Laos - Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project : joint report of the international environmental and social panel of experts and the International Advisory Group (IAG) (Anglais)

This is a joint report of the August 2005 mission of the International Environmental and Social Panel of Experts and the International Advisory Group for the Second Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. In addition...  Voir la suite This is a joint report of the August 2005 mission of the International Environmental and Social Panel of Experts and the International Advisory Group for the Second Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. In addition the mission briefly reviewed the developments in the NT2 project since its previous visit in January 2005. The principal focus of the mission was the revised proposal of the National Thermal Power Corporation for the location of the camp site for the labor on the NT2 dam. The dam site is within the Corridor, a protected area that was established to protect the biodiversity in the area surrounding the gorge of the Nam Theun below the Nakai Plateau, and particularly to provide for movements of elephants and other wildlife off the plateau and possibly between the plateau and the limestone protected area. Unless it is very carefully planned and managed, a labor camp can represent a major disruption to the countryside and can be devastating to biodiversity. The camp for a work force attracts camp followers who are families of the workers and others who assemble to provide food and other goods and services. There are often three or more camp followers for each laborer. Experience throughout the world has shown that the uncontrolled and unplanned growth of labor camps with camp followers leads to severe problems of sanitation and other health issues, crime and security, and to a devastating drain on the biodiversity of the surroundings from the demands for food and other forest products.  Réduire