CBCGDF-BCON Suggested Incorporating "Environmental Impact Assessment" into the "Measures for the Management of Railway Construction" (Draft for Comments)

 


Recently, the State Railway Administration issued a notice on the public consultation on the "Measures for the Management of Railway Construction (Draft for Comments)", and the "Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood" Working Group of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF-BCON) responded positively to the call for the inclusion of "Environmental Impact Assessment" (EIA) in the "Measures for the Management of Railway Construction (Draft for Comments)". The CBCGDF-BCON organized serious study & discussion, and put forward 4 suggestions for reference in its scientific decision-making. The following is [Recommendation 2].


Recommendation 2: Add "Environmental Impact Assessment" to Article II.


[Reasons] The reason for suggesting that "environmental impact assessment" be considered in the draft is to reduce the negative impacts of linear infrastructure on the natural ecological environment and to enhance the performance of sustainable development. As a large-scale infrastructure project, the construction and operation of railroads may have a series of impacts on the surrounding natural environment, ecosystems and society. By conducting environmental impact assessment, the potential impacts of railroad construction on ecological environment, water quality, soil, air quality and human health can be systematically assessed, which helps to identify and solve possible environmental problems in advance.


Environmental impact assessment helps to plan and design railroad projects in a scientific and reasonable manner, and to mitigate as much as possible any adverse impact on the environment. By formulating reasonable environmental protection measures, negative effects such as ecosystem destruction, soil erosion and noise pollution can be effectively reduced. In addition, taking into account the growing concern of the society for environmental sustainability, by carrying out environmental impact assessment, it also helps to increase public participation in railroad construction and ensure the fairness and sustainability of decision-making.


Comprehensive consideration of environmental factors not only helps to comply with national environmental protection policies and regulatory requirements, but also enables railroad construction to better integrate into the local ecosystem and realize harmonious coexistence with the surrounding environment. Therefore, the reason why the "Measures for the Management of Railway Construction (Draft for Comments)" should emphasize the conduct of environmental impact assessment is the implementation of the ideology of ecological civilization embodied in the legislation, aiming to promote railroad construction while protecting the natural environment as much as possible, and promoting the sustainable development of society.


[Lessons from previous practice] 

A negative case in point is the mass death of more than 5,000 Mongolian gazelles (a migratory animal commonly known as the yellow sheep) caused by man-made obstacles (railroads) in Mongolia this winter of 2015/2016. Not constructed with wildlife friendliness in mind, the fences along the Trans-Mongolian Railway in Mongolia prevented the migration of the Asian wild ass, Saiga antelope, goitered gazelle, Mongolian gazelle, and feral camels. In 2017, once again, thousands of Mongolian gazelles died next to the fences because they were unable to cross the fences and escape the harsh winter weather.


(Please note that this article is based on machine translation and is for reference only.)


Editor: Samantha

Contact: V10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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