Environmental Assessment
Volume A-6
Introduction
Consultation
Working Group 3 – Social
The social working group split their time by two sub-themes: socioeconomics
and culture, then re-settlement. Emphasis was placed on identifying key issues
and / or key mitigations that should be adopted.
•
Education and training planning is very important, so that main project
benefits can be realised by Malagasy people. This planning must be
based on a clear understanding of current capabilities and current
demographics.
•
A second main issue concerns potential negative effects that could occur
from immigration of various types of people to project areas. Direct and
indirect impacts across a range of socioeconomic, cultural and health
areas must be well analyzed within the EA, with suggested types of
mitigation.
•
International best practice must be followed regarding resettlement
planning. There was concern over the effectiveness of consultation with
potentially affected people. A need was also perceived to better clarify
the relative responsibilities of different stakeholders, including the
proponent, national government, local government and civil society.
6.5.2
Biodiversity
Over 25 attendees took part in a meeting in Antananarivo on
September 22, 2005, to consult on the efficacy of proposed mitigation with
respect to biodiversity, especially at the mine site. Attendees were from NGOs
and government departments. Minutes are provided in Volume H, Appendix 5.
There was general support for the level of baseline studies that had been
undertaken to date and endorsement that additional flora taxonomic work in
conjunction with Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) should continue both pre-
and post-construction. There was also general support for the range of on-site
mitigations planned to minimize biodiversity impacts at both the habitat and
species level. There was also support for the four types of proposed off-site
compensatory mitigation that was being proposed:
•
buffer zone forest management;
•
support for the Ramsar management in Torotorofotsy;
•
forest restoration along the pipeline route in the Mantadia – Zahamena
corridor; and
•
establishment of an off-site azonal forest conservation area.
Ambatovy Project
46
January 2006
