Vegetation and wildlife Impact Assessment

NOU21 BT02
3 Mar 202121:27

Summary

TLDRDr. Sushmita Bhaskar's module MEVE001 delves into environmental impact assessment, focusing on vegetation and wildlife. It discusses the threats posed by human activities to these resources, the importance of vegetation in biogeochemical cycles, and the alarming rate of wildlife loss. The module outlines techniques for impact assessment, including biological surveys, indicators, and mitigation strategies, emphasizing the need for conservation to ensure environmental and ecological sustainability.

Takeaways

  • 🌳 Dr. Sushmita Bhaskar introduces herself as a specialist in environmental studies, focusing on the impact of human activities on vegetation and wildlife.
  • 🌿 The rapid growth of the human population is causing significant stress on the environment and its resources, affecting both plants and animals.
  • 🐾 Anthropogenic activities such as fishing, hunting, deforestation, and urbanization are major threats to vegetation and wildlife resources.
  • 🌐 By 2150, the global population is expected to reach 10 billion, exacerbating issues like global warming, food scarcity, and environmental health.
  • 🌱 Vegetation is crucial for life as it regulates biogeochemical cycles and serves as a habitat and energy source for wildlife, playing a critical role in the biosphere.
  • 🐊 Environmental degradation and pollutants can lead to a decline in biodiversity, with an estimated 50% loss of wildlife in the past 40 years.
  • πŸ” Biological concepts and terms like biological assessment, biological survey, and biological indicators are essential for analyzing environmental impacts.
  • 🏞️ Reference sites provide a benchmark for assessing the biological condition of surveyed sites, representing natural conditions undisturbed by human activities.
  • πŸ› οΈ Impact assessment helps in decision-making to ensure projects are environmentally and socially sound, identifying and evaluating potential impacts of development activities.
  • 🌳 Baseline studies are crucial for understanding how a proposed project might change the existing environmental conditions and for predicting and monitoring impacts.
  • πŸ”Ž Biotic assessment uses the presence, condition, and abundance of various species to determine the health of an ecosystem and assess environmental impacts.

Q & A

  • Who is the speaker in the module MEVE001?

    -The speaker is Dr. Sushmita Bhaskar, working in the discipline of environmental studies at the School of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

  • What is the main focus of the module MEVE001?

    -The module focuses on environmental impact assessment, specifically discussing the impact on vegetation and wildlife.

  • What are the main anthropogenic activities threatening vegetation and wildlife resources mentioned in the script?

    -The main anthropogenic activities mentioned are fishing, hunting, ecosystem fragmentation, deforestation, gathering firewood, overgrazing, and human settlement.

  • What is the expected human population by 2150 according to the script?

    -The script suggests that by 2150, the human population is expected to reach an alarming level of 10 billion.

  • How does the script describe the role of vegetation in the biosphere?

    -The script describes vegetation as a most copious biotic element of the biosphere, playing a critical role in regulating biogeochemical cycles, being a primary source of oxygen, and serving as a habitat and energy source for wildlife.

  • What is the estimated percentage of wildlife lost in the past 40 years according to the script?

    -The script estimates that 50 percent of the total wildlife has been lost in the past 40 years.

  • What are biological indicators in the context of environmental impact assessment?

    -Biological indicators are a group of organisms that can be employed to assess the condition of an ecosystem or environment, providing insights into the health of the ecosystem based on their presence and condition.

  • What is the purpose of impact assessment in environmental projects?

    -The purpose of impact assessment is to help in decision-making, ensuring that projects and programs are environmentally and socially sound and sustainable, by identifying, predicting, and evaluating the foreseeable impacts of these activities.

  • What are some of the mitigation measures mentioned in the script for the conservation of flora and fauna?

    -Some mitigation measures mentioned include preservation measures like land purchase or conservation easements, management practices like controlled grazing and pollution control, restoration efforts like reforestation and wetland creation, and compensation like purchasing lands of comparable habitat size and quality.

  • How does the script explain the process of selecting alternatives for addressing environmental impacts?

    -The script explains that alternatives for addressing impacts should be identified through brainstorming, stakeholder dialogues, and surveys of similar impacts. Innovative solutions should be encouraged and assessed for their cost and benefits, considering socioeconomic and ecological expertise, and public participation.

  • What is the importance of baseline studies in environmental impact assessment according to the script?

    -Baseline studies are important for understanding how the system might be changed by the proposed project. They provide information about the existing conditions and the components of biodiversity that may be affected, establishing a foundation for impact prediction, monitoring, and evaluating the success of mitigation measures.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment

Dr. Sushmita Bhaskar introduces the module MEVE001, focusing on the environmental impact assessment for environmental health. She discusses the growing human population and its stress on the environment, leading to threats to vegetation and wildlife due to anthropogenic activities like fishing, hunting, deforestation, and urbanization. The module aims to teach viewers how to describe and analyze the impact on vegetation and wildlife. The importance of vegetation in the biosphere, including its role in biogeochemical cycles and as a habitat for wildlife, is highlighted. The script also emphasizes the need for conservation and proper resource management to prevent further ecological damage.

05:01

🐾 Biological Indicators and Impact Assessment Techniques

This paragraph delves into biological concepts and terms crucial for analyzing environmental and occupational impacts on vegetation and wildlife. It covers biological assessment, which involves sampling species in water bodies to assess their condition. Biological indicators, such as reference sites, are used to evaluate ecosystem health. The paragraph also discusses various biological entities like communities, habitats, and endangered species. Impact assessment is described as a process to identify, predict, and evaluate the impacts of activities on the environment, with a focus on flora and fauna. Mitigation measures and ecological integrity maintenance are emphasized, along with the importance of understanding site conditions and following ecological management principles.

10:02

🌳 Mitigation Principles and Alternative Solutions

The paragraph discusses the principles of mitigation in environmental impact assessment, emphasizing the need for a thorough understanding of site conditions and the activities affecting habitats. It outlines the importance of mimicking natural processes, protecting rare species, and minimizing habitat fragmentation. The paragraph also explores alternative means of addressing impacts, such as doing nothing, brainstorming, and innovative solutions. An example is given of creating habitats for wood ducks by building nesting boxes or conducting detailed studies for optimal location determination. The importance of cost-benefit analysis in selecting the best response is highlighted, considering both monetary evaluations and qualitative data from community sources.

15:03

πŸ” Baseline Studies and Biotic Assessment Techniques

This paragraph focuses on the methodology for assessing terrestrial flora and fauna, starting with desk-based evaluation and baseline studies. It explains the importance of understanding existing conditions and how they might be changed by proposed projects. Techniques such as transects, belt transects, quadrats, and mist nets are discussed for surveying vegetation and wildlife. The paragraph also covers the process of identifying important species, assessing biodiversity indices, and evaluating the impact of development activities on the baseline. Biotic assessment is introduced as a method to determine ecosystem health using the presence, condition, and abundance of various organisms.

20:03

🏞️ Conclusion on Wildlife and Vegetation Impact Analysis

In the concluding paragraph, the importance of understanding basic concepts in wildlife and vegetation impact analysis is reiterated. Techniques and processes for analyzing impacts in various habitats are summarized, emphasizing the need to consider species richness and diversity. The paragraph highlights the role of biological indicators and stress responses in biotic assessment, explaining how species sensitivity and pollution tolerance can be used to predict the natural state or contamination level in an area. The speaker thanks the viewers for their attention and patience, summarizing the key points discussed in the module.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process that helps in decision making to ensure that projects and programs are environmentally and socially sound and sustainable. It involves identifying, predicting, and evaluating the potential impacts of proposed developments on the environment. In the video, EIA is crucial for understanding the effects of human activities on vegetation and wildlife, and for developing mitigation measures to minimize negative impacts.

πŸ’‘Vegetation

Vegetation refers to plant life in a particular region and is a critical component of the biosphere. It plays a vital role in regulating biogeochemical cycles, including the water, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles. The script emphasizes the importance of vegetation in maintaining global energy balances and serving as a habitat for wildlife, highlighting its essential role in the ecosystem.

πŸ’‘Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all non-domesticated animals, plants, and other organisms living in their natural habitats. The video discusses the impact of human activities on wildlife, including threats from hunting, fishing, and habitat destruction. It also highlights the importance of wildlife in maintaining biodiversity and the need for conservation efforts.

πŸ’‘Anthropogenic Activities

Anthropogenic activities are human-induced actions that have an impact on the environment. The script mentions activities such as fishing, hunting, deforestation, and urbanization that cause ecological effects on vegetation and wildlife. These activities are a major concern in the context of environmental impact assessment.

πŸ’‘Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms and interactions, including the number of different species, their genetic diversity, and the ecosystems they inhabit. The video script discusses the decline in biodiversity due to environmental degradation and the loss of wildlife, emphasizing the need for conservation to protect species richness and ecological integrity.

πŸ’‘Ecological Integrity

Ecological integrity is the condition of an ecosystem where its components are intact and functioning in a way that maintains its health and resilience. The script mentions the importance of maintaining ecological integrity in habitat conservation efforts, ensuring that the natural processes and species diversity are preserved.

πŸ’‘Mitigation Measures

Mitigation measures are actions taken to reduce the negative impacts of a project or activity on the environment. The video discusses the development of mitigation plans to prevent the loss of flora and fauna, including preservation measures, habitat restoration, and pollution control. These measures are essential for minimizing the adverse effects of development on the environment.

πŸ’‘Biological Indicators

Biological indicators are groups of organisms used to assess the condition of an ecosystem or environment. The script explains that these indicators can help predict the natural state of a region or the degree of contamination present. They are crucial tools in environmental impact assessment, providing insights into the health of ecosystems.

πŸ’‘Endangered Species

Endangered species are those that are at risk of extinction due to various threats, including habitat loss and human activities. The video script highlights the importance of protecting endangered species as part of conservation efforts, emphasizing their ecological importance and the need for specific measures to ensure their survival.

πŸ’‘Baseline Survey

A baseline survey is an initial assessment that provides a snapshot of existing conditions in an area before a project begins. The script discusses the importance of baseline studies in understanding how a proposed project might change the environment and in establishing a foundation for impact prediction and mitigation. It includes gathering data on biodiversity components and setting a benchmark for future comparisons.

πŸ’‘Biotic Assessment

Biotic assessment is a method of evaluating the health of an ecosystem based on the presence, condition, and abundance of various species. The video script uses the example of benthic macroinvertebrates to illustrate how biotic assessments can indicate the level of sensitivity and tolerance to pollution, providing valuable information for environmental impact analysis.

Highlights

Introduction to the module MEVE001 by Dr. Sushmita Bhaskar, focusing on environmental impact assessment for environmental health.

Discussion on the impact of human population growth on the environment and its resources.

Exploration of anthropogenic activities such as fishing, hunting, deforestation, and urbanization that threaten vegetation and wildlife.

Projection that by 2150, the human population could reach 10 billion, highlighting the urgency of environmental issues.

Importance of vegetation in regulating biogeochemical cycles and its role as a primary source of oxygen.

Vegetation's critical role in global energy balances and its impact on biodiversity and environmental degradation.

Estimation that 50% of total wildlife has been lost in the past 40 years due to human activities.

Introduction of biological concepts and terms essential for analyzing environmental and occupational impact on vegetation and wildlife.

Explanation of biological assessment, biological survey, and biological indicators in the context of environmental studies.

Discussion on reference sites as benchmarks for assessing the biological condition of surveyed sites.

Importance of protecting endangered species and maintaining ecological integrity in impact assessment.

Description of impact assessment as a process to ensure environmentally and socially sound project and program options.

Role of flora and fauna investigation in EIAs to provide data for potential impacts and mitigation measures.

Mitigation principles in habitat conservation efforts, emphasizing ecological management and natural processes.

Examples of innovative solutions in addressing environmental impacts, such as building wooden nesting boxes for wood ducks.

Emphasis on the importance of cost-benefit analysis in selecting the best response to environmental impacts.

Methodology for assessing terrestrial flora and fauna, including desk-based evaluation and baseline studies.

Techniques used in baseline surveys, such as transects, quadrats, and mist nets, to gather ecological data.

Importance of biodiversity indices in reflecting species richness and distribution in environmental impact assessments.

Biotic assessment as a tool to determine ecosystem health using species presence, condition, and abundance.

Conclusion summarizing the importance of understanding vegetation and wildlife impact analysis in environmental projects.

Transcripts

play00:10

hello viewers and learners

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of the module meve001

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environmental impact assessment for

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environmental health

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i introduce myself as dr sushmita

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bhaskar working in the discipline of

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environmental studies at the school of

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interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary

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studies

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indira gandhi national open university

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new delhi

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in this module we will discuss on

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vegetation and wildlife impact

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assessment after reading this module you

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will be able to describe the vegetation

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and wildlife

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impact analysis and certain processes as

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to how we can analyze the same

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now the human population is growing at

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an unexpected

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rate and this is giving a lot of stress

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it is exerting stress

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and causing change in the environment as

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well as its resources

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for both the plants animals and the

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human beings so due to human interplay

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and anthropogenic activities

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the vegetation and wildlife resources

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are being threatened

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the anthropogenic activities such as

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fishing

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hunting ecosystem fragmentation

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deforestation like the fuel wood

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gathering fire and over grazing human

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settlement etc

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have caused tremendous ecological

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effects on the vegetation as well as the

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wildlife

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human beings in order to fulfill their

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material ambitions

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they have depleted the natural renewable

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and non-renewable resources

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and these are assets that are necessary

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for our survival

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globally if you see now the human

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population are increasing continuously

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and it is expected that by 2150

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the population will even reach up to 10

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billion which is really an alarming

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level due to overpopulation and

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increasing demand of urbanization each

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year

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20 to 30 million people migrate from the

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rural area to the

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urban areas so over population and

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poverty that will lead to urbanization

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industrial revolution and they have

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major impact on the global health

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global warming food scarcity and

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environmental health

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all these factors they have negative

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impacts on the vegetation and the

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wildlife now in general vegetation is a

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plant life of any region and it is a

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most copious biotic element of the

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biosphere so without vegetation we

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cannot survive

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this regulates the flow of the

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biogeochemical cycles

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and most critically for the water cycle

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the hydrological cycle

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the carbon nitrogen oxygen the water

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cycle

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then you have the phosphorus the sulfur

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cycle and it is very important in the

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global

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energy balances so global vegetation is

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a primary source of oxygen

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it plays a critical role in the

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biosphere at all possible

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spatial scales and disruption in these

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biogeochemical cycle

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that will lead to elevation in the ozone

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concentration and also to the

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ecosystem acidification vegetation

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this serves as a wildlife habitat and

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energy source

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the impact of environment on vegetation

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that can lead to a decline for example

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in the amphibian population

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in the death of the coral reef global

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warming and so on

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which ultimately decrease the

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biodiversity

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environmental degradation this is a

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serious threat

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and that is leading to the wildlife

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extinction which has a fatal

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impact on the human race environmental

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pollutants can alter the wildlife

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viability

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it is estimated that in the past 40

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years 50 percent of the total wildlife

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has been lost

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and by the year right now it is 2020

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they are saying that 68 of the world

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wildlife will be either extinct or we

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will

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lose the same so that means we need to

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conserve

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our resources more uh properly and we

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need to manage them

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well in 2018 a report and a

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research report that was published in

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pnas journal

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showed that till date 83 percent of wild

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animal wild animals

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80 percent of the marine animals and 50

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percent of the plants and fishes

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have been lost due to human civilization

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from the

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beginning like the amount of species

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diversity that existed

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but now that has been reduced let us now

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see

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some biological concepts and terms which

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are useful for the study

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the analysis of environmental and

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occupational impact on vegetation and

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wildlife

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this will be done with the help of

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systems like environmental laws

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mathematical matrix models measurement

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tools risk assessment

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analytical techniques and so on some of

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the important biological concepts and

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terms the biological assessment so it is

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an assessment of the condition of any

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water body

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by sampling the species that spend all

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or part of their lives in that

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water body biological survey a

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systematic method for collecting a

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consistent

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reproducible and reliable sample of the

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aquatic

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biological community in a water body

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then there are biological indicators

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they are group of organisms that can be

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employed to assess the condition of an

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ecosystem

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or environment and depending on the type

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of the water body being sampled

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the biological indicators used in the

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surveys

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can include the following the reference

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sites they are data collected at

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reference sites and they provide a

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benchmark for assessing the biological

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condition of the surveyed

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sites and the reference sites are those

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sites which have not been disturbed by

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the anthropogenic activities

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or human stress and they have been

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influenced to some extent

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by human activities and they represent

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our best approximation of the natural

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conditions now data from the reference

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side that can be used to develop the

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management target for protection and

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restoration of the aquatic resource for

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example fish it can be trouts the

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sunfish the perch the salmons

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benthic macro invertebrates like insects

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snails

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crayfish worms and so on peripherals

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like algae

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amphibians like frogs and salamanders

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macrophytes like aquatic plants

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birds like residential or migratory

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species

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it is a basic unit of classification and

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a taxonomic rank

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as well as a unit of biodiversity

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community

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it is also called a biological community

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in a biology

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and an interacting group of various

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species in a common location

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for example a forest of trees and

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undergrowth plants

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that are inhabited by animals and rooted

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in soil containing bacteria and fungi

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that constitutes a biological community

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habited it is a type of natural

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environment in which a particular

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species of organism is

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living it is characterized by both

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physical and biological features

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and a species habitat is those places

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where it can find

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food shelter and protection and mates

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for the reproduction

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then there are endangered species it is

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a species of animal or plants that is

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seriously at the risk of

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extinction so impact assessment is a

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process that can help in decision making

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and to ensure that the project and the

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program

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options under consideration are

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environmentally and socially sound and

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sustainable

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it is concerned with identifying

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predicting and evaluating the

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foreseeable impacts

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both beneficial and adverse of the

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public and private activities

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developmental activities alternatives

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and mitigating measures

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and aims to eliminate or minimize the

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negative impacts and optimize positive

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impacts through eia techniques that vary

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from country to country and organization

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to organization

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there are stages that are common to most

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of the eia processes

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the role of the flora and the fauna

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investigation in

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eia is to provide sufficient data to

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allow a complete identification

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prediction and evaluation

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of potential impacts of the proposed

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developments upon that flora and the

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fauna mitigation measures and procedures

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that is a development of the mitigation

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plan for the prevention of the

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loss of flora as well as fauna at that

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construction

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site and the appropriate measures for

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the mitigation of habitat loss or

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degradation all this depend upon the

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habited type

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the specific degrading activities stress

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processes and inhabited impacts

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for a mitigation to be successful the

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ecological integrity of that habitat

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also should be maintained

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this can be accomplished directly by

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preservation measures that avoids

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impacts in other cases careful

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mitigation plants can reduce or

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eliminate impacts on the integrity of

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the

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habitat mitigations will also involve

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the guidance

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to the address the habited impacts of

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destruction fragmentation simplification

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and degradation that can include the

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following like for example preservation

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the outright purchase or the set aside

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of the land

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partial purchase through conservation

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easements long-term leases or the

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management

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agree agreements the management

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practices can

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also involve the rotation and method of

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the tipper harvesting

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timing and extent of grazing control of

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pollution and elimination of the

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structures

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restoration there can be direct

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manipulation through seedings plantings

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physical or chemical treatment creation

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of wetland control of pollution

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removal of barriers to fish migration

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control of livestock access to riparian

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areas compensation purchase of lands of

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comparable habited size and quality

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provision of financial restitution then

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the mitigation principles the

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development of this

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should be based on a thorough

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understanding of the site condition and

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the activities that are impacting

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habitats but certain principles of

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ecological management should be followed

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when specific mitigation measures are to

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be developed

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now these are the following mitigation

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principles that will apply to all the

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habited conservation efforts

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baseline of the base mitigation goals

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and objectives

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on a landscape analysis that will

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consider the needs of that region

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mimic the natural processes and promote

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native species

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protect the rare and ecologically

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important species and communities

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because

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certain species would be growing only in

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certain regions and there may be rare

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and they may be ecologically important

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so we need to protect those species

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then minimize the fragmentation of the

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habitat and promote connectivity of the

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natural

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areas maintain structural diversity of

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the habitats

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and promote natural diversity in that

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area for the management of site-specific

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environmental conditions and impacts of

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the specific activity causing

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degradation

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monitoring the habited impacts from

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activities and thereby plan the

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mitigation processes

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there are also alternate means of

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addressing the impacts

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like knowing the impact the next step is

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to determine what can be done about it

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so the proponent id identifies several

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means of addressing this impact

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and one thing is doing nothing about it

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that can be an alternate

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you can have brainstorming sessions open

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dialogues with the stakeholders

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there can be surveys of similar impacts

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and some responses can also help

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innovative solutions can be there and

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that should be encouraged and considered

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at this

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stage let us take now an example

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if we take the wood duck as an example

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the person

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or the executive in charge you know he

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notes down the response of the

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individuals to create habitats

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by building the wooden nesting boxes and

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placing them near the

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water bodies one option for the

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executive is to produce a wooden box

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that is ready for the assembly

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another is he will give funds to an ngo

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that is going to conduct certain

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detailed studies regarding the wood

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ducks nesting habit

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and it will determine the optimal

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location for the

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woodland along the river and then

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reforestation is

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done one more option is to produce a

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paper nesting box

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so with more open discussions the list

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of auctions can go on and on

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and finally they can come up with some

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innovative alternative

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thereby some numerous options will be

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available to the policy proponent

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and then he can institute a policy which

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can ban or limit

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the wood duck hunting he can introduce

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new subsidy for the reintroduction of

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wetlands

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which can create incentives for the

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conservation

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then we need to assess the cost and

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benefits of each alternative so

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everything has in socioeconomics and in

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economics

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this so the cost and benefit analysis is

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very important

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and that will determine which

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alternative is the best response

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that should use the monetary evaluations

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where possible it can also give the

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qualitative

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information through quantitative data

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that relies on economic and ecological

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expertise

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the qualitative data most often comes

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from community sources

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including the equally considering

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qualitative data public participation is

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also taken seriously

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that can also be carried out effectively

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selective and alternative by selecting

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alternatives we should recognize the

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constraints

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the country and the region social

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cultural and political values

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the selection should reflect an

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equitable sharing of the distribution

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of benefits that are derived from the

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use of biological resources

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making the selection and supporting

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reasons explicitly

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to the public help to ensure the

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equitable distribution

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methodology for the assessment of

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terrestrial flora and the fauna

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assessment

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we can have the desk based evaluation

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for all the relevant information

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this is done by doing some existing

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review of literature

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database site specific information for

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the study area that is proposed

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a list of potentially threatened flora

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and the fauna species

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that should be listed out then a land

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cover and a vegetation map

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should be made the area of the

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development project is overlaid

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so that to determine the direct impact

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for that flora and the fauna in that

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area

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that will be used to delineate and

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stratify the sampling sites for the

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flora and the fauna

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assessment baseline studies

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this is an important and first stage

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study it is important in gaining an

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understanding of how the system might be

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changed

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by the proposed project and it can take

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a snapshot of the existing conditions

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that is the baseline

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environment the baseline survey provides

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the necessary information

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on the site specific environmental

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setting of the project and that should

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include information about the components

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of the biodiversity

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for example the ecosystem and the

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species in particular that may be

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affected

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baseline studies establish a foundation

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for impact prediction

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for monitoring the predicted impacts and

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for evaluating the success of the

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mitigation

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measures what are the things to be

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considered in the baseline survey

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site characterization and survey methods

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a combination of different methods is

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also being used

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for example transects they are used to

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survey changes in the vegetation along

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an environmental gradient

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from a source of impact or through

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different habitats

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the line transect method that is used to

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count the plant species and their

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abundance

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that touch the transect line then we

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have the belt

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transect that is done by laying a

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transect line with 50 meter length and

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10 meter width on sides of the transect

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line

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all the trees within the belt transect

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with diameters greater than 5

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centimeter at breast height will be

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identified and they will be measured for

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the diameter at the breast height and

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then

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counted then quadrats these are used to

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define the sample area within the study

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site

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the locations of the quadrat chosen

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should be representative to the various

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vegetation types

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present within the study area and

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usually several quadrats are sampled to

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obtain more representative results

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the plant species inside the quarters

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are identified the density the frequency

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and the relative cover also will be

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estimated this allows for the

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computation of the

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importance value index of the species

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that are present in that particular

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area transect count this is used to

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survey the birds

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in large open areas of relatively

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uniform habitat

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so all the birds that are seen on both

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sides of the transects are identified

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they are counted to a distance where the

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birds are still detectable

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or within a fixed distance from the

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observer then you have the mist nets

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this is used to capture birds and bat

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bats and the birds the nets are placed

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at travel lines

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of the travel lanes of the bats at dusk

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and they are

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tended constantly any captured bat that

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must be removed individually upon

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entanglement may be in some temporary

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devices like the cloth bag

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the same is done with birds but with the

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birds we do it at dawn

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bats it is done generally at dusk or in

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the evening time

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trapping box traps with appropriate bait

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is an effective means for trapping the

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small

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terrestrial mammals which are unharmed

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by so that they are unharmed pitfall

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traps they can also be used to trap the

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small mammals such as shrews

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when the animals fall through the

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opening into the container

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active searching this is an effective

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way to survey the amphibians and

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reptiles

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by active searching particularly during

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the day time and this is applicable also

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during the

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nocturnal and the diagonal species you

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can do the active searching

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process sampling effort

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so the baseline survey will collect the

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ecological data through sampling

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the actual sampling would depend on the

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physical size of the site

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the diversity of the habitats flora and

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fauna and availability of the existing

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ecological baseline

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information so the environmental

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consultants will determine the

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appropriate amount of sampling based on

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their professional judgment and actual

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site situations

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in all the cases they have to ensure

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that there are adequate samples to be

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able to gather the data

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representative of the population of that

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area

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duration of the survey is also important

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so this should be long enough for

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gathering the necessary baseline data

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generally the duration of the ecological

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survey should be commensurate

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with the scale of the proposed

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development the diversity of the

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habitats within the study area

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and the diversity of the flora and the

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fauna within the study area then

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identification of

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important species endemicity and its

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conservation status so there should be

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a priority list for these species

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and it should be maintained

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so that rehabilitation of the area also

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can be done to

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increase their populations biodiversity

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index

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this is a quantitative measure that

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reflects how many types

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like how many species are there in a

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data set and simultaneously it can take

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into

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account how evenly the basic entities

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like the individuals are distributed

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among those

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types then evaluation that is impact

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analysis

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after establishing the baseline then we

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have to work systematically through the

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various activities and aspects of

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development

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to determine the likely effects of those

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activities on the

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baseline and the nature of the impact

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direct or indirect

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long term or short term and effects from

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the cumulative impacts

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all these need to be noted down the type

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of impact

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positive which is enhancing biodiversity

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negative that is causing biodiversity

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loss

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or neutral that is causing no net change

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the likely magnitude of the residential

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impact

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then the level of the impact the species

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or ecosystem level

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that is the species richness the

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diversity endemicity vulnerability

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all this has to be observed finally

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the biotic factors are also used for the

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analysis of environmental impact on

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vegetation and

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wildlife they can be categorized as

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biotic assessment

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this uses the presence and condition and

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abundance of species of fish

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of mammals of birds insects algae

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plants and other organisms to determine

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the health of an ecosystem

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and it provides information on the

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physical and chemical characteristics

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that are present

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example nutrient enrichment pollutant

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flow rate and also the sediment

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levels these are important tools to

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assess the environmental impact and bio

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indicators they help us to predict the

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natural state of any region

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or the degree of contamination present

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at that area

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an example of biological assessment in

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the field so a biological survey is

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conducted

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on different stream for example to

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determine the stream's structure

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the benthic macro invertebrate

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assemblage

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is a biological indicator then the

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matrices such as the relative richness

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these can be selected

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the condition represented by the

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undisturbed or minimally disturbed

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stream

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or reference sites is used to assess the

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changes in the different

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values from other communities with

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increasing stress

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as the level of stress increases in

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these streams the aquatic communities

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and compositions were measurably

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changed the species that are sensitive

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to stress disappear

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and more pollution tolerant species are

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found

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so those species were identified in

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order to indicate their general level of

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sensitivity and ability to tolerate

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pollution for example intermediate

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species

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they can we can denote them as s

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moderately tolerant species are denoted

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by

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m and the tolerance species can be

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denoted by t

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so that is the biotic assessment dear

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learners and the

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viewers of this course and module so

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here we have understood some basic

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concepts in the wildlife

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and the vegetation impact analysis and

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what are the techniques and the

play20:43

processes that are employed for the same

play20:45

we also got to know the about the

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biological indicators

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and also the stress responses in the

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biotic assessment

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like how the species can be identified

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and how we can indicate their general

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sensitivity

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sensitivity to stress and how they can

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tolerate the pollution

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so these are some ways how we can

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analyze the impact

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assessment in various habitats and uh

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also analyze the importance of certain

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habitats also where there is species

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richness

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where there is species diversity and all

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these needs to be

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taken into account before uh giving any

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approval for any environmental project

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and

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proposal that comes in the vein thank

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you for your patient

play21:25

listening

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Related Tags
Environmental ImpactWildlife ConservationVegetation AnalysisEcological EffectsHuman ActivitiesBiodiversity LossEco-assessmentHabitat ConservationEIA TechniquesSustainability