GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 4677

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, Oryx Ltd-Loisaba Conservancy proposes to develop Loisaba Rhino Sanctuary with an objective of re-establishing a healthy and thriving population of black rhinos within the conservancy in line with KWS’s Kenya Rhinos Action Plan. The proposed project will involve the re-introduction of a founder population of eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) into a 24,440 acres fenced of (52km perimeter fence) and well secured sanctuary which will be managed as an Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) on plot L.R. No. 8035, Laikipia North Sub-County, Laikipia County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Low participation and support from • Initiate and expand public consultation and disclosure process at the inception Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures stakeholders for lack of adequate information about the project and maintain it throughout the project implementation phases. • Provide technical and socio-economic facts about the project. • Consult widely and adequately with the neighbouring communities, large scale ranchers and conservancies and lead agencies and other stakeholders. De-vegetation along the path of the fence line which could lead to loss of biodiversity and externalities such as soil erosion • Minimize clearing of vegetation by re- routing the fence line and re-siting infrastructure to less vegetated areas. • Where it cannot be avoided re-vegetate as much as possible and allow and induce natural regeneration. Generation of solid wastes such as debris, pieces of plastic, metals, wires etc.in the wilderness/pristine areas • Ensure separation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. • Encourage use of recyclable materials. • Provide adequate waste collection bins and ensure disposal of wastes to designated dump sites. • Sell wastes to NEMA licensed recyclers and fabricators. • Preserve reusable wastes such as pieces of metal/steel for future use in maintenance works. Injuries to construction workers • Appoint and train health and safety supervisor and committee. • Provide and enforce use of protective clothing and equipment workers-PPE. • Appropriate health and safety measures shall be implemented as per the OSHA Act, 2007. • Keep a general accident inventory at the site. • Provide adequate First Aid boxes. Possible attacks to workers by wildlife leading to serious injuries and deaths and snake or scorpion bites in the bush • Ensure strategic deployment of trained wildlife scouts and security along the construction sites. • Wildlife safety education and training of the construction workers should be undertaken. • Ensure that all construction work is planned and choreographed in response to wildlife movement in the construction sites. • Unattended public access (unauthorized non-construction workers) should be strictly prohibited. • Provide workmen compensation insurance to take care of major injuries. Disturbance to animal serenity during construction works • Plan construction time in response to movement of wildlife within the conservancy to avoid or minimize disturbance and conflict. Poor selection of breeders compromising realization of the desired population growth • Ensure the desirable founder rhinos is well observed in the selection process in terms of age and sex structure among other key considerations. • Removals with a 50:50 sex ratio are usually preferred. Possible deaths of rhinos and other undesirable and unintended effects • Strictly adhere to KWS Rhino Translocation and Release Guidelines 13th May, 2021 THE KENYA GAZETTE Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures such as increased stress levels due to unfamiliar habitat and Protocol and global best practices. • Ensure full involvement of KWS Rhino Office during identification, translocation and release. • Implement the localized Rhino Management Plan and ensure it is in line with KWS practices. • Undertake multi-agency pre- translocation planning and implement the recommendations. • It is desirable that all founder rhinos should be translocated at once or over a short period to minimise the increased chances of fighting mortalities that can occur when additional rhinos are released into areas with established resident rhinos. • Determining suitable release sites and specific areas for release based on screening and assessing habitat quality, estimated medium-term ecological carrying capacity (ECC), security and management capacity in potential recipient areas. • Ensure adequate and appropriate training of staff. Possible exposure of rhinos to security threats and risks which may lead to poaching incidences • Ensure implementation of the rhino security management and strategies. • Establish an extensive yet intensive intelligence network which could also involve the local communities. • Liaise with the government security network and lead agencies in crafting and implementing security strategies. • Implement the Security Assessment recommendations and strategies by KWS as envisaged. • Maintain and consistently improve the proposed project area’s security team’s preparedness, response and equipment. • Continue with the random and impromptu checks. • The team including armed NPR unit, rapid response teams, a canine unit comprising four tracker dogs and a Lion Ranger team to be maintained and their skills and capacity upgraded/improved in response to emerging security threats and situations. • Use of SMART (Species Monitoring and Reporting Tool) software should be maintained/improved while emerging and contemporary security software be explored and applied. Forage depletion due to competition with the high population of elephants and other wildlife for browse material, salt licks and water • Craft and implement an aggressive elephant monitoring programme based on the ECC with the aim of reducing their impacts. • Design medium to long term expansion plan beyond the current sanctuary area as well as plan to create corridor among existing rhino sanctuaries. Possible risks of disease outbreak among the rhinos threatening their population • Conduct a comprehensive veterinary assessment on disease risks and adopt the recommendations. • Recruit a resident veterinarian to oversee disease monitoring and management. Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Possible water supply scarcity/ inaccessibility, and / or quality challenges • The water points (natural and constructed) should be maintain and improved for continuous supply in quantity and quality. • The water quantity and quality should be monitored regularly and corrective measures put in place as appropriate. • The design of the fence should ensure enclosure of adequate springs as they are the most stable source of good quality water. Interference with wildlife migratory corridors and free wildlife movement around and within the ecosystem • Align the fence to ensure that nine migratory corridors remain to allow free movement of wildlife within and outside the proposed project area and the surrounding conservancies and the larger Laikipia-Samburu Ecosystem. • The fence design should allow free movement of all other wildlife within and outside the Sanctuary apart from the rhinos. • Observe game management principles. Human/ wildlife conflicts as a result inefficient/ineffective fence due to lack of proper fence maintenance • The Loisaba Fence Maintenance Team should provide consistent monitoring and maintenance of the sanctuary’s fence. • Put in place a fence performance monitoring system. • Ensure adequate resources and required equipment are available for fence maintenance and upgrading. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126– 00100, Nairobi. (b) Director General, NEMA Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) The County Director of Environment, Laikipia County. NEMA invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision-making process for this project. MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/1721123 National Environment Management Authority.