A Baseline Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Proposed Sit for Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU) Waste Management Project in Rivers State, Nigeria: Floristic Composition Approach

Abstract

This report describes the results of a wet and dry season ecological baseline impact assessment study based on the context of a proposed Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU) development project in Eteo Eleme, Rivers State. Thermal Desorption Unit project of the magnitude of a waste management project must always have some negative effects on the quality and quantity of the environment. Following an environment impact assessment (EIA) a series of mitigation measures must be put in place to minimize the intensity of the negative effect of the project on the environment. The paper seeks to assess through baseline data the envisaged impact of the project on the existing conditions of the biophysical environment, to appraise the possible risk to the environment and mitigation measures adopted. It uses a combination of standard procedures of integrated data sources to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the floristic profile of the project study area. The result highlights most of the biophysical impact variables that will have negative effect on the environment. However, the study site still maintains the status of abundance, richness and evenness with obvious similarity in floristic composition and forest structure to that in tropical forest elsewhere in the world. It is obvious that the Eteo vegetation system is gradually under ecological succession resulting to secondary vegetation system without proper articulation of its wealth of flora diversity, but with high flora diversity in rainy season than dry season. The useful application of phyto-sociological indices in determining the status of its vegetation complex in terms of species abundance, density, important value index, diversity and distribution pattern is being recorded in the Table for both wet and dry seasons. The paper emphasis the need for sound environmental commitments to the project and to appraise their implementation. A proper balance between the expected benefits from the project and cost implication can only be obtained through impact studies and careful monitoring.