Biological Environment. Kiambu County does not have any national park of game reserve; however, it contains some natural/indigenous and plantation forests (Kiambu CIDP, 2013 - 2017). Biodiversity of Kiambu County, comprising Ruiru and Juja areas, is highly influenced by the Aberdares ecosystem with respect to indigenous plant cover species. However, due to human activities such as settlements, farm lands and agro-forestry, all the habits within the Project Area are highly modified and are currently of no conservation concern. Provided below is a brief description of the flora and fauna of the Project Area. Flora Due to human activities, the indigenous plant species of the Project Area have been displaced by exotic species that have also acquired economic values among the communities. Such plant species include tea, coffee, Eucalyptus spp, Cypress ssp, Caussurina spp, grevellia spp and wattle trees species. Other plant features include grass species, ferns, xxxxxxx grass, avocado, banana, yams (mainly in the river flood plains), cassava, sugarcane, pineapple, arrowroots, and coffee). Fauna Kiambu County has few wildlife resources since many gazetted forests were allocated illegally to individuals (Kiambu CIDP, 2013 – 2017). However, suitable fauna habitats still exist in the Kinare forest in Lari Constituency, whose ecosystem constitutes a dense forest with elephants, hyenas, xxxx baby, baboons, colobus monkeys, dik-dik, xxxx pigs, tree and ground squirrels, porcupines and many species of birds such as xxxxxx, guinea fowls, sparrow among others. The Project Area has been highly modified by human activities. Notable fauna within the Project Area comprises limited rodents such as squirrels, moles and different bird species. Other fauna comprises of livestock such as dairy cows and sheep, poultry and house pets (dogs and cats). Aquatic biodiversity The main aquatic biodiversity within the rivers in the Project Area include frogs and freshwater fish species found naturally in the rivers. Due to the modification of the habitats, the present aquatic biodiversity species have already adapted to the modified conditions.
Biological Environment. As Figure 3.1 illustrates, Region 2 habitats are dominated by coastal herbaceous wetlands (i.e., fresh, intermediate, brackish, and salt xxxxx) and open waters in the seaward areas, while forested wetlands with some agricultural cropland/grassland and upland vegetated habitat occur in the interior portions of the Region. The following habitat types are present in Region 2 (detailed descriptions of each are provided in the Louisiana RRP Program FPEIS [NOAA et al., 2007]): ♦ Xxxxx (Salt, Brackish/Intermediate, Flotant, and Fresh); ♦ Wetland Forest (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed); ♦ Wetland Scrub/Shrub (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed); ♦ Agriculture-Cropland-Grassland; ♦ Wetland Barren; ♦ Open Water; ♦ Marine/Estuarine Shore; ♦ Freshwater Shore; ♦ Marine/Estuarine and Freshwater Benthic (Soft-Sedimentary); ♦ Marine/Estuarine Encrusting Community (Natural/Artificial Substrates); ♦ Living Reefs; ♦ Marine/Estuarine Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV); ♦ Mangrove Swamp; ♦ Batture; ♦ Upland Forest; and ♦ Upland Scrub/Shrub (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed). Common biota associated with these habitat types are summarized in the Louisiana RRP Program Final Regional Restoration Plan Region 2 (NOAA et al., 2007a [Appendix A, Common Biota and Associated Habitat Types in Region 2 (Vegetation, Table A-1; Mammals, Table A-2; Reptiles and Amphibians, Table A- 3; Birds, Table A-4 through Table A-9; Fish and Shellfish, Table A-10)]). Detailed descriptions of wildlife species associated with these habitat types are also described in the Louisiana RRP Program FPEIS (NOAA et al., 2007). The Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force and the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Authority (1998), as part of their Coast 2050 plan, identified 21 wildlife species and species groups that rely on the habitats in Region 2 for all or part of the year. These include wading birds, seabirds and shorebirds, raptors, woodland residents including various birds and mammals, and the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). As of May 2016, the published list of threatened and endangered species for the State of Louisiana includes 31 animal and 3 plant species (U.S. Department of the Interior, [USDOI] 2016). The following 11 threatened and endangered animal species are found in Region 2: inflated heelsplitter (Potamilus inflatus); red knot (Calidris canutus rufa); piping plover (Charadrius melodus); green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas); hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmo...
Biological Environment. The impact on biodiversity is not anticipated as there is no Wildlife sanctuary in 10 km radius of the mine site. The impact on biodiversity is difficult to quantify because of its diverse and dynamic characteristics. The mine lease area is waste land with no vegetation. Thus, there shall not be any adverse impact on biological environment due to expansion of the mine. The mine area after reclamation will be planted resulting in an improvement in surrounding environment. As the proposed mining will be carried out in a scientific manner, not much significant impact is anticipated, however, the following mitigation measures will be taken to further minimize it:
1. No mining will be carried out during the monsoon season to minimize impact on aquatic life which is mainly breeding season for many of the species.
2. As the mining site has no vegetation, no clearance of vegetation will be done.
3. Haul roads will be sprinkled with water which would reduce the dust emission, thus avoiding damage to the crops.
4. No discard of food, polythene waste etc. will be allowed in the lease area which would distract/attract the wildlife.
5. No night time mining will be allowed which may catch the attention of wild life.
6. If wild lives are noticed crossing the area, they will not be disturbed at all.
Biological Environment. The assessment of flora and fauna focused on the proposed WWTP sites and their immediate sur- roundings. These were assessed by secondary data collection, ad-hoc inventories and observations made during site visits. Interviews were conducted with both locals and WWTP operational staff. Secondary data was collected through the use relevant literature i.e. environmental assessments executed recently.
Biological Environment. The biological environment of Fram Strait is a pelagic and ice-associated ecosystem strongly influenced by oceanography and sea-ice conditions. With advection and ice- associated upwelling playing such key roles in the dynamics of the Strait, species retention is low and highly variable and the environment can be considered a transitional or temporary habitat for many species. Zooplankton are seasonally abundant in the region from spring through summer and are dominated by calanoid copepods (Hop et al. 2006), the favored food of the critically endangered bowhead whale. Surprisingly, for such an important oceanographic and climatologic region, the biota of Fram Strait have been little studied and surveyed. This section of the assessment provides information on the megafauna species of the Fram Strait ecosystem that could potentially be impacted by the ACOBAR Experiment. Information and data are provided in this section against which experimental impacts will be assessed in the following section.
Biological Environment. Bird species in the incident area include: snowy egrets (Egretta thula), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), various species of gulls, xxxxx (Pelecanus occidentalis) and white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) and various hawks, kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon), great blue herons (Ardea herodias), and many more. Wildlife in the area includes, but is not limited to, alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), nutria (Myocastor coypus), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and coyotes (Canis latrans). This area also supports marine aquatic species. Fishes such as redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma), speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), and tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), and many other species, are found in the waters of the Mosquito Bay. In the many portions of the Bay, shellfish such as crabs, oysters, and shrimp can be abundant. Five plant species common to the Mosquito Bay area are smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), and three- corner grass (Schoenoplectus americanus). Xxxxx soils/sediments support a rich infauna including mollusks (Geukensia demissa), crustaceans (Uca spp.) and polychaete worms.
Biological Environment. Beluga Whales
Biological Environment. 4.5.1 Protected Natural & Wildlife Habitats
Biological Environment. The proposed action would affect the NE Multispecies fishery and would be restricted to the Georges Bank stocks for all those component species thereof for which distinctions are made.
Biological Environment
