2 Description of the environment

Give a brief description of the natural and man-made environment in which the project is to be located. The information should normally be included in the given project documents, but may also have to be supplemented through collection of information and consultations with relevant institutions, professional units, local populations, or short surveys in the project area. Where appropriate, the information should also be presented in thematical maps and illustrations. Sources as well as the reliability of the presented in formation should be indicated briefly. The description should contain an account of:

Natural environmental conditions:

· Geology and soil conditions.
· Hydrological and hydro-geological conditions.
· Topography.
· Climate.
· Vegetation and fauna, with emphasis on:
- especially vulnerable ecosystems, and
- vulnerable and conservation-worthy animal and plant species.
· Unique and conservation-worthy natural landscapes.

Man-made environmental condition:

· Socio-economic and socio-cultural conditions.
· Demographic conditions,
- size of affected population groups, and - any ethnic belonging and variations.
· Health situation,
- with special emphasis on environmentally related diseases.
· Settlement pattern and means of production,
- specified for ethnic group, class or caste, and
- division of labour organised on the basis of gender and age within the population
groups in question.
· Existing land use and utilisation of natural resources,
- also including more extensive utilisation of nature areas.
· Unique and conservation-worthy cultural landscapes or objects and buildings of historical, archaeological, architectonic, cultural, aesthetic or scientific value.
· Existing environmental problems and environmental stress,
- e.g. erosion, pollution of air, water and soil.
· Other existing or planned activities that may hold future consequences for projects within transport.