Diversity and abundance of pit-trapped reptiles in Australian arid and mesic habitats: Biodiversity for Environmental Impact Assessments

Based on pit-trapping data for reptile assemblages from mesic, semi-arid and arid Australian sites, we examined species richness, diversity and evenness for general patterns. Reptile assemblages in Australian arid and semi-arid areas are generally species rich, have a high diversity, and have a high proportion of species that are rarely caught. Skinks are generally the most abundant taxa, followed by geckos and agamids. Varanids, elapid and blind snakes are less frequently caught, and pygopods are seldom caught in pit-trapping programmes. However, there was considerable variability in the pattern of reptile assemblages across the Australian arid and semi-arid landscape, and even among closely located sites within the same soil and vegetation zones. A high proportion of arid and semi-arid reptile species are rarely caught in pit-traps. Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority's current requirements for assessing the effects of a potential disturbance, which are based on desktop study and small-scale field survey, are inadequate to describe biodiversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels, and also in terms of ecosystem function. If the Environmental Protection Authority considers rare species are an important component of the biodiversity of an area, then a greater level of trapping is required for the preparation of an environmental impact assessment than is generally occurring at present.

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A comparison of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) vertebrate fauna survey with a post-approval fauna salvage program: consequences of not adhering to EIA survey guidelines, a Western Australian example

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc19002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 412

Author(s):

Graham G. Thompson ◽

Scott A. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Vertebrate Fauna ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

Local Species ◽

Non Local ◽

Comparison Of The Results ◽

Western Australian ◽

Protection Authority

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued written guidance on its expectations for terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys to support environmental impact assessments (EIA). We report on one of the few circumstances where a direct comparison of the results from an EIA vertebrate fauna survey, that did not, in our opinion, appear to conform with the EPA’s guidance statement expectations but was seemingly accepted by the EPA, and a comprehensive terrestrial vertebrate fauna salvage program were undertaken at the same site. This has enabled us to comment on the consequences of not undertaking a survey that complies with the EPA’s expectations. Excluding incursions by non-local species, bats and avian fauna, ~33% of terrestrial vertebrate fauna species recorded during the fauna salvage program were not reported as being present in the EIA survey. The relative abundance of various species differed appreciably between the fauna salvage program and the EIA survey, and an endangered species present in the project area was not identified as likely to occur. We believe these differences occurred because of a single-season EIA survey, insufficient trapping effort, a failure to survey an important fauna habitat, the presumption that a threatened species would be absent due to a lack of local records and records in the available habitat types. A comprehensive review and rewrite of the outdated Western Australian EPA vertebrate fauna survey guidelines and a requirement for proponents and environmental practitioners to meet (or exceed) the revised guidelines are the recommended outcomes.

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Terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys for the preparation of environmental impact assessments; how can we do it better? A Western Australian example

Environmental Impact Assessment Review ◽

10.1016/j.eiar.2006.08.001 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 41-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Graham G. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Vertebrate Fauna ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

Western Australian

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Determining the age of young birch (Betula pendula Roth) trees growing on former agricultural

Forest Research Papers ◽

10.2478/frp-2013-0034 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 74 (4) ◽

pp. 357-363

Author(s):

Miłosz Tkaczyk ◽

Robert Tomusiak

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Public Participation ◽

Environmental Protection ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Journal Article ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

Proposed Model ◽

Birch Trees ◽

Standing Trees ◽

The Relationship

Abstract In Poland, according to the law (amendment of the act of 21st May 2010) – on the provision of information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments etc. (Official Law Journal article 08.199.1227, as amended) – the owner can cut down trees without permission, if they do not exceed the age of 10 years old. However, if an owner happens to cuts down a tree on his property without knowing the age of the tree, he is liable to prosecution under this act. The aim of this study is to verify whether there is a possibility to calculate the actual age of silver birch trees growing on farmer agricultural lands using features that enable age of standing trees to be identified. Using these criteria, owners would be able to calculate the age of trees on their own. The research used 183 sample trees located on three research plots. For each tree, the dbh, height and prepared samples of wood from the trees base were used to give the age of the tree. The relationship between age and dbh, as well as between the age and the height was examined. The strength of correlation was compared and the strongest was used in the proposed model. Using these correlations two types of charts were constructed to estimate the age of young birches on the basis of dbh and height.

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RECONCILIATION ON THE DECISION ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Roczniki Administracji i Prawa ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0015.2504 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (XXI) ◽

pp. 85-96

Author(s):

Grzegorz Dobrowolski

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Public Participation ◽

Environmental Protection ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Point Of View ◽

Practical Point ◽

Administrative Procedure ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

The Subject ◽

Detailed Interpretation

The subject of this article is the analysis and detailed interpretation of the provisions of the Act of 3 October 2008 on the provision of information about the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 283) concerning reconcilation decisions on environmental conditions. The issues discussed in the article are important both from the theoretical and practical point of view. It refers to the continuous development of a specific administrative procedure, which is the “procedure in environmental matters”. The practice of applying the above-mentioned provisions is also important. Environmental impact assessments play a key role in the investment proces.

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Assessment of the Requirements within the Environmental Monitoring Plans Used to Evaluate the Environmental Impacts of Desalination Plants in Chile

Water ◽

10.3390/w11102085 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2085 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sola ◽

Sánchez-Lizaso ◽

Muñoz ◽

García-Bartolomei ◽

Sáez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Environmental Monitoring ◽

Environmental Protection ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Evaluation System ◽

Socioeconomic Development ◽

Seawater Desalination ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

Desalination Plants ◽

Operation Phase

Seawater desalination represents an alternative solution to face the challenge of water scarcity in Chile. However, the uncertainty toward potential environmental impacts of desalination plants represent a barrier to achieving water sustainability and socioeconomic development in Chile. This study aimed to assess the quality of environmental monitoring plans (EMP) and determine the aspects to be improved within it, in order to enhance the management of desalination plants during the operation phase and guarantee a sustainable development of the activity. The Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Impact Studies for seawater desalination projects published in the Environmental Impact Evaluation System (SEIA) in Chile between 1997 and 2018 were reviewed. The results of the brine production from desalination plants showed a significant increase in the last decade (about 1.6 Mm3 per year estimated according to the projects approved or under implementation). The EMPs data show heterogeneity and increasing requirements over time, which can be attributed to the governmental effort to improve environmental protection. Furthermore, a high frequency of irrelevant descriptors was identified in the current EMPs. The study thus recommended standardizing the environmental requirements included in EMPs based on empiric scientific knowledge to enhance the environmental protection programs in Chile.

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Land Subsidence Estimation for Aquifer Drainage Induced by Underground Mining

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14154658 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 4658

Author(s):

Artur Guzy ◽

Wojciech T. Witkowski

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Land Subsidence ◽

Field Data ◽

Underground Mining ◽

Small Scale ◽

Aquifer System ◽

Maximum Value ◽

The Impact ◽

Method Model ◽

Impact Of Mining

Land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal induced by mining is a relatively unknown phenomenon. This is primarily due to the small scale of such movements compared to the land subsidence caused by deposit extraction. Nonetheless, the environmental impact of drainage-related land subsidence remains underestimated. The research was carried out in the “Bogdanka” coal mine in Poland. First, the historical impact of mining on land subsidence and groundwater head changes was investigated. The outcomes of these studies were used to construct the influence method model. With field data, our model was successfully calibrated and validated. Finally, it was used for land subsidence estimation for 2030. As per the findings, the field of mining exploitation has the greatest land subsidence. In 2014, the maximum value of the phenomenon was 0.313 cm. However, this value will reach 0.364 m by 2030. The spatial extent of land subsidence caused by mining-induced drainage extends up to 20 km beyond the mining area’s boundaries. The presented model provided land subsidence patterns without the need for a complex numerical subsidence model. As a result, the method presented can be effectively used for land subsidence regulation plans considering the impact of mining on the aquifer system.

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De-politicising seawater desalination: Environmental Impact Assessments in the Atacama mining Region, Chile

Environmental Science & Policy ◽

10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 120 ◽

pp. 187-194

Author(s):

Cecilia Campero ◽

Leila M. Harris ◽

Nadja C. Kunz

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Seawater Desalination ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

Mining Region

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Novel Application and Validation of a Method to Assess Visual Impacts of Rotating Wind Turbine Blades Within Woodland Areas

PFG – Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science ◽

10.1007/s41064-021-00141-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 89 (1) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

U. Nopp-Mayr ◽

F. Kunz ◽

F. Suppan ◽

E. Schöll ◽

J. Coppes

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Wind Turbines ◽

Power Plants ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Forest Canopy ◽

Turbine Blades ◽

Wind Turbine Blades ◽

Environmental Impact Assessments ◽

Independent Field

AbstractIncreasing numbers of wind power plants (WPP) are constructed across the globe to reduce the anthropogenic contribution to global warming. There are, however, concerns on the effects of WPP on human health as well as related effects on wildlife. To address potential effects of WPP in environmental impact assessments, existing models accounting for shadow flickering and noise are widely applied. However, a standardized, yet simple and widely applicable proxy for the visibility of rotating wind turbines in woodland areas was largely lacking up to date. We combined land cover information of forest canopy extracted from orthophotos and airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) data to represent the visibility of rotating wind turbines in five woodland study sites with a high spatial resolution. Performing an in-situ validation in five study areas across Europe which resulted in a unique sample of 1738 independent field observations, we show that our approach adequately predicts from where rotating wind turbine blades are visible within woodlands or not. We thus provide strong evidence, that our approach yields a valuable proxy of the visibility of moving rotor blades with high resolution which in turn can be applied in environmental impact assessments of WPP within woodlands worldwide.

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