Description of the Baseline Environment

Physical Environment

The topography over which the project rail will pass is predominantly flat followed by rolling terrain.

The project rail is located in three climatic zones. the Weina Dega zone, warm temperate climate, whereas the Yabello ‐ Moyale section falls in hot semi‐arid climate zone. The predominant land cover along the route corridor is bush land and woodland. In addition, there is dense plantation forest and natural forest along the rail line. These forest areas form part of the Megeda Regional Priority Forest Area (RPFA). The dominant land cover type along the route is Forest areas, broadleaved deciduous woodland, bush land and grasslands.

Biological Environment

The natural vegetation of the project area can be classified into three vegetation types. These are high forest, mixed broadleaved deciduous woodland and Acacia woodland, and Acacia woodland and bush land. The high forest land is a mixture of natural forest and plantation forest. The broadleaved deciduous woodland is mostly either mixed or interspersed with Acacia woodland and bush land. Acacia woodland and bush land, which is interspersed by grasslands in some areas, predominantly covers the corridor.

Socio-economic Environment

The total assessed portion of the population having access to the Addis to Moyale railway corridor is up to 30 million people. Please refer to commentary on Page 8.

Livestock husbandry plays the greatest role in the livelihood across the wealth groups in the pastoral communities. The total livestock population in the project areas is estimated to be about 10 million, of which cattle account for 12% and sheep 8% approximately.

Project Alternatives

In terms of route options, the rail project found to be technically, economically, and socio‐ environmentally the most feasible route to achieve the project objectives. There is no reasonable alternative route to achieve the project objectives. The only other possibility is to improve the given route locally.

In economic analysis, sensitivity analysis states that the route will be always viable with a minimal Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of around 14% in the worst option.

The project rail has local, national as well as international importance. It connects regional states ORS and SPNN (woredas), several towns and many villages and provides international connection to Kenya through Moyale.

Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20