Ecological Impact Assessment of a proposed transmission line on Bengal Florican, Cambodia

Cambodia - In 2021 we assisted with the technical aspects (survey management, technical reporting, impact assessment) for a project impact evaluation of a proposed new transmission line on the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Cambodia. This species is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Other ‘Critically Endangered’, ‘Endangered’, ‘Near Threatened’ or ‘Vulnerable’ IUCN Red List bird species were also considered to represent ‘Target Species’.

Asian Woolly-necked Stork (copyright @ Nathaniel Dargue)

The objectives of this study were to:

i-               Evaluate Bengal Florican presence/distribution in the vicinity of the project;

ii-              Analyze the impacts of the project on the Bengal Florican population;

iii-            Carry out a critical habitat assessment according to ESS6/IFC Performance standard 6 (PDS) of the World Bank standards and propose conclusions referring to the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) exclusion list;

iv-            Propose mitigation measures and support AFD in presenting these measures to Electricite du Cambodge (EDC).

Painted Stork (copyright @ Nathaniel Dargue)

Surveys comprised:

i-               Vantage Point (VP) to obtain information on species distribution and flight activity within the study area, to enable the identification of any areas of increased risk of collision and/or disturbance.

ii-              Walkover Surveys (WS) focused on areas in proximity of the VPs i.e. along transmission lines (as Bengal Floricans are rarely seen in flight) and also near to a known breeding area.

iii-            Interviews with local communities were conducted to establish if they are aware of any of the Target Species using the local area.

Surveys indicated a low population of Bengal Florican in the study area, with a number of other Target Species also recorded.

Mahood et al (2016)[1] included a literature review of bustard collision rates with power lines that confirmed the vulnerability of bustard species to power lines.

Mitigation and post-construction monitoring was proposed to attempt to ensure the local population of Bengal Florican remained free of impacts.

Lesser Adjutant (copyright @ Nathaniel Dargue)

[1] Mahood, S.P., Silva, J.P., Dolman, P.M. & Burnside, R.J. (2016). Proposed power transmission lines in Cambodia constitute a significant new threat to the largest population of the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis. Oryx 1-9