BAHIA INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Environmental Assessment Report Executive Summary

Transcription

1 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized BAHIA INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Environmental Assessment Report Executive Summary The objective of the Bahia Integrated Urban Development Project - entitled Viver Melhor/BIRD is to implement a series of structural policies to improve living conditions for people living in unsafe and unstable informal urban settlements located in defined areas within the Metropolitan Region of Salvador (RMS) and other municipalities in the interior of the State. The main components of this program are as follows: Component A Urban and Environmental Upgrading - interventions aimed at improving urban, environmental and housing conditions together with activities linked to involuntary resettlement and securing land titles. Component B Economic, Social and Community Development - activities are concerned with the construction and support for the installation and management of the community facilities needed for developing social practices that have been identified as key priorities. Component C - Organisation and Management Development- Encompasses a range of activities aimed at perfecting the process of planning, management and execution of the Viver Melhor/BIRD Project. The Project is classified as a Category A project under the World Bank s (the Bank s) Environmental Assessment (EA) policy (OP 4.01). As such, a full-scale EA was conducted as part of project preparation to identify the project s potential environmental impacts, to propose appropriate measures to mitigate any negative impacts and enhance positive impacts, and to develop an environmental management plan comprising all screening, mitigation and enhancement measures to be implemented as part of project activities. The following document summarizes the results of the EA. 2- BACKGROUND In the State of Bahia, rapid urban growth over the past few decades has resulted in high population concentration in the cities, including the Salvador Metropolitan Region (RMS), where about 38% of the total population of the State currently lives. The fast and disorderly process of urban growth, together with the heavy flow of people into the State capital (particularly into the periphery) from the countryside, have generated a process of slum creation characterized by invasions of hillsides, river bottoms or flood-prone areas. In such circumstances, the housing fails to meet minimum construction standards, municipal urban infrastructure is almost totally absent, minimum health standards are ignored and there is a constant risk of landslides and flooding.

2 Furthermore, these areas are also characterize by: (i) high levels of transmissible, particularly water-born, disease ; (ii) low educational levels (functional illiteracy, lack of qualifications,etc); (iii) high unemployment and underemployment with the informal employment sector predominating (low family incomes and productivity leading to even lower qualifications); (iv) high crime rates and a generalised sense of insecurity; and (v) low environmental quality. 3 - INTERVENTIONS PLANNED FOR 1 ST AND 2 ND YEARS 7 municipalities, in addition to the capital, were pre-selected for Project interventions. Together, these contain 41% of the entire urban population of the state of Bahia. For intervention planning purposes (1 st and 2 nd years of execution) first phase, Project Areas and subprojects areas were selected as indicated in the following table: Intervention Project Areas and Subproject Areas for 1 st and 2 nd years Municipality Project Area Subproject Areas Salvador Ribeira Azul / Cobre Pituaçú Alagados Pau da Lima Ilhéus Malhado Malhado During the preparation stage the following studies were developed: Integrated Local Development Plans (PDLI) and Technical Projects for Operational Areas, in orderto define the set of physical and social interventions at the local level. Master Plans for the Project Areas aimed at defining the set of interventions at macro-level. Locally-based interventions are as follows: Water supply: Installation of water-supply networks, branch connections in housing zones; Installation of lifting stations and reservoirs Sewerage- Installation of wastewater collection networks; interceptors and sewage pumping stations; Public Lighting: extension of lighting network, repositioning of posts and replacement of lamps; Urban sanitation: Installation of appropriate waste collection infrastructure.; Improvement and repair of street/road system: Laying down network for vehicular and pedestrian traffic; repairing existing streets/roads Urban micro-drainage: Installation of micro-drainage networks, rainwater culverts and related facilities Public works/ transport facilities: Public works (eg public squares) and Installation of transport facilities (bus-stops) Removal of geological and flooding risk situations: Evacuation of gullies,, ravines and high risk hillsides ; Recovery of areas defined as Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) (steep slopes, river banks, etc.); Shoring up and providing protection for sloping areas,

3 landscaping, replanting, installing retaining walls and reinforcement of measures against landslides etc. Urban and environmental recovery: rehabilitation of water courses, riparian vegetation and local springs; paving, landscaping and recovery of degraded areas; installation of public facilities; installation of public leisure and meeting areas Housing: repair to dwellings and improvement of housing conditions Property regulation: Procedures to regularise property rights and confer title to owners Resettlement: Relocation and resettlement of families where necessary The environmental aspects of the proposed interventions were analysed in accordance with the appropriate environmental guidelines, viz: (i) reduction of the risk of flooding and landslides ; (ii) recovery and maintenance of permanent preservation areas and (iii) minimization of resettlement. With regard to the geological risks, the intervention options took account of the Salvador Master Plan for Hillsides which considers the various risk situations and the different proposals put forward for solving them. In addition, the concept governing the planned interventions in the PDLIs and the Master Plans sought to accommodate two lines of action: a) incorporation of the environmental variable in the locally-targeted interventions and b) the opportunity to consolidate areas of high environmental value with a view to the environmental stability of the entire region. Pau de Lima Subproject area is densely populated, with over 250 inhabitants per hectare and with the majority of dwellings clinging to steep hillsides (50º to 70º gradients), some of which are at serious risk of slippage. Public areas such as leisure centres and green areas are practically nonexistent in the area. Adjacent to Pau da Lima is the Mata dos Oitis, recently awarded the status of Botanical Garden. This contains a large number of Mata Atlantica (Atlantic Forest) species in an area covering 14,000 hectares and is devoted to research on plants used in Afro-Brazilian rituals. This is the only green area in the Pau da Lima region. In addition to the interventions planned to improve the local urban infrastructure, the following acativities are planned: (i) upgrading the road/street system in the region by improving the road interchanges; (ii) upgrading of the region with the Centro de Bairro; (iii) environmental recovery of the Rio Pituaçú through dredging, recovery of the river banks and the installation of a Linear Park and (iv) activities aimed at upgrading and strengthening the environmental management of the Botanic Garden area. Alagados Subproject (Flooded Area) is an integral part of the Ribeira Azul area, stretching along the shore of the Bay of All Saints and occupying an area of 4 Km². Approximately 35,000 people live there and it is considered to be the area with the highest level of urban and environmental decay in the entire city of Salvador. Human occupation of the area now extends to practically all the vacant space and has begun to invade the mangrove swamps (already environmentally degraded) by building shacks on stilt jetties over the water( palafitas ). Lack of proper sanitation in the area has reached critical levels.

4 The local infrastructure interventions proposed in the Viver Melhor/BIRD Project complement the Ribeira Azul program funded by the World Bank and the Italian Foreign Ministry through AVSI. As for the interventions of a macro-level type, the Project will support the consolidation of the Cobre/São Bartolomeu Environmental Protection Area covering the Pirajá Metropolitan Park and the São Bartolomeu Park. These areas contain a considerable fragments of original Atlantic Forest a recovered area and the Cobre dam and reservoir, which form part of the water supply system for Salvador. The São Bartolomeu Park within the APA is a heritage site of major cultural and environmental significance in the region, being a historic site - indian village, quilombo (haven for ex-slaves) and sugar mill, scene of battles for the independence of Bahia and a traditional Afro-Brazilian religious sanctuary. The following macro-level interventions are proposed for the above areas, in conjunction with the authorities responsible for managing them: APA Cobre / São Bartolomeu: Environmental Zoning and Management Plan; São Bartolomeu Park: elaboration of the Master Plan for the park and drafting of policies to protect the park (eg: fencing and upgrading the perimeter road). Malhado Subproject comprises 3 micro-areas that are highly vulnerable from a social and urban point of view: (I) the Alto do Amparo; (ii) the Alto do Coqueiro and (iii) the Alto do Cacau. These areas typify urban poverty associated with human occupation on steep slopes presenting high risks of landslides. The region lacks green and leisure areas for use by the local population. The macro-level interventions planned for the above include the establishment of the Alto do Amparo Park in an area of natural scenic beauty and with vegetation that currently suffers from illegal occupation. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND THE ISSUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSING State of Bahia environmental legislation embraces five types of environmental license. For large undertakings with major environmental impacts, state law requires a three-stage licensing procedure: a preliminary (or location ) license known as an LP / LL, an installation license ( an LI) and an Operating License ( an LO). For small and micro undertakings, local legislation requires a simplified license ( an LS ) which replaces the above three licenses Works aimed at upgrading abnormal areas forming part of consolidated urban situations are subject to a fairly straightforward type of license known as an Environmental Authorization.

5 For interventions falling within the local scope of the Project, the licensing instrument will be the Environmental Authorization. The majority of supra-local interventions will qualify for a Simplified License. To comply with Brazilian and Bahia environmental legislation, the investments proposed under the project will be submitted to the environmental licensing process as described above. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BANK S SAFEGUARD POLICIES The Project triggered and addressed the following World Bank safeguards: Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01); Natural Habitats (OP 4.04); Involuntary Resettlement (OP4.12); and Cultural Property (OP 4.11). The Project design incorporates the mitigation measures for each policy, as described below. OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment - EA A comprehensive EA has been carried out in accordance with Bank policy for Category A projects. The EA evaluates the existing conditions, identifies the potential direct and indirect environmental impacts and proposes suitable mitigation measures for each negative impact identified, as well as measures for enhancing each identified positive impact. The mitigation and enhancement measures are summarized in the Environmental Management Plan, including associated costs, responsibilities and timetable. A public consultation exercise has been carried out, supported by appropriate documentation allowing for a meaningful community decisionmaking process. As part of the aims and concept of the Project interventions are planned with a view to improving the housing and living conditions of selected precarious urban settlements as well as to promoting quality of life improvements for the resident population. The main activities linked to environmental protection include (i) the recovery, preservation and consolidation of the existing protected areas within the areas of influence (macro-area); (ii) protection of the cultural heritage and (iii) the creation of new protected areas such as linear parks. Furthermore, the Project will promote the strengthening of environmental management of CONDER (the State Urban Development Agency). Public Consultation A series of consultations, contacts and meetings ( scoping procedure) with bodies associated with the state government and the municipal authorities of Salvador and Ilheus and NGOs active on environmental affairs in Bahia state took place at the Project preparation stage. The main concerns referred to the possibility of support for the consolidation of the protected areas within the regions of influence of the various interventions. On 25 February, at the meeting of the State Environment Council (CEPRAM), CONDER presented the overall concept of the Project and the results of the Environmental Assessment.

6 CEPRAM embraces a number of bodies - state government, civil society representatives and environmentalist NGOs. CONDER also took on the responsibility for placing the executive summary on the company s internet site. In this regard, announcements were made in the local newspapers drawing attention to the site and requesting input from members of the public. The key issues raised at the consultation event are summarized in the EA. The complete list of participants, the issues discussed and recommendations are also included in the EA documents. OP 4.04 Natural Habitats Areas of Permanent Preservation (APPs) are located within the areas of influence of the interventions. These consist of 30 m wide strips on each side of the water course seasonal beds such as those forming the edges of high sloping areas that have not been occupied and which are still reasonably intact from an environmental standpoint. Many of these areas constitute Critical Natural Habitats according to the Bank s policy. The Project will finance rehabilitation and protection of two areas by creating the Alto do Amparo Urban Park in Ilheus (US$ 180,000) and the riverside park along the Rio Pituaçú in the city of Salvador (US$ 350,000). In this respect, the Project will aim to mitigate impacts on Critical Natural Habitat Areas. Project Natural Habitat Impacts: The Project will have a highly positive impact on biodiversity and natural habitats, resulting from the strengthening of the management instruments of the conservation units such as the Cobre/Pirajá and Botanic Garden APAs and the rehabilitation of riparian vegetation along stream courses which are at present affected and degraded. OPN 11.3 Cultural Property The Project also sets out, in cooperation with the Municipality of Salvador and the participation of NGOs and religious organisations, to foster the elaboration of the Master Plan for ensuring the preservation of the São Bartolomeu Park, an important historical/cultural site and religious sanctuary. As one of the immediate steps, the Project plans to fence off the park area and to improve the existing road known as the sightseeing belt (cinturão de visibilidade), thereby providing better conditions for the control and monitoring of land invasions and for ensuring better security for visitors to the park. Such activities will form the basis for discussion with civil society representatives and government bodies in the course of the elaboration of the Master Plan. To comply with the Physical Cultural Property policy, chance find procedures will be included in all construction contracts in the event that remains of cultural significance are encountered. OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement Interventions of the Project for improving housing and living conditions of the local resident population by establishing the appropriate infrastructure (correcting the urban design to facilitate circulation and solid waste collection) and the reduction of the risks of landslides and flooding will require families to be resettled.

7 Significant differences exist between the intervention areas of the Project. The Alagados VI region (stilted shacks) will probably involve the relocation and resettlement of about 721 families. The Population Resettlement Plan has been drawn up in accordance with the guidelines laid down in OP In Malhado and Pau da Lima, resettlement of approximately 40 and 60 families respectively is planned. The resettlement plans will be in accordance with the policy governed by OP 4.12 and will be subject to prior review by the Bank before construction begins. 6. OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The Environmental Assessment has analysed the potential impacts (negative and positive) of the physical interventions involved in the urban and environmental uplifting of the areas subject at present to abnormal occupation. In general terms, the negative impacts are localized, reversible and temporary, mainly arising from activities associated with the implementation of the various pubic works and can be abated by the adoption of preventive measures, namely good planning of the interventions and by employing suitable construction procedures. On balance, it is expected that the interventions will be highly positive and permanent and will result in a significant reduction of social and urban vulnerability as far as local populations are concerned. 6.1 Positive Environmental Impacts The local urban upgrading interventions in the intervention areas will have positive effects such as: (i) reduction of the risk of landslides and flooding; (ii) improved health conditions for the local population with the installation of sewage networks, better water supply facilities, microdrainage etc; iii) improved access to public services in general ; (iv) property rights regularization and better housing standards; (v) enhanced leisure facilities; (vi) raised levels of self-confidence among local people; (vii) improved urban and environmental conditions in the region (green areas, water bodies etc); (viii) rising property values etc. Such impacts are substantial and should produce a lasting effect. At the same time they will help to reduce the urban and social vulnerability of the residents of the affected areas. Moreover, the Project will have a highly positive impact on biodiversity and the natural habitats by incorporating and consolidating protected areas located in the areas of influence of the interventions. In order to reinforce and ensure the beneficial effects of the interventions, the Project plans to introduce social communication activities, as well as those relating to community participation, health and environmental education and environmental and social management.

8 Strengthening Environmental Management- the environmental legislation of Bahia State (Law Nº 7799/2001) provides an incentive for the introduction of environmental management units in both public and private institutions with a view to developing activities subject to environmental licensing which reflect the environmental variable embedded in the works to be undertaken. The role of these units (referred to as Environmental Assurance Technical Commission-CTGA) will be to follow up and monitor the activities carried out by different companies. They will also be responsible for the development of environmentally-oriented studies and reports and will actively participate in the environmental licensing process, particularly insofar as smaller firms are concerned. The CONDER CTGA is under implementation. The Project will support its consolidation in the areas of technical training and environmental enforcement. 6.2 Negative Environmental Impacts The majority of the local and supra-local infrastructure interventions involve negative localized and small-scale impacts resulting from the works. These can be mitigated through adequate planning of the execution stage of the interventions and by employing appropriate construction procedures. Impacts resulting from the works - the Environmental Construction Manual was drawn up to act as a guide to good environmental practices to be followed by the firms contracted to undertake the various works involved in the interventions. The Manual deals inter alia with the following: (i) environmental management of the construction sites and the workers encampments; (ii) environmental monitoring of the construction activities to include noise abatement, site operating hours, earth-moving activities, infills, borrow pits, transport, the transporting and temporary stocking of materials, whether consisting of building rubble or incoming building materials, etc; (iii) safety measures covering construction workers and the local population; (iv) traffic control; (v) activities involved in repairing properties, streets and public service facilities that may be damaged as a result of the works; (vi) management and final disposal of material dredged from rivers and streams; (vii) control and disposal of site protection material, building rubble, excavation sites, etc; and, finally, (viii) ensuring that suppliers of construction materials comply with environmental rules, especially in the abovementioned borrow pits. Since the Alagados VI area involves the need for land fill, a large amount of building aggregates will be required. According to information provided by the CRA, there are a number of officially licensed areas from which such material can legally be extracted. The Environmental Construction Manual makes clear that CONDER and the construction companies involved will be granted permission to extract such material only from the legally authorized areas. Relocation and resettlement of families. The interventions referring to urbanization and improvement of housing conditions, reduction of the risks of flooding and landslides and the implementation of infrastructure (correcting the urban design to facilitate circulation and solid waste collection) will call for the resettlement of families.

9 Since the Alagados VI area involves housing in the form of stilted shacks the relocation of around 721 families will be called for. The Population Resettlement Plan was drawn up in accordance with the guidelines laid down under OP In Malhado and Pau da Lima, around 40 to 60 families respectively will be resettled. The resettlement plans will follow the policy adopted in OP Environmental impacts of interventions in following years The local level interventions for the remaining municipalities in the Program will follow the same impact pattern as those described above, representing virtually the same impact levels generated by the Project. Similarly, the need to relocate and resettle families will represent the same impact as that to be experienced in Pau da Lima and Malhado. The measures to be taken as regards environmental impacts are explained in the the Environmental Construction Manual and the Resettlement Policy of the Project. All environmental and social impacts expected under these components will be subject to environmental impact studies as required under Bank policies and appropriate mitigatory measure will be taken. Environmental analysis and resettlement action plans will be subjec to prior review by the Bank. As for the supra-local interventions in the Project, the main selection criteria for intervention areas will revolve around the existence of trunk infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment stations, urban macro-drainage and final waste disposal facilities. The possibility exists for the Project to provide support for complementing and enhancing the latter. Furthermore, the Project must be considered as representing a window of opportunity to introduce sustainable development to the region of influence of the interventions by supporting the consolidation or creation of Environmental Protection Areas. The EA carries a number of environmental criteria that need to be considered in the context of the PDLIs and respective engineering projects and proposes a screening process of the interventions to be executed under the aegis of CONDER jointly with CTGA/CONDER. 7. ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSING The local interventions in the Ribeira Azul area were awarded an environmental license in 1997 covering the Alagados I, II, III, IV, V and VI areas. Considering the gap of nine years between the time that the license was awarded and the proposed implementation of the undertaking, as well as the appearance of the 2001 new environmental law, the renewal by the CRA of the Alagados VI simplified license is recommended. For the remaining subprojects - Pau da Lima in Salvador and Malhado in Ilhéus - the respective environmental authorizations will be required. Preparation of the Environmental Assessments and applications for the simplified licenses will be done by the CONDER CTGA

10 8 - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The EA includes various mitigation, compensation and reinforcement measures to ensure the reduction of the negative impacts and enhancement of the positive impacts. These measures, together with the associated costs, schedules and the identification of those responsible for their execution are included in the Environmental Management Plan, as described below. The activities in the Environmental Management Plan have been included as components of the Project itself Environmental Management System: a Socio-Environmental Management System (SGSA) will be established at CONDER and integrated into the Project s Management System aiming: (i) the coordination of the socio-environmental activities of the Project; (ii) monitoring, follow-up and guidance for executing the mitigating effects required under the environmental licensing regime and the recommendations of the Environmental Construction Manual and (iii) the supervision of the environmental education and institutional strengthening sub-components. The CGTA/CONDER will take responsibility for the environmental studies and assessments for the following years (3 rd and 4 th ) and for the respective procedures regarding the environmental licensing of the interventions. The costs of this activity will be included in the Administration and Management of the Project and has been budgeted for. 8.2 Social Communication Project aims to facilitate implementation of the Viver Melhor/BIRD Project by involving the population both directly and indirectly affected by the interventions in the areas of influence. This activity already contains the components of the Project and will be under the aegis of CONDER. Resources to be spent are projected at US$ 300, Health and Environmental Education Project - a Project of health and environmental education will be implemented. For this Project (aimed locally as well as further afield) the planned resources, amounting to US$ 500,000, will be the responsibility of CONDER. 8.4 Strengthening Environmental Management The range of activities proposed involves institutional strengthening (action-medium) for executing the environmental and social Projects under Viver Melhor BIRD. The following activities are foreseen: Strengthening the CONDER CTGA (US$ 150,000) involving technical training for the CTGA technical team, enhancing the environmental quality of the CONDER activities and supporting environmental monitoring. To be the responsibility of CONDER. Strengthening of Conservation Units and Protected Areas. The following activities are planned for years 1 and 2: The Cobre / São Bartolomeu APA: drafting of the Management Plan, at a cost of US$ 100,000, will be the joint responsibility of CONDER and SEMARH.

11 Parque São Bartolomeu: preparation of the Park s Master Plan and activities designed to protect the park, valued at US$ 550,000, will be the joint responsibility of CONDER and the Municipality of Salvador. Botanic Garden of Salvador preparation of the Strategic Plan, activities designed to recover the springs and to provide support for the Environmental Education Nucleus valued at US$ 250,000. To be the joint responsibility of CONDER and the Municipality of Salvador. For interventions in the other years resources valued at US$ 600,000 are planned for activities in the following areas: (i) support for management instruments (management plans); (ii) support for environmental Projects and monitoring of UCs (Conservation Units) and (iii) environmental interventions in UCs. 8.5 Environmental Manual for Civil Works under the Project: this Environmental Manual was drafted as a guide to appropriate environmental practices to be complied with by the construction companies contracted to execute civil works. The Manual will be included as an obligatory element in the bidding processes so that companies will be fully aware of the need to adopt such practices in advance of making their bids and compliance with the manual will be a contractual obligation for all contractors.. Implementation of these practices is the responsibility of CONDER and the construction firms.