The article also notes that belo monte on xingu, completed in 2016, will produce less owing to climate variability, a relatively small reservoir and insufficient water levels, generating only 4. This audience assesses the environmental impact of policy, projects, processes and products and makes decisions based upon these assessments. The impacts of belo monte on the xingus land, animals, and climate are hotly disputed, as ngos, tribes, independent analysts and official governmental panels weigh in on the potentially hazardous effects of the. The belo monte hydroelectric dam and its impact on.
The norte energia consortium the group of companies that built the belo monte dam signed an. The brazilian environment agency, ibama, now has the eia for the belo monte dam project, and parts are beginning to leak out. This hydroelectric project is the focus of intense controversy due to the magnitude and nature of its impacts as well as its questionable environmental impact assessment eia and licensing process. Environmental impact assessment eia can be defined as a technical and legal system for assisting in environmental management and for supporting sustainable development jay et al. On october 27, 2011, the belo monte dam construction site was occupied by 400 indigenous people, fishermen and riverine community members. Alternative c included a reduction to belo monte only. Alternative a included the six original dams planned in 1975. In february 2009, an environmental impact assessment eia for belo monte. Its social and environmental impacts have been documented in detail. Today environmental impact assessment eia is known as one of the most important tools for decision makers in the construction of civil and industrial projects towards sustainable development. Environmental impact assessment in brazilian amazonia.
The people of the xingu have long struggled to prevent the belo monte dam complex being built. Environmental impact assessment of dams and reservoirs. A group mcda method for aiding decisionmaking of complex. The belo monte dam project along the xingu river had its preliminary plans drawn under brazils military dictatorship and was a highly controversial environmental project from the onset. The following posts are relevant to your studies about belo monte.
Review of the 2002 environmental impact assessment eia. The construction of the belo monte dam is a complicated issue. Yet, the environmentalist credentials of hydropower remain contested by antidam movements. Article 6 of the guidelines provides that any measure or activity that possibly has considerable environmental impact may only be approved after its effects have been explored by an eia. Contesting the greening of hydropower in the brazilian. Belo monte dam construction halted by brazilian court. Powerful forces surround the decisionmaking process on public investments in the various options for the generation and conservation of electricity. Belo monte dam construction halted by brazilian court huge new hydroelectric project suspended until local indigenous community is properly consulted about possible fallout jonathan watts, asia environment correspondent. This group of analyses was officially registered on october 1. The flooding and the environmental ramifications, consequently, could profoundly affect the lives and welfare of the local population. Belo monte dam on the xingu river is currently the largest dam project under consideration anywhere on the planet, and would be the worlds third largest in installed generating capacity if built. Present study assesses environmental impact analysis of the proposed dam and environmental management plan in the catchment and the command areas of the ajnalriver for clearance by the ministry of environment. Risk scenarios and environmental issues around the belo monte dam article pdf available in water alternatives 32 june 2010 with 563 reads.
Hydroelectric dams represent major investments and major sources of environmental and social impacts. Belo monte dam compensation inadequate, say traditional. This mass deforestation will result in the eradication of several animal and plant species who the rainforest serves as their natural habitat. At times it may be merely a single underperforming aspect that discredits an entire project, but sometimes there are a wide range of flaws and wrongdoings. Belo monte environmental impact assessment eia the. Once the first dam is in place, it becomes much easier for authorities to dust off 1970sera. The construction of a reservoir has a very important impact in the functioning of ecosystemsrivers and their watersheds. In 2002, eletronorte presented a new environmental impact assessment for the belo monte dam complex, which presented three alternatives.
Environmental impact assessment of reservoir construction scielo. According to them, no translators were provided, and the. Belo monte dam operations delayed by brazil court ruling. The belo monte dam is being built in amazonia, northern brazil, and once completed, it will be one of the four largest hydroelectric power plants in the world. Belo monte is highly complex the project includes two dams, two artificial canals, two reservoirs one on dry land, and an extensive system of. As of april 2017, 10 turbines are already running, with plans to build 24 in total. Pdf environmental impact assessment in brazilian amazonia. The controversial project, said to be one of the most inefficient dams ever proposed, would have numerous social and environmental impacts on the amazon region. We analyze three environmental impact assessments in brazilian amazonia. This article discusses the historical retrieval of the belo monte environmental. Environmental impact assessment of reservoir construction. Pdf environmental impact assessment eia has the goal of. Environmental impact studies for the belo monte hydroelectric dam is a collection of analyses signed by 28 researchers, part of a group of 42 researchers from various brazilian universities and research institutions, and some abroad.
Mab estimates that 40,000 people were displaced by the belo monte dam, but the environmental impact study commissioned by norte energia predicted approximately half that number. Aiming at analyzing the aforementioned problem, we simulate the choosing of the construction alternatives of belo monte dam. Pdf uncertainties in amazon hydropower development. For thirty years, impassioned protests from local communities, indigenous peoples, ngos and politicians managed a stay of execution. American actress sigourney weaver narrates a 10minute graphical tour about the harmful impacts of, and alternatives to the massive belo monte dam complex on the amazons xingu river. Belo montes environmental impact study eia was sufficient to issue an environmental license. Environmental impact assessment eia has the goal of providing decision makers with. Fundamental reforms of licensing and decision making are needed. The belo monte dam is being built in amazonia, northern brazil, and once completed. Environmental impact assessment of dams and reservoirs kyohei baba k. Environmental impact assessments in brazil are crucial but often inadequate. Belo monte is highly complex the project includes two dams, one arti. Advancing scoping practice in environmental impact. Its first commercial generation is expected to come on stream in 2015.
The br319 road, belo monte dam and juruti mine have large biological negative impact. Harmful impacts of the belo monte dam on the amazons. The dam, which was scheduled to be completed in 2019, would be one of the worlds largest hydropower plants. The amazon rainforest is often referred to as the lungs of the world and the belo monte dam requires the destruction of over 1500 square km of rainforest for construction. Wading through the mix of academic, governmental and industrial jargon, it is easy to lose sight of the real, actual and immediate impacts that this monstrous project will have on the environment and the people of the xingu. The contentious belo monte dam, planned to be constructed on the xingu river in the brazilian amazon, dominates the news headlines in brazil.
This group of analyses was officially registered on october 1, 2009 in the office of ibama. Belo monte will need a network of upstream dams to guarantee it a consistent water supply, he said. Practitioners perceptions of the brazilian environmental impact assessment system. However, construction of the dam has continued despite its serious backlash. Alternative b included a reduction to four dams, dropping jarina and iriri. Belo monte is highly complex the project includes two dams, one artificial canal, two reservoirs one on dry land, and an. Developers originally planned to build six large dams on the xingu that would flood. The complex environmental impacts caused by the construction and operation of large dams. Specific eia requirements and procedures are established by the guidelines on environmental impact assessment. The purpose of eia is the systematic identification and evaluation of potential impacts of proposed projects, plans, programs, or legislative actions, with respect to the physicalchemical.
Available formats pdf please select a format to send. Opponents of the worlds biggest new hydroelectric project the belo monte dam in brazil notched up a rare victory this week, when a federal appeals court ordered construction to be suspended. The power plant project was marked by several conflicts among stakeholders due to the generation of diversified environmental, social and economic impacts. The study left many unanswered questions in regard to water quality, socioeconomic indicators and cataloging animal data. They oppose the project due to its severe environmental impacts and human rights violations. The eia procedure should guarantee that, prior to approval, decisionmakers. In this case, the unusually favorable characteristics of the first dam belo monte are highly misleading as indications of the. Belo monte environmental impact assessment hydroelectric dams.