Environmental impacts of hydropower plants in Brazil: an identification guide

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v13n1.2022.40635

Keywords:

IA. IS. Environmental Impact. Hydroelectric power plants. Guide.

Abstract

This paper presents a guide for identifying the environmental impacts of hydroelectric enterprises. The qualitative research used the following methods: case studies, systematic literature review (SLR), content analysis, and consultation with expe ts. Four sources of information were used, including Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), scientific articles, best practice guides, and expert consultation. All EISs of hydroelectric plants submitted to the Brazilian federal Environmental Licensing between 2010 and 2020 (8 EISs) were analysed. RSL identified 68 scientific papers eligible for analysis and collection of impacts. The results were compared with Canadian practice and discussed in a virtual workshop of 15 expe ts. The guide has 90 impacts and can be used by environmental consulting firms and environmental agencies in the preliminary identification of environmental impacts of hydroelectric dams, contributing to the improvement of planning carried out in the EIA scoping stage of future environmental studies of this type.

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Author Biographies

Fernanda Aparecida Veronez, PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences, Full Professor, Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil

Fernanda Veronez is a full professor at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (Ifes) working on teaching, research and extension projects related to environmental policy instruments, in particular, Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Licensing. She has a PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP) and has more than 20 years working in the environmental area. At Ifes she is the Coordinator of the Sanitary and Environmental Engineering course and she is the leader of the Impact Assessment Research group (Nupai). She has also collaborated as reviewer in academic journals and is the director of the Tropical Water Research Alliance (TWRA) at Espírito Santo section.

Fabrício Raig Dias Lima , Undergraduate Student in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil

Undergraduate student in sanitary and environmental engineering at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (Ifes) and member of  the Impact Assessment Research group (Nupai).

Ghislain Mwamba Tshibangu , PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences, Impact Assessment Officer, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, Quebec, Canada

Doutor em Ciências da Engenharia Ambiental

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Published

2022-04-29

How to Cite

Veronez, F. A. ., Lima , F. R. D. ., & Tshibangu , G. M. (2022). Environmental impacts of hydropower plants in Brazil: an identification guide. Sustainability in Debate, 13(1), 210. https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v13n1.2022.40635

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2022): Sustainability in Debate / Sustentabilidade em Debate

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Dossier

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