Project name: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study for WPP Bitovnja
Client: JP EPBIH Inc. Sarajevo
Project partners: IVICOM Consulting Ltd., GL Garrad Hassan Deutschland GmbH and OIKON Ltd.
Period: 08/2020 – 10/2024
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina
The project for the development of project documentation for the Bitovnja wind power plant consisted of two components: Component 1 and Component 3 . The planned Component 2 was not realized. Component 1 consisted of creating a Preliminary Feasibility Study (pre-feasibility study) for the Bitovnja location. Component 3 consisted of a one-year monitoring of the condition of birds and bats in the catchment area of the planned WPP Bitovnja and reference location Mejnik, and the development of a feasibility study for the selected Bitovnja location.
OIKON Ltd.
As part of Component 1, Oikon produced an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment – Preliminary Report. As part of Component 3, a one-year baseline survey of birds and bats was conducted at the planned Bitovnja WPP site and the Mejnik referent site, three (3) workshops with local residents, and included the preparation of the following documents:
- Report on the results of the baseline survey of bird and bat fauna
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
- Critical Habitat Assessment
- Environmental and Social Management Plan
- Stakeholder Management Plan
As part of the bird monitoring, the following activities were carried out in the area of the planned Bitovnja project and the Mejnik referent area:
- observation from fixed observation points (Vantage Point)
- monitoring of songbirds in areas around the planned WTGs on a point transect (Point Count)
- research on the presence of nocturnally active species (Strigiformes)
- searching for potential nests of raptors from fixed points (Vantage Point)
- research on Capercaillie and Hazel grouse (Tetraoninae)
- preparation of field reports
- processing and analysis of results
- communication and consultations with the client
- preparation of the final report.
The bird fauna was monitored by observing flights from fixed observation points (Vantage Point), searching for nests of raptors visually, researching the songbird community using the point transect method, playback census /listening to nocturnally active species, searching for traces of Capercaillie and Hazel grouse. The flights of species sensitive to collision with wind turbines were analyzed in a GIS computer programme. In the final report, a collision risk analysis was conducted for sensitive bird species. The density of breeding pairs and the number of pairs of nocturnal species were calculated. The monitoring methodology, results and analyses are presented in the final report.
As part of the bat survey, the following activities were carried out in the area of the planned Bitovnja project and the Mejnik referent site:
- bat call recording along transect routes
- bat call recording at stationary points
- roost site surveys
- mission report preparation
- data processing and analysis
- communication and consultation with the client
- final report preparation.
Bat activity was monitored by stationary bat calls recording at one location within the project area and one location within the referent area, as well as along one transect route per each of the sites. Nearby underground sites were surveyed to record roosting sites. Bat call recordings were analysed using BatExplorer software and relevant literature. Bat activity was analysed temporally, spatially within a GIS environment to create a map of presumed space use degree (SUD), and in relation to microclimatic conditions. The survey methodology, results and analyses were presented in the final report.
Critical Habitat Analysis (CHA) for flora and fauna species in the project area was carried out. The analysis was made in accordance with the guidelines of KfW Bank and IFC. For the analysis, literature data and data collected by birds and bats survey in the project area were used.
The Environmental Impact Assessment of the project has been prepared in accordance with EU directives, operational policies of KfW Bank, World Bank and national regulations of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and contains:
- analysis of the legislative framework
- gap analysis of local legislation and international standards
- description of the location and state of the environment
- description of the technical solution for the development of the Bitovnja wind farm and alternative solutions
- possible impacts of the Bitovnja wind farm construction project on the environment: physical environment (quality of environment, geology, topography, soil, groundwater and surface water in the area, water protection zones, land use and cover, landscape and visual exposure, noise level); biological environment (biological diversity – flora and fauna (birds, bats, other mammals and reptiles, including rare and endangered species), protected species; protected areas, natural and critical habitats); socio-economic situation (description of the socio-economic characteristics of the communities that are likely to be directly affected by project activities – population, land use – especially agricultural land in the area; planned development activities, settlement and community structures, employment; income distribution, good and service infrastructure, recreation, health services, public and occupational health, archaeological and cultural heritage).
- possible cumulative impacts
- assessment of the impact of the project on the environment
- proposal of environmental protection measures
- environmental monitoring plan.
The results of the environmental and social impact study were presented through a public presentation to the local public.
Implementation of this Project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
