37th Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment IMPACT ASSESSMENT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE GLOBAL EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE Reventazón Hydropower Plant: biodiversity loss mitigation Rosario Navarro Environmental Specialist. Consultant Montréal, Canada. 4-7 April 2017
Overview • Costa Rica is recognized worldwide for its rich biodiversity (keeps approx. 5% of the biodiversity known), • and being a world leader in the production of clean energy. Image credit: istock • Costa Rica GHG emissions targets – being carbon neutral by Electricity generation by source* 2021 - will probably lead to a greater hydropower development RENEWABLE - has low emissions and generate cheap electricity. Water 74,39% • However, the d evelopment of hydropower can cause very Geothermal 12,43% significant impacts on a rich biodiversity country such as Costa Wind 10,65% Rica, such as fragmentation of ecosystems and loss of terrestrial Biomass 0,73% and aquatic habitats. Sun 0,01% • TOTAL 98,21% The Reventazón hydropower plant is an good example of NO RENEWABLE implementation of best international practices to address impacts on biodiversity. Hydrocarbons 1,79% FINAL TOTAL 100% ICE, 2016
Reventazón basin The project - Reventazón Hydropower Plant (RHP) Location: in Costa Rica – at the Atlantic slope of the country, in the Reventazón Basin. The RHP is located in the main channel of the Reventazón river, which flows into the Caribbean sea. Reventazón HP COSTA RICA * Photo: ICE
Reventazón Hydropower Plant (RHP) Developer: Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) – Costa Rica’s state-owned electricity utility. Installed Capacity: 305,5 MW – the largest hydropower facility in Costa-Rica and in Central America. Dam: 130 m height Reservoir: 8 km long, flooding area: 6.9 km 2 Design flow: 240 m³ /s Construction: 2010-2016 Financing: IADB, IFC-The World Bank Group Operation: 2016 Photos: ICE
Cumulative/residual impacts caused by the RHP on key biodiversity habitats Loss of 8 km of flowing river because of the reservoir and fragmentation of other river sections. Fragmentation of the Barbilla-Destierro Jaguar Corridor Creation of a barrier (dam) for migratory species (fish, shrimp) Change in the hydrological regime and characteristics of the water quality Wetland and costal Endangered species affected Fish migratory species affected ecosystems affected Panthera onca Joturus pichardis dam Fragmented Downstream flow reduced river section and sediments load changed 34.2 km reservoir Angostura Reventazón river HP
Challenges to address impacts on biodiversity Image credit: istock Lenders requested ICE to implement conservation measures that were new in the country and no required by the EIA national legislation, to address cumulative and residual impacts on biodiversity. According the safeguards policies of the Multilateral Banks, the IADB (O.P 703/B.9) and the IFC (PS 6), the Reventazón river was classified as a natural habitat and the Jaguar Corridor as a critical habitat The measures agreed with the ICE were: • Restoring and enhancing habitat connectivity on the Jaguar Corridor , • Compensate for impacts on aquatic connectivity and migratory fish species – creating an aquatic offset, and • Develop an Adaptive management program for the downstream hydro- biological system
The Barbilla-Destierro Biological Corridor “Jaguar Corridor” • The Corridor is a vital bridge between protected areas in the Cordillera Volcánica Central-Talamanca Corridor that is part of the Mesoamerican Corridor. • It is considered a critical path for movement and genetic flow for jaguars, other wildcats and their prey species. • The jaguar – is a protected species in Costa Rica, rated as endangered.
Main actions to restore and enhance the Jaguar Corridor connectivity • Purchase of land to reforest and for conservation. • Payment to farmers to protect forests and to reforest priorities areas of connectivity around of the tail of the reservoir. • Promote and support best agricultural and livestock practices . • Institutional arrangements (ICE, Corridor Committee, Panthera Foundation, local farmers, cattle ranchers, others). • Environmental education programs (formal and informal). • Strategic alliances building. • Monitoring programs to measure the effectiveness of the actions implemented and to show net gain on connectivity recovering. Photos: Panthera
Aquatic Offset Reventazón HP dam The Offset will compensate the Reventazón river connectivity loss – in term of length - from the Angostura HP tailrace until the Reventazón dam, which represents 34.2 km of the main river channel Offset goals are: To conserve and protect a free-flowing river with similar natural features to the Reventazón river. To enhance quality of the aquatic and Angostura HP tailrace riparian habitats, and To achieve no net loss for connectivity and ideally positive gain.
Offsetting Process • Additional analysis of cumulative impacts and determination of residual impacts • Offset site selection • Offset site ecological and social analysis - baseline Design and planning • Metrics design to measure no net loss • Stakeholders consultation • Legal basis 2012-2015 • Financial commitments • Offset Environmental management Plan Implementation • Environment Management Plan • Monitoring and Assessment program 2016-2035
Offset site selection Set of criteria developed for selection of the rivers and basins for the offset. • Presence of protected areas • Connectivity to the Caribbean sea • Topography: slope • Ecological conditions: habitat, aquatic biodiversity (micro invertebrates, migratory fish, life zones) • Climatic conditions • Environmental services: tourism
Offset site – Parismina River and its tributary Dos Novillos Offset length: 100.5 km Offset site Parismina river = 69.5 km Dos Novillos river = 31 km Reventazón HP reservoir
Main Offset actions • Legal and institutional commitments - The Parismina and Dos Novillos rivers were declared by the government as free rivers of barriers – no hydropower plants will be developed in these rivers in the future . - The Ministry of Environment declarated the offset site as an official conservation area (Decree No. 39772, 2016). • Reforestation of riparian areas. • Reduce agrochemical pollution in the river. • Promote and support best agricultural and livestock practices. • Community participation and engagement. • Monitoring programs to assess the effectiveness of conservation actions; to measure the quality of water, riparian habitats and migratory species; and to show no net loss of aquatic connectivity.
Lessons learned The inclusion of offsets requirements (to compensate for cumulative/residual impacts ) in the environmental regulations of the country, would facilitate future implementation of aquatic and terrestrial offsets and guarantee its sustainability. The application Safeguards Policies and Performance Standards of Multilaterals Banks in hydro projects has been beneficial for the compensation of biodiversity loss, and for creating capacity building on this subject at the developer level (ICE). It will be important for future projects to also involve the government EIA agencies. Ensure the financial sustainability is necessary to implement and monitoring compensation measures in the long term.
Lessons learned The existence of a Law that requires the implementation of a watershed management plan in the Reventazón basin was instrumental to allow the partnership and cooperation between ICE and the local stakeholders, which make possible the development of the aquatic offset and restoration of the Jaguar Corridor. The interest and commitment of ICE and the Government of Costa Rica to implement international best practices to compensate impacts on biodiversity is a great example for other hydro’s in the region.
Thank you! Merci! navrosario@gmail.com
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