Dzhankeldy Wind Power Project

Critical Habitat: The most sensitive biodiversity features; which comprise one of the following: 
(i) highly threatened or unique ecosystems; (ii) habitats of significant importance to 
endangered or critically endangered species; (iii) habitats of significant importance to 
endemic or geographically restricted species; (iv) habitats supporting globally significant 
migratory or congregatory species; (iv) areas associated with key evolutionary processes; or 
(v) ecological functions that are vital to maintaining the viability of biodiversity features 
described in this paragraph 
Priority Biodiversity Features (PBF) :
This concept replaces the previous definition of natural 
habitat used by the EBRD (in the 2008 ESP) and encompasses a sub-set of biodiversity that is 
particularly irreplaceable or vulnerable, but at a lower priority level than critical habitats; which 
include (i) threatened habitats; (ii) vulnerable species; (iii) significant biodiversity features 
identified by a broad set of stakeholders or governments (such as Key Biodiversity Areas or 
Important Bird Areas); and (iv) ecological structure and functions needed to maintain the 
viability of priority biodiversity features. 
The criteria used by the EBRD’s PR6 to define critical habitat built on and are closely aligned 
with those used by the International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 6 (IFC PS6). 
PR6 also explicitly includes ecological functions that are vital for maintaining the viability of 
critical habitat features.
 
ADB 
An element of the ADB Safeguard Requirement 1: Environment includes, ‘Biodiversity 
Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management’. 
It is stated that, 
‘The borrower/client will assess the significance of project impacts and risks on 
biodiversity and natural resources as an integral part of the environmental assessment 
process... The assessment will focus on the major threats to biodiversity, which include 
destruction of habitat’… Further, ‘The borrower/client will need to identify measures to avoid, 
minimize, or mitigate potentially adverse impacts and risks… 
Concerning the proposed Project site, as the land has been used for agriculture, 
‘the 
borrower/client will exercise care to minimize any further conversion or degradation of such 
habitat, and will, depending on the nature and scale of the project, identify opportunities to 
enhance habitat and protect and conserve biodiversity as part of project operations.’ 
 

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Dzhankeldy 500MW Wind Farm 
ESIA Volume 2- Main Text, Tables & Figures 
128