Page 1 REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN AMELIORATION AND IRRIGATION OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION WATER USERS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 16 December 2010 E2549 REV Page 2 2 Page 3 3 WATER USERS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.2 Objective 1.3 World Bank safeguard policies 1.4 Methodology 1.5 Consultation process 2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Policy context 2.2 Legal/regulatory framework for environmental management/assessment 2.3 Involvement of Azerbaijan in international cooperation on environment 2.4 Institutional framework for environmental management and assessment 2.5 Environmental monitoring 2.6 Regional processes 3. KEY NATURAL PARAMETERS OF AZERBAIJAN 3.1 Natural setting 4. ANALYSIS OF BASELINE CONDITIONS 4.1 Description of project 4.2 Analysis of project alternatives 4.3 Description of physical/biological environment 4.4 Description of socio-economic context 4.5 Description of stakeholders and beneficiaries 5. ASSESSMENT OF PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED PREVENTIVE ACTIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 5.1 Anticipated positive social and environmental impacts 5.2 Anticipated negative environmental and social impacts 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 6.1 Objective of the EMMP 6.2 Environmental screening and review of sub-projects 6.3 Environmental monitoring program 6.4 Environmental capacity building and training program 6.5 Implementation arrangements 6.6 Implementation schedule Page 4 4 6.7 Proposed budget and funding sources for EMMP implementation ANNEXES ANNEX A – Public Consultations ANNEX B – International and Regional Conventions Page 5 5 LIST OF ACRONYMS ADCP Agricultural Development and Credit Project (World Bank) AIOJSC Amelioration and Irrigation Open Joint Stock Company ARN Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan AZM Azerbaijani manat BP Bank procedure (World Bank) EA Environmental assessment EIA Environmental impact assessment EMMP Environmental management and monitoring plan FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FSU Former Soviet Union GoA Government of Azerbaijan GDP Gross domestic product GP Good practice (World Bank) IDP Internally displaced person IDSMIP Irrigation Distribution System and Management Improvement Project IUCN World Conservation Union ISF Irrigation service fee MMKC Main Mill Karabakh Collector MMMC Main Mill Mugan Collector MoA Ministry of Agriculture MENR Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources MoH Ministry of Health NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NGO Non-governmental organization OP Operational policy (World Bank) PE Evapotranspiration PIU Project Implementation Unit RIDIP Rehabilitation and Completion of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Project RSU Raion WUA Support Units SAC Samur-Apsheron Canal SSB State Supervisory Body SSC State Statistical Committee SSC Suspended sediment concentrations SSL Suspended sediment loads US$ United States dollars WB World Bank WSF WUA Support Fund WUA Water users association WUAP Water users association development support project WWF World Wildlife Federation ABBREVIATIONS ha hectare km kilometre lcpd litres per capita per day lps litres per second msl mean sea level Page 6 6 WATER USERS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 1. INTRODUCTION This Environmental assessment (EA) and Environmental management and monitoring plan (EMMP) has been prepared for the proposed Water users association development support project (WUAP) , to be co-financed by the Government of Azerbaijan (GoA) and the World Bank, in order to ensure that the project (i) incorporates sound environmental and social management principles and practices and (ii) fully complies with all GoA environmental requirements and with applicable World Bank environmental safeguard policies. 1.1 Background The WUAP will be the World Bank’s third project in the irrigation and drainage sector in Azerbaijan and is a direct follow-up to the existing Irrigation Distribution System and Management Improvement Project ( IDSMIP ), which became effective in 2003 and is scheduled to close in September 2010. The objective of the IDSMIP was to improve irrigation water management by providing support to (i) development of Azerbaijan’s emerging water users’ associations (WUAs) and. the Amelioration and Irrigation Open Joint Stock Company (AIOJSC) and (ii) selective rehabilitation and improvement of associated on-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure. The infrastructure improvements were made, for the most part, on a demand- driven basis on farms that met certain eligibility criteria within the eleven project area raions (i.e. Aghjabedi, Beylagan, Geranboy, Imishli, Khachmaz, Quba, Saatli, Sabirabad, and Zardab in Azerbaijan; Babek and Sharur in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan (ARN)). The project had three components: (1) Development of WUAs, (2) Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Rehabilitation, and (3) Project Management, which were implemented by a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) under the AIOJSC. As the positive results of the IDSMIP and the benefits to the rural economy and population became apparent, the GoA requested support from the World Bank for a larger-scale follow-up project. This proposed WUAP will build on the success of the IDSMIP and will have the same core components as the IDSMIP (i.e. WUA development and infrastructure rehabilitation), but it will extend the geographical coverage to an additional 16 raions (depending on project component), bringing the total to 27 raions covered by the project. Map 1 shows the 27 raions that comprise the project area for the WUAP . The on-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure improvements will continue to be made on a demand-driven basis on farms that meet the eligibility criteria. A limited amount of off-farm infrastructure improvements will be undertaken as necessary to ensure effective delivery of water to the rehabilitated on-farm systems. The proposed project will be implemented by the same IDSMIP PIU under the AIOJSC. The PIU comprises a number of construction engineers who oversee the irrigation and drainage infrastructure improvements and includes an environmental specialist who oversees the environmental management plan and environmental monitoring programme established by the EA and EMMP for the IDSMIP . A more detailed description of the proposed project can be found below (see Section 4.1). Page 7 M a p 1 . P r o j e c t R a i o n s Page 8 1.2 Objective The objective of this EA (Sections 1-5 of the document) is to identify the significant environmental and social impacts of the proposed project (both positive and negative) and to specify appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures (including monitoring) to prevent, eliminate or minimise any anticipated adverse impacts. The EMMP (Section 6 of the document) is the mechanism that ensures that the environmental prevention and mitigation measures identified, the screening and review process proposed, and the capacity-building and monitoring activities recommended will be properly undertaken during implementation of the proposed project. The EMMP also establishes the necessary institutional arrangements and proposes an implementation schedule for undertaking these EMMP activities, indicating their costs in the proposed project budget. This EA and EMMP build on the comprehensive EA and EMMP prepared for the IDSMIP , since the WUAP ’s overall approach and basic project interventions will be the same. The EA has been updated, however, to reflect the particular environmental and socio-economic characteristics of the new project raions; the EMMP has been modified to reflect lessons learned during implementation of the IDSMIP . 1.3 World Bank safeguard policies The World Bank’s Integrated Safeguard Data Sheet for the WUAP classified it as a Category “B” project (requiring partial assessment), triggering the Bank’s safeguard policies for environmental assessment, pest management, involuntary resettlement, projects on international waterways, and safety of dams. The EA confirmed the Category “B” designation for the proposed project, finding no significant, irreversible, cumulative or long-term adverse impacts. In fact, the EA identified a number of positive impacts of the proposed project and negative impacts that could be effectively prevented or reduced through application of appropriate preventive actions or mitigation measures (see discussion of impacts in Section 5.). The EA also confirmed the application of the five specified safeguard policies to the WUAP . Four of the five policies are discussed below; the policy on involuntary resettlement has been dealt with separately. The EA also reviewed application of the Bank’s safeguard policy for natural habitats to the project. The EA determined that the project, as currently proposed, does not trigger any of the remaining safeguard policies involving forests, physical cultural resources, indigenous peoples, or projects in disputed areas. 1.3.1 Environmental assessment (OP 1 4.01, BP 2 4.01, GP 3 4.01). The anticipated environmental and social impacts of the irrigation and drainage rehabilitation component of the proposed project trigger this safeguard policy. Because the anticipated adverse impacts will not be significant or irreversible, however, and can be prevented or reduced through appropriate preventive actions or mitigation measures, the project is classified a Category “B” project and, as such, requires only partial assessment. This EA, with its EMMP ensuring that recommended preventive actions and mitigation measures will be taken, satisfies this Bank 1 Operational Policies (OPs) are short, focused statements that follow from the World Bank’s Articles of Agreement, the general conditions, and policies approved by the Board. OPs establish the parameters for the conduct of operations; they also describe the circumstances under which exceptions to policy are admissible and spell out who authorises exceptions. 2 Bank Procedures (BPs) explain how Bank staff carry out the policies set out in the OPs. They spell out the procedures and documentation required to ensure Bank-wide consistency and quality. 3 Good Practices (GPs) contain advice and guidance on policy implementation, for example, the history of the issue, the sectoral context, analytical framework, best practice examples. Page 9 2 safeguard policy. Because the exact number and location of the specific rehabilitation sub- projects to be undertaken under the WUAP have yet to be determined, the EA is limited to identifying generic impacts for infrastructure rehabilitation in the project areas identified and specifying generic prevention and mitigation measures for these impacts. However, the EMMP includes environmental screening and review procedures similar to those required for financial intermediary operations that will ensure that appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures are applied, by means of site-specific environmental management plans, to sub-project sites on a case-by-case basis (see Section 6). 1.3.2 Pest Management (OP 4.09, BP 4.09). Although the IDSMIP did not trigger this safeguard policy, the EA prepared for the IDSMIP recognized that the recovery of the agricultural sector in Azerbaijan was likely to increase pesticide use in the longer term. Because the agricultural recovery that will likely take place during the proposed project may induce an increase in the use of pesticides, the project triggers this safeguard policy. The IDSMIP relied on the Bank’s Agricultural Development and Credit Project (ADCP), with its one-day training courses and national information campaigns on pesticide application, to provide awareness raising and training on pesticide management and integrated pest management (IPM) for water users. The proposed project will continue to take advantage of the ADCP’s extension program until its closure in May 2011. But, more importantly, the project will develop and deliver its own training program on pesticide management and IPM under the WUA capacity building component. 1.3.3 Safety of Dams (OP 4.37, BP 4.37). The dams and headworks on the Samur, Kura, and Araz Rivers, which provide most of the water to the irrigation systems to be addressed in the proposed project, trigger this safeguard policy. The EA, however, does not address this policy; the Bank’s dam safety specialist will perform a separate dam safety assessment during project preparation in order to address this safeguard policy. 1.3.4 Projects on international waterways (OP 7.50, BP 7.50, GP 7.50). The Samur, Kura, and Araz Rivers, which supply most of the water to the irrigation systems to be rehabilitated in the proposed project, and the Caspian Sea, into which these rivers and project drainage systems eventually flow, are international waterways that trigger this safeguard policy. The proposed project, however, is not expected to have any significant impacts on the quantity or quality of water flowing through these rivers or into the Caspian Sea for two reasons. First, the project design is limited to the rehabilitation of existing irrigation schemes; no new irrigation schemes or extensions of schemes will be constructed. Second, the rehabilitation activities are expected to have minimal or no impact on the quantity or quality of water in (upstream or) downstream water bodies. The irrigation infrastructure improvements will not result in significant increases in either withdrawals from or discharges to the international waterways. And, based on water quality monitoring conducted during the IDSMIP , which indicated no significant adverse impacts from irrigation drainage in receiving water bodies, the project is not expected to result in significant impacts on the quality of water in these waterways. (The proposed project will discontinue the water quality monitoring performed at sites under the IDSMIP but will include similar water quality monitoring at new sites.) Therefore, the project is not expected to have any adverse effects on the water flows or the rights of the other riparian states on the international waterways, so the Bank will seek a waiver, as it did with the IDSMIP , pursuant to paragraph 7 (a) of OP 7.50 for this safeguard policy. Page 10 3 1.3.5 Natural Habitats (OP 4.04, BP 4.04). The EA determined that the project does not trigger the natural habitats safeguard policy. Planned project activities will take place on lands already converted to agricultural use by previous, non-Bank-related actions. As currently planned, the project will finance principally small-scale on-farm rehabilitation works, will not construct new irrigation systems and will not induce increased water abstraction. To ensure this, the EA proposes that all sub-projects be submitted to environmental screening, the criteria for which will cover natural habitat conversion, new irrigation system construction, and increased water withdrawal. The project will thus not involve “significant conversion or degradation of natural habitats” as defined in OP 4.04 . The proposed project, however, includes a number of new raions in the mountainous region of northern Azerbaijan where there are national parks, protected forests and natural reserves (e.g. Qusar Preserve). These protected areas, which are typically on the high mountain slopes, are unlikely to be impacted by project interventions in the surrounding lowlands. To be sure, however, the project will ensure that rehabilitation of irrigation schemes that may result in a potential adverse impact will not be eligible for rehabilitation. The EA also requires the project to determine whether project sites in the new mountain raions will have potential impacts on rivers and their tributaries important for migratory fish populations and their spawning areas. Finally, the EA requires the project to conduct water quality monitoring at all new sites, including those in the new mountainous raions, and to assess potential impacts on the fish populations in the receiving waters. 1.4 Methodology At the request of the GoA, the World Bank asked the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to send an environment officer to work with the PIU environmental specialist and a national environmental consultant to update the EA and the EMMP for the WUAP . This EA team began work on updating the EA and EMMP during the first environmental mission (04- 15 May 2010) of the FAO environment officer. During this period, the national environmental consultant also began gathering the baseline information for the EA on the new project raions. The team visited various proposed project areas, viewed a number of irrigation and drainage sites, and met with local officials, WUAs, farmers and other beneficiaries of the proposed project. The team delivered a draft EA and EMMP to the PIU in July 2010. The PIU disclosed it to the public in August and held public consultations on it in Baku and Zardab between 20 and 25 August 2010. This final EA and EMMP, incorporating the comments received from the local consultations, the PIU, and the World Bank, was completed in September 2010. 1.5 Consultation process The EA team began the process of consulting the relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project during its first environmental mission: meeting with officials in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR); with local officials and WUA officers and members in a number of the project area raions; and with farmers and other beneficiaries of the project in the field. * The EA team then continued and expanded the consultation process with more formal, publicly announced meetings with stakeholders and beneficiaries on the findings and recommendations of the draft EA and EMMP in Baku and Zardab. The Baku consultation included government officials from the AIOJSC, the MENR, the MoA, and the MoH, as well as representatives from a number of national NGOs. The regional consultation in Zardab included a large number of local raion AIOJSC officials, WUA members from 15 project raions, and local NGOs.. The minutes of these meetings and lists of participants are contained in Annex A. Page 11 4 2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK This section presents an overview of the policy, legal, and institutional framework for environmental management in Azerbaijan, particularly as it applies to the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed project, and reviews the requirements and procedures for environmental assessment contained in Azerbaijani law. 2.1 Policy context Azerbaijan’s national environmental policy has evolved over the years, beginning with the environmental policies of the former Soviet Union and following independence moving increasingly to a more nationally focused policy for Azerbaijan. Although there is no single statement of the national environmental policy as such, a number of national development policy documents articulate the country’s policy. The most relevant of these in the context of the proposed project is the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of 1998. The NEAP represents one of the most recent statements of national environmental policy and identification of the country’s environmental priorities and intended actions. The Forward to the NEAP clearly states the GoA’s commitment to environmental reform (see Box 2.1). Box 2.1 Government of Azerbaijan’s commitment to environmental reform ... At this stage of the country’s development the issue of natural resource management is of paramount importance for the nation. The disastrous environmental situation inherited from the former Soviet Union is affecting every aspect of the country’s life and presenting a clear threat to the health and well-being of its population. The Government of Azerbaijan is committed to improving environmental conditions in the country, and it has included the environment as one of the primary concerns of the reform agenda. Unfortunately, economic, social, and institutional constraints inhibit the country’s ability to address the problems promptly and effectively. In order to mobilise and focus the scarce resources available, prioritise existing problems, and solve the most urgent issues, there was a need to develop a national environmental action program. ... (Forward to NEAP, 1998) Among the priorities identified by the NEAP are two of relevance to the proposed project: (i) deteriorating water quality, especially drinking water, both in rural and urban areas, causing an increase in water-borne diseases, and (ii) loss of fertile agricultural land from erosion, salinisation, pollution with heavy metals and chemicals, and deteriorating irrigation systems (see Box 2.2). The GoA is committed to addressing the highest priorities identified by the NEAP and to incorporating the environmental recommendations made in the NEAP in sectoral policy and investment decisions in the agriculture, water supply and sanitation, and energy sectors. Box 2.2 Key environmental problems and action priorities Water quality . Water resources are critical for the country’s economy. Water resources are limited and losses during distribution are high – reaching 50 percent in agriculture, which accounts for 70 percent of total water usage. ... Degradation of agricultural lands, loss of forestry and biodiversity . About half of the country’s land resources are being used for agriculture. Some 1.2 million ha is affected by high salinity; many soils are exhausted by years of poor agricultural practices and policies; and many areas are damaged by erosion. Loss of productive land in some locations is resulting in increased pressure on fragile lands and resources in other locations. ... (Executive summary, NEAP, 1998) Page 12 5 2.2 Legal/regulatory framework for environmental management/assessment Azerbaijan inherited its basic legal framework for environment, public health and safety management from the former Soviet Union, but the period since independence has seen a burst of legislative activity in the environmental field. The new Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan itself includes the right to a healthy environment among the fundamental rights it guarantees its citizens. 2.2.1 Constitution. Adopted in 1995, the Constitution of the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan recognises the importance of environmental protection among the principal human and civil rights and freedoms it establishes for the people of Azerbaijan. Article 39 guarantees the people’s right to live in a healthy environment, to acquire environmental information, and to secure compensation for environmental damage: Every Person shall have the right to live in healthy environment. Everybody shall have the right to collect information on environmental situation and to get compensation for damage rendered to the health and property due to the violation of ecological rights. (Article 39) All subsequent environmental legislation is grounded in this constitutional right to the maintenance of environmental quality, to access to environmental information, and to environmental equity. Again, the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic includes a number of articles that establish the national and international requirements to be applied to the WUAP : · Article 39 – the right to live in healthy environment, to get information on the state of environment and to receive compensation for the damage caused to person or property because of the violation of environmental legislation shall be affirmed. · Article 148.2 – international agreements that the Azerbaijan Republic joined shall be an integral part of the legislation system of the Azerbaijan Republic; · Article 151 – in cases where national legislation contradicts international agreements, the provisions of the international agreements shall be applied (except for provisions of the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic and acts adopted by the referendum). 2.2.2 Legislation. Since its independence Azerbaijan has made important strides in enacting environmental legislation. * The last decade and a half saw the adoption of a number of significant environmental management and public health laws that cover the full range from environmental protection to natural resources management to public health and safety. The most relevant among these for the proposed irrigation project are the Law on environmental protection (1999), the Water code (1997), and the Law on amelioration and irrigation (1996). Legislation on environmental protection in the Azerbaijan Republic is comprised of statutory acts which regulate relations between society and nature. Under nature protection legislation, a number of laws regulate the interventions for prevention of harmful effect of any activity to natural environment and organization of efficient use of nature, and preservation of natural balance for future generations. Page 13 6 Furthermore, there are effective codes of the Azerbaijan Republic on air, water and land, forest, etc. Clause 14 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan states that the natural resources belong to the Azerbaijan Republic with no damage to the rights and benefits of any physical or legal person. Under the legislation, the use of natural resources and every activity concerning environmental impact should be subject to state examination and regular control, and every activity feasibility study conducted should provide the norms, and procedures of nature protection, and also negative impact to the environment should be revealed and indicated. The protection of natural resources and their efficient use are regulated with the main laws “On environmental protection”, “On specially protected natural areas and objects”, “On the animal kingdom” and “On environmental safety”. In order to meet the water demand of the population, as well as the economic and agricultural sectors, and to regulate the protection of water resources and the use of water, water protection legislation was adopted, the “Water code”, and the laws “On water supply and waste water” and “On Amelioration and Irrigation” are effective. 2.2.2.1 Law on environmental protection, EIA handbook. In recent years Azerbaijan has enacted an array of new environmental protection laws, including a new Law on Environmental Protection that specifies relevant environmental assessment requirements. As a rule, these laws require further legal acts, decrees, and regulations, to permit effective implementation of their provisions. In most cases some but not all of these decrees and regulations have been promulgated. Law on environmental protection (1999). Azerbaijan modernised its basic environmental protection framework with adoption of the Law on environmental protection in 1999. The stated purpose of the law is to ensure protection of the ecological balance, prevent harmful impacts from economic and other activities, conserve biological diversity, and promote rational utilisation of natural resources. The law recognises the state’s rights and responsibilities in the area of environmental protection, including setting national policy and strategic measures for its implementation, developing environmental norms and regulations, conducting environmental impact assessments , regulating the use of natural resources, monitoring environmental quality and natural resources, and establishing parks and protected areas. The law also identifies the rights and responsibilities of citizens, including living in an environment favourable to life and health, obtaining environmental information , receiving compensation for damage caused by environmental violations, using natural resources, participating in environmental decision-making , and bringing legal action for violation of environmental legislation. Of particular interest in the context of the proposed project, the law authorises the establishment of environmental quality standards, discharge and emission limits to control the range of environmental impacts. Irrigation drainage discharges to receiving waters resulting from the rehabilitation works of the proposed project will have to comply with applicable discharge limits and water quality standards. * Also, the law identifies specific environmental requirements concerning agricultural and irrigation activities (Article 42) with which the proposed project will have to comply*: ... agricultural and irrigation systems shall incorporate pollution control systems, health buffer zones, and environmentally sound technologies and meet specific environmental requirements. They must be equipped with effective waste treatment Page 14 7 and management systems, utilise efficient fuels and natural resources in an economical and efficient way, and include environmental safeguards. ... (Article 42, 1.) Furthermore, the law se ts out specific requirements with respect to official “environmental review” (Articles 50-58) for the purpose of complete assessment of the environmental impacts of “economic and other activities” undertaken in Azerbaijan. The infrastructure rehabilitation activities of the proposed project will have to comply with these review requirements: Environmental review is defined as determination of the potential adverse impact of human economic activity on the environment and determination of the compliance of economic activity with environmental standards and requirements for prevention and forecasting purposes. ... (Article 50) These provisions state the purpose and objectives of environmental review, including the suitability and quality of proposed environmental safeguards, and establish the basic principles on which such review is based, including comprehensive socio-environmental- economic assessment of impacts, the public’s right to good environmental conditions for health and well-being, and preservation of the ecological balance and biological diversity for present and future generations. The MoENR is responsible for conducting official environmental reviews. Officials and companies are held accountable under the law for complying with the decisions made in official environmental reviews. As the primary environmental protection law governing “economic and other activities” in Azerbaijan, the requirements of the Law on environmental protection apply to the irrigation and drainage rehabilitation works of the proposed project. Thus, it will be necessary to comply with any decrees and implementing regulations adopted for execution of the law’s various provisions. Certainly the proposed project must comply with Article 42’s environmental requirements for agricultural and irrigation systems, as well as the environmental review requirements for the individual rehabilitation sub-projects financed by the project. Handbook for the environmental impact assessment process in Azerbaijan (1996). Adopted in 1996 under authority of the Law on environmental protection of 1992, the EIA handbook continues in force under the new Law on environmental protection. The handbook establishes the GoA’s policies and procedures with respect to environmental assessment of “all development proposals, by the private as well as the public sector” that are likely to have environmental impacts. Specifically, the handbook details (i) the EIA process, i.e., the sequence of events, roles and responsibilities of applicants and GoA institutions, charges; (ii) the EIA document, i.e., its purpose and scope; (iii) public participation in the process; (iv) environmental impact review; and (v) the environmental review decision. The requirements of the EIA handbook apply to the types of infrastructure rehabilitation to be financed by the proposed project. Therefore, some form of individual, site-specific environmental review may be required by the MoENR for each of the rehabilitation and improvement sub-projects undertaken under the infrastructure rehabilitation component of the proposed project. Because this present EA is based on the general areas and not on the specific farms or sites where most of the infrastructure works will take place, it does not provide the sort of site-specific preventive actions or mitigation measures required by the EIA handbook (or by the World Bank safeguard policy). For this reason, the EMMP contains an environmental screening and review process, designed to be consistent with the EIA Page 15 8 handbook, to ensure that appropriate site-specific actions and measures are identified as proposed sites are considered for rehabilitation over the life of the project. Instructions on the EIA process in Azerbaijan were outlined in the “Regulations on Environmental Impact Assessment in Azerbaijan”. The regulations present the main principles of the EIA process and the following: · The EIA process, a sequence of implementation of works, also duties and responsibilities of applicants and authorities; · Aim and coverage of EIA document; · Public involvement in the process; · Resolution of the environmental examination (After submission to the MENR, EIA document shall be checked by the group of experts); and · Appeal process. A summary of the instructions outlined in the instruction book is presented below in Table 1. As a result of approval of the EIA document by the MENR, the main principles and environmental and social standards, which should be followed by the organization, are determined. Table 1: Summary of EIA Instructions Scope and method of assessment - Scope of EIA research works for the design of construction works and general methods of assessment were depicted as follows. In conformity with the requirements for EIA in Azerbaijan, the following three methods of component assessment are used for gathering information on the current state of the environment at the project location: · Physical Environment - This section includes the climate of the raion area where the project is located (weather temperature, humidity, atmosphere rainfall), change of the wind directions, degree of atmosphere weather pollution in the project site, studying geological and hydrogeological condition of the area, comments and information on tectonic developments and seismic characteristics. · Ecological Environment - The research carried out in this respect covers information and review of environmental impact assessment, degree of the area pollution with hazardous substances and oil products, flora and fauna, also cultural and historical monuments in the project area. · Socio-economic Environment - The socio-economic condition of the project area is studied, and information on nearby settlements and population census, characteristics of the existing structural plan of population, population growth on living settlements in the project site, and main employment of population is gathered and reviewed. Assessment Plan - In accordance with the generally accepted guidelines, the EIA process arises from submission of preliminary justification materials in advance of project preparation. Here the purpose is to minimize the irreversible environmental impacts and to eradicate reversible impacts completely. The assessment plan includes the following main principles: · Environmental impact assessment of construction works; · Selection of main assessment criteria; Page 16 9 · Prediction of possible impact coverage; · Assessment of impact coverage; · Determination of respective regulatory measures; · Extension of future research and investigations and preparation of monitoring programs. 2.2.2.2 Law on amelioration and irrigation, Water code, Construction norms and rules for reclamation systems and works. Law on amelioration and irrigation (1996). The primary legal authority governing the irrigation and drainage infrastructure rehabilitation activities contained in the proposed project is the Law on amelioration and irrigation of 1996, which establishes the legal framework for activities in the field of land amelioration and irrigation. The law establishes the GoA’s institutional structure for management of the sector and defines its authority to include, among other things, setting national policy for the sector; implementing the national legislation; planning ameliorative and irrigation measures; establishing standards, norms and rules; and registering information on and monitoring irrigated and ameliorated lands. To ensure compliance with appropriate standards and technical requirements, the law specifies GoA review (including environmental review) of amelioration and irrigation construction and rehabilitation projects: State ecological examination in the field of amelioration and irrigation shall be carried out in accordance with the legislation of Azerbaijan Republic on environment protection and environmental review. (Article 18) Furthermore, the law expressly requires that all ameliorative and irrigation measures comply with the requirements of environmental and natural resources legislation: Ameliorative and irrigation measures should not result in deterioration of environment conditions. Ameliorative and irrigation measures shall be carried out following requirements of land, water, forest legislation of Azerbaijan Republic and the legislation of Azerbaijan Republic on environment protection, on land lots, on flora and fauna. (Article 22) The law also specifies that the use of water in amelioration and irrigation systems shall be governed by the water legislation (Water code). It authorises water charges to encourage efficiency and reimburse GoA expenditures for water supply. The proposed project will have to comply with all of the provisions of the Law on amelioration and irrigation, observing in particular the requirements of Articles 18 and 22 on environmental review and environmental legislation, including any regulations or decrees implementing these articles. Water code (1997). Approved in 1997, the Water code provides the framework for regulating the protection and use of water resources in Azerbaijan, including surface and subsurface waters, boundary water bodies, and the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. To this end, the code establishes the institutional arrangements for management of the use and protection of water resources. Specifically, the code authorises the GoA to determine policy for the use and protection of water resources, promulgate the rules for use of water resources, perform monitoring of water bodies, and provide for economic regulation (fees for use) of water Page 17 10 resources. The code authorises “state ecological examination” (environmental assessment) of any projects for building and reconstruction of facilities affecting the condition of water resources. Further, it recognises different types of water uses, from agriculture to potable water to recreation and sport, and establishes the procedures for permitting these uses of water resources. The code describes the rights and obligations of water users and details the requirements for the use of water resources as: potable and service water sources; health treatment, resort, recreation and sports; agriculture; industry and hydro-power production; transport; fishing and hunting; and specially protected water resources. (However, the code does not grant or define specific legal authority for WUAs and thus may require amendment to facilitate the full institutional development of WUAs envisioned under the IDSMIP component.) Furthermore, the code provides for the protection of water bodes from pollution, silting, and depletion, as well as for the establishment of water protective zones. For economic regulation of water use, the code authorises the charging of fees for the use of water. Finally, the code establishes liability for violating the water laws of the country and the right to compensation for damages caused by the violation of water legislation. The requirements of the Water code and its implementing regulations are directly applicable to water resources management activities in the irrigation and drainage sector. Therefore, the proposed project will have to ensure that its components comply with the water use and protection requirements of the Water code. As noted above, the code may have to be strengthened in order to provide authority for the development of effective WUAs. Construction norms and rules for reclamation systems and works (1986). Among the environmental protection regulations inherited from the former Soviet Union are a set of “Construction norms and rules” that apply to lands reclaimed for agricultural use. Dating from 1986, the rules specify fairly detailed measures to ensure that the design and construction of land reclamation and irrigation systems take into account environmental protection (e.g. reuse of waste and drainage waters, controls on discharge of water from reclamation systems, protection of the boundaries of preserves and wild life sanctuaries, conservation of flora and fauna). Further, the rules specifically address fish protection measures and mechanisms, forest shelterbelts, wildlife protection, anti-erosion works, and water protection requirements. *These norms and rules remain in effect in Azerbaijan and thus are applicable to the irrigation rehabilitation works under the proposed project. 2.2.2.3 Other applicable environmental and public health laws. In addition to the foregoing environmental and irrigation laws, Azerbaijan has a number of other environmental, public health and safety laws with requirements that potentially apply to the infrastructure rehabilitation activities of the proposed project. Specifically, the protected area and habitat requirements of the Law on specially protected natural areas and objects (2000) and the Law on wildlife (1999), as well as the public health requirements of the Law on protection of public health (1997), will have to be considered in any project decisions with respect to specific rehabilitation sub-projects. 2.2.3 International environmental conventions. Azerbaijan is party to a number of international environmental conventions. Of most relevance to the proposed project are the Conventions on biological diversity (Rio de Janeiro) and on w etlands of international importance (Ramsar), both of which Azerbaijan ratified in 2000. In ratifying these conventions and their implementing resolutions, the GoA committed to protecting its Page 18 11 biodiversity and wetland resources and performing environmental assessments of projects that may affect these resources. This EA recommends measures to prevent/mitigate and monitor any potential impacts on biodiversity and wetlands located near project areas. 2.3 Involvement of Azerbaijan in International Cooperation in Environmental Policy The Republic of Azerbaijan, in order to implement its policy of integrating into world cooperation, has joined tens of environmental conventions, agreements and treaties. These international conventions and agreements on environmental protection and nature use, to which Azerbaijan has become a party, comprise an integral part of the country’s of national ecological legal base. A special clause in all legislation adopted by the Azerbaijan Republic specifies that the procedures fixed with the international agreements shall be applied in cases where they are different from those foreseen with the national laws. Tables 1 and 2 in Annex B summarize information on the international and regional conventions that Azerbaijan has joined. 2.4 Institutional framework for environmental management and assessment Public administration of enviornmental management in Azerbaijan with respect to nature protection and the use of natural resources is implemented by a number of GOA agencies and bodies. These agencies include the following: · President of the Azerbaijan Republic · Parliament of the Azerbaijan Republic · Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic · Local government. The main responsibility for implementing environmental legislation belongs to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR). The MENR was established and its regulations were approved with the decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic in May 2001. 2.4.1 Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Established by consolidating a number of national institutions dating from the Soviet period (i.e. the State Committee for Ecology, State Committee for Hydro-meteorology, Azerbaijan Fisheries Agency, Azerbaijan Forestry Agency, State Committee for Geology), the MoENR has the primary responsibility for environmental management in Azerbaijan, including pollution prevention and control, natural resources conservation and management, and environmental impact assessment. In this role, the MoENR implements and enforces the principal environmental laws of Azerbaijan (including the Laws on environmental protection, specially protected natural areas and objects, and wildlife mentioned above), setting national environmental policy, establishing environmental quality standards and emission limits, and managing a national network of protected natural areas. The MENR maintains the state monitoring system for environment and natural resources, monitoring groundwater, soils, fauna, flora, mineral deposits, forestry and other resources. It is charged with ensuring proper oversight of soil salinity, swamping, and erosion prevention, as well as prevention of any other damage that may result from construction or excavation of minerals. It also manages an information system for environmental, hydro-meteorological and geological data. Through its Department of Environmental Expertise, the MENR administers the environmental impact assessment requirements of the EIA handbook. As mentioned Page 19 12 above, the EIA handbook requirements apply to the irrigation infrastructure sub-projects to be financed by the WUAP ; the full extent of which remains to be determined with the MENR. The EMMP establishes an environmental screening and review process for these sub-projects to ensure that they comply with the MENR’s EIA handbook requirements. Based in Baku, the MENR works at the local level through the 30 district agencies it inherited from the State Committee for Ecology and coordinates its functions with other central government institutions (e.g. SAIC), local governments, municipalities and public funds. An extremely ambitious organizational structure has been proposed for the MENR (see Box 2.3), but it remains to be seen whether the new ministry can find the technical capacity, at both the national and district levels, to carry out its host of environmental management functions effectively. Box 2.3 Organisational structure of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Given the wide range of its environmental management responsibilities, the organizational structure of the new MENR includes a complex array of management departments (e.g. natural resource use regulation), exploitation services (e.g. geological exploitation service), monitoring centres (e.g. Caspian ecological monitoring), and research institutes (e.g. forestry, fisheries, hydro-meteorological). The MoENR maintains a National Monitoring Service and has scientific stations at a number of sites, including Lake Ag gel, throughout the country. Once the institutional capacity has been established at the regional level, the bulk of MoENR’s work will be executed by its Regional departments on Environmental Protection and Use of Natural Resources. 2.4.2 Other Regulatory Bodies in the Area of Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources Other ministries and committees involved in environmental administration have the following functions: · Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) – bears responsibility for implementation of technical safety rules in construction, mine and industrial works. In case of an emergency situation or catastrophe, or natural disassters, in addition to the MENR, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic and other respective ministries, the MES shall also be notified; · Ministry of Health – has control over sanitary epidemiological situations in the country and safeguards healthcare in the work place; · Ministry of Industry and Energy – bears responsibility for oil and gas operations, sale of oil and oil products, and effective use of energy resources of Azerbaijan; · Amelioration and Agricultural Water (OJSC) – has control over water use, gives permission for the use of surface water and fixes the payments for water use; · State Town-Building and Architecture Committee – regulates the implementation of design and construction procedures and standards; · State Land and Mapping Committee – implements the following in its sector: o Sstate policy on effective use of plots of land, protection and restoration of land fertility; o Cadastre and monitoring of the State Lands; o State policy on cartography arrangements. Page 20 13 · State Custom Committee – prevents the illegal export of environmentally dangerous, unique and valuable goods, also endangered species and flora and fauna samples entered in the Red Book of the Azerbaijan Republic. 2.4.3 Municipalities. Azerbaijan is in the process of strengthening local governance at the municipality level after a history of extremely weak local institutions. This history is reflected in the weakness of the traditional environmental services and infrastructure provided by the municipalities (e.g. water supply and sanitation, waste management). In most cases municipal water supply and sanitation services do not meet the minimum needs of the local population, but the municipalities lack the resources to address this problem. Chronically underfunded, municipalities continue to rely on state budget transfers as their principal source of municipal revenue, followed by land and property taxes and rental and/or sale of municipal land. Under the current political framework and economic conditions this situation is unlikely to change in the near term. The GoA initiated a process of decentralisation to address the problem of deteriorating municipal infrastructure. With a new legal framework established and the transfer of assets arranged, local elections were held in 1999. Some 2 669 municipalities were created and given responsibility for managing local public infrastructure. This decentralisation process, however, has not produced the intended results. The chronic lack of resources at the municipal level, the limited understanding of their responsibilities by municipal officials, and the partial transfer of assets to the municipalities have all left the state of municipal environmental services pretty poor. These problems are further exacerbated by the apparent absence of civic culture and community initiative and by the presence of pervasive corruption. 2.5 Environmental Monitoring As described above, the MENR is the primary GOA institution charged with environmental monitoring in Azerbaijan. The main goal of its environmental monitoring is to organize natural protection measures and environmental safety. Environmental monitoring covers the following: (1) All technological processes implemented during construction works (i.e. preparation works, industrial waste management, operation of hydraulic structures) and (2) Composition of the natural enviornment (i.e. atmosphere weather, surface water, ground water, plant-soil cover). The implementation of environmental monitoring is a complex matter and is carried out in accordance with the agreement made by the client with the specialized enterprises in this field. Environmental aspects of the enterprise’s work are regulated: (1) Construction supervision under accepted guidelines and (2) Keeping records of water resources and waste (i.e. get permission for use of water resources, agree with the supervisory bodies on creation and management of soild wastes, submit the statistical reports on air emissions, water use and waste water and hazardous wastes to the relevant organizations of the MENR; and organize analytical (laboratory) control over sources of man-made pollutants. The main goal of the environmental monitoring is to organize control over observation of environmental standards (air, water, land). Environmental monitoring is comprised of three main components: (1) monitoring of production; (2) monitoring of environment; and (3) additional research and testing-methodological works on environmental supervision. These components provide for the preservation and protection of the environment in the project area. Table 2 describes the structure of each of these components. Page 21 14 Table 2: Structure of Environmental Monitoring Monitoring of production Monitoring of environment Additional research 1. Control on technology and pollutants 1. Water quality control 1. Ichthyological-biological research, definition of bioindicators of water quality 2. Control on water resources 2. Hydrological monitoring 2. Selection of methodologies for soil cultivation 3. Quality control on roads and transportation of materials 3. The vegetative cover and monitoring of soil 3. Improvement of technologies and construction works, preparation of waste management and utilization 4. Control on waste water 4. Monitoring of water biota, bottom sedimentation 4. Additional engineering- environmental research 5. Control on observation of maintenance procedures, use of dangerous substances, fuel and lubricants. 5. Monitoring of fauna, flora and ichthyofauna 6. Control on transportation and rendering harmless pollutants 2.6 Regional processes - European Union Relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan on environmental protection are primarily based on the EU-Azerbaijan Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (APC) and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). APC became effective in 1999. In conformity with Clause 43 of the agreement: “Azerbaijan Republic shall demonstrate efforts in order to provide regular coordination of its legislation with the legislation of the Union”. Under the APC, the EU proposed some recommendations for conforming Azerbaijan’s environmental legislation to the EU regulations. Based on these recommendations, considering institutional potential and costs, a draft version of the national program emphasizing a universal approach to adding amendments and additions to the national legislation was developed. Since 2004, Azerbaijan has been a part of the ENP of the European Union. The present National Indicative Program on ENP implementation includes an obligation to support legislative reforms in environmental protection, which includes: · Conforming Azerbaijan’s legislation and standards on environmental protection to EU legislation and standards; · Strengthening the management potential of environmental protection through a complex permit system; · Improving environmental impact assessment procedures and structures; and · Working out environmental protection plan (waste and water resources management, air pollution etc.). Environment for Europe “Environment for Europe” is the partnership of member states and other organizations under Azerbaijan and United Nations Organizations European Economic Commission (UNECE) region. With the guidance and support of “Environment for Europe” partnership, a number of Page 22 15 ministerial conferences were held on environmental protection and consequently UNECE conventions were established. Page 23 16 3. KEY NATURAL PARAMETERS OF AZERBAIJAN 3.1 Natural setting Bold relief, recurring seismic activity and a multitude of active mud volcanoes, all imply that Azerbaijan is in the throes of powerful internal (tectonic) and external (denudation) natural agents. This section briefly presents the geological processes that have shaped Azerbaijan’s salient geographic features, as well as its climatic diversity; soil types; distribution, flow regimes and quality of surface water, and the occurrence and quality of its groundwater resources. To set the backdrop for the project’s target areas, emphasis is placed on the Kura- Araz basin and the north-eastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus. 3.1.1 Geology and geomorphology 4, 5 Azerbaijan is characterised by large elevation differences across rather short distances: only 70 km separate Mount Bazardyuzu, Azerbaijan’s highest peak (4 466 m above msl) from its central plains to the south (elevation 0) or the Caspian Sea’s shoreline to the north-east (27 m below msl). Mountains in excess of 2 500 m, while comprising only 3.5 percent of the total land area, play a crucial role in nourishing Azerbaijan’s water resources. Azerbaijan consists of four major physiographic units: (i) the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the north, crowned by the country’s highest peak. Their south-eastern extension comprises the Apsheron Peninsula, a geologically active, low elevation (up to 350 m) protrusion into the Caspian Sea that divides it into a northern, relatively shallow basin, and a southern, deep basin. (ii) The Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with maximum elevation of 3 740 m, and the (iii) Talysh Mountains to the south. These three mountain chains enclose (iv) the Kura-Araz Plain, the main intermontane lowlands of eastern Transcaucasia. A significant portion of this extensive lowland, or about 18 percent of the country’s total area, lies below mean sea level. The Kura-Araz Lowland is an element of the vast Aral-Caspian depression. It extends across 250 km from Mingachevir Reservoir in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east and some 150 km between the foothills of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Gradually opening up and gently sloping to the south-east, this flat alluvial plain drained and is still being aggraded by the Kura-Araz Rivers and their tributaries. The Kura-Araz Lowland is divided from north to south into the Shirvan steppe on the right bank of the Kura, the Mil-Karabakh steppe between the Kura and the Araz, and the Mugan steppe, south of the Araz. The shallow, brackish Sarisu and Ag-Gel lakes occupy mild depressions, ‘windows’ to the shallow groundwater table. The Caucasus Mountains and the intervening Kura-Araz depression were formed during the Alpine-Himalayan Mountain-building episode. Starting in the Late Miocene Period, about five million years ago, enormous compressive forces resulting from the collision of the Eurasian and the African and Indian continental plates formed a series of complex folds and reverse faults. Older (Jurassic and Cretaceous), gigantic rock slivers were thrust over younger (Pliocene) ones to form the uplifted Greater Caucasus ranges. Associated fault zones along the margins of the uplifted area and its extension into the Caspian, have since become the focus of (i) recent intense seismic activity (e.g. the November 2000 earthquake that damaged 4 SCP ESIA, Azerbaijan, draft for disclosure, Geology and Soils Baseline Report, May 2002 5 State of the Environment Azrbaijan, a joint UNEP/GTZ web site: http://www.grida.no/enrin/htmls/azer/soe/ecology/html/countryprofile_environmental_and_geographical_cha rastics.html Page 24 17 Baku’s water treatment facilities) and (ii) neotectonic subsidence of the Apsheron Basin by several hundred metres. During the peak of the orogenic activity in the Pliocene period, the shoreline of the ancient Aral-Caspian Sea receded from the Kura-Araz depression, transforming it into a continental basin. This basin became a sink for massive terrigenous sedimentation fed by intense erosive denudation of the Caucasus Mountains. As a result, the Kura River Plain has since accumulated some 7-8.4 m of continental sediments. Inclined piedmont plains, consisting of fluvio-glacial deposits that have been dumped at the foot of the Caucasus ranges, separate the Kura and Araz River plains from the adjacent mountains. Deposits of similar nature comprise the north-eastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus, between the Quba-Qusar area and the Caspian Sea. The alluvial plain of the Kura is still accreting due to the high sediment loads of the fast-running rivers that drain the Caucasus Mountains. The intense erosion is driven by steep slopes, torrential rainstorms, seasonally concentrated snowmelt-generated river flows, flash floods, limited vegetation cover and fine, erodible soils. Consequently, the sediment loads of the rivers that drain the Greater Caucasus are among the highest of any rivers in the world. 3.1.2 Hydrogeology 6 The thick sequence of sediments that infills the Kura-Araz Lowland consist of three sediment types. To the west and in proximity to the mountains, outwash/alluvial fan sediments dominate, which were eroded and fluvially transported from the Lesser and Greater Caucasus Mountains. Thick layers of poorly sorted sands, gravels and cobbles are inter-layered with silty/clayey sediments. Transported by high-energy, steep river flows fed by seasonal firn and snow thaws, these sediments were dumped as the streams entered the plains, and accumulated in a sequence of contiguous alluvial fans. Towards the Caspian Sea in the east, marine sediments of the predecessor Caspian-Aral Sea become predominant and recent Kura-River alluvial deposits overlie the two other types. Towards the western end of the intermontane basin and along the foothills of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, the proluvial/alluvial fan sediments are dominated by coarse-grained components, forming interconnected aquifers of high hydraulic conductivity and good quality water. Farther away from the Caucasus foothills towards the centre of the basin, coarse- grained sediments become subordinate to and intercalated with low permeability marine deposits of the extinct Caspian-Aral Sea. As a result, individual aquifer horizons underneath much of the Kura-Araz Plains have low hydraulic conductivity and a limited degree of interconnectivity. The groundwater of these aquifers typically contains moderate to high amounts of dissolved salts. At the north-eastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus, alluvial fan deposits, consisting of coarse-grained, high-energy flow continental sediments, alternate with clay horizons deposited under low-flow conditions and with marine sediments deposited by the predecessor Aral-Caspian Sea. The proportion of fine-grained marine deposits increases towards the Caspian shoreline. The alternating low and high permeability rock units give rise to half a dozen aquifer horizons. 3.1.3 Climate Azerbaijan’s climate is shaped by the country’s remoteness from moderating oceanic influence, the extreme relief, and the disposition to the prevailing winds. The distribution of the various climate zones – semi-arid, dry subtropical, wet subtropical, 6 SCP ESIA, Azerbaijan, draft for disclosure, op. cit. Page 25 18 temperate, and Alpine - is a function of the altitude and the proximity to the Caspian Sea. Dry subtropical to semi-arid steppe climate characterises the Kura-Araz Lowlands and the Apsheron Peninsula. Wet subtropical climate is restricted to the south Talysh Mountains and foothills and the adjacent Lankaran depression. Temperate climate belts of dry, warm-dry, warm-wet and cool zones dominate successively higher elevations of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountain slopes. Finally, Alpine and sub-Alpine conditions prevail at the high altitudes of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. The average annual temperature across Azerbaijan varies between 14 °C in the lowlands and 0 °C and below in the highlands, a large range that is typical of continental climate. The average July temperatures are 25-27 °C in the lowlands and 5 °C in the highlands. Absolute maximum and minimum temperatures reach 43 ° C (Nakhchivan depression) and minus 30 °C (in the highlands), respectively. The prevailing winds are northern (on the Apsheron peninsula), north-west/south-west (Kura-Araz Lowlands), and western (Lankaran depression). Precipitation is characterised by large spatial, seasonal, and inter-annual variability. Average annual rainfall ranges from less than 200 mm at the southern coast of the Apsheron Peninsula, through 300-900 mm in the foothills and lower mountainous zones, 1 000-1 300 mm on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, and up to 1 200-1 600 mm in Lankaran and Talysh 7 . The climate of Azerbaijan’s cultivated lowlands and foothills is classified as Middle Latitude Steppe to Semi-Arid, with at least one month below freezing average temperatures. The large annual sun radiation balance of between 2 100-2 300 MJ/m 2 and the great excess of potential evapotranspiration (PE) over precipitation make irrigation an imperative for reliable crop production. The only agriculture possible without irrigation is low intensity livestock production on natural pasture severely limited by low rainfall. Table 3.1 presents average annual climate parameters, representing the Kura-Araz Plains (Imishli), the foothills of the Greater Caucasus (Khachmaz). Comparing the meteorological data of the north-eastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus (Khachmaz 8 ; about 75 m above msl) with that of the Mill Mugan Plains above the confluence of the Kura and Araz Rivers (Imishli; elevation: 5 m below msl), suggests the following. Both areas are characterised as semi-steppe, but in the Khachmaz area the hot season temperatures are slightly cooler and winter temperatures slightly colder than in the Imishli area. The Imishli area is characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, sub-humid winters, with a longer growing season. The humidity in the Khachmaz area is higher as a result of its proximity to the Caspian Sea, as are wind velocities. Annual precipitation values are rather similar in both areas; however, in Khachmaz about 40 percent of the mean annual total occurs during the growing season (spring and summer) and a maximum in the fall, while in Imishli slightly over half of the rainfall occurs in the main growing season between April and October. Finally, the average annual PE in Imishli is about 30 percent higher than in Khachmaz. During the main growing season, the PE in Imishli on average will exceed effective rainfall by a factor of five or more 9 . 7 Social-Ecological Center "EcoSphere" (Azerbaijan) and the Association of Environmental Protection of Georgia "The Earth in XXI century": Azerbaijan-Georgia Regional Ecological Portal: http://ecocaucasus.org/en/glav.htm 8 Based on measurements between 1988-1997; EA and monitoring, Annex A.7, op. cit. 9 Caspian Environmental Program, Caspian Regional Thematic Centre ( CRTC) for Integrated Transboundary Coastal Area Management and Planning: http://www.caspianenvironment.org/itcamp/azeri.htm ; and PCD, March 2002. Page 26 19 Azerbaijan’s physiographic and climatologic diversity gives rise to nine different agro- climatic zones. The availability of several significant rivers offers the potential for highly diversified irrigated agriculture. Representative agro-climatic zones include, among others, the (i) humid sub-tropical zone along the southern coastal plain of the Caspian, with paddy rice and tea plantations; (ii) hot and dry Kura-Araz Plains where cereals (wheat and barely), cotton, fodder (alfalfa and maze), water melons and pomegranates are prevalent, and livestock benefits from lush grazing grounds; and (iii) sub-humid, chilly Caucasus foothills, where fruit orchards (apples, pears, quince, peaches, cherries), vineyards, and walnuts prevail. In addition, vegetables, high value-added crops, are cultivated wherever there is an access to a steady supply of good-quality irrigation water. Table 3.1 Average annual climate parameters, three representative weather stations Parameter\District Imishli Khachmaz Average Temperature ( ° C) 15.2 12.6 Average Temp. July ( ° C) 27.2 24.6 Average Temp. Jan. ( ° C ) 3.6 -2.2 Maximum Temp. ( ° C) 42 42 Minimum Temp. (C ° ) -26 -28 Number of frost-free days 240-260 210-230 Precipitation (mm) 287* 300 Annual relative humidity, winter (%) 73-76 82-86 Annual relative humidity, summer (%) 56-58 65-75 Annual average wind velocity (m/s) 1.4 2.3 Average annual PE (mm) 1 000 708 * A recent ten-year average shows a range from 186-354 mm. ** Lowlands; high mountains average 660 mm. N/D: No data. 3.1.4 Climate Change Azerbaijan is well aware of the potential impacts of climate change on its environment, particularly its water resources, agriculture and forests. In its Initial National Communication on Climate Change (2001) , the GOA estimated, based on a trend analysis of 100 years of data from the State Committee on Hydrometeorology, that the air temperature has increased by 0.5-0.6°C. Moreover, between 1960 and 1990 the warming level was 0.3-0.6°C and precipitation decreased by 10 percent. An assessment of future climatic trends, using IPCC recommended models, estimates warming by the year 2100 to be 2°C with precipitation stable or insignificantly below the norm. The same report included the following analysis of climate impacts on water resources, agriculture, forest ecosystems, and the coastal Caspian Sea: · Water resources . With an increase in air temperature of 2.0-4.5°C, a reduction of water resources in the rivers of Azerbaijan is expected to be in the range of 15-20 percent. With the current water deficiency of 3.8 km 3 , by the middle of the 21 st century it will constitute 9.5-11.5 km 3 . The GOA proposed the following measures as mitigation: improvement of water resources management system, regulation of river flow, increase of irrigation systems efficiency by 75 percent and reconstruction of Page 27 20 drainage systems, applying of water-saving irrigation technologies, reuse of treated drainage water, and setting up shoreline plantations along water reservoirs. · Agriculture . With the warming of climate, an increase in evaporation is expected to be up to 30-35 percent, which will result in the decline in natural humidification and moisture deficiency, with the humidification zones being shifted by 300 m to mountains. Such conditions will further aggravate due to the reduction of river water resources. The recurrence of drought and dry winds will increase, especially in the Kura-Araz lowland. Dramatic consequences are expected at winter pastures. As mitigation measures, the GOA proposed: introduction and cultivation of highly productive crops, optimization of planting location and structure of crops, introduction of soil and water-saving technologies, provision of drainage for irrigated lands, melioration and recultivation of salinized soils, setting of shelterbelt forests, and prevention of desertification processes. · Forest ecosystems . Climate change will result in a considerable increase in the upper climatic boundary of the forest cover on the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. However, due to existing anthropogenic impacts, any decrease of which would not be expected in the future, most probably the upper boundary will remain at the current levels. In the Talish Mountains, a decrease of the upper boundary is expected to be 50-200 m, with up to 300 m in some places. The lower boundary of forest will rise up to 100-200 m. As a result, the share of different draught-resistant tree and bush species will increase. The density and estimated productivity of the forests will also decrease and, as a result, wood stocks will be reduced. The GOA proposed mitigation measures involving afforestation of eroded mountain slopes, afforestation and binding of sands, rehabilitation of near-Kura tugay forests, etc. · Coastal area of the Caspian Sea . The recent rise of the Caspian Sea level by 250 cm is also associated with climate change. Currently, 48.5 thousand ha of coastal lands have been flooded, with total damage to the economy as a result of flooding as of 1995 of USD 2.2 billion. By the years 2020-2040 the increase in sea level is expected to be 120-150 cm. At that level, potential losses of land will amount to 130-160 thousand ha, and damage to the social and economic sectors is estimated at USD 4.1 billion. Prevention of the expected damage is possible through measures on protection of settlements, industrial and infrastructure facilities in the zone of potential sea impact, as well as improvement of environmental conditions in the coastal area. The EA recognizes that a number of the measures identified above in the analysis of climate impacts on water resources and agriculture are relevant to the proposed project. In fact, the EA signals the fact that the proposed project incorporates a number of the measures identified above (e.g. improved water resources management, increases in irrigation system efficiency, rehabilitation of drainage systems, melioration and recultivation of salinized soils) and includes them in the analysis of environmental impacts, preventive actions, and mitigation measures in Table 5.1 below, which will be managed and monitored as stated in the EMMP in Section 6. 3.1.5 Soils 10 The distribution of Azerbaijan’s soils is congruent with its topographic and climate zoning. Grey-brown saline and chestnut-coloured soils predominate in the semi-desert areas of the Apsheron peninsula and Gobustan. Greyish-meadow, greyish saline, and saline soils prevail in the flat and poorly drained semi-desert belt of the Shollar and Kura lowlands. Mountain-woody greyish-brown and brown soils prevail in the semi-steppe (woody-steppe) 10 Caspian CRTC, op. cit. Page 28 21 belt in the northeastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus and Talysh Mountains. Finally, the sub-alpine to alpine belt of the high elevations of the Caucasus Mountains typically contains mountain-meadow (turf and peat) and skeletal, stony soils. * 3.1.6 Surface and subsurface water Azerbaijan, a former Soviet Union (FSU) country, still employs water resources computation practices that go back to the Soviet era. These practices have important bearing on the degree of confidence that can be placed in the water resources data 11 . 3- is deleted First, as a result of the large and protracted withdrawals, the assessment of surface water runoff is made difficult by the absence of chronological series of natural flow measurements. Indeed, most of the available flow data relate to measurement of actual runoff rather than natural flow. In addition, runoff data are frequently conflicting, a reflection of inconsistent measurement points along a watercourse that are either upstream or downstream from other measurement points that are separated by intervening tributary inflow and/or canal abstractions and large natural inter-annual variability of runoff, typical of arid to semi-arid regions. Furthermore, in semi- arid areas like Azerbaijan’s, complex interrelation between surface water and groundwater makes it difficult to assess the extent of their overlap. Finally, in the computation of groundwater, a distinction is usually made between groundwater resources (the average annual recharge of the aquifers), and extractable groundwater (computed on the basis of aquifer productivity and a theoretical network of wells). Subject to the cited practices, most of the references on groundwater rely on an estimate of extractable groundwater, which is usually less than the groundwater resources. Further, data reliability is hampered by two additional factors 12 : there is a limited database pertaining to the post-Soviet period, because the hydrometric network in Azerbaijan was severely curtailed after 1991-1992. Consequently, the older data would not reflect any subsequent climate variations, basin land-use changes, channel geometry shifts, and local river channel interference (e.g. riverbed pebble mining). Little information is available on hydrological and monitoring techniques adopted, such as sampling conditions, constraints, timing and frequency, analytical methods, precision limits and data collection problems. The limited amount of data collected is not assessed, laboratory equipment is not calibrated, neither quality assurance nor quality control is carried out and there is no reporting. The fact that the data are not converted into forms that would be helpful for managers and decision- makers results in inadequate government support for monitoring. This, in turn, adversely impacts the average age of the laboratory equipment 13 . As a result, some data may be of questionable value, and data inconsistencies are quite common. Surface water Azerbaijan’s water resources are unevenly distributed, both spatially and temporally, with only about 29 percent of the total surface resources originating in Azerbaijan. The average annual amount of surface flow is about 33.1 billion m 3 , but in extremely arid years it may diminish down to 20.7 billion m 3 . Both the large inter-annual and intra-annual fluctuations have necessitated the construction of large storage reservoirs. Azerbaijan’s rivers can be divided into three groups: 11 Irrigation in the Countries of the Former Soviet Union in Figures, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, 1997 12 Section 1.4, SCP ESIA, Draft for Disclosure, op. cit. 13 Joint River Management Programme on Monitoring and Assessment of Water Quality on Transboundary Rivers: Kura Basin Report. http://www.jointrivers.org/eng/docs/inception/kura/main/php Page 29 22 · Rivers of western and central Azerbaijan: the Kura River with its main tributaries - Araz, Alazani and Iori; · Rivers of northeastern Azerbaijan, flowing from the Greater Caucasus directly into the Middle Caspian Sea: primarily the Samur, Qusarchay, Quruchay, Qudyalchay, Agchay, Qarachay, Chagachuqchay, and Velvelichay. · Rivers of south-eastern Azerbaijan, flowing from the Talysh Mountains directly into the South Caspian Sea (these will not be further discussed). The Kura-Araz Rivers With a total length of more than 1 500 km and a catchment basin of over 188 000 km 2 , the Kura is the largest waterway in Transcaucasia. The Kura originates in Turkey, at an elevation of 2 741 m above msl, and flows through Georgia before crossing into Azerbaijan. Average flow volume figures are inconsistent, apparently representing averages of measurements across different time sequences. According to one source, the average flow below its confluence with the Araz is 908 m 3 /s (26.8 billion m 3 annually), or over 90 percent of Azerbaijan’s total average surface-flow (see hydrograph in Table 3.2). According to data spanning measurements that go back to the early 20 th century,* the average annual flow near the Mingachevir Reservoir is 401 m 3 /s. In that area, the highest and lowest flows of the Kura were reported as 2 420 m 3 /s and 61 m 3 /s, respectively. Average annual flow of the Kura near Sabirabad, just below its confluence with the Araz, is 590 m 3 /s. The Kura’s annual flow is the highest in the spring (59-69 percent of the total), with lower and sub-equal flows in the summer (10-14 percent), fall (12-16 percent) and winter (9-15 percent). This flow regime reflects the predominance of snow melt water from the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Table 3.2. Monthly hydrographs of Azerbaijan’s main rivers (m 3 /sec 14 ) River\Month I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Average Samur 21.9 20.4 23.5 52 117 167 135 79.9 59.9 48.7 35.9 27.2 65.7 Kura, above* 417 432 280 310 332 396 321 279 281 279 198 383 325.7 Kura, below** 570 578 572 700 794 663 402 341 378 329 431 523 523.4 Araz 119 144 172 253 299 235 87 67 84.3 61.5 86.1 102 142.5 * Above confluence with Araz ** Below confluence with Araz The Kura’s average suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and sediment loads (SSL) are high, comparable to those of other glacial/snowmelt-fed rivers. Mean annual SSC values for the Great Caucasus rivers are ten times those of the Lesser Caucasus systems, the highest being for Girdemanchay River (0.52 g/l) and Geokchay River (0.48 g/l), two of the Kura’s left bank tributaries. Suspended sediment transport is highly seasonal, with peak fluxes in the high-flow period between March and June. In its mid-course, a cascade of two regulating dams and associated reservoirs, the Shamhkir and Mingachevir, causes the River to dump much of its annual 26-28 million tons of suspended alluvial load. Consequently, the capacity of the Mingechevir Reservoir that removes approximately 70 percent of the sediment discharge from the Kura River has diminished from an original 16 km 3 (when built in 1953), to 14.5 km 3 in 1982. The total ionic content of the Kura waters shows considerable seasonal variability. Two mid- summer measurements of total dissolved matter 15 yielded between 0.85 and 0.95 g/l, 14 Samur at…, 1947-1992 average; Araz at Saatli, 1971-1980 average; Kura above confluence at Mollaken, 1955-1979 average; Kura below confluence at Surra (NE of Sabirabad), 1953-1980 average. Page 30 23 rendering the water slightly brackish but still suitable for irrigation of most crops. A series of early winter (mid-November 1998) measurements yielded better water quality values, possibly due to dilution by seasonal runoff. The total dissolved matter ranged between 0.45- 0.48 g/l at three measurement points between the town of Yevlakh and Sabirabad, and between 0.51- 0.56 g/l at four measurement points below the confluence with the Araz and down to Naftacala, close to the Kura’s discharge into the Caspian Sea. A sequence of measurements downstream at Salyan demonstrates a persistent increase in ionic content, from 0.42 g/l in the late 1940s, up to 1.26 g/l in the late 1980s. This apparently represents a cumulative trend of mineralised, irrigation return flows discharged into the Kura along its course. The 1 072 km-long Araz River is the second largest waterway. Flow data are again inconsistent: one source cites an average flow of 138 m 3 /s at Saatli (or 4.35 m 3 billion/year) 16 (see hydrograph in Table 3.2), while another cites 290 m 3 /s not far downstream near Sabirabad, close to its confluence with the Kura. This southern tributary of the Kura, with a catchment area of about 102 000 km 2 , originates at an elevation of 2,600m on the slopes of the Bingel-Dag ridges in Turkey. Along most of its route the Araz marks the international boundary between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the north and Turkey and Iran to the south. The Araz is one of the most turbid rivers in the world; on average it carries 2.5 g/l of suspended particles or an annual total of about 18 million tons. Its arid watershed and outcrops of soluble rocks contribute to a high level of dissolved salts; mineral content values of 0.87 and 1.57 g/l were recorded in November 2001 in the Fizuli raion several tens of kilometres upstream from the Barahmtepe and in Sabirabad, respectively. The Samur, Qudyalchay and Velvelichay Rivers These rivers supply the Samur-Apsheron Canal (SAC). Five additional rivers, all discharging ultimately into the Caspian Sea, cross that portion of the SAC that is slated for restoration under the RIDIP. Draining the north-eastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, they all share a common hydrological regime. During the spring and early summer, glacial, firn and snow melt at their high catchment areas feed peak flow that provides about 40 percent of the total annual recharge. Surface runoff, with maxima during spring and fall, contribute about 20 percent of the total recharge, and the remaining 40 percent is groundwater recharge base flow, of particular importance in the coastal area. The average annual flow of the Samur River (catchment area of 5 000 km 2 ) are, according to different sources, 1.4 or 2.07 billion m 3 , and that of the seven other rivers combined -- about 657 million m 3 (see hydrograph in Table 3.3). Table 3.3. Long-term average monthly natural runoff of rivers on the north-east slope of the Greater Caucasus (m 3 /s) (1961-1992) 17 River I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Average Samur 1 22. 2 20. 3 23. 8 51. 2 115 .7 163 .1 133 .2 77. 2 56. 4 47. 3 35. 7 27. 0 64.4 Qusarchay 2 1.8 1.8 2.0 15 Water analyses results of field trip, 26-27 July, 1999; Annex A25, EA and Monitoring in the Project Areas of the SAC and MMMC Drain, Final Report, CES, Consulting Engineers Salzgitter GmbH, 3/2000. 16 Average for 1971-1980. Table 20, Quality of Surface Water and Efficiency of Water Safety Activities in the Jurisdiction of the Azerbaijan State Committee of Hydrometeorology in 1987, Soviet Union Committee for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Control, Central Hydrochemical Laboratory of SAIC, Baku, 1988. 17 Table 2.3, EA and Monitoring, op.cit. For detailed information, see RIIDA II Feasibility Study, Annexes 1.1 – 1.8. Page 31 24 Quruchay 3 Qudyalchay 4 Agchay 5 Qarachay 6 Chagachuqchay 7 Velvelichay 8 Calculation Points: 1- u/s Weir CP1; 2 - CP3; 3 - CP4; 4 – CP5/6; 5 – CP7; 6 – CP8; 7 – CP-9; 8 – CP11. All the area’s rivers transport periodically heavy sediment loads. At the headworks of the Samur River, the sediment load increases from 0.37 g/l in March to 5.4 g/l in July, then decreases to 1.6 g/l in October. The total annual suspended load ranges between 2.6 and 3.6- million m 3 . In the absence of functioning desilting installations on the SAC system, much of the silt settles in the Jeiranbatan Reservoir, Baku’s primary water storage, decreasing its live storage by 1 percent annually 18 . The low total ionic contents of these rivers, between 0.170 and 0.504 g/l, make them suitable for use as a potable water source as well as for irrigation of all crops. The hydrograph presented in Figure 3.1 clearly shows that the peak flow of the Araz is about one month earlier (May) than that of the Kura and Samur (June). This probably reflects an earlier seasonal snowmelt on the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, compared to a later snow and firn melt on the higher-elevation Greater Caucasus Mountains. The phased peak flow regime of the Kura-Araz serves to extend the temporal availability of irrigation water in the eastern lowlands, below the confluence of the Kura and Araz Rivers. The prominence of the peak flow is remarkable, considering that the storage and regulating reservoirs on the Kura and Araz Rivers exercise a moderating effect on the amplitude of the peak flow maxima. 18 RIDIP II Feasibility Study, op. cit., sections 3.1.4 and 3.2.2.7 Page 32 25 Figure 3.1. Monthly Hydrographs of the Samur and Araz Rivers, and of the Kura River, Above and Below its Confluence with the Araz River 19 The small differences reported in Tables 3.2 and 3.3 for the monthly flow volumes for the Samur are typical of data consistency issues discussed in the introduction to Section 3.1.5. These two sets of data represent average flow values of measurements across different time sequences (between 1961 and 1992 in Table 3.3, and between 1947 and 1992 in Table 3.2). Groundwater The amount of Azerbaijan’s annual total rechargeable groundwater resources is uncertain. According to one reference, it is estimated at 4.41 billion m 3 , with 3.8 billion m 3 19 Table 20, Quality of Surface Water and Efficiency of Water Safety Activities in 1987, op. cit. Page 33 26 accessible and 1.15 billion m 3 currently abstracted for irrigation and water supply 20 . Another reference cites 6.51 billion m 3 , 4.35 billion m 3 of which are common to surface water (i.e. they comprise the base flow of rivers). 21 3.1.7. Ecology Azerbaijan forms part of the Caucasus Ecoregion that also covers parts of Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Iran and Turkey. Thanks to its high degree of biodiversity, the region has been selected as one of the World Wildlife Federation’s (WWF) Global 2000 Ecoregions, as well as one of the top 25 biodiversity hot spots in the world. The rich biodiversity is related to the variety of Caucasian ecosystems as well as to its location at a biological crossroads. Sharp changes in climate and elevation across short distances in the Caucasus area have resulted in a wide array of ecosystems over a relatively small area. These include forest, high mountain, dry mountain shrubland, steppe (grassland), semi-desert and wetland ecosystems. These ecosystems are inhabited by species from Central and Northern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, the level of endemism is higher than anywhere else in the Temperate Zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Over 6 300 plant species are found in the Caucasus Region, of which 1 600 are endemic, including 17 endemic genera. The Hyrcanic region, including the south-eastern corner of Azerbaijan, is particularly famous for its wealth of species. As to animal diversity, the convergence of Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean and Central Asian zoogeographic zones results in a high variety of mammals: 152 species, of which 32 are endemic, including both newly evolved and relict species. Bird diversity is moderate with 389 species. The region contains a significant number of breeding raptor populations and forms an important migration corridor for millions of birds. A high reptile (76 species, of which 21 are endemic) and fish diversity (over 200 species, of which 73 are endemic) complete the picture. Finally, the country possesses rich agricultural biodiversity both in terms of number of crop species and intraspecific variability, as well as in terms of wild relatives of crop species. The Caspian Sea has high levels of biodiversity, resulting from its long period of isolation, large spatial variations in water temperature and salinity, and the Caspian geography, which has created a wide array of habitats. Overall, there are over 400 endemic species and 115 species of fish in the sea. The ecologically and commercially most important fish is the sturgeon, of which six species can be found in the Caspian, representing 90 percent of the world population. The Caspian seal is one of two freshwater seals in the world. The Caspian lies on the path of several major bird migration routes, and its coastal wetlands provide resting, feeding and breeding grounds for bird species such as grebes, cormorants, herons and ibises. Main eco-regions in Azerbaijan (See map 2) The largest part of the country is covered by the Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe ecoregion, of which 70 percent is in Azerbaijan with the rest in Georgia and Iran. This ecoregion is bordered in northern and south-western Azerbaijan by Caucasus mixed forests and in the south-eastern part of the country by Caucasus- Anatolian-Hyrcanian temperate forests. In the Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe ecoregion, three primary zonal landscape types (ecosystems) and two intra-zonal types can be found: (i) desert and semi-desert, (ii) arid open woodland, (iii) steppe, (iv) flood plain (riparian) forests and (v) wetlands. 20 State Committee for Hydrometeorology estimates, in Republic of Azerbaijan, Assessment of Drought Damage and Priority Needs for Assistance, FAO Mission Report, January 2001. 21 FAO’s Water Report 15: http://www.fao.org/docrep/w6240e/w6240e07.htm Page 34 27 The main types of desert communities in the ecoregion are: wormwood deserts with ephemeroids, saltwort deserts ( Salsola nodulosa, S. ericoides, S. denroides ) and halophytic wormwood deserts with therophytes. Woodlands, located on foothills and slopes of low mountains, are Page 35 0 5 0 1 0 0 K m 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 G E O R G I A R U S S I A N F E D E R A T I O N C a s p i a n S e a I S L A M I C R E P U B L I C O F I R A N A R M E N I A M i n g e c h e v i r R e s e r v o i r S h a m k u r R e s e r v o i r K u r a R i v e r N A K H C H I V A N E C O R E G I O N S : A z e r b a i j a n s h r u b d e s e r t a n d s t e p p e C a s p i a n H y r c a n i a n m i x e d f o r e s t E a s t e r n A n a t o l i a n m o n t a n e s t e p p e C a u c a s u s m i x e d f o r e s t s I n t e r n a t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s N a t i o n a l c a p i t a l C a p i t a l o f A u t o n o m o u s R e p u b l i c B A K U T C I 1 0 3 - 0 6 / A Z E R B A I J A N - E C O R E G M a p 2 . M a i n e c o r e g i o n s i n A z e r b a i j a n Page 36 characterised by Juniper and Pistachio species, with Spiny, Wild jasmine , berberis iberica , etc. as major understory shrubs. On the relatively tall forb grasslands of the steppe, the dominant vegetation is yellow bluestem, complemented by feather grass species typical of Ukraine and Central Asian steppes. The relict long-thorned oak, as well as black and grey poplar dominate the rapidly disappearing flood plain forests. On wetlands, the flora varies from aquatic vegetation in lakes to reed, cane and cattails species on swampy floodplain ecosystems that surround them. The diversity and endemism of fauna in the ecoregion is remarkable. It represents species typical to arid ecosystems such as striped hyena, Persian gazelle, and Caucasian hamster, as well as large mammals, e.g. lynx, wild boar, brown bear, grey wolf, European wild cat and roe deer. Reptile diversity is represented by spur-thighed tortoise, blunt-nosed viper, Western boa, Dahl’s whip snake, etc. As for birds, partridge, griffon, black vulture, white-tailed eagle and black stork are typical to the region, in addition to important populations of southern European waterfowl. In total, the shrub desert and steppe ecoregion covers some 45 000 square kilometres, about half of Azerbaijani territory. Overall, the status of the ecoregion is critical: more than half of it has been converted to farmland, while the remaining areas suffer heavily from overgrazing, uncontrolled logging, pollution from agriculture and oil extraction, and poaching. Flood plain forests and arid woodlands occupy only 5-7 percent of their original area. Around 60 animal species are considered by World Conservation Union (IUCN) as endangered and 140 plant and 11 animal species are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Several protected areas have been established in the ecoregion since 1961. The most important of these is the Shirvan Nature Reserve, which protects the only viable (and the world’s largest) population of Persian gazelles in the ecoregion (some 3 500 individuals). Other protected areas in the ecoregion include the Turyan Chay area north of the Kura River and Lake Ag-Gel (see Section 4.3.2), which has been designated a Ramsar wetlands site. However, the current protected areas are too small and fragmented to guarantee long-term biodiversity conservation. Buffer zones are virtually non-existent and the economic crisis of the last ten years has created strong pressures on natural resources, resulting in hunting, fishing, illegal forest cutting, grazing and even oil extraction within protected areas. Many of the reserves are understaffed and their employees underpaid and under-equipped to ensure effective protection. Adequate facilities and management plans are also lacking. Finally, the current reserve system does not entirely represent the full range of biodiversity within the region. Efforts are currently underway to improve protected area management, create an eco- network to link areas and establish new protected zones, but results have so far been modest. The eco-region of Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests covers an area of 55 100 square kilometres from southern Azerbaijan into northern Iran. These temperate broadleaf and mixed forests benefit from the abundant rainfall and snowmelt that runs off the Elburtz and Talysh Mountains. The lowlands of the ecoregion have been covered by alder forests but are now almost totally under agricultural and urban use. On the lower mountains, characteristic vegetation consists of humid oak forests rich in endemic, relict and range-restricted plant species, e.g. chestnut-leafed oak and Persian parrotia with shrubs/semi-shrubs such as Alexandrian laurel and lianas like greenbriar. The middle mountains are covered by oriental beech forests, whereas the vegetation on the upper mountains ranges from steppes, zeric dwarf semi-shrubs and oriental oak to alpine meadows. Agrobiodiversity in the region is remarkable with numerous endemic cultivated taxa. Page 37 2 The diversity of the avifauna is very high, including both migratory and breeding species. Some examples are the greylag goose, white-fronted goose, glossy ibis, peregrine falcon, little bustard and squacco heron. Large mammals that inhabit the region are the (critically endangered) leopard, lynx, brown bear, wild boar, wolf, jackal, reed cat, badger and otter. In the lowlands, the natural landscape of the ecoregion has been largely destroyed through conversion into agricultural lands. Unsustainable logging and poaching also constitute significant threats to the ecosystems. Protected areas in Azerbaijani territory include the Gizil- Agach nature reserve (with two Ramsar sites, Kirov Bays and Gizil-Agach), designed to protect waterfowl, the Zuvand conservation area (a mountainous area habitat to game birds, bear, leopard and rare reptiles) and the Girkan nature reserve, aimed at protecting the unique plant communities of the humid thermophilous Hyrcanian forests. The protected areas of this ecoregion suffer from the same constraints as those of the Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe described above. The eco-region of Caucasus mixed forests extends over 170 300 square kilometres in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Armenia and Turkey. It consists mainly of temperate mixed forests located in the mid-zone of mountains and is the most important refuge and relict area of the arctotertiary forests in Western Eurasia. The forests are predominantly broad-leaved with Georgian oak, hornbeam, sweet chestnut, oriental beech and oriental oak as the main species. Coniferous forests are composed of fir, spruce, and Caucasian pine. Grassland ecosystems from forest line to snow cover consist of tall herbaceous vegetation of grass and forbs and, higher in the mountains, of sub-alpine and alpine meadows with thickets of Caucasian rhododendron. Fauna richness and endemism is high in the ecoregion. Characteristic mammals include the East and West Caucasian turs, chamois, Caucasian red deer, wild goat, mouflon, brown bear, wolf, lynx, otter, and the critically endangered Caucasian leopard. As to avifauna, it includes endangered species such as golden eagle and lammergeier, restricted species such as the Caucasian black grouse and Caucasian snowcock. Restricted range endemic species such as Caucasian salamander, Caucasian viper and Caucasian parsley frog also form part of the reptile and amphibian fauna. Most lowland forests have been converted into human use, mainly into agricultural lands. Approximately one-third of mountain forests remain in a natural state but are potentially threatened by overgrazing, local firewood demand, illegal cutting, and efforts to develop commercial logging, as well as overexploitation/poaching of game and economically valuable species. In Azerbaijani territory, the principal protected Area at present is the Zakatal Reserve. The plans to establish a national park in the Shah Dag mountains would considerably enlarge the area under legal protection. The eco-region of Eastern Anatolian montane steppe covers an area of 64 900 square kilometres in Iran, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The location of the ecoregion at the junction of three biogeographic zones (Lesser Caucasus, Iranian and Mediterranean), its great range of altitudinal variation and variety of climatic zones have created a diversity of landscapes and ecological communities with distinct flora and fauna, including many regionally endemic, relict and rare species. The ecoregion is also a particularly important centre of endemism for wild relatives of crop and livestock species (e.g. almonds, hawthorns and pears). Page 38 3 Montane steppes cover the largest part of the eco-region. They typically have high vegetation cover and a rich flora, consisting of artemisia ( Artemisia austriaca, A. fragrans ), milk-vetch, prickly thrift, and sainfoin species, as well as graminoids such as feather grass , fescue, bulbous meadow grass and kochia. In deserts, vegetation is mostly composed of xerophytic and turf-forming plant species, whereas in semi-deserts, ephemeral plants such as caper bush dominate. Juniper-almond steppe woodlands have a sparse canopy but a strong shrub layer with pistachio, barberry and rose species and a herb layer dominated by milk-vetch or artemisia. The high mountains and woodland patches provide habitat for many mammals, such as brown bear, grey wolf, striped hyena, wild goat, and marbled polecat. The fauna of the ecoregion also includes birds like the peregrine falcon and golden eagle and reptiles like the Armenian viper. Many ecosystems of the eco-region have been badly degraded and a number of species are seriously endangered. The main causes are habitat loss and modification principally by agriculture (i.e. drainage and conversion of wetlands, overgrazing), industrial development, unsustainable use of biological resources (i.e. logging) and the impact of introduced and non- native species. The few protected areas are not sufficient for effective biodiversity conservation. Page 39 4 4. ANALYSIS OF BASELINE CONDITIONS 4.1 Description of the project The WUAP , which builds on the IDSMIP before it, will have three project components, targeting an expanded area in Azerbaijan and the ARN: 4.1.1 Component 1: Institutional and WUA Capacity Strengthening . This component would expand the concentrated capacity building program to around 27 raions, covering all the major irrigated areas in the country, except for the ten raions which are supported under on-going or planned projects financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The component would finance the following activities: · Provision of essential operation and maintenance (O&M) and management equipment to WUAs: All of the WUAs face significant O&M problems with siltation and vegetation in the on-farm irrigation and drainage networks. WUAs cannot yet address this problem, as WUA funds and contractors are limited, and WUAs are not eligible to purchase machinery under on-going credit schemes. Therefore, WUAs that meet maturity criteria can submit a formal application to a WUA Support Fund (WSF) for a small excavator or other equipment, like concrete mixers or communication and transportation equipment. These funds are envisaged to be partially repaid by the WUAs. These funds would also finance the establishment of simple WUA offices, where needed. The procedure for funding and mobilizing this equipment would first be piloted in a limited number of project raions before being replicated to the WUAs in 27 project raions. · Capacity building of AIOJSC Central, Regional and Raion WUA Support Units: In the IDSMIP project raions, RSUs were provided with more support to deliver a concentrated training program and on-the-job support to WUAs, and as a result WUAs in project raions matured faster than other WUAs. Under the WUAP RSUs will be provided with the training and operational support to deliver the capacity building program to over 400 WUAs in 33 raions. In order to coordinate this extensive program, five regional support centres will be established. · Targeted training and capacity building of WUAs: A concentrated training program, complemented by on-the-job support, will be delivered by the RSUs to the WUAs to conduct effective O&M of on-farm irrigation systems, improve irrigation water management, and enhance pesticide management practices. During the project, the training program will be revised and targeted to meet the changing training requirements as WUAs mature. · WUA Supervision and Regulation: Under the IDSMIP , the Law on Amelioration and Irrigation (LAI) was amended to provide a firm legal basis for WUAs in Azerbaijan. Under the LAI there is a provision to establish a State Supervisory Body (SSB) for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of WUA performance, as well as water delivery and usufruct agreements with AIOJSC. The WUAP will provide support to the establishment and functioning of the SSB. · Institutional capacity building: Under the proposed 2008-15 State Program on Sustainable Development of Amelioration and Water Management, AIOJSC aims to strengthen its capacity for integrated water resources management. Based on the Program and a planned Agricultural and Irrigation Sector Update ESW, the project will identify pilot programs, study tours, technology demonstrations and studies on a Page 40 5 range of topics from pumped irrigation to climate adaptation, in order to strengthen AIOJSC’s integrated water resources management capacity. 4.1.2 Component 2: On-farm irrigation and drainage (I&D) rehabilitation . This component would finance the rehabilitation and modernization of on-farm I&D systems on about 100,000 ha managed by an estimated 34 WUAs located in 17 project raions with a total irrigated area of around 600,00 ha. Since the start of the IDSMIP in 2005, the base cost for rendering a WUA-managed system operational has increased from US$ 300 per ha to US$ 900 per ha due to increased unit prices. WUAs eligible for rehabilitation will need to meet a set of eligibility criteria that benchmark them against other WUAs in the raion and will have to commit to repaying a certain percentage of the infrastructure investments. The concept is to strengthen WUAs institutionally to a point where they are sufficiently mature to qualify for rehabilitation of their system. Prior to rehabilitation, WUAs will sign an interim transfer agreement, and after rehabilitation an agreement transferring responsibility for MOM to the WUA will be signed. Design and construction supervision will be done through consultants engaged by WUAP , with oversight from project engineers and WUAs. 4.1.3 Component 3: Project Management . The existing IDSMIP PIU would be strengthened with staff, training and equipment and part of the operational costs for the daily management, administration and coordination of the WUAP . Project engineers and WUA support staff will be based in five regional support centres. 4.2 Analysis of project alternatives 4.2.1 No action alternative. The ‘natural state’ option does not exist, as the project concerns the rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage systems that have already been constructed. The ‘no action’ option would allow the existing systems to further dilapidate to a point where continued silting, installation collapse, and overgrowth of hydrophilic vegetation would essentially eradicate the water flow capacity of the irrigation systems. This would force most farmers to return to rain-fed cropping patterns. With the high evaporation/precipitation ratio in much of Azerbaijan’s cultivable areas, this would spell the elimination of agriculture as a viable sector, with the exception of areas that benefit from adequate precipitation thanks to their location at higher elevations in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. Given the importance of the agriculture sector to the welfare of Azerbaijan’s rural population and to the food security of the country as a whole, the ‘No Action’ option is not an acceptable alternative. Further, the State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth identifies public investment in the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure as a top priority. 4.2.2 Better Technology Alternatives. Most irrigation systems in the project area are based on water conveyance in open, unlined canals, as well as on furrow or border strip irrigation. Several options for technological upgrading of these systems exist and could also bring environmental benefits. First, lining of irrigation canals would reduce seepage losses and thus increase efficiency in water conveyance and also reduce the frequency of maintenance works. Second, the use of piped systems would eliminate losses through evaporation and seepage and thus contribute to conveyance efficiency, and also lower the risk of water contamination. Third, drip or sprinkler irrigation systems would use water more efficiently than surface irrigation schemes. These are crucial considerations considering Azerbaijan’s growing water scarcity and the increasingly competing demands by the domestic and industrial sectors. However, the following considerations discourage the introduction of such technological options on a significant scale: Page 41 6 · The lining of irrigation canals would indeed reduce some seepage losses, but the main water losses in the project’s irrigation systems are due to operational inefficiencies. The bulk of the project’s canals are in the Kura-Araz River basin, where the silty- clayey soils allow only minor infiltration; piped irrigation systems are employed in the more porous soils in the northern mountainous region. For this reason, the project’s investments are in improving operational efficiencies, where the greatest potential gains in water savings lie, with water control structures, improved water management, etc · Piped irrigation systems either rely on gravity or require pumping operations with the additional energy costs involved. Gravity piped systems are already in place in the project areas where the topography allows, i.e. the northern mountainous region. But, the vast majority of the project’s rehabilitation sites will be in the flat Kura-Araz River basin, where they would have to use pumping and rely on electrical power. The problems with frequent and unpredictable power blackouts in these project areas render such systems impractical. · Heavy suspended sediment loads in essentially all the rivers utilised for irrigation are silting up the canals and piped systems at a pace that, unless de-silted periodically, would quickly render the irrigation system non-functional. Furthermore, piped irrigation systems carrying heavy sediment loads require regular chemical treatment in order to avoid algae growth. Unless effective sediment filters are installed at the headwaters and at major outtakes down the canal system, silting will knock out any irrigation system that relies on small diameter pipes and minute perforations. · The cost range of sprinklers varies greatly as a function of the complexity of the system. However, in general they are more expensive than gravity-fed surface irrigation systems, and would be significantly more expensive than the restoration of an existing gravity-fed scheme (e.g., their annual operation and maintenance costs can be up to six percent of capital costs). Similar arguments apply to a drip-fed system, but with the added risk of salinisation if water application rates are poorly managed. In the final analysis, the project’s investments in increasing fundamental operational efficiencies in the irrigation systems will deliver more environmental benefits in terms of water savings at project rehabilitation sites than any gains to be realized by lining canals in largely impermeable soils. Furthermore, in light of the unpredictability of the national power system, the significant cost of installing and running a backup electrical system, on top of the general lack of requisite skills and financial resources in the agriculture sector, piped irrigation systems are not considered a viable alternative at most sites. However, the introduction of more efficient irrigation technologies in the longer term is desirable and the EA endorses the project’s plan to develop demonstration/test plots to review and test a number of these newer technologies. 4.2.3 Worst Case Water/Soil Conditions Alternative. The severe problems of salinity, waterlogging, erosion and decline in soil fertility found in the Kura-Araz lowlands are closely related to the history of intensive irrigation-based agriculture. The current state of disrepair of the irrigation and, in particular, drainage canals as well as the wasteful use of irrigation water, resulting from unclear management responsibilities and weakness of related capacities, continue contributing to the problem. The issue is also addressed in the State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth, which incorporates several measures to address land degradation. By concentrating its actions in the areas most affected by the above problems, the project could achieve significant environmental benefits. However, for the environmental benefits of the project to be realised and sustained over the long term, the Page 42 7 preconditions for continuing maintenance of the infrastructure and continuing functioning of the WUAs need to be in place. The focus on providing conditions for sustainability and success justifies the geographically diverse, demand-oriented approach that is currently proposed for the project. 4.3 Description of the Physical and Biological Environment The following presents a brief description, based on available information and the additional data collected by the national experts, of the baseline conditions in the physical and biological environments of the various project areas. This section builds on the information contained in the EA for the IDSMIP by adding relevant information for the new raions covered by the WUAP . 4.3.1 Physical Environment 4.3.1.1 Northern Zone (Khachmaz, Quba, Qusar) . Soils 22 . The northeastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus are drained (from north to south) by the Samur, Qusarchay, Quruchay, Qudyalchay, Agchay, Qarachay, Chagachuqchay, and Velvelichay Rivers. At the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, arenosol type soils occupy the moderate to gentle slopes of contiguous alluvial fans deposited as the swiftly flowing, sediment-laden rivers dissipate their energy upon reaching the plains. The colluvial slopes are noticeably more fertile, but their precise classification requires additional inspection that is beyond the scope of this study. Further down slope and across the coastal plain (Khachmaz), clay to clay-loam, greyish brown to brown, non-limy to slightly saline soils develop on the lower reaches of the alluvial fans and on the ancient seabed of the receding Caspian Sea. Poor sandy soils develop on the wind- reworked sands of the present day coastal area. Soil characteristics of the Qusar-Khachmaz Foothills, as well as their amelioration needs and crop suitability are summarised in Table A-4 of the Appendix. On the steeper, topographically higher areas of the right bank of the SAC, soils are susceptible to erosion. Moderately saline and alkaline soils are rather prevalent in flat and topographically depressed areas on the left bank of the SAC. Most susceptible to salinisation are clay-rich soils that overlie shallow groundwater in poorly drained areas. Excessively shallow groundwater underlies half of the irrigated lands of the low-lying Khachmaz raion (52,300 ha), even though over 20 percent of its total irrigated area is artificially drained. As a result, over 12 percent of the irrigated soils in the Khachmaz raion are slightly to moderately saline and over 29 percent , slightly alkaline. Groundwater . The annual renewable recharge of groundwater underlying the SAC irrigation service area between the Samur River and Devechi is estimated at 870 million m 3 . Close to 200 million m 3 of this recharge discharge as springs 23 . The best quality groundwater, calcium- bicarbonate type with total dissolved solids (TDS) below 0.5 g/l is encountered in the Samur- Qusarchay watersheds at the northern part of the area. The quality of groundwater degrades both towards the coastal area and southwards due to increased leaching of marine deposits, poorer drainage, and increasing aridity. In the coastal area, the TDS (bicarbonate-sulphate- sodium) rises up to 2.5 g/l. 22 Much of the information is derived from the Diagnostic Survey (2003). Refer to draft report (Sections II B-2b, c, and d) for further information on the water holding capacity of the different soils and the differences between the conventions of the Soviet system and their Western counterparts; and Sections II B-2c and d) for discussion of soil hydraulic conductivities and fertility. 23 Coastal Profiles, Azerbaijan; Caspian Environmental Program website: wysiwyg://45/http://www.Caspian environment.org/itcamp/azeri1_20_2.htm Page 43 8 The main sources of irrigation water on the right bank of and above the SAC are artesian water wells and springs. In contrast, on the left bank of the SAC (i.e., the area that can be irrigated by gravity), only 0.2 percent of the total irrigated area relies on well water 2 4 . The depth to groundwater decreases from several tens of meters in the upper part of the alluvial fans in the upper Qusar Foothills, to few meters and less, in the lower reaches of the alluvial fans. The groundwater table has been on the rise since 1959, reaching in the late 1980s up to an average of 1 m below ground surface. During the economic slowdown of the early 1990s, water usage decreased due to the deterioration of the water distribution system and more recently this trend has ceased. This strongly suggests that the fluctuations of the groundwater table were precipitated by the intensified irrigation activities 25 . 4.3.1.2 Southern Zone (Saatli, Sabirabad, Imishli, Aghjabedi) and Western Zone (Geranboy). Soils 26 . Alluvial soils of water-worked pebbles in a sandy matrix (arenosols by FAO World Soil Legend) are common along the piedmont fringe of the central valley zone, evidence for a more pluvial past climate. In these drier, elevated foothill fringe of the Lesser and Greater Caucasus, bright chestnut, chestnut and grey soils predominate, at times containing gravel lenses. Derived from the sedimentary rocks of the lower slopes, they are likely to be polygenic, with considerable variation in texture. Most irrigated soils are either loams, sandy loams, or silt loams. The clay content of these soils is generally low, less than 15 percent. These soils would be classified locally as light and medium loams. At lower elevations, silty and fine sandy loams and medium clay alluvial soils are common. Close to the Kura River, soils become grey saline meadow and meadow with intermediate to high contents of humus. Most irrigable soils of the central valley zone would be classified locally as “light sierozem”, or as eutric fluvisols (base-saturated alluvium), by the FAO World Soil Legend. Low-humus, clay-rich swampy and silty-clay meadow soils prevail in the depressions near the Araz River 27 . Table A-5 in the Appendix compares the prevalence of saline and alkaline soils, the quality of irrigation water, and depth to groundwater table in the Imishli, Beylegan, Saatli, and Sabirabad raions 28 . Most of the irrigated lands are located either on the banks of the Araz River (Imishli) or close to and downstream from the confluence of the Araz and Kura Rivers (Saatli and Sabirabad). During summer, the main irrigation season, the Kura and Araz Rivers supply slightly brackish water (between 0.85 – 2 g/l) to the irrigated lands of all three raions. Inferior water quality combined with flat topography and inadequate drainage 29 cause a considerable development -- between 11-17 percent of the total irrigated area -- of moderately to highly saline soils. Based on partial data, over 22 percent of Imishli’s irrigated soils are defined as moderately to highly alkaline. 24 Table 2.1, EA and Monitoring, op.cit. 25 Tables 2.4 and 2.5, EA and Monitoring, op.cit 26 A liberal use was made of the Diagnostic Survey Draft Report (op. cit, 2003). 27 Section 2.4.2 and Annex A.10, EA and Monitoring, op. cit. 28 For good summary of the nexus between shallow groundwater and soil salinity and sodicity (or alkalinity) in the central valley, see Diagnostic Survey (2003), Sections IV-C 1a, and b. 29 Due to more than doubling of the irrigated area in the Mill-Karabakh Plain since t1940, the draining capacity of the K-1, K-2, K-3, the Mill-Karabakh as well as the intra-farm collectors was greatly exceeded. Page 44 9 Groundwater . On the left bank of the Kura River, the groundwater table is generally within three meters of the ground surface over 90 percent of the Shirvan Plain 30 . This is apparently a result of protracted infiltration of irrigation water from the canal system. Horizontal groundwater heads are low (0.03 to 0.0007) and decrease towards the Kura River, and the hydraulic conductivity is on the order of 0.1 to 3 m/day. Dominated by sodium chloride with high sulphate contents, water TDS ranges between 5-100 g/l, with the higher values typically away from the leaking irrigation canals and drainage collectors. The shallow, unconfined aquifer is underlain at depths of 50-200 m below ground surface by three, sand and loamy sand artesian aquifer complexes. Underneath the eastern Shirvan Plain, the water of this deeper aquifer is highly mineralised (5-10 g/l). As one proceeds towards the elevated margins of the plain, the water quality of the deeper aquifer improves and the level of the top aquifer plunges to a depth that no longer affects topsoil salinisation. For instance, the quality of the deeper aquifer water greatly improves around Yevlakh to 1.2-1.5g/l, where they are extensively used for irrigation and domestic supply. On the right bank of the Kura River in the Kura-Araz plain, the greatest depth to the groundwater table, 2.8 to 3.5 m below ground surface, is in the alluvial zones of the Mill steppe. Well water levels in areas of shallow groundwater table (<1 m) have been on the rise between 1991and 1998 due to insufficient drainage 31 . Further to the west, alluvial fan deposits with high proportion of coarse-grained permeable sediments underlie the piedmont plain of the Geranboy-Ganja area. Recharged in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus, these deposits comprise two transmissive zones: an upper, partially unconfined aquifer complex and a deeper confined aquifer system. The deeper aquifer system splits further north into several separate fresh groundwater-bearing units. Artesian heads feed overflowing artesian wells that are used for irrigation. Further down along their flow pathways towards the centre of the intermontane basin and at greater depth, water are encountered that have sodium sulphate and sodium chloride salinity ranging between 5-129 g/l 32 . At times these waters contain significant concentrations of dissolved H 2 S and methane, endowing them with therapeutic properties. In the Geranboy-Ganja area, the depth to the upper, unconfined aquifer ranges from over 25 m in the intefluves between the rivers that drain the northeastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, to less than 5 m in the river valleys and in proximity to the Kura River and the Karabakh Canal. Still, only 8.4 percent of the total irrigated area is afflicted by shallow (<1.5m) groundwater 33 . The hydraulic conductivity of the upper aquifer typically ranges between 0.1 and 13.4m/day, and its transmissivity averages 20-40 m 2 /day. Beneath most of the entire area, the aquifer contains good quality, calcium bicarbonate water with less than 1g/l TDS. Both the unconfined and the deeper, confined aquifers are tapped in the Geranboy-Ganja Piedmont Plain by scores of 100-150 m deep tubewells, as well as by springs and kherizes 34 that are utilised for domestic, irrigation and industrial uses. In the Geranboy area, most of the 30 Sections 2.4.2 – 2.4.4, SCP ESIA, Draft for Disclosure, op. cit. 31 Table 2.2, EA and Monitoring, op.cit 32 Coastal Profiles, Azerbaijan; Caspian Environmental Program website, op. cit. 33 RIDIP II Feasibility Study, Table 4.3 34 A hydro-gravity system that taps groundwater at the aquifer and conveys it through subsurface galleries that are illuminated and served by vertical shafts. For additional information on this traditional technology, see Kehriz harayi, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Nakhchivan, Dec. 2001. Page 45 10 water abstracted in recent years, between 238-312 thousand m 3 /day on average, is used primarily for irrigation and to a much smaller degree for domestic supply. 4.3.1.3 Northern Zone new raions (Qusar, Saki, Zagatala, Gakh, Balakan, Ismaili, Gabala, and Oghuz) . Qusar raion is situated on the south-eastern slope of the Upper Caucasus. Its territory is 1 542 km 2 , its population 86 600. The centre is Gusar Gity. The altitude of the area ranges from 100 m to 4 466 m. Soils Jurassic and Tabashir, Neogen and Anthropogen sediments are widepsread. The salt composition of dry layer in soil in 100 sm is less than 25 percent. Mountain-meadow, brown mountain-forest, carbonate mountain-forest soils are wide-spread. Climate Mild to hot climate dominates in the south, cold climate in the north. The average temperature in the highlands is -14 o C- and in the lowlands 1 o C in January, and 2 and 24 o C in July, respectively. Annual rainfall is 350-1500 mm. Groundwater The groundwater level is 5- 10 m in depth in the upper part of the raion, and the water mineralization is less than 1000 mg\l. The rivers (Gusar and Samur) belong to the Caspian Sea basin. Saki raion is situated on the south-eastern slope of the Upper Caucasus. It is bordered by the Russian Federation on the north-east. Its territory is 2 432 km 2 , its population 169 000. The raion’s centre is Sheki City. The northern part of the region is included in south slope of the Upper Caucasus chain of mountains, the central part in Ganikh-Haftaran valley, and the southern part in the Ajinohur lowlands. The altitude of the area ranges from 100 m at Ajinohur lake to 3 683 m in the watershed of the Upper Caucasus chain of maountains. Soils The northern and north eastern parts of the region are spread with Jurassic and Tabashir sediments, in the remaining area Neogen and Anthropogen sediments. The salt composition of the dry layer in the soil in 100 sm is less than 25 percent. Climate A mild to hot climate dominates in the south, with a cold climate and mountainous tundra to the north. The average temperature is -10 o C to 1 o C in January, and 10 to 26 o C in July. The annual rainfall is 400- 1400 mm. Groundwater The groundwater level is 5-10 m in depth in the upper part of the region, 2-5 m in depth in the lower part, and the water mineralization is less than 1000 mg\l. The rivers (Ayrichay, Alijan etc.) belong to the Kura basin. Mountain-meadow, brown mountain-forest, chestnut-colored meadow-gray, saline gray-brown soils are wide-spread here. Zagatala raion is situated on the southern slope of the Upper Caucasus and Ganikh-Ayrichay valley. It is bordered by the Russian Federation on the north-east and Georgia on the south- west. Its territory is 1 348 km 2 , its population is 111 600. The raion’s centre is Zagatala City. Its relief is mountainous on the north and north-east, and lowlands on the south and south- west. Its altitude on the lowland relief is around 200-600 m, and in the mountainous areas 3 648 m. Soils The lowland area is wide-spread with Anthropogen sediments, the mountainous area with the Jurassic and Tabashir sediments. Mainly alluvial meadow, brown, mountain- forest, mountain-meadow soils are wide-spread here. The salt composition of the dry layer in the soil in 100 sm is less than 25 percent. Climate The raion’s climate is mild to hot in the lowland and foothill areas, and cold in the highlands. The average temperature in January in the highlands is higher than -10 o C, in lowlands 1 o C, and in July it is -5 to 24 o C. Annual rainfall is 600-1600 mm. Groundwater The ground water level is 5-10 m in depth in the upper part of the region, 2-5 m in the lower part, and the water mineralization is less than 1000 mg\l. The raion’s rivers (Katekh, Tala, Mukhakh etc.) belong to the Ganikh basin Page 46 11 Gakh raion is located on the southern slope of the Upper Caucasus. It is bordered by the Russian Federation on the north-east, and by Georgia on the south-west. Its territory is 1 493 km 2 , and its population is 54 700. The raion’s centre is Gakh City. The northern and north- eastern parts of the region are included in the southern slope of the Upper Caucasus chain of mountains, the central part in the Ganikh-Haftaran valley, the southern and south-eastern parts in the Ajinohur lowlands. The altitude ranges from 100 m at the Ajinohur lakeside to 3 480 m at the crest of the Upper Caucasus chain of mountains. Soils The region has widely spread sediments of the Jurassic, Tabashir, Neogen and Anthropogen periods. Mountainous-meadow, brown mountainous-forest, alluvial meadow-forest, chestnut, carbonate black soils are wide- spread. Salt in 100 sm layer in soil is less than 25 percent. Climate The climate is mild to hot and semi-humid subtropical, and cold in the highlands. The average temperature in January ranges from -10 o C to 2 o C, in July from 5 o C to 26 o C. Annual rainfall is 300-1600mm. Groundwater The ground water table in upper part is 5-10 m in depth, and in the lower part 2- 5 m in depth. Water mineralization is lower than 1000mg\l. The Kurmukchay and Ayrichay rivers and others that flow through the area are included in Ganikh river basin, which flows along the Georgian border.. Balakan raion is located in the north-western part of the country, on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and Ganikh-Haftaran valley. It is bordered by the Russian Federation on the north-east, and Georgia on the north-west and south-west. Its territory is 923 km 2 , population 84 400. The relief of the region is mountainous in the north-west and lowland in the south- west. There are Guton, Tinov-Russo and other crests on the water crossing of Main Caucasus. Soils In the lowlands, Antropogen sediments are found, and in the highlands Yura and Tabashire sediments are widespread. Salt in 100 sm layer in soil is less than 25 percent. The river network (Balakan, Mazim, Katekh, Ganikh) is dense. Mountainous-meadow, brown mountainous-forest, alluvial meadow-forest, chestnut, carbonate black soils are wide-spread. Climate The climate is mild to hot and semihumid subtropical. It is cold and humid in the highlands. The average temperature in January is from -7,8 o C to -1,5 o C, but in July 10,5- 24,5 o C. Annual rainfall is 600-1400 mm. Groundwater The ground water table in the upper parts of the region is 5-10 m in depth, and in lower parts 2-5 m in depth; water mineralization is lower than 1000mg\l. Ismayilli raion is situated on the south-eastern slope of the Upper Caucasus. Its territory is 2 047 km 2 , with a population of 75 000. The centre is Ismailli City. The northern part of the raion is included in the southern slope of the Upper Caucasus chain of mountains, the central part in the Ganikh-Haftaran valley, and the southern part in Ajinohur lowlands. The altitude of the area ranges from 100 m to 3 639 m. Soils The northern and north-eastern parts of the raion are spread with Jurassic and Tabashir sediments, the remaining area Neogen and Anthropogen sediments. The salt composition of dry layer in soil in 100 sm is less than 25 percent. Mountain-meadow, brown mountain-forest, chestnut-colored meadow-gray, saline gray-brown soils are wide-spread in the raion. Climate Mild to hot climate dominates in the south, cold climate and mountainous tundra in the north. The average temperature is -10 o C to 1 o C in January, and 12 to 28 o C in July. Annual rainfall is 400-1400 mm. The groundwater level is 5-10 m in depth in the upper part of the region, 2-5 m in depth in the lower part; the water mineralization is less than 1000mg\l.. The rivers (Girdimanchay, Goychay, Akhokhchay etc.) belong to the Kura River basin 4.3.2 Biological Environment Page 47 12 The former IDSMIP project sites, with the exception of sites in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, fall within the Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe ecoregion (see Section 3.1.6). The new WUAP sites in the mountain raions are in the Caucasus mixed forests ecoregion. The predominant land use activities in all project zones are agriculture and livestock raising, with little room left for the natural ecosystems. The flora and fauna of the agricultural lands is generally limited, although it has been unintentionally enriched by the present crisis of the agricultural sector. Many uncleaned drainage canals have turned into small wetlands, growing common reed and supporting a population of reed warblers and small raptors as well as terrapins and turtles. Furthermore, the monocultures of the Soviet period have, in many places, been left to fallow and/or used as winter pasture, and presently support a flora of salinity resistant grasses and herbs such as glassworts and, when sufficient time has passed, of bushes such as tamarisk. However, such on-farm biodiversity is still relatively limited. Main animal species include small rodents, mainly considered as pests, as well as common birds such as bee-eater 35 , tree sparrow, house sparrow, sand martin, roller, magpie, starling, rook, carrion crow, white stork and herons. 4.3.2.1 Northern Zone (Khachmaz, Quba, Qusar). Most of the project area in the northern zone has been converted to intensive agricultural use: irrigated agriculture, orchards and vineyards, rainfed agriculture as well as pastures on unirrigated, rocky, salty or wetland. The limited flora and fauna of the agricultural lands is broadly similar to that described above. Bird diversity, however, is relatively high, although lower than in the surrounding natural landscapes. Grainfields are dominated by skylark and corn bunting in the summer, and rock bunting and yellowhammer, together with skylark , in the winter. In vineyards, typical species also include quail and turtle dove. Among mammals, orthoptera and rodents dominate on farmed lands, but wolves, foxes and jackals also occur. Concerning natural ecosystems, the main landscapes in this project area are (i): seaside sandy vegetation of the coastal strip; (ii) low-lying landscapes with semi-desert vegetation, meadows, brushwood of semi-zerophitic shrubs, and low-land mixed broad-leafed forests from –27 to 200 m; (iii) foothill semi-steppe with meadows and fragments of sparse forests and bushes from 20 m to 500-600 m; and (iv) low-mountain woody landscapes from 500 m to 1,000-1,200 m. Different types of marshes occur on the coast, including open marine shallows with rich fodder supply and hence high numbers of aquatic birds; flood marshes growing couch-grass and ephemeric cereals etc.; and small swamping areas emerging from high groundwater table levels. On the coastal zone, 31 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibians and reptiles and hundreds of bird species can be observed. Twenty species can be considered rare of endangered 36 . Lowland forests of the coastal strip of the Shollar plain are of particular interest since such large forest ecosystems do not occur in other project zones. These forests are characterised by vardim oak, downy oak, Caucasian hornbeam, and white and black popla r associated with smooth-leafed elm, field maple, and oleaster. Understory is composed of hazel, hawthorn and black hawthorn, medlar, etc. They provide habitat for a great variety of land mollusks, insects, amphibians and reptiles and a rich avifauna, including 331 species and subspecies, of which 90 are settled. During summer time, chaffinch , nightingale and great tit dominate whereas in the wintertime, spruce siskin and European robin are common. Common pheasant* and 35 See Annex I for Latin names. 36 See Annex B. Page 48 13 white-tailed eagle* are Red Book species 37 . Mammals in the forested zone are represented by wolf, badger, otter, and, more rarely, jackal, stone marten and wild boar. The small rivers of the zone, in particular Velvelichay, Qudyalchay, Qarachay and Qusarchay, have been important for their fisheries. Besides carrying mountain stream fish in their upper course, they provide spawning ground for semi-migratory fishes of the Caspian. However, reduced river flows due to water abstraction and overexploitation by local populations have had a negative impact on the lower course fish populations. The EA recommends that the WUAP address this issue more carefully than the IDSMIP did by monitoring the water quality (particularly salinity) of discharges to the rivers in the new mountainous raions and investigating the impacts on fish populations downstream. 4.3.2.2 Southern (Saatli, Sabirabad, Imishli, Aghjabedi, Zardab) and Western Zones (Geranboy). As in the northern zone, the main land use in these project zones is agriculture. Irrigated agriculture is practised on suitable elevated and well-drained soils near the mountainside as well as on the Kura-Araz lowland. Towards the salinised and deficiently drained areas in the interfluvial depressions and near wetlands, croplands are gradually replaced by pastures. Second to agriculture, desert and semi-desert are the most common ecosystems in these project zones. Most of them can be considered semi-natural even if they suffer from significant human disturbance, e.g., grazing. One of the most typical desert communities comprises mugwort and saltwort species, associated with ephemerals and ephemeroids such as grass, bulbous meadow grass, etc. More saline soils are typically covered by different saltwort species communities accompanied by certain spring herbs, bulbous meadow grass and bur-medick. A third type of desert community is dominated by seablight species associated with bur-medick, wall barley, and grass as well as some halophytes. As to semi- desert communities, they are most frequently dominated by mugwort, but saltwort semi-desert communities also occur. Woodlands in these project zones are rare, small and fragmented, and often planted. The vegetation is dominated by ash species, pedunculate oak, vardim oak, bramble, mulberry and smooth-leave elm. Woodland grape* and pomegranate*, included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan 38 , also occur. Some natural shrubland is also found, dominated by salt-resistant tamarisk and bramble species. Despite their limited size, these ecosystems provide an important habitat for the fauna of the area. Typical animal species in the desert/semi-desert and scarce wood/shrublands in the project zones include: brown hare, rodents, such as red-tail sanderling, house mouse, common wood mouse, striped field mouse and Gunther’s vole, and carnivores, such as red fox, golden jackal, wolf and Eurasian badger. Reedbeds along canals and other wetlands are habitat for brown rat, wild boar and coypu. Animal species included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan that occur in the project area include reed cat* and pygmy white-toothed shrew* in the Kura-Araz 37 From here on, all species listed in the Red Book will be marked with an asterisk. 38 However, these two species are not likely to be included in the next edition since their status is not considered threatened. The Red Book of Azerbaijan was published in 1985 but it is based on data from 15-20 years earlier. Data on the status, abundance and distribution of fauna and flora are thus very outdated and the book does not illustrate well the actual status of endangered species in Azerbaijan. More up-to-date information can be obtained from the IUCN Red Data Books, although these only identify whether a globally rare/endangered species occurs in Azerbaijan, not its status there. For list of species included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan and on the IUCN list, see Annex B. Page 49 14 lowlands and, possibly, marbled polecat* and porcupine*. Birds such as crested lark, lesser short- toed lark, northern wheatear, isabelline wheatear, Finsch’s wheatear, calandra lark, little bustard, and bittern are commonly found. Bird species of conservation concern present in the area include raptors such as Eurasian kestrel, lesser kestrel and the tawny eagle*, as well as ground nesting species such as chukar and black francolin*. On wetlands (see below), bird diversity is much higher. Typical reptile species inhabiting desert ecosystems include gecko, lizards, blunt-nosed viper and spur-thighed tortoise*. The turbid flow and unstable bed of the Kura and Araz rivers restricts vegetation to side channels, silty pools and seasonal meanders. Common reed, mint, water cress, water-milfoil, pondweed and buttercup species occur. The riverside vegetation comprises scrubs and trees such as tamarisk, bramble, rose, oleaster, willow, pomegranate*, and poplar species as well as swamp species like common reed, sea club rush, water-pepper and galingale. Smaller rivers in the project areas are typically seasonally or perennially nearly dry but still able to support tamarisk and common reed and, occasionally, milk thistle, sun spurge, saltwort and various grass species. Riverine ecosystems have changed considerably due to anthropogenic pressures. First, regulation of rivers significantly affects flooding levels and thus floodplain flora and fauna. Moreover, the abstraction of irrigation water has adverse impacts in particular during the dry season when river flows are sometimes decreased below ecological minimum flow requirements. Finally, ecosystems are affected by lower water quality, caused by pollution from human activities. Other anthropogenic disturbances such as gravel extraction from riverbeds have created additional pressures. The flora of the irrigation canals is largely limited to swamp species such as common reed, bulrush, sea club rush, galingale, water-pepper and stranglewort. Along canal banks, purple loosestrife is common as well as tamarisk, bramble, and orache species and camel prickle. In some cases, salt-tolerant species such as common glasswort and sea lavender also grow on the banks. Glabrose liquorice*, a useful medicinal plant, can also be found. In ponds and ox-bow lakes along the Kura and Araz rivers, vegetation is dominated by common reed and tamarisk species. In marshes , occurring in low-lying areas and often inundated seasonally, the species diversity is higher, providing also animal fodder and medicinal plants. The slight salinity typical to these wetlands has resulted in plant communities consisting of glabrose liquorice*, sea lavender, camel prickle, bermuda-grass, saltwort and orache species but also including shrub species like tamarisk. Typical bird species in wetlands include heron, egret, coot, mallard and gull (see below on important wetland habitats). As for reptiles, freshwater terrapin and European pond terrapin (both of conservation importance), European grass snakes and water snakes are common. More than 50 fish species occur in the Kura and its tributaries, with over 20 having some commercial value. Two main groups can be distinguished: Cyprinids including common crab, Caspian roach and bream, and migrants from the Caspian spawning in the river. Fish species of conservation importance include white-eyed bream, blackbrow, sturgeon ship, chanari barbel, murtsa barbel, Caspian lamprey, chub, bleak species and brown trout. Some drainage canals also carry fish in their lower course. Page 50 15 4.3.2.3 Northern zone new raions (Qusar, Saki, Gakh, Zaqatala, Gabala, Oghuz and Balakan) Qusar raion is characterized by alpine and subalpine meadows in the mountainous parts of the region, which serve as habitat for such animals as: Caucasian goat, wolf, bear, wild cat, squirrel, etc. Gusar Preserve was established in the region. Saki raion is characterized by alpine and subalpine meadows and widespread forests (oak, beech and hornbeam) on the Upper Caucasus part of the region. The region serves as habitat for such animals as noble deer, roe deer, racoon, squirrel, wolf, fox, gray hare, field mice, red-tailed mice, donkey, pheasant, partridge, etc. The Saki Preserve was established in order to protect these habitats. In Zagatala raion forests are wide-spread on the mountains, which serve as habitat to such animals as leopard, noble deer, Caucasian goat, squirrel, forest squirrel, wild pig, bear, wolf, lynx, wild cat, etc. There are also birds: eagle, pheasant, tetra etc. The main part of the Zagatala State Nature Reserve is located in this raion. In Gakh raion , alpine and subalpine meadows and forests are wide-spread in the mountainous parts of the region. The Ilisu State Nature Reserve and the Gakh Preserve are located in the area. Balakan raion has alpine and subalpine meadows and forests that are wide-spread in mountainous parts of the raion. Its fauna include: Caucasian goat, deer, roe deer, brown bear, wild pig, forest and plain squirrel, etc. The birds include: eagle, falcon, etc. Ismayilli raion has alpine and subalpine meadows, forests (oak, beech and hornbeam) widely spread in the Upper Caucasus parts of the raion. These serve as habitat for such animals as: noble deer, roe deer, racoon, squirrel, wolf, fox, gray hare, field mice, red-tailed mice, donkey, pheasant, partridge, etc. 4.3.2.4 Protected Areas. 39 , 40 (see Map 3) Ag-gol State Protected Area was established in 1964 on an area of 9,173 hectares in Aghjabedi and Beylegan raions. To strengthen the protected status of the area, a part of it, and 4 400 ha, was established as a State Reserve in 1978. A further 782 ha were added to the reserve in 1987. The protected area purports to preserve and restore the number of nesting, migratory and wintering birds, waterfowl-wader birds, little bustard, wild boar and others living on the Ag-gel Lake and the surrounding wetlands as well as to breed commercial fish species. Some 500 hectares of the Ag-gel area were designated a Ramsar site in 2001 41 . Located between the Kura and Araz rivers, Ag-gel Lake is a shallow (0,5-2,0 m) brackish lake whose size and salinity have varied over the years depending on its water supply. In the past, the lake was a seasonal freshwater lake, fed by the floods of the Kura River. In the latter part of the 20 th century, the development of irrigated agriculture -- through discharge of excess water from the surrounding area into the lake -- led to an increase in its size (from 4,400 ha to 10,000 ha) and salt concentration. In 1985-87, the 39 Two categories of Protected Areas exist in Azerbaijan. State Reserves or Strict Nature Reserves (zapovednik) purport to preserve ecosystems and their constituent species in a natural, untouched state. The land is owned by the State, and all human activities are prohibited without special permission. State Protected Areas or conservation areas (zapaznik) aim at preserving elements of the natural landscape, including natural ecosystems. Land is not necessarily State-owned, and certain activities are permitted provided they are comp atible with the Protected Area’s objective. 40 For more details, see Annex B and Map 3. 41 Ag-Gel fulfils three criteria for the inclusion on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (according to the criteria adopted by the 4th and 6th Meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands). These are 1(a): [It] is a particularly good representative example of a natural or near-natural wetland, characteristic of the appropriate bio-geographical region; 2(a) it supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal, or an appreciable number of individuals of any one or more of these species; and 3(a) it regularly supports 20,000 waterfowl. (For criteria, see http://www.ramsar.org/key_criteria_old.htm ; for list of Wetlands of Azerbaijan, see http://www.ramsar.org/cop8_nrs_azerbaijan_briefreport2.pdf) Page 51 16 wetland area again decreased, following the construction of a dyke around the lake to protect its fisheries from saline drainage waters and to prevent its flooding to surrounding agricultural lands. Part of the area outside the dyke was drained and used as sheep pasture. At present, Ag-gel is fed by drainage water from surrounding fields (collectors K-2, K-2.1 and K-3 of the Mil-Karabakh drainage system). It flows into the Boz-Kobu wetland through a canal. The quality of inflowing water is low and, in particular during Soviet times, it carried considerable amounts of pesticides and nutrients. Consequently, high concentrations of ammonium and phosphorus as well as eutrophication symptoms were reported on the lake. Chloride and sodium concentrations still exceed drinking water standards, and salinity levels are high. Severe oxygen deficits occur in particular during warmer months and the rate of destruction of organic substances is rapid. This has had a strong adverse impact on lake fisheries with total fish catches declining by 10-12 times, and some freshwater fish species disappearing. If countermeasures are not taken, the lake risks turning into a highly mineralised isolated swamp. The vegetation of Ag-gel is characterised by vast reed, cattail, bulrush and wormwood beds, open-water areas linked by reed-choked channels, salt marsh fringes and semi-desert islands with saltworts, etc. The diversity of water vegetation is high, with 42 species reported, including water-milfoil, shining pondweed and curly pondweed. Land vegetation consists of 40 species, representing both wetland and semi-desert flora. In an island named Kardon, Bibersitein mountain tulip* is found. Ag-gel is considered the most important wetland habitat for birds in Azerbaijan. At least 134 bird species have been recorded here, 89 of which breed in Ag-gel, including a colony of pelicans and storks (20,000-25,000 pairs). About 500,000 birds winter at the site. Species of global conservation concern include pygmy cormorant and marbled teal (breeding) and Dalmatian pelican, white-headed duck and white-tailed eagle (wintering), and the site supports more than one percent of the population of several waterbirds. A total of 20 bird species are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Furthermore, six groups and 22 species of mammals, six species of reptiles, four species of amphibians and 13 species of fish live in Ag- gel wetlands. The Ag-gel wetland is used by the local population for subsistence and small-scale commercial fishing and aquaculture as well as for grazing. The surrounding areas are heavily used for irrigated agriculture that affects the volume and quality of water inflow in the lake. The major threat to the wetland ecosystem is the considerable fluctuation in the water area and water salinity. In dry years, lack of water reduced the wetland surface and causes an increase in water temperature, thereby harming benthic life and reducing oxygen content essential for fish populations. Poaching and drowning of birds in fishing nets are also clear concerns. The problems of protected area management in Azerbaijan (see section 3.1.6) severely restrict the ability of the Reserve staff to ensure the protection of the area. The MENR recognises the critical situation and, in partnership with a German foundation Succow, has launched a project “Saving the Ag-Gel Lake” that envisages the restoration of water circulation balance by means of repairing and setting up hydro-technical structures to ensure that there is a sufficient level of water inflow from collectors to the lake. Korchay State Protected Area was established in 1961 on 15,000 ha in Khanlar and Goranboy raions to preserve game animals and birds settled in the area. It consists of semi-desert plains with low hills, low arid mountains, shrub along rivers, and a reservoir. Korchay area is Page 52 17 considered as an important bird site with breeding species such as ruddy shelduck, long- legged buzzard, chukar and black-bellied sandgrouse. Species of global conservation concern include pallid harrier and little bustard. Main land uses in the protected area and surrounding lands are sheep grazing, agriculture (in the river valley) and oil exploration. Overgrazing, poaching and the presence of insecure pesticide stores constitute the main threats to bird diversity. Zagatala State Nature Reserve covers an area of 25 218 ha, of which 48 ha - is occupied by reservoirs. Present-day flora of the reserve includes more than one thousand species. Among ancient plants there are yellow rhododendron, cherry-laurel herb, Caucasian bilberries, yew- berry (Taxus baccata), velvety maple, fern, eastern beach, also pale maple, and Georgian oak. The fauna of the reserve is rich as well. The reserve is habitat for dagestani tur, chamois, deer, roe deer, wild boar, brown bear, badger, fox, weasel, stone and forest marten, lynx, forest cat, and squirrel. Bird fauna includes 104 species, among which are several big birds of prey: Eared Owl, Kestrel, Egyptian Vulture, White-head Vulture, and Black Vulture. Amongst rare, particularly protected birds there are the Golden Eagle, Falcon, Caucasian Heath-cock and Ular. Eight species of amphibians are spread in the reserve: comb triton, Caucasian garden- spider, green and ordinary toads, lacustrine frogs, Transcaucasian and Asia Minor frogs. Reptiles include aesculapius and Transcaucasian runners, water snakes, and grass-snakes. 4.3.2.6 Natural heritage sites. A number of natural monuments in the project zone have been identified as natural heritage sites by the Government and thus have legally protected status. *They mostly include old individual trees or tree stands (oriental planes, pistachios, stone trees, elms, maples, oaks, pines and poplars). After the establishment of the list in 1982, however, no country-wide inventory on the state of the sites has been conducted and their current state is therefore not known. 4.3.2.7 Other important habitats 42 . Besides Ag-gel Lake, the Mil steppe harbours two other important bird habitats, the Boz-Gobu wetland area (including Sherbet Qobu, and Zaharmargol Lakes) and the Lake Sarisu. The Boz-Gobu system is located in the Kura river valley in Agjabedy, Beylegan and Imishli raions, between the Lakes Ag-gel and Sarisu. In the past, its lakes were freshwater lakes, fed by the floods of the Kura River, but presently, Boz- Gobu receives its water from Ag-gel through a canal. It outflows via Sherbetkobu canal to Sarisu Lake (see below). A continuous lake is formed only during flood season, when a chain of oxbow lakes and channels merges into a single lake containing shallows and vast reed beds, and surrounded by sparse tamarisk shrubs. The number of wintering waterbirds has decreased from 50,000 to 10,000-20,000 but 4,445 specimens of birds were observed (early 1990s). Breeding waterbirds include, e.g., bittern, little bittern and colonies of other storks. Species of global conservation concern correspond to those in the Ag-gel Lake area (see above). The wetland and surrounding area are used mainly for agriculture, grazing and oil extraction. A hunting reserve of 2,000 ha has been established on the wetlands of Boz-Gobu and surrounding area, and leased to the Hunt ers’ Society of Azerbaijan. Another part of the area is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Oil. Pollution and hunting, therefore, constitute the primary threats to the lake’s biodiversity. 42 For more details, see Annex B and Map 2. Page 53 18 Lake Mehman is one of the freshwater lakes of the Kura River valley that drained following the creation of the irrigation network in the latter part of the 20 th century. The remaining wetland, covering an area of 1,200 ha, still supports a diverse bird population (3671 water bird and raptor species recorded in 1993/94). The Lake Sarisu wetland, one of the best sites for waterbirds in Azerbaijan, extends over 14,000 ha in Imishli and Sabirabad raions. It is a system of brackish lakes with vast reed beds, areas of open water, small islands, and shallows, which were formerly connected to the Kura River during spring flood. At present, water levels are dependent on irrigation channels, and average lake depth is only 0.9 m. Sarisu receives its water from Boz-Gobu and from the drainage system of the Imishli raion (collectors K and K-1 which, following the ongoing construction of the Main Mil-Mugan collector, are likely to no longer feed the lake). Some irrigation excess water (from canals P-1 and P-12-1) also flows into the lake. A dike, built in the 1960s for the purpose of creating additional grazing land, separates the lake area from the riverbank, but, in its easternmost part, Sarisu has a separate controlled outlet via a short collector to the Kura. As it is fed by drainage water, the hydrochemical conditions of the lake are tough and unstable with high salinity and low oxygen content. In the past, eutrophication symptoms were reported, and chloride and sodium concentrations still exceed drinking water standards. Due to low water quality, cane and reeds are the main plant species in the wetland area. Avifauna, instead is numerous and diverse. In good years, the site provides habitat for 70,000- 80,000 waterbirds, including several globally threatened species (see Ag-gel description above). Other breeding birds include herons, shorebirds, black francolin and kingfisher. Several species meet the conservation criteria of greater than one percent of global population. According to Birdlife International, international protection status under the Ramsar Convention on wetlands would be justified. Most of the site is leased by the Military Hunter’s Society 43 . Other land uses include fishing, agriculture and grazing, and oil extraction. Population pressure on the northern shore of the lake is high. Poaching, fishing and pesticide run-off from surrounding fields threaten the lake ecosystem. Small remnants of riparian tuqay forests still occur along the Kura River in the northern part of the central lowlands. These forests are characterised by wing nut, vardim oak and white poplar, and are currently severely threatened by tree cutting and grazing. The Azerbaijan Comprehensive Nature Protection Plan for the period up to 2010, which was approved by the Government in 1988, envisages the creation of the “Along-the-Kura” State reserve to protect and restore these forests mainly in the Barda and Agdash districts. The planned reserve would also cover a small part of tuqay forestland in Zardab district. The Samur delta , on the border between Khachmaz raion and Dagestan (Russia), is a lowland river delta where unique remnants of relic broad-leaved deciduous forests (oak, linden, elm, beech, etc) have been preserved on an area of 20,000 ha. Three endemic and 16 rare plant species can be found in the area. Former sand beaches along the Caspian coast have been largely inundated since the mid-1980s but a few pebble beaches remain. Breeding bird populations, including black stork, lesser spotted eagle, common kingfisher and European 43 The Hunters Union of Azerbaijan manages 30 hunting reserves throughout the country, with a total area of about 450,000 ha. Reserves are managed under contract to MENR, which also defines management guidelines for each reserve. However, habitat management in hunting areas is generally very weak. Page 54 19 roller, are regionally important. In the summer, a large number of seabirds gather off the delta. The main threats to this ecosystem include uncontrolled logging, the fragmentation of the forest area for agriculture and disturbance from tourism along the coast. Nabran-Yalama-Khachmaz Liana-oak Forest occupies an area of 20,000 ha in the northeastern coastal plain near Nabran, Mukhtadir, Khachmaz and Yalama. It is a unique forest of broad- leaved trees, mainly oaks, covered frequently by “liana” type creepers, among them ivy. Tree diversity and endemism are relatively high 44 . In the Soviet period, the forested area decreased rapidly due to conversion into agricultural use. However, the process has been reversed with some land sold back to the MENR (former Forestry agency). The forest does not possess any nature protection status and is managed for various human uses. An area of 120 ha is planted annually, mainly with oak, walnut, acacia, and chestnut. The managing agency harvests approximately 2,500 m 3 of wood each year, purchased mainly by villagers for heating. Recreation activities are allowed within parts of the forested area, in particular along the coast. Hunting is allowed but requires a permit, and some poaching has been observed. Cattle and pigs use the parts of the forest as pasture. The planned Shah-Dag National Park may cover part of the area. The project zones also harbour certain other sites where plants listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan are found. *According to the Law on Wildlife, the owners of the lands that are inhabited by Red Book species must comply with the arrangements for protection of these species and create conditions that ensure their natural restoration. 4.4 Description of Socio-Economic Context Much of the following description of the socio-economic context in the project areas is drawn from the social assessment performed for the IDSMIP as part of project preparation in six WUAs in representative project areas 45 . A more detailed discussion of these issues can be found in the social assessment. Additional information has been added for the new raions in the WUAP . 4.4.1 Population . Azerbaijan is at the beginning of a demographic transition, with a young and growing population and a decreasing birth rate as fewer families can afford large numbers of dependants. The transformation from a salary-based rural economy to a peasant society and the deterioration of basic rural services has created enormous pressure on rural families. The average family size in the project areas studied was five per household. However, most families were living in extended families. 4.4.2 Rural Poverty . As noted above in Section 3.2.5, 42 percent of the rural population was considered poor by SSC estimates in 2001. There are, however, regional variations in this rural poverty, as reflected in the differences in poverty rates in the various project areas. The northern region (including Khachmaz) ranks highest in the country at 58 percent, while the southern region (including Aghjabedi, Sabirabad, Saatli, Zardab, and Imishli) at 51-54 percent and western region (including Geranboy) at 50 percent, rank somewhat lower.. Official employment figures are low in the project areas studied (between 20-40%) and it is impossible to calculate the level of informal employment and self-employment. There is a 44 See Annex B. 45 Baumann, Pari: Social Diagnosis (December 2002). Page 55 20 significant amount of out-migration from rural areas; usually younger people migrating to towns and abroad looking for employment opportunities that will partly be used to bolster household income. Rarely does this involve the whole family leaving a village and indeed the population of the areas appears to be stable. Agricultural income in cash and in-kind is the biggest source of income for households and income from employment is the second most important source. Household livelihood strategies are diversified. Significant remittances are received in some households from non-agricultural employment in urban centres or abroad. Employment, pensions and social payments provide an important safety net for the poor households. 4.4.3 Public Health . Although the state of public health is gradually improving nation-wide, (see Section 3.2.5), the population in the project areas still suffers from a number of infectious and water-related diseases. Malaria is a primary concern in most of the irrigated agricultural raions of the country, particularly in the Kura-Araz lowlands where drainage has traditionally been a problem. With the assistance of the WHO, UNICEF and other international organisations, the MoH has achieved good results in preventing and treating malaria. Although the number of reported cases of malaria nation-wide has decreased dramatically in recent years (from a high of 13,000 in 1997 to no more than 1,000 in 2001 and around 500 so far in 2002), a number of the project area raions continue to report a higher than average incidence of cases. Data from MoH district offices 46 , for example, indicate that Sabirabad (48), Saatli (37), Imishli (30), and Aghjabedi (30), reported some of the highest numbers of cases in the country in 2001. Drinking water-related illnesses, such as stomach infections, salmonella, dysentery, and hepatitis, continue to plague the rural populations in the project areas where irrigation canals or even drainage collectors are used for potable water sources. Because these illnesses are traditionally under-reported by the local populations, MoH data on them are not completely reliable. 4.4.4 Education . As is the case in most of Azerbaijan, the education level of most household heads is high in the project areas studied. Most have at least a high school education and illiteracy is almost non-existent. Despite the rising indirect costs of education, school attendance is a priority and even the poorest households have all children at school. However, the quality of basic and secondary education is deteriorating sharply due to the lack of basic teaching materials, poor teacher training and salaries, and poor physical infrastructure. Households that can afford to often supplement the schooling of their children with private instruction at home. Higher education has declined significantly, especially amongst women, and poor students are likely to be excluded from attending higher education institutions because of the rising direct costs. 4.4.5 Irrigation, Drainage and Drinking Water . Irrigation and drainage are the main constraints to agricultural production in the project areas studied. Large areas lie uncultivated due to a lack of irrigation and drainage. The exact amount lying uncultivated is impossible to estimate. The data from SAIC offices on the area are not reliable. Local frustration at the lack of irrigation is high. In some instances water paid for in advance is not delivered at all or only a fraction of the expected water is delivered too late. In many instances people do not cultivate their land at all because they can not be sure of receiving irrigation. Uncertainty about the amount of water needed for various crops is high. Few people understand the payment system or the regulations governing irrigation. The general level of ignorance of both technical and institutional aspects of the irrigation system is a major contribution to poor 46 Statistics obtained from MoH in Baku, December 2002. Page 56 21 management. Local WUAs take measures to repair their irrigation and drainage systems. The normal course of action is to collect money and labour from households along a section of damaged canal to hire some machinery. This rehabilitation is usually a temporary emergency measure. Drinking water is a concern in the project areas studied as most WUAs have problems accessing clean drinking water. In many cases people are dependent on irrigation canals and rivers for their drinking water. In some places water is filtered through special stones in a tank before drinking. In other places the water is trucked into the village from the river and stored without treatment in household tanks. In some areas drinking water comes from artesian wells, a slightly better situation in terms of water quality and availability. Many families also have household pumps that are used to get water for household needs like cooking and cleaning, reserved for such minimal uses because of very poor quality. Internally Displaced Persons . There are IDPs in a number of the project areas. The IDPs did not get land during the privatisation process, but many of them are involved in agricultural production, either through leasing land or as agricultural labour. Most IDPs are an institutional part of the village community with their interests formally represented by an elected member to the Belediye. Further, the arrangements under which IDPs get access to both land and irrigation may differ from those of other water users. The IDPs often have preferential access to leases on Belediye land and often have preferential access to water. These may present potential areas of conflict for the project. Finally, the IDPs have a higher level of poverty and vulnerability than other social groups in Azerbaijan. They have smaller average family sizes and are more likely to be female headed. Their poverty and vulnerability is reflected in all human development indicators such as income levels, health and education. They are therefore the least likely of all social groups to want to invest in the irrigation infrastructure or to be able to pay for increased water costs. Socio-economic Context in the New Raions . The Saki-Zagatala economic region covers Balak n, Gakh, Gabala, Oghuz, Za gatala, and Saki raions. With its mild climate, the region relies on agriculture as the main part of its economy. Agricultural production in the region includes tobacco, silkworms, fruit, grains, and grapes; the region provides more than 99.5 percent of the tobacco, 47.9 percent of the cocoons, and 6.9 percent of the green tea leaves harvested in the country. Agriculture also includes sheep-breeding for meat, milk, and wool production. Business enterprises specialize mainly on gardening, tobacco-growing and cattle- breeding; they produce more than 99.5 percent of the industrial production in the region. The main industrial enterprises are food-related industry, silk and meat enterprises, fruit-vegetable canning industries, tobacco-fermenting, wine and hazel-nut plants. There are also small enterprises producing bread, sweets, and soft drinks, which meet local demand in the region. The region has a well-developed transportation network, which includes the main Yevlakh- Balakan highway and a railway which began operation in the second half of 1980s. The Guba-Khachmaz economic region comprises Davachi, Khachmaz, Guba, Gusar and Siyazan raions. Its economy is mainly specialized on vegetable-growing and fruit-growing. Grapes are grown in Davachi, Siyazan, Khachmaz regions, and potatoes in Gusar. All surroundings of living settlements in this economic region grow wheat, and the plain areas develop milk-meat purposed cattle-breeding, and foothills and mountainous areas sheep- breeding. There are poultry farms in Siyazan and Davachi. The agrarian industrial base of the region is made up of canned fruit-vegetable production, fish-processing, and carpet-weaving. There are enterprises processing wheat and milk products. The railway and Page 57 22 telecommunication lines, as well as the main oil, gas and water pipelines passing through the economic region, create important background for the economic development of the region. Gakh is a region of tobacco-growing, cattle-breeding, fruit-growing, grain-growing and silkworm-breeding. Agriculture enterprises in the region are - “Gakh-Grain”, “Gakh- Conserv”, “Gakh-Tobacco”, “Gakh-Manufacturing” OJSCs. “Ilham”, “Gunesh”, “Kapital-N” firms, “Shahmar” LTD, “Sadig” LLC produce mineral water. There are also sand-gravel combinate, fruit juice manufacture and hazel-nut processing enterprises in the region. In Balakan, Saki, and Ismaili raions the cultivation of grains, tobacco, and fruit, as well as the breeding of cattle and silkworms, are the mainstays of the economy. 4.5 Description of Stakeholders and Beneficiaries The stakeholders for the WUAP are generally similar to those for the IDSMIP , including the national and local institutions directly involved in the irrigation system (i.e., AIOJSC and its raion level offices) and in its agricultural, environmental and social impacts (i.e., the MoA, MENR, MoH and their local offices), local government institutions (i.e., the Ijra, and Belediye), local associations (i.e., WUAs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the project areas, and the beneficiaries themselves, the farmers, farm families and local population likely to benefit from the project 47 . The EA team met with representatives of most of these stakeholders to discuss environmental and social aspects of the project (see list of stakeholders met in Annex A). A brief description of the various stakeholders and their attitudes/interests in the WUAP follows. 4.5.1 Farmers, Farm Families, Local Population . The intended beneficiaries of the WUAP are obviously the farmers who benefit from the WUA development and infrastructure rehabilitation components of the project. They will see the direct benefits of the project in terms of better organisation and management of the irrigation system, as well as rehabilitation of critical infrastructure on their farms. They also will pay for these benefits in recalculated ISFs and in a portion of the investment costs for rehabilitation. The social assessment confirmed the willingness of most farmers to pay for irrigation improvements 48 . In addition to the farmers themselves their families, their neighbours, and the local population should benefit indirectly from the project in terms of increased agricultural output, improved employment opportunities, and expanded economic base. The EA team met with a number of farmers and other locals in the project areas visited in both formal and informal settings. 4.5.2 Water User Associations . The primary institutional beneficiaries, and in fact the means the project will use to reach the farmers, are the WUAs that will participate in the project. The WUAs will benefit from the capacity building and training in the institutional development component of the project (see Section 4.1) and those that meet the eligibility criteria will benefit from the infrastructure rehabilitation component. Many WUAs lack technical and managerial experience, have trouble collecting the ISF, and often experience conflicts over water distribution 49 . Thus, strengthening the WUAs to become participatory, self-sustaining organisations capable of operating and maintaining the irrigation infrastructure represents a significant challenge for the WUAP . The EA team met with a number of WUAs, both leaders 47 For a more detailed discussion of some of these stakeholders, see the social assessment prepared for Diagnostic Survey, Baumann, Pari: Social Diagnosis (December 2002). 48 Social Diagnosis (December 2002), op. cit. 49 Social Diagnosis (December 2002), op. cit. Page 58 23 and members, in the project areas visited; a strong WUA representation participated in the local consultations held in Zardab. (see Annex A). 4.5.3 Local Government Institutions . Although less clear, the local institutions of government, the Belediye and the Ijra, should benefit from and have an interest in the IDSMIP in terms of irrigation infrastructure improvements, agricultural productivity, and water management. The Belediye, as the elected self-government at the village level, has an obvious interest in the social and economic base of the village. The Belediye manages village assets, infrastructure, and common lands, but often lacks technical and financial means to do so effectively. The Ijra, the local executive authority, is the most decentralised level of state public administration. It too has an interest in the social and economic well-being of the villages within its jurisdiction but has closer ties to central and raion officials than the elected members of the Belediye 50 . The EA team was not able to meet with local government officials either from the Belediye or the Ijra during its visits to the project areas. 4.5.4 Non-Governmental Organisations . The NGO community in Azerbaijan, whether national or local, has an interest in representing and protecting the interests of its members with respect to the WUAP . This may involve participating in project planning and decision- making, implementing project activities (e.g., training, information collection or dissemination), and organising local support and participation. The EA team met with national environmental and social NGOs in Baku and a smaller number of local NGOs in visits to the project areas. *NGO representatives attended the publicly advertised, national consultation in Baku (see Annex A). 4.5.5 National Government Institutions . The AIOJSC, as the GoA sponsor and implementing agency for the WUAP , is the primary national government stakeholder. The AIOJSC and its local offices at the raion level obviously stand to benefit from both the institutional development and the infrastructure rehabilitation components of the project (see Section 4.1). Historically, the AIOJSC’s limited technical and financial capacity hampered its operation and maintenance of the country’s irrigation system. The IDSMIP addressed many of these capacity limitations; the WUAP will continue this support. Additional national government stakeholders are the MoA, with its overall responsibility for the agriculture sector, the MENR, with its mandate to protect the country’s water resources and natural heritage, and the MoH, whose public health programmes address a number of water-related diseases. 50 Social Diagnosis (December 2002), op. cit. Page 59 24 5. ASSESSMENT OF PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED PREVENTIVE ACTIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES The WUAP , like the IDSMIP before it, is designed to provide economic, social, and environmental benefits, through its development of WUAs and rehabilitation of on-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure, to the farmers, farm families, and rural communities where the project will operate. Many of these positive impacts of the project are obvious, including improved agricultural productivity and enhanced management of water resources and soil fertility. There are also, however, potential negative impacts on the social and environmental conditions in the project areas which will require attention, preventive action, and appropriate mitigation measures in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases of the project. Table 5.1 provides an overview, in summary matrix form, of these principal environmental and social impacts and the proposed preventive actions and mitigation measures identified by the EA for the potential negative impacts. The range of measures identified in the Table 5.1 are necessarily generic for the types of irrigation and drainage rehabilitation that the project will undertake; thus not all measures will be applicable in every case but will be determined in each case by a site-specific environmental assessment and management plan. A discussion of these impacts and the preventive actions and mitigation measures proposed follows. 5.1 Anticipated Positive Social and Environmental Impacts 5.1.1 Improved Agricultural Productivity . In improving agricultural productivity of individual farmers and the agriculture sector as a whole, the WUAP continues to support the Country Assistance Strategy sector-related goal of sustainable growth in agriculture and reduction in economic vulnerability of rural people. Agricultural productivity declined in Azerbaijan after independence, in large part because of the collapse of the off-farm and on- farm irrigation and drainage systems built by the former Soviet Union. The result was decreasing delivery of irrigation water, increasing salinisation of soils, and expanding areas of fallow agricultural land. The infrastructure rehabilitation planned for the WUAP should improve productivity by both regularising and increasing delivery of irrigation water and by expanding the area of irrigated lands by bringing existing fallow lands back into production. Use of low quality drainage water for irrigation would also be avoided when adequate supplies of fresh irrigation water would become available. Furthermore, the strengthening of the WUAs, besides ensuring improved payment of water tariffs, should improve management of water resources and soil fertility on agricultural lands and promote consistent operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage structure, thus avoiding the problems that occurred with the collapse of the former system. 5.1.2 Increased Farm Income, Alleviation of Poverty . Efforts to quantify the economic and social benefits of improved agricultural productivity are necessarily conjectural. However, the experience with the IDSMIP indicates that substantial economic and social benefits are likely. These benefits will be a result of several factors including increases in yield (see above), return to cash crops, and expected synergies with other agricultural development projects providing credit, extension services, etc. From these direct agricultural gross benefits flow a number of important indirect benefits to the farmers and rural communities in the project areas. Assuming improvements in marketing agricultural products and agro-industries over time, increased agricultural productivity should lead to increases in farm family incomes, improved employment opportunities on and off-farm, and an overall reduction in rural poverty in the project areas. Page 60 25 Page 61 T a b l e 5 . 1 P r i n c i p a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d S o c i a l I m p a c t s a n d P r o p o s e d P r e v e n t i v e A c t i o n s a n d M i t i g a t i o n M e a s u r e s : A S u m m a r y M a t r i x A n t i c i p a t e d P o s i t i v e S o c i a l a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t s S o c i a l : · I m p r o v e d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i v i t y a s a r e s u l t o f r e h a b i l i t a t e d i r r i g a t i o n a n d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m s a n d i m p r o v e d W U A m a n a g e m e n t · I n c r e a s e d f a r m i n c o m e a s a r e s u l t o f i m p r o v e d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i v i t y ; a l l e v i a t i o n o f r u r a l p o v e r t y i n p r o j e c t a r e a s · R e d u c t i o n i n w a t e r - b o r n e d i s e a s e v e c t o r s f r o m i m p r o v e d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m s ; i m p r o v e m e n t s i n h e a l t h o f b e n e f i c i a r i e s · R e d u c t i o n i n w a t e r u s e r c o n f l i c t s t h r o u g h i m p r o v e d w a t e r d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d W U A m a n a g e m e n t W a t e r r e s o u r c e s m a n a g e m e n t : · R e d u c t i o n i n w a t e r l o s s e s t h r o u g h i m p r o v e d o p e r a t i o n s a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f i r r i g a t i o n a n d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m s I n c r e a s i n g i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m e f f i c i e n c y i s a l s o a n a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r t h e i m p a c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e , a s n o t e d i n s e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 a b o v e · L o w e r i n g o f t h e g r o u n d w a t e r l e v e l , d e c r e a s e d r i s k s o f s o i l s a l i n i s a t i o n a n d w a t e r l o g g i n g a n d i m p r o v e d w a t e r a v a i l a b i l i t y f o r d o w n s t r e a m u s e r s R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f d r a i n a g e s y s t e m s t o l o w e r t h e g r o u n d w a t e r l e v e l , r e d u c e w a t e r l o g g i n g a n d d e c r e a s e s o i l s a l i n i z a t i o n i s a l s o a n a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r t h e i m p a c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e , a s n o t e d i n s e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 a b o v e · I m p r o v e d w a t e r r e s o u r c e s m a n a g e m e n t b y s t r e n g t h e n e d W U A s a n d a m o r e r e l i a b l e w a t e r s u p p l y t o p r o v i d e t h e b a s i s f o r r e a l i s t i c u s e r f e e s t h a t r e f l e c t t h e a c t u a l v a l u e o f w a t e r I m p r o v e d w a t e r r e s o u r c e s m a n a g e m e n t i s a l s o a n a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r t h e i m p a c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e , a s n o t e d i n s e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 a b o v e A g r i c u l t u r a l s o i l s : · R e d u c t i o n i n s o i l s a l i n i s a t i o n a n d w a t e r l o g g i n g a s a r e s u l t o f i m p r o v e d o n - f a r m i r r i g a t i o n a n d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m s A m e l i o r a t i o n o f s o i l s i s a l s o a n a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r t h e i m p a c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e , a s n o t e d i n s e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 a b o v e C o n s t r u c t i o n , o p e r a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t : · I m p r o v e d i r r i g a t i o n a n d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m m a n a g e m e n t , o p e r a t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e u n d e r s t r e n g t h e n e d W U A s Page 62 2 P o t e n t i a l N e g a t i v e E n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d S o c i a l I m p a c t s P r o p o s e d P r e v e n t i v e A c t i o n s a n d M i t i g a t i o n M e a s u r e s C o n s t r u c t i o n i m p a c t s : · D i s t u r b a n c e f r o m o n - f a r m c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s f o r r e h a b i l i t a t i o n w o r k s : i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h a c c e s s a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t y , c u t t i n g o f t r e e s a l o n g r e h a b i l i t a t e d c a n a l s , r u b b i s h , n o i s e , m u d a n d d u s t ; d a m a g e t o v e g e t a t i o n ; d i s t u r b a n c e o f w i l d l i f e · E n v i r o n m e n t a l c o v e n a n t s i n b i d d i n g d o c u m e n t s · E n v i r o n m e n t a l m a n a g e m e n t p l a n f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n t r a c t o r s · P r e p a r a t i o n a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s i t e - s p e c i f i c e n v i r o n m e n t a l m a n a g e m e n t p l a n s a n d r e l a t e d s t a f f t r a i n i n g · A t e c o l o g i c a l l y s e n s i t i v e s i t e s , s c h e d u l i n g w o r k s w i t h c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f p e r i o d s c r i t i c a l t o w i l d l i f e ; r e p o r t i n g o f d a m a g e t o e n v i r o n m e n t a l a u t h o r i t i e s ; d e f i n i t i o n o f a p p r o p r i a t e m e a s u r e s · C o m p e n s a t i o n f o r f a r m e r s s u f f e r i n g s i g n i f i c a n t c r o p a n d / o r l a n d l o s s e s a s r e q u i r e d b y A z e r b a i j a n i l e g i s l a t i o n · C u t t i n g o f t r e e s o n l y w i t h a p p r o v a l o f M E N R i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l l e g i s l a t i o n · R e g u l a r s i t e i n s p e c t i o n s t o e n s u r e c o m p l i a n c e · I m p r o p e r d i s p o s a l o f s e d i m e n t e x c a v a t e d f r o m c a n a l s a n d d r a i n s a n d o f r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e / m e t a l d e b r i s d u r i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , o p e r a t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e · P r e - c o n s t r u c t i o n s e d i m e n t s a m p l i n g . P r e p a r a t i o n a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s i t e p l a n s ; r e u s e o f s e d i m e n t s ( w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e ) b y s p r e a d i n g o n f i e l d s o r d i s p o s a l e n s u r i n g h y d r o l o g i c a l c o n t a i n m e n t ( e . g . r o a d i n f i l l ) · M i n i m i z e d r e d g i n g o f c a n a l s t o e x t e n t p o s s i b l e · P r o v i s i o n o f s a m p l i n g r e s u l t s a n d r e l a t e d u s e a n d d i s p o s a l g u i d e l i n e s t o W U A s f o r f u t u r e m a i n t e n a n c e w o r k s · O n s i t e s w h e r e s u b s t a n t i a l v o l u m e s o f c o n c r e t e / m e t a l w a s t e a r e e x p e c t e d , p r e p a r a t i o n a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t p l a n s W a t e r r e s o u r c e s m a n a g e m e n t : · D e c r e a s e i n w a t e r q u a l i t y f r o m i m p r o p e r f u e l m a n a g e m e n t f o r e q u i p m e n t u s e d f o r e x c a v a t i o n a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n · P r o p e r f u e l s t o r a g e , c o n t a i n m e n t a n d d i s p o s a l a t c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s Page 63 3 · D e c r e a s e i n q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y o f w a t e r f l o w s d o w n s t r e a m f r o m W U A i r r i g a t i o n a n d d r a i n a g e / o u t l e t s y s t e m s · M a i n t e n a n c e o f s u f f i c i e n t w a t e r q u a n t i t y t o m e e t m i n i m u m e n v i r o n m e n t a l f l o w r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r d o w n s t r e a m r i v e r e c o s y s t e m s a n d u s e r s ( a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r c l i m a t e c h a n g e ) · M a i n t e n a n c e o f w a t e r q u a l i t y b y W U A s ( b y m e a n s o f m e a s u r e s t o p r e v e n t o r m i n i m i z e a g r o - c h e m i c a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n ) i n d r a i n a g e / o u t l e t s y s t e m s d i s c h a r g i n g t o r i v e r s t o p r o t e c t d o w n s t r e a m r i v e r e c o s y s t e m s a n d u s e r s · M o n i t o r i n g o f w a t e r q u a l i t y a n d q u a n t i t y a t W U A d r a i n a g e / o u t l e t s y s t e m s b y t h e P I U , p a r t i c u l a r l y d i s c h a r g e s t o r i v e r s i n t h e m o u n t a i n o u s r a i o n s , w i t h r e m e d i a l m e a s u r e s i f n e c e s s a r y I m p a c t s f r o m d a m s a f e t y i s s u e s : · D a m s a f e t y i s s u e s r e l a t e d t o d a m s m o r e t h a n 1 5 m . i n h e i g h t · C o m p l i a n c e w i t h W o r l d B a n k s a f e g u a r d p o l i c y o n S a f e t y o f D a m s ( O P 4 . 3 7 ) · D a m s a f e t y i s s u e s r e l a t e d t o d a m s l e s s t h a n 1 5 m . i n h e i g h t · C o m p l i a n c e w i t h p r o j e c t g u i d e l i n e s f o r d e a l i n g w i t h i r r i g a t i o n d a m s a n d w a t e r s t o r a g e r e s e r v o i r s D e g r a d a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l s o i l s : · S o i l a n d c h a n n e l e r o s i o n r e s u l t i n g f r o m e x i s t i n g w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s · L e v e l l i n g l a n d a n d f i e l d d r a i n a g e t o m i n i m i s e e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l · R e l i n i n g c a n a l s s u s c e p t i b l e t o e r o s i o n , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f a s s o c i a t e d h y d r a u l i c s t r u c t u r e s · T r a i n i n g W U A s t o i m p r o v e w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s ( a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r c l i m a t e c h a n g e ) · I n s p e c t i o n a n d r e m o v a l o f u n a u t h o r i s e d c o n n e c t i o n s t o c a n a l s / d r a i n s · W a t e r l o g g i n g , s a l i n i s a t i o n a n d l e a c h i n g o f n u t r i e n t s f r o m s o i l s · R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f d r a i n a g e s y s t e m s t o g e t h e r w i t h i r r i g a t i o n c a n a l r e h a b i l i t a t i o n ( a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r c l i m a t e c h a n g e ) · P r o p e r w a t e r d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s ; c a r e f u l i r r i g a t i o n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d r e g u l a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d ( a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r c l i m a t e c h a n g e ) · C h e c k i n g f i e l d d r a i n a g e a n d , i f n e e d e d , c l e a r i n g d r a i n s b e f o r e i r r i g a t i o n s e a s o n · T e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e a n d t r a i n i n g t o W U A s t o i m p r o v e w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s ( a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r c l i m a t e c h a n g e ) · S u b - s u r f a c e w a t e r l e v e l a n d q u a l i t y m o n i t o r i n g · R e g u l a r s o i l s a l i n i t y m e a s u r e m e n t · I n s p e c t i o n a n d r e m o v a l o f u n a u t h o r i s e d c o n n e c t i o n s t o c a n a l s · T r a i n i n g i n g o o d i r r i g a t i o n p r a c t i c e s ( e . g . p r e v e n t i o n o f o v e r - w a t e r i n g ) ; i n t r o d u c t i o n Page 64 4 o f c r o p r o t a t i o n c y c l e s ( a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e f o r c l i m a t e c h a n g e ) I m p a c t s o n f a u n a , f l o r a , b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d h a b i t a t : · T h r e a t s t o f i s h i n u p s t r e a m r i v e r s p o s e d b y i n t a k e s t o W U A i r r i g a t i o n s s y s t e m s · I n s t a l l a t i o n o f f i s h p r o t e c t i o n b a r r i e r s / n e t s t o p r e v e n t e n t r a n c e o f f i s h i n t o W U A i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m i n t a k e s · C h a n g e s t o h y d r o l o g i c a l r e g i m e o r w a t e r q u a l i t y o f r i v e r s i n m o u n t a i n o u s r a i o n s · M o n i t o r i n g o f i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m i m p a c t s o n r i v e r s i n m o u n t a i n o u s r a i o n s · P r o v i s i o n s f o r m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s ( i n c l . n a t u r a l v e g e t a t i o n f i l t e r s i n s e c o n d a r y d r a i n s ; u n c u l t i v a t e d b u f f e r s t r i p s a l o n g f i e l d d r a i n s ) a s n e e d e d · R e d u c t i o n o f o n - f a r m h a b i t a t s ( e . g . , i n b u f f e r s t r i p s a n d s m a l l w e t l a n d s ) · I d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f r a r e s p e c i e s a n d i m p o r t a n t h a b i t a t s ; d e s i g n o f s i t e - s p e c i f i c m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s t o g e t h e r w i t h l o c a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l a u t h o r i t i e s · R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f f o r e s t e d s h e l t e r b e l t s P u b l i c h e a l t h a n d s o c i a l i m p a c t s : · I n c r e a s e i n i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r - r e l a t e d d i s e a s e s ( d i s e a s e v e c t o r s ) · W U A i n s p e c t i o n s t o r e m o v e v e c t o r b r e e d i n g a r e a s o n f a r m s · E x t e n s i o n / t r a i n i n g o n v e c t o r c o n t r o l a n d p r o p e r d r i n k i n g w a t e r p r a c t i c e s · C o n f l i c t s o v e r i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s ( e . g . a l l o c a t i o n s , d i s t r i b u t i o n , f e e s , i l l e g a l d i v e r s i o n s ) · T e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e t o e s t a b l i s h p a r t i c i p a t o r y a n d t r a n s p a r e n t p r o c e s s f o r a l l o c a t i n g w a t e r t o W U A s ; e q u i t a b l e w a t e r a l l o c a t i o n w i t h i n W U A s · T r a i n i n g f o r d e v e l o p m e n t o f W U A c o n f l i c t r e s o l u t i o n s t r a t e g i e s · W U A c o n t r o l o n u n a u t h o r i s e d / u n p l a n n e d c o n n e c t i o n s t o c a n a l s / d r a i n s Page 65 5.1.3 Reduction in Water-Borne Disease Vectors, Improvements in Health . Water-related diseases (e.g. malaria) represent a real concern in rural communities in Azerbaijan, particularly in areas where stagnant water stands for long periods and irrigation and drainage canals do not drain adequately (see Section 4.4). These physical conditions, combined with the decline in preventive health care programs in Azerbaijan, have left the rural population vulnerable to common disease vectors (e.g. mosquitoes). By improving on-farm irrigation canal and drainage collector systems, the WUAP should reduce the areas of standing water where disease vectors multiply. Furthermore, improved operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems by the WUAs, supported by awareness campaigns regarding the hazards of water-related disease vectors, should encourage farmers and their families to take a more active role in improving health conditions in the rural areas. 5.1.4 Reduction in Water User Conflicts . Although the results of the World Bank’s 2001 Rural Infrastructure Survey suggest that water user conflicts are not a significant issue (only 15 percent of respondents indicated that such conflicts represent a serious problem), the social assessment performed for the IDSMIP did find conflicts over water distribution to be an issue in a number of the WUAs studied. The WUAP ’s improvements in irrigation system management through strengthening of the WUAs and rehabilitation of critical irrigation infrastructure should remove many of the bases for these conflicts (e.g., irregular delivery of water, questions regarding the system of payments, etc.) and have beneficial effects on the social harmony of farmers in competing with each other for irrigation water and in dealing with the local offices that provide the irrigation water. 5.1.5 Reduction in Water Losses . Currently, a significant portion of the water channelled through the existing distribution systems is lost because of infiltration, evaporation and evapotranspiration. These water losses frequently result in the elevation of the local groundwater table, soil salinisation and waterlogging. The irrigation system rehabilitation activities of the WUAP should curb many of these water losses. Removal of vegetation in the on-farm irrigation systems would reduce losses by evapotranspiration. Reduction of unauthorised off-takes (e.g., to private fields, household plots, and for domestic supply and watering livestock) and breakage due to damage and neglect would significantly raise canal flow and reduce seepage. Improved canal management and configuration of cultivated plots, by improving application efficiency, would reduce the amount of water lost by tail escapes and seepage losses. Additional water savings also are expected following project installation of cross regulators, control gates and hydroposts, thus improving management and monitoring of water on-farm, as well as with a rational program for rotation and control of water supply to irrigated fields throughout the WUAs, based on scientific and economic considerations. 5.1.6 Improved Water Resources Management . Azerbaijan’s semi-arid climate makes its agriculture heavily dependent on irrigated cultivation, occupying about 85 percent of the total cultivated area. The low flow sustainable yield of the Kura-Araz basin, which supplies close to 90 percent of the water resources of the country, is already fully committed. The WUAP ’s support for WUAs, combined with more reliable and spatially extended supply of irrigation water to downstream farmers, is the first step towards revision of the current concept whereby water is considered as virtually a cost-free commodity. The project’s installation of better irrigation water measurement structures will also contribute to more rational water management. Further, rehabilitation of the irrigation systems will allow for eliminating illegally established groundwater and river water abstraction sites and thus enable better overall control on water use. As noted above in 3.1.4, the impacts of climate change on water resources will require the increased use of adaptation measures for improving water resources Page 66 2 5/07/10 Draft 2 management, such as increasing irrigation system efficiency and improving drainage conditions. With higher crop yields and effective decentralised organisation to keep the lower tiers of the irrigation system in good repair, an increase in the collection rate of user fees would generate, in principle, the basis for funding canal maintenance on a recurrent basis. 5.1.7 Lowering of Groundwater Level, Reduction in Soil Salinity, Sodicity and Waterlogging . Properly executed rehabilitation by the WUAP of the off- and on-farm drainage system should have a positive impact on the large tracts of poorly drained cultivable lands. These are located primarily close to the confluence of the Kura with the Araz Rivers, in the raions of Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli and Agjabedi. Presently, groundwater shallower than the critical 1.5 m depth prevails in about 17 percent of the irrigable land in these raions. The depth of the water table is critical for the incidence of secondary salinity, and with certain chemical composition and grain properties of groundwater and soils, respectively, can result in soil sodicity that is toxic to crops. Salinity is particularly prevalent where the groundwater itself is saline, and where accumulated salts are not leached periodically. Annual leaching of the soils, mandatory in the Soviet period, has practically ceased following independence. Reduction in soil salinity and sodicity would improve the yields of salt-sensitive crops. Furthermore, waterlogging that currently causes hardship in some low-lying rural residential areas would be alleviated. 5.1.8 Improved Irrigation and Drainage System Management . As has been noted, after gaining its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan witnessed the collapse of the large-scale agriculture and irrigation systems the Soviets had put in place. The transition from the large collective farms to the small, privately held plots has not been an easy one, with the operation and maintenance of the complex irrigation and drainage systems slowly deteriorating during this period. The thrust of the WUAP , as with the IDSMIP before it, is to ensure that this will not happen again through the empowerment of those most interested in maintaining adequate irrigation and drainage systems, the water users themselves. The institutional development component of the WUAP , designed to build secure, responsible, and self-sustaining WUAs, is the key to ensuring improved and sustainable management of the rehabilitation works in irrigation and drainage infrastructure financed by the project. With this improved management should come the host of other environmental and social benefits already described above. 5.2 Potential Negative Environmental and Social Impacts 5.2.1 Impacts during the Construction Phase 5.2.1.1 Construction impacts. Most of the WUAP ’s rehabilitation work will address the cleaning and desilting of tertiary level (on-farm) canals and drains and rehabilitation of the associated water regulation and measurement structures. The project will also rehabilitate a certain number of secondary level (off-farm) canals and drains, which may include canal cleaning and relining, installing water control equipment, and rehabilitating crossings. These works will involve the use of heavy machinery (excavators, bulldozers) but on a relatively small scale and on lands already under agricultural use. The most significant construction impacts relate to the management of dredged sediments and construction debris (discussed separately below). Other potential impacts include: (i) interference with access and movement; (ii) disturbance of agricultural activities resulting from access restriction, soil compaction, trenching, etc.; (iii) the cutting of trees along rehabilitated canals; (iv) rubbish, noise, mud and dust at sites and on access roads; (v) damage to vegetation along the canals; Page 67 2 5/07/10 Draft 3 and (v) disturbance of wildlife, in particular on sites close to ecologically sensitive areas (see Section 4.3.2). Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. The EA recommends a combination of preventive, mitigation and monitoring measures to minimise potential construction-related impacts. First, all construction contracts should have standard environmental, health and safety covenants, as required by Azerbaijani legislation and World Bank procedures, in their bidding documents 51 , and prior to awarding the contract, the PIU should ensure that potential contractors have adequate capacities to meet these requirements. Second, all contractors will need to adhere to the environmental management guidelines for contractors (EMG) prepared for the IDSMIP and continued with the WUAP , *as well as to any construction standards in force in Azerbaijan, that describe in detail the measures to prevent and mitigate construction-related environmental impacts. Third, preparation of a site- specific environmental management plan (EMP) , and provision of related staff training, should be a condition of the contract. The scope of the plan and the training requirements should depend on the scale of the proposed activities. Fourth, in ecologically sensitive sites, the use of heavy machinery should be scheduled with consideration to critical periods for wildlife (bird and fish breeding) (see also Section 5.2.4.3). Finally, as required by Azerbaijani legislation, the project should, prior to starting construction works, reach an agreement on reasonable compensation for farmers who may suffer significant crop losses (e.g. orchards) as a result of any land disruption by heavy machinery 52 . The environmental specialist from the PIU should conduct site inspections prior to, during, and upon completion of construction activities to ensure full compliance with the contract conditions, the EMG, and site-specific EMP. Final payment to the contractor should be contingent on the inspection results, in particular concerning the requirement of restoring the site to its original condition upon the completion of construction activities. In sites adjacent to sensitive habitats, the PIU site inspection should record observations of any destruction and/or changes to wildlife/habitat, report these to MENR and determine, together with the MENR and the contractor, appropriate measures to prevent further damage. The EMG *should be periodically reviewed by the PIU in light of inspection results and adjusted, if necessary. 5.2.1.2 Management of Dredged Sediment and Concrete Debris. Adverse environmental impacts may result from the disposal of sediments and other material that the project will dredge from irrigation and drainage canals. The traditional way of managing dredged sediments in the project area is dumping them along the canal banks. This, however, may result in the loss of agricultural land and may lead to erosion and subsequent resilting of the canals. Furthermore, at present there is insufficient information concerning the level of sediment contamination. Where contamination levels are high, the excavated sediment may adversely affect the natural environment and also accumulate in crops intended for human consumption. Furthermore, on some project sites rehabilitation works may entail the removal of malfunctioning water control structures and concrete relining of selected sections of irrigation canals prior to their restoration or, in the case of headworks rehabilitation, demolishing 51 Such covenants were included in the bidding documents of the IDSMIP . 52 According to the Azerbaijani legislation, uncultivated safety belts should be established along all canals for cleaning works. However, in some sites, the safety belt land is distributed to farmers and the fields thus border directly on the canals. Furthermore, land over piped irrigation canals is often under cultivation and cleaning works could cause considerable damage to crops. Page 68 2 5/07/10 Draft 4 existing structures prior to reconstruction. These works would generate potentially significant amounts of concrete debris, rebar steel and other metal scrap that, if indiscriminately dumped, would damage landscape and result in pollution. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. Prior to the commencement of canal dredging, as part of site-specific investigations, the PIU should have samples of excavated sediments analysed by a qualified laboratory. Contaminant levels should be assessed against the threshold values used under the IDSMIP . (Although the analysis of sediments under the IDSMIP did not reveal any significant contamination, this analysis will be continued under the WUAP as a precautionary measure at the new project sites.) If no contamination of concern is detected and the grain size of the dredged sediments would benefit the quality of the cultivated soils (e.g., add clay-size fraction to ameliorate properties of sandy soils), the dredged sediments should be used for field levelling. In the alternative, the sediment should be used as fill material or levelled on canal banks. However, where sampling results exceed the threshold values, a site plan should be prepared by the contractor, with the assistance of the PIU, showing the estimated volume of sediments to be excavated, expected extent and level of contamination, and corresponding transportation, use and disposal plans. Contaminated dredged material should not be used to level agricultural land, particularly land that is not already contaminated by similar pollutants. Instead, it should be disposed of so as to ensure hydrological containment (e.g., used for construction of embankments or infill of access roads, placed so as to prevent its erosion back into the canals). Heavily contaminated sediments should be disposed of in authorised landfills or, in their absence, in a pre- designated area authorised by the MENR. The PIU should inform the relevant WUAs of the sampling results in their area so that the above requirements can be taken into consideration in future maintenance works. Under no circumstances should concrete or metal waste be dumped indiscriminately. On sites where significant volumes of such waste are expected, a waste management plan should be prepared by the contractor, with the assistance of the PIU, to identify: (i) type and quantities of materials generated; (ii) opportunities for recycling and/or re-use (e.g. reinforcement of erosion-prone canals; construction of access roads; crushing into aggregates for construction and/or road embankments); and (iii) disposal routes, sites and licensing requirements. Spoil arising from the works that are classified, as "acceptable fill" will, wherever practicable, be used in construction works. Compliance by the contractor with the above requirements will be monitored by the PIU environmental specialist through site inspections (once prior to, during and upon completion of construction). 5.2.2 Impacts on Water Resources 5.2.2.1 Decreased Downstream Water Quality. The potential pollution of water resources (surface or groundwater) downstream from the project areas (as distinct from pollution from upstream sources) can derive from two main causes: (i) increased drainage from saline soils and (ii) increased agro-chemical pollution caused indirectly by the project. Besides potential environmental damage, this may result in public health problems since many rural households take their domestic water from rivers and irrigation canals without proper treatment. The rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage systems in some of the highly saline lands of the southern project zone will likely result in a modest increase in the salinity of waters in the receiving drains. These drainage canals mainly discharge into large collectors flowing directly into the Caspian Sea; however, significant impacts are not expected from this discharge, given Page 69 2 5/07/10 Draft 5 the already high salinity levels of the Caspian and the small incremental volumes of water concerned. Water quality monitoring conducted under the IDSMIP, for example, indicated an average salinity of drainage waters from project WUAs of about 4,300 mg/l and salinity of waters at the outlet to the Caspian Sea of the Main Mill Mugan Collector of 5,800 mg/l; whereas the salinity levels of the Caspian Sea along the shore of Azerbaijan ranges from 10,000-12,500 mg/l. Some collectors discharge into wetlands in the project area and, through them, into the Kura River, potentially affecting the water quality of these resources (See Section 5.2.4.1), but again the potential impacts of these discharges are considered negligible. The new mountain raions in the WUAP will include project sites that will draw water from and discharge drainage water directly into the numerous river systems that cover the mountainous areas. The impacts of these drainage discharges on the quantity and quality of the water in the river systems are as yet unknown and warrant monitoring until the impacts are understood and evaluated. At present, there is little or no application of agro-chemicals (fertilisers and/or pesticides) other than organic fertiliser in most of the project area 53 . This can be explained mainly by the farm ers’ current low economic returns, which prevent them from investing in agricultural inputs, but also by the absence of serious insect problems. However, projections of increased and more intensive agricultural production, along with the return to cash crops (cotton, vegetables, etc.), will require and facilitate the re-introduction of such chemicals in the future. The change will be gradual and take place over the next decade or more. Certainly a return to the high use levels of the Soviet period is not foreseen given the farmers’ financial constraints and the fact that the cost of these chemicals is no longer subsidised by the State. Nevertheless, the awareness of most farmers of the environmental and health risks associated with pesticides is inadequate. They lack both application and protective equipment and knowledge on proper application methods. In areas where farmers can currently afford pesticide use (e.g. orchards in the northern project zone), reported levels are relatively high. Moreover, stocks of obsolete/banned pesticides are reported to exist in the country and the GOA capacity to assist farmers in adopting sustainable pest management practices remains weak. Agricultural extension services are improving, but there are few good examples of integrated pest and production management (IPPM) 54 projects. Under these conditions, the risk is that the re- introduction of pesticides could lead to over-application and subsequently, through runoff, drainage or infiltration, pollution of surface or groundwater resources. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. As the potential impacts mainly represent non-point source pollution, they are best managed by preventive, rather than mitigative measures. The measures proposed below (see Section 5.2.3) for addressing soil- related impacts, in particular agricultural extension on proper irrigation and other agricultural practices (e.g., prevention of over-watering to minimise return flows and systematic replacement of nutrients; introduction of crop rotation cycles), will alleviate the impacts of saline drainage water and fertiliser use on downstream water bodies. In addition, the EA recommends (i) that the PIU conduct routine monitoring of the quantity and quality of drainage water at all new rehabilitation sites in the WUAP and (ii) take remedial measures where project interventions result in significant changes in water quantity or quality affecting downstream water bodies. Concerning the risk of pollution from pumping station waste, the 53 See Diagnostic Survey Draft Mission Report – Agriculture and Irrigation, February 2003 and RIDIP PIU: Social Impact Monitoring and Agricultural Assessment, Baseline Survey Report, February 2003. 54 For more details, see http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPP/IPM/gipmf/02_programmes/02a.htm Page 70 2 5/07/10 Draft 6 PIU should, when the participation of specific WUAs is decided, inspect all diesel-powered pumps on the site (whether or not they are proposed for rehabilitation) and provide guidance on proper fuel storage, spill containment and disposal of empty containers and scraps. Subsequent site visits should ensure that pump operators adhere to this guidance. With respect to potential agro-chemical pollution, no immediate mitigation measures are required, but the indirect, long-term impacts should be prevented by exposing the farmers to IPPM, proper agro-chemical application and storage methods, as well as awareness raising on the risks associated with the use of obsolete/banned chemicals. For this purpose, appropriate and affordable access to agricultural extension and training should be provided to individual farmers in the WUAP areas. The World Bank’s ADCP currently finances agricultural extension activities in some areas of Azerbaijan and the EA recommends that ADCP extension and training programs be implemented in WUAP raions until the project closes in May 2011 (see also Section 6.4.3). Furthermore, the EA recommends that the project develop its own training program on pesticide management and IPM under the WUA capacity building component. Concerning monitoring, PIU site visits should monitor pumping station management. In addition, the ADCP (or other agricultural extension service provider) should monitor access to extension services at WUAP sites, as well as results in terms of the adoption by farmers of IPPM and appropriate irrigation and agricultural practices (including use levels of pesticides and chemical fertilisers). Wherever necessary, the service provider should use such monitoring results to adapt the extension approach. For ecologically sensitive sites, additional mitigation and monitoring measures are proposed in Section 5.2.4.2. 5.2.2.2 Reduction in Downstream River flows. The EA examined whether the WUAP will reduce downstream river flows from their present levels. With respect to the first point, the EA concluded that no immediate impact on downstream river flows is foreseen since the WUAP is not likely to affect water abstraction levels at the main water intakes. The project will focus on rehabilitating on-farm irrigation systems and will not expand the capacity of primary canals. The expected increase in water delivery to farms in participating WUAs is not expected to have a significant impact on hydrological systems. The increase will be achieved primarily by improved off-farm water management. * In the longer term, improved irrigation systems, improvements in water measurement, and increases in water fees are expected to considerably enhance irrigation efficiency, which could also increase the availability of water for downstream ecosystems. However, given the inadequacy of present water delivery levels, a downward trend in irrigation water withdrawals is unlikely, especially since it is likely that the WUAP would induce an increase in irrigated area (by bringing currently fallow lands back into production) and/or a switch to more water-intensive crops. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. Proposed WUAP activities include installing/upgrading abstraction level and river flow measuring equipment. Furthermore, the project should promote more water-conserving irrigation techniques. Besides the dilapidated infrastructure, the prevalence of furrow and border strip irrigation, weak farmer awareness of the need for water conservation, and inadequate knowledge of water-conserving crops, techniques and agricultural practices, all contribute to the present extremely low irrigation efficiency. The EA recommends that these issues be addressed (as was done under the IDSMIP ) both through the WUA training and technical assistance programme to be implemented by the institutional development component of the WUAP Page 71 2 5/07/10 Draft 7 (see Section 4.1.1) and through the agricultural extension services proposed in this EA (see Section 6.4.3). 5.2.3 Impacts on Agricultural Soils 5.2.3.1 Increased Soil and Channel Erosion . Irrigation water can cause significant erosion of the topsoil if proper application methods are not used, and unlined canals or offtakes can scour soil surfaces if poorly designed or constructed. As natural slopes within the project areas are low except in the mountain raions, erosion is of significant concern only in instances where furrows have a steeper slope than generally observed and when the rate of incoming irrigation water is high enough to cause top soil suspension and/or erosion and its successive transport down furrow with each irrigation event. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures . To minimise topsoil erosion during irrigation, land and field drainage should be levelled to the extent possible to reduce erosion potential, and the amount of inlet flow should be restricted to avoid furrow erosion. The former may require laser-levelling or mechanical ploughing by experienced professionals, the latter better overall control of water inflow. In principle, high-order canals that are susceptible to erosion should be relined, although in practical terms relining will not be cost effective given the currently irrigation service fees charged to the WUAs. Associated hydraulic structures (e.g., culverts) should be rehabilitated, and any unauthorised connections to the main drain should be avoided, with illegal canals and drains filled in. Addressing the issue of unauthorised connections effectively will require monthly inspection during the irrigation season of the irrigation and drainage system within each of the project’s WUAs by its appointed representatives. 5.2.3.2 Soil Degradation Due to Waterlogging, Salinisation, and Leaching of Nutrients. Over-watering and poor subsurface drainage can lead to waterlogging and subsequent salinisation of soils. Soil salinisation has been observed to be a problem for project areas, particularly in the Kura-Araz lowlands, that suffer from elevated water table. The rehabilitation of drainage canals should improve drainage in these areas and alleviate many of the waterlogging and soil salinisation problems. However, the current prevalence of high water table conditions over much of the lowland area means that there is a significant risk of salinisation if water application is not carefully managed. Improved on-farm water management and application techniques fostered by the project through its technical assistance and training with the WUAs should address this concern. Finally, there is also a concern that irrigation return flows may leach out nutrients and reduce soil fertility. Recommended Preventive Actions and Mitigation Measures. Among preventive actions that the EA recommends that project WUAs take are (i) levelling farm lands and improving field drainage to maximise drainage potential, (ii) instituting proper water distribution and management practices, (iii) regularly inspecting project farms to identify and remove any unauthorised or unplanned connections to the secondary drains, and (iv) having farmers check annually to clear field drainage prior to commencement of the irrigation season. Although the IDSMIP did not undertake levelling any farm lands, the project did improve WUA water distribution and management practices and the PIU regularly inspected project farms for unauthorized connections to secondary drains. In the lowland areas it will be important to manage water tables at as high a level as possible without causing secondary salinity. For example, where the water table is at a shallow level (e.g., 1.5 m), the net water requirement for maximum agricultural production is reduced by some 40 percent, which represents a very Page 72 2 5/07/10 Draft 8 substantial saving of water resources. For this reason, rehabilitating the collector drains where the effect might cause the water table to fall below about 1.5 m should only be undertaken where there is an overriding need to do so, such as the need for capital leaching (reclamation) of accumulated secondary salts or recovery of sodic soil. Aside from standard good irrigation practice (i.e., preventing over-watering and minimising return flows) and systematic replacement of nutrients, potential leaching problems can be reduced by the introduction of crop rotation cycles. The feasibility of promoting such measures should be investigated by the PIU in the context of the technical assistance and training offered to WUAs under the institutional development component of the project, with a view to introducing a sustainable cycle in the longer term. In this respect, there should also be opportunities to draw upon and co-ordinate with the ongoing World Bank ADCP . 5.2.4 Impacts on Biodiversity and Habitat 5.2.4.1 Reduction of Water Levels in Sensitive Wetlands. Some potential project sites may be located close to the sensitive wetland habitats -- Ag-gel, Boz-Gobu, Sarisu, Mehman -- described in Section 4.3.2. These wetland ecosystems (see Map 4) are currently suffering from tough and unstable hydro-chemical conditions associated with low water levels. A change in the hydrological regime of the surrounding area, if it reduces the amount of water flowing or draining into these wetlands, could adversely affect their ecosystems through (i) loss of habitat through decrease in the wetland area; and (ii) decrease in water levels and subsequent worsening of hydro-chemical conditions. Besides ecological concerns, fisheries would be affected as well. The WUAP ’s rehabilitation activities, if implemented on farms draining into these wetlands, may have positive impacts on wetland water levels by increasing water flow in collectors discharging into them. However, it is also possible that project activities may adversely affect the water flows concerned by (i) reducing water flow in the relevant collectors; (ii) lowering the water table level through improved drainage; and (iii) improving water distribution so that excess irrigation water no longer flows into Lake Sarisu. The small scale of the proposed activities considerably reduces the likelihood of any negative impacts. Furthermore, the soils of the project zone are clayish, with low hydraulic conductivity, and the radius of impact on groundwater levels thus likely to be small. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. Although the risk of adverse impacts is considered very small, the ecological importance of the wetlands concerned necessitates careful attention to project activities and precautionary measures. The routine monitoring of the wetlands conducted under the IDSMIP revealed no significant project impacts on either the quantity or quality of water entering the wetland areas. Therefore, the EA does not propose to continue this monitoring under the WUAP , except at new rehabilitation sites that drain directly to wetland areas. Furthermore, the EA proposes a careful environmental review of project interventions at sites located near the sensitive wetlands and recommends a periodic inspection of all wetland areas by the PIU environmental specialist in order to determine whether any unforeseen impacts on the wetlands are taking place. Page 73 Page 74 5.2.4.2 Decreased Water Quality in Sensitive Wetlands. On the shallow wetland habitats Ag-gel, Boz-Gobu, Sarisu and Mehman, even a small increase in water pollution associated with increased drainage from saline soils or any potential long-term increase in fertiliser and pesticide use on project sites draining into these wetlands could have negative impacts on the ecosystem. Eutrophication and accumulation of toxic pesticides could affect not only aquatic flora and fish but also birds and humans feeding on them. * The water quality in the collectors discharging into the wetlands is already poor (e.g. high natrium and magnesium content and chloride hazard), and any additional adverse pressures should be avoided. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. Although the risk of adverse impacts is considered very small, as noted above, the ecological importance of the wetlands concerned requires careful attention to project activities and precautionary measures. Such measures could include the following: (i) natural vegetation filters in secondary drains and/or (ii) uncultivated buffer strips along field drains. The natural vegetation filters would be established for a short reach (maximum 50 m) just before the secondary drains flow into the collector. Along their vegetated length, the drains would need to be widened to compensate for reduced conveyance. The buffer strips (on the order of one meter) would be established along the edges of the field drains to collect the surface and near-surface runoff and thus minimise the risk of agro-chemical transport. Native wetland species should be allowed to grow on the strips, and if planting is necessary, plants dredged from rehabilitated canals could be used. The disadvantage of the filters and the strips is that they would remove a portion of each farmer’s plot from production. However, given their small length/width and the fact that the land immediately adjacent to the drains may not be usable anyway, this “cost” to farmers is not considered to be prohibitive. These measures were field-tested in a World Bank Irrigation and Drainage Community Development Project in Georgia. Although the IDSMIP in the end did not utilize these measures, they should be considered in the design of WUAP rehabilitation works. 5.2.4.3 Reduction of on-farm habitat. The WUAP may affect some “on-farm habitats” that have unintentionally blossomed due to the present agricultural crisis: (i) cleaning drainage canals will eliminate mini-wetlands that have emerged in the blocked drains; and (ii) rehabilitation and subsequent maintenance works may affect trees or other vegetation along the canals. While most of these “mini-ecosystems” support relatively common species which are likely to find refuge elsewhere, in some cases important habitats (habitats of rare or protected species) and/or natural monuments may occur on WUAP sites. * Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. The EA recommends three types of measures to address this issue. First, the cleaning of drainage canals should be considered on a case-by-case basis, only where it is necessary to prevent waterlogging and soil salinisation (see also Section 5.2.3.2). Second, when a rehabilitation proposal is presented by a WUA, a site assessment should be carried out (as specified in the Project Implementation Manual) by a national biodiversity expert, in consultation with local environmental authorities, to identify any important habitats/sites and define appropriate site-specific preventive/mitigation measures. These should be respected both by project contractors and the WUA concerned in subsequent maintenance works. They could include, for example, appropriate scheduling of maintenance works; fencing off the sensitive habitat for the duration of cleaning works, avoiding dumping dredged sediments on these sites, or manual excavation instead of heavy machinery. Third, to compensate for reduced on-farm habitat, the WUAP should, on a demand-driven basis, co-finance rehabilitation of forest shelterbelts, as Page 75 2 5/07/10 Draft 2 required by Azerbaijani legislation, along irrigation canals 55 . When rehabilitating shelterbelts, consideration should be given to planting tree species that produce food (e.g. nuts) or bring other economic benefits (e.g. mulberry trees). Follow-up monitoring of implementation of any site-specific mitigation measures and any impacts on important habitats would be undertaken by the national biodiversity expert through annual site inspections. 5.2.4.4. Other important habitats. Other important habitats in the project raions are listed in Section 4.3.2. The WUAP is not likely to have any impact on these areas for the following reasons. The Korchay State Protected Area, Shah Dag National Park, Mount Ilandag , and Negram mountains are all located on mountains and foothills above the proposed project sites and no irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation will take place in these areas. The tuqay forests along the Kura river, Samur delta forests, and Nabran-Yalama-Khachmaz Liana-oak forest will not be impacted by the WUAP since (i) WUAP rehabilitation activities will only cover a small part of the farmlands surrounding these forests; (ii) no irrigation infrastructure is located within the forested areas; and (iii) the WUAP will not increase water withdrawal from the rivers feeding the forest ecosystems. 5.2.5 Social and Public Health Impacts 5.2.5.1 Irrigation Water-Related Health Problems. Although the WUAP is expected to provide benefits with respect to some health-related concerns, as noted above in Section 5.1.3, in reducing the areas of stagnant water where disease vectors multiply, there will remain some potential for increases in health risks related to irrigation water. These will be potential increases in disease vectors because of more irrigation water extending to more irrigated lands, which may result in areas of stagnant water where drainage is not adequate to handle improved water delivery or where on-farm water retention schemes proliferate. Even with the infrastructure improvements envisioned by the WUAP , there will potentially be increased opportunities for disease vectors such as mosquitoes to multiply in any standing irrigation canal and drainage collector waters (as well as in the small pools that farmers sometimes build) and to increase the incidence of malaria in project areas. Careful water management to prevent water accumulation in low-lying areas and to discourage on-farm water retention practices can minimise the risks, but some risks of increased disease vectors will remain with any irrigation project. The MoH health statistics cited in Section 4.4 confirm that the highest incidence of malaria cases in Azerbaijan is in the Kura-Araz plain raions where the project will operate. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. The EA recommends that the WUAP undertake a combination of preventive actions, mitigation measures and monitoring activities to address any potential irrigation water-related health problems. In terms of preventive actions, first, the project should ensure that farmers in participating WUAs discontinue any on-farm irrigation/drainage or water retention practices that provide breeding areas for mosquitoes. The technical assistance provided to WUAs under the institutional development component of the WUAP should address such practices in its training for improved water management. The WUAs themselves should ensure that such practices are discontinued on project farms. Second, the project should ensure that appropriate extension services and/or training programs are provided to WUA members and their families on proper vector control techniques (particularly for mosquitoes). The MoH, for example, has pioneered some innovative vector control techniques in the country, such as stocking fish in standing 55 According to the construction norms in force, forest shelterbelts should cover 60 percent of irrigation canal length. At present, shelterbelts along many canals are either degraded or non-existent. Page 76 2 5/07/10 Draft 3 waters to reduce mosquito breeding and planting eucalyptus trees in low-lying areas to absorb excess water. The EA recommends that these issues be addressed as part of the extension services offered through the World Bank’s ADCP under its information and advisory services component. Additional training modules dealing with environmental health issues may have to be developed for this purpose. Finally, the project should periodically monitor the health statistics for water-related diseases (particularly malaria) collected by the MoH (and recorded by the State Statistical Committee) in order to determine trends in the incidence of water-related diseases in project areas. Where the statistics indicate a growing public health concern, the PIU should work with the MoH in addressing the problems: (i) raising awareness with the farmers in the participating WUAs on the nature of the health problems and the appropriate measures to take and (ii) assisting the MoH in its direct interventions in project areas. 5.2.5.2 Water User Conflicts The EA did not find any direct evidence of serious conflicts over irrigation water management practices (e.g. with regard to allocations, distribution, fees, illegal diversions) and fully expects the WUAP to have beneficial impacts, both as a result of WUA institutional development and the infrastructure rehabilitation, on the consistency, transparency and equity of water delivery to project farms (see Section 5.1.4). However, the social assessment performed during preparation of the IDSMIP did find conflicts over water distribution to be an issue in four out of the six WUAs studied. Conflicts may occur among WUA members (e.g., over water distribution between farmers at the beginning of the canal and those at the end of the canal), between WUA members and WUA officials (e.g., over payments for water that is not delivered, amount and use of the irrigation service fee), between WUAs themselves (e.g., over amounts of water supplied), and between WUAs and the local AIOJSC office (e.g., over amounts of water supplied). Given the nature of the distribution of this valuable resource in the economic and political context of rural Azerbaijan, it should be no surprise that such conflicts arise. The WUAP , therefore, must recognise and address the potential for inherent conflicts between WUAs and among WUA members over actual or perceived inequities in water distribution in the project areas. Recommended Preventive Actions or Mitigation Measures. The EA recommends a number of institutional preventive measures to address this concern. First, the project should work with the AIOJSC, both at the national and at the raion level, to ensure that a participatory, transparent, equitable and corruption-free system of water allocation/distribution is established and practised with respect to the participating WUAs in the raions where the project operates. Technical assistance to support this approach through AIOJSC WUA Support Units at the national and raion level has been proposed by the project preparation team as part of the institutional development component of the project. For example, the amount allocated to each WUA should be determined by the local AIOJSC office in consultation with the WUA, based on the WUA’s location, crop size/types and area to be irrigated. The planned allocations should be made available to all the WUAs before the start of each irrigation season, and the WUAs should have the right to review and challenge the allocation. If challenged, the local AIOJSC should reassess its decision, make a final decision and publicise its justification to all stakeholders. At the WUA level, the EA recommends training and capacity building in equitable water management practices and conflict resolution. Again, the WUA institutional development Page 77 2 5/07/10 Draft 4 component of the project will provide training to address conflict resolution, as well as the broader WUA issues of governance/administration, irrigation system operation and maintenance, etc. The PIU should encourage all participating WUAs to undergo the training and capacity building on conflict resolution offered by the project. The PIU should make every effort to ensure that participating WUAs manage the water allocation to their members in a transparent and equitable manner. Where there appears to be the potential for conflict among members, the PIU should work with the WUA to develop a clear conflict resolution strategy. Further, the PIU should encourage the WUAs to be proactive about the policing the sorts of activities that may cause conflicts, such as illegal and/or unplanned diversions or connections to primary and secondary drains. Page 78 2 5/07/10 Draft 5 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 6.1 Objective of the EMMP The objective of this Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) is to describe the environmental screening and review process, capacity-building and monitoring activities that will be undertaken, as well as the institutional arrangements that will be set up, during implementation of the WUAP to ensure that the environmental and social management principles and practices identified by the EA are incorporated into project activities and that any potential adverse environmental impacts are either eliminated or minimised. The EMMP also establishes an implementation schedule for undertaking these activities and indicates their costs included in the project budget. 6.2 Environmental Screening and Review of Sub-Projects As with the IDSMIP before it, the demand-driven nature of the WUAP means that the exact number and location of the specific infrastructure rehabilitation sub-projects to be financed by the project have yet to be determined. Therefore, the EA, is of necessity limited to identifying generic impacts for infrastructure rehabilitation in the project areas identified and specifying generic preventive actions and mitigation measures for these impacts. In order to ensure that the appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures are applied to specific sub-project rehabilitation sites on a case-by-case basis, therefore, the EMMP establishes the following environmental screening and review procedures, which are incorporated into the Project Implementation Manual. A. Objective of the Environmental Screening and Review Procedures. The objective of the environmental screening and review procedures is to review the individual infrastructure rehabilitation sub-projects proposed for financing for the purpose of identifying and addressing (preventing or minimising) the site-specific potential adverse environmental and social impacts. Where potential impacts identified through this process are minor, they should be addressed using the appropriate generic preventive actions and mitigation measures identified in the EA; more significant impacts may require additional review by the MENR (as explained below) and implementation of specifically identified preventive actions and mitigation measures. B. Applicability of Environmental Screening and Review Procedures . All of the infrastructure rehabilitation sub-projects to be financed by the WUAP will be subject to these environmental screening and review procedures. The sub-projects will be rehabilitation of existing on-farm irrigation distribution and drainage systems (and some limited investments in critical, associated off-farm systems) within the areas under the management of participating WUAs (i.e., canal and drain cleaning, canal lining, and rehabilitation and construction of hydraulic and water measuring structures, etc). Only sub-projects proposed by WUAs participating in the institutional development component of the project will be considered, and the eligibility of such sub-projects will be based on established technical, financial, institutional and environmental criteria. The environmental criterion the EA recommends using for determining the eligibility of sub- projects is as follows: Page 79 2 5/07/10 Draft 6 No infrastructure construction/rehabilitation sub-project will be financed by the WUAP if it involves any of the following activities: (i) construction of significant new irrigation distribution or drainage systems or * (iii) conversion of wetlands or other natural habitats for agricultural purposes through drainage or other means. C. Checklist for Environmental Screening. The PIU will ensure that some form of environmental screening is incorporated into the regular project preparation cycle for sub- projects under the WUAP . At the sub-project identification stage, the environmental specialist will discuss with the relevant WUA the issues raised in the environmental screening checklist. The checklist is designed to help identify potential environmental impacts, suggest the appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures specified in the EA, and trigger (where necessary) further environmental review under the MENR EIA procedures. D. PIU Review and Approval. The PIU will ensure that all WUAs eligible for sub- projects have participated in environmental screening with the environmental specialist. The environmental specialist will perform a follow-up environmental site inspection before approving execution of a sub-project under the WUAP . The PIU will also ensure that any preventive actions or mitigation measures with respect to the location, design, construction or operation of a sub-project identified during environmental screening serve as the basis for a site-specific environmental management plan (EMP) prepared by the contractor selected to perform the rehabilitation work. The contractor will prepare the EMP following the guidelines contained in the EA. The EMP will explain how the potential environmental impacts identified will be addressed by specific preventive actions and/or mitigation measures The PIU, with technical assistance from the design and construction supervision consultant, will oversee contractor execution of the EMP. E. MENR Review and Approval. Under the MENR EIA Handbook all development projects with potential environmental impacts are required to comply with the environmental review requirements. The extent to which these requirements are applied, however, depends on the severity of the potential environmental impacts, a decision that is made by MENR authorities in consultation with appropriate experts. The individual WUAP sub-projects (i.e., rehabilitation of existing on-farm irrigation distribution and drainage systems) are small in scale and limited in impact. Therefore, they should not require formal MENR review. The generic preventive actions or mitigation measures identified in the EA should be used to address potential environmental impacts in these cases. Under the EIA Handbook, MENR has three months in which to review and evaluate the sub- project EIA document and provide its decision to the proposer with appropriate conditions to ensure protection of the environment. MENR could either approve the sub-project on the condition that its mitigation measures are followed or disapprove the sub-project because of the nature of the environmental impacts. F. Field Supervision. The PIU technical staff will monitor execution of all WUAP sub-projects to ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated, i.e., that Page 80 2 5/07/10 Draft 7 appropriate recommended preventive actions or mitigation measures specified in the EMP are employed or that MENR-required mitigation actions are taken. G. Sub-Project Completion and Monitoring. Once a sub-project has been completed, PIU technical staff will certify that the appropriate preventive actions or mitigation measures have been executed and that any MENR-required conditions have been m et. The PIU’s monitoring and evaluation unit also will monitor compliance with environmental requirements and the environmental impacts of the sub-project, and include the results in regular project reports. H. Revision of Procedures. These procedures will be periodically reviewed and, as needed, revised on the basis of supervision experience and monitoring results. 6.3 Environmental Monitoring Program As part of its overall responsibility for execution of the WUAP , the PIU will perform the regular monitoring and evaluation of project activities and periodic reporting required by the World Bank. The PIU will also be responsible for the environmental and social monitoring activities identified in the EA as part of the preventive actions and mitigation measures proposed to address any potential adverse impacts. Further, the PIU will perform the additional monitoring activities identified in Table 1 below. In order to perform these environmental monitoring and evaluation functions for the project, the PIU will maintain its environmental specialist and contract additional technical support as needed. A. Monitoring Environmental Screening and Implementation of Preventive Actions and Mitigation Measures. The PIU will routinely monitor implementation of the project’s infrastructure rehabilitation sub-projects (i.e., tracking preparation, approval, and execution). It will also be responsible for monitoring compliance with environmental screening and review requirements and implementation of any preventive actions or mitigation measures required, either by the PIU or the MENR, as a result of environmental screening. This monitoring will entail periodically making site visits to verify that the preventive actions and/or mitigation measures identified in the site-specific EMP have been implemented. Furthermore, the PIU will periodically monitor a set of specified indicators of environmental and social/health impacts of the WUAP (see below). These indicators will include water quality, incidence of water-related diseases in the project communities, and measures of biodiversity. Additional indicators may be developed and incorporated into the monitoring program over the life of the project. This environmental and social monitoring will be incorporated into the overall WUAP project monitoring plan required by the World Bank as part of project performance. The results of such monitoring will be recorded and maintained by the PIU throughout the life of the project. The PIU will report the results of its environmental monitoring program in the bi-annual progress-reports it submits to the Bank; Bank supervision missions will review the results of the monitoring program on a regular basis. B. Monitoring Environmental and Social Indicators . In addition to the project process monitoring and evaluation described above, the PIU will monitor the environmental and social indicators identified in the analysis of preventive actions and mitigation measures. Page 81 2 5/07/10 Draft 8 The purpose in monitoring these indicators is to determine, to the extent possible, the direct and indirect environmental and social impacts of project activities and, where necessary, make appropriate corrections to project activities in order to prevent or lessen adverse impacts. The proposed environmental and social indicators, as well as the responsibility and schedule for monitoring them, are shown in Table 1. A more detailed discussion of each of these indicators is found in the EA. Page 82 2 5/07/10 Draft 9 Table 1 - Environmental and Social Monitoring Program ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INDICATORS MONITORING RESPONSIBILITY SCHEDULE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MANAGEMENT: Compliance with EMMP and environmental management guidelines for contractors - Site inspections Contractor execution of site-specific EMP - Site inspections Management of sediment - Data on extent of sediment contamination PIU, with technical assistance from design and construction engineers PIU, with technical assistance from design and construction engineers PIU, with technical assistance from design and construction engineers Once prior to, during and upon completion of construction During and upon completions of construction Once before construction; follow up where needed AGRICULTURAL SOILS : Soil and channel erosion - State of all field canals/drains/linings/hydraulic structures - Number of ‘illegal’ connections to canals Waterlogging and salinisation of soils - Data on subsurface water level and quality - Soil salinity levels WUA (PIU) WUA (PIU) PIU (WUA) PIU (WUA) Monthly during irrigation season Monthly during irrigation season Twice each irrigation season WATER MANAGEMENT Surface water quality - Water quality (1) and quantity (2) of drainage discharged into rivers PIU Semi-annually (1) Monthly (2) BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT: Ecological monitoring programme - Water quality (1) and quantity (2) discharging into rivers in mountainous raions - Migratory fish populations in project-affected rivers Important habitats identified on project farms - indicators for the implementation of site-specific preventive/mitigation measures (to be defined together with the measures) PIU PIU PIU (local environmental authorities) Semi-annually (1) Weekly (2) Annually Site assessment at all participating WUAs; follow-up inspection annually SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH: - Health statistics on incidence of water-related diseases in project areas from State Statistical Committee or MoH district offices PIU (MoH) Annually Page 83 2 5/07/10 Draft 10 C. Monitoring Implementation of the EMMP. In addition to the monitoring of environmental screening and implementation of mitigation measures described above, the PIU will monitor its own implementation of the EMMP and report the results periodically to the Bank. The objective of this monitoring is to ensure that overall implementation of the various components of the EMMP (i.e., sub-project screening and review, implementation of preventive actions and mitigation measures, capacity building and training, and environmental monitoring) is following the proposed schedule, and that the PIU is tracking the environmental impacts of the project. Tracking the impacts would facilitate making any mid- course corrections necessary to ensure sound environmental management in the project areas. Table 2 displays the proposed performance indicators the PIU will use for this monitoring. Table 2 - Monitoring Implementation of the EMMP EMMP Activities Performance Indicators Environmental Screening and Review of Sub-Projects -- Percentage of sub-projects with completed checklists -- Percentage of sub-projects complying with preventive actions /mitigation measures -- Days of PIU assistance provided to WUAs in checklist completion -- Percentage of sub-projects submitted to MENR -- Percentage of projects rejected Capacity Building and Extension/Training Program -- PIU environmental capacity -- Environmental extension/training -- Number of months of service of environmental specialist/environmental consultants -- Number of days spent on site -- Number of extension/training sessions/beneficiaries trained Environmental and Social Monitoring Program -- Environmental and social indicators monitoring -- Number of indicators established and monitored 6.4 Environmental Capacity Building and Training Programme In order to ensure proper implementation of the environmental screening and review procedures and resulting preventive actions and mitigation measures, the WUAP will carry out environmental capacity building and extension/training activities. A. Capacity Building in the PIU and WUAs. Under the IDSMIP, the PIU employed an environmental specialist to oversee implementation of the EMMP. The environmental specialist maintained careful records of the environmental activities that took place at each project site (e.g. specific preventive actions and/or mitigation measures recommended; site inspections performed before, during, and after construction, etc.) and reported on the results of the ecological monitoring performed at project rehabilitation sites and at the sensitive lakes and wetlands in the project area (e.g. water quality, plant and wildlife surveys, etc.). These site records and monitoring reports, which were examined during the preparation mission in May 2010, demonstrate the PIU’s capacity to perform these functions. The WUAP will continue to employ the environmental specialist for the project as was done under the IDSMIP . The environmental specialist will work full-time, report directly to the project manager, and oversee the various environmental aspects of the project. The project also will provide appropriate technical training, Page 84 2 5/07/10 Draft 11 including a study tour, to the environmental specialist in the particular skills needed to perform his project environmental oversight functions effectively. In addition, specialised technical support will be provided to the environmental specialist, through national environmental consultants , to ensure that sound environmental management practices are mainstreamed in the infrastructure rehabilitation component of the project. These consultants will be used to enhance the environmental capabilities of the PIU in specific technical areas. *Necessary monitoring equipment will also be provided in order to support implementation of the environmental screening and monitoring activities under the project. In addition, in order to build environmental sensitivity and capacity among the project beneficiaries, the WUAP will ensure that the WUAs participating in the institutional development component of the project each designate an environmental counterpart for the environmental specialist in the PIU. The purpose of the WUA counterpart is to provide a point of contact for the PIU environmental specialist during the project, to raise awareness within the WUA with respect to environmental and resource management issues, and to ensure that environmental considerations (preventive actions, mitigation measures, monitoring indicators) are observed in execution of any infrastructure rehabilitation works within the areas managed by the WUAs. Under the direction of the PIU environmental specialist, the WUAP will provide environmental training and other capacity building to the WUA counterparts and through them reach the other WUA members and the rural population in general. The WUAP will also make available technical assistance, in the form of national consultants (as mentioned above) as needed , to ensure that the WUA counterparts manage their project-related environmental functions properly. B. Environmental Training for the PIU and WUAs . As noted above, under the supervision of the PIU environmental specialist, the WUAP will provide national experts to deliver a range of technical training on environmental issues to PIU management and staff. The objective of this training is to build the capacity in the PIU to ensure effective implementation of the requirements of this EA/EMMP in particular, as well enhance environmental assessment and natural resources management capabilities in Azerbaijan in general. The training will cover environmental awareness; national policy and legal/regulatory requirements; environmental assessment guidelines and techniques; socio-economic impact surveying and analyses; species monitoring and evaluation; management of sensitive habitats; integrated water resources management; arid and semi-arid ecosystem planning and management; and other participatory training on specific environmental issues identified during the project. The training will be delivered by the national consultants identified above, as well as by other providers, including qualified private sector firms and NGOs. This program also will include training trainers to provide extension services to the WUAs and their rural communities and providing refresher courses from time to time in all of the topics identified. The WUAP also will provide basic (less technical) training to the designated environmental counterpart and interested members of the WUAs and the project communities. The objective of this training is to raise the level of general environmental awareness in the WUAs and rural communities and to begin to build interest and capacity in integrated environmental management and protection of community resources. Ultimately, the training will build Page 85 2 5/07/10 Draft 12 support for the environmental screening and monitoring programs, which originate at the WUA and community level. A summary of the environmental training program provided by the WUAP is shown in Table 3. Table 3 - Environmental Training Programme Intended Audience Training Content Format Input Preparation Time Frequency Funding Source PIU: Management and Technical Staff Environmental Specialist Environmental awareness (policy, regulations) Environmental screening, impact analysis Overview of specific preventive actions/ mitigation measures (water management, habitat protection, sub-projects) Environmental monitoring practices Half-day seminar One-day workshop One-day workshop Half-day workshop 0.5 day 1.0 day 1.0 day 0.5 day 2.0 days 3.0 days 2.0 days 2.0 days Twice during project “ “ “ WUAP WUAP WUAP WUAP WUA Environmental Counterparts, Interested WUA and Community Members Environmental awareness Environmental screening, impact analysis Good practices, preventive actions and mitigation measures Half-day seminar One-day workshop One-day workshop 0.5 day 1.0 day 1.0 day 2.0 days 3.0 days 2.0 days On demand On demand On demand WUAP WUAP WUAP C. Agricultural Extension Services for Farmers. The analysis of the baseline situation and potential WUAP impacts in the EA identified needs for agricultural extension and training on several topics. This strengthening of farmer capacities is essential to sustainably improve agricultural productivity and prevent many of the potential adverse impacts of more intensive agricultural production. Furthermore, it is important that basic training to farmers is provided as and when the irrigation systems on their lands are rehabilitated. Access to affordable agricultural extension services should also be ensured throughout and beyond project implementation. Proposed WUAP WUA training activities under the institutional development component will include training on irrigation management issues and thus cover some of the identified needs. The topics on which additional agricultural extension/training is required include the following: (i) Integrated Pest and Production Management 56 (IPPM); (ii) proper agro- chemical management practices, including appropriate methods of application, storage and waste disposal; (iii) water-saving irrigation techniques (e.g., sprinkler- and drip irrigation); (iv) good agricultural practices (e.g. little or no tillage, crop rotation, ground cover); (v) erosion prevention (e.g., proper tilling, irrigation furrows); (vi) soil management techniques and maintenance of soil fertility (e.g., salt leaching, crop rotation, organic manure); (vii) vector control techniques; and (viii) safe drinking water practices. Agricultural extension and training services in Azerbaijan are gradually developing. Some research activities and related dissemination of results are undertaken by the nine Regional Agro-Science Centres (RASCs) of the Ministry of Agriculture, but their extension capacities 56 For more details on IPPM, see http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPP/IPM/gipmf/02_programmes/02a.htm Page 86 2 5/07/10 Draft 13 remain very limited. No other larger-scale extension service providers are currently operating in the areas to be affected by the WUAP . The World Bank’s ADCP supports the provision of extension services in Azerbaijan. The information and advisory services component of this project includes a sub-component of extension services and also finances information campaigns on agricultural issues. The ADCP supports the following activities: (i) training courses for farmers on such topics as water losses, effective water use, and prevention of soil salinisation; (ii) technical advice and technology demonstration to farmers through extension groups, individual advisory services and demonstrations; (iii) nation-wide information campaigns on “Pesticides Application and Ecological Balance” and “Legal and Economic Basis of Water Use and Effective Water Management”, as well as on pest control for potatoes and grain crops; and (iv) dissemination of agriculture-related information, including on irrigation issues, through printed publications and radio/TV broadcasting. Co-operation between the IDSMIP and the ADCP provided a cost-effective solution for ensuring access to high quality extension services required under the proposed project. Therefore, the WUAP will seek to ensure that collaboration with the ADCP continues at least until the ADCP closes in May 2011 and that the information and advisory services component is extended to the raions to be covered by WUAP . 6.5 Implementation Arrangements Responsibility for implementation of this EMMP will be with the PIU in Baku, AIOJSC, and with the advisory and monitoring support of MENR. The PIU will have overall responsibility for implementation of the WUAP and will ensure that the EMMP is fully integrated into implementation of the project, including monitoring and reporting as required by the World Bank. The PIU will ensure that all rehabilitation sub-projects undergo environmental screening (and MENR review where necessary) and monitor their implementation of required preventive actions and mitigation measures. The PIU will also work closely with AIOJSC and MENR in carrying out their environmental monitoring and training programs. AIOJSC and MENR will oversee implementation of the EMMP by the PIU, with the former supporting the PIU in their work with local AIOJSC offices and WUAs and the latter supporting the PIU in their review of potential impacts of the rehabilitation subprojects and in environmental quality monitoring. Finally, the WUAs, through their environmental counterparts, will ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated into their activities, not only in the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure but in improved water and soil resources management among their members. 6.6 Implementation Schedule Implementation of this EMMP will begin with review and refinement of the environmental monitoring and capacity building and training/extension programmes identified by the EA in the first quarter after project effectiveness. The PIUs then will undertake implementation of the capacity building and monitoring programmes and begin the screening and review process for rehabilitation sub-projects (expected to start in the second year of the project), continuing these activities throughout the life of the project. Training activities will take place throughout the life of the project, on the basis of identified needs, with scheduled training for PIU staff occurring early in project implementation, followed by training programmes with the WUAs and in the local communities. Such training would be revisited, updated, and delivered a Page 87 2 5/07/10 Draft 14 second time during the project to the PIU personnel and on an as needed basis to the WUAs over the life of the project. The monitoring program for environmental screening will run continuously for the life of the project, while periodic monitoring will be used to evaluate the impacts of mitigation measures and track baseline environmental conditions in the project area. The schedule for implementing the various components of the EMMP is shown in Table 4. Table 4 - EMMP Implementation Schedule Major EMMP Activities 1 st Q Y 1 2 n Q Y 1 3 r Q Y 1 4 t Q Y 1 1 st Q Y 2 2 n Q Y 2 3 r Q Y 2 4 t Q Y2 1 st Q Y 3 2 n Q Y 3 3 r Q Y 3 4 t Q Y 3 Environmental Screening and Review of Sub-projects -- PIU review (MENR as needed) Capacity Building and Training Programme -- PIU environmental specialist -- Training: PIU -- Training: RSUs/WUAs Environmental Monitoring Program -- Environmental/social indicators 6.7 Proposed Budget and Funding Sources for EMMP Implementation The estimated costs of implementing the various components of this EMMP are displayed in Table 5. The costs are broken down in terms of personnel expenses (i.e., the full-time environmental specialist and part-time national consultants), monitoring programme costs (i.e., ecological and social monitoring in the WUAP ), training costs (i.e., preparation and delivery, training materials, and incidental meeting arrangement costs), and equipment (i.e., additional analytical equipment for environmental monitoring). The WUAP will finance most of these items, but the project should make every effort to ensure that the Government shares some of the expenses that support Government functions (e.g., monitoring by the MoH) and that related World Bank projects finance some of the activities where appropriate. These costs will be included in the total costs of the WUAP and will be financed with funds from the World Bank credit. No additional costs are envisaged as a result of the EMMP. Table 6 - Budget for EMMP Implementation EMMP Component Quantity Unit Rate US$ Cost US$ Personnel: PIU Environmental Specialist Consultants for PIU (national, part-time) (1 m/year) 72 m* 6 m 1,400/m 1,000/m 100,800 6,000 Monitoring Programme: Page 88 2 5/07/10 Draft 15 Ecological monitoring (sample collection, laboratory analysis, reporting) - sediments - soils - groundwater - surface water lump sum service contracts n/a 358.800 Training Programme: - preparation and delivery (workshops, etc.) - materials and supplies - meeting arrangements n/a n/a 12,000 2,000 2,000 Equipment: - office (satellite imagery, digital mapping, etc) - WUA monitoring (EC/pH meters, hydrometric gauges) tbd** tbd tbd tbd 35.000 35,000 Small-scale environmental investments (e.g., fish protection nets, planting/rehabilitation of shelter belts) tbd tbd 20,000 TOTAL 571,600 * person months of labour ** to be determined Page 89 2 5/07/10 Draft 16 Sources for Biodiversity Text (Section 3): Caspian Sea Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, final draft, July 2002. Prepared by Fauna and Flora International for the Caspian Environment Programme at website http://www.caspianenvironment.org/bsap.htm Conservation International website at http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/ Krever, V.; Zazanashvili. N.; Jungius, H: Williams, L; Petelin, D. (eds.): Biodiversity of the Caucasus Ecoregion. An Analysis of Biodiversity and Current Threats and Initial Investment Portfolio. WWF. 2001. Wildworld Terrestrial Ecoregions website at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ Sources for Biodiversity Text (Section 4): Birdlife International website at http://www.birdlife.org/ Caspian Environment Programme: Azerbaijan National Shore Profile at CRTC for Integrated Transboundary Coastal Area Management and Planning Department of Environment, Marine Environment Research Bureau website http://www.caspianenvironment.org/itcamp/azeri.htm CES Consulting Engineers Salzgitter GmbH: Environmental assessment and monitoring in the project areas of the Samur-Aspheron Canal and Main Mill Mugan Collector Drain. Final Report, March 2000.(referred to as RIDIP EIA-2 above) CES Consulting Engineers Salzgitter GmbH: Environmental Impact Assessment on RIIDIA II, November 1999 (referred to as RIDIP EIA above) Chemonics International Inc.: Biodiversity Assessment for Azerbaijan. Task Order under the Biodiversity & Sustainable Forestry IQC (BIOFOR), February 2000 at website http://www.biofor.com/documents/Azerbaijan-Biodiversity-Report.pdf Ecological Baseline Report, Baseline Appendix to the Environmental and Social Assessment (Azerbaijan) of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline project at http://www.caspiandevelopmentandexport.com/BTC/eng/esia1.asp National Strategy for the Preservation of Biodiversity at http://www.grida.no/ Republic of Azerbaijan: Brief report prepared by Azerbaijan to the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (18-26.11.2002) at website http://www.ramsar.org/cop8_nrs_azerbaijan_briefreport2.pdf UNEP-WCMC Nationally Designated Protected Areas at http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ Page 90 2 5/07/10 Draft 17 ANNEX A Public Consultations Agenda of the Public Meeting held at the State Amelioration and Water Farm Open Joint-Stock Company Baku City, 20 th of August 2010 Introduction speech Mr. . , PIU deputy director 11.00-11.05 Briefing about the project Mr. .G , AWFOJSC, head of department for water resources and work with the water users associations 11.05-11.20 Review of the environmental assessment Mr. . , AWFOJSC, chief of sector of the department for Science, Design, Construction and Foreign Relations 11.20-12.00 Results and recommendations of the environmental assessment Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 12.00-12.30 Environmental management and monitoring plan Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 12.30-13.00 Discussion of the environmental management and monitoring plan 13.00 MINUTES Participants : Announcement on the meeting was placed on the web-page of Amelioration and Water Farm AIOJSC. The invitations to the meeting were faxed to the government organizations such as Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Ecology and Natural Resources, and were emailed a number of non-government organizations. Same time, all related government, non-government organizations, social units and individuals were invited too. PIU deputy director, Mr. A. Mustafayev made an opening speech and welcomed the participants, and briefed on the agenda and the speakers. The project national coordinator, Mr. . Guliyev gave all-round report on the project details, objectives and the matters concerning. Manager of Science, Design, and Construction and Foreign Relations sector of AWFOJSC, Mr. . smanov briefed the meeting participants on the WB requirements on environmental assessment summary and environmental assessment. PIU environmental specialist, Mr. .Huseynov expressed thanks on behalf of PIU to the international expert, Mr. D. Colbert who had greatly contributed to the Environmental Assessment Report, and made a presentation on the findings and recommendations of the environmental assessment. Same time, he presented on biodiversities of the country, their state and protection, quality of surface and subsurface water, soil contamination with agrochemical substances, salinity and erosion. Page 91 2 5/07/10 Draft 18 After Mr. E. Huseynov’s presentation, the participants asked questions on the water use with losses and soil contamination. After discussion of questions asked, Mr. . Huseynov presented the geographical and historical aspects of biodiversities in the country and their current state. Same time, information was given on the state preserves and reserves in the republic and especially in the areas close to the project sites. Mr. . Huseynov gave information on the possible positive and negative environmental impacts as a result of the project implementation, and presented environmental management and monitoring plan. Matters raised by the meeting participants mainly consisted of the following: 9 Measures of eradicating or reducing possible negative environmental impacts during the project implementation. 9 Inefficient use of water regularly leads to water logging and salinity of soils, and institutional support to WUAs to this direction under the project. 9 Difficulties with water measurement in on-farm system and measures foreseen in this field. 9 Ruined state of on-farm irrigation and collector-drainage systems, and measures foreseen in this field. 9 Monitoring on WUA activities in territories close to state preserves and reserves. 9 NGO involvement in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) preparation. All raised matters were provided with broad explanations. Consequently, the discussions yielded the following: · The project’s necessity for agriculture development and improvement of welfare of population should be mentioned. · EIA prepared by the international and national experts should be approved and it was also recommended to seek the ways of reducing to minimum the environmental impacts as a result of the project implementation. · Meeting participants expressed their satisfaction of all the required aspects been covered under the project. Secretary Lead consultant of the Department for amelioration, water resources and work with WUAs R. Mammadova Page 92 2 5/07/10 Draft 19 Page 93 L i s t o f p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e P u b l i c M e e t i n g h e l d i n B a k u C i t y o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l A s s e s s m e n t N a m e , s u r n a m e a n d p a t r o n y m i c n a m e O r g a n i z a t i o n / P o s i t i o n C O N T A C T N U M B E R S P r o j e c t I m p l e m e n t a t i o n U n i t 1 P I U d e p u t y d i r e c t o r 4 3 1 - 5 7 - 9 0 2 k h P I U m o n i t o r i n g a n d e v a l u a t i o n s p e c i a l i s t 4 3 1 - 5 7 - 9 0 3 u k h P I U e n v i r o n m e n t a l s p e c i a l i s t 4 3 1 - 5 7 - 9 0 A m e l i o r a t i o n a n d W a t e r F a r m A I O J S C 4 G a a H e a d o f D e p a r t m e n t f o r A m e l i o r a t i o n , W a t e r R e s o u r c e s a n d W o r k w i t h t h e W a t e r U s e r s A s s o c i a t i o n s – N a t i o n a l P r o j e c t C o o r d i n a t o r 4 9 3 - 8 1 - 9 6 5 C h i e f o f s e c t o r o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t f o r S c i e n c e , D e s i g n , C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d F o r e i g n R e l a t i o n s 4 9 3 - 8 0 - 1 1 6 g h C h i e f c o n s u l t a n t o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t f o r A m e l i o r a t i o n , W a t e r R e s o u r c e s a n d W o r k w i t h t h e W a t e r U s e r s A s s o c i a t i o n s 4 9 3 - 8 1 - 9 6 7 a C h i e f c o n s u l t a n t o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t f o r O p e r a t i o n o f W a t e r F a r m U n i t s 4 9 3 - 9 8 - 5 8 8 C h i e f c o n s u l t a n t o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t f o r O p e r a t i o n o f W a t e r F a r m U n i t s 4 9 3 - 1 3 - 6 3 M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e 9 a a D e p u t y c h i e f o f d e p a r t m e n t f o r c o n t r o l o n t h e l a n d u s e , a m e l i o r a t i o n a n d n a t u r e p r o t e c t i o n 5 9 8 - 1 4 - 1 6 M i n i s t r y o f H e a l t h 1 0 D i r e c t o r o f H y g i e n e a n d E p i d e m i o l o g y C e n t e r 5 9 4 - 7 0 - 1 2 1 1 g h i z a d e h D e p u t y D i r e c t o r o f H y g i e n e a n d E p i d e m i o l o g y C e n t e r 5 9 4 - 7 0 - 1 2 M i n i s t r y o f E c o l o g y a n d N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s 1 2 A u S p e c i a l i s t 5 9 8 - 2 5 - 1 2 N o n - g o v e r n m e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s 1 4 D i r e c t o r o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l d e p a r t m e n t o f « » N G O 5 9 4 - 5 3 - 4 2 1 5 a u a P r e s i d e n t o f N a t i o n a l C e n t e r f o r E n v i r o n m e n t a l F o r e c a s t i n g 5 9 5 - 2 6 - 3 6 1 6 a G D e p u t y D i r e c t o r o f g - I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t e r 5 9 7 - 7 6 - 9 5 1 7 a a a y P r o f e s s o r o f A z e r b a i j a n T e c h n i c a l U n i v e r s i t y 1 8 u P r e s i d e n t o f « g - C o n s u l t i n g » C e n t e r 5 6 0 - 1 0 - 5 3 1 9 a P r e s i d e n t o f N G O 5 9 9 - 2 3 - 5 8 Page 94 Agenda of the Public Meeting held at the State Amelioration and Water Farm Open Joint-Stock Company Zardab City, 23 r d of August 2010 Introduction speech Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 11.00-11.05 Briefing about the project Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 11.05-11.20 Review of the environmental assessment Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 11.20-12.00 Results and recommendations of the environmental assessment Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 12.00-12.30 Environmental management and monitoring plan Mr. . u , PIU environmental specialist 12.30-13.00 Discussion of the environmental management and monitoring plan 13.00 MINUTES Invitees : Announcement on the meeting was given by Zardab Irrigations Systems Department. All government, non-government, social unions were invited. Meantime, WUAs and some NGOs of Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli, Aghjabedi, Zardab, Beylagan, Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz, Ismaili, Gabala, Zagatala, Gakh and Balakan raions were invited too. Participants: Representatives of PIU, AWFOJSC, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, NGOs and WUAs of Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli, Aghjabedi, Zardab, Beylagan, Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz, Ismaili, Gabala, Zagatala, Gakh and Balakan rayon (the list is attached). PIU environmental specialist, Mr. . Huseynov made an opening speech, welcomed the participants and briefed on the agenda and the speakers. Mr. . Huseynov briefed the meeting participants on the WB requirements on environmental assessment summary and environmental assessment. Same time, he presented on biodiversities of the country, their state and protection, quality of surface and subsurface water, soil contamination with agrochemical substances, salinity and erosion. Mr. . Huseynov presented on the geographical and historical aspects of biodiversities in the country, and their current state. Kinds of fish and their migration under present circumstances were described. Same time, information was given on the state preserves and reserves in the republic and especially in the areas close to the project sites. Mr. . Huseynov gave information on the possible positive and negative environmental impacts as a result of the project implementation, and presented environmental management and monitoring plan. After Mr. E. Huseynov’s presentation, the participants asked questions on the water use with losses and soil contamination and easy migration of the fish on the mountainous rivers. The speech was accompanied with discussions. A number of question were asked, and answers were given. Matters raised by the meeting participants mainly consisted of the following: Page 95 2 5/07/10 Draft 2 9 The project has prettily big importance and therefore it is necessary to speed up the project implementation. 9 Inefficient use of water regularly leads to water logging and repeat salinity of soils. 9 Necessity of fish protection structures on the intake points of the mountainous rivers. 9 Explanation for farmers for reduction of chemical contamination degree of soils. 9 Ruined state of on-farm irrigation and collector-drainage systems, and consequently lands remained useless. 9 Problems with the use of soils as a result of the rise in underground water table. 9 Difficulties with water measurement in on-farm system and measures foreseen in this field. All raised matters were provided with broad explanations. Consequently, the discussions yielded the following: · The project’s necessity for agriculture development and improvement of welfare of population should be mentioned. · EIA prepared by the international and national experts should be approved and it was also recommended to seek the ways of reducing to minimum the environmental impacts as a result of the project implementation. · Meeting participants expressed their satisfaction of all the required aspects been covered under the project. Secretary Sabirabad Irrigation Systems Department Head of department for water use A. Vahabov Page 96 L i s t o f p a r t i c i p a n t s a t t h e P u b l i c M e e t i n g h e l d i n Z a r d a b C i t y o n t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l A s s e s s m e n t N a m e , s u r n a m e a n d p a t r o n y m i c n a m e O r g a n i z a t i o n / p o s i t i o n C O N T A C T N U M B E R S P r o j e c t I m p l e m e n t a t i o n U n i t 1 u k h P I U e n v i r o n m e n t a l s p e c i a l i s t 4 3 1 - 5 7 - 9 0 A m e l i o r a t i o n a n d W a t e r F a r m A I O J S C 1 i g C h i e f o f a I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t ( 1 3 5 ) 5 - 4 9 - 5 8 2 s h C h i e f e n g i n e e r o f a I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t ( 1 3 5 ) 5 - 5 3 - 0 6 3 a a H e a d o f a W U A R a i o n S u p p o r t U n i t ( R S U ) ( 1 3 5 ) 5 - 5 3 - 0 6 4 I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t , h e a d o f w a t e r u s e d e p a r t m e n t ( 1 4 3 ) 5 - 3 4 - 1 2 5 K h a l a f o v A l i k i s h i M e c h a n i c a l I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t , d e p u t y c h i e f ( 1 4 3 ) 5 - 3 4 - 1 2 6 S h a b a n l y S u p p o r t U n i t , h e a d ( 1 4 3 ) 5 - 3 4 - 1 2 7 g h a y e v S h u k u r y I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t , c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 6 8 ) 5 - 3 3 - 2 6 8 y R S U c h i e f ( 1 6 8 ) 5 - 3 3 - 2 6 9 a a g j a b e d i R S U c h i e f ( 1 1 3 ) 4 - 0 9 - 0 3 1 0 G a g R S U c h i e f ( 1 5 2 ) 2 - 2 0 - 4 5 1 1 a a S h a I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t d e p u t y c h i e f ( 1 1 9 ) 5 - 1 4 - 4 9 1 2 I a I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t d e p u t y c h i e f ( 2 3 4 ) 5 - 1 4 - 7 0 1 3 S h R S U c h i e f ( 2 3 4 ) 5 - 1 4 - 7 0 1 4 a K h a c h m a z I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 7 2 ) 3 - 1 1 - 5 0 1 5 a a a K h a c h m a z R S U c h i e f ( 1 7 2 ) 3 - 1 1 - 5 0 1 6 a a e I m i s h l y I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 5 4 ) 5 - 6 1 - 8 6 1 7 I g I m i s h l y R S U c h i e f ( 1 5 4 ) 5 - 6 1 - 8 6 1 8 I i l l i I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 7 8 ) 5 - 4 5 - 1 2 1 9 J G a k h I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f ( 1 4 4 ) 5 - 2 2 - 2 0 2 0 G G a b a l a I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 6 0 ) 5 - 0 3 - 4 1 2 1 a f a r o v G a b a l a R S U c h i e f ( 1 6 0 ) 5 - 0 3 - 4 1 2 2 g h i r o v I s r a f i l G u b a I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 6 9 ) 5 - 2 2 - 5 1 2 3 s h G R S U c h i e f ( 1 6 9 ) 5 - 2 2 - 5 1 2 4 a g I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 7 4 ) 5 - 2 2 - 5 3 Page 97 2 5 / 0 7 / 1 0 D r a f t 2 2 5 G a g R S U c h i e f ( 1 7 4 ) 5 - 2 2 - 5 3 2 6 i a a G I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m s D e p a r t m e n t c h i e f e n g i n e e r ( 1 2 4 ) 5 - 2 2 - 6 5 M i n i s t r y o f E c o l o g y a n d N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s 1 I a a a E c o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t c h i e f 3 2 5 - 1 3 - 5 0 2 c o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t s p e c i a l i s t N G O s 1 « » g - u s i n e s s c o n s u l t i n g c e n t e r m a n a g e r 3 7 6 - 8 9 - 6 7 W U A s 1 S h k a S h a h u s e y n l i W U A c h a i r m a n 2 G a d i r o v G a d i r G W U A c h a i r m a n 3 A A K h a c h m a z S h a b W U A c h a i r m a n 4 A a g h g a n j a l i W U A c h a i r m a n 5 u a a a g j a a W U A c h a i r m a n 6 G c h s h y G i z i l a r k h W U A c h a i r m a n 7 u a y y W U A c h a i r m a n 8 u a a k h r a d d i n a g a a a W U A c h a i r m a n 9 K h a l i l W U A c h a i r m a n 1 0 A a K h G k h W U A c h a i r m a n 1 1 a a g a f a r m e r 1 2 A a W U A c h a i r m a n 1 3 a a G a h r a m a n g G i m i r W U A c h a i r m a n Page 98 Page 99 2 5 / 0 7 / 1 0 D r a f t 2 A N N E X B T a b l e 1 : S u m m a r y o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n s C o n v e n t i o n A i m S t a t u s U N “ F r a m e w o r k C o n v e n t i o n o n C l i m a t e C h a n g e s ” C o m p a r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n g r e e n h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s , c o o p e r a t e i n p l a n n i n g I n A z e r b a i j a n , i t i s n o t o f f i c i a l l y r e q u i r e d t o m e e t t h t a r g e t s o f d e c r e a s i n g e m i s s i o n s B e m C o n v e n t i o n P r o t e c t w i l d f l o r a a n d f a u n a a n d p r e s e r v e t h e i r n a t u r a l h a b i t a t s E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n f r o m 2 0 0 0 B a z e l C o n v e n t i o n R e g u l a t e t r a n s b o u n d a r y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f d a n g e r o u s w a s t e s J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 1 R A M S A R C o n v e n t i o n P r e s e r v e w e t l a n d s o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i g n i f i c a n c e S i g n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 1 S t o k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n o n p e r s i s t e n t o r g a n i c p o l l u t a n t s R e d u c e t h e r e l e a s e s o f d i o x i n e s , f u r a n s , h e x a c h l o r o b e n z e n e ( r e d u c i n g t h e m t o m i n i m u m a n d e r a d i c a t i n g c o m p l e t e l y ) . J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 4 V i e n n a C o n v e n t i o n o n O z o n e P r o t e c t i o n I n c r e a s e i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s f o r o z o n e p r o t e c t i o n , a n d p r o h i b i t t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d u s e o f o z o n e - d e s t r o y i n g s u b s t a n c e s f i x e d u n d e r M o n t r e a l P r o t o c o l o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n . J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 1 9 9 6 C o n v e n t i o n o n B i o d i v e r s i t y P r e s e r v e b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d u s e i t s c o m p o n e n t s s u s t a i n a b l y a n d d i s t r i b u t e t h e b e n e f i t s f a i r l y a n d e q u a l l y A p a r t y t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 0 C o n v e n t i o n o n P r o t e c t i o n o f t h e W o r l d w i d e C u l t u r a l a n d N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e I d e n t i f y n a t u r a l a n d c u l t u r a l m o n u m e n t s t h a t c a n b e r e v i e w e d f o r i n c l u s i o n i n t h e W o r l d C u l t u r a l H e r i t a g e L i s t . W h e n t h i s d o c u m e n t w a s p r e p a r e d , t w o m o n u m e n t A z e r b a i j a n w e r e i n c l u d e d i n t h i s l i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n o n F l o r a P r o t e c t i o n P r o m o t e r e l e v a n t m e a s u r e s f o r p r e v e n t i o n o f s p r e a d i n g o f p l a n t s a n d p l a n t p r o d u c t s a n d c o m b a t i n g w i t h t h e m . E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n f r o m 2 0 0 0 C o n v e n t i o n o n C o m b a t i n g D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n C o m b a t d e s e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d d i m i n i s h t h e e f f e c t s o f d r a u g h t E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n f r o m 1 9 9 8 C o n v e n t i o n o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a d e o f E n d a n g e r e d W i l d F a u n a a n d F l o r a S p e c i e s ( C I T E S ) E n s u r e c o n t r o l o v e r t r a d e o f s e l e c t e d f a u n a a n d f l o r a E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n f r o m 1 9 9 9 I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a O r g a n i z a t i o n M a i n c o n v e n t i o n s o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a O r g a n i z a t i o n a r e a s f o l l o w s : A d d e n d u m s 1 - 5 o f M A R P O L C o n v e n t i o n – i n c l u d e s t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f e m i s s i o n s a n d d i s c h a r g e s f r o m v e s s e l s L o n d o n C o n v e n t i o n – p r e v e n t s s e a p o l l u t i o n t h r o u g h d i s c h a r g i n g c o n t a m i n a n t s a n d o t h e r m a t e r i a l s C o n v e n t i o n o n P r o t e c t i o n S y s t e m s a g a i n s t F l o r a C o n v e n t i o n o n B a l l a s t W a t e r a n d S e d i m e n t s E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n f r o m 2 0 0 4 W h e n t h i s d o c u m e n t w a s p r e p a r e d , A z e r b a i j a n w a s m e m b e r t o t h e p r o t o c o l o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n R a t i f i e d b y A z e r b a i j a n ( t h i s c o n v e n t i o n b e c a m e e f f e c t i v e f r o m 2 0 0 8 i n c o u n t r i e s t h a t h a d r a t i f i e d i t R a t i f i e d b y A z e r b a i j a n ( b u t t h i s c o n v e n t i o n h a s n o t b e c o m e e f f e c t i v e i n c o u n t r i e s t h a t r a t i f i e d t h e m ) Page 100 2 5 / 0 7 / 1 0 D r a f t 3 T a b l e 2 : S u m m a r y o n R e g i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n s C o n v e n t i o n A i m S t a t u s O r h u s C o n v e n t i o n 5 7 G e t i n f o r m a t i o n o n e n v i r o n m e n t a l a f f a i r s , p u b l i c e n g a g e m e n t i n d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g a n d s e c u r e t h e r i g h t s o f o p e n a n d f a i r c o u r t e x a m i n a t i o n J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 0 E s p o o C o n v e n t i o n C a m p a i g n f o r h a r m l e s s a n d s u s t a i n a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t a l d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h a p p l i c a t i o n o f E S A ( p a r t i c u l a r l y , a s a p r e v e n t i v e m e a s u r e a g a i n s t e n v i r o n m e n t a l p o l l u t i o n i n t r a n s b o u n d a r y c o n t e x t ) J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 1 9 9 9 . W h e n t h i s d o c u m e n p r e p a r e d , A z e r b a i j a n h a d s i g n e d t h e P r o t o c o l o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l S t r a t e g i c A s s e s s m e n t . C o n v e n t i o n o n P r o t e c t i o n a n d U s e o f T r a n s b o u n d a r y W a t e r f l o w s a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a k e s P r e v e n t t r a n s b o u n d a r y e f f e c t a r i s i n g f r o m t r a n s b o u n d a r y w a t e r p o l l u t i o n a s a r e s u l t o f h u m a n a c t i v i t i e s , k e e p t h e e f f e c t u n d e r c o n t r o l o r d e c r e a s e i t . J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 2 . P r o t o c o l o n W a t e r a n d H e a l t h S a f e g u a r d h u m a n h e a l t h a n d w e l f a r e t h r o u g h b e t t e r m a n a g i n g w a t e r r e s o u r c e s , p r e v e n t i n g w a t e r - r e l a t e d d i s e a s e s J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 3 . G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n o n t r a n s b o u n d a r y p o l l u t i o n o n w e a t h e r i n g r e a t d i s t a n c e s P r o v i d e s t h e m e c h a n i s m f o r c o n t r o l l i n g o n a n d d e c r e a s i n g t r a n s b o u n d a r y p o l l u t i o n o f w e a t h e r E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n i n 2 0 0 2 . N o p r o t o c o l s r a t i f i e d b y t h e A z e r b a i j a n R e p u b l i c w t h i s d o c u m e n t w a s p r e p a r e d . C o n v e n t i o n o n T r a n s b o u n d a r y E f f e c t o f I n d u s t r i a l W r e c k s P r e v e n t i n d u s t r i a l a c c i d e n t s o f t r a n s b o u n d a r y e f f e c t , p r e p a r e f o r s u c h a c c i d e n t s w i t h p r e c a u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e s a g a i n s t t h e m J o i n e d t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n 2 0 0 4 . I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f D a n g e r o u s M a t e r i a l s o n H i g h w a y s R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r p a c k a g i n g a n d l a b e l i n g d a n g e r o u s m a t e r i a l s , e q u i p m e n t s u p p l y a n d o p e r a t i o n . E f f e c t i v e i n A z e r b a i j a n i n 2 0 0 0 . T e h e r a n F r a m e w o r k C o n v e n t i o n o n t h e C a s p i a n S e a R a t i f i e d b y a l l f i v e c o a s t a l s t a t e s , e f f e c t i v e i n 2 0 0 6 . M e m b e r s t a t e s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o u n d e r t a k e s o m e g e n e r a l a c t i o n s f o r c o m b a t t i n g p o l l u t i o n o f t h e C a s p i a n . F o u r p r o t o c o l s d r a f t e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d b e b a s i s f o r n a t i o n a l l e g i s l a t i o n a n d s t a n d a r d s . R a t i f i e d , b u t p r o t o c o l s w e r e i n d r a f t w h e n t h e d o c u w a s p r e p a r e d a n d t h e r e f o r e i t d o e s n o t p u t f o r w a r d o b l i g a t o r y d e m a n d f o r w o r k i n g o u t l e g i s l a t i o n . 5 7 U N E C E a g r e e m e n t ; A z e r b a i j a n b e c a m e a m e m b e r s t a t e t o t h e U N E c o n o m i c C o m m i s s i o n o n E u r o p e i n 1 9 9 3 ( U N E C E ) . U N E C E ’ s m a i n p u r p o s e i s t o c a m p a i g n f o r E u r o - i n t e g r a t i o n t h r o u g h e s t a b l i s h i n g n o r m s , s t a n d a r d s a n d c o n v e n t i o n s . Page 101 25/07/10 Draft 4