Quantifying impact reduction due to avoidance, minimization and restoration for a natural gas pipeline in the Peruvian Andes

• Published in: Environmental impact assessment review 2017-09, Vol.66, p.53-65
• Main Authors: Sahley, C.T., Vildoso, B., Casaretto, C., Taborga, P., Ledesma, K., Linares-Palomino, R., Mamani, G., Dallmeier, F., Alonso, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 03 NATURAL GAS; ANDES; AVOIDANCE; Biodiversity; Biodiversity action plan; Biodiversity monitoring and assessment; Buried pipes; Environmental impact; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Gas pipelines; Impact assessment; Key words: Mitigation hierarchy; Linear infrastructure projects; MINIMIZATION; Mitigation; MONITORING; Monitoring methods; NATURAL GAS; Optimization; PERU; PIPELINES; Project management; Public rights of way; Reduction; Restoration; SPECIES DIVERSITY
• ISSN: 0195-9255; 1873-6432
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2017.06.003

We present monitoring methods and quantitative biodiversity data to document components of the mitigation hierarchy. We estimated avoidance, minimization, restoration and impact reduction in quality hectares for the 25m wide right of way of a 408km natural gas buried pipeline that crosses 14 Ecological Landscape Units (ELUs) in the tropical Andes of Peru. We found that applying the mitigation hierarchy as part of a comprehensive biodiversity action plan substantially reduced impacts on biodiversity in all habitats studied. Avoidance and right of way minimization contributed to significant impact reduction. We quantified impact reduction during construction and operation on the right of way of the pipeline over a five-year period and found that restoration was the greatest contributor to reducing impacts. We documented that most ELUs have a positive restoration trajectory. We also documented how monitoring over large scale spatial scales, in combination with site-specific monitoring, generated data for management to determine restoration priorities and impact mitigation. A biodiversity action plan that incorporated the mitigation hierarchy and a science-based biodiversity monitoring and assessment program contributed to biodiversity management of the project and played an important role in minimizing and managing impacts. •Quantitative data for mitigation hierarchy components are presented.•Application of the mitigation hierarchy reduced impacts on biodiversity.•A biodiversity monitoring program provided data to reduce impacts.