active role in supporting the GRM.

I. Environmental Management Plan

57. The EIA includes an EMP, where the identified environmental impacts and mitigation measures are presented as an action plan for their implementation. The plan includes methods of mitigation, responsibilities, indicators of progress, and frequency and nature of monitoring activities with cost estimates. The EMP is a critical document for the subproject. The provisions of the EMP will be incorporated into tender documents and construction contracts and monitored by the project implementation team for compliance. The critical actions and key performance indicators from the BAP have been incorporated into the EMP and monitoring plan.

58. Given risks at Stung Chinit South of significant adverse induced impacts on critical habitat, the project has embedded biodiversity mitigation actions in the subproject in three main ways. First, pre-construction and construction phase mitigation of direct impacts is embedded in the EMP and a specific BAP for Bengal florican and will be included in contractor SEMPs. This will largely require avoidance of any construction activities in the IBBA to the west of the subproject command area. Second, the project loan covenant will include the commitment from MOWRAM not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorised third party pumping from command area canals during and after the project period. Third, WCS will be contracted to undertake a sustainable rice cultivation program that will contribute to broader project goals but provide a key pillar of mitigation for both direct impacts (through reduction of agricultural inputs) and potential induced impacts (through reinforcement of the MOWRAM commitment, by support to MOE to protect grassland habitat in the IBBA to the west of the command area). This action to protect remaining natural grasslands in the area is urgently needed, supported by MOE, and an essential part of project mitigation, without which the subproject may not be able to address potential induced impacts on critical habitat.

J. Conclusion

59. The main environmental risks that have been identified in the assessment can be addressed by mitigation and management measures which have been developed for the subproject. It is concluded that: (i) the infrastructure planned for the subproject has significant potential benefits for the rural populations of these areas; and that (ii) the design features, operational regimes and construction management safeguards will address the range of potential environmental impacts identified and will be actioned through the project EMP and continuously checked in the environmental monitoring program.

60. The environmental assessment has confirmed that the Stung Chinit South subproject is

environment category A under the ADB SPS as a result of the potential for significant adverse, irreversible impacts on critical habitat for Bengal florican without mitigation. Effective implementation of the design, mitigation and monitoring measures identified in the EIA, EMP and BAP, particularly the biodiversity conservation program and the sustainable rice cultivation component, will achieve a net biodiversity gain, particularly when compared to a without project scenario.

61. Specifically, the subproject will avoid measurable adverse impacts, and the likelihood of such, on critical and natural habitat, through two key mitigation actions. First, MOWRAM has committed not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorised third party pumping from command area canals during and after the project period. Second, WCS will be contracted to undertake a sustainable rice cultivation program that directly reinforces this MOWRAM commitment, by support to MOE to protect grassland habitat in the IBBA to the west of the command area. Although the subproject is not in a legally-protected area, this support will directly support the management goals of the nearby NTSPL. Together, these two actions render project-induced impacts on critical habitat unlikely; direct impacts are already considered negligible prior to mitigation. To the contrary, through support to these actions, it is anticipated that the Stung Chinit South subproject will result in a net gain for biodiversity, as well as piloting and establishing sustainable rice cultivation with its attendant improvement in farm yields and livelihood benefits.

62. The project is not anticipated to lead to a reduction in natural or critical habitat, as explained above. Further, the project will not lead to a reduction in the population of any endangered or critically endangered species. The only potentially significant project impacts will be loss of fallow rice fields during the dry season, owing to introduction of dry season rice cultivation over an anticipated 4,800 ha. Such fallow fields are used by some of the threatened species in the area. Such an impact will not, however, affect habitat availability for these species, since the area of fallow rice fields around the Tonle Sap will still far exceed that necessary for these rare species.

63. Lesser environmental impacts related to pesticide and fertiliser use are actively being mitigated by project design and capacity building programs, as well as the WCS-led sustainable rice cultivation program.

64. Table 4 summarises how the project responds to key SPS policy requirements to protect critical habitats:

Table 4: Policy Requirements for Critical Habitats SPS 2009 Requirement for Critical Habitats Project Response

No project activity will be implemented in areas of critical habitat

unless the following requirements are met:

(i) There are no measurable adverse impacts, or likelihood of such, on the critical habitat which could impair its high biodiversity value or the ability to function.

The subproject will avoid measurable adverse impacts, and the likelihood of such, on critical and natural habitat, through: (i) MOWRAM’s commitment not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorized of this type; (ii) WCS will support a sustainable rice cultivation program and work with MOE for improved protection of grassland habitat in the IBBA to the west of the command area.

(ii) The project is not anticipated to lead to a reduction in the population of any recognized endangered or

The biodiversity protection measures (through community awareness and involvement in

SPS 2009 Requirement for Critical Habitats Project Response

critically endangered species or a loss in area of the habitat concerned such that the persistence of a viable and representative host ecosystem be compromised.

conservation) which are part of the sustainable rice platform. The reduction in area of dry season fallow will not affect habitat availability for these species, since the area of fallow rice fields around the Tonle Sap will still far exceed that necessary for sustainable populations.

(iii) Any lesser impacts are mitigated in accordance with para. 27 (of the SPS).

This EIA has identified potential impacts in the design, construction and operational phases of the project. All can be mitigated or minimized to an acceptable level with the mitigation and management measures that have been identified in the BAP and EMP.

When the project involves activities in a critical habitat, the borrower/client will retain qualified and experienced external experts to assist in conducting the assessment.

Two specialist reports commissioned: The first report was a preliminary reconnaissance and reported on the degree to which the subproject activities might impact on endangered bird species in neighbouring lands. A second, detailed survey of habitat for endangered bird species was commissioned in December 2018. This report confirmed that the Bengal florican, and possibly the Yellow-breasted Bunting, regularly visit the command area during the non-breeding season and confirmed the need to manage the command area and to apply effective mitigation of potential negative impacts outside of the command area. To design these mitigation and management areas an expert in critical habitat management was commissioned by the ADB. WSC will have an ongoing role in supporting the programs they establish at Stung Chinit as part of their role as the regional focus point for Bengal florican conservation in Cambodia

ADB = Asian Development Bank, BAP = biodiversity action plan, EIA = environmental impact assessment, EMP = environmental management plan, IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, MOE = Ministry of Environment, MOWRAM = Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, SPS = Safeguard Policy Statement, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society.

Source: TRTA and WCS consultants.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The Proposed Project

1. The Irrigated Agricultural Improvement Project is a project loan to support the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) of the Government of Cambodia to: (i) rehabilitate, modernize, and climate proof four irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Takeo provinces; (ii) ensure sustainability of irrigation schemes by strengthening institutional and financial arrangements as well as capacity for government staff and farmer water user communities (FWUCs) in operations and maintenance (O&M); (iii) improve farming practices for increased agriculture productivity and crop diversification; and (iv) improve water resources information system (WRIS), and irrigation asset management system for better water resources planning and investment.

B. Impact and Outcome

2. The project is aligned with the following impact inclusive economic growth through agriculture and irrigation attained. It will have the following outcome: water and agriculture productivity in the project areas enhanced.1

3. Output 1: Efficiency and climate resilience of irrigation systems enhanced. The project will modernize, and climate-proof four irrigation systems to ensure irrigation for about 43,500 hectares (ha) of agricultural land.2 It will (i) remodel and improve reservoir embankment, pumping stations, main, secondary, and tertiary canals and drains as well as appurtenant structures; (ii) design joint reservoir operation for two subprojects, and schedule irrigation to improve water sharing arrangements between linked systems and ensure equitable water distribution, particularly during droughts; (iii) strengthen existing FWUCs and forming additional FWUCs with strong women participation, and help them collect irrigation service fees and perform sustainable O&M of the distribution canals; (iv) pilot an irrigation asset management information system to improve O&M budgeting and procedures; and (v) formulate the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) in the Stung Chinit South subproject, providing farmers the opportunity to protect endangered bird species habitat, while achieving a premium price for rice by complying with sustainable production standards.3

4. Output 2: Water resources management improved. The project will: (i) install hydromet stations to support water resources management in upstream watersheds in Battambang and Kampong Cham provinces; (ii) train government staff and FWUCs on modern canal operation techniques, irrigation scheduling, water management, and O&M; (iii) establish a data center in MOWRAM including a building equipped with data management facilities (database and server system, analytical system, dissemination facilities, doppler radar, etc.); (iv) develop a WRIS using satellite-based information and ground observation to serve as a common platform for sharing water resources management data; (v) train MOWRAM and its provincial departments staff on water accounting and data management; and (vi) provide a program for scholarships, internships,

1 Government of Cambodia. 2018. Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity, and Efficiency, Phase IV.

Phnom Penh. 2 These systems or subprojects are Kamping Pouy in Battambang, Prek Po in Kampong Cham, Canal 15 in Takeo,

and Stung Chinit South in Kampong Thom. 3 The SRP is a multi-stakeholder platform established by the United Nations Environment Program and the

International Rice Research Institute in December 2011.

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training, and mentoring in water resources management.

5. All sites selected for subprojects have been subject to full due diligence examination on all aspect of feasibility, including technical, social, economic, environment, safeguards, climate change vulnerability, disaster risk, irrigation efficiency and water productivity. This environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports on the environmental due diligence carried out for the subproject at Stung Chinit South in Kampong Thom province.

6. Table 1 shows the planned increase in irrigated cropping as a result of the project investments.

Table 1: Current and Planned Cropping Areas

Subproject Province

Existing Command Area (ha)

New Command Area (ha)

Wet Season and

Recession

Dry Season

Cumulative Total Irrigated

Wet Season and

Recession

Dry Season Cumulative Total

Irrigated

Stung Chinit South

Kampong Thom

16,000 1,200 17,200 16,000 6,000 22,000

ha = hectare. Source: Transaction technical assistance consultants.

Figure 1: Project Location

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, Transaction technical assistance consultants.

7. The Stung Chinit South subproject aims to maximize the potential for dry season rice cultivation within the command area, by targeting all areas west of National Road No. 6 (soil conditions to the east are unsuitable) which are not currently cultivated for dry season rice (Figure 2).

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Figure 2: Planned dry season rice areas (in yellow) within the Stung Chinit South subproject command area

Source: Transaction technical assistance consultants.

C. Environmental Safeguards

8. Stung Chinit South is classified as ‘category A’ for environment, requiring preparation of an EIA and environmental management plan (EMP). The EIA has been prepared based on information in the feasibility study report and on-site data collection and assessments by the transaction technical assistance (TRTA) environment team. An additional two specialist survey reports were commissioned to cover the critical habitat issues.

9. The EIA includes an EMP and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).4 The EMP and BAP are the key guiding documents for environmental-related issues in the construction and operational phases of the project. The potential impacts of project components are identified in the EIA, and the mitigation and protection measures to avoid, reduce, and/or mitigate these impacts to acceptable levels are described in the EMP The critical actions and key performance indicators from the BAP have been incorporated into the EMP and monitoring plan. The EMP also defines the roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions, procedures and the EMP budget. The plan seeks to ensure continuous improving environmental protection activities during preconstruction,

4 ADB. 2012. Environment Safeguards: A Good Practice Sourcebook (Draft Working Document). Manila. It

recommends for projects with potentially significant biodiversity impacts and risks (e.g., involving critical habitats), the development of a BAP or its equivalent may be appropriate.

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construction, and operation in order to prevent, reduce, or mitigate adverse impacts and risks.

10. During project implementation, the EMP is coordinated and implemented by the project management unit (PMU) and its construction contractors with the assistance of the project management implementation consultants (PMIC). The EMP will be incorporated within construction contracts and will also be made available to the detailed design team to ensure all pre-construction mitigation is included within the projects’ final design.

II. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

A. ADB Environmental Requirements

11. On the basis of subproject screening in the feasibility stage, all project subprojects were classified category B for environment as impacts were assessed as site-specific and could be readily mitigated. More recently, ADB-commissioned specialist reports confirmed that Stung Chinit South should be re-classified as category A, based on a significant risk of irreversible adverse impacts on critical habitat. This EIA has been prepared under the provisions of the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, 2009).

12. The SPS (2009) defines ‘critical habitat’ as:

Critical habitat is a subset of both natural and modified habitat that deserves particular attention. Critical habitat includes areas with high biodiversity value, including habitat required for the survival of critically endangered or endangered species; areas having special significance for endemic or restricted-range species; sites that are critical for the survival of migratory species; areas supporting globally significant concentrations or numbers of individuals of congregatory species; areas with unique assemblages of species or that are associated with key evolutionary processes or provide key ecosystem services; and areas having biodiversity of significant social, economic, or cultural importance to local communities. Critical habitats include those areas either legally protected or officially proposed for protection, such as areas that meet the criteria of the World Conservation Union classification, the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s world natural heritage sites.

13. The SPS policy principle for the environmental assessment of developments which potentially affect critical habitats are:

SPS Appendix 1 Critical Habitats Para 28

(i) Do not implement project activities in areas of critical habitats, unless There are no measurable adverse impacts, or likelihood of such, on the critical habitat which could impair its high biodiversity value or the ability to function.

(ii) The project is not anticipated to lead to a reduction in the population of any recognized endangered or critically endangered species or a loss in area of the habitat concerned such that the persistence of a viable and representative host ecosystem be compromised.

(iii) Any lesser impacts are mitigated in accordance with para. 27 (of the SPS). Para 29 When the project involves activities in a critical habitat, the borrower/client will retain qualified and experienced external experts to assist in conducting the assessment. SPS Appendix 1 Natural Habitats Para 27 Mitigation measures will be designed to achieve at least no net loss of biodiversity. They may include a

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combination of actions, such as post-project restoration of habitats, offset of losses through the creation or effective conservation of ecologically comparable areas that are managed for biodiversity while respecting the ongoing use of such biodiversity by Indigenous Peoples or traditional communities, and compensation to direct users of biodiversity. SPS Appendix 1 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management Para 24 The borrower/client will assess the significance of project impacts and risks on biodiversity and natural resources as an integral part of the environmental assessment process specified in paras. 4–10. The assessment will focus on the major threats to biodiversity, which include destruction of habitat and introduction of invasive alien species, and on the use of natural resources in an unsustainable manner. The borrower/client will need to identify measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potentially adverse impacts and risks and, as a last resort, propose compensatory measures, such as biodiversity offsets, to achieve no net loss or a net gain of the affected biodiversity.

14. Compliance with each of these requirements will be reported by this EIA. In addition, a specific BAP has been developed as recommended5 for projects with potentially significant biodiversity impacts and risks (e.g., involving critical habitats).

15. Guidance on identification of critical habitat has been drawn from the updated International Finance Corporation (IFC) Guidance Note 6 on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources. Guidelines for international best practice in impact assessment and mitigation have also been drawn from IFC Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines: Annual Crop Production and IFC Environmental Health and Safety General Guidelines.

B. Government Environmental Regulations

1. Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management

16. The Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management was enacted by the National Assembly on 24 December 1996 and was launched by the Preah Reach Kram/NS-RKM-1296/36. This law has the following objectives:

(i) To protect and promote environment quality and public health through prevention, reduction and control of pollution;

(ii) To assess the environmental impacts of all proposed projects prior to the issuance of a decision by the government;

(iii) To ensure the rational and sustainable conservation, development, management and use of the natural resources of the Kingdom of Cambodia;

(iv) To encourage and provide possibilities for the public to participate in the protection of environment and the management of the natural resources; and

(v) To suppress any acts that cause harm to the environment.

17. Under this law the developers or project owners need to prepare an initial environmental impact assessment or a full EIA report for their proposed or existing development projects.

2. Environmental impact assessment process sub-decree

18. The Sub-decree No. 72 ANRK.BK in the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment Process dated 11 August 1999 sets out EIA procedures. The main objectives of this Sub-decree 5 ADB. 2012. Environment Safeguards: A Good Practice Sourcebook (Draft Working Document). Manila.

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are:

(i) To determine an EIA for every private and public project or activity, through review by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), prior to the submission for a decision from the government;

(ii) To determine the type and size of the proposed project(s) and activities, including existing and ongoing activities in both private and public sector prior to undertaking the process of EIA; and

(iii) To encourage public participation in the implementation of the EIA process and take into account their input and suggestions for re-consideration prior to the implementation of any project.

19. The Sub-decree includes an annex which provides a schedule of developments which require EIA. An excerpt for relevant industries is at Table 2.

Table 2: Annex of Sub-Decree No. 72 ANRK. BK. Date 11 August 1999: List of the Projects Required an Initial Environmental Impact Assessment or Environmental Impact

Assessment

Type and activities of the projects Size / Capacity

AGRICULTURE

Concession forest 10,000 Hectares

Logging 500 Hectares

Land covered by forest 500 Hectares

Agriculture and agro-industrial land 10,000 Hectares

Flooded and coastal forests All sizes

Irrigation systems 5,000 Hectares

Drainage systems 5,000 Hectares

Fishing ports All sizes

Source: Sub-decree No. 72 ANRK. BK.

20. Under Sub-decree No. 72 ANRK.BK, where an irrigation scheme is substantially expanded by refurbishment to provide more than 5,000 ha of newly irrigated land or land previously without reliable irrigation, the provisions of the Sub-decree will apply and an environmental impact assessment is required. In the case of the subproject which is the subject of this EIA, the increase in reliably irrigated land will be 4,800 ha, but in combination with the three other subprojects will exceed 5,000 ha. The domestic environmental approval will be undertaken as agreed between MOWRAM and MOE. Baseline data and impact assessments for this have been provided by the TRTA EIA and social and poverty impact assessments. Khmer language summaries of the environmental assessment documents have been provided to MOWRAM. MOWRAM will obtain subproject approvals from MOE prior to civil works contractor mobilization.

C. Evaluation Standards

21. This section details the existing Cambodian laws and regulations for environmental standards. It also includes evaluation standards for best practice in pollution control in IFC Environmental Health and Safety General Guidelines. Additionally, the 2016 IFC Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines on Annual Crop Production recommended practices for sustainability of irrigation, crop waste, pest management and occupational health and safety.

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1. Law on the Management of Pesticides and Fertilizers

22. The Law on the Management of Pesticides and Fertilizers was enacted on 14 January 2012. This law has the following objectives:

(i) To support a policy promoting the effective potential of agriculture sector, for the development of social and national economy;

(ii) To ensure the safe and effective control of pesticides and fertilizers, consistent with international standards;

(iii) To enhance public awareness on the implementation of standard requirements of pesticides and fertilizers for all relevant activities related to these products; and

(iv) To reduce risks caused by the use of pesticides and fertilizers, for benefit of farmers and people by ensuring food security, food safety, public health, and the sustainability of environment.

23. The scope of the law shall apply to the management and the implementation of standard requirements for:

(i) All type of pesticides and fertilizers, raw materials or active ingredients and other compositions of pesticides and fertilizers which are used as inputs in agricultural production; and

(ii) All activities of natural persons or legal entities who are traders, formulators, pests control services operators, advertisers, donors, and users of all types of pesticides and fertilizers.

24. The law includes a schedule of agricultural chemicals which are banned or restricted in Cambodia. Pesticides and herbicides currently used in the subproject areas are checked against these lists.

2. Law on Water Resources Management

25. The Law on Water Resources Management was adopted by the National Assembly on 22 May 2007. This law provides procedures for the management of water resources within Cambodia. The purpose of the law is to foster the effective management of the water resources of the Kingdom of Cambodia to attain socio-economic development and the welfare of communities.

26. The Law shall determine:

(i) the rights and obligations of water users; (ii) the fundamental principles of water resources management; (iii) the institutions in charge of its implementation and enforcement; and (iv) the participation of users and their associations in the sustainable development of

water resources.

27. Under this law, MOWRAM may declare any basin, sub-basin or aquifer as a Water Law Implementation Area when within that basin, sub-basin, ground water or aquifer there are likely to be conflicts among water users, problems of water pollution or watershed degradation.

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3. Water pollution control Sub-decree

28. The Sub-decree No. 27 ANRK.BK on Water Pollution Control is dated 6 April 1999. The purpose of this Sub-decree is to regulate water pollution control in order to prevent and reduce the water pollution of public water so that the protection of human health and the conservation of biodiversity can be ensured.

29. This Sub-decree applies to all sources of pollution and all activities causing pollution of public water areas. The Sub-decree also provides the pollution types, effluent standards, and water quality standards in different areas. Water quality standards are stipulated in this Sub-decree for public water (Table 3).

Table 3: Water Quality Standard in Public Water Areas for Biodiversity Conservation No Parameter Unit Standard Value

A. River

1 pH mg/l 6.5 – 8.5

2 BOD5 mg/l 1 – 10

3 Suspended Solid mg/l 25 – 100

4 Dissolved Oxygen mg/l 2.0 - 7.5

5 Coliforms MPN/100ml < 5000

B. Lakes and Reservoirs

1 pH mg/l 6.5 – 8.5

2 COD mg/l 1 – 8

3 Suspended Solid mg/l 1 – 15

4 Dissolved Oxygen mg/l 2.0 - 7.5

5 Coliform MPN/100ml < 1000

6 Total Nitrogen mg/l 0.1 – 0.6

7 Total Phosphorus mg/l 0.005 – 0.05

C. Coastal water

1 pH mg/l 7.0 – 8.3

2 COD mg/l 2 – 8

4 Dissolved Oxygen mg/l 2 - 7.5

5 Coliform MPN/100ml < 1000

5 Oil content mg/l 0

6 Total Nitrogen mg/l 0.2– 1.0

7 Total Phosphorus mg/l 0.02 – 0.09

BOD = biological oxygen demand, COD = chemical oxygen demand, L = liter, mg/l = milligram per liter, ml = milliliter, MPN = most probable number Source: Annex 4 of Sub-decree on Water Pollution Control, 1999.

4. Drinking Water Quality Standards

30. For well water used for domestic purposes, including drinking, the Ministry of Industry Mines and Energy Drinking Water Quality Standards of January 2004 is the evaluation standard. These are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4: Drinking Water Quality Standards Parameter Unit Cambodian

Standard for Drinking Water

Cambodian Standard for Raw

Water

USEPA Drinking

water

pH mg/l 6.5 – 8.5 5.5 - 9 6.5 – 8.5

Turbidity NTU 5 - 1

Arsenic mg/l 0.05 <50µg/L 0

Chlorine mg/l 0.2-0.5

Copper mg/l 1 <1mg/L <1mg/L

Sulphate mg/l 250

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Total nitrogen mg/l - 15 50

Lead mg/l 0.01

Mercury mg/l 0.005 <1µg/L <1µg/L

Coliform CFU/100ml 3 <5 x 103 <1

CFU = colony forming units, L = liter, mg = milligram, mg/l = milligram per liter, ml = milliliter, NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units, USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Source: Annex 4 of Sub-decree on Water Pollution Control, 1999.

5. Solid waste management sub-decree

31. The Sub-decree No. 36 ANRK.BK on Solid Waste Management is dated 27 April 1999. The purpose of this Sub-decree is to regulate solid waste management in order to ensure the protection of human health and the conservation of biodiversity.

32. This Sub-decree applies to all activities related to disposal, storage, collection, transport, recycling, dumping of garbage and hazardous waste.

6. Air pollution control sub-decree

33. The Sub-decree No. 42 ANRK.BK on Air Pollution Control and Noise Disturbance is dated 10 July 2000. Its purpose is to protect the quality of environment and public health from air pollutants and noise pollution (Tables 5 and 6). This Sub-decree applies to all movable sources and immovable sources of air and noise pollution. It is also applied to evaluation of ambient air quality and to monitoring of air pollution status in Cambodia.

Table 5: Ambient Air Quality Standard

Parameters

Cambodian IFC-EHS Guidelines

mg/m3 Period 1hr Average mg/m3

Period 8hr Average mg/m3

Period 24hr Average mg/m3

Period 1year Average mg/m3

Carbon monoxide (CO) 40 20 - -

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 0.3 - 0.1 - 200 (1 hr)

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) 0.5 - 0.3 0.1

Ozone (O3) 0.2 - - - 100 (8 hr)

Lead (Pb) - - 0.005 -

Particulates - - 0.33 0.1 50 (PM10 24hr) 25 (PM2.5 24hr)

EHS = Environmental Health and Safety, hr = hour, IFC = International Finance Corporation, mg/m3 = milligram per cubic meter, PM = particulate matter. Source: Annex1 of Sub-decree on Air Pollution Control and Noise Disturbance, 2000.

Table 6: Maximum permitted noise level in public and residential area (dB (A))

Location Cambodian Standard IFC-EHS

Guidelines 06:00 to 18:00 18:00 to 22:00 22:00 to 06:00

Silence Area

- Hospital

- Library

- School

- Nursery

45 40 35 55

Resident Area

- Hotel

- Administration place

- House

60 50 45 55

Commercial, Services Areas and mix 70 65 50 55

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Location Cambodian Standard IFC-EHS

Guidelines 06:00 to 18:00 18:00 to 22:00 22:00 to 06:00

Small Industrial factories intermingling in residential areas

75 70 50 70

dB = decibel, EHS = Environmental Health and Safety, IFC = International Finance Corporation. Note: This standard is applied to control of noise level of any source of activity that emitted noise into the public and residential areas. Source: Annex 6 of Sub-decree on Air Pollution Control and Noise Disturbance, 2000.

7. Silt and Sediment Quality

34. For the re-use and disposal of silt from canal cleaning or dredging, there is no government standard. Standards applying to paddy field environments from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Japan will therefore be referenced. These will include PRC: GB4284-84 Control standards for pollutants in sludge for agricultural use, PRC: GB/T23486-2009 Sludge quality for afforestation in gardens or forests, and Japan’s Environmental Quality Standards for soil pollution, August 1991.

8. National Integrated Pest Management Programme

35. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme in Cambodia was established in 1993 after conducting national workshop on “Environment and IPM”. The overall goal of National IPM programme is to promote food security in Cambodia by enhancing the sustainability of intensified crop production system through the promotion of integrated crop management skills at farm level. The objectives of this programme are:

(i) to reduce dependence on agricultural chemical, especially pesticides, in agricultural production and to minimize hazards to the human health, animals and environment;

(ii) to develop the capacity of farmers and agricultural technical officers in conducting training and experiments so that they are able to identify problems occurring in agricultural production and find appropriate solution to deal with the problem by themselves; and

(iii) to educate farmers on agricultural technology by enhancing their knowledge on field ecology and by developing skills among farmers in monitoring and analyzing field situations that enable them to manage crops properly.

36. At the national level the position of the IPM programme was strengthened by a Prakas (Ministerial Declaration) in July 2002, recognizing the National IPM Programme as coordinating body for all IPM related activities in Cambodia. The Prakas also established a Steering Committee and a Deputy Director to act as the National Coordinator.

9. Protected Landscape Sub-decree

37. In recognition of the conservation importance of Bengal florican, Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provincial administrations enacted declarations (provincial deka) on Bengal florican conservation dated 31 August 2006 and 2 August 2007, respectively. To effectively conserve and manage Bengal florican, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) established Proclamation 064 on 8 February 2010 on the management and conservation of Bengal florican and other biodiversity of integrated ecosystems, covering 31,159 ha located in Baray, Stoung, and Prasat Ballang districts of Kampong Thom province and that of Chi Kreng in Siem Reap

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province. The sites were officially transferred to the MOE as NTSPL under Sub-decree No. 88 issued on 9 May 20166 covering the same area and geographical location of the MAFF’s proclamation. The objectives of this Sub-decree are to:

(i) ensure the conservation and protection of natural landscape, ecosystems, culture, and biodiversity;

(ii) provide products and nature’s services to sustainable use; and (iii) encourage local communities as well as the public to participate in the

management, protection, and conservation of biodiversity and natural resources in the region.

D. Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines

38. ADB’s SPS applies pollution prevention and control technologies and practices consistent with international good practices as reflected in internationally recognized standards such as the World Bank, IFC Group’s Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines. The Guidelines provide the context of international best practice and contribute to establishing targets for environmental performance.

39. The two primary sources for occupational and community health and safety guidelines will be IFC Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines: Annual Crop Production and IFC Environmental Health and Safety General Guidelines.

40. The Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines and targets will be used in this EIA for the assessment and mitigation of potential impacts on air and noise. Water quality standards used (for both surface water and groundwater) will be the relevant domestic Cambodian water quality standards, supported by reference to the United States Environmental Protection Agency standards. Soil contamination (from dredge spoil) will be assessed against international standards (primarily the Japanese Environmental Quality Standards for soil pollution, August 1991).

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT COMPONENTS

A. Overall Project

41. The Stung Chinit South subproject will be implemented in Kampong Thom Province. The site has potential for improved land and water productivity through improved irrigation systems and water resource management. The subproject area is an existing irrigation system which has the potential for a second rice crop and the option of a third crop of either rice or another crop.

42. The project will (i) rehabilitate, modernize and climate proof existing irrigation systems and improve their performance and management, (ii) enhance land and water productivity through agronomic management and land improvement, and (iii) improve management of water resources through participatory irrigation and water resource management. The package of civil works, operational management and capacity building described in this chapter are planned to achieve the following potential increases in irrigated areas:

6 Sub-decree No. 88 of the Government of Cambodia issued on 9 May 2016.

12

Table 7: Potential Increases in Irrigated Areas Name Subproject

Province

Existing Command Area (ha)

New Command Area (ha)

Gross Area

Wet Season

Dry Season

Cumulative Total Irrigated

Gross Area

Wet Season

Dry Season

Cumulative Total Irrigated

Stung Chinit South

Kampong Thom 16,000 16,000 1,200 17,200 16,000 16,000 6,000 22,000

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

B. Subproject Components

43. Stung Chinit South Irrigation System is in the south of Kampong Thom Province stretching between the Stung Chinit River in the north and the Stung Kampong Sor in the south. Irrigation water is drawn from the Stung Chinit Reservoir.

Figure 3: Stung Chinit South Irrigation Scheme Location

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

44. From the Stung Chinit reservoir, there are two main canals. One runs north for 7 kilometers (km) and serves a command area of about 3,900 ha called Stung Chinit North irrigation system. The Stung Chinit North Irrigation system was rehabilitated with funding support from the ADB under Stung Chinit Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure Project. System rehabilitation was started in 2004 and was ended in 2007. The Stung Chinit North Irrigation Scheme is located in Kampong Thmor, Prasat, and Boeung Lvea Communes of Santuk District.

13

Figure 4: System Layout of the Stung Chinit South Irrigation System

Note: The Climate Resilient Rice Commercialization Sector Development Program area is marked as “excluded” in the legend. Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

45. The other main canal runs south for 35 km and serves a command area of about 19,900 ha called the Stung Chinit South irrigation system. Sections of the Stung Chinit South main canal (about 3 km) have also been rehabilitated as part of the Stung Chinit North Project.

46. About 3,900 ha in the center of the total command area of about 19,900 ha of Stung Chinit South is being developed by another ADB funded project, the Climate Resilient Rice Commercialization Sector Development Program (Rice SDP). See “excluded area” in Figure 4 above. Excluding this area, the subproject targets an area of 16,000 ha from 11 communes in Baray and Taing Kork districts. Currently the system is equipped with one main Canal of 37 km

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and 75.78 km of secondary and tertiary canals. However, there is no FWUC at Stung Chinit South taking responsibility of the canal O&M and the canals have gradually silted up with eroded and overgrown banks, and their regulatory structures have deteriorated to a point where the system cannot provide reliable irrigation services to the full potential target area, especially for dry season crops.

47. To provide irrigation services to the target command area of 16,000 ha of Stung Chinit South subproject, the following infrastructure facilities will be improved and upgraded: (i) Stung Chinit weir and spillway; (ii) Stung Chinit South main canal and associated structures (35 km); (iii) 10 secondary canals (42.62 km) and five tertiary canals (24.42 km), and (iv) other regulatory structures for irrigation and drainages.

Table 8: Summary of Works Proposed for System Modernization Item Length (km) Civil Works

Improvement of Weir on Stung Chinit Reservoir

0.7 Upgrading Weir Erosion Protection

Upgrading Stung Chinit South main canal

35 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

Irrigation distribution network (Secondary and Tertiary canals)

67.04

SC1 - Thnoat Chum 5 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

SC2 - Chong Dong 0.57 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

a. TC1 - Chong Dong 6.76 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

b. TC2 - Nang Sang 4.15 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

SC3 - Boeung Cheung 0.69 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

a. TC3 - Boeung Cheung 1 2.28 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

b. TC4 - Boeung Cheung 8.01 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

c. TC5 - Trapaing Chak 3.22 Upgrading Canal by Concrete Lining and associated structures

SC6 - Hunsen Ti Prampil 3.7 Upgrading existing structures and add additional structures

SC7 - O Chet Bei 5.98 Upgrading existing structures and add additional structures

SC8 - Sralav 3.38 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

SC9 - Chambank Thom 4.2 Upgrading existing structures and add additional structures

SC10 - Toul Veng 6.43 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

SC11 - Chumrouv Tmoa 6.04 Upgrading existing structures and add additional structures

SC12 - Sralong Ankoal 6.63 Upgrading earthen canal section, embankment and associated structures

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

48. Weir and spillway. Improvement of the weir includes the replacement of the existing rocks at its downstream face with reinforced concrete chute blocks and an energy dissipating basin. The chute blocks consist of steeply sloping open channel placed behind the crest, leading the water from the reservoir to the downstream stilling basin.

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Figure 5: Spillway and Canal Offtakes at Stung Chinit Weir

Source: Google Earth adapted by TRTA Consultant.

Figure 6: Current Situation and Typical Proposed Design Section for Stung Chinit Weir

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

49. Reservoir management. A Joint Reservoir Operation Plan (JOROP) already exists for the Stung Chinit Reservoir and manages releases for Stung Chinit South, Stung Chinit North and Taing Krasang. It is implemented by the Kampong Thom Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDWRAM) office in cooperation with the FWUC for the North main canal and the village leaders on the South main canal. A computer based operational model has been prepared to manage the scheduling and distribution of water. The model will compute the gate openings for the head and cross regulators and some secondary canal offtakes which will then be passed on to the FWUC leaders for implementation. The projectwill assist in training of operators and in the upgrading of some hydromet stations which have fallen into disrepair.

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50. Main canal. Upgrading the main canal to restore its hydraulic section will involve shaping canal section, fixing and raising canal embankments, deepening canal bed elevation at three different canal sections. Because of base rock in places along the canal its design invert level could not be reached when first constructed. These locations now limit canal conveyance capacity to the downstream. Under the project, excavation of the rock will be undertaken to reinstate the design invert level.

51. Several existing functional structures will be retained such as the existing off-take structures, cross regulators and cross drainage works. However, a number of additional structures are required to modernize the canal system. At the locations of existing eroded canal embankments, cross drainage works are proposed to over-pass the natural flood over main canal from its right side to its left side of the main canal

52. Secondary and tertiary canals. There are 12 secondary canals and 5 tertiary canals diverting water from the main canal. These canals are currently used by farmers in the areas for supplementary irrigation of wet season paddy. Currently most of the secondary canals cannot get water from the main canal, especially the ones which are located downstream of the rock-restricted section of the main canal.

53. The secondary canals will be upgraded for efficient water control through the provision of offtake or inlet structures along both sides of the embankments at 300 meters (m) intervals and check structures at 1 km intervals. In addition, a number of canal crossings are to be provided at important village crossing locations. Upgrading of the tertiary canals requires reshaping of the existing earthen canals and reforming their embankments, fixing and replacing non-functional structures, and installing additional structures. These civil works locations are shown in Figure 7.

54. Improvements to the main and secondary canals with changes to height of canal levees, consolidation of canal walls and deepening of canals will take place within the existing canal easements and along the same alignments.

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Figure 7: Location of Civil Works at Stung Chinit South

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

55. FWUC formation. The establishment of a FWUC for Stung Chinit South will be directly supported by the project, so that the modernization of the system will be complemented by improved operation and maintenance. The scope of works for support of the FWUC will include: (i) elections of FWUC management committees at all levels (Sub-group, farmer water user group, and FWUC), (ii) FWUC capacity building covering O&M, financial management and conflict resolution, and (iii) training of FWUC on developing and maintenance of tertiary canals, to be conducted by MOWRAM and PDWRAM.

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D. Capacity Building

56. A capacity building program has been developed based upon data collected on farming practices by the TRTA team. Farmer training will be key to bringing about the adoption of modern production technology. Farmers will be supported to set up farmer field schools (FFSs). In a FFS, farmers will work to solve their own problems and each FFS will have an external facilitator who will train the farmers on the FFS system. Agricultural extension agents will also give technical support.

57. Demonstration plots will be established in association with a number of the FFSs in order to demonstrate field water management, land preparation, direct seeding, fertiliser application (base dressing and top dressing), weed control, and improving on-farm water management. IPM and low chemical cultivation applicable to cropping conditions and capacities in the subproject areas will be covered in FFSs. These will be part of an extensive field school training and demonstration program in the subproject communes (Table 9).

Table 9: Field Schools and Demonstrations Description Stung Chinit South

Sites Budget

($)

Rice agricultural inputs package demonstration 150 90,000

Farmer field schools 150 60,000

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

58. Training in IPM will coordinate with the Cambodian National IPM Programme and is in line with IFC Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines on Annual Crop Production (2016). The program will include the safe storage, handling and disposal of agricultural chemicals. The project will also undertake soil analyses in the command areas and provide farmers with recommendations on appropriate fertilizer regimes and cultivation practices. The FFSs will emphasize environmentally sound farming and sustainability and will provide farmers with alternative approaches to a reliance on chemicals.

59. Other direct training programs for MOWRAM, PDWRAM, and District Office staff will include: environmental awareness training; construction management; and on-farm water management. For FWUC members and farmer communities, the training program will include: water management; gender and environment; and environmental awareness (including climate change and protection of endangered fauna (e.g., Bengal florican in Stung Chinit South). Participatory training in disaster risk reduction (DRR), as developed in the project’s climate and disaster risk assessment, will also be included. These are listed in Table 10.

Table 10: Environment-Related Training Packages in the Capacity Building Component Description Stung Chinit South

Training Sessions

Budget ($)

Training for MOWRAM, PDWRAM and District Office Officers

Environmental awareness training 3 7,500

Construction management 5 10,000

On-farm water management 5 10,000

Training for FWUCs and Farmers

Water management 2 5,000

Gender and environment 2 7,000

Environmental awareness (including climate change and endangered fauna) 45a 13,500

Training for Commune and village Disaster management Committees

Commune-based training in DRR and disaster preparedness. 11 55,000

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DRR = disaster risk reduction, FWUC = farmer water user community, MOWRAM = Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, PDWRAM = Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology. a Number of villages in the command area. Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA 2018.

E. Project Implementation

60. MOWRAM as the proponent of the project will have the overall responsibility for project implementation. MOWRAM shall coordinate with MOE and MAFF and other concerned agencies for their active participation in the delivery of the project and to ensure compliance with national requirements. A PMU of MOWRAM shall have the main responsibility of implementation of the project, through contractors selected through a tendering process.

61. Newly-formed FWUCs will be responsible for the efficient use of water resources and for maximizing the benefits of the projects. FWUC will also help raise awareness of farmers in the proper utilization of the chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides to avoid the impacts on human health. The role and responsibilities of involved institutions are summarized in Table 11 and in the EMP at Table A1.1.

Table 11: Institutional Roles and Responsibilities for Environmental Safeguards Institutions/

Communities Roles and Responsibilities

MOWRAM • Overall responsibility for the project.

• Coordinating with other government institutions and donor to facilitate project implementation.

• Coordinate with MOE on environmental safeguards including bird conservation activities.

• Commitment not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorized third party pumping from command area canals during and after the project period.

• Ensure compliance with social and environmental safeguards as per the ADB SPS (2009),

• Submit quarterly progress reports and semi-annual environmental monitoring reports to ADB.

• Coordinate GRM.

PMU • Day to day management of the implementation of the project.

• Prepare quarterly progress report and report to MOWRAM.

• Oversee the work of contractors and implementation of safeguard requirements.

• Coordinate with local bodies and communities for their participation.

• Monitor and report on GRM in quarterly project progress reports and semi-annual safeguard reports.

PMIC • Support MOWRAM in the coordination with different government ministries and donor for obtaining necessary approvals.

• Design and implement the capacity building programs for the ministry and provincial department.

• Monitoring the work of contractors in compliance with covenants of the contract.

Contractors • Implementation of the civil works during the construction phase of the project.

• Preparing,implementing and reporting on SEMPs for each subproject.

• Ensuring the compliance with the community and occupational health and safety standards.

• Training of the workforce in good practices in construction management and waste management in the construction sites.

JOROP Unit (Stung Chinit)

• Implement the North and south Stung Chinit systems Joint Reservoir Operation Scheme

• Undertake reservoir operation in compliance with JOROP water scheduling plans.

WCS (Stung Chinit South)

• Implement the sustainable rice cultivation component of the Stung Chinit South subproject.

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Institutions/ Communities

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support to zoning and protection of remaining grasslands in the IBBA west of the command area to safeguard against potential project-induced impacts, while also benefiting local livelihoods.

• Encouraging farmers within the command area and IBBA to improve biodiversity measures under the SRP, including avoiding hunting of wildlife and maintenance/creation of habitat for threatened species.

• Coordinate with the PMU to ensure synergy in activities such as those relating to sustainable rice cultivation, engagement of local farmers, and monitoring.

• Submit quarterly progress and external monitoring reports to ADB.

FWUC • Participate in the management of the command area to the benefit of all water users.

• Coordinate with different government departments and other FWUCs to maximize the benefits of the project.

Local authorities and communities

• Participate in the project developments.

• Raise issues and concerns via GRM and public consultations carried out during implementation.

ADB = Asian Development Bank, FWUC = farmers water user community, GRM = grievance redress mechanism, IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, JOROP = Joint Reservoir Operations, MOWRAM = Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, PMU = project management unit, PMIC = project management and implementation consultant, SEMP = site environmental management plans, SRP = Sustainable Rice Platform, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society. Source: Project Administration Manual.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

A. Kampong Thom Province

62. Stung Chinit Irrigation System is located in Santuk and Baray and taing kork districts of Kampong Thom Province. Situated in the center of the country, Kampong Thom Province has a border with Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces to the north, with Kratie and Stung Treng province to the east, and Kampong Cham and Kampong Chhnang provinces to the south, and to Tonle Sap to the west. The province has 8 districts with a total population of 763,943 in 2015. Kampong Thom is one of the most rice productive provinces, with agricultural land of 1.12 million ha (80% of the provinces land area), the majority of which is growing in the lowland part of the province, between National Road No. 6 and Tonle Sap.

21

Figure 8: Location of Project Provinces

Source: TRTA consultants.

B. Environmental Setting

1. Climate

63. Average temperatures for Kampong Thom range from 25.5oC in December (coolest) and 29.54oC in April (warmest). Monthly rainfall data in the subproject area shows a seasonal pattern with the wet season occurring from May to November while the dry season of 5 months is December to April. The flood season months generally are from July to November. The average annual rainfall observed at Kampong Thom is estimated at 1,441 millimeter (mm) (2000-2014).

Figure 9: Yearly Temperature and Rainfall for Kampong Thom 2017-2018

Source: Climate-Data.org: Climate data for cities worldwide. https://en.climate-data.org.

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2. Climate – Recent Trends

64. Weather data over the last decade for Kampong Thom show very slight increasing trends in temperature and strong variability in rainfall.7 At Kampong Thom there has been a slight increase in average temperatures over the last decade, most noticeable in the trend of average minimum temperatures. There has been a prolonged dry spell for the province from 2010 to 2016, with a strong recovery with increased rainfall in 2017 and 2018.

Figure 10: 10-Year Temperature Data for Kampong Thom

Source: Climate-Data.org: Climate data for cities worldwide. https://en.climate-data.org.

Figure 11: 10-Year Rainfall Data for Kampong Thom

Source: Climate-Data.org: Climate data for cities worldwide. https://en.climate-data.org.

3. Topography and Geology

65. The majority of the Stung Chinit South subproject area is mainly Alluvial Plain Deposits which have weathered in situ to a gley plinthic acrisol under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations soil classification. There are small intrusions of Peneplain Laterite Deposits

7 Climate-Data.org: Climate data for cities worldwide. https://en.climate-data.org.

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and these weather to a plinthic acrisol. Both soils are sandy and extremely low in organic matter content. They are low in native soil fertility to support short-term crops and, because of their sandy nature, are susceptible to drought and losses of surface applied nutrients by leaching.

66. Along the western boundary, the geology changes to extensive Lake Bed Deposits associated with previous levels of Tonle Sap. It is on these deposits, with decreasing elevation, that flooded grassland-dominated landscapes occur.

4. Hydrology

67. The Stung Chinit is one of the tributaries of the Tonle Sap River with a catchment area of 8,236 square kilometre (km2). The Stung Chinit catchment is bounded between the Stung Sen on the west and Mekong River on the east. The catchment area of Stung Chinit lies on the slopes of the Dangrek Mountain Range bordering with the Lao PDR.

68. The Stung Chinit Irrigation System comprises two command areas: Stung Chinit North and Stung Chinit South. Only Stung Chinit South comprises the subproject. The combined systems includes a reservoir with a lake area of approximately 11.5 km2 and a 750 m long overflow weir and spillway to the Stung Chinit River. Water from the reservoir to the north main canal and south main canal pass through two gated sluiceways (with fish passage and riparian outlets) and two head regulators.

24

Figure 12: Geology of the Central Area of Stung Chinit South Showing the Laterite Intrusion Crossing the Main Canal

Source: Japan International Cooperation Agency Geographic Information System Survey of Cambodia, 2005.

25

Figure 13: Stung Chinit System

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, TRTA consultants 2018.

69. Stung Chinit River Flow – Baseline. There is a streamflow gauging station on the Stung Chinit River at Kampong Thmar operated by MOWRAM. The streamflow records cover 45 years. Figure14 shows the mean monthly streamflow at Kampong Thmar. The data shows a strong seasonal pattern with very low flow from January to April, gradually increasing to a peak flow in October. The average annual inflow is 56.59 cubic meter per second.

70. The Kampong Thmar station is located downstream of the offtakes for both Stung Chinit North and Stung Chinit South systems, and therefore measures water flow after the extraction from the subproject command area. It can therefore be viewed as average baseline flow before

26

the implementation of the project.

Figure 14: Mean Monthly Discharge of Stung Chinit at Kampong Thmar Station (m3/s)

m3/s = cubic meter per second. Source: TRTA Technical Report – Hydrology, 2018.

5. Water Quality

71. The surface and groundwater sampling sites are shown at Figure 15. These sites were also used for measurements of acoustic environment.

72. Surface water. Surface water quality was sampled in the Stung Chinit South subproject area at two points in August 2018: one in the southern end of the main canal just before it empties into the Stung Kompong Sor; and one adjacent to the offtake in the Stung Chinit reservoir. The locations are shown in Figure 15. These locations were chosen to sample the source water quality and the resultant quality and the end of the water’s progress through the command area.

73. Groundwater. Groundwater in the Stung Chinit South command area is multi-layered. Wells within the command range in depth from 10 m to 51 m. The locations are shown in Figure 15. Three samples were collected in August 2018: one at 50.8 m depth at Thol Keong village; one at 10 m depth in Samrong Commune in the center of the command area; and one at 38 m depth at the pagoda and school in Chong Dong village in the north of the command area. In all cases residents reported that the well water was only used for washing and cleaning and not for drinking or cooking.

74. The water quality samples were tested for total nitrogen and phosphorus to check for fertilizer leakage, and E. coli bacteria to check for wastewater pollution, heavy metals to check for industrial pollution and pesticide residues to check for the persistence of agricultural chemicals. The results are at Tables 12. The limits of testing for presence/absence of herbicide and pesticide residues are at Table 13.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Mean 15.55 8.86 5.82 6.12 17.39 35.57 63.81 99.27 147.72 181.44 69.35 28.25

P20% 20.70 14.25 8.50 10.31 28.24 45.66 88.39 149.69 192.44 236.17 102.18 40.67

P80% 7.07 3.20 2.38 2.17 4.35 6.71 21.85 39.38 83.67 105.95 41.67 12.45

-

50

100

150

200

250

Month

ly D

ischarg

e in m

3/s

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Table 12: Water Quality Sampling Results at Stung Chinit South

Parameter Unit Groundwater

Surface Water

Cambodian Standard

Raw Water Quality

Cambodian Drinking

Water Standard

2009

USEPA Drinking

water GW6 GW5 GW4 SW3 SW4

Depth m 38 10 51 0 0

pH 6.82 6.97 6.85 6.55 6.96 5.5-9 5.5-8.5 6.5-8.5

As µg/L ND ND 0.22 0.22 0.78 <50µg/L 0 0

Cu mg/L 0.061 0.028 0.032 0.014 0.02 <1mg/L <1.0 <1.0

P mg/L 0.34 0.47 0.5 0.39 0.18 <3mg/L

Total Nitrogen

mg/L 0.12 0.15 0.05 0.14 0.24 - 15 50

Herbicide residues

Positive/ negative

Not tested

negative negative negative negative - - Various

Pesticide residues

Positive/ negative

negative negative negative negative negative - - Various

Total Coliform

CFU/100ml 1100 >11000 1100 11000 1100 <5 x 103 3 <1

CFU = Colony Forming Units, L = liter, m = meter, USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency. Source: TRTA Team and Industrial Laboratory Center of Cambodia.

Table 13: Testing Limits for Herbicide and Pesticide Residues Herbicide Pesticide

Residue Unit Limit Residue Unit Limit Residue Unit Limit

Atrazine ppb 3 Methamidophos: ppm 1.7 Isocarbophos: ppm 3.1

Simazine ppb 4 Parathion: ppm 1.7 Acephate: ppm 3.5

Dichlorvos: ppm 0.3 Dipterex: ppm 0.3

Malathion: ppm 2 Carbofuran: ppm 0.5

Monocrotophos: ppm 2.5 Carbaryl: ppm 2.5

Dimethoate: ppm 1.3 Carbosulfan: ppm 1

ppm = parts per million; ppb = parts per billion.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

75. Surface water in the subproject was found to be generally clear of heavy metals and shows little sign of fertilizer runoff (although sampling in the rainy season provided a high dilution factor). All surface water samples had detectable coliform levels, although only the sample at the end of the main canal at Stung Chinit South (SW3) exceeded the Cambodian standard for raw (untreated) water.

76. Groundwater samples from Stung Chinit South had background arsenic levels and very low heavy metals. No herbicide or pesticide residues were detected, but coliforms were present especially at the shallowest well (GW5), most vulnerable to pollution from the surface.

6. Air Quality and Noise

77. Air quality. No ambient air quality data exists for Kampong Thom or the subproject area. In rural areas, the air quality is sometimes affected by dust from tillage and unpaved road users and smoke from rice stubble burning after harvest. At most times however, due to the absence of industry and low traffic volumes, the air quality can be expected to be high, with low NOx and SOx and minimal CO. The command area is bisected north-south by National Road 6, and higher air pollution from traffic can be expected in areas bordering this road. The average wind profile for this part of Kampong Thom (Figure 16) shows that ventilation is strong and constant throughout the year.

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Figure 15: Locations of Water Quality and Noise Sampling Points at Stung Chinit South

Source: Google Earth adapted by TRTA 2018.

Figure 16 Wind profile for the subproject area

Source: Climate-Data.org: Climate data for cities worldwide. https://en.climate-data.org.

78. Noise. Ambient noise levels were sampled in the subproject area with a noise meter. 10-minute average, maximum and minimum levels were recorded for locations along the canals and at residential areas. The monitoring sites are shown in Figure 15. The results are at Table 14. At Stung Chinit South, ambient noise levels are relatively high for a rural setting in Cambodia. The command area is well populated and harvest and drying activities for the late dry season crop were underway during the sampling period. Typical recorded daytime noise levels in the

29

command area are 1-hour averages of 37.9, 38.9, 55.4, 51.7 and 44.8 decibels (dB).

Table 14: Environmental Noise levels at Stung Chinit South

Parameter Unit N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 42 ANRK.BK

Standard EHS

Target8

maximum dB - - - - - - -

minimum dB 37.9 30.6 55.1 50.2 33.7 - -

10-minute average

dB 51.5 38.9 55.4 51.7 44.8 60-50 (1-hour average)

55 (1-hour average)

dB = decibel, EHS = Environmental Health and Safety. Source: TRTA team field measurements.

7. Land Use and Vegetation

79. Overall land use mapping of the subproject areas was undertaken as part of a country-wide geographic information system and remote-sensing mapping exercise by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2005. This map (Figure 17) shows that the subproject area is established rice paddy lands without natural vegetation.

8 IFC. 200. Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines: General Guidelines. Washington, D.C.

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Figure 17: Land Use at Stung Chinit South

Source: Japan International Cooperation Agency Geographic Information System Survey of Cambodia, 2005. Revised by TRTA consultants.

80. The entire command area is devoted to rice paddy and small village gardens. There are many villages within the command area, with National Route 6 passing through the area. Currently about 16,000 ha in the command area grow a wet season rice crop, but only 1,200 ha of that are sown to a dry season crop due to diminishing levels of water in the main and secondary canals. 80% of farmers grow the wet season crop while only about 7.5% grow the second dry season crop.

81. In the southern part of the command area, vegetation along the main and secondary canals is Acacia auriculiformis (Black wattle), Acacia obliquefolia (Madras thorn), Zizyphus mauritania (Indian jujube) and Jatropha gossypiifolia (Bellyache bush). Few trees grow along paddy dykes in the south and these are mainly Zizyphus jujube and Jatropha gossypiifolia (Figure 18). In the north of the command area the main and secondary canals are often lined with Pandanus humilis, with Borassus flabellifera (Sugar palm) scattered among the paddies (Figure 19).

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Figure 18: Southern End of Main Canal Lined with Jatropha, Zizyphus and Acacia obliquefolia

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

Figure 19:Central and Northern Parts of the Command Area with Pandanus along Secondary Canals and Borassus on Paddy Dykes

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

82. In the central section of the main canal where it passes through a rocky landscape there is potential for more impacts to vegetation along the banks due to the more extensive excavation required. Special note was taken of the vegetation. Dominant canal bank plants in this area are listed in Table 15 and Figure 20.

Table 15: Vegetation at Rock Intrusion along Main Canal Zizyphus jujube Indian jujube

Jatropha gossypiifolia Bellyache bush

Calotropis giganteum Crown flower

Uvaria sp. Custard apple

Borassus flabellifera Sugar palm

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

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Figure 20: Landscape around the Rock-Inhibited Parts of the Main Canal

Tall Shrubs of Jatropha Gossypiifolia Uvaria Sp. and Calotropis Giganteum

Borassus and Ceiba Trees

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

83. None of the vegetation species recorded is listed as threatened nationally or on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

84. Villages are scattered throughout the command area of Stung Chinit South. Common village trees in the command area are listed in Table 16 below:

Table 16: Common Garden Trees Recorded within the Command Area Limonia acidissia Wood apple

Cassia siamensis Cassia

Citrus maxima Pomelo

Mangifera indica Mango

Cocos nucifera Coconut

Ceiba pentandra Kapock

Carica papaya Papaya

Terminalia chebula Tropical almond

Bambusa vulgaris Narrow leaf bamboo

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

8. Fisheries

85. At Stung Chinit South, informal fisheries are undertaken in the main canal. These are sustenance fisheries rather than commercial operations. Fish species reported by fisher families

33

along the canal are listed below in Table 17.

Table 17: Fish Species Reported at Stung Chinit South Main Canal

Scientific Name Common Name

Cyclocheilichthys apogon Beardless Barb

Barbonymus altus Red Tailed Tinfoil

Parambassis apogonoides Iridescent Glassy Perchlet

Hypsibarbus lagleri Not available

Cyclocheilichthys largleri Not available

Discherodontus ashmeadi Not available

Cyclocheilichthys repasson White Eye Barb

Channas striata Striped Snakehead

Hemibagrus nemurus Asian Redtail Catfish

Hemibagrus spilopterus Blackspotted Catfish

Pristolepis fasciata Not available

Clarias batrachus Walking Catfish

Henicorhynchus lobatus Lesser Silver Mud Carp

Henicorhynchus siamensis Siamese Mud Carp

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

9. Protected Areas and Habitats

86. Cambodia has a network of over 20 protected areas managed through MOE. These areas cover 2.2 million ha or 18% of Cambodia’s land area and include most of its important habitats. The Forest Administration has also designated protected forests (from cancelled logging concessions) bringing the total area under protection to around 25%, which is more than twice the global average. The seasonal inundated grasslands of the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape (NTSPL) provide habitat for Bengal florican and other endangered bird species (Table 18) and cover around 64% of the total area (9,883 ha). Unprotected grasslands between Baray Bengal Florican Conservation Area (BFCA) and the command area, extend this habitat area to approximately 10,000 ha, and is the largest remaining fragment of floodplain grassland in Southeast Asia.

87. Protected Areas are sites which are protected by Decrees, Laws and Regulations. In 2008, Cambodia introduced the Protected Area Law (No. NS/RKM/0208/007), which defines these areas by their main conservation significance. These are listed on the MOE published map below.

34

Figure 21: MOE Protected Areas Map – showing National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Protected Landscapes, Multiple Use Areas, Ramsar Sites and Marine Parks

Source: Ministry of Environment.

88. The nongovernment organization Open Development Cambodia has updated the MOE map with all Protected Areas in Cambodia as of July 2016.

35

Figure 22: Protected Areas in Cambodia

Source: Open Development Cambodia.

89. The locations of the subproject have been checked against the Cambodian Natural Protected Area maps which showed that the subproject does not physically overlap any national or international protected area. No commune within the subproject areas is on the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development environmental watch list.9

90. The location of the subproject was checked against the International Biodiversity Assessment Tool10 which showed that the subproject does not encroach upon any nationally protected areas (IUCN management classes), international conservation agreement areas, or key biodiversity areas. See Figures 28 and 29.

9 Government of Cambodia, National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development. 2010. Finalization of

Environmental and Highland People Watch Lists and Recommendations and Implications for the Further Development and Implementation of Safeguards Work. Phnom Penh.

10 International Biodiversity Assessment Tool. www.ibat-alliance.org/ibat-conservation.

36

Figure 23: International Biodiversity Assessment Tool Identified Areas around the Subproject Area

Source: https://www.ibat-alliance.org/

91. However, the Stung Chinit South subproject command area is to the east of the Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL, and is directly adjacent to the larger Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBBA) which encompasses the Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL. The closest boundary of the command area to the NTSPL is 1 km and the furthest about 6 km, respectively (Figure 24).

37

Figure 24: Location of Proposed Stung Chinit South Subproject Command Area, Stung Sen, Santuk, Baray Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, and the Baray and Taing Kork

Section of the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape

Source: WCS. 2019

92. The Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL is an area characterized by seasonally inundated grassland and is a breeding habitat of the Bengal florican (IUCN critically endangered). Because of this, a preliminary rapid assessment was commissioned to assess the status of birds in the area. This survey (footnotes 3 and 4, see Executive Summary) was a two-day field survey, 23 and 24 August 2018, and comprised reconnaissance by car and foot within the command area and both Baray and Chong Doung sections of the protected landscape. In addition, famers and workers working within Choung Doung were randomly interviewed and a focus group discussion was held at Toul Poplea in Baray commune. This resulted in sightings of a number of globally threatened birds on the IUCN Red List (Table 18).11

11 IUCN Red List was first published in 1964. It is a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant

and animal species.

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Table 18: Notable Species in the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape and their International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Status

Species IUCN Red List Status

Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) Critically Endangered

Sarus crane (Grus antigone) Vulnerable

Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) Near Threatened

Black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) Near Threatened

Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) Endangered

Lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) Vulnerable

Oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) Near Threatened

Greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) Vulnerable

Grey-headed fish-eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus) Near Threatened

IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature. Sources: H. Chamnan. 2018. Rapid Environmental Assessment Report for Kampong Thom Province. Unpublished. and Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

93. The Bengal florican is found in three countries in the world (Cambodia, India, and Nepal). It has an estimated global population of fewer than 450.12 In 2012, the University of East Anglia researchers found that approximately 432 Bengal floricans remain in Cambodia.13 More recent estimates are that only about 138 adult floricans remain in the country, with this catastrophic decline being largely due to conversion of grasslands to irrigated (dry season) rice cultivation.

94. In the dry season, Bengal florican displays and nests in the Tonle Sap inundation zone and in the wet season they move out of the inundation zone to areas where the habitat is a mix of grasses, bamboos, agriculture, deciduous forest, and ponds. This is likely a suboptimal habitat that is only used as a refuge when grasslands in the floodplain are completely inundated. The preferred niche for Bengal floricans in these suboptimal habitats is a fallow rice fields that have been abandoned for some years.

95. The recent Bengal florican population monitoring in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provinces14 has enabled a comparison of population data of Bengal floricans in Baray, Chong Doung and Chi Kreng from 2016 to 2018 (see Table 19).

Table 19: Estimated Population of Bengal Floricans from 2016-2018 Province Plot Location 2016 2017 2018

Kampong Thom Baray 29-56 15-47 10-40

Kampong Thom Chong Doung 0 0 0

Siem Reap Chi Kreng 64-98 74-110 87-145

Source: S. Virak. 2018. Bengal Florican Monitoring in Kampong Thom Province. Wildlife Conservation Society.

96. The population trends are a decrease in Baray, no sightings in Chong Doung and a gradual increase in Chi Kreng. The increase in Chi Kreng is due to the active conservation work of WCS, resulting in successful engagement of local communities in conservation activities, while conversion of grasslands to agriculture has continued unabated elsewhere. The WCS work has resulted in minimal disturbance to Bengal florican habitat and feeding grounds.

97. During the first survey (footnote 3), no Bengal floricans were sighted within the command area nor in Baray and Chong Doung sections of the NTSPL possibly due to inflow flooding of

12 S.P. Mahood, C. Hong, V. Son, and S. Garnett. 2019. Catastrophic ongoing decline in Cambodia’s Bengal Florican

Houbaropsis bengalensis population. Bird Conservation International. 13 Protecting the critically endangered Bengal florican in Cambodia; Retrieved from

https://www.iucn.org/news/cambodia/201703/protecting-critically-endangered-bengal-florican-cambodia. 14 S. Virak. 2018. Bengal Florican Monitoring in Kampong Thom Province. Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Tonle Sap floodplain. Local people in Baray commune reported seeing Bengal floricans at Ou Ouk Tatanh (stream) and Ou Bei Mom (stream) as shown in Figure 25 in red ellipses. These sightings are in line with other recorded locations of Bengal florican sightings outside the NTSPL (footnote 14).

Figure 25: Location of Bengal Floricans Outside Baray Conservation Area Based on Field Interviews

Source: H. Chamnan. 2018. Rapid Environmental Assessment Report for Kampong Thom Province. Unpublished.

98. Yellow-breasted bunting nests in high latitudes (particularly in Russia), and migrates south to non-breeding grounds in Southeast Asia, with some of the best remaining non-breeding populations on the Tonle Sap floodplain. The global population is currently not known, given the challenges of a very broad breeding and non-breeding distribution, and very rapid recent declines owing particularly to trapping for food on its migration and non-breeding grounds. On non-breeding grounds, this species can occur in large flocks and particularly occurs in fallow rice fields. Habitat availability in the non-breeding grounds is not likely to be a limiting factor for this species, and so project impacts on the species are unlikely.

99. A more comprehensive second bird survey (footnote 4) comprising field surveys in and outside the command area from 15 to 27 December 2018 and from 10 to 13 January 2019. Village interviews were conducted from 16 December 2018 to 15 January 2019. Field surveys in the command area constituted 22 line transects, each of which was 3 km in length and walked twice. A total of 550 household interviews were conducted across 36 villages in or adjacent to the command area.

Location of Bengal

Floricans through local

interviews

1.5 Km

40

100. This survey identified the occurrence of Bengal florican and other critically endangered birds throughout the command area and neighbouring IBBA (Figures 26 to 29). Good practice impact assessment would normally require baseline surveys in all seasons. Given the specific biodiversity issues in the Stung Chinit South subproject and existing knowledge about the distribution and habitat requirements of this species, this is not necessary. Surveys for yellow-breasted bunting are only necessary during the non-breeding season (the species nests far to the north of Cambodia), and the other two critically endangered bird species are large, easy-to-identify species for which interviews with local people can provide far more current and historical information than extensive field surveys. Further, their nesting habitat requirements are so specific that it is clear neither species nests in the subproject command area, which has been almost entirely converted to rice cultivation. Together the two surveys, based as they are on both recent field records and historic information from local people, provide sufficient information to understand the status of Bengal florican and other threatened bird species in the area.

Figure 26: Sight Records of Bengal Florican Made During the Second Detailed Field Survey (⚫ denotes Bengal Florican sightings).

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

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Figure 27: Interview-derived Reports of Bengal Florican within the last 5-years, from the Second Field Survey (⚫ denotes reports dated 2018 to January 2019, ⚫ denotes reports dated

from 2016-2017 inclusive, ⚫ denotes reports from 2013 to 2015 inclusive).

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

Figure 28: Interview-derived Reports of White-shouldered Ibis within the last 5-years, from the Second Field Survey (⚫ denote reports dated 2018 to January 2019, ⚫ denote

reports from 2013 to 2017 inclusive).

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

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Figure 29: Interview-derived Reports of Yellow-breasted Bunting within the last 5-years, from the Second Field Survey (⚫ denote reports dated 2018 to January 2019, ⚫ denote

reports from 2013 to 2017 inclusive).

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society. 2019. Bird Survey Report. Unpublished.

101. Under the ADB SPS 2009, critical habitat can be a subset of both natural and modified (e.g., agricultural) habitats. Based upon the preliminary and detailed specialist reports on critically endangered birds commissioned by the TRTA (footnotes 3 and 4), and discussed previously in this section, the IBBA holds approximately 36 displaying male Bengal floricans, indicating that almost 10% of the global population of this critically endangered species occurs in this area. It is unclear precisely how many reproductive units are present, as this species has a complex breeding system,15 but more than five reproductive units are certainly present. Based on all of this information, the IBBA constitutes critical habitat for Bengal florican. There are no collated global population data on the bunting, and so any attempt to identify critical habitat for the species on its non-breeding grounds would be extremely speculative. Given likely regular presence of this species across the IBBA and command area, the subproject should assume that the area may possibly comprise critical habitat for yellow-breasted bunting. The IBBA also supports other threatened species, but do not appear to constitute critical habitat for other species.

102. If unmitigated, the Stung Chinit South subproject could induce extension of irrigation to the west of the command area and into critical habitat for Bengal florican. As such, the subproject area of influence should be considered to include such areas to the west of the command area.

15 Bengal floricans have an ‘exploded lek’ system, in which male birds display to females over a broad area, but still

within auditory range of one another. In such systems, 70-80% of successful matings may accrue to 10%-20% of displaying males. Technically, five reproductive units could thus be five breeding age females and one or two displaying males, but females are not easy to survey.

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The subproject area of influence thus includes areas of critical habitat.

103. In general, the area of influence comprises areas of grassland (mostly old or very old fallow agriculture), which can be considered natural habitat, and areas of rice cultivation (fallow for some months of the year), which can be considered modified habitat. The grassland areas are important for floricans during the breeding season, and both grasslands and fallow agricultural areas are important for Bengal florican, yellow-breasted bunting and other critically endangered birds during the non-breeding season.

C. Agricultural Practice

104. Cropping Calendars. In the Stung Chinit South command area farmers plant early maturing varieties (90-days maturity) for two yearly crops or one medium maturing photoperiod sensitive traditional varieties for a single crop. Medium maturing varieties are planted for the wet season and early maturing variety for the dry season only by farmers with access to irrigation along the main canal.

Figure 30: Current Cropping Calendar for Stung Chinit South

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, 2018.

105. Agricultural inputs. Only generalized data is available on the use of agricultural chemicals in the subproject areas. Discussions with farmers and local sales agents suggest that farmers are reasonably inflexible in their usage levels, following packet directions or seller’s instructions.

106. All farmers in Stung Chinit South use fertilizer during the wet season and dry season cropping, varying in kind and rate of application. Complete fertilizer (20-20-15) is popularly used. Diammonium phosphate (18-46-0) amounting to 100 kg/ha together with 50 kg/ha of urea is also common. TRTA agronomy specialists have reported that farmers believe their practices in nutrient management need to be improved, and that they are concerned about following the recommendations of their input suppliers.

107. Pesticides and herbicides identified being used in the subproject area by the TRTA environment team are listed in Table 20.

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Table 20: Identified Pesticides and Herbicides in use in Kampong Thom Name Components Use

Tungrius 10WP Phyrazosulfuron Ethyl (10%) Herbicide

Bayonsmao (40SC) Bispyribac Sodium (40%/W/V SC) Herbicide

70WP Xpert Quinclorac: 50% + Pyrazonsulfuron-Ethyl: 7% + Fenoxapro-P-Ethlyl Herbicide

Dithane M-45 (80 WP) Mancozeb Fungicide

Best-one (95WP) Monosuttap 97% WP Insecticide

888 (750WP) Agrosulfuron Chlorosulfuron 750g to 1kg of agent Broad spectrum herbicide

Source: TRTA Field Observations, 2018.

108. None are listed as banned or restricted in BK-484 issued in 2012 by the MAFF, or World Health Organization advisories.

D. Socio-economic Environment

109. The following information has been taken from the results of the TRTA social team’s socio-economic survey undertaken in July and September 2018 in all the subproject communes.

110. Demographics. The 49 villages in the Stung Chinit South subproject communes have a total population of 124,559 in 26,171 households, with females accounting for 51.01% (Table 29). The average household has 4.8 members.

Table 21: Stung Chinit South Command Area Population Commune No. of

Villages Population (person) Household Household

Size Female-headed

Household

Total Male Female

Baray 1 13,791 6,782 7,009 2,777 5.0 388

Boeng 5 10,428 5,082 5,346 2,440 4.3 521

Chhuk Khsach 4 14,329 7,087 7,242 3,043 4.7 417

Chong Doung 8 13,239 6,417 6,822 2,920 4.5 441

Chrolong 1 6,918 3,317 3,601 1,454 4.8 232

Andoung Pou 1 6,019 2,899 3,120 1,236 4.9 248

Pongro 1 10,584 5,248 5,336 1,890 5.6 284

Sou Young 1 8,526 4,129 4,397 1,968 4.3 310

Sralau 7 12,358 6,024 6,334 2,290 5.4 349

Tnaot Chum 2 9,273 4,591 4,682 2,056 4.5 217

Triel 18 19,094 9,450 9,644 4,097 4.7 629

Total 49 124,559 61,026 63,533 26,171 4.8 4,036

Source: CommuneDatabse, 2016.

111. Livelihoods. In the Stung Chinit South command area villages, among people of working age in the subproject communes, only a very small percentage (0.95%) is unemployed. Agriculture is the primary occupation of most people of working age (60.44%). The service sector is the second most important primary occupation, including 13.41% of men and 12.94% of women. Of the total number of households in the subproject villages, 50.54% derive most of their income from farming, while 19.96% engage in trading as their main income source.

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Table 22: Primary and Secondary Occupations in Kampong Pouy (% population 18+ years)

Primary Occupation Secondary Occupation

Male Female Total Male Female Total

Crop cultivation 4 3 3.5 4 3 4

Rice cultivation 52 37 45 9 7 8

Vegetable cultivation 57 41 49 1 <1 1

Livestock, fish, NTFP 3 2 3 5 4 5

Agricultural wage labor 5 3 4 6 3 5

Service sector 1 <1 1 10 6 8

Trading 5 4 5 2 2 2

Craft and/or industry sector 2 1 1.5 1 1 1

NTFP = Non-timber forest products. Source: Project Household Survey, 2018.

112. Poverty. Poverty rates in the Stung Chinit South subproject communes have been steadily decreasing in the last decade (Table 23).

Table 23: Poverty Levels, Stung Chinit South Communes (% population)

Commune 2004 2008 2012 Change

Chong Doung 40 38.1 29.5 -26.3%

Boeung 37.6 34.7 26.3 -30.1%

Triel 33.2 29.7 27.3 -17.8%

Sralau 38.3 34.5 30 -21.7%

Andoung Pou 40 32.5 23.2 -42.0%

Chrolong 41.9 37.2 28.7 -31.5%

Sou Young 29.7 25 20.2 -32.0%

Pongro 37.8 31.1 25.4 -32.8%

Tnaot Chum 39.5 37.2 30.8 -22.0%

Baray 34.7 30.6 26.4 -23.9%

Chhuk Khsach 39.3 36.4 29.7 -24.4%

Source: Government of Cambodia, Ministry of Planning. 2012. Poverty Reduction by Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, Districts, Khans, Communes, Sangkats Based on Commune Data Base, 2004-2012. Phnom Penh.

113. In 2016, the poverty rate in Baray and Taing kork district (containing all the Stung Chinit South command area communes) was 22.5%, while in the communes where the subproject is located, the poverty rates vary from 9.3%-42.5% (Table 32). Chrolong Commune has the highest poverty rate of 42.5%.

Table 24: Poverty Rate in the Subproject Communes Commune Poverty Rate

(%)

Baray 13.40

Boeng 20.10

Chhuk Khsach 17.80

Chong Doung 9.30

Chrolong 42.50

Andoung Pou 19.20

Pongro 30.20

Sou Young 24.90

Sralau 33.10

Tnaot Chum 18.90

Treal 27.40

Source: Commune Database, 2016.

114. The SES results showed that 44 out of the 273 or 16.1% of the surveyed households are

46

classified as poor. The respondents attributed their poverty to various factors, including the following: (i) large family size; (ii) lack of productive land; (iii) lack of opportunity for wage labor; and (iv) sick or incapacitated household members.

E. Physical Cultural Resources

115. There are three recorded Historic Sites covered by the Law of 25 January 1996 on the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the vicinity of the subproject. These are: Prasat Tnaut Chum Khang Cheung, Prasat Tnaut Chum Khang Lech, and Prasat Kuk Nokor. Their locations and relationship with the subproject boundary are shown in Figure 31. All are outside the command area.

116. Prasat Tnaut Chum Khang Cheung and Prasat Tnaut Chum Khang Lech are 10th century Buddhist temples, situated north and south of the village of Tnaot Chum, approximately 300 m and 1 km north of the northern boundary of the command area. The nearest proposed civil works are located 4.3 km from the nearest temple. Prasat Kuk Nokor is a Hindu temple dating from the 11th century and is located 180 m from the south-west boundary of the command area, and 830 m from the nearest construction site (main canal). All temples are on dead-end side roads and will not be on any construction transport or haulage routes.

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Figure 31: Physical Cultural Resources Recorded in the Vicinity of Stung Chinit South

Source: B. Brugier and J. Lacroix. 2010. Sambor Prei Kuk et le bassin du Tonle Sap, Guide Archeologique du Cambodge Tome II, Les editions du Patrimoine.

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F. Floods and Droughts

117. Flooding is a regular phenomenon in Cambodia, with rainfalls commonly exceeding 500 mm per month in the rainy season. However, recent flooding in the greater Mekong region has been very damaging and the Mekong River Commission records show an increasingly shorter return period for major floods. Additionally, though major tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea rarely penetrate into Cambodia, cyclonic effects in central Cambodia have been more common in the last decade.

118. In particular, the floods of 2011 and 2013 were major events and were very damaging to life, property and livelihoods. The flood statistics for the 2013 flood for the subproject provinces in Table 25 illustrate the levels of damage.

Table 25: Impact of flooding

Province Affected

Communes Affected (families)

Affected (people)

Evacuated (families)

Evacuated (people)

Affected Houses

Victims Affected

Deaths Injured Schools Pagodas Health

Center or Hospitals

Kampong Thom

61 1,7463 80,330 1114 5,124 17,463 24 3 121 41 4

Source: National Committee for Disaster Management, 18 October 2013.

119. Table 26 below compares data collected by the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) in 2013 and 2011, at the peak of the floods in each year, by province. Changes in the number of affected or evacuated families in 2013 compared to 2011, are highlighted.

Table 26: Affected and Evacuated Families in 2013 and 2011 Province

2013 2011 Comparison (affected

families) 2013 and 2011

2013 2011 Comparison (Evacuated

families), 2013 and 2011

Affected families

Affected families

Evacuated

families

Evacuated

families

Kampong Thom

17,493 54,414 -36,951 1,114 2,448 -1.334

Source: Humanitarian Response Forum, Final Report No. 07, December 2013.

120. The data in Tables 25 and 26 show that major floods have impacted significantly on Kampong Thom. The effects of flooding on rice production is an important part of the project due diligence. The following table, taken from the Humanitarian Response Forum Situation Report of October 2013 covering the devastating floods of September that year, show that agriculture in Kampong Thom was significantly affected. However, at Takeo with a similar overall area planted there was insignificant flood damage. This is because the Takeo cropping is largely recession rice, with little cropping in the wet season which would be affected by floods.

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Table 27: Damage to Agriculture Sector by Floods in 2013

Phnom Penh and Provinces

Area Affected (ha) Destroyed (ha)

Planted Flood (ha) Flood (ha)

ha Seedling Transplanted

Rice and/or Direct seedling

Seedling Transplanted

Rice and/or Direct seedling

Banteay Meanchey 230,632 - 38,988 - 197

Battambang 295,314 - 73,667 - 1,048

Kampong Cham 165,927 140 10,798 87 1,661

Kampong Chhnang 120,651 - 1,847 - -

Kampong Spew 113,732 - - - -

Kampong Thom 215,191 - 5,180 - -

Kampot 135,095 - - - -

Kandal 39,490 - 4,790 - -

Koh Kong 10,373 - - - -

Kratie 32,860 - 1,926 - 191

Mondolkiri 22,920 - 480 - 26

Phnom Penh 11,557 - 50 - -

Preah Vihear 74,093 - 5,166 - -

Prey Veng 279,894 - 55,840 - 13,647

Pursat 108,374 - 11,772 - -

Ratanakiri 27,172 - 3,854 - -

Siem Reap 183,845 - 13,995 - 1,240

Sihanoukville 16,483 - - - -

Stung Treng 27,664 - 8,070 - 5,490

Svay Rieng 166,549 - 915 - -

Takeo 201,566 - 32 - 5

Otdar Meanchey 64,705 - 7,086 - -

Kep 3,530 - - - -

Pailin 6,485 - - - -

Total 2,554,102 140 244,456 87 23,505

Source: Humanitarian Response Forum Situation Report No. 03, 15 October 2013.

121. Detailed data on the extent of flooding in the subproject communes is unavailable, but national mapping of the 2011 and 2013 floods (Figure 31) shows that the Stung Chinit South subproject in Kampong Thom was flooded along the western portion of the command area in both 2011 and 2013.

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Figure 31: 2011 and 2013 Floods: Stung Chinit South

Source: World Food Programme, Cambodia. 2013.

122. A major drought occurred in 2002 when unusually dry weather during the rainy season affected some 420 communes in 76 districts located in the 10 provinces. Project provinces affected included Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, and Takeo. The drought prevailed until the onset of rains in mid-August and covered 62,702 ha. Statistics from the NCDM indicate that the drought had affected 2,047,340 people or 442,419 families and was the worst recorded drought to affect the country to that date. More recently, a very strong El Niño occurred between 2015 and 2016 and resulted to severe droughts in Cambodia. According to the NCDM an estimated 2.5 million people throughout the country were affected and left with no access to safe drinking water and water shortages for farming.1

123. The International Centre for Environmental Management report2 identifies baseline drought conditions for the subproject site (Figure 32). The Stung Chinit South site has a baseline3 yearly drought period of 3.5 to 3.75 months.

1 ActionAid. http://www.actionaid.org/cambodia/2016/09/el-nino-drought-2015-2016 (accessed 10 August 2018). 2 International Centre for Environmental Management and Development Alternatives Inc. 2013. USAID Mekong ARCC

Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study. Bangkok. 3 Baseline is defined as the period 1980 to 2005, ensuring that average (early 1980’s), wet (1996-2005) and dry phases

(1985-1995) were captured in baseline trends.

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Figure 32: Baseline Yearly drought Months at Stung Chinit South

Source: International Centre for Environmental Management.

V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

A. Positive Impact and Environmental Benefits

124. Benefits. The result of the project improvements to irrigation and drainage facilities will be (i) an increase in certainty and control of existing irrigation areas; (ii) expansion of reliable irrigation into new areas; and (iii) winning of longer cropping periods on areas previously unavailable for parts of the year due to flooding.

125. Tables 28 show the beneficial impacts of the project investments in the two subprojects with respect to increases in areas sown and yields which can be expected in the “with” project case in the year 2028 (6 years after commissioning of the civil works). The project investments include the design and management measures for climate change adaptation.

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Table 28: Project Benefits through Civil Works, Agro-Inputs and Practices of the Subproject to 2028

Subproject Province

Command Area Without Project (ha)

Command Area With Project (ha)

Wet Season Dry Season

Cumulative Total

Irrigated

Wet Season Dry Season

Cumulative Total

Irrigated

Stung Chinit South

Kampong Thom

16,000 1,200 17,200 16,000 6,000 22,000

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, 2018.

126. In terms of sustainable areas sown as a result of increased irrigation, the project will increase potential growing areas by 4,800 ha in the dry season in Stung Chinit South. The beneficiaries of these changes will be local farmers, with flow-on effects to local commercial enterprises. Since rural populations are the poorest sectors of the Cambodian population, poverty alleviation effects will be direct and sustainable.

127. The feasibility report for the subproject provided details on agro-inputs as well as areas of cultivation with and without the project and these are provided in Table 29.

Table 29: Agro-Inputs and Practices of the Stung Chinit South Subproject Agronomic Parameters and

Inputs Cropping Unit

Without Project

With Project (Year 5)

Cropping intensity 1st EWSC % of Target 100 100

2nd EDSC % of Target 7.,5 37.5

1st EWSC ha 16,000 16,000

2nd EDSC ha 1,200 6,000

Yield 1st EWSC t/ha 2.5 4.0

2nd EDSC t/ha 3.0 5.0

Fertilizer 1st EWSC Adopting, % 100 100

2nd EDSC Adopting, % 100 100

Pesticides 1st EWSC Adopting, % 50 10

2nd EDSC Adopting, % 100 20

Quality Land Preparation Deep and Puddled Adopting, % 50 100

Seed Quality Poor Quality Adopting, % 80 20

Certified-Seed Quality Adopting, % 20 80

EWSC = early wet season crop, EDSC = early dry season crop, ha = hectare, t/ha = ton per hectare. Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, 2018.

128. Project benefits, over and above the increases in cropping area and yields which result in higher incomes for farmers, include increased flood storage in higher capacity canals and faster drainage of excess water, climate change adaptation, promotion of lower overall use of agricultural chemicals through IPM and matching fertilizer to crop and nutrient status, and the adoption of water conservancy practices. These benefits will accrue from the combination of civil works rehabilitation and expansion of the irrigation infrastructure and capacity building through farmer field schools, demonstrations and direct training supported by the project.

129. Integrated pest management (IPM) will promote a reduction in the amount of pesticides used, resulting in reduced movement of pesticide residues in surface water, reduced risk of leaching of residues into groundwater, and will include safeguards for farmers in the safe handling and use of chemicals. Fertilizer needs will be matched to soil nutrient levels and crop and water conditions to avoid overuse and leakage of nutrients into water resources. Training in farm water management to use water more efficiently (e.g., through alternate wetting practices rather than flooding) will conserve seasonal water resources.

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130. The project will include a specific component targeting sustainable rice cultivation. The sustainable rice cultivation component will reduce risk of potential direct and project-induced impacts on critical habitat and its high biodiversity values to negligible levels. It will reverse current local declines in the populations of endangered and critically endangered bird species through conservation of grassland habitats, will achieve a net gain for biodiversity in the subproject area.

131. Although there are no direct or indirect impacts on protected areas, the Stung Chinit South subproject, through support to MOE under the sustainable rice cultivation component, will support a nearby protected area. Specifically, it will support reconfiguration, extension, zoning and operationalisation of the Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL. The reconfiguration will aim to exclude existing agricultural concessions, and the extension will aim to include unprotected areas of grassland. These grassland areas are the largest remaining fragment of floodplain grassland in Southeast Asia, and are key to the persistence of critically endangered birds in the area. The subproject is thus intended to have an overall positive impact upon critical grassland habitat which is currently unprotected and actively under threat of conversion to agriculture.

132. Extension of the current protected area eastwards into the IBBA will reinforce the MOWRAM commitment not to irrigate the IBBA, by zoning it for conservation rather than large-scale cultivation, yet will not restrict local land tenure. It will not prohibit existing smallholder cultivation or any future additional cultivation that proceeds under compatible sustainable principles.

The project will also include a specific component targeting community-based disaster risk reduction. Disaster risk for the subproject is primarily from peak floods, with droughts the next most threatening hazard. DRR activities within the project focus on civil works, capacity building, and participatory planning to increase disaster preparedness at the commune and village levels.

B. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Pre-Construction Phase

1. Site Preparation

133. Loss of vegetation. The 25 m construction easement for canals (canal channel and levee banks) will require removal of vegetation where it has established along existing canal banks. Trees and vegetation along the canals in villages provide fruit and other products, protect waterways from wind and evaporation and adjacent agricultural land from dust and run-off. Loss of mature native trees and productive fruit trees in the canal easements should be minimized during detailed design. Before construction in all areas, the PMU’s environment officer and contractor will clearly mark trees which are to be retained or replanted.

134. Under the contractor’s SEMP, there will be a program of construction worker training in environmental awareness.

135. Loss of assets.

136. The Stung Chinit South subproject will not require land acquisition or resettlement. A resettlement due diligence report has been prepared for the subproject by the TRTA consultants in accordance with the principles and requirements of ADB's SPS and the government's laws and regulations on land acquisition and resettlement.

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2. Features of Project Design

137. Safeguarding habitats. A major feature of the design of the Stung Chinit South subproject is the safeguarding of critical habitat. The western boundary of the Stung Chinit South subproject was delineated to ensure that it did not encroach upon the NTSPL or the IBBA, just to the west of the subproject command area (Figure 33), since both of these areas include critical habitat.

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Figure 33: Amendment of Stung Chit Subproject Boundary to Ensure Buffer Zone for Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape

Source: TRTA consultants.

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Figure 34: Boundary Design to Avoid Direct Encroachment of the Subproject Command Area on Priority Sites for Biodiversity or Critical Habitat

Source: TRTA consultants.

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138. Two specialist reports on the degree to which the subproject might potentially impact critically endangered bird habitat were commissioned by the TRTA. The first report (footnotes 3 and 4) was a preliminary reconnaissance and reported on the degree to which the subproject activities might impact on endangered bird species in neighbouring lands. This report confirmed the amended boundary of the Stung Chinit South subproject as appropriate, and made three recommendations which relate to project design. These were:

(i) Raise environmental awareness among local farmers, especially in relation to avoiding disturbance to floricans. An environmental awareness program would benefit from the experience of the Chi Kreng section of the NTSPL where agriculture is intensive but the florican population has gradually increased;

(ii) The western ends of secondary canals from the command area should not be restored outside the command area boundary. This will prevent local farmers from intensifying agriculture in areas outside the command area boundary; and

(iii) Increased cropping in the command area will lead to increased chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. The project should implement the SRP to reduce pollution impacts on biodiversity while at the same time safeguarding community livelihoods and health.

139. A second, detailed survey of the status of both the subproject lands and the adjoining lands as habitat for endangered bird species was commissioned by the ADB in December 2018. This report, “Conduct of Threatened Bird Surveys - Stung Chinit South Subproject, Cambodia: Bird Survey Report” by WCS Cambodia, found that the Bengal Florican, and possibly the Yellow-breasted Bunting, regularly visit the command area during the non-breeding season and confirmed the need for effective mitigation of potential negative impacts outside of the command area. This report is in Appendix 1.

140. In light of the findings of these reports, and in consultation with WCS, the following measures have been incorporated into project design:

(i) A community or farmer-based sustainable rice cultivation program. This $0.92 million4 program will be initiated as part of the advance actions at Stung Chinit South. The WCS will be contracted to undertake this activity. The program will include: (i) encouraging adoption of the SRP standard by local farmers within the subproject command area and the IBBA to the west, through awareness raising of the SRP and its benefits of improved yields and reduced input costs; (ii) supporting farmers in this area to meet threshold values for all SRP sustainability measures, and to further increase scores for water use, agricultural inputs and biodiversity; (iii) facilitating access to international buyers of SRP rice; (iv) supporting FWUCs, PDWRAM and MOWRAM in identifying unauthorized pumping of water or extension of canals from the command area into the IBBA, so that MOWRAM can halt such activities; (v) participation in development of MOWRAM’s water resources management plan for the wider Tonle Sap Basin Group; (vi) supporting expansion of the existing Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL or creating an additional, adjoining conservation area, to further protect remaining grasslands between that section and the command area from potential project-induced impacts; and (vii) supporting zoning and implementation of that conservation area in a way that will conserve natural habitat and threatened birds, while also benefiting local livelihoods – through awareness raising, enforcement of existing

4 See Procurement Plan in Project Administration Manual for cost details.

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laws, encouraging cattle grazing to maintain grasslands, encouraging floating rice cultivation in currently-farmed areas, establishment of ecotourism, and payments for finding and protection of threatened bird nests.

(ii) Civil works on secondary canals have been designed to stop at the subproject boundary and thus constrain irrigation supply to areas beyond the boundary to curtail land conversion.

(iii) The project has developed a BAP. The WCS-supported sustainable rice cultivation program will provide the core foundations of biodiversity mitigation of both direct impacts and potential induced impacts, and the BAP describes these interventions as key measures will avoid, minimise and compensate for potential project impacts and goals expressed as key performance indicators (KPIs) which can be monitored and reported on. The BAP is in Appendix 2. The key measures have been incorporated as EMP requirements and the KPIs included as part of the environmentaL monitoring plan.

141. Adaptation for climate change. The designs of the subproject will be resilient to climate change. Measures for climate change adaptation have been drawn from the project’s climate and disaster risk assessment and the climate proofing reports for the feasibility studies, which reference the ADB’s Guidelines for Climate Proofing in the Agriculture Sector, and current ADB Climate Resilience projects in Cambodia.

142. To minimize climate change vulnerability of the subproject irrigation system, climate proofing will be undertaken through a combination of specialized civil works and training and support to farmers, FWUCs and other stakeholders to adopt good practices and techniques that will minimize the impacts of climate change.

143. At Stung Chinit South, civil works where adaptation has been integrated into design:

(i) Construction of five tertiary canals with a total length of 5 km and providing them with necessary structures and measuring devices; and

(ii) Repair of the Stung Chinit Weir (750 m) by replacing stones with concrete chute blocks and protecting the weir foundation from scouring and failure.

144. These measures and complementary capacity building activities for FWUC and farmers are described and costed in the section below on adaptation for climate change.

3. Construction Readiness

145. A number of environmental management measures will also be implemented in the pre-construction phase to ensure that appropriate plans and documentation to determine environmental performance of construction and operation of subproject are in place. These include:

(i) Assignment of Environmental Management Officer (EMO). The PMU will assign a permanent staff member as EMO. This officer will be the dedicated point-of-contact for the PMU in EMP implementation and coordination of GRM, working with the Environment Specialists of the PMIC.

(ii) Updating EMP: Mitigation measures defined in the EMP and EIA will be incorporated into the detailed design to minimize adverse environmental impacts. The EIA and EMP will also be updated in response to any significant changes made during detailed engineering design. This will be the responsibility of the

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PMU. (iii) Contract documents: Preparation of the environment section in the terms of

reference for bid and construction contracts, and environmental contract clauses for contractors, namely the special conditions (referencing the EMP and monitoring plan). Material haulage routes, and waste disposal arrangements will be defined in the construction tender documents as appropriate. This will be the responsibility of the PMU with the support of the PMIC environment specialist.

(iv) Preparation of a SEMP by the successful contractor for the subproject that will incorporate all relevant measures listed in the project EMP and BAP. The SEMP will include delineation of work areas and clear identification of areas to be protected. It will provide work scheduling and temporary access information as a basis for further consultation with affected communities. The SEMP will include the locations of sensitive community receptors for special mitigation measures against noise and dust (see Construction Impacts below). They will also include an emergency preparedness and response plan for construction emergencies and site environmental health and safety plan. The SEMP will be approved by the PMU in consultation with the PMIC.

(v) Contractor Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Officer. The contractors will assign an EHS officer who will be responsible for daily and weekly monitoring and reporting on EHS. This staff member will also be the contractor’s contact person for the GRM.

(vi) Establishment of the GRM during the subproject design phase. (vii) Training. The PMIC in conjunction with MOWRAM will provide environmental

protection training covering the implementation and supervision of environmental mitigation measures to PMU staff and contractors.

(viii) Checklists and monitoring report templates. The PMIC will establish checklists and monitoring report templates for contractor EHS officers and PMU environment officer.

C. Impacts and Mitigation Measures during the Construction Phase

1. Areas of Influence for Impact assessment

146. The assessment areas for air, noise, water, and ecological impacts are based on the environmental sensitivity of the project area and surroundings as well as the nature of the subproject and its components. The assessment areas for the infrastructure components are shown in Table 30.

Table 30: Assessment Areas of the Infrastructure Subproject Environmental Medium Area of Influence

Air Within 50 meters (m) of residences along canals and embankments (to cover all distances of dust and emissions impacts during construction).

Noise Within 100 m in the day and 50 m at night along canals and embankments.

Surface water Nearest permanent waterbody (canal, reservoir or river).

Groundwater Within and adjoining irrigation command areas.

Ecology and biodiversity Footprint of civil works for direct impacts; command area for indirect impacts and the neighboring Important Bird and Biodiversity Area for induced impacts.

Solid waste Adjoining village and paddy areas where waste could be deposited intentionally or accidently.

Vegetation 25 m easement along canals for canal channel and levees.

Physical cultural resources Construction “footprint” and project area of influence

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Occupational health and safety Construction site and adjoining properties.

Community health and safety Construction site, adjoining properties and haulage routes.

Source: TRTA consultants.

2. Construction Impacts

147. The subproject construction will require earthworks, soil stabilization, dust and noise control as well as management of the impacts from machinery operation, transport and haulage of building materials and the domestic needs of the work force. Occupational and community health and safety issues are discussed separately below.

148. Works area. Temporary land occupation for construction will be planned in the SEMP and approved by the commune council and landowners with appropriate written and signed agreements. Construction easement, including stockpile sites and access ways will be clearly delineated in the plan and marked on the ground to ensure equipment operators stay within these boundaries. Any temporary damage that is not covered in the marked and agreed construction easement will be compensated promptly by the contractor in line with the project entitlement matrix.

149. Spoil disposal. There are no Bill of Quantities data in the feasibility studies for the irrigation subproject. However, experience in similar irrigation system rehabilitation projects in Cambodia indicate that excavation volumes from embankments and canal beds will be generally balanced with embankment fill volumes. Any surplus spoil will be made available to nearby communities for use as flood free refuge areas for livestock, building pads and bunds (subject to soil quality standards being met and agreed that such use will not entail converting grassland areas). In all cases the contractor will ensure that stockpiles during excavation work do not encroach upon areas adjacent to the works easement especially farmland, vegetated areas or residential areas. Excavated material will be retained within the worksite (i.e., within the 25 m canal easement) and frequently removed.

150. Dredge spoil. The canal improvement works will involve dredging of main, link and secondary canals to establish new design capacity contoured shape and slopes. The dredge spoil volume is presently not known but will be available during detailed design. Since field canals are the sink for runoff and drainage from paddy fields, the bottom sediment in canals may accumulate agricultural chemical residues. The sediment quality of the dredge spoil will need to be tested and assessed against an appropriate standard before reuse in the structure of embankments (see monitoring plan in EMP). The sediment testing results will confirm safe reuse of the material. The contractor will ensure that stockpiles of dredge spoil do not encroach upon areas adjacent to the canal easement and that material is retained within the worksite (i.e., within the 25 m canal easement) and frequently removed.

151. Erosion of disturbed surfaces. The areas most vulnerable to erosion are temporary construction sites and other places where surface soil will be disturbed. This will include “clearing and grubbing work” along the length of the rehabilitated canals. The most effective erosion control will be interception drainage to protect disturbed surfaces from surface flows. Construction plans will include erosion control prescriptions for construction work areas, including (i) constructing intercepting ditches and drains to prevent runoff entering construction sites, and diverting runoff from sites to existing drainage; (ii) limiting construction and material handling during periods of rains and high winds; and (iii) stabilizing all cut slopes, embankments, and other erosion-prone working areas while works are going on. All earthwork disturbance areas shall be stabilized within 30 days after earthworks have ceased at the sites.

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152. Construction wastewater. Construction wastewater is produced from the maintenance and cleaning of mechanical equipment and vehicles, maintenance water for mixing and curing concrete, cooling water, and lost water and soil during the construction period which is discharged as pollutants. The effluent, comprised mainly of inorganic wastewater, commonly contains no poisonous and harmful substance, except suspended solid, but, if discharged in an improper manner, still has the potential to impact existing water bodies. Some oil-containing wastewater can arise from machinery repairs.

153. Polluted construction wastewater will not be discharged unto the surrounding soil or into surface water systems. Sedimentation traps will be built, and after settling out of solids the waste residue in the traps will be cleared and transported to an approved site. Oil-containing wastewater will require the installation and maintenance of oil-water separators before the sedimentation trap.

154. Gaseous air pollution. Construction machinery on all sites will consume petrol and diesel, releasing gaseous SO2, CO, and NOx. Equipment will be maintained to a high standard to ensure efficient running and fuel-burning. High-horsepower equipment will be provided with tail gas purifiers. Vehicles and machinery to be used on site by the contractors will be inspected for clean running condition by the PMU environment officer.

155. Dust. Construction sites and access roads will potentially produce fugitive dust from material storage areas, dump sites, concrete mixing, excavation and general site usage especially under windy conditions. Material stockpiles and concrete mixing equipment will be equipped with dust shrouds. The operators will regularly maintain the shrouds to ensure their effective operation. For both construction sites and construction roads, water spraying for the suppression of dust and maintenance of driving surfaces will be standard site management practice. Vehicles carrying soil, sand, or other fine materials to and from the construction sites will be covered. Dust-producing works in close proximity to sensitive receptors will be provided with additional mitigation measures (see below at “Sensitive Receptors”).

156. Noise. Noise can be expected during construction due to construction machinery operation and transport activities. Construction activities will involve haulage vehicles, bulldozers, excavators, concrete-mixing plants, rollers, and other heavy machinery. Noise intensity from these large machines operating is typically around 80 decibels at the site (5 m from operating machinery). The transport of material, aggregate, concrete, and waste material to and from sites will also cause noise impacts along the haulage routes. Activities with intensive noise levels will not only have an impact on the residents, and potentially threatened birds, but may also cause injury to construction workers operating the equipment.

157. Noise levels at different distances can be identified after calculating the impact scope of equipment noise during construction as in Table 31. The EHS noise guidelines for residential areas are used here.

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Table 31: Construction Equipment Noise Impact Distance Level dB

(A) Machinery

Distance

EHS guidelines

for residential areas dB

(A)

Impact Range (m)

1 10 20 40 60 80 100 150 Day Night Day Night

Bulldozer 102 80.0 74.0 68.0 64.4 62.0 60.0 56.5 55 45 150 700

Roller 102 80.0 74.0 68.0 64.4 62.0 60.0 56.5 55 45 150 700

Excavator 95 78.0 72.0 66.0 62.4 60.0 58.0 54.5 55 45 150 300

dB = decibel, m= meter, EHS = Environmental Health and Safety. Source: TRTA consultants using data from Atkins Acoustic, 2013.5

158. The data shows that the impact distance can be 150 m away from the source. Beyond these distances, the noise levels meet standards for residential areas.

159. Activities with intensive noise levels will not only have an impact on the residents, but also may cause injury to construction workers operating the equipment unless controlled. Although the noise impacts will be transient and temporary the following mitigation measures are essential for construction activities to meet construction site noise limits in the daytime and to protect sensitive receptors. Construction at night within 700 m of residences and sensitive receptors shall be strictly prohibited.

160. During daytime construction, the contractor will ensure that: (i) equipment with high noise and high vibration are not used in village areas and only low noise machinery or equipment with sound insulation is employed; and (ii) sites for concrete-mixing plants and similar activities will be located at least 500 m away from sensitive areas such as residences, pagodas and schools and only operated in daytime. When daytime construction is scheduled to move within 100 m of identified sensitive receptors residents will be notified by the PMUs and/or contractors and any site-specific concerns or working arrangements addressed. Rehabilitation works on secondary canals in the Stung Chinit South subproject command area will stop at a point 100 m to 200 m from its western boundary for other reasons; this will also ensure that noise impacts on threatened bird species in the neighboring IBBA will be minimised.

161. Noise sensitive receptors in the community. There are schools, pagoda precincts and a number of houses within 150 m of the work sites in the subproject. The locations of these sensitive receptors are shown on Figure 35. There are many villages within the Stung Chinit South command area. Only sensitive receptors within 150 m of canals planned for civil works are identified.

5 Atkins Acoustics. 2013. Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Upgrade Marrickville Railway Station, report

prepared for Department of Transport for NSW.

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Figure 35: Sensitive Community Receptors at Stung Chinit South Command Area

Source: Field Observations, TRTA consultants 2018.

162. Construction solid waste. The construction contractors will establish site offices and vehicle and/or equipment parks in the subproject. The construction workforce will generate domestic wastewater and garbage (food wastes, kitchen wastes, paper, and other solid waste including food-laden wash water). Proper disposal of this waste will be essential. It will be the responsibility of the construction contractors to provide toilets with pump-out and disposal facilities and sufficient garbage bins at strategic locations and ensure that they are (i) protected from birds

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and vermin; (ii) disposed regularly (using the nearest licensed solid waste dumpsite); and (iii) avoid overflow.

163. Hazardous and polluting materials. Construction material handling and disposal guidelines and directions that include spill responses will be prepared and implemented as part of the SEMP of each subproject. The following measures will be taken to prevent pollution of soil and surface water and/or groundwater: (i) storage facilities for fuels, oil, cement, and chemicals will be within secured areas on impermeable surfaces, provided with bunds and spill salvage equipment; (ii) vehicles and equipment will be properly staged in designated areas to prevent contamination of soil and surface water; (iii) vehicle, machinery, and equipment maintenance and re-fuelling will be carried out in such a way that spilled materials do not seep into the soil; (iv) oil traps will be provided for service areas and parking areas; and (v) permanent (at works site) and temporary fuel storage and refilling areas will be located at least 50 m from canals and channels and will be protected by spill trays and temporary drainage bunds. All spills will be cleaned up and spill material removed from site.

164. Stung Chinit Weir and Spillway. Construction at the reservoir spillway will involve the construction of coffer dams and extensive concrete works. Mitigation measures will be needed to ensure that sediment loads do not enter the Stung Chinit River or the offtakes for the north and south main canals. These measures will include the installation of temporary silt curtains around the works area and across the entrances of the two offtake canals. Concrete batching, hauling and pouring will be controlled to avoid spills into waterways.

165. Work Schedules. The preparation and approval of works schedules is required by the EMP in the pre-construction period as part of each SEMP. The work plan and scheduling will be approved by the commune councils, taking into account the need for access during harvesting and planting periods. They will include (i) sequential work scheduling (to ensure that only short stretches are worked on at a time); and (ii) provision of access to existing residences and services.

166. Temporary land occupation will be planned well ahead of construction to minimize its impact on seasonal agricultural activities. In particular, construction adjacent to paddy fields during rice planting or harvesting should be avoided or carried on strictly in consultation with the appropriate farm operator. All land will be reinstated to its original condition after construction.

167. Flora and fauna. Before construction in all areas, the PMU’s environment officer, local PMIC and contractor will clearly mark trees which are to be retained. Contractors will erect fencing around these trees (extending to the canopy drip line) and convey the requirements to all machinery operators and residents to ensure that valuable trees are not damaged. After construction, removed trees and productive shrubs will be replanted.

168. Construction workers will be prohibited from hunting or harming threatened or endangered birds or their nests and will be educated in the need for conservation as part of the WCS-supported sustainable rice and/or biodiversity protection component. The BAP includes as a key measure that no spoil or stockpiles will be placed on lands of the IBBA and this requirement has been included in the EMP.

169. Cultural heritage. Although there are no recorded physical cultural heritage sites within the subproject boundary, the nearness of three 10th and 11th century temple complexes indicates that archaeological potential may exist within the command area. In the event of chance finds, work at the locality will cease and local representatives of the Ministry of Fine Arts and Culture will be called in to advise what actions, if any, need to be taken before work can continue.

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170. During construction, contractors will ensure that any local cultural sites (including small shrines and graves) in the construction areas will be kept clear of construction material and protected from dust and other disturbance. Access to these sites will not be impeded, and after construction is finished any disturbed surroundings will be restored to pre-construction standards.

3. Contractor Performance and Site Management

171. Following the award of construction contracts, the successful head contractor(s) will prepare an SEMP for the subproject. The SEMP will include delineation of work areas and clear identification of areas to be protected, including trees. It will provide work scheduling and temporary access information as a basis for further consultation with affected communities. The SEMP will identify sensitive receptors for special mitigation measures against noise and dust. The SEMP will include an emergency preparedness and response plan for construction emergencies and site environmental health and safety plan. Before construction commences the SEMP will be carefully reviewed by the PMIC and PMU to ensure that all appropriate impact mitigation and management measures have been incorporated, including restrictions and prohibitions with regard to endangered fauna and intrusions into the IBBA area. Induction of workers on the requirements of the EMP, SEMP, and BAP will be the responsibility of the contractor.

4. Environmental Health and Safety

172. Safety and health of both workers and residents may be threatened by construction activities. Numerous workers will gather within the construction site, with potentially relatively low quality living conditions. Surrounding residents may also be affected by noise and dust. Workers will confront construction safety risks as well.

173. Measures to protect the community will include:

(i) Publicizing planned work schedules and locations well in advance of construction. (ii) Planning construction activities (including demolition work) so as to minimize

disturbances to residents, utilities and services. Temporary land occupation will be planned well ahead of construction in consultation with farmers. Where existing access is temporarily obstructed, temporary alternative safe access will be provided and affected persons are informed in advance of access issues and alternatives.

(iii) Implementing safety measures around the construction sites to protect the public, including warning signs to alert the public to potential safety hazards, and barriers to prevent public access to construction sites and unsafe areas.

(iv) Ensure regular co-ordination and consultation between contractor’s environmental health and safety officer and village heads to ensure that any concerns are addressed quickly.

(v) Ensure community is aware of the project GRM and its contact points.

174. Measures to ensure occupational health and safety for construction workers will center on the requirement for contractors to ensure that their workers and other staff engaged in the proposed construction are in a safe environment. To assist in this responsibility the major contractor will have an environmental health and safety officer to undertake day-to-day monitoring and reporting on health and safety issues and to manage the subproject GRM. This will be overseen by the PMU and design and supervision consultant. Contractors shall ensure that: (i) all reasonable steps are taken to protect any person on the site from health and safety risks; (ii) the construction site is a safe and healthy workplace; (iii) machinery and equipment are safe;

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(iv) adequate training or instruction for occupational health and safety is provided; (v) adequate supervision of safe work systems is implemented; and (vi) means of access to and egress from the site are without risk to health and safety.

D. Environmental Impact and Mitigation Measures During Operation

1. Managing Water Demand and Water Supply – Stung Chinit South

175. Water balances. The irrigation scheme must be sustainable and responsibly managed to ensure that agreed irrigation flows are maintained and other water users are not disadvantaged. It must also take into account the whole irrigation system including Stung Chinit North and the Taing Krasang.

176. Irrigation resources will be drawn from the Stung Chinit reservoir, which is fed by inflow from its immediate catchment. The hydrological survey undertaken for the feasibility of the Stung Chinit South subproject included a review of the reservoir system and its catchment areas, collection and assessment of the available data, estimation of the crop irrigation requirement and long-term streamflow data and simulation of reservoir operation and proposal for joint reservoir management. Using a reservoir water balance study for Stung Chinit reservoir in order to account for all other water uses, the survey concluded that there is sufficient water for an early wet season crop over 16,000 ha and an early dry season crop of up to 10,000 ha while still satisfying the water demand of the rest of the system.

177. The plan for the command area is for an early dry season crop of 6,000 ha, which is only 60% of the total water availability for the system calculated in the reservoir water balance. This is an overall increase in cumulative cropping area utilized annually within the command area of 4,800 ha. The SRP in this sustainable management of water resources, is one of the key principles of the SRP standard.

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Figure 36: Results of the Stung Chinit Reservoir Water Balance Study

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, 2018.

178. At this level of water demand for the additional dry season irrigation of 4,800 ha, calculated for a dry year with 80% exceedance, 6 there is still water for maintaining natural flows in the downstream Stung Chinit River. The water balance shows that during the cropping calendar for this crop (November-February) the maximum reduction in downstream flow of the Stung Chinit River (after cumulative water demands are met) and for a very dry year is by 40% in January, with 10.83 million m3 still in reservoir storage which can be released. The impact on downstream baseline flow in the other months in this growing season are shown in Table 32, along with the stored water available for release.

Table 32: Downstream Flow in the Stung Chinit River after Extraction by Subproject as a Percentage of Baseline Flow in a Dry Year (80% exceedance)

Month November December January February

% of baseline flow after subproject extraction 92.5% 75% 60% 90%

Reservoir Storage (at end of month) million cubic meter 19.40 (full) 19.40 (full) 10.83 19.40 (full)

Source: Calculations from Water Balance in Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report.

179. The management of the scheme to achieve this will be through the JOROP for the Stung Chinit Reservoir. This is implemented by the Kampong Thom PDWRAM office in cooperation with the FWUC for the North main canal and the village leaders on the South main canal. It will be

0

10

20

30

40

50

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Inflo

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augmented with a computer based operational model to manage the scheduling and distribution of water. The model will compute the gate openings for the head and cross regulators and some secondary canal offtakes which will then be passed on to the FWUC leaders for implementation. The project will assist in training of operators and in the upgrading of some hydromet stations which have fallen into disrepair.

2. Impacts from Intensification of Agriculture

180. The benefits resulting from the project’s irrigation and drainage facilities will accrue to the beneficiaries through both intensification and expansion of agriculture in the areas. With an increase in agriculture comes a potential increase in the use of agricultural chemicals.

181. At current application rates of approved chemicals the following indicative increases in fertilizer and pesticide applications can be expected from the increases in agricultural activity (see Table 33 below). The increase in agricultural activity is based upon the maximum cultivation of the subproject area made possible by the improvements in irrigation.

Table 33: Fertilizer and Pesticide Use Before and After the Project

Province Subproject

Cultivated land (ha)

Change

Increment of

fertilizer (ton/year)

Increment of pesticides (liter/year)

Without project

With project

Kampong Thom

Stung Chinit South irrigation system

17,200 22,000 +4,800 480 24,000

Notes: 1. Average fertilizer use: 0.1 tons/hectare/crop. 2. Irrigation area increase is dry season crop only for the subproject. 3. Average pesticide use: 5.0 liter/hectare/year. Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, 2018.

182. The predicted incremental increase of fertilizer use for the two subproject combined is 480 tons per year, and the increment increase in pesticide use is 24,000 litres per year. Nitrogen and phosphorus in liquid effluents can contribute to eutrophication in water and risk of oxygen depletion in waterbodies. Excessive nitrogen as ammonia can lead to gradual acidification of soils. Organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates (the common pesticide types used) can lead to direct poisoning of farmers through misuse and unsafe handling. Organochlorines and organophosphates can enter the food chain and groundwater resources. Detectable levels of pesticide residues were found in surface and groundwater in the subproject by the TRTA environment team’s water quality sampling.

183. Farmer surveys carried out by the TRTA team in Stung Chinit South found that 100% of all farmers apply fertilizer to both wet and dry season crops, 50% apply pesticide to the wet season crop, and 100% to the dry season crop. It was also reported that applications are not based on specific soil/crop needs, but usually on the advice of the seller of the chemical. Additionally, 80% of farmers rely on self-saved seed from under performing crops for subsequent sowing. To address this, the project will deliver, as part of its Capacity Building and Training component, training modules specifically tailored to the needs of farmers on IPM and low chemical cultivation applicable to cropping conditions and capacities in the subproject areas. Training in IPM will coordinate with the National IPM Programme and be in line with IFC Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines on Annual Crop Production. The program will include the safe storage, handling and disposal of agricultural chemicals. The Project will also undertake soil analyses in the command areas and provide farmers with recommendations on appropriate fertilizer regimes and cultivation practices.

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184. The training package will emphasise environmentally sound farming and sustainability and will provide farmers with alternative approaches to a reliance on chemicals. Inclusion of a component to implement the SRP in this subproject will help farmers reduce agricultural inputs, as this is a key requirement of the SRP standard.

3. Sustainable Rice Cultivation and Biodiversity Protection

185. The sustainable rice cultivation program to be conducted by WCS will continue through into the initial operations phase.

186. By this time, farmers and the community in the subproject command area and surrounds will be fully versed in sustainable rice cultivation and wildlife conservation principles. Results from other areas where similar programs have been implemented (e.g., the Chi Kreng section of the NTSPL in Siem Reap where 2-3 rice crops are grown each year) indicate that the program farming and community benefits contribute to its continuing take-up by farmers which is anticipated to continue after the completion of the project. To support long-term implementation, the program includes: (i) the monitoring of grassland extent and threatened bird populations to determine the strategy’s success; and (ii) seeking ongoing long-term financing to sustain this environmental mitigation for the duration of the project’s potential impacts.

E. Induced Impacts

187. The secondary canals approaching the extremity of the western boundary of the subproject area are extensively silted up and carry minimal or no water in the dry season. Only with rehabilitation of the secondary canals and their structures can water be available for a dry season crop.

188. The rehabilitation of secondary canals by the project may potentially cause induced impacts through farmers extending these secondary canals, or pumping from them, to irrigate areas of the IBBA to the west of the subproject command area. This may lead to conversion of grassland habitat for critically endangered birds. This impact will be mitigated by stopping the canal rehabilitation 100 m - 200 m inside the subproject boundary to limit the effectiveness of any pumping or newly constructed tertiary canals to supply water for areas outside the boundary. MOWRAM is also committed not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period; and to control any unauthorised third party pumping from command area canals or extension of those canals into the IBBA, during and after the project period.

F. Cumulative Impacts

189. There are three current and planned irrigation projects in the Stung Chinit basin. These are: Stung Chinit North and Taing Krasaing irrigation systems to the north of the subproject area; and the ADB loan-funded Climate Resilient Rice Commercialization Sector Development Program (Rice SDP) which is within the subproject area.

190. The Stung Chinit North Irrigation system was rehabilitated with funding support from the ADB under the Stung Chinit Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure Project. System rehabilitation was started in 2004 and was ended in 2007. The Stung Chinit North Irrigation Scheme is located in Kampong Thmor, Prasat, and Boeung Lvea Communes of Santuk District. The larger existing Taing Krasaing irrigation area primarily uses water from the Taing Krasaing reservoir, but is supplemented by water from the Stung Chinit reservoir via the north canal.

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191. The Rice SDP comprises two secondary systems within the subproject command area, covering about 3,900 ha, and are still undergoing rehabilitation. Two secondary canal systems, Thnaot Chum secondary canal system, is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain Program (CAVAC) and the Chouk Ksach-Ta Sourng secondary system, is directly funded by the Rice SDP.

192. Water availability. The cumulative water demand of these other projects has been taken into account in confirming the water availability for the planned additional dry season cropping areas of the subproject (4,800 ha). The subproject’s hydrology study used a reservoir water balance study for Stung Chinit reservoir in order to account for all other water uses. The survey found that there is sufficient water for an early wet season crop over 16,000 ha and an early dry season crop of up to 10,000 ha while still satisfying the water demand of the rest of the system.

193. The joint operation of the two reservoir systems (Taing Krasaing and Stung Chinit) will use a computer-based operational model (supported by the ongoing ADB funded Uplands Irrigation and Water Resources Management Sector Project) to manage the scheduling and distribution of water to the Stung Chinit (north main canal and south main canal) and Taing Krasaing irrigation systems.

194. At this level of water demand for the additional dry season irrigation of 4,800 ha, calculated for a dry year with 80% exceedance, there is still water for maintaining natural flows in the downstream Stung Chinit River. The water balance shows that during the cropping calendar for this crop (November-February) the maximum reduction in downstream flow of the Stung Chinit River (after cumulative water demands are met) and for a very dry year is by 40% in January, with 10.83 million m3 still in reservoir storage.

195. Critical habitat. The northern irrigation systems (Stung Chinit North and Taing Krasaing) are remote (>10 km) from both the NTSPL and the adjoining IBBA. They will not cause any direct impacts on the habitats of these areas and are unlikely to cause induced impacts through land conversion. However, the ADB funded Rice SDP is within the Stung Chinit South subproject command area. While the Rice SDP is excluded from the subproject’s interventions in civil works, agricultural inputs and capacity building, it is part of the landscape where seasonally fallow agricultural areas are important for Bengal florican, yellow-breasted bunting and other critically endangered birds during the non-breeding season.

196. Farmers within the Rice SDP area within the Stung Chinit South subproject will be included in the community and farmer-based SRP which will be initiated as part of the advance actions at Stung Chinit South. This is a cultivation program for 2-3 rice crops are grown each year, in a manner compatible with Bengal florican and yellow-breasted bunting conservation. The Rice SDP area is also covered by the activities of the BAP.

G. Climate Change Impact Assessment

197. The environmental risks from climate change need to be addressed in two different but complementary ways: (i) consideration of greenhouse gas emissions; and (ii) adaptation to help ensure resilience of infrastructure against the effects of future climate change.

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

198. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from the project will come from GHGs emitted by agricultural activities, in particular the CH4, N2O and CO2 emissions from rice paddy flooding and

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cultivation and fossil fuel consumed by small pumps to convey water into tertiary canals and paddies.

199. Emissions from paddy. The GHGs from rice paddy fields have been studied in India, Japan, and Philippines (Table 34), and to a lesser extent in the PRC and the United States of America. Only the studies in northern India have studied the emission of the suite of GHGs (CH4, N2O, and CO2) in combination with different ranges of nitrogen fertilizer applications and on a range of soils. Studies have also compared the GHG emission consequences of different periods of inundation of rice crops.

Table 34: GHG Emissions from Rice Paddy Location Methane (CH4) from Rice Paddy

Northern Indiaa 40 – 100 kg/ha

Philippines 100 – 150 kg/ha

Japan 150 – 200 kg/ha

kg/ha = kilogram per hectare. Sources: H. Pathak, C. Li, and R. Wassmann. 2005. Greenhouse gas emissions from Indian rice fields: calibration and upscaling using the DNDC model. Biogeosciences Discussions, 2, 77–102.; Corton et al. 2000. Methane emission from irrigated and intensively managed rice fields in Central Luzon (Philippines). Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 58, 37–54..; and Yagi. et al 1996. Effect of water management on methane emission from a Japanese rice paddy field: Automated methane monitoring, Global Biogeochemical Cycles 10(2):255-268 · June.

200. The Indian study approximates the subproject conditions for comparable levels of fertilizer application and temperatures. The yearly indicative emission levels used for this project are therefore:

66 kg/ha CH4: 690 kg/ha CO2: 1.93 kg/ha N2O.

201. These emission rates are calculated for the combined subproject areas in Table 35 below, and converted into equivalent levels of CO2 using the following formula:

Global warming potential (GWP) = CO2 emissions + CH4 emissions*21 + N2O emissions*310

Table 35: Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Global Warming Potential from Rice Paddy Increases

Increase in Rice Paddy (ha)

CH4 emissions (kg/yr)

CO2 emissions (kg/yr)

N2O emissions (kg/yr)

GWP (tons/year CO2e)

Stung Chinit

4,800 316,800 3,312,000 9,264 12,836.6

ha = hectare, kg/yr = kilogram per year. Source: TRTA consultants.

202. Fossil fuels. Small capacity diesel pumps (rarely petrol) are used to raise water from the primary and secondary canals into tertiary canals or directly into paddy fields for the 2nd rice crop.

203. The calculations for estimation of GHG from fossil fuels is shown in Tables 48 and 49. They assume:

(i) a total growing season of 90 days (one early maturing 90-day rice crop) for the incremental second crop annually in the subproject using pumping from the main canal and secondaries;

(ii) an average water demand for rice crops of 1.2 l/s/ha during the growing season; and

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(iii) for small farmer pumps used, 60 cc – 240 cc size, average performance assumed of 750 l/min and average fuel consumption of 1.66 l/hr of diesel.7

204. The calculations employ the conversion factors:

(i) 7.03 * 10-4 tons CO2/kWh (USEPA), which is based on a mixture of coal and gas-fired base load generation; and

(ii) 2.67 kg CO2/l diesel (European Union)

Table 36: GHG Calculation for Pump Usage in Stung Chinit South

Subproject Area irrigated

(ha)

Total water

demand (m3)

Pumping Station Small Pumps

Total CO2

(t/year)

Power usage (kWh) CO2 (t)

liters diesel CO2 (t)

Stung Chinit South

4,800 (total incremental area with project) 44789760 0 0 1652246 16,366 16,366

Total 16,366

Source: TRTA consultants.

205. The estimated increase in CO2e emissions generated by the subproject will be approximately 29,203 tons per year. This is below the threshold of 100,000 tons per year where the ADB SPS (2009) and therefore no further monitoring is required.

206. The reconfiguration and modernization of secondary canals and the planning of tertiary canals in the subproject to maximize water delivery to farm fields through gravity will reduce the use of small pumps (which accounts for just over 55% of the total GHG generation) and will further reduce the net GHG generation from this source, but there will still be a small net increase in emissions as a result of the project.

2. Adaptation to Future Climate Change

207. Climate Change projections. A climate and disaster risk assessment (CDRA) has been prepared by the TRTA team. The projections used in it are based on 2012 data downscaled to the region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam) by the Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Project,8 funded by USAID. The toolbox uses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Scenario A1B, a moderate emissions scenario for all future climate projections. Both the Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Project and its geographical refinement in the toolbox use statistical downscaling techniques, which have proved reliable in tropical environments. This allows the interrogation of climate change projections (to 2050) at specific geographic coordinates, and this has been used to provide the following climate change projections for the subproject sites.

208. The report found that for Stung Chinit South, the projected climate change shows that in 2050, Kampong Thom Province is expected to: (i) be significantly hotter and wetter in the wet season; (ii) be significantly hotter and slightly wetter in the dry season; and (iii) have a slightly greater number of drought months.

7 From interviews with farmers in command areas. 8 Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Project (2011-2013). http://icem.com.au/portfolio-

items/mekong-arcc/.

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Table 37: Projected Changes to Climate Variables in 2050 from Baseline in Kampong Thom

Climate Change Variables Baseline Climate Change Scenario

Change

Average annual rainfall 1,294 mm 1,411 mm 9.1 %

Total rainfall in wet season 1,086 mm 1,201 mm 10.7 %

Total rainfall in dry season (November-April) 208 mm 210 mm 0.9 %

Average annual number of drought months 4.2 months 4.8 months + 0.6 months

Average daily maximum temperature (annual) 31.0oC 33.0oC + 2.0oC

Average maximum temperature in wet season 29.6oC 32.5oC + 2.9oC

Average maximum temperature in dry season 31.2oC 33.6oC + 2.3oC

mm = millimeter. Source: International Centre for Environmental Management and TRTA Climate and Disaster Assessment Report, 2019.

209. The frequency, intensity, and peak flood height and increased occurrence and length of drought conditions are expected to increase in the subproject site. These could damage irrigation infrastructure, disrupt access to water, and reduce agricultural productivity in the area. Of particular concern is the projection that climate change will make the onset of the wet season more erratic and possibly also increase the length of ‘the little dry season” in July, which often follows the onset of the wet season in May-June.

210. Project responses to climate change risk. Adaptations to projected climate change to 2050 will be achieved through a combination of specialized civil works and training and support to farmers, FWUCs and other stakeholders to adopt good practices and techniques that will minimize the impacts of climate change. The following description of project responses is from the project CDRA.

211. Structural works. Under the climate change projections described in CDRA report, by 2050 Stung Chinit South will experience:

(i) higher temperatures in both wet and dry seasons; (ii) slightly higher rainfall in the dry season; (iii) higher rainfall in the wet season (>10%); and (iv) slightly increased average annual number of dry months.

212. Increases in the length of the dry season and projected increased discharge from the Stung Chinit catchment combined with the upwelling of Tonle Sap will affect the future prevalence of natural hazards of flooding and drought.

213. Climate change adaptation for the Stung Chinit South subproject will involve construction of tertiary channels. The TRTA feasibility study for Stung Chinit South concludes that, when the current main and secondary canal system is rehabilitated and modernized, irrigation requirements for the dry season will still be insufficient, due to the lack of a tertiary canal system (necessitating the inefficient movement of water from field to field). Projected increasing temperatures in the dry season and higher rainfall and more intense rainfall events require more efficient movement of irrigation water into the paddy fields and flood waters out of the command area both via tertiary canals.

214. The civil works for climate change adaptation are summarized in Table 38 below. These works are designed for operational performance over and above standard design requirements in response to projected climate change to 2050.

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Table 38: Summary of Climate Change Adaptation Incorporated in Project Design for the Stung Chinit South Subproject

Adaptation Activity Target Climate Risk Estimated Cost ($)

Adaptation Cost Justification

Construction of tertiary canals and field canals – supporting FWUCs on where and how to construct tertiary canals.

In anticipation of increased variability in future climate, in particular rainfall deficiency

220,000 - To improve dry season on-farm water management - To increase FWUCs coping capacity to short-term seasonal droughts and adaptive capacity to long-term climate change 100% of actual cost of five field canals (5 km at $40,000 per km + 10% contingency.

FWUC = farmer water user community, km = kilometer. Source: TRTA Climate and Disaster Assessment Report, 2019.

215. Repair and strengthening of the Stung Chinit Reservoir weir and spillway will ensure water security (preventing water loss through leaks), but more importantly will ensure weir safety (strengthening weir against failure), since the weir in its current condition will ultimately fail. The civil works at the weir/spillway therefore address flood catastrophe (through weir failure) and drought (loss of stored water).

216. The promotion and establishment of the SRP at Stung Chinit South will develop a cohesive and resilient farming community with higher incomes. This will increase communities’ disaster preparedness and ability to get through a range of disasters and restore livelihoods.

217. The project activities for disaster risk reduction are summarized in Table 39 below.

Table 39: Summary of Disaster Risk Reduction Incorporated in Project Design for the Stung Chinit South Subproject

DRR Activity Target Disaster Risk

Estimated Cost ($)

DRR Cost Justification

Repair and strengthening of Stung Chinit Reservoir weir and spillway

Flood (weir failure) and drought (loss of water)

2,750,000 Dual purpose of weir and spillway repair and strengthening is water security (prevent water loss through leaks) and weir safety (strengthen weir against failure). Estimated 50% contribution to weir safety because weir will fail without intervention.

Promotion and establishment of Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)

Flood, drought, typhoons

248,625 SRP standards promote a cohesive and resilient farming community with higher incomes, which will increase communities’ disaster preparedness and ability to get through disasters and restore livelihoods. Assume 50% of SRP establishment and support costs contribute to this outcome.

Source: TRTA Climate and Disaster Assessment Report, 2019.

218. Capacity building. FWUC establishment and capacity building will address the increased need to coordinate and manage water allocations and practice water conservation, both in the short term to ensure the success of the project’s interventions and also in future (to 2050) when the combined effects of projected climate change will cause higher water demand. The improved water governance and competencies of the FWUC will lead climate change

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adaptive management.

219. Over the same periods (initial operational period of the project and the longer term to 2050) farmers will need to understand and adapt to increased warming and rainfall variability in the subproject areas and the impacts on the farming and water-users communities’ livelihoods and well-being. To reduce the impacts of seasonal low water availability on agricultural production and increase the adaptive capacity of farmers, the project’s training component will include:

220. FWUC and farmer training and awareness raising on; (i) climate change, gender, and environment; (ii) current climate and future climate, the difference, cause and effect; and (iii) effects on people (e.g., health), livelihood and resources (in particular, water), and local solutions.

221. FFSs, which will have a component on climate change, with topics that include changes in climate and effects on productivity; crop or weather relationships and use for increased productivity; and climate information needs and how to access it.

222. Training of commune councils and village leaders in 31 communes covering the four subproject areas in participatory disaster risk reduction and disaster management will be conducted by the project. It will comprise: (i) commune and village level training and participatory assessment and analysis of disaster risk; and (ii) commune and village level training and participatory exercises in disaster management planning. The training will be integrated with existing Cambodian government national disaster risk reduction training and planning program through the NCDM Secretariat, which aims to undertake all commune level disaster risk reduction training and planning. Capacity development in disaster risk reduction to increase operational knowledge at commune and village levels will also include training applications prepared for commune extension workers to deliver.

Table 40: Summary of Capacity Building for Climate Change Adaptation for All Subprojects

Adaptation Activity Target Climate Risk Estimated Cost ($)

Adaptation Cost Justification

Farmer water user community (FWUC) establishment and capacity building.

Increased need to coordinate and manage water allocations and practice water conservancy in higher water demand situations.

16,500 To improve water governance and increase the FWUCs’ capacities to adapt to climate change. An estimated 30% of the improved water governance and increase in FWUCs’ capacities will be directed to dealing with climate change.

FWUC and farmer training and awareness raising on:

- Climate change, gender, and environment;

- Current climate and future climate, the difference, cause and effect;

- Effects on people (e.g.,

Farmer need to understand and adapt to increased warming and rainfall variability in the subproject area and impacts on the farming and water-users communities’ livelihoods and well -being.

31,350 To reduce the impacts of seasonal low water availability on agricultural production and increase the adaptive capacity of farmers. Direct costs from training budget for climate change related training components.

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Adaptation Activity Target Climate Risk Estimated Cost ($)

Adaptation Cost Justification

health), livelihood and resources (in particular, water), and local solutions.

Farmers field school component on climate change, with topics that will include:

- Changes in climate and effects on productivity;

- Crop or weather relationships and use for increased productivity;

- Climate information needs.

The need to learn field skills in practice which emphasize adaption to increased warming and rainfall variability in the subproject area leading to higher crop water demand.

22,000 Part of farmer field schools training component to increase farmers’ adaptive capacity to long-term climate change risks. Direct cost from training budget of climate change field school components.

Source: TRTA Climate and Disaster Assessment Report, 2019.

Table 41: Summary of Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Reduction DRR Activity Target Disaster Risk Estimated

Cost ($)

DRR Cost Justification

Commune-based training in disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness.

Flood, drought, and typhoon

55,000 Extend the National Committee for Disaster Management Secretariat training package (linking community, district, and provincial levels) to all 11 subproject communes, at $3,500 per commune for participatory assessment and analysis of risk, and $1,500 per commune for participatory exercises in disaster management planning.

Source: TRTA Climate and Disaster Assessment Report, 2019.

223. Climate proofing costs. For Stung Chinit South, climate change adaptation costs were estimated to be $289,850 and DRR costs were estimated to be $3,053,625.

224. An additional important DRR measure, which covers the project and which cannot be meaningfully apportioned to each subproject, is its support for the establishment and equipping of a National Water Resources Data Management Center in MOWRAM under project Output 2. This will include the installation of a doppler radar unit. In weather stations doppler radar is used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate its type to track. In this way, the radar tracks the progress of storm cells and their rain potential in real time and can give early warning of extreme weather events which can be location and time specific. This allows communities and stakeholder agencies to prepare for disaster response.

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H. Unanticipated Impacts during Construction and Operation

225. If any unanticipated impacts become apparent during project implementation, the borrower will (i) inform and seek ADB’s advice; (ii) assess the significance of such unanticipated impacts; (iii) evaluate the options available to address them; and (iv) prepare or update the EIA, including EMP and BAP. ADB will help the borrower mobilize the resources required to mitigate any adverse unanticipated impacts or damage.

VI. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

226. The purpose of the analysis of alternatives is to examine alternatives to the project’s location, design and technology, and their potential environmental implications. In the project, the selection process for subproject stipulated that they were to be existing irrigation schemes and that rehabilitation and modernization works were to be limited to existing canals and regulatory structures. No new irrigation schemes, new canals or new alignments are considered in the project.

227. The major environmental influence has therefore been in the final selection of subproject. Other options considered (e.g., on the extent of canal lining and depth of invert) are determined primarily on economic, agronomic and engineering grounds, rather than environmental. Flood risk and the potential for increased future floods have influenced designs but this was a foundation design principle and no alternative which did not address design for flooding was considered in subproject selection.

A. With and Without the Project

228. Without project. The Stung Chinit South system was constructed during the Pol Pot period in around 1978 by blocking the Stung Taing Krasaing and Stung Chinit Rivers with two head works. Since then, the system was managed by local authorities, with no FWUC for system O&M, and as a result the system has fallen into disrepair. Canals and their structures will continue to deteriorate to the point where the system will no longer provide irrigation services to the command area for the dry season crops. The main canal is already failing to deliver irrigation for farmers in the south of the command area due to its inadequate depth through rocky sections. This also causes constriction and bank overtopping in high flow periods. Because of these conditions the command area yield will continue to decrease from the current low level of only 20% of the area sown to a dry season crop by 7.5% of the farmers.

229. The Stung Chinit Reservoir weir downstream face foundation will continue to settle, leading ultimately to complete failure of the weir.

230. While local farmers may not be able to extend canals at Stung Chinit South in a without project scenario, it is quite possible that commercial farms may choose to build canals and/or build reservoirs in the area to the west of the command area. Some commercial operations already exist in the north of that area (including in the NTSPL), and have more recently been facilitated by canal rehabilitation in the centre of that area. Such commercial developments may well clear large areas of the remaining grassland and reduce remaining florican habitat in the area below an extent which would be viable in the longer term.

231. With project. The planned improvement of the Stung Chinit South system will arrest the decline in irrigation services. It will ensure that the current wet season cropping can be expanded over the current (maximum) area of 16,000 ha with increased yields, and sustainably provide

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irrigation water for a 500% increase in the area sown to a dry season rice crop (1,200 ha to 6,000 ha).

232. The planned work on the Stung Chinit reservoir weir is in the nature of preventative repair, since the base of the spillway is being undercut by the turbulent water and if left untreated will ultimately fail. This will in turn cause complete failure of the three irrigation schemes dependent on it and possibly catastrophic impact on riverside communities in the event of sudden failure. Project interventions will safeguard against these potential events.

233. Mitigation that is currently planned for Stung Chinit South will, if successfully implemented, lead to a net gain for florican populations, through securing unprotected grassland habitat against future development.

B. Options for Interventions in On-farm Water Management

234. As the proposed subproject aims to provide irrigation water during the dry season, making it possible to increase cropping intensity, the following two broad options were proposed to improve on-farm water management with a focus on dry season irrigation:

(i) Undertaking construction of tertiary and field delivery canals with funding support from the government; and

(ii) Capacity building of farmers and PDWRAM field staffs water managers; and improving O&M of tertiary canals.

235. The project feasibility studies concluded that the location, design and construction of tertiary canals is a complex process which requires collective action by stakeholders and includes multiple activities, organizing the local community, and delivering water to users at the time and volumes to meet their needs. Varying demand and supply of water over time and space further increases the complexity of this farm level activity.

236. It was also recognized that capacity for on-farm water management and the operation and maintenance of tertiary and field canals was not strong and was not supported by existing Cambodian training institutions. Engineering is favored over the kind of socio-technical training approach to irrigation management, with interdisciplinary training for water professionals, local water managers, and water users.

237. With these constraints, the project has selected an approach which concentrates on capacity building for on-farm water management, with limited investment in tertiary canal building. A capacity building component has been designed for improving on-farm water management in the long term. It will include development of training manuals and delivery of trainings with a view to address field-based problems. Part of these trainings will be supported by field-level demonstrations. The project will support the FWUC in the preparation and implementation of the O&M plan. This will be accompanied by a low-level investment for the construction of five tertiary canals in the command area which will phase out as government funding commences.

C. Civil Works Versus Civil Works Plus Agri-inputs

50. The benefit stream from the project investments were investigated under two major options: (i) civil works which are to be designed and constructed during the project implementation phase; and (ii) civil works supported by agricultural inputs. Agricultural inputs comprise quality

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seed production, nutrients and protection of the crop against pests and diseases, paddy conditions (deeper and uniform plowing) and fertilizer application.

Table 42: Comparison of Benefits With and Without Agri-Inputs Agronomic Inputs

Cropping Unit Without Project

With Project Civil Works Only

With Civil Works and Agri-Inputs

(Year 5)

Effect on Yield WS t/ha 2.5 3.8 4.0

DS t/ha 3.0 3.8 5.0

Pesticide Use WS Adopting, % 50 30 10

DS Adopting, % 100 70 20

Quality Land Preparation

Deep and Well Puddled

Adopting, % 50 60 100

Seed Quality Poor Quality Adopting, % 80 60 20

Certified-Seed Adopting, % 20 40 80

Source: Stung Chinit South Feasibility Study Report, 2018.

51. Table 42 shows the projected results of supporting the planned civil works with agricultural inputs, and this was selected as the preferred approach to project interventions.

VII. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION

A. Consultation and Participation – First Round

238. The first round of public consultations were undertaken in the Stung Chinit South communes on 21 and 22 September 2018. The consultations were undertaken by the TRTA National Environmental Specialist and National Irrigation Engineer. These meetings were preceded by the social team’s socio-economic and household surveys in the subproject area, so all participants were already familiar with the project.

239. Information dissemination was undertaken by the National Irrigation Engineer in a presentation before each workshop followed by discussion led by the National Environment Specialist. Areas covered included present experience and perceptions of environmental problems and anticipated environmental issues in subproject construction and operation. These have been addressed in the mitigation measures of this EIA and were reported to the community in the second round of consultation. The readiness of community members to complain if things go wrong and the avenues of complaint or redress were also examined.

240. The first round consultation meeting was held at the village vice-leader’s house in Por Pi village, Baray Commune. Participants comprised ADB’s consultant team members, local farmers, commune and village officials, FWUC members, beneficiaries and affected persons. Potentially affected persons totalled 41 of whom 24 were women. The participants were 90% farmers or from farming-dependant households. All were from within the Baray commune (which covers all of the Stung Chinit south subproject area). The format of the meeting was a presentation of the project by the TRTA team followed by open discussion and the filling out of questionnaires. A summary of environmental issues raised both during discussion and in the questionnaires is given in Table 43.

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Figure 37: Public Consultation Meeting in Stung Chinit South

Source: TRTA consultants.

Table 43: Environmental/Agricultural Issues arising from First Round Public Consultation

Questions Stung Chinit

Number Percentage

Q 1. Are you satisfied with local environmental quality?

Q.1.1 Very satisfied 0 0

Q.1.2 Satisfied 0 0

Q.1.3 Not satisfied 41 100

Q 2. What is the main local environmental issue?

Q.2.1 Bad air quality 10 24.39

Q.2.2 Bad water quality 0 0

Q.2.3 Noise pollution 0 0

Q.2.4 Solid Waste 25 60.98

Q.2.5 Bad ecological environment 0 0

Q.2.6. Traffic (Truck driving fast) 6 14.63

Q3. What impact that you think the project will bring?

Q3.1. Good impact 41 100

Q3. 2. Adverse impact 0 0

Q3.3. No idea 0 0

Q4. What is your main concern during the project construction period?

Q4.1. Noise 0 0

Q4.2. Dust 11 26.83

Q4.3. Water Resource Pollution 0 0

Q4.4. Ecological damage 0 0

Q4.5. Not convenient for farming 0 0

Q4.6. Not convenient for getting school 30 73.17

Q4.7. Siltation from improvement canal 0 0

Q5. Are you going to make complaint if the project has impact to your daily life?

Q5.1. Yes 41 100

Q5.2. No 0 0

Q5.3. It depends on the level of impact 0 0

Q6. Who you will refer to if you are going to make complaint?

Q6.1. Contractor 0 0

Q6.2. Local PDRAM office 0 0

Q6.3. Other government agency 0 0

Q6.4. Village Leader 41 100

Q6.5. Commune Leader 0 0

Q7. Do you agree the project location?

Q7.1. Yes 41 100

Q7.2. No 0 0

Q7.3. Do not care 0 0

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Questions Stung Chinit

Number Percentage

Q8. What impact that you think the project will bring to your daily life?

Q8.1 Good impact 41 100

Q8.2. Adverse impact 0 0

Q8.3. No idea 0 0

Source: TRTA consultants from compilation of individual responses.

B. Participant Responses

241. Benefits of the project. Local people at Stung Chinit South subproject responded that the project will bring positive impact of:

(i) Having enough water to increase yields to 1000 kilogram per hectare (ii) Farmer can increase cropping to two rice crops per year (iii) Farmers can also plant vegetable, sweet potatoes and corn (iv) With year-round irrigation water provided, farmers can expand into livestock such

as cows, chickens, ducks and aquaculture.

242. Local environment. Local people responded that the main issue for local environmental quality was the lack of solid waste management. People said there is no waste collection service or disposal site. This, coupled with a lack of awareness resulted in people discarding waste everywhere, including into the canals. The main concerns are domestic waste and agricultural waste (empty bottles and plastic pesticide packaging).

243. Construction concerns. For Stung Chinit subproject, construction activities will affect local travel especially students going to school. Dust from construction machinery and haulage was also mentioned.

C. Project Responses

244. The issues of concern to farmers are reported below as (i) current environmental issues; and (ii) concerns during construction.

245. Current environmental issues. The main existing environmental issue was garbage – expressed as:

(i) discarded pesticide packaging; (ii) no garbage management service or disposal site; and (iii) garbage accumulating in canals.

246. The TRTA has designed a small solid waste management component to be included in project implementation which is focused on another subproject (Prek Po irrigation system in Kampong Cham). This component will look at low cost interventions in waste collection and disposal as well as community awareness-raising about waste. This will also function as a demonstration activity from which other subproject communes might benefit. Initiatives relating to the organization of local services and awareness-raising in the Stung Chinit South command area, especially as it relates to water quality and the efficient running of irrigation infrastructure, will be supported through technical advice from PMIC solid waste management specialists.

247. During construction. Concerns were expressed for scheduling of construction and it’s potential to interfere with local activities including the journey to schools for children. Dust creation

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during construction was another concern. Construction scheduling is an important part of impact mitigation. Agreement with community and continued consultation during construction on construction schedules and provision of safe alternative access is included in the EIA and EMP. Dust management is also included in the EIA.

248. The issues raised during public consultation, the project response (in terms of mitigation and/or management) and follow up are listed in Table 44.

Table 44: Issues Raised and Project Response Issue Project Response Confirmation and Follow up

Discarded pesticide packaging Integrated Pest Management training and support will include the proper handling of chemicals and safe disposal of packaging.

Training refreshers and training impact assessment by project management implementation consultant (PMIC).

Lack of garbage management service or disposal site and garbage accumulating in canals

The solid waste management component which is being piloted in the implementation of another subproject will demonstrate possible approaches in Stung Chinit South. Support for local initiatives will be available from PMIC specialist.

Project implementation monitoring and Project Monitoring framework.

Construction interfering with access and day-to-day activities

Scheduling of construction activities to be based on informed consent of local communities.

Environmental management plan (EMP) compliance monitoring by PMIC.

Dust creation during construction Site watering, dust shrouds and public consultation prescribed in EMP.

EMP compliance monitoring by PMIC.

Source: TRTA consultants.

249. Grievances and complaints. Participants were asked how they normally went about lodging complaints about environmental issues affecting livelihood, safety and amenity. The common response was that first contact for complaints is the village leader, who passes the complaint to the commune chief who either deals with the complaint directly or engages the appropriate district or provincial government agency for a response. If the village leader is unresponsive, participants reported that they would take complaints directly to the commune council or police. These accepted pathways for complaints are included as sub-project-specific entry points into the project GRM.

D. Consultation and Participation – Second Round

250. The second round of public consultation was undertaken on 21 March 2019 at Baray District Meeting Hall. 70 participants attended, including 5 females. Table 45 lists the stakeholders and attendees. 58 people from affected villages participated.

Table 45: List of Participants at second public consultation on 21 March 2019

Institutes or Communes Position or Villages No. of Participants

Provincial Department of Water

Resources (PDWRAM), Kampong Thom

Province

Vice Director of PDWRAM 1

Barray District Office Vice Governor 1

Wildlife Conservation Society 2

Sustainable Rice Platform Program Manager 1

Transaction technical assistance

consultant

National Environment Specialist 1

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Institutes or Communes Position or Villages No. of Participants

Local People

Triel 1. Svay Msau 6

2. Chhuk 6

Sralov 3. Bos Lvea 2

Baray 4. Banak 4

5. Baray Touch 1

6. Chakto Louk 6

Boeng 7. Boeng Khang Cheung 7

8. Boeng Khang Tboung 6

Pong Ror 9. Thnal Keng 4

10. Tradak Pong 3

11. Taprey 5

Chhuk Khsach 12. Serei Sokhom 8

13. Daun Tom 2

14. Chhuk Khsach 4

Total 70

Source: TRTA consultants.

251. The meeting format comprised information dissemination, questions and discussion. Information dissemination covered:

(i) results of environmental assessment and mitigation measures presented by the National Environment Specialist;

(ii) Bengal Florican protections and SRP, presented by Mr. Sim Phearum, WCS consultant.

(iii) SRP presented by Mr. Keo Socheat, Program Manager of SRP.

Figure 38: Second Round Public consultation at Stung Chinit South

Mr. Simon Mahood, Representative of Wildlife Conservation Society, Vice Governor of Baray District, and Mr. Nou Boravan, Vice Director of the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology.

Participants at Baray District Meeting Hall.

Source: TRTA consultants.

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1. Community Views on the Environmental safeguards

252. The results of the EIA and the mitigation measures proposed were discussed and participants were asked to provide their responses in a structured questionnaire. The results are summarized in Table 46.

Table 46: Responses on Environmental Impacts and Safeguards

Questions Number of

Participants Percentage Remarks

1. Are you satisfied with the environmental safeguards planned for the project?

58 91 Six people did not respond to this question. This was interpreted as "unresponsive" rather than dissatisfied with the safeguards explained.

2.What impacts concern you most?

The responses to this question are presented as a summary of the frequency with which the participants identified the impacts of concern. Rubbish was mentioned by 45 participants, water and soil pollution impacts by 39 participants, etc.

Mess (Rubbish) 45 70 Domestic waste is disposed without a proper dumping site within the community. During dry season there is widespread waste burning.

Pollution 39 60 There is water and soil pollution due to improper pesticide waste management and/or disposal.

Dust 32 50 Due to material haulage, trucks are passing through villages.

Traffic accident or Fast driving

26 40 Traffic accidents involving local people and students, due to the high speed of trucks and carelessness of drivers.

Noise 7 10 Less concern related to noise disturbance.

3.What additional safeguards would you like to see implemented?

64 100 No other additional safeguards were identified in the discussion.

4. Are you aware of the protected lands in the local area? What do they mean for you?

58 91 Protected lands are areas reserved to protect the wildlife and flooded forest. Some endangered species are found in protected lands.

Source: TRTA consultants.

253. Additional issues, or expansions of concerns listed above, were discussed and included:

a. Domestic Dumping Site and/or Burning Kiln and Health Impacts

254. Currently, solid waste from Pong Ro market is collected and dumped in Chhuk village, Triel Commune, where it is burned during dry season. The smoke affects air quality and also local people who are living nearby. Participants asked that the project help on waste management including provision of a waste disposal site, collection and management or dumping.

b. Providing and Selecting the Key Person for Agriculture Improvement or Pesticide Control

255. If the project is providing training on pesticide management (use of pesticide and disposal of pesticide waste), it should select village heads or commune council committee members as key persons. This will be the best way to spread the training because village heads or commune council representatives are close to the people and local authorities with power are able to manage or guide people on how to control pesticide waste.

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c. Road safety

256. People in Chhuk Sdach requested that trucks should drive slowly and follow the traffic laws. Particular concern was expressed about drivers affected by alcohol.

d. Additional Structures

257. People requested numerous crossing bridges to ensure that people and transportation can pass readily from side to side across the irrigation canals.

e. Project Response

258. Solid waste management has been considered by the project during feasibility studies and, while it is not within the scope of the present project, provision has been made whereby a solid waste management component is being piloted in the implementation of another subproject and will demonstrate possible approaches in Stung Chinit South. Support for local initiatives will be available from PMIC solid waste specialist.

259. The training and field demonstration initiatives of the project will include FWUCs, communes, and village representatives as well as farmers. This will include all training on the use and handling of agricultural chemicals. This issue will also be part of the SRP to be established in the subproject area.

260. Road safety is covered in the contractor’s community health and safety responsibilities and SEMP, including route planning. This will be monitored and enforced as part of the EMP compliance. It will also be covered in the environmental training of contractors and workers, with induction training of all workers new to the sites.

261. The need for canal crossing points to maintain and improve community access within the command area will be examined during the detailed design of the subproject. Draft designs will be discussed with the community to ensure crossings are adequate.

2. Community Views on SRP and Biodiversity Protection

262. Information dissemination. The first presentation detailed the potential induced impacts of the proposed project on Bengal Florican, a critically endangered bird. The presentation covered aspects of the birds distribution, status, and ecology. It explained how the proposed irrigation subproject might impact the bird through expansion of tertiary canals and conversion of grassland habitat to irrigated dry season rice.

263. The second presentation introduced participants to the SRP, through which farmers can improve the financial and ecological sustainability of their rice cultivation. It is proposed to use the SRP standards as a framework to mitigate the potential induced impacts of the proposed irrigation subproject. Through the presentation the WCS introduced the participants to the SRP process and the potential benefits to farmers, and how it can help protect Bengal Floricans.

264. Discussion. One hour was devoted to question and answer, led by the TRTA specialist. Owing to a lack of questions from participants about Bengal Florican and SRP, the participants were asked specifically if they had any questions about these subjects. Participants reiterated their concern about pesticide use in Stung Chinit South, as well as the methods that are currently used for disposal of pesticide packaging. Participants expressed concern that some people re-use bottles that had contained herbicides for storing drinking water. The team reassured the participants that this is one of the things that will be improved through applying the SRP standards.

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Four people said that they were familiar with Bengal Florican, but that they have seen them less frequently in recent years. These people expressed an interest in making sure that the species do not disappear completely.

E. Planned Ongoing Public Consultation

265. Meaningful consultation to safeguard the environment and local residents will continue throughout the construction and operation phases. The implementing agencies will be responsible for organizing the public consultations, with the support of the project implementation consultant. Civil works contractors will be required to frequently communicate and consult with the communities in the project area of influence, especially those near the project areas. Eye-catching public notice boards will be set at each work site to provide information on the purpose of the project activity, the duration of disturbance, the responsible entities on-site (contractor, implementing agency), and the GRM. This plan is included as part of the EMP and costs are included in EMP implementation costs.

Table 47: Environment Consultation and Communication Plan Organizer Format Frequency Subject Attendees

Pre-Construction Stage

PMUs, FWUCs, commune councils, and PMIC

Targeted public consultation and site visits

Before construction at each site

Agreement with affected persons and sensitive receivers on heavy machinery work. Consultation on safety of nearby communities.

Affected persons in impacts zone of construction activities

Construction Stage

PMUs, FWUCs, commune councils, PMIC

Public consultation and site visits

Once each year during construction

Adjusting of mitigation measures, if necessary; construction impact; comments and suggestions.

Residents in project areas

EMP = environmental management plan, FWUC = farmer water use community, PMIC = project management implementation consultant, PMU = project management unit. Source: TRTA consultants.

VII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM

266. A grievance redress mechanism (GRM) will be established for the subproject in compliance with ADB SPS (2009). ADB requires that the borrower/client establish and maintain a GRM to receive and facilitate resolution of affected peoples’ concerns and grievances about the borrower's/client's social and environmental performance at the project level.

267. The PMU will establish a project public complaint unit (PPCU) which will act as a central recording and coordinating unit for all subprojects under the project. The PMU will ensure that the GRM is publicized locally so that the community is fully aware of the mechanism and the local points of entry to it.

268. The entry points for the GRM will be, first of all, at the local level. Since the contractor will be the most direct contact for the initial complaint and also for correcting the work practice which causes the complaint and providing redress, the contractor will assign an employee as the GRM contact person and ensure that people know how to contact them at all times.

269. Before construction starts, signs will be erected at each construction site and put on bulletin boards at the commune council office and community centers providing the public with updated project information and summarizing the grievance redress mechanism process including details of the GRM entry points.

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270. The preferred action sequence for complaints handling is that the complaint should be investigated and resolved by the local unit receiving the complaint. If this is not possible, the complaint can be referred to higher levels. At any stage affected persons can report issues to ADB project team, Cambodia Resident Mission, or Southeast Department (SERD). If issues cannot be effectively resolved through the project GRM and ADB project teams, the ADB accountability mechanism can be accessed.

271. The PPCU will maintain records of complaints and actions taken to correct them. This data will be included in MOWRAM’s quarterly and semi-annual safeguard reports to the ADB.

272. A full description of the GRM processes, as well as the establishment, recording, and reporting required for its successful operation is in the EMP.

VIII. CONCLUSION AND ASSURANCES

A. Positive Impacts and Environmental Benefits

273. The result of the project irrigation and drainage facilities will be (i) an increase in certainty and control of existing irrigation areas; (ii) expansion of reliable irrigation for multiple plantings in a year; (iii) longer cropping periods on areas previously unavailable for parts of the year due to flooding; and (iv) more robust infrastructure and practices to increase resilience to climate change and natural disasters. This will lead to increases in cropping and yield within the same command area. It will also, through capacity building and training, provide a number of additional benefits which will improve environmental conditions in the irrigated farming communes. This will include reduced use of pesticides, efficient use of fertilizer and water conservation farming practices

274. In terms of sustainable areas sown as a result of increased irrigation, the project will increase potential cumulative growing areas by 4,800 ha in the dry season at Stung Chinit South. The beneficiaries of these changes will be local farmers, with flow-on effects to local commercial enterprises. Since rural populations are the poorest sectors of the Cambodian population, poverty alleviation effects will be direct and sustainable.

275. Incorporation of the WCS supported sustainable rice cultivation component at Stung Chinit South will promote increased crop yields, and reductions in water use, pesticides and fertiliser, as these are all principles of the SRP. The project has also developed a BAP. The sustainable rice cultivation program will provide the core foundations of mitigation of both direct impacts and potential induced impacts on biodiversity, and the BAP describes and codifies this intervention and its ongoing goals. This will directly contribute to conservation and sustainable use of grasslands and critically endangered birds in areas neighbouring the subproject, with the intention of leading to an overall net gain for this biodiversity.

276. The project will also support expansion of the existing Baray and Taing Kork section of the NTSPL or creation of an additional, adjoining conservation area, to further protect remaining grasslands between that section and the command area from such potential project-induced impacts. Zoning and implementation of the conservation area will also be supported, and activities developed to benefit local livelihoods which may otherwise be restricted by such an area.

277. The total additional CO2e emissions generated by the subproject is estimated to be low, at 29,203 tons per year. The reconfiguration and modernization of main and secondary canals and the planning of tertiary canals in the subproject to maximize water delivery to farm fields through gravity will reduce the use of small pumps (which accounts for just over 55% of the total GHG

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generation of 29,203 tons per year) and will reduce the GHG generation from this source.

278. A CDRA has been prepared as part of the TRTA and its recommendations for civil works and capacity building to enhance adaptation to future climate and reduce disaster risks have been included in project design.

B. Potential Negative Impacts and Mitigation

279. To safeguard against induced impacts of land conversion in the neighboring IBBA, there will be no extension of the secondary canals beyond the end of civil works at the western boundary of the Stung Chinit South subproject during or after the project period. MOWRAM will prohibit any unauthorized third party pumping from command area canals, or extension of those canals, during and after the project period.

280. During construction, the main potential impacts will be air and water pollution, noise and dust, and earthworks and spoil disposal, all of which must be managed by strict control by construction contractors and supervisors. The potential for disturbance to endangered birds and habitat from construction activities and construction workers will be mitigated by strict adherence to the SEMP and BAP, reinforced by induction training for all workers on the prohibitions on disturbance to endangered birds and incursions into the IBBA area.

281. Disruption to local livelihood activities can occur during construction and this will be minimized by work scheduling, site access, consultation, and safety planning. Mitigation of construction-phase impacts relies heavily on responsibility of works contractors to follow specified clauses and to effectively implement measures to minimise pollution of air and water and soil erosion. The sediment quality of soil from channel dredging in the subproject will need to be tested and assessed against the relevant standards before reuse. The sediment testing results will determine the requirements to ensure safe reuse.

282. In the operation phase, potential for local increases in the levels of agricultural fertilizer and pesticide residues and their effects on water quality and people will be addressed by capacity building and training under the project to use fertilizers and pesticides efficiently and responsibly, as well as the establishment of SRP practices will reduce the use of agricultural chemicals. Training in farm water management to use water more efficiently will conserve seasonal water resources.

283. The feasibility study report for the subproject has demonstrated that water for the planned levels of irrigated cropping is available and sustainable. The PDWRAM will operate the JOROP of Stung Chinit Reservoir in line with the reservoir water balance in the Stung Chinit South feasibility study report to ensure the sustainability of the Stung Chinit South subproject and water availability for the other irrigation systems which draw their water from the reservoir as well as maintaining natural flows in the downstream Stung Chinit River. The EMP requires clear and detailed water extraction plans for the cropping seasons, in line with the water use parameters established in the feasibility study report, to be prepared as part of the scheme’s operating procedures and submitted before construction.

C. Assurances

284. The most important assurance, which will be guaranteed by a loan covenant, is that: The government will ensure that the preparation, design, construction, implementation, operation, and decommissioning of the project and all project facilities comply with (i) all applicable laws and

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regulations of the Kingdom of Cambodia relating to environment, health and safety; (ii) the provisions in ADB’s SPS (2009) relating to the environment; and (iii) all measures and requirements set forth in the EIA, EMP, and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a safeguards monitoring report to be provided to ADB.

285. An assurance in support of the GRM is that: The government will ensure that a project specific safeguards GRM acceptable to ADB are established in accordance with the provisions of the EIA, EMP, and resettlement plan at the PMU, within the timeframes specified in the relevant EIA, EMP, and resettlement plan, to consider safeguards complaints and that any contractor damage outside the compensated guidelines of the project is to be compensated at the contractor’s expense in accordance with agreed rates in the entitlement matrix and any temporary damage restored to pre-project condition.

286. An assurance in support of biodiversity protection is that: MOWRAM will not extend or allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and will control any unauthorized third party pumping from command area canals during and after the project period.

D. Conclusion

287. It is concluded that: (i) the infrastructure subproject planned for the Stung Chinit South subproject has significant potential benefits for the rural populations of these areas, and that: (ii) the design features, operational regimes, and construction management safeguards will address the range of potential environmental impacts identified and will be actioned through the project EMP and BAP and effectiveness verified through the environmental monitoring program and reports.

288. Specifically, the subproject will avoid measurable adverse impacts, and the likelihood of such, on critical and natural habitat, through two key mitigation actions. First, MOWRAM has committed not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorized third party pumping from command area canals during and after the project period. Second, WCS will be contracted to undertake a sustainable rice cultivation program that directly reinforces this MOWRAM commitment, by support to MOE to protect grassland habitat in the IBBA to the west of the command area. Although the subproject is not in a legally-protected area, this support will directly support the management goals of the nearby NTSPL. Together, these two actions render project-induced impacts on critical habitat unlikely; direct impacts are already considered negligible prior to mitigation. To the contrary, through support to these actions, it is anticipated that the Stung Chinit South subproject will result in a net gain for biodiversity.

289. The project is not anticipated to lead to a reduction in natural or critical habitat, as explained above. Further, the project will not lead to a reduction in the population of any endangered or critically endangered species. The only potentially significant project impacts will be loss of fallow rice fields during the dry season, owing to introduction of dry season rice cultivation over an anticipated 4,800 ha. Such fallow fields are used by some of the threatened species in the area. Such an impact will not, however, affect habitat availability for these species, since the area of fallow rice fields around the Tonle Sap will still far exceed that necessary for these rare species.

290. In summary, the policy and requirements in SPS 2009 for safeguards to protect critical habitats have been addressed as follows:

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Table 48: Policy Requirements for Critical Habitats SPS 2009 Requirement for Critical Habitats Project Response

No project activity will be implemented in areas of critical habitat unless the following requirements are met:

(i) There are no measurable adverse impacts, or likelihood of such, on the critical habitat which could impair its high biodiversity value or the ability to function.

The subproject will avoid measurable adverse impacts, and the likelihood of such, on critical and natural habitat, through: (i) MOWRAM’s commitment not to extend or to allow the extension of any canals into the IBBA during or after the project period, and to control any unauthorized of this type; (ii) WCS will undertake a sustainable rice cultivation program that directly protects grassland habitat in the IBBA to the west of the command area.

(ii) The project is not anticipated to lead to a reduction in the population of any recognized endangered or critically endangered species or a loss in area of the habitat concerned such that the persistence of a viable and representative host ecosystem be compromised.

The project will not lead to a reduction in natural or critical habitat, or reduction in the population of any endangered or critically endangered species due to the biodiversity protection measures (through community awareness and involvement in conservation) which are part of the sustainable rice platform. The reduction in area of dry season fallow will not affect habitat availability for these species, since the area of fallow rice fields around the Tonle Sap will still far exceed that necessary for sustainable populations.

(iii) Any lesser impacts are mitigated in accordance with para. 27 (of the SPS).

This EIA has identified potential impacts in the design, construction and operational phases of the project. All can be mitigated or minimized to an acceptable level with the mitigation and management measures that have been identified in the EMP.

When the project involves activities in a critical habitat, the borrower/client will retain qualified and experienced external experts to assist in conducting the assessment.

Two specialist reports commissioned: The first report was a preliminary reconnaissance and reported on the degree to which the subproject activities might impact on endangered bird species in neighbouring lands. A second, detailed survey of habitat for endangered bird species was commissioned in December 2018. This report confirmed that the Bengal florican, and possibly the Yellow-breasted Bunting, regularly visit the command area during the non-breeding season and confirmed the need to manage the command area and to apply effective mitigation of potential negative impacts outside of the command area. To design these mitigation and management areas an expert in critical habitat management was commissioned by the ADB. WCS will have an ongoing role in supporting the programs they establish at Stung Chinit as part of their role as the regional focus point for Bengal florican conservation in Cambodia.

ADB = Asian Development Bank, EIA = environmental impact assessment, IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, MOWRAM = Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, SPS = Safeguard Policy Statement, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society. Source: TRTA consultants.

Appendix 1 91

CONDUCT OF THREATENED BIRD SURVEYS - STUNG CHINIT SOUTH SUBPROJECT: BIRD SURVEY REPORT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. A bird survey was conducted under to determine if the command area of the Stung Chinit South subproject (part of the ADB’s Irrigated Agricultural Improvement Project) represents a critical habitat for critically endangered birds, namely, Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis, White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisonii, and Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola. Field surveys in and outside the command area were conducted from 15 December 2018 to 27 December 2018 and from 10 to 13 January 2019. Village interviews were conducted from 16 December 2018 to 15 January 2019.

2. None of the target species were recorded on the field surveys in the command area, which constituted 22 line transects, each of which was 3 kilometers in length and walked twice. A total of 550 household interviews were conducted across 36 villages in or adjacent to the command area. Recent reports were received of all of the target species in the command area, and in the grassland area to the west of the command area. No target species were seen during the follow up surveys in the command area, although up to 10 Bengal Floricans were seen by the survey team in the grassland area outside of the command area.

3. Recent reports of Bengal Florican in the command area indicate that the species regularly uses the area during post-breeding dispersal, when birds wander widely and make use of fallow rice fields and open forest habitats. Based on recent surveys, informant interviews and the current rice cultivation calendar for land in the command area, it is very unlikely that Bengal Florican breeds in the command area. The field survey and local reports underline the importance of the unprotected grassland area to the west of the command area. Bengal Floricans are known to breed in this area, indeed the population in this area and the adjacent Baray BFCA is the second largest in Cambodia, and constitutes 10% of the global population. The grassland occupied by these birds is approximately 10,000 hectares in size, and as such is the largest remaining fragment of floodplain grassland in Southeast Asia. It is at risk from induced impacts of the irrigation of the command area. However, if effectively mitigated by replicating the conservation measures that have demonstrated success at stabilizing Bengal Florican declines elsewhere in the Tonle Sap floodplain, then declines could be halted at the Baray population, and it could potentially grow to the largest in Cambodia.

4. Recent reports of White-shouldered Ibis indicate that the species is at most an occasional or rare visitor to the command area. A small population is resident to the west of the command area, probably breeding in the seasonally flooded scrub in and close to Baray BFCA. The status of Yellow-breasted Bunting in the command area is unclear, although reports suggest that it is a regular non-breeding visitor.

5. We conclude that Bengal Florican regularly uses the command area during the non-breeding season. Our survey results reinforce the importance of the unprotected area to the west of the command area, where Bengal Florican is known to breed in globally significant numbers, and the need for effective mitigation of potential negative impacts outside of the command area.

92 Appendix 1

A. Introduction

6. One of the sites selected for the subprojects under the project is the Stung Chinit South Irrigation System located in the south of Kampong Thom Province, stretching between the Stung Chinit River in the north and the Stung Kompong Sor in the south. The Stung Chinit South subproject targets an area of 16,000 hectares (ha) in 11 communes in Baray District. ADB recognized that much of the Stung Chinit South command area and surroundings may be important for Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis (Critically Endangered), White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisonii (Critically Endangered) and Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (Critically Endangered).

7. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) was contracted to conduct a bird survey during December 2018 and January 2019 to assess the importance of the command area for globally threatened bird species, and the likely impacts on these species. Surveys were designed such that they clarified the likely distribution, including timing, and status of these species across the command area and nearby areas. Survey methodology and workplan were developed by WCS and approved by the contractor in December 2018.

8. The Bengal Florican is a polytypic species, with H. b. bengalensis confined to India and Nepal and H. b. blandini now confined to the Tonle Sap floodplain, Cambodia (it is now extinct or almost so from the Mekong Delta, owing to habitat change) (Collar et al. 2017). The population in India is estimated to be 147–198 territorial adult males, in Nepal the population is estimated as less than 100 birds (Collar et al. 2017). The number of displaying males in the population in Cambodia has been monitored since 2007. In 2012, a complete census of the Cambodian population indicated that the total population was 216 displaying males, indicating that it had declined by approximately 50% since 2007 (Packman et al. 2013b). By 2018, most of the populations that remained in 2012 had been lost, and the species was found at only four sites. Of these sites, declines were noted at Sankor, Baray Bengal Florican Conservation Areas (BFCA) and surrounding area, and Bakan, whilst the population at Stoung-Chikreang BFCA is stable. The population at Baray BFCA and surrounding area was estimated at 36 displaying males, which likely constitutes one third of the Cambodian population of Bengal Florican.

9. The primary cause of the Bengal Florican decline in Cambodia has been the rapid expansion of irrigated dry-season rice, which has led to a rapid decline in grassland area in the Tonle Sap floodplain (Packman et al. 2013a). Up to the early 2000’s, deep-water rice was cultivated throughout the Tonle Sap floodplain, because this crop was harvested at the beginning of the dry season, the land was fallow throughout the breeding season of the Bengal Florican (Gray et al. 2007). The switch from deep-water rice to dry-season rice meant that the land on which the birds breed is now flooded (irrigated) throughout the breeding season, which means that they have lost most of their breeding habitat (Ibbett et al. 2017).

10. In Cambodia, Bengal Florican conservation is implemented by Ministry of Environment (MOE) with technical and financial support from WCS. Following joint government-WCS surveys that identified Kampong Thom Province as the stronghold for Bengal Florican in Cambodia in the early 2000’s, six breeding sites were protected as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas (IFBAs) under provincial decree (deika) in 2007. In 2010, the level of protection for these sites was upgraded to ministerial decree (prakas), the number of sites reduced to four and the total area of the sites reduced, at the same time, two non-breeding sites were protected, and the name of the sites was changed to BFCAs. In 2016, the level of protection of the sites were upgraded to prime ministerial sub-decree, all sites were combined into one management unit (in six fragments)

Appendix 1 93

and the name of the whole changed to the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape (NTSPL). Individual sites are still commonly referred to as BFCAs for ease of reference.

11. WCS supports the MOE with all aspects of management in the NTSPL. However, activities to date have focused on Stoung-Chikreang BFCA and the adjacent non-breeding areas, because this population is the largest and because financial resources have been too scarce to meaningfully expand conservation efforts beyond this one site. As a result of these conservation efforts, the Bengal Florican population at Stoung-Chikreang BFCA is stable, whilst those at other sites have declined.

12. Conservation measures at Stoung-Chikreang BFCA consist of (i) MOE-led law enforcement patrols to prevent illegal encroachment of grasslands for irrigated rice cultivation, typically this is driven by companies or powerful businessmen who use local people as a front for cultivating rice in the protected area; (ii) zoning and management planning of the protected area through a participatory process; (iii) establishment of community protected area (CPA) committees to manage the sustainable use and community zones of the protected area, under management plans; (iv) encouraging activities that are beneficial for grassland, such as cattle grazing; (v) environmental education and awareness raising to reduce hunting; (vi) A nest protection program to eliminate the trapping of nesting females and taking of eggs; and (vii) monitoring of Bengal Florican populations.

13. Outside of the BFCA, in areas used by the birds in the non-breeding season, WCS is working with local nongovernment organization, Sansom Mlup Prey to promote the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), a global sustainability standard for rice. Within the SRP framework of sustainability Standards, there is provision for making rice more biodiversity friendly, in a way that increases the farmers score against the SRP Standards. WCS and Sansom Mlup Prey are helping farmers manage water level better (through land-levelling), which increases yields and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We are also trialing legumes as fallow crops, to improve soil fertility and create potentially suitable habitat for Floricans in the non-breeding season.

B. Methodology

14. Surveys were conducted following the approved methodology by a team of seven persons, comprising one team leader, one deputy team leader, three experienced bird surveyors and two local guides. Line transects in the command area were surveyed over a two-week period from 15 December 2018 to 27 December 2018. Following the village interviews, surveys were conducted from 10 to 13 January 2019 inside the command area and in the area immediately to the west of it to follow up on reports of the target species.

15. For all field surveys the survey team was divided into two groups (A and B) each led by either the team leader or deputy team leader. Prior to the field survey, the team leader and deputy team leader refreshed the bird identification skills of all of the survey team members to ensure that they were of a high standard, and familiarized the team with the methodology and the data collection forms.

16. The line-transect technique was used to conduct the survey. The northern and southern half of the command area was divided into an equal number of line-transects. Each group was responsible for 22 line transects inside the command area and 12 line transects for the follow up survey. Each line transect was 3 km in length. The survey team walked along the line transect and record all Globally Threatened and Near Threatened birds (hereafter target birds). The

94 Appendix 1

surveys were conducted from 6:00 to 11:00 and from 14:30 to 18:00, because these are the times that birds are most active and easily detected. Each transect was surveyed two times (on two different days), with different times for each survey, for example if a transect was first surveyed during the morning the second survey was conducted in the evening. The survey teams also recorded any target birds seen or heard when not walking the line transects (e.g., when travelling to or from a line transect) as incidental sightings.

17. Each team member carried binoculars and each group had one telescope to detect and identify birds from a distance, increase the chance of sightings of the target species, and improve the accuracy of data. Cameras were used to record sightings of target species. All records of target species were recorded in a survey form (Annex 3). Each team carried a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit with the boundary of the command area and the line transects uploaded. The GPS units were set to record the tracks of the survey teams, and were turned on throughout the survey. The locations of all target species were recorded using the GPS units.

18. The interview surveys were conducted from 16 December 2018 to 15 January 2019 to collect information about sightings of key bird species that occurred within the last 5 years in the command area. From each of the 11 communes that overlap with the command area we selected at least 3 villages for interview surveys. Household interviews were conducted in 36 villages, in each village the number of interviews conducted varied from 10 to 20 (Table 1). The total number of households interviewed was 550. The household interviews were conducted by WCS’s Baray BFCA community representatives, who were given training in conducting the questionnaire and tested by the team leader before official interviews began. The team leader or deputy team leader joined at least a quarter of the interviews.

19. A short questionnaire was used to standardize data collection (Annex 4). All survey team members were oriented in its use. As well as collecting information on sightings of key bird species, we also collected information on occupation, time in the village and land ownership to quantify the reliability of the information on bird species. We broadly divided households into two categories depending on their reliance on natural resources: one category was households who depend on agriculture or rice cultivation, fishing and hunting: these were the target people for the survey because they frequently access and use the command area for daily or seasonal livelihood activities. The other category was people who are less dependent (or not dependent) on agriculture or rice cultivation practice, fishing and hunting. We excluded these households from the interview survey because they are unlikely to provide reliable information on the key bird species. The interviewees were shown pictures of the three target bird species in the Cambodia Bird Field Guide, to check their familiarity with the species and assess certainty of reports.

20. We also conducted one small group discussion at each village with people selected by the village chief based on their knowledge of wildlife. These included hunters, or people who spend a lot of time in the fields.

21. Any recent reports of key species from reliable villagers that were provided to the survey team were mapped and followed up with additional field visits.

Appendix 1 95

Table 1: Villages in which Interviews were Conducted

No. Village name UTM X UTM Y No. Interviews

1 Daun Am 1366042 509915 9

2 Samraong 1371910 509349 12

3 Kdei Ta Chen 1363337 510629 12

4 Tnaot Chum 1384406 507419 6

5 Chieb 1357875 510977 11

6 Trapeang Chrey 1378046 515461 17

7 Tuol Damnak 1375945 511389 10

8 Khsach Let 1378340 510380 20

9 Trapeang Chhuk 1374347 510283 36

10 Doun Pen 1374546 509604 13

11 Doun Tom 1371610 513665 10

12 Chhuk Khsach 1371028 511729 9

13 Serei Sokhom 1370184 511734 10

14 Prasat 1368439 511184 14

15 Kamnhat 1366483 509514 22

16 Chakto Louk 1370021 506483 17

17 Trapeang Chranieng 1357178 512913 11

18 Pongro 1352857 511927 11

19 Ta Prey 1352984 512012 10

20 Tradak Pong 1353227 511517 12

21 Thnal Keng 1352721 510713 12

22 Veal Ampil 1364370 513164 5

23 Triel 1363569 512669 16

24 Svay Msau 1363207 512743 24

25 Tuol Pophlea 1361650 509387 13

26 Chhuk 1363165 510008 13

27 Kamchay Mear 1364913 508156 19

28 Bos Lvea 1362264 509968 3

29 Prakhnay 1365663 508791 2

30 Boeng Khang Tboung 1373653 512861 8

31 Boeng Kandal 1373909 512955 7

32 Boeng Khang Cheung 1374170 512887 10

33 Thnal Thmei 1369867 508351 11

34 Baray Thom 1370101 508260 9

35 Baray Touch 1370323 508589 28

36 Banak 1370566 507626 30

37 Incidental interviews in field 68

UTM = xxx. Source: TRTA consultants.

C. Results

22. There were no records of target bird species from the line transect survey in the command area. A total of 105 species were recorded in the field survey in the command area, including two

96 Appendix 1

Near Threatened species in flight over the area, namely a single Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster and hundreds of Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (Annex 1).

23. Within the command area, the area to the east of National Rroad 6 is under dry season rice cultivation. The habitat to the west of National Road 6 is more diverse, comprising active, fallow and abandoned rice fields, as well as seasonal ponds, lakes, scrub, and a small area of grassland located in the southwest of the command area. This small grassland area is contiguous with a more extensive area of grassland that extends west to Baray BFCA. Informant information indicates that most of the rice cultivation in the command area is of long-period photo sensitive jasmine rice. This high value crop is planted in April or May and harvested in November. The fields are left fallow after harvest, although stubble is sometimes burned to encourage fresh growth of grass for grazing of domestic cattle. Because of the timing of the growing period of this rice, areas under rice cultivation in the command area is unsuitable habitat for Bengal Floricans to breed.

24. Outside of the command area, in the grassland area between the command area and Baray BFCA we recorded up to 10 Bengal Floricans during the field survey (Figure 1). Sightings of Bengal Florican by the survey team were as follows:

(i) A total of two males and one female (not associated with each other) flushed from grassland close to a dry season rice paddy near Kaoh Reah village over two consecutive days (10 and 11 January 2019).

(ii) Two males seen 5 km to the southwest of Kaoh Reah village on 10 January 2019. (iii) One male flushed from grassland 2 km to the north of Kaoh Reah village on 11

January 2019. (iv) Two males flushed west of Veal Kantuot on 12 January 2019. (v) Two males seen at Veal Kantuot on 12 January 2019 (possibly the same birds as

the preceding record).

(vi) We did not see any Yellow-breasted Bunting or White-shouldered Ibis during the field survey outside of the command area.

Appendix 1 97

Figure 1. Sight Records of Bengal Florican Made During the Field Survey

(⚫ denote Bengal Florican sightings)

Source: TRTA consultants.

25. Outside of the command area a total of 111 bird species was recorded during the field survey, bringing the total number of species recorded in the wider area to 121 bird species. Outside of the command area, the survey team recorded one Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga (Vulnerable), and three Near Threatened bird species, namely Oriental Darter, Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus, and Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus (Annex 1).

26. Of the 550 people interviewed, 356 (65%) of respondents reported that they had heard about or seen a Bengal Florican inside or to the west of the command area within the last 5 years. Of these reports, 42% came from 2018 or early 2019. In contrast, only 15 people (3%) reported to know and have seen Yellow-breasted Bunting in or around the command area, of which 87% of the reports were from 2018 or 2019. Only 16% of respondents reported seeing White-shouldered Ibis inside or near to the command area, of which only 13% of reports were from 2018 or 2019.

27. Most of the respondents who knew of or reported sightings of the target species were male. Of men who relied on rice cultivation, fishing and hunting in areas to the west of National Road 6 almost all reported at least one of the target species, in contrast men who used the area to the east of the national road were less likely to know of the target birds and didn’t provide any recent reports.

Koh Reah village Veal Kan Tuot

West of Koh Reah

98 Appendix 1

28. Interviews suggested that the Bengal Florican is familiar to people who live close to the command area (Figure 2). This fits with what is known about the species, which was formerly abundant in the Tonle Sap floodplain. Reports of Bengal Florican are spread across the landscape, but are concentrated in the grassland areas. A small number of respondents reported sightings of Bengal Florican in the command area in 2018-2019. These reports were concentrated in the center and south of the command area, particularly in the area close to Pongro village and the parts of the command area closest to neighboring grassland. The pattern of reports of Bengal Florican in the northern part of the command area suggests that the species no longer occurs there. The majority of Bengal Florican reports were from the grassland area to the west of the command area, where WCS data suggests that it breeds. It is plausible that the reports of Bengal Florican in the command area represent regular occurrence of dispersing birds from the breeding population to the west.

Figure 2. Interview-derived Reports of Bengal Florican within the last 5 years

(⚫ denote reports dated 2018 to January 2019, ⚫ denote reports dated from 2016-2017

inclusive, ⚫ denote reports from 2013 to 2015 inclusive)

Source: TRTA consultants.

29. Reports derived from interviews suggest that a very small population of White-shouldered Ibis is present to the west of the command area (Figure 3). One interviewee reported that he had seen the species within the command area in early January 2019. This report is from an area close to a cluster of reports outside of the command area boundary in an area of seasonal ponds, small channels and grassland, which constitutes suitable habitat for the species. All reports of White-shouldered Ibis were associated with seasonal ponds (in Khmer called “Trapeang”), or with the flooded forest to the south and west of Baray BFCA.

Appendix 1 99

Figure 3. Interview-derived Reports of White-shouldered Ibis within the last 5 years

(⚫ denote reports dated 2018 to January 2019, ⚫ denote reports from 2013 to 2017 inclusive)

Source: TRTA consultants.

30. Few local people differentiate between different species of small passerine birds, or pay much attention to their presence, so it was unsurprising that we received few reports of Yellow-breasted Bunting (Figure 4). A small number of respondents appeared to know the species well (one man reported that in the past he used a slingshot to kill Yellow-breasted Buntings to protect his rice crop) and reported that flocks visited grassland and rice paddies during the winter time, especially during harvesting and after harvesting of rice when there is split grain. Reports of Yellow-breasted Bunting were widely spread across the command area, as befits a species that roams widely in search of food.

100 Appendix 1

Figure 4. Interview-derived Reports of Yellow-breasted Bunting within the last 5 years

(⚫ denote reports dated 2018 to January 2019, ⚫ denote reports from 2013 to 2017 inclusive)

Source: TRTA consultants.

D. Discussion

31. The Bengal Florican population at Baray BFCA has declined since monitoring began in 2005 (Gray et al. 2009; Packman et al. 2013b). The species is known to breed in the unprotected grassland located between the southern part of the command area and Baray BFCA (Packman et al. 2013b). If these protected and unprotected areas are considered together, this population is the second largest in Cambodia, numbering approximately 36 displaying males (10% of the global population), and is of critical importance for the conservation of the species (Mahood et al. In press). Bengal Floricans cannot breed in rice cultivation because they cannot breed in the water, so because the command area is under rice cultivation for much of the breeding season they are unlikely to breed there.

32. Records of Bengal Floricans satellite tagged between 2009 and 2013 indicate that during the non-breeding season breeding birds disperse widely, taking advantage of a wider range of habitats than breeding birds, especially open woodland and low intensity agriculture (Hillard 2012; Packman 2011). There is a record of a satellite tagged Bengal Florican from the command area (Packman 2011), and during the survey we received a report from a man who had hunted a satellite tagged Bengal Florican: on seeing the tag he released the bird. However, the current rice cultivation regime in the command area is not suitable for breeding Bengal Floricans, because fields are under rice cultivation from April until November and then consist of stubble from December-March. However, Bengal Floricans are likely to regularly use the fallow fields scattered throughout the command area during the non-breeding season, and may occasionally visit the

Appendix 1 101

rice fields when they cannot find more suitable habitat. Bengal Floricans move around a lot during the non-breeding season, travelling up to 10 kilometers in a day and flying from one location to another based on local habitat suitability and water depth. It is likely that most, if not all, of the records of Bengal Floricans in the command area relate to dispersing Bengal Floricans, individual birds may linger there for hours, days or weeks, depending on the suitability of habitat and local rainfall patterns.

33. The field survey was not conducted at the perfect time of the year to detect Bengal Florican. The species is relatively cryptic during the non-breeding season and are easy to detect only when they display at the beginning of the breeding season (March-May). Nonetheless, people who work in the fields detect Bengal Floricans by accidentally flushing them during their work in the fields, particularly people who focus on collecting rats, fish and frogs, rather than those engaged in rice cultivation. Our annual monitoring of Bengal Floricans in Baray BFCA and the unprotected area between Baray BFCA and the command area nonetheless confirms the importance of this area as a breeding ground for the species.

34. Most of the recent reports of Bengal Florican in the command area are in areas where the habitat is slightly more suitable for the species than the surrounding area, such as around Pongro village, where there are some abandoned rice fields that have reverted to grassland. These areas are left fallow because were too wet for rice cultivation in recent years. There are no recent records in the northern part of the command area where farming is more intensive, and local people reported that it had declined overall. In Baray BFCA, Bengal Floricans have been lost from the northern part of the protected area over the last ten years, owing to a large Chinese-owned rice concession, whilst in Chong Duong BFCA, which is located to the north of Baray BFCA, Bengal Floricans have not bred for more than five years. It is plausible that the loss of these breeding birds from Chong-Duong BFCA and the northern part of Baray BFCA is the cause of the lack of recent records in the northern part of the command area.

35. The Bengal Florican is extremely vulnerable to conversion of grassland to irrigated rice cultivation (i.e., a system that supports dry season rice cultivation). If local people or companies create secondary or tertiary irrigation infrastructures that extend the improved irrigation infrastructure west of the command area, then they are likely to convert the unprotected grassland area, and potentially the southern part of Baray BFCA, from grassland to rice cultivation. This induced impact can be avoided through legal protection of all remaining grassland as a protected area under Sub-decree, and through replicating the approach taken at Stoung-Chikreang BFCA, which has stabilized the population at that site. Baray BFCA and the adjacent unprotected grassland cover an area of approximately 10,000 ha, which makes it the largest fragment of lowland floodplain grassland remaining in Southeast Asia (Mahood et al. in prep). Replicating the SRP measures used close to Stoung-Chikreang in rice growing areas close to the breeding grounds will also be necessary to create suitable non-breeding habitat for the birds.

36. Transitional habitats such as grassland are already considered the most threatened habitats in the Tonle Sap floodplain, owing to predicted impacts from hydropower dams and climate change (Arias et al. 2012; Arias et al. 2014). Agricultural intensification has not only caused declines in Bengal Florican, but also driven concomitant declines in fish catches and carbon stocks in the Tonle Sap floodplain (Mahood et al. in prep). The potential for irrigated dry-season rice expansion to drive rapid changes in vegetation patterns in the Tonle Sap floodplain is already well documented (Packman et al. 2013a), and in the short and medium term it is the greatest threat facing the remaining grasslands of the Tonle Sap floodplain (Mahood et al. in prep).

102 Appendix 1

37. In addition to the impacts of changes in agricultural practices, hunting and collection of eggs and chicks remains a threat to Bengal Florican in Baray BFCA and the adjacent grassland to the west of the command area. We received a number of reports from local people of Bengal Florican hunting. For instance, people living in Kaoh Reah village (close to an area where the survey team recorded Bengal Florican, and a location where they are known to breed) reported that there is a group of people from Batheay District, Kampong Cham Province that regularly visited the area to hunt birds for sale to traders. Mitigation of the impacts of irrigation infrastructure could also involve working with local authorities and communities to disrupt these trade networks and prevent hunting of Bengal Floricans.

38. White-shouldered Ibis may have been common across the Tonle Sap floodplain in historical times, but the only recent records come from Baray BFCA and the surrounding area. Evidently, the species is now very rare, with perhaps no more than a few birds left in the area. It is likely to be no more than an occasional visitor to the command area. The only people who recognized pictures of White-shouldered Ibis during the village interviews were village elders and young men who spent all of their time in the grasslands and flooded forest. Reports of White-shouldered Ibis should be treated with caution because of the possibility of confusion with Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, a species which is rapidly increasing in range and population in Cambodia, and which the people in Baray District may not be familiar with.

39. We did not see any Yellow-breasted Buntings in the command area, and we received few recent reports, most of which should be treated with caution given its superficial similarity to various other similar sized birds, such as sparrows and weavers. Yellow-breasted Bunting was formerly a common winter visitor to grasslands and rice fields throughout Southeast Asia, however it has declined precipitously as a result of hunting and changing agricultural practices. The status of Yellow-breasted Bunting in the command area is likely to be similar to that in low intensity rice cultivation throughout the Tonle Sap floodplain. Small flocks might regularly use the command area, although it may only be an occasional visitor.

E. Conclusions

40. We did not record any of the target species during the field survey. We received reliable recent reports of Bengal Florican, and recent reports of possibly lower reliability of White-shouldered Ibis and Yellow-breasted Bunting. Bengal Florican is likely to regularly occur in the command area as a non-breeding visitor, and all three species are present in the grassland areas located to the west where Bengal Florican also breeds. The grassland outside of the command area is of critical importance for Bengal Florican, supports a small relictual population of White-shouldered Ibis, and is likely to be of importance for Yellow-breasted Bunting in the non-breeding season. Taken together with the protected grassland that remains in Baray BFCA, it is likely to be the largest remaining block of lowland floodplain grassland remaining in Southeast Asia. If managed correctly, it could potentially support the largest population of Bengal Florican in Southeast Asia. Recovery of the Baray population of Bengal Florican would help to prevent the global extinction of the species.

Appendix 1 103

F. References

Arias, M.E., Cochrane, T.A., Piman, T., Kummu, M., Caruso, B.S., Killeen, T.J., 2012. Quantifying changes in flooding and habitats in the Tonle Sap Lake (Cambodia) caused by water infrastructure development and climate change in the Mekong Basin. Journal of Environmental Management 112, 53-66. Arias, M.E., Piman, T., Lauri, H., Cochrane, T.A., Kummu, M., 2014. Dams on Mekong tributaries as significant contributors of hydrological alterations to the Tonle Sap Floodplain in Cambodia. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 18, 5303-5315. Collar, N.J., Baral, H.S., Batbayer, N., Bhardwaj, G.S., Brahma, N., Burnside, R.J., Chuodhury, A.U., Combreau, O., Dolman, P.M., Donald, P.F., Dutta, S., Gadhavi, D., Gore, K., Goroshko, O.A., Hong, C., Jather, G.A., Jha, R.R.S., Jhala, Y.V., Koshkin, M.A., Lahkar, B.P., Liu, G., Mahood, S.P., Morales, M.B., Narwade, S.S., Natsagdorj, T., Nefedov, A.A., Silva, J.P., Thakuri, J.J., Wang, M., Zhang, Y., Kessler, A.E., 2017. Averting the extinction of bustards in Asia. Forktail 33, 1-26. Gray, T.N.E., Chamnan, H., Borey, R., Collar, N.J., Dolman, P.M., 2007. Habitat preferences of a globally threatened bustard provide support for community-based conservation in Cambodia. Biological Conservation 138, 341-350. Gray, T.N.E., Collar, N.J., Davidson, P.J., Dolman, P.M., Evans, T.D., Fox, H.N., Chamnan, H., Borey, R., Hout, S.K., Van Zalinge, R.N., 2009. Distribution, status and conservation of the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Cambodia. Bird Conservation International 19, 1-14. Hillard, R., 2012. Non-breeding habitat requirements and conservation threats to the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) in Cambodia. University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom. Ibbett, H., Lay, C., Phlai, P., Song, D., Hong, C., Mahood, S.P., Milner-Gulland, E., 2017. Conserving a globally threatened species in a semi-natural, agrarian landscape. Oryx. Mahood, S.P., Hong, C., Silverman, J., Duncan, A., Phien, S., T., G.S., in prep. Rapid agricultural changes drive declines in fish catches, biodiversity and carbon stocks in the Tonle Sap floodplain, Cambodia. Mahood, S.P., Hong, C., Son, V., T., G.S., In press. Catastrophic ongoing decline in Cambodia’s Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis population. Bird Conservation International. Packman, C.E., 2011. Seasonal landscape use and conservation of a critically endangered bustard: Bengal florican in Cambodia. University of East Anglia. Packman, C.E., Gray, T.N., Collar, N.J., Evans, T.D., Van Zalinge, R.N., Virak, S., Lovett, A.A., Dolman, P.M., 2013a. Rapid loss of Cambodia's grasslands. Conservation Biology 27, 245-247. Packman, C.E., Showler, D.A., Collar, N.J., Virak, S., Mahood, S.P., Handschuh, M., Evans, T.D., Chamnan, H., Dolman, P.M., 2013b. Rapid decline of the largest remaining population of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis and recommendations for its conservation. Bird Conservation International 24, 429-437.

104 Appendix 1

ANNEX 1: LIST OF BIRDS RECORDED DURING THE FIELD SURVEYS

No. Common name Scientific name Threat status

Command area

Outside command

area

1 Comb Duck Sarkidiornis sylvicola LC x x

2 Garganey Spatula querquedula LC x x

3 Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha LC x x

4 Rock Pigeon Columba livia LC x

5 Red-collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica LC x x

6 Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis LC x x

7 Zebra Dove Geopelia striata LC x x

8 Germain's Swiftlet Aerodramus germani LC x x

9 Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis LC x x

10 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis LC x x

11 Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis LC x x

12 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus LC x x

13 Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus LC x x

14 Large Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides LC x

15 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus LC x

16 Watercock Gallicrex cinerea LC x x

17 Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus LC x x

18 Common Coot Fulica atra LC x x

19 Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis CR x

20 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala NT x x

21 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans LC x x

22 Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus NT x

23 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis LC x x

24 Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus LC x x

25 Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus LC x x

26 Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa LC x

27 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus LC x x

28 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea LC x x

29 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea LC x x

30 Great Egret Ardea alba LC x x

31 Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia LC x x

32 Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC x x

33 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger LC x x

34 Great Cormorant Phalcrocorax carbo LC x x

35 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis LC x x

36 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster NT x

37 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC x x

38 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius LC x x

39 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus LC x x

40 Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis LC x x

Appendix 1 105

No. Common name Scientific name Threat status

Command area

Outside command

area

41 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus LC x x

42 Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus LC x x

43 Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura LC x x

44 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago LC x x

45 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia LC x x

46 Small Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus LC x x

47 Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator LC x x

48 Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum LC x x

49 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LC x

50 Barn Owl Tyto alba LC x

51 Spotted Owlet Athene brama LC x x

52 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus LC x x

53 Great Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga VU x

54 Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus LC x x

55 Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos LC x x

56 Shikra Accipiter badius LC x

57 Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus NT x

58 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus LC x

59 Black Kite Milvus migrans LC x

60 Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus LC x x

61 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops LC x

62 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus LC x x

63 Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis LC x x

64 Indochinese Roller Coracias affinis LC x x

65 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis LC x x

66 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis LC x x

67 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis LC x x

68 Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata LC x x

69 Freckle-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopus analis LC x

70 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC x

71 Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea LC x

72 Malaysian Pied fantail Rhipidura javanica LC x x

73 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus LC x x

74 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea LC x

75 Brown Shrike Lanius collurioides LC x x

76 Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides LC x

77 Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia) LC x x

78 Southern Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos LC x x

79 Australasian Bush Lark Mirafra javanica LC x x

80 Indochinese Bushlark Mirafra erythrocephala LC x x

81 Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula LC x x

106 Appendix 1

No. Common name Scientific name Threat status

Command area

Outside command

area

82 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis LC x x

83 Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis LC x x

84 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata LC x x

85 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius LC x x

86 Thick-billed Warbler Arundinax aedon LC x

87 Black-browed Reed-warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps LC x x

88 Oriental Reed-warbler Acrocephalus orientalis LC x x

89 Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola LC x x

90 Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata LC x x

91 Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris LC x x

92 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC x x

93 Bank Swallow Riparia riparia LC x x

94 Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier LC x x

95 Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi LC x x

96 Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus LC x x

97 Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata LC x x

98 Pin-striped Tit-babbler Macronus gularis LC x

99 Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra LC x

100 Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis LC x x

101 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis LC x x

102 Vinous-breasted Starling Acridotheres burmannicus LC x x

103 Great Myna Acridotheres grandis LC x x

104 Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis LC x x

105 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica LC x

106 Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla LC x

107 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata LC x x

108 Eastern Stonechat Saxicola maurus LC x x

109 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum LC x x

110 Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis LC x x

111 Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus LC x x

112 Red Avadavet Amandava amandava LC x x

113 Scarly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata LC x x

114 House Sparrow Passer domesticus LC x x

115 Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus LC x x

116 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus LC x x

117 Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni LC x x

118 Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus LC x x

119 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus LC x x

120 White Wagtail Motacilla alba LC x

121 Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis LC x

Total 105 111

Appendix 1 107

108 Appendix 1

ANNEX 2: SURVEY WORKPLAN No. Activity December January February March

W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4

1 Travel to the survey site x

2 Logistic arrangement and team meeting x

3 Line transect surveys x x

4 Team discussion on village interview questionnaire

x

5 Village interviews x x x x

6 Travel back to site-base/Phnom Penh x

7 Follow-up surveys to verify information from respondents

x

8 Data entry x

9 Data checking and analysis x

10 GIS data processing x x

11 Mapping key species records x

12 Writing and submission of first draft of report

x x

13 Report revision x x

14 Final report x x

15 Monthly meetings x x x

Appendix 1 109

ANNEX 3: FORM FOR FIELD SURVEY

Key Bird Survey Form

Project/site: …………………….… Team leader: …………………… Team member: ………………………..

Date: …………………….… Time start: ……………….……Time end: ……………………… GPS Code: …………

Note: (*): YBB = Yellow-breasted Bunting; BF = Bengal Florican; WSI = White-shouldered Ibis

For other threatened or near threatened bird species encountered during the survey please write the Khmer or English name clearly in

the form

UTM

Code

# UTM (X;Y) Location Species* Time Number Comment/sex

Code: ………

110 Appendix 1

ANNEX 4: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR VILLAGE INTERVIEW

Appendix 2 111

BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

WHAT IS THIS PROJECT?

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing funding to help the Ministry of Water Resources and

Meteorology (MOWRAM) repair and modernize irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham,

Kampong Thom, and Takeo provinces. In Kampong Thom, the Stung Chinit South subproject will repair the

Stung Chinit reservoir spillway, as well as secondary and tertiary canals that flow to the south. The

subproject area covers 16,000 hectares of wet season rice cultivation by local farmers, and aims to improve

irrigation so that more farmers can grow dry season rice.

WHAT IS A BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN?

Biodiversity is a name for all plants, animals and their habitats. A Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is often

made for development projects in areas of important biodiversity. A BAP is a document that helps the

project, government, local people and others to understand why an area is important for biodiversity, how

the project might impact that biodiversity, and how the project will avoid, minimise, restore and/or

compensate for such impacts. ADB often recommends development of BAPs in order to ensure positive

social and environmental outcomes from projects.

WHO HAS RECOGNIZED THIS AREA AS IMPORTANT?

The Ministry of Environment (MOE)

manages the Baray and Taing Kork section

of the Northern Tonle Sap Protected

Landscape (NTSPL), a nationally protected

area just 1 kilometer to 6 kilometers to the

west of the subproject (see green area on

map).

Conservation organizations identified the

larger Stung Sen, Santuk, and Baray

Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

(IBBA), which includes the Baray and

Taing Kork section of the NTSPL, as

globally important for biodiversity. The

subproject directly adjoins this IBBA (see

map).

ADB has classed the area as “Critical

Habitat”, the highest category of

importance.

The area just west of the project has thus

been identified nationally and

internationally as important for biodiversity.

112 Appendix 2

Floricans nest in grasslands in the dry season, then disperse into fallow rice fields in the wet season when

the grasslands are flooded by the Tonle Sap. The ibis is very rare in the area, and usually only seen when

it disperses during floods. The buntings arrive in the area in the wet season, after migrating from the

People’s Republic of China, and then feed in large flocks in fallow rice fields. The main threats to the survival

of these birds are loss of grasslands and hunting for food.

HOW MIGHT THE SUBPROJECT IMPACT GRASSLANDS AND BIRDS?

The subproject is not likely to have many direct impacts, providing it is careful where it places construction

equipment and soil from canal dredging. Increasing rice cultivation may lead to increased use of chemical

fertilizers and pesticides, which could reduce numbers of insects or plants that birds eat.

However, the subproject will make water available across a large area next to the IBBA. This may

encourage people to extend canals into the IBBA, or to pump water into that area, in order to create new

rice fields inside the IBBA. This could reduce available grassland for birds to breed, and so decrease their

populations.

HOW WILL THE SUBPROJECT MITIGATE IMPACTS ON GRASSLANDS AND BIRDS?

Four key measures will be put in place to avoid, minimise and compensate for potential project impacts.

1. No construction equipment, materials and spoil will be placed in the IBBA.

• This will ensure no direct impacts on grassland habitat.

WHAT IMPORTANT BIODIVERSITY IS IN THE AREA?

The whole area was naturally grassland that

was seasonally-flooded by the Tonle Sap.

Most of that habitat across Cambodia has now

been converted to rice fields, so the remaining

grassland in the NTSPL and IBBA is now very

rare.

Wildlife that lives in Cambodian grasslands is

also now very rare. The area west of the

subproject is particularly important for the

Bengal Florican (see photo). Only about 140

of these birds still remain in Cambodia, and

less than 450 in the whole world. The IBBA

next to the project holds the second largest

population remaining in Cambodia.

Other threatened birds in the area include the

White-shouldered Ibis (see photo) and

Yellow-breasted Bunting.

White-shouldered Ibis

(above © Wildlife

Conservation Society)

and Bengal Florican

(left © Jonathan Eames)

Appendix 2 113

2. Integrated pest management will be encouraged.

• This will reduce the need for costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which could

otherwise reduce food for threatened birds.

3. MOWRAM will not extend - or allow the extension of – any canals into the IBBA, and

stop anyone pumping water into the IBBA from subproject canals.

• This commitment will continue during and after the project period, and will include

stopping canal rehabilitation 100 meters to 200 meters from the edge of the IBBA.

• This will ensure the project does not encourage others to convert grassland habitat in

the IBBA for rice farming.

4. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will carry out a sustainable rice cultivation

program.

• This program, in coordination with the integrated pest management will reduce the

need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

• It will also reinforce MOWRAM’s commitment by supporting farmer water user

communities, MOWRAM, and Provincial Department of Water Resources and

Meteorology in identifying unauthorized removal of water from the project water into

the IBBA.

• WCS will support MOE to protect remaining grasslands in the IBBA, so that threatened

birds are conserved.

• Local livelihoods will benefit from grassland protection (see below).

HOW WILL LOCAL PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY? Inside the Stung Chinit South subproject area, sustainable rice cultivation will be encouraged, as a way of growing rice that is better for farmers and the environment. The Sustainable Rice Platform is an international collaboration of governments, civil society organizations and companies. It has developed a standard that helps farmers grow more rice, increase their income, cut costs, improve well-being, reduce chemical use, provide safer food, and reduce environmental impacts. The standard has been successfully tested by the WCS in Siem Reap Province, demonstrating that farmers can increase yields and benefit wildlife at the same time.

In the IBBA to the west of the subproject area, the WCS program will aim to ensure local people benefit from livelihoods that are compatible with grassland conservation, such as cattle grazing to maintain grassland, floating rice cultivation in currently-farmed areas, ecotourism, and payments for finding and protection of threatened bird nests.

HOW WILL SUCCESS OF THIS BAP BE MEASURED AND SUSTAINED?

WCS will monitor the six indicators in the Annex to this BAP. These will measure success of this BAP in

maintaining grassland and bird populations, and increasing both farmer income and overall sustainability

of rice farming.

If indicator thresholds are not met in any year, the subproject will consult with WCS to identify new mitigation

actions, or changes in existing ones, that can help the subproject reach its goals. The BAP will be updated

to include these new/altered actions, and these will take the place of previous actions. This is called

“adaptive management”.

During the project, WCS will seek further funding to continue its sustainable rice cultivation program and

thus conserve the area’s biodiversity into the long term.

114 Appendix 2

ANNEX 1: INDICATORS OF SUCCESS FOR THE BAP Indicator (all for the IBBA between the subproject and the

NTSPL)

Goal Threshold Monitoring/ reporting frequency

Method

Decline in area of grassland

0% or increasing

≥5% Annual Field surveys

Decline in population of Bengal Florican

0% or increasing

≥5% Annual Field surveys, using standard methods

Decline in population of White-shouldered Ibis

0% or increasing

≥5% Annual Field surveys

Extension of canals, or pumping of water, from the subproject area

0 Any Quarterly Reports from farmer water user communities; ad hoc observations

Indicator (for the subproject area)

Goal Threshold Method

Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) scores demonstrate improved livelihoods and sustainability of agriculture

5% gain/year during project

No overall gains

Quarterly Review of revised SRP scores

Increase in farmer water user community member income

10% gain during project

No gains in any year

Quarterly Review of revised SRP scores

Progress against all indicators will be compared to baselines measured at the start of the project.

Appendix 3 115

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Stung Chinit South Subproject

A. Introduction

The environmental management plan (EMP) covers all phases of subproject implementation from preparation through commissioning and operation, and it aims to ensure the monitoring of environmental impacts and effective implementation of environmental mitigation measures. Relevant EMP management measures will be incorporated into the design, construction and operation phases of the project. Environmental protection measures will (i) avoid, and (ii) where avoidance is not possible, mitigate environmental impacts, and (iii) achieve compliance with national environmental regulations and ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) 2009.

Environmental monitoring programs will be carried out and the results will be used to evaluate the extent and severity of actual environmental impacts against the predicted impacts, the performance of the environmental protection measures and any need for adjustments.

Given risks at Stung Chinit South of significant adverse induced impacts on critical habitat, the project has developed a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) as well as the EMP. For this project, the main audience for the BAP is not a project team. The subproject includes a short-term intervention (<5 years) and does not have any operational staffing beyond this period, so there would be no simple way to implement a BAP post-project. Further, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will be contracted to undertake a sustainable rice cultivation program that will provide the core foundations of biodiversity mitigation of both direct impacts and potential induced impacts. There is value, however, in having a simple and concise public-facing document that will help raise awareness of project goals, the importance of biodiversity in the area, and project mitigation plans with local people, provincial representatives of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) and Ministry of Environment (MOE), and other stakeholders.

B. Responsibilities for Implementation

The implementation arrangements are summarized in the Table A3.1 below.

Table A3.1: Institutional Arrangements Institutions or Communities

Roles and Responsibilities

MOWRAM • Overall responsibility for the project.

• Coordinating with other government institutions and donor to facilitate project implementation.

• Submit semi-annual environmental monitoring reports to ADB.

PMU • Day to day management of the implementation of the project.

• Appoint EMO, who will coordinate with the environment specialists of the PMIC on EMP and GRM implementation, environmental monitoring and reporting.

• Prepare quarterly progress report and report to MOWRAM.

• Supervise the work of contractors.

• Coordinate with local bodies and communities for their participation.

Design and supervision consultant

• Work with PMU and PMIC on detailed design.

• Update EMP as required in detailed design phase.

• Ensure pre-construction EMP measures are implemented.

PMIC • Support MOWRAM in the coordination with different government ministries and donor for obtaining necessary approvals.

• Design and implement the capacity building programs for MOWRAM and PDWRAM staff.

116 Appendix 3

Institutions or Communities

Roles and Responsibilities

• Monitoring the work of contractors in compliance with covenants of the contract.

Contractors • Implementation of the civil works during the construction phase of the project.

• Preparing,implementing and reporting to the PMU (monthly) on the SEMP for the subproject.

• Ensuring the compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety standards.

• Appointing an EHS officer who will be responsible for daily and weekly monitoring and reporting on EHS.

• Appointing a focal point for GRM to resolve, record, monitor and report on issues and concerns raised through GRM.

• Training of the workforce in good practices in construction management and waste management in the construction sites.

WCS • Implement the sustainable rice cultivation component of the Stung Chinit South subproject, notably:

o Support to zoning and protection of remaining grasslands in the IBBA west of the command area to safeguard against potential project-induced impacts, while also benefiting local livelihoods; and

o Encouraging farmers within the command area and IBBA to improve biodiversity measures under the SRP, including avoiding hunting of wildlife and maintenance or creation of habitat for threatened species.

• Coordinate with the PMU to ensure synergy in activities such as those relating to sustainable rice cultivation, engagement of local farmers, and monitoring.

FWUC • Participate in the management of the command area to the benefit of all water users.

• Coordinate with different government departments and other FWUCs to maximize the benefits of the project.

Local authorities and communities

• Participate in the project developments.

• Raise issues and concerns via GRM and public consultations carried out during implementation.

ADB = Asian Development Bank, EHS = environmental health and safety, EMO = environmental management officer, EMP = environmental management plan, FWUC = farmer water user community, GRM = grievance redress mechanism, IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, MOWRAM = Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, PDWRAM = Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, PMIC = project management and implementation consultant, PMU = project management unit, SEMP = site environmental management plan, SRP = Sustainable Rice Platform, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society. Source: Adapted from the project administration manual.

Final design for subproject, support in bid preparation, and construction supervision will be undertaken by a design and supervision consultant (DSC). The DSC will support the project management unit (PMU) to prepare tender and contract construction documents, update the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and EMP based on detailed designs. The DSC will also work with MOWRAM to obtain all environmental and works approvals.

The PMU will remain the subproject owners and will award the contract, manage the contract, and monitor the construction. The DSC will assist them to monitor construction standards and facilitate monthly coordination.

For the environmental aspects of the project, the PMU will assign a suitably qualified staff member to be the project Environmental Management Officer (EMO), who will inspect active work sites monthly and report quarterly on the results of the environmental monitoring program to the executing agency. Terms of reference (TOR) for the EMO position is in Annex 1 of this EMP.

Project management and implementation consultants (PMIC) will include an environment specialist who will work with the EMO and assist the PMU to fulfil its environmental responsibilities in implementing subproject EMPs. The specialist will also prepare inputs for the quarterly project progress report to MOWRAM and to the semi-annual environmental monitoring reports for ADB. The PMIC specialists will be contracted for the duration of the loan implementation period. The

Appendix 3 117

individual TORs and levels of inputs are set out in Appendix 2 of the project administration manual. They will ensure that:

(i) The mitigation measures and monitoring of these activities are carried out in accordance with the EMP and BAP;

(ii) The environmental monitoring program, comprising the of taking samples and analysis are being carried out;

(iii) The environmental training (in EMP implementation) is delivered; (iv) The GRM is properly established and publicized; and (v) Reporting is performed in compliance with ADB and government requirements.

TOR for the PMIC international and national environment specialist positions are included in Annex 2 of this EMP.

C. Summary of Potential Impacts

Table A3.2 summarizes the potential impacts of the subproject during construction and operation as identified by the EIA, as well as corresponding mitigation measures designated to minimize those impacts.

1. Mitigation Measures

The mitigation measures will be incorporated into tender documents, construction contracts, and operational management procedures and implementation of the EMP will be a contractual requirement. Contractors, commune councils, and the PMU will implement these measures, depending upon subproject phases. The effectiveness of these measures will be carefully monitored to determine whether adjustments are needed.

The majority of costs associated with the implementation of the following measures will be absorbed within the costs for (i) detailed design; (ii) construction contracts; and (iii) operation and maintenance budgets. Estimated costs are provided in the following table as line items (EMP implementation training and GRM establishment) or, in the case of construction costs, to provide an indication of the scale of the measure and to assist in assessing construction tenders (to see whether adequate allowance is made for mitigation measures).

118 Appendix 3

Table A3.2: Summary of Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures Item Environmental

Impacts and issues Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who

Implements Who

Supervises Budget Source and

Cost estimates ($1000)

Pre-construction

1.1 Design stage Final site designs Final designs of embankments, siting of control structures and canal cross-sections will be completed after taking into account all the provisions of the EMP.

PMU and PMIC

EA Design costs

Incorporate climate change adaptation measures described in the subproject Feasibility Study Reports into detailed designs.

PMU, DSC, and PMIC

EA Design costs

Irrigation extraction planning and command area management

At Stung Chinit South FWUCs will be set up and trained.

PMU and PMIC

EA Design costs

Water allocations and drainage will be documented by the FWUCs and approved by the PMU and ADB before procurement and construction commences.

PMU and PMIC

EA and ADB Design costs

Sustainable rice cultivation and biodiversity protection program

Contracted WCS staff will establish a sustainable rice cultivation program in Stung Chinit South subproject area. Mapping of grassland habitat and community consultations. Implement the BAP - Appendix 2 of EIA

Contracted team of WCS personnel

PMIC Part of the sustainable rice cultivation component of project implementation

1.2 Construction preparation stage

Environmental management budget

Confirm budgets for the implementation of environmental management measures and environmental supervisory responsibilities. Assign final budget allocations against each of the items in the EMP.

PMU and DSC

EA and PMIC Design costs

Update EIA and EMP as necessary

Mitigation measures defined in the EIA and this EMP will be updated to cover any changes made during the detailed design.

PMU and DSC

EA and PMIC Design costs

Environmental approvals

Approval of project will be obtained from MOE before contracts are awarded

DSC and PMU

EA Design costs

Incorporate environmental management into contract documents

Contract documents: Preparation of the environment section in the TOR for bidders for construction contracts, and environmental contract clauses for contractors, namely the special conditions for the protection of biodiversity, water, soil, and air environments (referencing the EMP and monitoring plan).

DSC, PMU, and PMIC

EA Design costs

1.3 Construction support preparation

Environmental education and

Environmental protection training: Environmental specialist of the PMIC will provide training on

PMIC EA EMP training budget

Appendix 3 119

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

awareness implementation and supervision of environmental mitigation measures to PMU and contractors. This will include training in the preparation and implementation of a construction SEMP. Training will include prohibited activities and areas as required by the BAP. See training plan (Table A3.6 below).

10

Environmental protection training: Environmental specialist of the PMIC and resource persons will conduct awareness raising and training to Stung Chinit South farmers on the need and practices of protecting Bengal floricans.

WCS resource persons contracted by PMIC

PMIC Part of the sustainable rice cultivation component of project implementation

The contractor will prepare and provide induction courses for all construction workers to ensure that they are aware of the provisions of the SEMP and the restrictions and prohibitions with regard to endangered fauna and intrusions into the IBBA area.

Contractor PMIC and PMU

Construction costs

Complaints procedures GRM established and local contact points trained and publicized. Install sign boards with GRM contacts and procedures at each construction camp and active construction site and each affected village.

EA and PMU PMIC Part of project design

4

Site planning Prepare a SEMP for the subproject which incorporates the relevant provisions of this EMP for the subproject construction site. The plan will also include site layout, work scheduling, traffic management planning, identification of sensitive receptors, vegetation to be retained, site environmental health and safety plan, and an emergency preparedness and response plan for construction emergencies.

Contractors PMU Part of construction costs

6

The main contractor for the subproject will appoint an EHS officer who will be responsible for daily and weekly monitoring and reporting on EHS.

Contractors PMU

At all sites, trees to be retained will be clearly marked. PMU, DSC, and PMIC

EA Design costs

Biodiversity protection All impacts on the IBBA adjoining the west of the command area will be avoided. There will be no spoil piles, equipment storage worker camps, roads or other construction actions in the IBBA.

Contractors CC and PMU Part of construction costs

120 Appendix 3

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

Work schedules Prepare works schedules as part of the SEMP. The work plan and scheduling will be approved by the commune councils, taking into account the need for access during harvesting and planting periods. To include (i) sequential work scheduling (to ensure that only short stretches are worked on at a time), and (ii) provision of access to existing residences and services.

Contractors CC and PMU Part of construction costs

In SEMP preparation costs above

Temporary land occupation

Temporary land occupation for construction will avoid the IBBA and other grassland areas, be planned in the SEMPs and approved by commune councils and landowners with appropriate written and signed agreements. Construction easement, including stockpile sites and access ways will be clearly delineated in the plan and marked on the ground to ensure equipment operators stay within these boundaries. Construction adjacent to paddy fields during rice planting or harvesting should be avoided or carried on strictly in consultation with the appropriate farm operator. Contractor will pay for any damage outside of the construction easement. All land will be reinstated to its pre-project condition after construction.

Contractors, CC, and PMU

PMIC

Part of construction costs

In SEMP preparation costs above

Monitoring and reporting checklists

Establish checklists and monitoring report templates for contractor EHS officers and PMU environment officer.

PMU and PMIC

In SEMP preparation costs above

Construction

2.1 Water Construction wastewater

Construction wastewater will not be discharged directly onto the surrounding soil or into surface water systems. All wastewater to be passed through silt traps or temporary sedimentation screens. Oil-containing wastewater will be intercepted, collected and transported to vehicle servicing area for treatment and disposal.

Contractors PMU Construction costs

4

Construction work in canals with existing water will: (i) ensure irrigation water is unpolluted by construction wastewater or siltation; (ii) ensure that work during any irrigation period is coordinated through consultation with farmers using the canal.

Contractor PMU Construction costs

Polluting materials To prevent pollution of soil and surface water or groundwater: (i) storage facilities for fuels, oil, cement,

Contractors PMU Construction costs

7

Appendix 3 121

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

and chemicals will be within secured areas on impermeable surfaces, provided with bunds and clean-up installations; (ii) vehicle, machinery, and equipment maintenance and re-fuelling will be carried out in such a way that spilled materials do not seep into the soil; (iii) oil traps will be provided for service areas and parking areas; (iv) fuel storage and refuelling areas will be located at least 50 m from canals and channels and will be protected by spill trays and temporary drainage bunds. All spills will be cleaned up and spill material removed from site.

Spills from work area at spillway Stung Chinit Reservoir

The work area around the spillway will be organized and set out to avoid pollution materials entering the reservoir. All the above listed measures against polluting materials need to be undertaken at this site. Concrete batching must be undertaken at least 300 m from the reservoir, and movement and handling of cement must avoid spills into the river or reservoir.

Contractor PMU and PMIC

Construction costs

6

2.2 Air Air quality Equipment will be maintained to a high standard to ensure efficient running and fuel-burning. All vehicles and machinery to be used in construction to be inspected and approved for clean running.

PMU and PMIC

EA Construction costs

3

Dust Material stockpiles and concrete mixing equipment will be equipped with dust shrouds. For both construction sites and construction roads, water spraying for the suppression of dust and maintenance of driving surfaces will be standard site management practice. Vehicles carrying soil, sand, or other fine materials to and from the construction sites will be covered.

Contractors PMU Construction costs

4

2.3 Noise and vibration

Noise impacts on sensitive receivers

Construction at night within 700 m of residences and sensitive receptors shall be strictly prohibited. During daytime construction, the contractor will ensure that: (i) equipment with high noise and high vibration

Contractors PMU and PMIC

Construction costs

122 Appendix 3

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

are not used in village or town areas and only low noise machinery or equipment with sound insulation is employed; and (ii) sites for concrete-mixing plants and similar activities will be located at least 500 m away from sensitive areas such as residences and schools and only operated in daytime. When daytime construction is scheduled to move within 150 m of identified community sensitive receptors residents will be notified by the PMUs and/or contractors and any site-specific concerns or working arrangements addressed. These are located in Figure A3.1 below:

8

2.4 Solid wastes Demolition waste Any waste from the demolition of structures will be either sold to building material recyclers or collected and transported to official landfill sites. Metal parts will be broken up and sold to scrap metal merchants. Any excess spoil will be made available to nearby communities for use as building pads and bunds (where such use will not entail converting grassland areas).

Contractors PMU Construction costs

4

Excavated canal spoil The sediment quality of spoil from canal clearing or deepening will need to be tested and assessed for contamination before reuse in levee banks or disposal. The sediment testing results will determine the requirements to ensure safe disposal or reuse.

Contactor and PMU

EA Monitoring costs included in monitoring plan (Table A3.3)

Construction contingency costs (if disposal is required)

5

Waste from workers Contractors will provide sufficient garbage bins at strategic locations and ensure that they are (i) protected from birds and vermin; (ii) are not left to overflow; and (iii) the garbage is removed from site for proper disposal at local licenced facility.

Contractors PMU Construction costs

1

2.5 Soil erosion and siltation

Erosion impacts Erosion control will include: (i) limiting construction and material handling during periods of rains and high winds; and (ii) temporary protection of all cut slopes,

Contractors PMU Construction costs

Appendix 3 123

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

embankments, and other erosion-prone working areas while works are ongoing. All earthwork disturbance areas shall be stabilized within 30 days after earthworks have ceased at the sites.

3

Silt movement in Stung Chinit Reservoir

During reconstruction of the weir spillway, water quality protection measures will include temporary silt curtains around the works area and across the entrances of the two offtake canals.

Construction costs

10

2.6 Ecology Flora and fauna Clearing of vegetation along canal embankments and levees will be minimized, to assist in stabilization and retention of habitat values. Trees marked for retention will be protected and any removed native trees will be replaced.

Contractor PMU Construction costs

3

At Stung Chinit South, there will be awareness training of construction workers and prohibitions on hunting birds or disturbance of nests.

Sustainable Rice Cultivation consultant team

PMIC Procurement item CS-04 WCS Sustainable Rice Cultivation consultancy (directly funded)

2.7 Social and cultural

Physical cultural resources – chance finds

In the event of chance finds, work at the locality will cease and local representatives of the Ministry of Fine Arts and Culture will be called in to advise what actions, if any, need to be taken before work can continue.

Contractors PMU -

Impacts to local cultural sites

The baseline survey reported no physical cultural sites in the subproject areas. There may still be sites or items which are important at a local or household level, contractors will ensure that all local cultural sites (including small shrines and graves) will be kept clear of construction material and protected from dust and other disturbance. Access to these sites will not be impeded. After construction is finished any disturbed surroundings will be restored to pre-construction standards.

Contractors PMU Construction contingency costs

1

124 Appendix 3

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

Construction damage Ensure that any temporary damage that is not covered in the marked and agreed construction easement is compensated promptly by the Contractor in line with the project entitlement matrix.

Contractors and PMU

CC and PMIC Construction contingency costs

2.8 EHS Community health and safety

Community health and safety will be safeguarded by: Planning construction activities so as to minimize disturbances to residents, utilities and services. Temporary land occupation and access to work sites will be planned well ahead of construction in the SEMPs to minimize its impact and after consultation with the affected community. Where existing access is temporarily obstructed, temporary alternative safe access will be provided and affected persons are informed in advance of access issues and alternatives. Implementing safety measures around the construction sites to protect the public, including warning signs to alert the public to potential safety hazards, barriers to prevent public access to construction sites and a watch person, where necessary. Ensure regular co-ordination and consultation between contractor’s EHS officer and village heads to ensure that any concerns are addressed quickly. Ensure community is aware of the project GRM and its contact points. Ensure village heads and other GRM focal points are provided training on recording and reporting requirements. The contractor EHS officers will carry out daily inspections and weekly audits to ensure safe and hygienic working environment is maintained. They should provide induction and regular informal refreshers to contractors on site on subproject EHS requirements.

Contractors and contractor’s EHS officer

PMU and DSC

Construction costs

4

Appendix 3 125

Item Environmental Impacts and issues

Mitigation Measures and/or Safeguards Who Implements

Who Supervises

Budget Source and Cost estimates

($1000)

Occupational health and safety

Contractors shall ensure that: (i) all reasonable steps are taken to protect any person on the site from health and safety risks; (ii) the construction site is a safe and healthy workplace; (iii) machinery and equipment are safe; (iv) adequate training or instruction for occupational health and safety is provided; (v) adequate supervision of safe work systems is implemented; and (vi) means of access to and egress from the site are without risk to health and safety. The contractor EHS officers will carry out daily inspections and weekly audits to ensure the works area is safe and hygienic for farmers and community members passing through or using the areas. They should provide induction and regular tool box talks to contractors on subproject EHS requirements.

Contractors and contractor’s EHS officer

PMU and DSC

Construction costs

3

2.9 Unexpected environmental impacts

If unexpected environmental impacts occur during project construction phase, the PMU will update the EMP, and environmental protection measures will be designed and resources will be utilized to cope with these impacts.

PMU EA Construction contingency costs

2

Operation

3.1 Management of irrigation

Implementation of extraction and drainage plans

Irrigation schemes to be operated strictly in concurrence with agreed extraction and irrigation plans which ensure sustainability of supply.

EA and PMU EA and PMIC Operations cost and capacity building outputs

JOROP and FWUC operation at Stung Chinit South

The JOROP and FWUC will manage water releases in line with the reservoir water balance in the Stung Chinit South feasibility study report, ensuring that environmental flows in the Stung Chinit River downstream of the irrigation schemes remain above 30% of baseline river flow in all months.

Stung Chinit SouthJOROP and Stung Chinit South FWUC

PMU and, PDWRAM of Kampong Thom

Operations cost

Agricultural chemicals use

Farmers will be trained in IPM to reduce chemical use. Training will include safe handling, application and disposal of pesticides.

PMIC and PMU

EA Costs under project capacity building outputs

3.2 Emergency response planning

Floods and extreme weather events

The project will promote the enhancement of community based disaster risk reduction and disaster management programs at the irrigation and drainage communes with particular reference to flooding, drought and other natural disasters.

Project output

ADB Directly funded under the implementation project budget

ADB = Asian Development Bank, BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan, CC = commune council, DSC = design and supervision consultant, EA = executing agency, EHS = Environmental, Health and Safety, EIA = environmental impact assessment, EMP = environmental management plan, FWUC = farmer water user community,

126 Appendix 3

GRM = grievance redress mechanism, IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, IPM = integrated pest management; JOROP = Joint Reservoir Operation Plan, m = meter, MOE = Ministry of Environment, PDWRAM = Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, PMIC = project management and implementation consultant, PMU = project management unit, SEMP = site environmental management plan, TOR = terms of reference, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society. Source: TRTA consultants.

Appendix 3 127

Figure A3.1: Sensitive Community Receptors at Stung Chinit South Subproject Area

Source: TRTA consultants.

128 Appendix 3

D. Environmental Monitoring

1. Environmental Monitoring Program

The project monitoring program will focus on the environment within the project’s area of influence. An environmental monitoring program is summarized in Table A3.3 below. The program considers the scope of monitoring and frequency. The monitoring results will be assessed against the following standards and corrective management implemented in cases of non-compliance.

(i) The Sub-decree No. 27 ANRK.BK on Water Pollution Control dated 13 October 2009. (Table for Lake and Reservoir)

(ii) Ministry of Industry Mines and Energy Drinking Water Quality Standards, January 2004.

For the reuse and disposal of silt from canal cleaning or dredging, there is no government standard. Both United States Environment Protection Agency and United Kingdom Environment Agency use soil guideline values which operate within the context of risk assessment rather than monitoring standards. Instead, standards applying to paddy field environments from PRC and Japan will be referenced.1 Pre-construction monitoring comprises establishment of baseline water quality in dry season (since only baseline water quality in wet season was previously established).

Table A3.3: Environmental Monitoring Plan Parameters Location Frequency Responsibility Cost ($)

During Pre-Construction

Establish baseline water quality for surface water in dry season: pH, SS, EC, NH4+, NO3-, PO4 3-, DO, BOD5, COD, oil and grease, coliform

Canal waters at midpoint of main canals and one secondary canal for the subproject.

One time in dry season

PMU to contract an organization to do sampling and testing.

750

Establish baseline water quality for groundwater in dry season “Priority Parameters”: pH, turbidity, arsenic, iron, TDS, pesticides, coliforms.

Five household wells located within the water user commune area of the subproject

One time in dry season

PMU to contract an organization to do sampling and testing.

750

Establish baseline water quality for Stung Chinit Reservoir in dry season: pH, SS, EC, NH4+, NO3-, PO4 3-, DO, BOD5, COD, oil and grease, coliform

At inlet points for north and south main canals in Stung Chinit Reservoir.

One time in dry season

PMU to contract an organization to do sampling and testing.

1,000

During Construction (2 years)

Dust and noise: Site inspection and visual appraisal. Compare to baseline.

At all subproject sites Weekly Contractor EHS

Construction costs

Monthly PMU to inspect 1,200

Surface water quality: Turbidity and petroleum products

Visual inspection of canal waters downstream of major construction sites.

Weekly Contractor EHS

Construction costs

Monthly PMU to inspect 1,200

1 PRC: GB4284-84 Control standards for pollutants in sludge for agricultural use. PRC: GB/T23486-2009 Sludge

quality for afforestation in gardens or forests. Japan: Environmental Quality Standards for soil pollution, August 1991.

Appendix 3 129

Parameters Location Frequency Responsibility Cost ($)

Biodiversity protection. Watching Brief monitoring (Stung Chinit South): (i) avoidance of encroachment on IBBA by construction (facilities and activities) and construction traffic; (ii) prohibition on construction workers covering hunting and nest disturbance.

All construction sites Ongoing, as required during construction works.

PMIC and WCS

Within procurement item CS-04 WCS Sustainable Rice Cultivation consultancy (directly funded)

Silt and canal excavation material: Organic matter, Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg, As, Cd, moisture content, phenols, mineral oil,

Canal silt cleared from rehabilitated canals. Three sampling locations - at start, midpoint and end of the subproject main canal and midway along one typical secondary canal.

Once at each location to check disposal or reuse safety.

PMU to contract an organization to do sampling and testing.

1,500

Surface water quality: Turbidity and petroleum products from spillway construction (Stung Chinit Reservoir)

Visual inspection at inlet points for north and south main canals in Stung Chinit Reservoir.

Monthly during construction work on reservoir spillway

PMU to inspect 1,000

Operation Phase (3 years to PCR)

Surface water quality: pH, SS, EC, NH4+, NO3-, PO4 3-, DO, BOD5, COD, oil and grease, coliform

Canal waters at midpoint of main canals and one secondary canal for the subproject.

Semi-annual until PCR

PMU to contract an organization to do sampling and testing.

2,900

Groundwater quality: “Priority Parameters”: pH, turbidity, arsenic, iron, TDS, pesticides, coliforms.

Five household wells located within the water user commune area of the subproject.

Semi-annual until PCR

PMU to contract an organization to do sampling and testing.

6,000

Sustainable rice cultivation monitoring (Stung Chinit South)

Checking for any extension of secondary canals or pumping beyond western boundary of subproject

Ongoing, as required during construction works.

PMIC and WCS

Procurement item CS-04 WCS Sustainable Rice Cultivation consultancy (directly funded).

EHS = Environmental Health and Safety, IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, PMIC = project management and implementation consultant, PMU = project management unit, PCR = project completion report, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society. Source: TRTA consultants.

2. Biodiversity and Critical Habitats Monitoring

The project has developed a BAP. The WCS supported sustainable rice cultivation program will provide the core foundations of mitigation of both direct impacts and potential induced impacts on biodiversity, and the BAP describes and codifies this intervention and its ongoing goals. The BAP outlines how the project will avoid impacts on biodiversity. Inside the Stung Chinit South subproject area, sustainable rice cultivation will be encouraged, as a way of growing rice that is better for farmers and the environment. In the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBBA) to the west of the subproject area, the WCS program will aim to ensure local people benefit from livelihoods that are compatible with grassland conservation.

130 Appendix 3

If thresholds are not met in any year, new mitigation actions, or changes in existing ones, that can help the subproject reach its goals will be developed. The BAP will be updated to include these new or altered actions, and these will take the place of previous actions.

Table A4.4: Key Performance Indicators and Monitoring of Biodiversity Outcomes Annual indicator (all for the IBBA between the subproject and the NTSPL)

Goal Threshold Method Timing

Decline in area of grassland 0% or increasing

≥5% Field surveys Annually

Decline in population of Bengal florican

0% or increasing

≥5% Field surveys, using standard methods

Annually

Decline in population of White-shouldered Ibis

0% or increasing

≥5% Field surveys Annually

Extension of canals, or pumping of water, from the subproject area

0 Any Reports from farmer water user communities; ad hoc observations

Quarterly

Annual indicator (for the subproject area)

Goal Threshold Method Timing

SRP scores demonstrate improved livelihoods and sustainability of agriculture

5% gain/year during project

No overall gains

Review of revised SRP

scores

Annually

IBBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, NTSPL = Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape, SRP = Sustainable Rice Platform. Source: Biodiversity Action Plan.

The program of biodiversity monitoring initiated under the sustainable rice cultivation component is important and should continue as long as the potential for project impacts remains. WCS is committed to continue working in the area and the sustainable rice cultivation component includes an activity to seek long-term funding to continue activities in the future. It is noted that WCS has found no problem in sustainably funding similar activities at their other florican conservation project (Chi Kreng), over the last 15 years.

3. Independent External Monitor

The main environmental risk at Stung Chinit South is significant adverse induced impacts on critical habitat. All other impacts are either mitigated by project design, good construction practice and capacity building. It is therefore appropriate that the WCS acts as external monitor for the project. The WCS will monitor the key performance indicators of the BAP and will report directly to the ADB on the progress of the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and key performance indicators in quarterly reports.

E. Reporting

To ensure proper and timely implementation of the environmental management plan (EMP) and adherence to the agreed environmental covenants, the following reporting arrangements will be implemented (Table A3.5):

Table A3.5: Reporting Schedule Report Frequency Purpose From To

Construction

Contractor’s progress report

Monthly EMP implementation progress and EHS

Contractor PMU

Appendix 3 131

Report Frequency Purpose From To

monitoring results

EMP progress and compliance report

Quarterly Confirm mitigation measures

PMIC PMU

Environmental monitoring

Quarterly Environmental parameters in monitoring plan

PMU (EMO) EA

Environmental monitoring report

Semi-annual Full EMP implementation and compliance with environmental covenants and standards

EA ADB

BAP and SRP Quarterly Progress of SRP and outcomes against KPIs

WCS (external monitor)

ADB

Operations

Environmental monitoring report

Annual until PCR Full EMP Implementation and Compliance with Environmental Covenants and Standards

PMU ADB

BAP and SRP Quarterly Progress of SRP and outcomes against KPIs

WCS (external monitor)

ADB

ADB = Asian Development Bank, BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan, EA = executing agency, EHS = Environmental Health and Safety, EMO = environmental management officer, EMP = environmental management plan, KPI = key performance indicator, PCR = project completion report, PMIC = project management and implementation consultant, PMU = project management unit, SRP = Sustainable Rice Platform, WCS = Wildlife Conservation Society. Source: TRTA Consultant.

F. Training and Capacity Building

Training for PMU staff and contractors in the preparation and implementation of construction or site environmental management plans and implementation of the mitigation and management measures listed in Table A3.2, will be delivered by the project management and implementation consultant (PMIC).

Table A3.6: EMP Training Program Training Attendees Content Times Period

(days) No. of

persons Cost

($/person/day) Total Cost

EMP adjustment and implementation

PMU and contractors

Development and adjustment of the EMP. Preparation and implementation of SEMP. Roles and responsibilities, monitoring, supervision and reporting procedures

Once prior to project implementation

2 15 100 $3,000

GRM PMU, contractors, commune chiefs, and

Roles and responsibilities, procedures

Once prior to project implementation

1 50 100 $5,000

132 Appendix 3

Training Attendees Content Times Period (days)

No. of persons

Cost ($/person/day)

Total Cost

village leaders

Environmental protection

PMU and contractors

Pollution control on construction sites (air, noise, wastewater, and solid waste) Awareness-raising for construction workers on threatened birds, no hunting, etc.

Once (at beginning of project construction)

1 10 100 $1,000

Environmental monitoring

PMU, O&M units, and contractors

Monitoring methods, data collection and processing, reporting systems

Once (at beginning of project construction)

1 10 100 $1,000

EMP = environmental management plan, GRM = grievance redress mechanism, O&M = operation and maintenance, PMU = project management unit, SEMP = site environmental management plan. Source: TRTA consultant.

Other training requirements promoting environmental sustainability and referenced in this EMP (other than the EMP implementation training) will be undertaken as part of the project capacity building and training component and are costed in the feasibility study reports for the subproject and are described and costed in detail in the project administration manual. They are therefore not included as EMP implementation costs.

A community or farmer-based sustainable rice cultivation component will be included in the project implementation phase at Stung Chinit South in parallel with the detailed design of the subproject. It will make use of the lessons from the success of a pilot program at the Chi Kreng section of the Northern Tonle Sap Protected Landscape in Siem Reap where 2-3 rice crops are grown each year, in a way that is compatible with threatened birds. The WCS will be contracted to undertake this activity. The program will include awareness raising of local farmers on the need for, and training in, protecting threatened bird species and this has been included in the project’s capacity building component. Resource persons from WCS will be contracted by the PMIC to conduct the training.

IPM and low chemical cultivation applicable to cropping conditions and capacities in the subproject areas will be covered in farmer field schools. These will be part of an extensive field school training and demonstration program in the subproject communes (Training in Integrated Pest Management will be coordinated with the National Integrated Pest Management Programme and is in line with International Finance Corporation Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines on Annual Crop Production. The program will include the safe storage, handling and disposal of agricultural chemicals. The project will also undertake soil analyses in the command areas and provide farmers with recommendations on appropriate fertilizer regimes and cultivation practices. The farmer field schools will emphasize environmentally sound farming and sustainability and will provide farmers with alternative approaches to a reliance on chemicals.

Other training for MOWRAM, Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDWRAM), and District Office staff will include: environmental awareness training; construction management; and on-farm water management. For FWUC members, the training program will include: water management; gender and environment; and environmental awareness. The environmental awareness training will cover a wide range of topics and practices, including:

Appendix 3 133

domestic solid and liquid waste disposal; retention of vegetation and wildlife; and erosion hazards for roads and embankments. Specialized topics, for which resource persons will be contracted for delivery of training, will be: (i) climate change and climate-induced disaster preparedness; and (ii) awareness of Bengal florican habitat requirements.

Training plans and budgets are set out in the project administration manual. The training content and formats will be further developed by the PMIC during project implementation.

G. Grievance Redress Mechanism and Public Consultation

A grievance redress mechanism (GRM) will be established for the subproject in compliance with ADB’s SPS (2009). ADB requires that the borrower/client establish and maintain a grievance redress mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of affected peoples’ concerns and grievances about the borrower's/client's social and environmental performance at the project level.

The GRM will be accessible to diverse members of the community, including more vulnerable groups such as women and youth. Multiple points of entry, including face-to-face meetings, written complaints, telephone conversations, or e-mail, will be available. Opportunities for confidentiality and privacy for complainants will be honored where requested.

1. Proposed Mechanism

The PMU will establish a project public complaint unit (PPCU) which will act as a central recording and coordinating unit for all subproject under the project. The PMU will ensure that the GRM is publicized locally so that the community is fully aware of the mechanism and the local points of entry to it. The setting up of the GRM in the PMU and its initial implementation will be supported by the environmental consultant of the PMIC.

The entry points for the GRM will be, first of all, at the local level. These are: the contractor, the village leader, FWUC leaders, the commune chief, and operators of project facilities. Since the contractor will be the most direct contact for the initial complaint and also for correcting the work practice which causes the complaint and providing redress, the contractor will assign an employee as the contact person and ensure that people know how to contact them at all times. It is appropriate that this employee should also be the Environmental Health and Safety Officer for the contractor since the duties will be complimentary.

All these entities will be equipped with logbooks and will report complaints received and acted upon, or received and passed up to the next level for resolution. These monitoring and reporting procedures will be designed and established by the PMU supported by the PMIC. Before construction starts, signs will be erected at each construction site and put on bulletin boards at the commune council office and community centers providing the public with updated project information and summarizing the grievance redress mechanism process including details of the GRM entry points. The contact details for the entry points (names of officers, phone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, etc.) will be publicly disseminated on information boards at construction camps and active sites and on the website of the local government.

The preferred action sequence for complaints handling is that the complaint should be investigated and resolved by the local unit receiving the complaint. If this is not possible, the complaint should be referred to the District Chief’s office and PMU. The next level, if a resolution is still not found, is the Provincial Grievance Redress Committee (whose wider membership will

134 Appendix 3

enable coordinated action in response).

The PPCU will maintain records of complaints and actions taken to correct them. This data will be included in MOWRAM’s quarterly reports to the ADB. To accomplish this, the PPCU will establish a GRM tracking and documentation system. The system will include the following elements: (i) tracking forms and procedures for gathering information from project personnel and complainant(s); (ii) staff to update the database routinely; (iii) systems with the capacity to analyze information so as to recognize grievance patterns, identify any systemic causes of grievances, promote transparency, publicize how complaints are being handled, and periodically evaluate the overall functioning of the mechanism; (iv) processes for informing stakeholders about the status of a case; and (v) procedures to retrieve data for reporting purposes, including the periodic reports to the ADB.

All efforts should be made to resolve complaints at the local level. If, after all the procedures described above, the affected person is still dissatisfied the complaint can be taken to the ADB Cambodia Resident Mission and beyond that to the ADB’s Office of the Special Projects Facilitator2 and the Accountability Mechanism.3

2. GRM Procedure and Timeframe

The procedure and timeframe for the grievance redress mechanism are described as follows (see Figure A3.5).

First stage: Affected persons will present their complaints and grievances verbally or in writing to the contractor or other local entry point. The receiving agent will be obliged to provide immediate written confirmation of receiving the complaint. If after 15 days the aggrieved affected person does not hear from the local bodies, or if he/she is not satisfied with the decision taken in the first stage, the complaint may be brought to the District Office.

Second stage: The District Office has 15 days within which to resolve the complaint to the satisfaction of all concerned. At this stage the PMU will be closely involved to ensure that complaint and response data is captured and the resolution properly implemented. If the complaint cannot be solved at this stage, the District Office will bring the case to the Provincial Grievance Redress Committee.

Third stage: The Provincial Grievance Redress Committee meets with the aggrieved party and tries to resolve the situation. Within 30 days of the submission of the grievance, the Committee must make a written decision and submit copies to the MOWRAM, PDWRAM, and the affected person.

Final stage: If the aggrieved affected person does not hear from the Provincial Grievance Redress Committee or is not satisfied, he/she will bring the case to Provincial Court. This is the final stage for adjudicating complaints. The Court will make a written decision and submit copies to the MOWRAM, PDWRAM, and the affected person. If any party is still unsatisfied with the Provincial Court judgment, he/she can bring the case to a higher-level court.

At any stage, affected persons can report issues to ADB project team, Cambodia Resident Mission, or Southeast Asia Department. If issues cannot be effectively resolved through the

2 ADB Office of the Special Project Facilitator. https://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/problem-solving-

function/office-special-facilitator. 3 ADB Accountability Mechanism. https://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/overview.

Appendix 3 135

project GRM and ADB project teams, the ADB accountability mechanism can be accessed.

The PMIC will provide training for GRM entry points on GRM record-keeping, resolution, monitoring, and reporting to ensure that all issues and concerns raised are effectively recorded and resolved in a timely fashion to the satisfaction of the affected persons. It will be emphasized during the training that resolution of issues at a local level is far more effective and that reporting of issues is seen as positive, not negative as it demonstrates that the GRM is effective and working.

Reporting. During construction, the PPCU will be informed by contractors and construction supervisors, village leaders, commune chiefs or FWUC staff if people complain about the project. During operation, the PPCU will be advised of complaints by the village leaders, commune chiefs, FWUC, and PDWRAM. The PPCU will inform data on complaints and resolutions can be included in MOWRAM’s progress reports to ADB.

Figure A3.5: Grievance Redress Process

* At any stage affected persons can contact the ADB project team, Cambodia Resident Mission and Southeast Asia Department. Source: TRTA Consultants.

3. Public Consultation During Project Implementation

Meaningful consultation to safeguard the environment and local residents will continue throughout the construction and operation phases. The implementing agencies will be responsible for organizing the public consultations, with the support of the PMIC. Civil works contractors will be required to frequently communicate and consult with the communities in the project area of influence, especially those near the project areas. Eye-catching public notice boards will be set at each work site to provide information on the purpose of the project activity, the duration of

136 Appendix 3

disturbance, the responsible entities on-site (contractor, implementing agency), and the GRM. Costs will be covered by the PMU and are included in Table A3.7 below.

Table A3.7: Environment Consultation and Communication Plan Organizer Format Frequency Subject Attendees Cost

($)

Pre-Construction Stage

PMUs, FWUCs, CCs, and PMIC

Targeted public consultation and site visits

Before construction at each site

Agreement with affected persons and sensitive receivers on construction work. Consultation on safety of nearby communities.

Affected persons in impacts zone of construction activities

6,000

Construction Stage

PMUs, FWUCs, CCs, and PMIC

Public consultation and site visits

Once each year during construction

Adjusting of mitigation measures, if necessary; construction impact; comments and suggestions.

Residents in project areas

4,000

PMU contractors

GRM Ongoing Continuous publicizing of GRM, especially contact points, as contruction moves across the subproject area.

Residents and farmers around works area

Included in GRM costs

CC = commune council; FWUC = farmer water user community; GRM = grievance redress mechanism, PMIC = project management and implementation consultant; PMU = project implementation unit.

Source: TRTA consultants.

H. Total Environmental Management Costs

The costs of implementing the environmental management and impact mitigation measures listed in the EMP matrix (Table A3.2) are included in the design costs, construction contracts, and operational budgets. The costs of the environmental monitoring program are set out in Table A3.4. These costs are combined in Table A3.8 below to give total EMP costs. These costs do not include any activities, monitoring and reporting of the SRP and BAP, which is separately funded the project under procurement package CS-04 WCS.

Appendix 3 137

Table A3.8: Estimated Total Environmental Management Plan Costs ($)

Subproject EMP Training

GRM Establishment and Operation

Pre-construction Environmental

Measures

Construction Environmental

Impact Mitigation (2 years)

Construction Environmental

Monitoring (2 years)

Operational Environmental

Monitoring (first 3 years)

Public Consultation

Total

Responsibility PMU PMU Contractor Contractor PMU PMU / PDWRAM PMU

Stung Chinit South

10,000 4,000 6,000 68,000 7,400 8,900 5,000 109,300

EMP = environmental management plan, GRM = grievance redress mechanism, PDWRAM = Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, PMU = project management unit. Note: This excludes the $0.92 million for implementation of Sustainable Rice Platform and conservation program, more cost details provided in procurement plan in the project administration manual. Source: TRTA consultants.

138 Appendix 3

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER

A. BACKGROUND

The Irrigated Agricultural Improvement Project is a project loan to support the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) of the Government of Cambodia in the development of improved irrigation schemes.

The executing agency is MOWRAM which has established a project management unit (PMU) for the implementation of the project. The project will involve the implementation of environmental safeguards in the construction and operation of subproject. An environmental management officer is required to supervise, coordinate, and assist in the implementation of environmental safeguards for the ongoing project. The terms of reference describe the requirements for this position.

B. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The officer will be familiar with the practice of environmental safeguards for agriculture infrastructure projects. It would be desirable to have a university degree in environmental, natural or agricultural sciences and/or familiarity with Cambodia’s protected lands and biodiversity issues in the region.

C. SCOPE AND DURATION OF WORK

The officer will work on behalf of the executing agency and PMU to ensure that environmental safeguards are implemented in all subproject. The officer will report directly to the Project Director and Project Manager in the PMU. The position is full time and its duration is for at least the first four years of the project.

D. DETAILED TASKS

In coordination with government counterparts and working closely with the environment specialists in the project management implementation consultant (PMIC) team, the officer will:

1. Assist the PMU to implement the environmental management plan (EMP) measures for the subproject.

2. Review contractor’s monthly progress reports. 3. Prepare quarterly environmental monitoring reports (based on contractor reports and site

inspections) covering environmental performance of all parties, training progress, issues outstanding and further actions recommended and submit to executing agency.

4. Assist PMIC in EMP compliance monitoring and reporting. 5. Assist PMU in preparation of semi-annual environmental monitoring reports to ADB. 6. Assist PMIC in monitoring the implementation of the sustainable rice cultivation component at

the Stung Chinit South subproject and implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan. 7. Set up PMU complaints unit for administration, record-keeping and reporting on grievance

redress mechanism (GRM). 8. Working with the PMU’s complaint unit, implement the project GRM, including: (i) instruct all

stakeholders on their responsibilities in the GRM; (ii) establish a simple registry system, to document and track grievances received; (iii) monitor complaints received and their timely resolution; and prepare reports on progress of the GRM for inclusion in the quarterly project progress reports to ADB.

Appendix 3 139

9. Assist in the delivery of environmental training to PMU, contractors and farmer water user communities.

10. Undertake other tasks as requested by the Project Directors and Project Managers.

140 Appendix 3

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ENVIRONMENT SPECIALIST IN THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND

IMPLEMENTATON CONSULTANT TEAM

International Environment Specialist (4 person-months): The specialist will have: (i) a masters degree or equivalent in environmental management or related field; (ii) at least 15 years of experience in environmental management, monitoring, and/or impact assessment; (iii) familiarity with ADB environmental safeguards requirements and national environmental management procedures; (iv) ability to analyse data and prepare technical reports; and (v) proficiency in spoken and written English. The expert will:

1. Assist design supervision consultant in the update of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental managememt plan (EMP) as required following detailed design;

2. Deliver EMP implementation training program to project management unit (PMU) and contractors;

3. Oversee and monitor the implementation of impact mitigation and management measures prescribed in the EMPs for the subproject, and report quarterly to PMU;

4. Assist the PMU or executing agency in the preparation of semi-annual environmental monitoring (safeguards) reports to the ADB;

5. Contribute EMP compliance reports for inclusion in the executing agency’s semi-annual environmental monitoring (safeguards) reports to the ADB;

6. Oversee and monitor the implementation of the sustainable rice cultivation component at the Stung Chinit South subproject and implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan.

7. Organize, oversee and monitor the disaster risk reduction participatory workshops and training delivered to communes by the National Committtee for Disaster Management Secretariat; and

8. Oversee and monitor the implementation of climate change adaptation measures and disaster risk reduction measures measures prescribed for the subproject

National Environment Specialist, (8 person-months): The specialist will have: (i) a degree or higher in environmental management or related field; (ii) at least 10 years of experience in environmental management, monitoring, and/or impact assessment; (iii) familiarity with ADB environmental safeguards requirements and national environmental management procedures; (iv) ability to communicate and work effectively with local communities, contractors, and government agencies; (v) willingness and health to regularly visit the subproject sites; and (vii) proficiency in spoken and written English. The specialist will:

1. Assist the International Environment Specialist in undertaking the tasks listed 1–8 in the

terms of reference for that position. 2. Working closely with the PMU and the PMU Environmental Management Officer, and

other relevant personnel and agencies, the specialist will also:

• Assist the PMU to establish and publicize the grievance redress mechanism (GRM) for subproject, ensuring that the GRM publicity is appropriate to the scale and complexity of the subproject and includes, as a minimum, the disclosure of all contact persons for lodging complaints; and

• Assist the PMU and executing agency to prepare project environmental monitoring progress reports for submission to ADB.