World Bank Loan
Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project (HFRDP)
Environmental Management Plan
Forestry Foreign Capital Project Management Office
of Hunan Province
Central South University of Forestry and Technology
June 2012
E3043 v1 P
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
edP
ublic
Dis
clos
ure
Aut
horiz
ed
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
2
Content
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 6
1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.2 Main References ................................................................................................................. 6
1.2.1 Relevant policies, laws, regulations issued by national and local authorities in
China ................................................................................................................................. 6
1.2.2 Technical Specifications and Guidelines .................................................................. 7
1.2.3 Requirements of the World Bank ............................................................................. 8
2. experience and lessons learnt from previous World Bank loan forestry projects in Hunan
province in execution of environmental management measures ................................................ 9
2.1 The preparation and execution of EPG ............................................................................... 9
2.2 Preparation and execution of “Pest Management Plan” (PMP) ........................................ 10
2.3 Organization of Training on Environmental Protection Measures at All Levels ............... 10
2.4 Conduction of Ecological Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation ............................. 10
2.5 Environmental Management Performance of Previous World Bank Loan Forestry Projects
................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.6 Ecological Environmental benefits achieved in Previous World Bank Loan Forestry
Projects .................................................................................................................................... 12
3. Project Description ................................................................................................................... 14
3.1 Project Objectives ............................................................................................................. 14
3.2 Project components ........................................................................................................... 14
3.3 Distribution of project areas .............................................................................................. 15
4. Description of Environmental Conditions and Analysis of Environmental Quality in
project areas .................................................................................................................................. 17
4.1 Description of present environmental conditions in project areas ................................ 17
4.1.1 Natural environment ............................................................................................... 17
4.1.2 Social environment ................................................................................................. 22
4.1.3 Ecological environment.......................................................................................... 23
4.1.4 Natural Habitats and physical cultural resources ................................................... 27
4.2 Analysis of current environmental quality related to the project ...................................... 28
4.2.1 Soil erosion and surface runoff in Hunan ............................................................... 28
4.2.2 Water quality of related water bodies ..................................................................... 28
4.2.3 Vegetation Coverage and Plant Community Structure ........................................... 29
4.2.4 Biodiversity status .................................................................................................. 29
4.2.5 Environment pollution ........................................................................................... 30
5. Environmental Impact Analysis of Project Construction ..................................................... 31
5.1 Positive Environmental Impacts........................................................................................ 31
5.1.1 Water conservation, soil and water conservation and soil improvement ................ 31
5.1.2 Increase biodiversity .............................................................................................. 31
5.1.3 Increase carbon sequestration and condition micro-climate................................... 31
5.2 Potential negative environmental impacts and mitigation measures………………….…26
5.2.1 Negative environmental impacts of site selection and mitigation measures .......... 32
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
3
5.2.2 Negative environmental impacts of species (variety) selection and distribution and
Mitigation measures ........................................................................................................ 33
5.2.3 Negative environmental impacts of site slashing and preparation and Mitigation
measures .......................................................................................................................... 34
5.2.4 Negative environmental impacts of tending management measures on forest
plantations and Mitigation measures ............................................................................... 34
5.2.5 Negative environmental impacts of forest path construction ................................. 35
5.2.6 Negative environmental impacts of application of pesticides and fertilizers ......... 35
5.2.7 Negative environmental impacts of timber felling and yarding ............................. 36
5.2.8 Negative environmental impacts of nursery construction ...................................... 37
5.3 Risk analysis and prevention measures ............................................................................. 39
5.4 Summary of mitigation measures of negative impacts and prevention measures of risks 42
6. Public Participatory Mechanism and Public Consultation Results ...................................... 51
6.1 Public consultation by EIA team and its results ................................................................ 51
6.1.1 Methods and scope of survey ................................................................................. 51
6.1.2 Public consultation results ...................................................................................... 52
6.1.3 Public suggestions .................................................................................................. 53
6.1.4 Conclusions of public consultation in EIA ............................................................. 53
6.2 Public consultation by social assessment team and its results (see details in the Social
Assessment Report) ................................................................................................................. 55
6.2.1 Methods and scope of survey ................................................................................. 55
6.2.2 Public consultation results ...................................................................................... 56
6.3 Participatory consultation and planning and its results (see details in the Participatory
Consultation and Planning Summary Report) ......................................................................... 56
7. Environmental Management Scheme and Technical Measures ........................................... 59
7.1 Development and execution of EPG ................................................................................. 59
7.2 Development and execution of PMP ................................................................................. 59
7.3 Reporting procedure in case cultural relics were found .................................................... 60
7.4 Consistency analysis with World Bank forestry policy (OP 4.36) .................................... 61
8 Environmental Management Agencies and Supervision Mechanism ................................... 62
8.1 Environmental management agencies and responsibilities ............................................... 62
8.2 Supervision and inspection mechanism ............................................................................ 63
9. Environmental Monitoring Plan .............................................................................................. 65
9.1 Monitoring contents and indicators ................................................................................... 65
9.2 Types and distribution of monitoring sites ........................................................................ 65
9.3 Monitoring methods .......................................................................................................... 68
9.4 Organization and implementation of monitoring .............................................................. 69
9.5 Report system .................................................................................................................... 69
9.6 Fund budget ....................................................................................................................... 69
9.7 Summary table of annual work plan ................................................................................. 72
10. Training Plan ........................................................................................................................... 74
10.1 Training content .............................................................................................................. 74
10.2 Trainees and training methods......................................................................................... 74
10.3 Training programme and budget ..................................................................................... 75
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
4
11. Source of Fund and Budget .................................................................................................... 77
Annex 1: Environmental Protection Guidelines
Annex 2: Pest Management Plan
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
5
Abbreviations
Cm: County Project Manager
CPMO: County Project Management Office
Ct: County Technician
EIA: Environmental Impacts Assessment
EMP: Environmental Management Plan
EPG: Environmental Protection Guidelines
FDPA: Forestry Development in Poor Areas Project
Fm: Farmer Representatives or Village Cadre
FPCQS: Forest Pest Control and Quarantine Station
FRPDP: Forest Resource Protection and Development Project
HFRDP: Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
IPM: Integrated Pest Management
NAP: National Afforestation Project
PMO: Project Management Office
PMP: Pest Management Plan
PPMO: Provincial Project Management Office
SFDP: Sustainable Forestry Development Project
Tt: Township Technician
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
6
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
In order to mitigate the negative environmental impact caused by the ice storm
occurred in Hunan province in 2008, and support the Government’s effort to prevent
further degradation of forests and restore the ecological balance in the storm-affected
landscapes, the World Bank Loan Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
(HFRDP) has been proposed. According to the Safeguard Policy of World Bank, it is
necessary to make an “Environmental Impact Assessment” (EIA) of projects proposed
for the World Bank financing. As this project refers to forest restoration and
development, the World Bank Expert Group agreed that a detailed “Environmental
Management Plan” (EMP) should be made, which should be carried out during the
implementation of the project to mitigate or eliminate the negative environmental
impacts, thereby to ensure the maximization of environmental benefits and
minimization of environmental loss.
Based on a detailed analysis on the environmental status and environmental quality in
the project areas, the EMP makes detailed description and arrangement in the
personnel task allocation of project environmental management agencies, the
environmental protection measures, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods,
monitoring activities on ecological environment benefit, procedures and record
mechanism of public participatory, training on environmental management knowledge
and technology to relevant persons as well as the budget of environmental
management activities for guiding the environmental management in project
implementation.
1.2 Main References
1.2.1 Relevant policies, laws, regulations issued by national and local authorities in
China
(1) “Law on the Protection of Wildlife of People's Republic of China”, 2004.
(2) “Wild Plant Protection Ordinance of People's Republic of China”, 1997
(3) “Law of Water of People's Republic of China”, 2002
(4) “Afforestation Technical Regulation”, 2006
(5) “Environmental Protection Law of People's Republic of China”, 1989
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
7
(6) “Water Pollution Prevention Law of People's Republic of China” 2008
(7) “Detailed Rules of Water Pollution Prevention Law of People's Republic of
China”, 2000;
(8) “Solid Waste Pollution Prevention Law of People's Republic of China”, 2005.
(9) “Environmental Impact Assessment Law of People's Republic of China”, 2002
(10) “Construction Project Environmental Protection Management Regulations”,
1998
(11) “Management Notice on Strengthening Loans from International Financial
Organizations in Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects”,
1993
(12) “Interim Measures of Public Participation in Environmental Impact
Assessment”, 2006
(13) “Measures on Disclosure of Environmental Information”, 2007
(14) “Construction Project Environmental Protection Management Directory” 2002
(15) “Regulations on Forest Pest Control” 1989
(16) “Afforestation Quality Management Interim Measures” 2001
(17) “Forest Law of the People’s Republic of China”, 1985
(18) “Land Management Law of the People’s Republic of China”, 1999
(19) “Soil and Water Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China”, 2011
(20) “Plant Quarantine Regulation of the People’s Republic of China”, 1992
(21) “Forest Fire Prevention Regulation”, 2009
(22) “Implementation Rules of Soil and Water Conservation of the People’s Republic
of China”, 1993
(23) “Nature Reserve Regulation of the People’s Republic of China”, 1994
(24) “Cropland Conversion for Forest Regulation”, 2003
(25) "The Plant Quarantine Rules", 1992
(26) “Technological Rules for Forest Quarantine”, 1998
(27) “Management Measures for Target Forest Pest Control”, 1992
(28) “Standards on Safe Use of Pesticides”, 1982
(29) “Regulation on Pesticide Management”, 2001
(30) “Cultural Relics Protection Law of the People's Republic of China", 2007
1.2.2 Technical Specifications and Guidelines
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
8
(1) “Technical Guidelines for Environment Impact Assessment of General
Programme” (HJ2.1-2011)
(2) “Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment of Atmospheric
Environment” (HJ2.2-2008)
(3) “Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment of Surface Water
Environment” (HJ/T2.3-93)
(4) “Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment of Acoustic
Environment” (HJ2.4-2009);
(5) “Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment of Ecological
Impact” (HJ19-2011)
(6) “Environmental Impact Risk Assessment Guideline of Construction Project”
(HJ/T169-2004)
(7) “Hunan Province Surface Water Function Zone Standard” (DB43/0232005)
(8) “Formulation Technique of Local Standards for the Discharge of Atmospheric
Pollutants” (GB/T13201-91);
1.2.3 Requirements of the World Bank
The requirements of the World Bank mainly include three safeguard policies, namely:
(1) Environmental Assessment (OP4.01)
(2) Pest Management (OP4.09)
(3) Forestry (OP4.36)
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
9
2. experience and lessons learnt from previous World Bank loan
forestry projects in Hunan province in execution of environmental
management measures
The previous World Bank Loan forestry projects in Hunan, including “National
Afforestation Project” (NAP), “Forest Resource Protection and Development Project”
(FRDPP), “Forestry Development in Poor Areas Project” (FDPA) and “Sustainable
Forestry Development Project” (SFDP) have paid a high attention to environmental
management through identification and implementation of mitigation measures to
avoid or mitigate the damage caused by project activities to the nature reserves,
natural forests and important habitats of wildlife, soil erosion, decline of soil fertility
and occurrence of pests/diseases, as well as to promote the stability of forest
plantation ecosystem and its sustainable management.
2.1 The preparation and execution of EPG
During the implementation of the previous four World Bank loan forestry projects, the
EPGs were prepared and executed, which put forward and required to carry out
specific environmental protection measures in the following linkages: selection and
distribution of project afforestation sites, tree species (variety) selection and
distribution, site slashing/preparation, young forest tending management, fire
management, timber felling/yarding, forest road construction, etc..
In order to strengthen the technologies and measures put forward in the EPG, the
Provincial Project Management Office (PPMO) took whether EPG was executed as
one of the important indicators to evaluate the project implementation quality. The
"Environmental Protection Compliance Rate" was set up as one of criteria for quality
checking and acceptance of each afforestation sub-compartment, which strengthened
the supervision and management of environmental protection. In the implementation
of previous four World Bank loan forestry projects, the "Environmental Protection
Compliance Rate" reached 96% in average, which shows that the EPG has been well
carried out in project implementation.
However, there are some lessons from the previous projects. The key lesson is that
the species (varieties) of project plantation were limited and forest pests/diseases
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
10
occurred sometimes. The low diversity of tree species caused the relatively lower
stability of project plantation ecosystem and week resistant to the incidents of forest
pests/diseases.
xisted in the project implementation, such as improper selection and configuration of
afforestation tree species in those project counties, overlarge size of pure forest and
low-effect of pest control in some project areas.
The project designers should aim at the features of all project forests belong to the
ecological forest, and fully learn lessons and experience from the preparation and
execution of the previous EPGs, so as to improve the project environmental
management to a higher standard.
2.2 Preparation and execution of “Pest Management Plan” (PMP)
The previous two World Bank loan forestry projects in Hunan, namely "NAP",
"FDPA", "FRDPP", and "SFDP" were prepared and executed a PMP with specific
provisions to the project plantations in the aspects of pests/diseases prevention and
monitoring as well as the safe use of chemical pesticides. The use of physical and
biological methods was encouraged; the high-efficient and low-poisonous chemical
pesticide was requested when chemical method is necessary.
Many successful experience were acquired in the previous projects, such as making
use of Forest Pest Control and Quarantine Station (FPCQS) and Pest Forecasting
Stations at all levels for the timely forest pests/diseases monitoring and forecasting as
well as the effectively pests/diseases prevention.
This project would not only continually make use of FPCQS at all levels, but also will
increase the monitoring sites and extend monitoring area for better monitoring and
forecasting of the pests/diseases occurrence.
2.3 Organization of training on environmental protection measures at all levels
A great number of trainings were held to project technical and management staff at all
levels as well as project entities and farmers to enhance their environmental
awareness and help them to learn and master the knowledge and techniques required
in the EPG and PMP, so that they can carry out them precisely in the project
implementation..
2.4 Conduction of Ecological Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
11
The ecological environmental monitoring on soil erosion, soil fertility and
pests/diseases was conducted in the main timber forest, economic forest, bamboo
forest and multi-function protection forest to reveal the impacts on soil erosion and
soil fertility caused by project afforestation activities, as well as the regular pattern of
pests/diseases occurrence in project forests.
2.5 Environmental Management Performance of Previous World Bank Loan Forestry
Projects
In the project areas, there were no negative impacts caused by project implementation
on local natural forests, natural reserves and wild animal habitats.
The improper traditions of sites without careful preparation and “mountain burning”
site preparation methods were abandoned. Alternatively, the forest ecological
structures of project plantation forests coexisted with the rationally retained natural
arbors, bushes was formed to increase the ecological stability of forest plantations and
to maintain the soil fertility in forest plantations.
Such environmental protection measures of partial site preparation along contour line
and “triangle” form planting hole layout, partial forest tending method, retention of
under-forest vegetations were applied in the project afforestation and plantation forest
management to reduce soil and water loss, as well as to maintain soil fertility and
biodiversity of plantation forest.
The project plantation forests were formed as the multiple-variety and small-scale
continuous forests with more reasonable structure, by altering the traditional practice
of single superior variety plantation forest in large continuous scales, so that the risks
of land degradation and pests/diseases occurrence of the artificial forest ecosystems
have been reduced.
The pests/diseases in the project plantations has been well prevented, and the
occurrence of pests/diseases was controlled by a low level. The pests/diseases occur in
the individual forest stands were controlled timely and effectively. The main
pests/diseases prevention measures are physical and biological methods, and the
adopted chemical pesticides are all in accordance with related WHO requirements.
The environmental monitoring on different types of projects plantations showed that,
in the forest planting year and the followed year, the majority of forestland will
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
12
experience a mild soil erosion (erosion modulus<2500 t/a·km2) as the result of site
slashing, site preparation, intercropping, young forest tending; moderate or heavy soil
erosion (erosion modulus>2500t/a`km2) only occur when overall site preparation
method or overall site forest tending method applied on slope lands; the occurrence of
pests/diseases in new forest plantation is low, and with almost no large-scale outbreak
of that.
The project technical and management staff at all levels as well as the project
beneficiaries (including local farmers) gained the environmental protection
consciousness in afforestation and plantation management, and mastered necessary
methods and measures of environmental protection, which ensured the environmental
protection compliance of project implementation, and the personnel foundation for
extending environmental protection measures in the establishment and management of
forest plantations in the project areas.
2.6 Ecological Environmental benefits achieved in Previous World Bank Loan
Forestry Projects
(1) The areas of forest land, the forest coverage and the amount of carbon
sequestration are increased.
Hunan province has successfully implemented the four World Bank loan forestry
projects, i.e. “NAP”, “FRDPP”, “FDPA” and “SFDP”. The newly afforestation
established by the four project is totally accumulated by 25.83 ×104 hectares which
brought a 4.8% increase of the forest coverage to the project areas. Meanwhile, the
amount of carbon sequestration was increased and the function of carbon
sequestration was enhanced in the project areas.
(2) The ecological environment is well protected and greatly improved.
Each previous project has prepared an practical EMP and executed it strictly in project
implementation, which resulted in the promoted ecological benefits such as reduction
of soil erosion, increase of forest coverage, enhancement of ecological function of
forest in water and soil conservation, etc., so that the ecological environment of
project areas got well protected and greatly improved.
(3) The biodiversity is protected and increased
The increase of forest area and form of forest microclimate provide a more suitable
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
13
living conditions for wildlife, so that the numbers and varieties of wild plants and
animals are significantly increased, and the biodiversity is more enriched..
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
14
3. Project Description
3.1 Project Objectives
The objectives of this project include improving the ability of forest ecological system
in resistance to disaster climate and adaptation to climate change, as well as
enhancing the environmental function by developing and adopting forest restoration
and management methods, exploring the new forest operation models in
storm-affected areas where forest resources were seriously damaged.
3.2 Project components
A. Component One: Reforestation and rehabilitation of damaged ecological forest
plantations:
(1). This component includes two subcomponents:
(a) The full reforestation of ecological forest plantations completely denuded
by the ice storm. This reforestation would be achieved by reforesting
27,665.0 ha of forestland with various locally adapted mixes of conifer and
broadleaf indigenous species.
(b) The rehabilitation of damaged ecological forest plantations, which would
include:
(i) The supplemental reforestation of 18,635.0 ha of damaged and
partially denuded ecological forest plantations by inter-planting them
with mixes of conifer and broadleaf indigenous species; and
(ii) The regeneration of 12,560.0 ha of damaged ecological forest
plantation where natural regeneration (spontaneous germination of forest
seedlings from seed dropped by mature trees and stored in the ground, as
well as the sprouts from damaged stumps) would be promoted.
(2) The project interventions envisaged under this component would result in the
creation of rehabilitated multi-species ecological forest plantations that would
have multi-level structures (trees of different heights and ages) with an optimum
canopy cover allowing them to be more resilient to the effects of future natural
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
15
disasters and to provide better soil and water conservation and other
environmental functions.
B. Component two: Institutional support and technology enhancement:
Under this component, the project would finance five subcomponents:
(a) The upgrading of two central nurseries in Taoyuan County and Suxian
District and a provincial demonstration nursery in Ningxiang County, as well
as improve the quality of seedlings throughout the project areas. The
proposed upgrading would: (i) increase the number of seedling species and
supply amount as well as improve the quality of planting materials; and (ii)
support the adoption of better nursery management technologies.
(b) The establishment and strengthening of 22 beneficiaries’ cooperatives for
the purpose of reforesting, rehabilitating and long-term management of
ecological forest plantations.
(c) The implementation of research activities aimed at identifying and
disseminating new technologies and better adapted reforestation species; the
implementation of training and extension activities to introduce more adapted
ecological forest plantation species, new plantation technical models and
species mixes, as well as nursery production and management
techniques.These activities would also upgrade the capacity of forestry staff
and beneficiaries.
(d) Project monitoring and evaluation systems would be put in place to
monitor project progress and quality, measure its outputs and evaluate the
achievement of its anticipated impacts.
(e) Support to project management and institutional development, including
the establishment and continued satisfactory operation of the Project
Management Office at the provincial level (PPMO) and the 22 County
PMOs.
3.3 Distribution of project areas
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
16
The project will be implemented in 22 counties (city, district) of 10 prefectures in
Hunan province (see table 3-1 and figure 3-1).
Table 3-1 Distribution of project areas
No. Prefecture County (city, district)
1 Changsha Ningxiang
2 Zhuzhou Liling
3 Hengyang Leiyang, Changning and Hengnan
4 Yueyang Yueyang, Pingjiang
5 Shaoyang Xinshao
6 Changde Taoyuan and Dingcheng
7 Chenzhou Rucheng, Zixing, Suxian, Guiyang, Anren, Guidong and
Yongxing
8 Yongzhou Shuangpai and Jingdong
9 Huaihua Yuanling, Mayang
10 Autonomous
Prefecture Luxi
Figure 3-1 Distribution of project areas
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
17
4. Description of Environmental Conditions and Analysis of
Environmental Quality in project areas
4.1 Description of environmental status in project areas
4.1.1 Natural environment
Hunan is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in the south-central
China. The Chinese “Hunan” means “south to lake”. The name of "Hunan'
comes from most parts of the province located in the south to the DongTing
Lake, and its abbreviation of "Xiang" comes from the largest river in the
province, i.e. Xiang River.
The climate in Hunan is continental subtropical monsoon humid climate, wi th
distinct four seasons, abundant sunshine and rainfall , a long frost-free period.
The annual sunshine hours are 1,300-1,800 hours, the annual average
temperature is 16-19℃, and annual precipitation is 1,200-1,700 ㎜ in the
province, which is suitable for human living and plants growth.
Water resource in Hunan is abundant for it owns the second largest fresh-water
lake, i.e. Dongting Lake and 4 main rivers, namely Xiang River, Zi River, Yuan
River, and Li River. The total amount of natural water resources is
1.9982×1011
m3, among which the total surface water resources is of
1.5652×1011
m3, underground water (shallow) is of 4.33×10
10m
3. The general
situation of natural environment in project areas is shown in table 4-1
Table4-1 General situation of natural environment in the project areas
No. County Topography Soil types Climate Hydrology
1 Ningxiang
county
The northern, western and
southern margins of the
county are surrounded by
mountains; the southeast
part is hilly; the northern
part is small upland; the
northeast part is low-lying,
flat and open.
Red soil is the main
type of mountain soil.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.8℃;
annual
rainfall is
1358.3 ㎜.
Wei River
and Jin
River
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
18
2 Liling city The uplifting southwest and
northern part tilt to the
central part from two-way
by 4 steps of terrace; the
main topography is hill.
Main soil types are
red soil and red
yellow soil developed
from plate shale and
sandstone.
Annual
average
temperature
is 18.9℃;
annual
rainfall is
1450 ㎜.
Lu River,
Zhaoling
River and
Jian River
3 Leiyang city The terrain is relatively
complex, including
mountain, hill, small upland
and flat land, in which the
small upland and hill are the
primary types.
Mainly red soil Annual
average
temperature
is 17.9℃;
annual
rainfall is
1337 ㎜.
Lei River
4 Changning
city
Three terrain types,
including mountain, hills,
and plain.
Paddy soil, red soil,
purplish soil and
yellow soil are the
main mountain soils.
Annual
average
temperature
is 18.1℃;
annual
rainfall is
1350 ㎜.
Xiang
River
5 Hengnan
county
The county is located in a
basin with higher margins
and lower midst, which
open to north. The mainly
landforms include
mountain, hill, small upland
and flat land, in which hill
and small upland are the
commonest landform.
There are
granitization red soil,
board shale red soil,
red sandstone,
limestone red soil, the
quaternary red clay
and so on.
Annual
average
temperature
is 17.8℃;
annual
rainfall is of
1443 ㎜.
Zheng
River Lei
water
6 Pingjiang
county
The county has relative
complex geological
structure, various types of
landforms. The southeast
and northeast terrain is
higher, and the southwest is
lower.
The main mountain
soils are red soil and
yellow soil, and the
secondary is the lime
soil.
Annual
average
temperature
is 17.0℃;
annual
rainfall is of
1463 ㎜.
Lian, Zi
River
7 Yueyang
county
The proportion of
mountain, hills, small
upland, plain, and the water
area is 12:11:24:13:40
The mountain soils
are red soil, yellow
bonus rang and
yellow brown soil.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.8℃;
annual
rainfall is
1458 ㎜.
Dongting
Lake,
Miluo
River
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
19
8 Xinshao
county
Various types of landforms,
such as flat land, small
upland, hill and mountain
are exited in the county. The
terrain of the middle part is
gradually declined from
south to north.
The main soil tyes
include board shale
red soil, granitization
red soil, the
quaternary red clay,
red sandstone,
granitization yellow
soil and purple soil.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.5 ℃;
annual
rainfall is
1365.3 ㎜.
Xinqiang
River
9 Taoyuan
county
Located in the transitional
belt from the western
Hunan mountainous and
Dongting plain, and the
main landscape is
middle-to-low mountains.
Red soil, yellow red
soil and mountain
yellow soil which
developed from plate
shale and sandstone
are the main soil
types.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.5 ℃,
annual
rainfall is
1358.3 ㎜.
Yuan
River, Li
River
10 Dingcheng
District
Plain and hill are the main
terrains
Red soil is the
primary soil type,
paddy soil is the
secondary type, and
yellow soil and purple
clay soil also exist in
the county.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.5℃;
annual
rainfall is
1423㎜.
Yuan
River, Li
River
11 Rucheng
County
The county is surrounded
by mountains and inserted
with hills and basins. , The
terrain is decline from the
northwest to the southeast.
Red soil, yellow red
soil, and mountain
yellow soil are the
main soil types.
1558.3 ㎜
Annual
average
temperature
is 16. 6℃;
annual
rainfall is
1558.3 ㎜.
Xiang
River
water
system:
Ou river,
Zhe river,
Xiu river
and Ce
river;
Gan River
water
system:
Jilong
river;
Bei River
water
system:
Jiulong
stream and
Cheng
stream
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
20
12 Zixing city The landform is
middle-to-low mountains.
The terrain is declined from
east to west in three
obviously horse-shoe steps.
The main soil types
are red soil, yellow
red soil, yellow soil,
etc, which were
developed from
granite, limestone,
plate shale and
glutenite.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.6℃;
annual
rainfall is
1485 ㎜.
Dong
River
Cheng
River
Yongle
13 Suxian
district
The northwest part was
located in the south of
Chayong basin. In this area,
the terrain is relatively flat
and broad, hill is the mainly
type of landscape. The
altitude is declined from
southeast to northwest.
The red soil, which
developed from
limestone, plate shale,
and sandstone is the
main soil
Annual
average
temperature
is 18℃;
annual
rainfall is
1358.3 ㎜.
Lei River,
Wu river
14 Anren
County
Various types of landforms
such as flat land, small
upland, hill and mountain
are mixed in the county.
The main terrain is with a
trend from the southeast
part to the northwest part
and two basins lay among
three mountains, which
open to north.
The primary soil type
is red soil, which was
developed from
limestone, plate shale,
and sandstone
Annual
average
temperature
is 17.2℃;
annual
rainfall is
1430 ㎜.
Lei river
15 Guidong
County
The topography is
complicated, with rolling
mountains. This county has
typical mountainous land
where the mountains, deep
cut, high cliff, and flat hill
are freely crisscrossed
The primary soil type
is red soil, which was
developed from
limestone, plate shale,
and sandstone.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.2℃;
annual
rainfall is
1670 ㎜.
Yongle
River
16 Guiyang
County
The main landform is hill
and hill, with a higher
northern and southern area
and lower middle area.
The soil is vertical
distributed from
yellow-red soil,
yellow soil , yellow
brown soil to
mountain meadow
soil
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.8℃;
annual
rainfall is
1458.3 ㎜.
Lei river,
Mi river,
Sui river
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
21
17 Yongxing
County
There are various types of
landforms, such as
mountain, hill, hill and
basin. Hill distribute in the
east, hill in the west, while
hill and basin are alternated
in the middle, open in the
south and north like saddle
or mulberry.
The red soil
developed from board
shale is the main type
of soil, followed by
red soil developed
from limestone, and
sandstone, acid purple
soil, and purple clay
soil
Annual
average
temperature
is of 17.6 ℃;
annual
rainfall is of
1417 ㎜.
Lei River
18 Shuangpai
County
The main landform is
mountain combined with
hill, hill and plain. The
topography is like a saddle,
lower in the south and
north. The topography is
complex with numerous
divisions.
The red soil is the
main soil type,
followed by the
mountain yellow soil,
and yellow brown
soil.
Annual
average
temperature
is 17.8℃;
annual
rainfall is
1512 ㎜.
Xiao
River
19 Gold hole
administrative
zones
The primary
geomorphologic pedogenic
rocks are sandstone, shale
and carbonaceous slate. The
soil is deep and fertile and
with a high content of
organic.
Main soil types
include paddy soil,
aquic soil, red soil,
mountain yellow
earth, yellow brown
soil, mountain
meadow soil and
rendzina, ect.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.8℃;
annual
rainfall is
1846 ㎜.
Xiao
River
20 Yuanling
County
The landform is tilted from
the southern and northern
mountain ridge to Yuan
River, convex in the
southern area, lower in the
east and west and sinking in
the middle which shapes a
river valley
The main types of
soil include paddy
soil, red soil,purple
soil, etc.
Annual
average
temperature
is 16.6 ℃;
annual
rainfall is
1538 ㎜.
Yuan
River,
You water
21 Mayang
county
The southwestern part is
mountainous, the northeast
is hills and the middle is
valley with hilly plain
The main type of soil
include paddy
soil,purple soil, aquic
soil, red soil,
mountain yellow
earth,mountain
yellow brown soil,
and mountain
meadow soil.
Annual
average
temperature
is 17.2℃;
annual
rainfall is
1432 ㎜.
Jin River
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
22
22 Luxi county The main landform is low
mountains sloping gently
from the east to the west.
And the topography is like a
‘川’from east to west.
The main type of soil
include paddy soil,
aquic soil, red
soil,mountain yellow
earth, yellow brown
soil, mountain
mountain soil and
rendzina.
Annual
average
temperature
is 17.0℃;
annual
rainfall is
1450㎜.
Yuan
River Wu
River
4.1.2 Social environment
(1) Social economy:
The total territory area in Hunan province is 21×104 ㎞ 2
with a population of 70
million, including 55 million of agricultural populations. There are 14 prefectures,
122 counties (city, district) in Hunan province. In 2010 the total GDP of Hunan
province is RMB 1,590 billion Yuan, among which the GDP of the first, second, and
third industry is RMB 233.9, 731.2, and 624.9 billion Yuan respectively. The
overview of the economic and social condition of each project county (city, district) is
shown in Table 4-2
Table 4-2 Social economic status in the project areas
Project
county (city,
district)
Total territory
area
(×104 hectares)
Number of
township (town,
forest farm)
Total
Population
(×104)
Agricultural
population(×104)
GDP
(¥×1011
)
Ningxiang 29 33 136 120 290
Liling 21.6 33 103.2 88.07 260
Leiyagn 26.56 36 130 102 240
Changning 20.46 27 86 70 159
Hengnan 26.2 25 99 91.55 120
Xinshao 17.2 15 80 67.80 100
Pingjaing 21 27 100 82.62 98.6
Yueyang 19.3 20 76 65.40 102
Taoyuan 16.3 40 97.6 82.93 112
Dingcheng 8.8 37 85 72.5 132
Rucheng 29.3 23 37 32.48 82
Zixing 21 27 36 24.3 156
Suxian 5 17 36.42 22.57 93
Guiyang 12 39 86 69 86
Anren 14 21 39 34.75 56
Guidong 13 19 17 12.67 45
Yongchang 21 25 63.85 42.62 87
Shuangpai 26 15 22 14 56
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
23
Jindong 7.2 5 15 14.5 12
Yuanling 45 23 70 45.67 97
Mayang 18 23 38.83 32.77 45
Luxi 19 17 29 27 32
(2) Land ownership
For the 22 project counties of 10 prefectures, 58,860.0 hectares of land have been
selected as project areas, 10.6% of which is state-owned, and other 89.4% is of
collective-owned. In the other word, 6,239.16 hectares of project areas are belonged
to the state owned lands, and 52,620.84 hectares of project areas are belonged to the
collective owned lands.
4.1.3 Ecological environment
Hunan is located in the central subtropical zone, with mild climate, favorable
ecological environment and rich biodiversity. The forest converge is over 57% in the
province. Hunan is rich in plant resources, diverse in vegetation types. According to
the survey, there are totally 248 families of vascular plants, 1245 genera (including
119 indigenous genera), and more than 5500 species of plants in Hunan, which ranks
seventh in China. There are five rare “living fossil" plant species, i.e. Cathaya
argyrophylla, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Glyptostrobus pensilis, Ginkgo biloba
and Davidia involucrata Baill survive in here.
Lush vegetation provides a suitable living condition for wildlife. According the
statistic, there are 897 species of vertebrates belonging to 5 classes, 44 orders and 146
families in Hunan province, including 91 species of mammals belonging to 9 orders
and 28 families, 448 species of birds belonging to 19 orders and 71 families, 92
species of reptiles belonging to 3 orders and 15 families, 64 species of amphibians
belonging to 2 orders and 9 families, 202 species of fish belonging to 11 orders and 23
families, among which there are 18 species of the Grade Ⅰ of national protective
animals and 79 species of the Grade Ⅱ of national protective animals. The present
situation of ecological environment in the project areas is shown in Table 4-3.
Table 4-3 Ecological environment status in the project areas
Project
county Vegetation resources status Animal resources status
Ningxiang
county The type of forest vegetation is central There are abundant animal resources,
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
24
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 86 families and 691
species of seed plants, including 13
species of national protective wild plants
(2 species of Grade Ⅰ, and 11 species of
Grade Ⅱ).
including otter, pangolin, masked civet,
tiger frog, owls, Tyto, and silver
pheasant which are Grade Ⅱ of national
protective animals
Liling city
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 77 families and 396
species of seed plants which include 12
species of the national protective wild
plants (2 species of Grade Ⅱ and 10
species of Grade Ⅰ).
There are abundant animal resources,
including Clouded Leopard which is the
Grade Ⅰ of national protective
animals and otter, pangolin, masked
civet, tiger frog, owls, Tyto, and Silver
pheasant which are the Grade Ⅱ of
national protective animals.
Leiyang
city
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 93 families and 470
species of seed plants which include 15
species of the national protective wild
plants (5 species of Grade Ⅰ and 10
species of Grade Ⅱ).
Animal populations mainly consist with
South China fauna, southwest China
fauna and a few northern China fauna.
According to a survey, there are 18
species of mammals, 17 species of
birds, 85 species of fish.
Changning
city
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 75 families and 750
species of seed plants which include 17
species of the national protective wild
plants (5 species of Grade Ⅰ, 12 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
This area is located in the transition
zone of Palearctic and Oriental region
according to the forest animal
regionalization, in which live more than
200 species of animals, including 30
species of mammals, more than 70
species of birds, 20 species of reptiles,
20 species of amphibians, more than 80
species of fish.
Hengnan
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 121 families and
834 genera of seed plants which include
20 species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 16 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
This area is located in the transition
zone of Palearctic and Oriental region
according to the forest animal
regionalization, in which live more than
200 species of species, including 30
species of mammals, more than 60
species of birds, 20 species of reptiles,
20 species of amphibians, more than 80
species of fish.
Xinshao
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 243 families and
868 species of seed plants which include
18 species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 14 species
Wildlife resources ecological
classification belongs to the central
subtropical forest, shrubs, grassland and
cropland fauna. There are various
species, including 33 species of
mammals (7 orders, 18 families), 66
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
25
of Grade Ⅱ). species of birds (12 orders, 29
families ),84 species of reptilian (3
orders, 10 families),species of
amphibian (2 orders, 7 families), 89
species of fish (7 orders, 16 families)
Pingjiang
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 95 families and 800
species of seed plants which include 18
species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 14 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are 154 species of wild vertebrate
(24 orders, 59 families), including 29
species of mammals (9 orders, 16
families), 98 species of birds (11 orders,
28 families), and 27 species of
amphibian (2 orders, 7 families).
YueYang
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 90 families and 750
species of seed plants which include 15
species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 11 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
289 species of wild animals, including
22 species of mammals and 266 species
of birds.
Taoyan
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 102 families and
850 species of seed plants which include
18 species of the national protective wild
plants (3 species of Grade Ⅰ, 15 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are 212 species of terrestrial
vertebrates (4 classes, 25 orders, 70
families), including 24 species of
amphibians, 40 species of reptilian, 106
species of birds and 42 species of
mammals.
Dingceng
district
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 90 families and 750
species of seed plants which include 13
species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 9 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are rare and valuable animals,
including forest musk deer, tufted deer,
sambar, south China tiger, Panthera
pardus, Chrysolophus pictus, Tragopan
caboti golden pheasant, Silver pheasant,
Leiothrixlutea etc.
RuCheng
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 198 families and
934 species of seed plants which include
23 species of the national protective wild
plants (7 species of Grade Ⅰ, 16 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are rare wildlife species,
including species of mammals (sambar,
deer, otter wild goat Malayan pangolin
etc), tracing of the south China tiger
which was found in Yangdong mountain
at the border between Guangdong and
Hunan province, species of birds
(pheasant, wild duck, eagle, owl, Swan,
turtledove, egret, wild goose etc.) and
species of fish (Hemiculter, siniperca
chuatsi, salangid, Xenocypris davidi
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
26
etc.)
Zixing
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 178 families and
894 species of seed plants which include
22 species of the national protective wild
plants (6 species of Grade Ⅰ, 16 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are rare wildlife species,
including species of mammals (sambar,
deer, hedgehog, Chinese water deer,
otter, wild goat, Malayan pangolin etc),
species of birds (pheasant, wild duck,
eagle, owl, Swan, turtledove, egret, wild
goose etc.) and species of fish
(Hemiculter, siniperca chuatsi, salangid,
Xenocypris davidi etc.)
Suxian
district
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 82 families and 503
species of seed plants which include 6
species of the national protective wild
plants (1 species of Grade Ⅰ, 5 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are 75 species of vertebrates (19
orders, 70 families), including 17
species of mammals (6 orders, 9
families), 38 species of birds (9 orders,
14 families), 20 species of
Amphibian-reptiles (4 orders, 7
families).
GuiYang
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 178 families and
934 species of seed plants which include
20 species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 16 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are 175 species of vertebrates (19
orders, 53 families), including 17
species of mammals (6 orders, 19
families), 58 species of birds (9 orders,
19 families), 40 species of amphibians
(4 orders, 16 families).
Anren
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 128 families and
934 species of seed plants which include
17 species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 13 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
There are more than 800 species of Wild
animals, including 22 species of
mammals, 210 species of birds. 27
species of snakes and 79 species of fish.
Guidong
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 178 families and
2031 species of seed plants which
include 20 species of the national
protective wild plants (4 species of Grade
Ⅰ, 16 species of Grade Ⅱ).
240 species of terrestrial vertebrate, and
116 species of birds.
YongXing
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 95 families and 685
species of seed plants which include 18
species of the national protective wild
plants (2 species of Grade Ⅰ, 16 species
Animals in this area belong to the
central subtropics forest, shrubs,
grassland, and cropland fauna, with
abundant species and quantities. There
are more than 200 species of wildlife,
including 27 species of rare animals,
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
27
of Grade Ⅱ). 200 species of common wild animals.
Shuangpai
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 134 families and
1245 species of seed plants which
include 25 species of the national
protective wild plants (7 species of Grade
Ⅰ, 18 species of Grade Ⅱ).
153 species of animals, belonging to 7
orders, 17 families and 62 genera
Jindong
district
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 98 families and 925
species of seed plants which include 20
species of the national protective wild
plants (4 species of Grade Ⅰ, 16 species
of Grade Ⅱ).
110 species of animals, belonging to 7
orders, 12 families and 51 genera
Yuanling
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 111 families and
1204 species of seed plants which
include 22 genera of the national
protective wild plants (6 species of Grade
Ⅰ, 16 species of Grade Ⅱ).
In Yuanling, wild boar and pangolin are
the main species of wild mammal, and
species and quantities of birds,
squamous animals and reptiles are
abundant here.
Mayang
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 102 families and
1004 species of seed plants which
include 19 species of the national
protective wild plants (3 species of Grade
Ⅰ, 16 species of Grade Ⅱ).
In Yuanling, wild boar and pangolin are
the main species of wild mammal, and
species and quantities of birds,
squamous animals and reptiles are
abundant here.
Luxi
county
The type of forest vegetation is central
subtropical evergreen broad-leaved
forests, and there are 113 families and
1237 species of seed plants which
include 20 species of the national
protective wild plants (4 species of Grade
Ⅰ and 16 species of Grade Ⅱ).
130 species of wild animals, including
29 species of fish, 8 species of
amphibians, 11 species of reptilia, 37
species of birds, 19 species of
mammals.
4.1.4 Natural Habitats and physical cultural resources
The distance of selected project construction sites to any natural heritage and natural
habitat is more than 2 kilometers, so it is not involved in issues related to heritage
conservation and protection of natural habitats. There is a scattered distribution of
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
28
cultural relics and historic sites in the project counties, but there are no relics and
historic sites in the selected project sites.
4.2 Analysis of current environmental quality related to the project
4.2.1 Soil erosion and surface runoff in Hunan
Hunan belongs to typical mountain and hill terrain, with a mountain and hill area
accounting for 80% of total provincial land area and an erodible soil area accounting
for more than half of the total territory area of the province. With abundant rainfall
and frequent rainstorm, a lot of factors are existing that may cause soil erosion. Owing
to the dense population and influence of social economic activities, namely
development, utilization, production and construction, soil erosion is further
aggravated. According to the analysis at the prefectural level, soil erosion areas in 6
prefectures, i.e. Huaihua, Shaoyang, Chenzhou, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture,
Yongzhou and Hengyang occupy 63% of the total erosion area in the province.
Huaihua has the largest area of soil erosion in the province, the total erosion area in
this prefecture is 5,107 ㎞ 2. It is can be seen from the province's soil erosion figure
that the distribution of soil erosion is dispersedly and widely, with “surface erosion”
and “local landslides” as its main erosion forms, “collapse” also a common form.
Except Anxiang and Nan county which located in the Lake region, soil erosion has
occurred in the other project counties in different degree. The red soil hilly region in
the middle of Hunan and Wuling mountainous in the west and northwest of Hunan are
still with relatively concentrated and severe soil and water loss in Hunan province.
According to the overall analysis of soil and water loss situation, the moderate erosion
is the main type of soil erosion in Hunan with the area of 22,128 ㎞ 2, which
accounting for 54.78% of the total area of soil erosion in the province; the light
erosion is rank second with an area of 15,996 ㎞ 2, which accounting for 39.6% of the
total area of soil erosion; areas in serious erosion and extremely erosion in Hunan take
the smaller percentage.
4.2.2 Water quality of related water bodies
Hunan has abundant water resources with good water quality. Water quality in the
followed Rivers is above the Grade Ⅲ of national standard: the Wei River and its
branch Jin River in Ningxiang County, Lu River, Zhaoling River and Jian River in
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
29
Liling City, Lei River in Leiyang City, Xiang River and its tributaries Yi River, Tan
River and Chunling River in Changning city, Xiang River and Lei River in Hengnan
County, Xinqiang River in Xinshao County, Lian River in Pingjiang County, Dongting
Lake and Miluo River in Yueyang County, YuanRiver and Li River in Taoyuan county
and Dingcheng District, the tributaries of Xiang River namely Ou River, Zhe River,
Xiu River, Ce River, and the tributary of North River namely Chengxi River in
Rucheng County, East River, Cheng River and Yongle River in Zixing city, Lei River
and Wu River in Suxian district, Lei River, Mi River, Sui River in Guiyang County,
Lei River in Anren County, Yongle River in Guidong County, Lei River in Yongxing
county, Yuan River and You River in Yuanling county, Jin River in Mayang county
and Yuan River and Wu River in Luxi County. Water quality in the followed Rivers
can reach the Grade Ⅱof national standard: the tributaries of Gan River namely Nine
Dragon River and Gathering Dragon River in Rucheng County, Xiao River in
Shuangpai county and Jingdong management zone. The water quality of underground
water in each of the project counties is good.
4.2.3 Vegetation Coverage and Plant Community Structure
Hunan is a province with a high vegetation coverage, in which the forest coverage
reaches 57%.
Hunan is rich in plant resources and diverse in vegetation types. There are five
vegetation type groups, 12 vegetation types and 146 formations in the whole province.
Common plant communities include evergreen broad-leaved forest, such as
Cyclobalanopsis glauca forest, Castanopsis eyrei forest, lithocarpus forest,
Castanopsis sclerophylla forest, forest of Castanopsis kawakamii, castanopsis carlesii
forest, schima superba forest; deciduous broad-leaved forest in the middle mountain
region, such as Fagus lucida forest and Betula insignis forest; deciduous broad-leaved
forest in low mountain region, such as Castanea henryi forest, forest of Quercus
glandulifera, white oak forest, cork oak forest, forest of Betula luminifera,
Liquidambar formosana forest; coniferous forest mainly consists of masson pine,
Taiwan pine, Pinus kwangtungensis, Tsuga longibracteata Cheng, hemlock forest
mixed with broadleaf tree, silver fir, Douglas fir, etc.
4.2.4 Biodiversity status
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
30
Hunan has the favorable climate, diverse environment, rich biodiversity, and a total
number of 6254 species of animals and plants among which there are 5361 species of
vascular plants (not including the cultivated plants and invasive plants) and 893
species of vertebrates. Hunan has a large number of birds with a total number of 435
species, for instant, there are 9 species of crane in China, and 4 species can be found
in Hunan, and the amount of Anser erythropus overwintering in Dongting Lake is
accounted for 90% of the entire world. There are 2989 species of Chinese endemic
species recorded in Hunan, including 2770 species of endemic plants and 219 species
of endemic animals.
There are 82 species of vertebrate and higher plants invaded into Hunan, including 65
species of invasive plants, 17 species of vertebrate, and other 12 species of insects.
According to the endangered species grade made by IUCN, there are 16 species were
critically endangered, 73 species were endangered, 232 species were vulnerable, and
151 species were nearly endangered.
4.2.5 Environment pollution
The project areas are in the typical rural district, which is far away from the city and
town; basically there are no large scale gas and water pollution source in periphery, so
that the regional environmental quality is good, except the soil pollution in limited
areas that maybe caused by mineral composition or fertilization of the soil.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
31
5. Environmental Impact Analysis of Project Construction
5.1 Positive Environmental Impacts
The implementation of the project is helpful for full play of the various functions and
benefits of forest, especially by obvious expansion of forested areas, improvement of
forest structure and forest quality, and improvement of the regional ecological
environment condition. According to the project implementation, it will make positive
effects on water conservation, soil and water conservation, soil improvement and
biodiversity increase.
5.1.1 Water conservation, soil and water conservation and soil improvement
When project completed, the forest coverage in the project areas will be increased by
1%. The forest will weaken the rainfall erosion force, improve the soil structure, rise
the erosion-resistant capability of the soil, hold moisture seepage and evaporation,
increase the soil permeability, extend the runoff formation time, reduce the surface
runoff volume and speed by the biological physical function of the forest canopy,
forest litter layer and soil, thus to improve the functions of regulating flood peak,
water conservation, soil erosion prevention, soil conservation and water purification.
5.1.2 Increase biodiversity
With a success implementation of this project, the original ecological environment
condition in the project areas will be improved to create a better conditions for
biological population to live and multiply which will increase the plant diversity and
vegetation coverage, and attract some birds and small mammals for multiplication,
thereby the local diversity will be enriched.
5.1.3 Increase carbon sequestration and condition micro-climate
In the photosynthesis process, forest, with an important position in the atmosphere
balance of the earth, can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, therefore it can
effectively slow down the greenhouse effect. According to the statistic, one hectare of
forest could release 10.7 tons of oxygen and absorb 13 tons of carbon dioxide
annually in average. This project will establish 58,860 hectares of project plantation,
by roughly calculated, it would release 630,000 tons of oxygen and absorb 765,000
tons of carbon dioxide annually. Forest has the function of adjusting temperature for
the tree canopy can sheltering against the sun radiation energy, the temperature
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
32
difference between day and night or between winter and summer in forest is relatively
small, which can reduce the freezing damage. At the same time, transpiration of trees
can increase the moisture content of air, which results in the humidity in forest is
5%-20% higher than non-forest land. In addition, the forest also has certain function
in increasing precipitation.
5.2 Potential Negative Environmental impacts and mitigation measures
5.2.1 Negative environmental impacts of site selection and mitigation measures
5.2.1.1Impacts Analysis
(1) The Improper selection of the sites, such as afforest in the top shrub community or
open forest land in relative arid area will cause some negative impacts on maintaining
the regional biodiversity as well as the naturalness and integrity of ecosystem.
(2) It may cause serious water and soil erosion, if the slope of selected project sites is
over 35°.
(3) The improper distribution of project sites, such as too close to the natural reserves
or ecological welfare forests will cause negative impacts on the habitats or the
migrating corridors of wildlifes.
5.2.1.2 Mitigation measures
(1) Forest Plantation Areas which are seriously destroyed by ice disaster, of
geo-ecological importance, fragile in ecological conditions or have severe ecological
problems should be selected for project afforestation. Areas with valuable natural
habitats, natural and cultural heritages can never be selected. The forbidden areas for
new plantation establishment and existing plantation improvement include areas less
than 2000 m from the buffer zones of nature or cultural heritages, less than 50m from
the main river banks and 20m from the subsidiary river banks.
(2) The area with slope over 35° can not be selected for project afforestation. And the
quality of selected project sites should be mainly category Ⅱ and category Ⅲ of site
classification.
(3) Zoning sub-compartment in a reasonable way, and strictly control the scale of
afforestation. Areas of each sub-compartment of the reforestation and rehabilitation of
damaged ecological forest should not exceed 20 and 35 hectares respectively.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
33
5.2.2 Negative environmental impacts of species (variety) selection and distribution
and Mitigation measures
5.2.2.1 Impact analysis
Good native tree species should be selected as the main afforestation species in the
project. The improper selection of tree species may introduce invasive species. Large
scale of pure forest plantation with simple forest structure, less biodiversity, and
limited genetic genes will cause negative impacts on forest landscape and
biodiversity, meanwhile, it also will weaken the mechanism of pest control, hence to
exacerbate the risk of the occurrence of pests/diseases.
5.2.2.2 Mitigation measures
(1) Good native tree species should be selected as the main afforestation species in the
project. The size of contiguous plantation of single species or variety should be
strictly controlled. In the mixed afforestation models, the number of dominant tree
species can not exceed 70% of the total tree numbers.
(2) Introduction of tree species or varieties should be strictly controlled. The tree
species or varieties that have been successfully afforested by experiment can be
introduced; the new exotic species or invasive species are forbidden to introduce.
(3) In the aspect of allocation of tree species, it is advocated to establish mixed forest
with multiple tree species, which should mix with the existing forests and natural
vegetation.
(4) Proper site selection and scientific allocation of tree species should be considered
during the project design, such as combination of tree species, provenance, gene types
and tree ages. The strong seedlings cultivated from superior provenance, families or
clones of native tree species are selected for afforestation to strengthen the
pests/diseases and diseases resistance capacity and to reduce risks of pests/diseases
occurrence..
(5) In designing and arranging forest plantations, it is suggest that make full use of
wildlife corridor, retain native tree species, using the rivers protection corridor,
allocate tree species in different ages, adopt the associated tree species methods to
mimic the local natural forest landscape pattern, promote the protection, recovery and
maintenance of natural plant communities.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
34
5.2.3 Negative environmental impacts of site slashing and preparation and Mitigation
measures
5.2.3.1 Impacts analysis.
Site slashing may cause permanent or temporary disturbs on vegetation and plant
resources, including destroy of original vegetation, loss of surface soil, and reduce of
soil fertility. In particular, site slashing by mountain burning will totally destroy the
original vegetation and cause severe loss of surface soil and soil fertility.
The improper site preparation may result in water and soil loss in partial areas.
5.2.3.2 Mitigation measures
(1) Mountain burning is forbidden for the site slashing.
(2) Bushes or grasses that hinder the afforestation activities should be removed in
patch or strip forms. Removed bushes or grasses should be piled between such strips
or planting holes for natural decomposition.
(3) Vegetations in steep slope land or slope top, and forest land in gully or river bank
are forbidden to clean-up.
(4) Hole, strip or overall types are selected at the time of site preparation, which
should be based on the slopes conditions. The ground breaking area should be
controlled below 25%.
(5) Vegetation protection belt of l0 m wide should be retained between the edges of
the forest plantation block and the farmland.
(6) After the site preparation, the litter materials will be mulched on land surface to
avoid raw soil exposure.
(7) When digging hole on rocky mountain with slope over 25°, the ecological barriers
should be built to avoid rolling rock to protect people and farmland.
5.2.4 Negative environmental impacts of tending management measures on forest
plantations and Mitigation measures
5.2.4.1Impacts analysis
Tending management activities may cause negative environmental impacts on project
areas and nearby regions by destroy of vegetation, disturb of surface soil, cause of
new soil erosion as well as water and soil loss, etc.
5.2.4.2 Mitigation measures
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
35
Partial treatment is adopted for young forest tending to keep as far as possible the site
natural vegetation. The weed removed thereby will be kept in-site as mulches. Litter
collection is forbidden in forest so as to improve the capacity of water conservation
and soil fertility maintenance of forest.
5.2.5 Negative environmental impacts of forest path construction
5.2.5.1 Impacts analysis
There will be partial excavation in the project construction. Large scale of excavation
will cause water and soil loss in some areas;
5.2.5.2 Mitigation measures
(1) The forest paths should be constructed with a maximum use of existing paths..
(2) The forest paths should be constructed along contour line as much as possible.
(3) The forest paths should be built with a width between 0.8m~1m and an average
density between 30~80m/hm2. Large scale of ground digging should be prohibited.
5.2.6 Negative environmental impacts of application of pesticides and fertilizers
5.2.6.1 Impacts analysis
(1) In the procedures of nursery stock breeding and forest pest control, the application
of pesticides will be increased. Unreasonable use of pesticides may kill natural
enemies of pests and harm other wild animals, hence to cause biodiversity reduction
and species imbalance.
(2) Improper application of pesticides may cause the pollution on water and soil
nearby.
(3) Improper application of fertilizers such as broadcast fertilizer directly may cause
the loss of fertilizers, pollution of water source and decline of water quality nearby.
(4) Long-term application of fertilizers will change the physical and chemical
properties of soil, lead soil harden, and decline soil fertility.
(5) Improper way to clean or handle the pesticide containers may pollute water body
and soil.
5.2.6.2 Mitigation measures
(1) It is advocate to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by prevention and biological
control methods.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
36
(2) When pesticide is necessary, it is advocate to use the pesticides of Grade Ⅲ and U
of WHO, which have low poisonous on the non-target pests. Pesticides of Grade Ⅰof
WHO is forbidden in use.
(3) Project farmers or workers should be trained on safe management, storage and use
of chemical pesticides before the application of pesticides, in order to avoid the harm
to human beings and pollution of water sources or foods. Containers of pesticides or
fertilizers should be unified collected and handled.
(4) Take the scientific and reasonable fertilizing method. The organic fertilizer and
green fertilizer are advocated. Application of chemical fertilizers should strictly
followed the requirements of project design that fertilizer should be applied by
planting holes or trenches and covered by soil immediately, and broadcast fertilizer
addressing is strictly forbidden.
(5) It is forbidden to clean containers of pesticide in water sources, water body of
aquaculture or watering place of livestocks. Cleaning containers in the irrigation water
system is allowed.
5.2.7 Negative environmental impacts of timber felling and yarding
5.2.7.1 Impacts analysis
(1) Improper felling will cause harm to rest standing trees and understory vegetation,
resulting in the loss of soil nutrients
(2) Large-scale of clear-cutting may lead decline of overall function of forest
ecosystem.
(3) Improper methods of yarding may destroy the surrounding trees and natural water
system.
(4) Skidding road and loading factory will cause serious water and soil erosion
5.2.7.2 Mitigation measures
(1) Prohibit clear-cutting; Felling is allowed under the project only for purposes of
tending and regeneration. The understory vegetation should be protected when felling.
(2) When felling in bamboo forest, using selection cutting with maintaining a
reasonable number and forest age configuration of bamboo.
(3) Existing trails should be used for yarding. Forest earth road with width less than
1m could be built if necessary.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
37
(4) Yarding should strive to use log-length logging rather than tree-length logging.
5.2.8 Negative environmental impacts of nursery construction
Construction of nursery includes construction of office building, laboratory, irrigation
canals, transport roads, and inner roads of the nursery.
5.2.8.1 Impacts analysis
(1) The construction will change the status of the original land, and affect the local
vegetation and biodiversity at a certain extent.
(2) Dust, waste water and noise would affect the status of the local ecological
environment; improper construction methods and environmental protection measures,
such as large scale of excavation, would easily cause new soil erosion and bring
negative impacts on the local ecological environment;
(3) Improper treatment of laboratory wastewater would cause pollution of water
bodies;
(4) Acequia construction may affect the productive life of local residents.
5.2.8.2 Mitigation measures
(1) The scale and type of construction should be under control strictly to minimize the
impact on the local vegetation and biodiversity.
(2) Strengthen the management of construction and supervision of environmental
protection to reduce negative impacts on environment caused by wastes.
Ⅰ.Dust pollution
① Tiny solid materials stacked on the ground in job sites should be sealed kept
or covered, According to the nature of materials, measures like watering should
be taken to suppress dust effectively.
② Removal and transportation of construction waste should be carried out in
closed container. Construction waste should be stored respectively in
accordance with the provisions of municipal waste classification, and removed
in time.
③ The vehicle used in transportation should be covered with tarpaulins.
④ Measures such as building fence or watering should be used to suppress dust
at the construction site.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
38
⑤ Earthwork should be centralized kept with cover and vehicles should not be
over-loaded.
⑥ Entrances and exits of construction site should take measures to ensure the
vehicles keeping clean. Soil attached in the surface of vehicles should be
moved off before exiting construction site.
⑦ Construction sites should be watering and keep clean timely.
⑧ Any burning of wastes is prohibited.
Ⅱ.Noise
In different stages of the construction, various noise sources should cause different
impacts on the quality of acoustic environment. Measures should be taken
appropriately to reduce the impacts to a minimum level.
① The advanced and reliable low-noise equipment should be selected.
② Construction time should be set from 8:00 am to 20:00 pm. In the lunch
break period, i.e. 12:00 ~ 14:00, construction activities should be prohibited. In
principle, construction at night is forbidden, the necessary night construction
should be certified by the administrative departments of construction, approved
by the administrative department of environmental protection, and announced
to residents.
③ For noisy machinery and equipment, damping basis or damping bearings
should be set or be surrounded by damping material.
④ Reasonable personnel arrangements should be taken, operating time of the
noisy machinery operators should be reduced and earmuffs should be equipped
to construction workers.
⑤ Regular and effective maintenance should be taken to keep equipments in
good condition for the purpose of reducing noise and extending the service life
of machine.
⑥ Managements of machinery and operator and operating procedures in
construction should be paid enough attention to.
Ⅲ.Waste Water
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
39
① Waste water of vehicle washing, building materials washing, concrete
maintenance, sand washing, etc. should be collected into tanks and suspended
in temporary sedimentation pond and reused.
② Through strictly construction management to reduce the waste water resulted
from improper use of machines, and temporary drainage system, as well as
water and soil conservation measures to prevent the negative impacts of soil
erosion caused by piling up spoil on the water environment.
③ Construction unit should take measures on treatment of wastewater.
④ Laboratory wastewater should be treated through the sector with professional
design to the standard level before discharging to the receiving water body.
⑤ Stuff should be trained on environmental protection and waste treatment
knowledge to enhance their environmental protection awareness and ensure the
correct treatment of wastes..
Ⅳ.Solid waste
In accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, solid wastes, like
construction waste, spoil (slag) and garbage should be properly collected and treated.
① Construction waste should be recycled and reused comprehensively in other
secondary construction like road construction. The surplus should be
centralized and treated in time.
② Transportation of construction waste should be carried out in closed
container and treated in time.
③ Water spraying should be done before shipments of construction waste
④ Garbage should be collected in trash bag and sent to waste disposal facilities
⑤ Toxic and hazardous substances should be treated in accordance with the
provisions of laws, burning of these substances is forbidden.
⑥ Irrigation canals should designed reasonably and reduce effects on local
residents.
5.3 Risk analysis and prevention measures
The risks of the project include fire, freezing, drought and pests/diseases. The risk
factors, degrees and prevention measures are shown in table 5-1.
Table.5-1 Risk analysis and risk prevention measures
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
40
Factor Analysis Measures of Risk prevention Degree
of risk
Environment
risk level
Fire
(1) Improper layout of
fire break belt will
increase the hidden
trouble of fire
occurrence and the
possibility of large area
of damaged forest once
the fire occurs.
(2) Unsound fire
prevention agencies as
well as mechanism can
not timely and
efficiently prevent and
control the forest fire.
(1) Construct fire break belt and
forest path strictly according to
the regulations. The chief fire
break belt is required with a
length of 20m, and the associate
fire break belt of 15m. Schima
and bayberry can be selected as
firebreak tree species with
planting space of 2x2m.
(2) To efficiently protect forest
and control fires by making full
use of the existing forest fire
prevention agencies,
strengthening the publicity, and
realizing the forest fire
prevention mechanism.
(3) Each afforestation entity must
work out the forest protection
and fire prevention plan as well
as the regulation on forest fire
prevention for local villages, and
define fire prevention responsible
area. The enough forest rangers
should be arranged to match each
afforestation area, and work
regarding fire prevention should
be reported to the PMO and
forest fire prevention
organizations in time.
General Low
Freezing
damage
Freezing has impacts on
tree growth in a certain
extent. But freezing
generally occurs
periodically. The cold
resistant species will be
selected to avoid the
risk.
Mainly through selection of
afforestation species or varieties
with strong resistance of cold. If
necessary, using the trunk painted
white, fumigation and other
methods to prevent or mitigate
the harm caused by cold
temperatures.
General General
Drought
Drought in the project
areas will lead a
potential threat to tree
growth. Through tree
species selection, the
impacts of drought can
be reduced.
Minimizing the risk of drought
by selection of drought-resistant
species and extension of drought
resistant cultivation techniques in
the project afforestation..
General General
Pests The project forest may Realizing the efficiently Midium General
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
41
Factor Analysis Measures of Risk prevention Degree
of risk
Environment
risk level
and
diseases be harmed by pest
insects and diseases, but
with the established
quarantine system of
pest inserts and diseases
and the
reporting/forecasting
network, the risk can be
forecasted and promptly
addressed to ensure
health of the project
forests.
prevention and control of forest
pests/diseases by applying the
advanced concept and methods of
IPM in guiding project
pests/diseases prevention,
making use of sound
pests/diseases monitoring
network at national and local
level, extending physical and
biological control measures,
strictly using high-efficiency and
low-toxicity pesticides for
chemical control, etc.
5.4 Summary of mitigation measures of negative impacts and prevention measures of risks
The project construction will cause some negative impacts and environmental risks on environment. The negative impacts and respective
mitigation measures as well as the risks analysis in different construction stages are shown in the table 5-2.
Table5-2 Summary of analysis on negative impacts or risks by project construction and their prevention or mitigation measures
Project stages Project
activities Negative impacts/Risks Prevention or mitigation measures
Executing
agencies
Supervision
agencies
Design stage Site
selection
1. Improper selection of the
project sites will damage the
natural vegetation in the
ecological fragile areas.
2. It may cause serious water
and soil erosion, if the slope
is greater than 35°
3. Improper distribution of
project sites will cause
negative impacts on the
habitats or the moving
channels of wildlifes.
(1) Areas which are seriously destroyed by ice disaster, of
geo-ecological importance, fragile in ecological conditions or have
severe ecological problems should be selected for project
afforestation. Areas with valuable natural habitats, natural and
cultural heritages can never be selected. The forbidden areas for
new plantation establishment and existing plantation improvement
include areas less than 2000 m from the buffer zones of nature or
cultural heritages, less than 50 m from the main river banks and 20
m from the subsidiary river banks.
(2) The area with slope over 35° can not be selected for project
afforestation. And the quality of selected project sites should be
mainly category Ⅱ and category Ⅲ.
(3) Zoning sub-compartment in a reasonable way, and strictly
control the scale of afforestation. Areas of each sub-compartment
of the reforestation and rehabilitation of damaged ecological forest
should not exceed 20 and 35 hectares respectively.
Provincial
and county
level
forestry
survey and
design units
PPMO, ,
County
Project
Management
Office
(CPMO)
Design stage
Species
(varitey)
selection
and
distribution
1. The improper selection of
the tree species will cause
the decrease of the
ecological adaptability and
stability of forest plantation.
2. Large scale of pure forest
plantation may exacerbate
(1) Good native tree species should be selected as the main
afforestation species in the project. The size of contiguous
plantation of single species or variety should be strictly controlled.
In the mixed afforestation models, the number of dominant tree
species can not exceed 70% of the total tree numbers.
(3) Introduction of tree species or varieties should be strictly
controlled. The tree species or varieties that have been successfully
Provincial
and county
level
forestry
survey and
PPMO,
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
43
the risk of the occurrence of
pests/diseases.
afforested by experiment can be introduced; the new exotic species
or invasive species are forbidden to introduce.
(3) In the aspect of allocation of tree species, it is advocated to
establish mixed forest with multiple tree species, which should mix
with the existing forests and natural vegetation.
(4) Proper site selection and scientific allocation of tree species
should be considered during the project design, such as
combination of tree species, provenance, gene types and tree ages.
The strong seedlings cultivated from superior provenance, families
or clones of native tree species are selected for afforestation to
strengthen the pests and diseases resistance capacity and to reduce
risks of pests/diseases occurrence..
(5) In designing and arranging forest plantations, it is suggest that
make full use of wildlife corridor, retain native tree species, using
the rivers protection corridor, allocate tree species in different
ages, adopt the associated tree species methods mimic the local
natural forest landscape pattern, promote the protection, recovery
and maintenance of natural plant communities.
design units
Construction
and operation
stages
Site slashing
Improper method of site
slashing may cause water
and soil loss and damage of
natural vegetable in fragile
regions.
(1) Mountain burning is forbidden for the site slashing.
(2) Bushes or grasses that hinder the afforestation activities should
be removed in patch or strip forms. Removed bushes or grasses
should be piled between such strips or planting holes for natural
decomposition.
(3) Retain the original vegetation.
(4) Protection zone of sufficient size should be divided on both
sides of stream.
Project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Construction
and operation
stages
Soil
preparation
Improper way of site
preparation may cause soil
erosion in some areas.
(1) Hole, strip or overall types are selected at the time of site
preparation, which should be based on the slopes conditions. The
ground breaking area should be controlled below 25%.
(2) Vegetation protection belt of l0 m wide should be retained
between the edges of the forest plantation block and the farmland.
(3) After the site preparation, the litter materials will be mulched
on land surface to avoid raw soil exposure.
(4) When digging hole on rocky mountain with slope over 25°, the
Project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
44
ecological barriers should be built to avoid rolling rock to protect
people and farmland.
Construction
and operation
stages
Young forest
tending
Tending management
activities may cause negative
environmental impacts on
project areas and nearby
regions by destroy of
vegetation, disturb of surface
soil, cause of new soil
erosion as well as water and
soil loss, etc.
(1) Partial treatment is adopted for young forest tending to keep as
far as possible the site natural vegetation. The weed removed
thereby will be kept in-site as mulches.
(2) Litter collection is forbidden in forest. Project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Construction
and operation
stages
Forest path
construction
There will be partial
excavation in the project
construction. Large scale of
excavation will cause water
and soil loss in some areas.
(1) The forest paths should be constructed with a maximum use of
existing paths..
(2) The forest paths should be constructed along contour line as
much as possible.
(3) The forest paths should be built with a width between 0.8m~1m and an average density between 30~80m/hm
2. Large scale of
ground digging should be prohibited.
Project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Construction
and operation
stages
Application
of pesticide
and
chemical
fertilizer
(1) In the procedures of
nursery stock breeding and
forest pest control, the
application of pesticides will
be increased. Unreasonable
use of pesticides may kill
natural enemies of pests and
harm other wild animals,
hence to cause bio-diversity
reduction and species
imbalance.
(2) Improper application of
pesticides or fertilizars may
cause the pollution on water
and soil nearby.
(3) Long-term application of
1. It is advocate to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by
prevention and biological control methods.
2. Use the pesticides of Grade Ⅲ and U of WHO.
3. Take the scientific and reasonable fertilizing method. The
fertilizer should be applied at the upper part of the holes, and the
broadcast fertilizer addressing is strictly forbidden.
4. Containers of pesticides or fertilizers should be unified collected
and handled. Clean containers of pesticide in water sources, water
body of aquaculture or watering place of livestock is forbidden.
5. Conducting training on project farmers or workers in safe use of
pesticides and fertilizers.
CPMO,
project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
45
fertilizers will change the
physical and chemical
properties of soil, lead soil
harden, and decline soil
fertility.
(4) Improper way to clean or
handle the pesticide
containers may pollute water
body and soil.
Construction
and operation
stages
Felling and
Yarding
(1) Improper felling will
cause harm to rest standing
trees and understory
vegetation, resulting in the
loss of soil nutrients
(2) Large-scale of
clear-cutting may lead
decline of overall function of
forest ecosystem.
(3) Improper methods of
yarding may destroy the
surrounding trees and natural
water system.
(4) Skidding road and
loading factory will cause
serious water and soil
erosion.
(1) Prohibit clear-cutting; Felling is allowed under the project only
for purposes of tending and regeneration. The understory
vegetation should be protected when felling
(2) When felling in bamboo forest, using selection cutting with
maintaining a reasonable number of bamboo and forest age
configuration.
(3) Existing trails should be used for yarding. Forest earth road
with width less than 1m could be built if necessary.
(4) Yarding should strive to use log-length logging rather than
tree-length logging.
Certified
felling
institutions
PPMO,
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
46
Construction
and operation
stages
Construction
of nursery
(1) The construction will
change the status of the
original land, and affect the
local vegetation and
biodiversity at a certain
extent.
(2) Dust, waste water and
noise would affect the status
of the local ecological
environment; improper
construction methods and
environmental protection
measures, such as large scale
of excavation, would easily
cause new soil erosion and
bring negative impacts on
the local ecological
environment;
(3) Improper treatment of
laboratory wastewater would
cause pollution of water
bodies;
(4) Acequia construction
may affect the productive
life of local residents.
(1) The scale and type of construction should be under control
strictly to minimize the impact on the local vegetation and
biodiversity.
(2) Strengthen the management of construction and supervision of
environmental protection to reduce negative impacts on
environment caused by wastes.
Ⅰ.Dust pollution
① Tiny solid materials stacked on the ground in job sites should be
sealed kept or covered, According to the nature of materials,
measures like watering should be taken to suppress dust
effectively.
② Removal and transportation of construction waste should be
carried out in closed container. Construction waste should be
stored respectively in accordance with the provisions of municipal
waste classification, and removed in time.
③ The vehicle used in transportation should be covered with
tarpaulins.
④ Measures such as building fence or watering should be used to
suppress dust at the construction site.
⑤ Earthwork should be centralized kept with cover and vehicles
should not be over-loaded.
⑥ Entrances and exits of construction site should take measures to
ensure the vehicles keeping clean. Soil attached in the surface of
vehicles should be moved off before exiting construction site.
⑦ Construction sites should be watering and keep clean timely.
⑧ Any burning of wastes is prohibited.
Certified
Units
PPMO,
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
47
Ⅱ.Noise
In different stages of the construction, various noise sources should
cause different impacts on the quality of acoustic environment.
Measures should be taken appropriately to reduce the impacts to a
minimum level.
① The advanced and reliable low-noise equipment should be
selected.
② Construction time should be set from 8:00 am to 20:00 pm. In
the lunch break period, i.e. 12:00 ~ 14:00, construction activities
should be prohibited. In principle, construction at night is
forbidden, the necessary night construction should be certified by
the administrative departments of construction, approved by the
administrative department of environmental protection, and
announced to residents.
③ For noisy machinery and equipment, damping basis or damping
bearings should be set or be surrounded by damping material.
④ Reasonable personnel arrangements should be taken, operating
time of the noisy machinery operators should be reduced and
earmuffs should be equipped to construction workers.
⑤ Regular and effective maintenance should be taken to keep
equipments in good condition for the purpose of reducing noise
and extending the service life of machine.
⑥ Managements of machinery and operator and operating
procedures in construction should be paid enough attention to.
Ⅲ.Waste Water
① Waste water of vehicle washing, building materials washing,
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
48
concrete maintenance, sand washing, etc. should be collected into
tanks and suspended in temporary sedimentation pond and reused.
② Through strictly construction management to reduce the waste
water resulted from improper use of machines, and temporary
drainage system, as well as water and soil conservation measures
to prevent the negative impacts of soil erosion caused by piling up
spoil on the water environment.
③ Construction unit should take measures on treatment of
wastewater.
④ Laboratory wastewater should be treated through the sector with
professional design to the standard level before discharging to the
receiving water body.
⑤ Stuff should be trained on environmental protection and waste
treatment knowledge to enhance their environmental protection
awareness and ensure the correct treatment of wastes..
Ⅳ.Solid waste
In accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, solid
wastes, like construction waste, spoil (slag) and garbage should be
properly collected and treated.
① Construction waste should be recycled and reused
comprehensively in other secondary construction like road
construction. The surplus should be centralized and treated in time.
② Transportation of construction waste should be carried out in
closed container and treated in time.
③ Water spraying should be done before shipments of construction
waste
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
49
④ Garbage should be collected in trash bag and sent to waste
disposal facilities
⑤ Toxic and hazardous substances should be treated in accordance
with the provisions of laws, burning of these substances is
forbidden.
⑥ Irrigation canals should designed reasonably and reduce effects
on local residents.
Construction
and operation
stages
Fire
(1) Construct fire break belt and forest path strictly according to
the regulations. The chief fire break belt is required with a length
of 20m, and the associate fire break belt of 15m. Schima and
bayberry can be selected as firebreak tree species with planting
space of 2x2m.
(2) Efficiently protect forest and control fires by making full use of
the existing forest fire prevention agencies, strengthening the
publicity, and realizing the forest fire prevention mechanism.
(3) Each afforestation entity must work out the forest protection
and fire prevention plan as well as the regulation on forest fire
prevention for local villages, and define fire prevention responsible
area. The enough forest rangers should be arranged to match each
afforestation area, and work regarding fire prevention should be
reported to the PMO and forest fire prevention organizations in
time.
County
forestry
bureau,
township
forestry
station,
village
committee,
project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Construction
and operation
stages
Frost damage
Mainly through selection of afforestation species or varieties with
strong resistance of cold. If necessary, using the trunk painted
white, fumigation and other methods to prevent or mitigate the
harm caused by cold temperatures.
Provincial
and county
level
forestry
survey and
design
units,
PPMO,
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
50
project
entities and
project
farmers
Construction
and operation
stages
Drought
Minimizing the risk of drought by selection of drought-resistant
species and extension of drought resistant cultivation techniques in
the project afforestation..
Provincial
and county
level
forestry
survey and
design
units,
project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
Construction
and operation
stages
Plant diseases and insect
pests
Realizing the efficiently prevention and control of forest
pests/diseases by applying the advanced concept and methods of
IPM in guiding project pests/diseases prevention, making use of
sound pests/diseases monitoring network at national and local
level, extending physical and biological control measures, strictly
using high-efficiency and low-toxicity pesticides for chemical
control, etc.
Provincial
and county
level
FPCQS,
project
entities and
project
farmers
PPMO,
CPMO
6. Public Participatory Mechanism and Public Consultation Results
According to requirements of relevant EIA laws and regulations of the World Bank
and PRC, a specific chapter of public participation is made in EIA to ensure the public
right of knowing and decision-making, to find out the public opinions and suggestions
of project implementation, and to strengthen the degree of public participatory in
project construction, so that the project designers can take full account of the views of
the public in the project decision-making stage so as to make a more perfect and
reasonable project design. Meanwhile, take consideration of public opinions in
environmental decision-making of project construction is beneficial to improve the
quality of EIA, and ensure the transparency and credibility of evaluation and decision.
6.1 Public consultation by EIA team and its results
6.1.1 Methods and scope of survey
6.1.1.1 Methods
Methods of public participatory approach, including posters, advertisement, meeting
of villagers, group or individual interviews, consultation seminars and questionnaire
tables have been applied in the survey, meanwhile some farmer households have been
visited to get an in-depth understanding with the status of their forest land, use of
pesticides and fertilizers, status of living condition, as well as their attitude and
understanding of the project. The public participatory survey was helped by the social
assessment team, who conducted in-depth social survey on the project social impacts.
6.1.1.2 Time of survey
The public participatory survey was started from Aug 13th
, 2011 and completed on
Nov. 10th
, 2011.
6.1.1.3 Scope of survey
(1) Questionnaire survey on farmer households and institutions
The survey covered 22 project counties (cities, districts). 5 project counties, i.e.
Leiyang, Zixing, Rucheng, Mayang and Taoyuan were selected as example counties
for detailed survey to visit the local farmers and have consultation with them. The
Participation questionnaire tables were provided to the target people of various levels
in project areas. Totally 500 copies of questionnaires were provided and received from
the target people, including cadres, technicians, and farmers.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
52
The survey was also conducted on relevant institutions, 5 representative institutions
were selected to provide questionnaire tables in each of the 22 project counties, and
totally 110 copies of questionnaires were provided and received.
(2) Consultation with expert
Experts from Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Central
South University of Forestry and Technology, and Central South University were
hired to form an advisory panel to EIA, who had provided consulting service during
the EMP preparation.
6.1.1.4 Publicity of EIA information
In the project EIA, the construction units made the public know about the EIA
information, which mainly include:
a. Name and components of project;
b. Name and contact information of project construction unit;
c. Name and contact information of EIA agency;
d. Procedures and the main scope of work of EIA;
e. The main issues for public comment;
f. The main way for the public to submit their comments and suggestions.
After the preparation of EIA report, EIA agency will make public of the relevant
information, which include the basic situation of the proposed project, potential
environmental impacts, prevention or mitigation measures of environmental impact,
and preliminary conclusions of environmental impact analysis, and request the public
to give commons and suggestions in writing or other forms.
6.1.2 Public consultation results
6.1.2.1 Results from Questionnaire survey
The survey result of public participation showed that, all target group in the project
areas support the project construction, who believe that the project construction will
promote the development of regional economy and improve the local ecological
environment.
6.1.2.2 Expert comments
An expert consultation meeting was held during the survey. The main comments of
expert were selected and shown as follows:
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
53
(1) The project construction should be incorporated into the forestry development plan
in Hunan. Making use of loan of World Bank for afforestation has positive effect to
ecological construction in Hunan, and it is necessary to strengthen environmental
management to reduce the negative impacts on environmental to a minimum level.
(2) The project afforestation should focus on the combination of multiple tree species
and forest functions, pay attention to biodiversity protection, give full play to the
ecological protective effect.
(3) Making the clear definition of the project areas and the natural ecological
protection areas, any project construction is forbidden in the natural protection areas.
(4) The project activities should avoid the destruction of the surface vegetation,
decline of biodiversity, pollution of fertilizer and pesticide as well as water and soil
loss, so that feasible and practical environmental protection measures should be put
forward to reduce the negative environmental impacts cause by project construction to
a minimum level.
(5) Decreasing the density afforestation, and promoting forest vegetation recovery and
growth.
6.1.3 Public suggestions
The public participants in the survey also put forward the following suggestions (see
table 6-1).
Table 6-1 Public suggestions
About environmental protection measures About the project construction
(1) Managing forest according to law, strengthening the
forest protection and management, solving problems
immediately whenever them came out
(2) Strengthening the popularization of environmental
protection concepts and measures
(3) Using limited pesticides of toxin, and extending
environmental friendly fertilizers.
(1) Strengthening management, and
rensuing the funds available on time
(2) Strengthening the technical training
for farmers and supporting economic
development of villagers.
(3) Paying reasonable attention to all
aspects related to the project
6.1.4 Conclusions of public consultation in EIA
The above findings indicate that the public shows a significant interest in the Project,
and willing to participate in the project construction. Every interviewer supports the
project construction with acknowledge of the project is necessary for it is beneficial to
regional ecological environment improvement, optimization of forest quality, increase
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
54
of forest resistance, improvement of forest water conservation capacity, promotion of
the regional economic development and increase of farmers' income. Residents in
project areas hope to get technical support, training, and employment opportunities;
they also hope the support dynamics can be strengthen by enlarging the planting area,
increasing loan limits, providing advance payments, and increasing the counterpart
funds. Most interviewers hope the project will be carried out as soon as possible.
According to public consultant information, project proposed corresponding measures
to address the needs, which have been included in the project design.
6.1.4.1 Corresponding measures to expert comments.
(1)The project has been included into “12th
five year” development plan of Hunan
forestry as a very important project.
(2)The project selected at least 41 tree species, especially emphasis on high quality
indigenous species, strictly controlling of planting same species in large proportion
and in concentrated large scale, added some economic tree species in proper way.
(3)As one of the project site selection criteria is that the project would be out of, as
well as not nearby natural and cultural heritage protection zone. Base on the review on
site selection process, all the sites have been selected according to this criteria.
(4)Project emphasize on environmental protection measures, the relevant measures
to prevent or mitigate any damage of native vegetation, biodiversity during process of
site preparation and fertilization as well as avoid the pollution of pesticide and
chemical fertilizer, and avoid soil and water loss have been included in the
Environmental Protect Guidelines and technical design.
(5)In order to promote natural regeneration, the planting density has been reduced
from original 166 plants/mu in conifer forest and 133 plants/mu in broadleaf forest to
111 plants/mu and 74 plants/mu respectively to promote the undergrowth.
6.1.4.2 Corresponding measures to public comments
(1)On environmental protection measures. Project encourage and promote the III or
U class pesticide specified by WHO while applying chemical pesticide, only aim at
specific injurious insect, harmful less to non-target organisms. It is prohibited to use I
class pesticide specified by WHO; establish/enhance forest protection and fire
prevention institutional arrangements, to strength the capacity of forest fire prevention
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
55
team, as well as incorporating the fire prevention measures to the reforestation
technical design
(2)On project implementation. Project has arranged adequate counterpart fund and
request it to be allocated on a timely basis; training programs and technical services
have been designed. The training to forest farmers and other beneficiaries on
forestation technique and forest management reaches 26,400 person/day, on-site
planting field training reaches 58,860 person/day.
Details measures to address the potential environmental negative impacts have been
elaborated in Table 5-1 and Table 5-2.
6.2 Public consultation by social assessment team and its results (see details in the
Social Assessment Report)
6.2.1 Methods and scope of survey
The social assessment team went to 10 project counties in Changsha, Huaihua,
Xiangxi autonomous prefecture, Yongzhou, Chenzhou, Yueyang, etc to conduct the
field survey for social assessment on HFRDP from July 25 to August 30, 2011.
Meanwhile, the SA team also collected the second-hand baseline data from 22 project
counties (city, district). The participatory method was used in the process of social
assessment Information was collected by means of information publicity and public
consultation, etc. The SA team adopted a participatory impact assessment
methodology and tools including village meeting, semi-structured interviews,
stakeholders' interviews, village resources research, resource mapping, participatory
scoring and ranking, matrix analysis of project’s impact, etc. to ensure that different
interest groups and different types of farmers could actively participate in project
consultations on tasks and impacts. In the project areas, the propaganda was carried
out by means of leaflets, public announcements, meetings at all levels, etc. to the
relevant governmental agencies, villages and farmers to let more people know the
purpose, aim, components and operation procedures of the project, so as to ensure the
smooth implementation of the project.
Suggestions regarding project construction provided by project farmers and
communities in the public consultation of the social assessment report were fully
considered and adopted in the project design, so that the worries of project farmer
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
56
could be eliminated by the reasonable design of the project. For example, species of
economic trees were increased in the afforestation model design in order to decrease
the economic loss of project farmers in the early time of project. And the support
dynamics of training to forest farmers and technology training is also enhanced.
In a word, the suggestions of the public have been fully taken into consideration in the
project design. So that the significant increase of ecology, society and economy
benefits result from the project can be ensured.
6.2.2 Public consultation results
SA team believes that the social effects of the HFRDP are mainly reflected in:
(1) The project will have a great impact on improvements of regional ecological
conditions in the drainage areas of Xiangjiang River and Yuanshui River. (2) The
project will drive regional economic development. (3) The project will also promote
institutional capacity building of forestry management institutes. (4) The project will
promote the development of the minority communities. (5) The project will improve
the living environment and quality of rural poor population.
By means of field survey and second-hand data, the SA Team considered the
following potential social risks for the project.
(1) Discrepancy between the ecological target of the project and the economic pursuits
of farmers. 2) Discrepancy between project objectives and the lifestyle of local
residents. (3) The social advantaged groups might be marginalized. (4) Unsuitable tree
species might be selected. (5) The post-project management.
Regarding the social risks discussed above, SA team proposed some recommendations
as below:
(1) To enhance trainings relative to project implementation. (2) To strengthen the
cooperation among different line agencies. (3) To increase the project investment. (4)
To develop under-forest cultivation and livestock breeding. (5) To plant some trees
with both economic and ecological values. (6) To formulate and implement
preferential policies for vulnerable groups. (7) To fully consider the development of
poor ethnic minorities. (8) To construct post-project management system.
6.3 Participatory consultation and planning and its results (see details in the
Participatory Consultation and Planning Summary Report)
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
57
The participatory consultation and planning activities were conducted according to the
project “Manual for Consultation and Participatory Planning” (hereafter as Manual) in
the project design stage. According to the requirement of the Manual, scope of the
public consultation was determined, which contains 1147 administrative villages of
230 townships of 22 counties of 10 project prefectures.
The public consultation was hold by way of organizing consultation teams,
conducting training at all levels, mobilizing the public, consulting extensively with
related persons, inviting farmers to apply for project and encouraging women to
participate in the project. Forestry technicians from 230 townships or forest farms of
22 project counties input for more than 2500 person-times to offer guidance of
participatory consultation. Over 1,535 times of villager meetings of project villages
were convened. Besides, over 81,000 leaflets, over 2,020 banners and 18,700 posters
were used for promote the public consultation. As a result, more than 42,000 persons
of 23,200 farmer households attended the consultation meetings. Based on the
comprehensive mobilization and participatory consultation, as well as the respection
of the willing of project participated entities, the Agreements for Project Participation
were signed by the project forestry communities, farmer households and village
committee members to make clear of the rights and obligations of both parties, as well
as ensure the smooth and orderly operation of project.
The consultation teams of the county and township levels have summarized and sum
up the results about the participatory consultations: the consultation teams of project
counties has received totally 8,922 voluntary application forms which involves 18,613
farmer households, including: (1) 39 village collective applicants, which involve
12,531 farmer households; (2) 204 forest cooperatives submitted the applications,
which involve 4,085 farmers households; (3) 8,219 households that directly
participated in the project management; (4) 29 state-owned forest farms or forest
research institutes that applied, which involve 1,624 households for management
townships and villages. According to the applications that submitted by farmer
households (or collective organizations), the county consultation team went to the
field to verify the land with technicians of local forest stations. When the forest land
did not accord with the project requirements, it would be eliminated or re-selected by
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
58
communicating and exchanging with concerned applicants. After the verification of
project land, letters of intention would be signed with the applicants. In total, 8,854
letters of intention were signed, in which 39 of them were village collectives’; 204 of
them are forestry cooperatives’; 8151 of them were households’/partnerships’; 29 of
them were state-owned parts. Through consultation and verification by county and
township consultation teams, the project land area is in total 58,860 hectares,
including 9,921 hectares of state-owned land, 8,844 hectares of village collective land,
13,074.6 hectares of land from forest cooperative, and 27,020.4 hectares of land from
farmer households/united households.
The Final EMP, including EPG and PMP, as well as SA report, EMDP and
Participtoring Planning Manual have been publicized on
http://www.hnforestry.gov.cn, Hunan Provincial PMO, 22 project county PMOs and
county labtories on April 20th
, 2012.
7. Environmental Management Scheme and Technical Measures
7.1 Development and execution of EPG
In order to apply the mitigation measures of negative environmental impacts and risk
prevention measures indicated in Chapter 5 in the process of project design,
construction and maintenance of project forests, enhance the ecological environment
benefits during the project implementation, and minimize or eliminate the potential
negative impacts on natural environment caused by project activities, a detailed EPG
regarding main links of project implementation, including the sites selection for
reforestation or rehabilitation, tree species (variety) selection and distribution, site
slashing/preparation, forest tending management, pests/diseases control, fire
management, timber felling/yarding, forest path construction, etc. is prepared and will
be executed in the project design and construction, so as to ensure the overall
achievement of expected ecological and environmental benefits of the project.
Refer to Annex 1 of “Environmental Protection Guidelines”
7.2 Development and execution of PMP
In order to make the full execution of mitigation measures of chemical pesticide
pollution and risk prevention measures of pests/diseases put forward in Chapter 5, the
PMP has been developed for HFRDP according to the national policy of “prevention
first, scientific control, treatment by law and health promotion" and related
requirement of World Bank. The PMP makes detailed stipulations regarding existing
laws and regulations on pests management in China, pests management capacity of
Hunan province, present situation of pest occurrence and control in the project areas,
principle and objective of prevention and control, monitoring and forecasting, types of
pests/diseases of major tree species and the control measures, safety pesticide
recommended and use methods, implementation organization and management of pest
control, as well as training of the technical and management staff at all levels and
project beneficiaries. The PMP by execution of the definite stipulations in project
implementation will promote the application of physical and biological methods of
prevention and control, decrease the reliance of chemical methods, for ecological
chemical pesticide management and avoiding of environmental pollution.
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
60
Refer to Annex 2 of “Pest Management Plan”
7.3 Reporting procedure in case cultural relics were found
In accordance with the “Cultural Relics Protection Law of the People's Republic of
China" (2007,12,29), the construction units would be paused and reported to the local
Bureau of Cultural Relics in the case of founding of suspected cultural relics. And
construction would be restarted with the consent of the Bureau of Cultural Relics.
Cultural relics reporting procedures are shown in Figure 7-1.
Figure 7-1 Reporting procedures of cultural relics
According to Figure 7-1, in case the suspected cultural relics are found during the
project construction operation, the following actions should be taken strictly:
founding of suspected cultural relics
CPMO Pause of construction and
mantaining of the spot
County Bureau of Cultural
Relics
PPMO
Report to the county Bureau of
Cultural Relics and CPMO
Identifying and judgement in
24 hours
in situ conservation Provincical Bureau
of Cultural Relics CPMO
Relics
Judgement of degree
of relics
Relics
Non-relics
State Cultural Relics
Administration Dicision of
protection treatment
Rescue excavation
Admitted as cultural
relics area.
Demonstration of
area-reselecting
Rescue excavation
Admitted as cultural
relics area.
Demonstration of
area-reselecting
Reply and judgement
in 15 days Restart
with
consent
Restart with
consent
Province or national degree relics
County degree relics
Notice
Report to
CPMO
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
61
⑴ Construction should be paused and the spot should be maintained the status quo.
⑵ Construction unit should report to the CPMO.
⑶ CPMO should report to the local Bureau of Cultural Relics and PPMO.
⑷ County Bureau of Cultural Relic should send professional team to identify and
judge whether they are cultural relics. In case of non-relics, construction could restart.
In the opposite case, it should be reported to the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relic .
⑸ Degree of the relics should be judged by the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relic.
High degree relics should be reported to the State Cultural Relics Administration.
After the appropriate protection treatment and with consent of the State Cultural
Relics Administration, construction could be restarted.
7.4 Consistency analysis with World Bank forestry policy (OP 4.36)
This project is the ecological reforestation and forest rehabilitation projects. Project
sites are selected in the ecological plantation. The project afforestation will use
multiple tree species instead of single tree species used in previous projects to
increase the biodiversity of forest in project areas. All afforestation tree species should
be mainly selected from the native tree species and avoid new exotic species and
invasive species. Afforestation and forest management activities are allowed under the
project only for purposes of increasing ecologic benefits of forest and felling for
commercial purpose is forbidden. This project will be conducted in a wide area, and
afforestation and management activities will be mainly depended on communities and
farmer households. By consultation with communities and project farmers, this
project could assure that communities and farmers participate voluntarily in
afforestation and forest management. In conclusion, this project would be in
compliance with the forestry policies of the World Bank (OP.4.36).
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
62
8 Environmental Management Agencies and Supervision Mechanism
8.1 Environmental management agencies and responsibilities
The EMP willl be implemented as an important part of the Project. Under the
guidance of the World Bank experts, PPMO and CPMOs should designate persons to
be responsible for the project's environmental management work. Under the
leadership of PPMO, experts in the fields of forestry, ecological, environmental
protection, pest control are hired to form a “project environmental management expert
support group”, to offer technical supporting service for environmental management
training and the environmental monitoring work of the project.
PPMO will prepare the EPG and PMP for the project, as well as give guidance and
training to CMPOs for their serious execution in the project implementation. Each
CPMO, in course of the project participatory design, will propagate and publicize the
measures and environmental management requirements of the project. And in the
contracts with the project entities or households, there will be clear terms regarding
strict conduction of EPG. Each CPMO will organize project entities and households
representative for training and on-site consultancy, to let them gave practical grip of
the related technical knowledge such as the measures of environmental protection,
plant pests/diseases prevention and control, so as to materialize the project
environmental management into implementation operations. The relationship of
project environmental management agencies is shown in Figure 8-1:
Figure 8-1 Relationship of environmental management agencies
World Bank experts and
Project Lead group
PPMO Project environmental
management expert support group
CPMO
Project entities and Farmer
Township forestry
station, forest farms
Operational design unit
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
63
8.2 Supervision and inspection mechanism
Project environmental management inspection and supervision work will go through
the following mechanisms:
(1) The internal supervision and inspection
PPMO is responsible for inspection and supervision of environmental management in
each project county. Through on-site inspection as well as review of project design
and project implementation progress report, to monitor and evaluate the
environmental management quality and outcomes of each project county, thus to
identify and help to solve the difficulties and problems existed in project
implementation.
Each CPMO will take whether the project entities or the farmers strict executed
mesures of EPG and PMP in project implementation as one part of a project
implementation quality checking index, and incorporated it into the county and
township (forest farm) levels of project quality inspection and acceptance system. At
the same time, the CPMO will in every half-year and annual project progress report,
special report on the environmental management work. CPMO will summarize the
environmental monitoring results and report to the PPMO in every monitoring year. In
addition, CPMO should also frequently visit and supervise the project construction
site to help the project entities and farmers to resolve the problems and difficulties
arise in project construction and operation.
(2) The external supervision and inspection
Based on the management needs, the World Bank experts and provincial
Environmental Protection Department will carry out supervision and inspections on
the project preparation work and design documents, management and technical
regulations, as well as project progress reports at any time. These departments also
will carry out examination and assessment of project environmental management
work for identifying the problems and providing suggestions for improvement.
Environmental Protection Bureau of each project county will inspect and supervise
the project preparation work, design documents, management and technical
regulations and project progress report at any time according to need, at the same
time. They also will conduct on-site inspection and supervision to identify problems
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
64
and provide suggestions for improvement in the project implementation. Project
supervision organization relationship diagram is shown in Figure 8-2:
Figure 8-2 Relationship of environmental management
supervision and inspection agencies
PPMO
CPMO
Project entities
and Farmers
World Bank experts and
relevant divisions of the
provincial environmental
protection department
Intern
al pro
ject sup
ervisio
n an
d
insp
ection
Ex
ternal p
roject su
perv
ision
and
insp
ection
Relevant divisions of
county environmental
protection bureau
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
65
9. Environmental Monitoring Plan
9.1 Monitoring contents and indicators
Aiming at the reforestation and rehabilitation of damaged forest land, monitoring
activities will be carried out to find out the effects of project afforestation in soil and
water conservation, increase of plant diversity and vegetation coverage, the dynamic
change of the pests/diseases occurrence and damage degree, as well as the absorption
of heavy metal in plants. Monitoring content and indicators are as follows:
(1) Monitoring of soil erosion and water conservation
Soil erosion
Surface runoff
(2) Monitoring of occurrence and damage degree of pests/diseases
The species of pests insects and diseases
Occurrence and damage degree
(3) Monitoring of vegetation coverage and plant diversity
The species, number and canopy density of arbor
The species and coverage of shrub
The species and coverage of herbs
(4) Monitoring of heavy metal absorption in plants
To monitor the heavy metal content in soil and plant leaf for reflecting the
improvement project region environment quality the situation.
9.2 Types and distribution of monitoring sites
The environmental monitoring sites should be set up on different afforestation
technical models of project forests in the respective project sites.
For soil erosion and water conservation monitoring, the monitoring sties will be
selected in Zixing city and Leiyang city at M1 and M4. For pests/diseases monitoring
as well as plant diversity monitoring, 1 monitoring site of each of the 8 Afforestation
technical models will be set up in 8 representative counties with one in each. For the
monitoring of heavy metal absorption in plants, 1 monitoring site will be set up in
Ningxiang county at M1. It is required to set up fixed monitoring sites in the
representative areas to carry out the positioning monitoring on the above-mentioned
environmental indicators.
Types and distributions of specific monitoring sites are shown in table 9-1, table 9-2, table 9-3 and table 9-4.
Table 9-1 Types and distributions of soil erosion and water conservation monitoring sites
Monitoring
indicators Technical model Monitoring frequency Project County
Number of
Monitoring sites Executing Agency Supervision agency
Soil erosion and
surface runoff
M1 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Zixing 1
Certificated
institutes
PPMO
CPMO
M4 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Leiyang 1
M1 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Luxi 1
M2 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Xinshao 1
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M4: general hardwood tree fostering
Table 9-2 Types and distributions of occurrence and damage degree of pests/diseases monitoring sites
Project County Technical
model Monitoring indicators
Number of
Monitoring sites
Monitoring
Frequency (times/year)
Executing
Agency
Supervision
agency
Pingjiang M1 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2
Certificated
institutes
and county
FPCQS
PPMO
CPMO
Zixing M2 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3
Mayang M3 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2
Changning M4 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3
Guiyang M5 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3
Yuanling M6 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2
Ningxiang M7 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2
Leiyang M8 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M3: precious tree fostering; M4: general hardwood tree fostering;
M5: conifers + general hardwood mingled forest; M6: conifers + precious mingled forest;
M7: bamboo + hardwood mingled forest; M8: promoting natural regeneration artificially
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
67
Table9-3 Types and distributions of vegetation coverage and plant diversity monitoring sites
Monitoring
contents
Technical
model Monitoring frequency Project County
Number of
Monitoring sites Executio Agency
Supervision
agency
Vegetation
coverage and
plant diversity
M1 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Pingjiang 1
Certificated
institutes
PPMO
CPMO
M2 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Zixing 1
M3 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Mayang 1
M4 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Changning 1
M5 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Guiyang 1
M6 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Dingcheng 1
M7 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Ningxiang 1
M8 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Leiyang 1
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M3: precious tree fostering; M4: general hardwood tree fostering;
M5: conifers + general hardwood mingled forest; M6: conifers + precious mingled forest;
M7: bamboo + hardwood mingled forest; M8: promoting natural regeneration artificially
Table 9-4 Type and distribution of monitoring site of heavy metal absorption in plants
Monitoring
Indicators
Technical
model Monitoring frequency Project County
Number of
Monitoring sites Executing Agency
Supervision
agency
The heavy metal
content in plant M1 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Ningxiang 1
Certificated
institutes
PPMO
CPMO
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood;
9.3 Monitoring methods
According to the requirements of environmental monitoring aspects, the soil erosion
and water conservation monitoring will be conducted in the 1st, 3
rd, and 5
th year; the
pests/diseases monitoring will be conducted 2-3 times in each year; and the
monitoring of vegetation coverage and plant diversity will be conducted once a year
in the 1st, 3
rd, and 5
th year.
(1) Method of soil erosion and water conservation monitoring
In each of the soil erosion and water conservation monitoring sites, 3 runoff plots
(runoff field) will be established in the selected area with leveling slope and
representative site condition. Among them, 2 runoff plots are set up in the project
forest, which used as the repeated plots; another 1 runoff plots is set up in the
non-project site, which used as the control plot. The structure of each plot, including
the boundary wall, water catchments channel, water stream channel, water collection
tank, drainage ditch built in the margin of the runoff plot, and the protective belt
arranged on both sides of the runoff areas, is designed and constructed according to
the unified standards. Monitoring contents include the rainfall, duration of rainfall,
rainfall intensity, amount of surface runoff and soil loss, etc. The monitoring should
be conducted after raining in the monitoring year.
(2) pests/diseases monitoring method
The fixed monitoring plots will be set up in the project reforestation and rehabilitation
forests. Totally 20-30 trees will be selected and marked as the standard trees.. The
monitoring on pests/diseases occurrence and damage degree will be conducted on the
standard trees for 2~3 times in the pests high-risk seasons each year. Meanwhile, the
measures and frequency of pest control will also be recorded.
(3) Monitoring methods of vegetation coverage and plant diversity
In the representative areas and stands, three fixed monitoring sample plots are set up
at the upper, middle and down part of the slope in project forests and non-project sites
nearby respectively, with area of 30×30 m2
each. The following measurement should
be conducted on the arbor, shrub and herbaceous plant in the sample plots in July or
August in the monitoring year.
1) For arbors: name of species, number of trees ≥1m and <1m, and canopy density
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
69
of trees will be measured for all tress in the fixed sample plots.
2) For shrubs: 5 sample plots with area of 5×5 m2 each in the four corners and centre
of fixed sample plots for the measurement of the species and coverage of shrub.
3): For herbs: 1 sample plot with area of 2×2 m2 will be set up in the corner of each of
the 5 shrub sample plots for the measurement of the species and coverage of herb
plants.
(4) Monitoring of heavy metal absorption in plants
In project forests with M1 at the site nearby urban area, the sample leaves in
same-aged-group of each native tree species and soil samples in the forests will be
collected within the continuous forest areas of 500×500 m2 in May to July. The
contents of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, etc. in the sample leaves and soil
will be determined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.
9.4 Organization and implementation of monitoring
PPMO is responsible for organizing the implementation of the environmental
monitoring plan, hiring certificated institutions to undertake the monitoring tasks of
soil erosion and water conservation, vegetation coverage and plant diversity and
absorption of heavy metal in plant, organizing the certificated institutions, under the
assistant of county FPCQS to carry out monitoring of pests/diseases occurrence and
damage degree .
9.5 Report system
At the end of each monitoring year, each environmental monitoring unit should
seriously organize the summary, analysis and report work of monitoring results and
data, and submit the summarize and evaluation results to PPMO as one part of the
Project Implementation Progress Report in the monitoring year, which eventually
form the Overall Project Implementation Progress Report submitted to the World
Bank.
9.6 Fund budget
In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the environmental monitoring plan,
the budget for monitoring activities was made according to the monitoring tasks to be
fulfilled. According to the estimation, the total budget is RMB 4 million Yuan, which
will come from the counterpart fund of prefecture and county level.
The detailed budget for each of the monitoring contents is shown in Table 9-5, Table 9-6, Table 9-7 and Table 9-8.
Table 9-5 Budget for soil erosion and water conservation monitoring
Monitoring indicators Technical
model Monitoring frequency Project County
Number of
Monitoring sites
Unit price
(¥10,000)
Total
(¥10,000)
Note
Soil erosion and
surface runoff
M1 In the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Zixing 1 16 48 The 1st Year will cost
¥300,000 for each of
the monitoring sites
M4 In the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Leiyang 1 16 48
M1 In the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Luxi 1 16 48
M2 In the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Xinshao 1 16 48
In total 4 192
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M4: general hardwood tree fostering;
.Table9-6 Budget for pests/diseases occurrence and damage degree monitoring
Project
County
Technical
model Monitoring indicators
Number of
Monitoring sites
Monitoring
Frequency (times/year)
Unit price
(¥10,000)
Total
(¥10,000)
Pingjiang M1 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2 0.8 4.0
Zixing M2 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3 1.2 6.0
Mayang M3 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2 0.8 4.0
Changning M4 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3 1.2 6.0
Guiyang M5 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3 1.2 6.0
Yuanling M6 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2 0.8 4.0
Ningxiang M7 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 2 0.8 4.0
Leiyang M8 Species, occurrence, and damage degree of pests 2 3 1.2 6.0
Pingjiang 16 40.0
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M3: precious tree fostering; M4: general hardwood tree fostering;
M5: conifers + general hardwood mingled forest; M6: conifers + precious mingled forest;
M7: bamboo + hardwood mingled forest; M8: promoting natural regeneration artificially
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
71
Table9-7 Budget for Vegetation coverage and plant diversity monitoring
Monitoring
contents Technical model Monitoring frequency
Project
County
Number of
Monitoring sites
Unit price
(¥10,000)
Total
(¥10,000)
Vegetation
coverage and
plant diversity
M1 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Pingjiang 1 5 15
M2 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Zixing 1 5 15
M3 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Mayang 1 5 15
M4 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Changning 1 5 15
M5 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Guiyang 1 5 15
M6 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Dingcheng 1 5 15
M7 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Ningxiang 1 5 15
M8 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Leiyang 1 5 15
In total 8 120
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M3: precious tree fostering; M4: general hardwood tree fostering;
M5: conifers + general hardwood mingled forest; M6: conifers + precious mingled forest;
M7: bamboo + hardwood mingled forest; M8: promoting natural regeneration artificially
Table9-8 Budget for monitoring of absorption of heavy metal in plants
Monitoring Indicator Technical model Monitoring frequency Project County Number of
Monitoring sites
Unit price
(¥10,000)
Total
(¥10,000)
Content of heavy metal in plant M1 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Ningxiang 1 16 48
Total 48
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
72
9.7 Summary table of annual work plan
Table9-9 Summary table of annual work plan
Unit: ¥10,000
Monitoring contents Monitoring indicators Technical
model Monitoring frequency
Project
County
Annual
budget
Total
Budget
Executing
agency
Supervision
agency
Soil erosion and
water conservation
Rainfall, duration of
rainfall, rainfall intensity;
amount of surface runoff
and soil loss.
M1 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Zixing 16 48
Certificated
institutions PPMO
M4 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Leiyang 16 48
M1 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Luxi 16 48
M2 The 1st, 3rd, 5th year Xinshao 16 48
Pests/diseases
occurrence and
damage degree
Species, occurrence, and
damage degree of pest
insects and diseases
M1 2times/year pingjiang 0.8 4.0
Provincial
and county
level
FPCQS
PPMO
M2 2 times/year zixing 1.2 6.0
M3 3 times/year mayang 0.8 4.0
M4 2 times/year changning 1.2 6.0
M5 2 times/year guiyang 1.2 6.0
M6 2 times/year yuanling 0.8 4.0
M7 2 times/year ningxiang 0.8 4.0
M8 3 times/year leiyang 1.2 6.0
Vegetation coverage
and Plant
biodiversity
Species, number and
canopy density of trees,
species and coverage of
shrub and herb plants
M1 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year pingjiang 5 15
Certificated
institutions
PPMO
M2 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year zixing 5 15
M3 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year mayang 5 15
M4 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year changning 5 15
M5 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year guiyang 5 15
M6 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year yuanling 5 15
M7 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year ningxiang 5 15
M8 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year leiyang 5 15
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
73
Absorption of heavy
metal in plants
Content of some heavy
metal element in plants
and soil
M1 once a year in the 1st, 3rd, 5th year Ningxiang 16 48 Certificated
institutions
PPMO
Note: M1: conifers + general hardwood; M2: conifers + precious hardwood; M3: precious tree fostering; M4: general hardwood tree fostering;
M5: conifers + general hardwood mingled forest; M6: conifers + precious mingled forest;
M7: bamboo + hardwood mingled forest; M8: promoting natural regeneration artificially
10. Training Plan
10.1 Training content
According to the requirement of project implementation, the training contents should
include the following aspects:
(1) World Bank safeguards policies and Chinese national/ local environmental
protection laws and regulations;
(2) Project environmental impacts, EPG and its implementation;
(3) PMP and its implementation;
(4) Identification prevention and control techniques of major pests/diseases in project
forests;
(5) Environmental Monitoring Plan and its implementation;
(6) Pesticides procurement and safe use.
10.2 Trainees and training methods
Related environmental management knowledge and skills will be trained to project
technical and management staff at all levels and project beneficiaries (especially
project household farmers), so that:
(1) Make the project technical and management staff at provincial, county and
township levels fully understand and grasp the national and local laws and
regulations, the positive and the negative environmental impacts caused by project
implementation, as well as the environmental management schemes and measures, so
they can seriously and accurately execute the EPG, PMP and “Environmental
Monitoring Plan” in the project.
(2) Let project beneficiaries, including project entities and representative farmers to
learn and master the scheme, measures and related operation techniques of EPG and
PMP, so that they can carrying out the projects construction activities in strict
accordance with the requirements of EPG and PMP.
The environmental management training of the project will be conducted at the
provincial, county and township (forest farm) levels, to ensure the achievement of the
Environmental Management Plan at Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project
75
expected purpose and result.
10.3 Training programme and budget
For the smooth execution of project, training to staff at all levels should be conducted.
The content, trainee, person-day and budget of training is shown in table 10-1. During
the period of project implementation, the total budget for training is RMB 1.692
million Yuan.
Table 10-1 Training programme and budget
Notes: PPMO: Provincial Project Management Office; CPMO: County Project Management Office; Cm: County Project Manager; Ct: County Technician;
Tt: Township Technician; Ft: County, township forestry technician; Fm: Farmer Representatives or Village Cadre.
Training content Trainer Trainee Number of
trainees
Training
person-times
Training
person-days
Training
year
Budget
¥10,000
A Provincial level
1. Environmental management and EPG, including World Bank
safeguards policies and Chinese national/local environmental
protection laws and regulations, positive and negative
environmental impacts; EPG, organization, implementation and
supervision of environmental management work, environmental
monitoring plan and its implementation
PPMO Cm, Ct 60 120 240 The 1
st
and 3rd
year 9.6
2. PMP and its implementation, pesticide procurement and safe use. PPMO Cm, Ct 60 120 240 The first and
third year 9.6
Subtotal 240 480 19.2
B. County level
1. EPG and main environmental protection measures conducted in
project implementation. CPMO Tt, Ft 300 300 1500 Every year 30
2. The identification, prevention, and control measures of main
forest insect pests and diseases, and safe use of pesticide CPMO Tt, Ft 300 600 3000 Each year 60
Subtotal 900 4500 90
C. Township (fores farm) level
1. EPG and main environmental protection measures conducted in
project implementation. CPMO Fm 2000 2000 10000 Every year 30
2. The identification, prevention, and control measures of main
forest insect pests and diseases, and safe use of pesticide CPMO Fm 2000 2000 10000 Every year 30
Subtotal 4000 20000 60
Total budget 169.2
11. Source of Fund and Budget
The fund for implementing EMP will not be allocated as an independent category in
the total budget for project, which will be included in the budget of the training plan,
monitoring and evaluation plan, and implementation management. According to the
scope and load of the tasks in implementation of EMP, the total budget is RMB 6.258
million Yuan, of which 1.692 million Yuan is for training, 4.00 million Yuan is for
monitoring, and 0.566 million Yuan is for management. The detailed budget is shown
in Table 9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8, 10-1 and 11-1.
Table 11-1 Total budget of environmental management plan
Type Explanations of expenditure Budget
(¥10,000)
Subtotal
(¥10,000)
Training
Provincial level
training
For training on Cm, Ct. Budget is
RMB 400/ person day 19.2
169.2 County level
training
For training Tt, Ft. Budget is
RMB 200/ person day 90
Township lever
training
For training Fm. Budget is RMB
30/ person day 60
Monitoring
Soil erosion and
water
conservation
Set up 4 monitoring sites in 4
representative counties to conduct
monitoring in the 1st, 3
rd, and 5
th
year.
192.0
400.0
Pests/diseases
Set up 8 monitoring sites at 8
technical models in different
counties to conduct 2~3 times of
monitoring in every year.
40
Vegetation
coverage and plant
diversity
Set up 8 monitoring sites at 8
technical models in different
counties to conduct monitoring
once a year in the 1st, 3
rd, and 5
th
year.
120
Absorption of
heavy metal in
plants
Set up 1 monitoring site in
Ningxiang county to conduct
monitoring once a year in the 1st,
3rd
, and 5th year.
48
Management
10% of the budget of the project management fee of the
project construction units will be used for
environmental management.
56.6
Total 625.8