Environmental Assessment
Volume B-3.10
Mine
Visual Aesthetics
Ambatovy Project
138
January 2006
Table 3.10-1 Key Viewpoints: Mine Site
Viewpoint
Number
Viewpoint
Name
GPS location
(UTM Zone 39S)
Possible
Viewers
Baseline View
Characteristics
M1
Torotorofotsy
Wetlands
E 222731
N 7910838
local residents
ecotourists
relatively natural and undisturbed;
heavy vegetation cover
M2
RN44
E 208407
N 7913684
local residents
travellers and
tourists
human-influenced corridor with
extensive land use; views of primary
forest in distance
M3
mine access road
E 210854
N 7912564
local residents
partially disturbed and cleared by
human use; patches of primary
forest visible
M4
northwest view at
mine near access
corridor and
agricultural area
E 213954
N 913870
local residents
foreground area is cleared for
human use; background consists of
primary or secondary zonal and
azonal forests
M5
southeast view at
mine near access
corridor and
agricultural area
E 214088
N 913007
local residents
foreground area is cleared for
human use; background consists of
primary or secondary zonal and
azonal forests
Note: GPS = global positioning system; UTM = universal transverse mecator.
3.10.4 Issue Scoping
In public consultations, the main question regarding aesthetics has been: how will
changes in visual aesthetics affect tourism? This question has been raised both
by local residents, in meetings with the commune of Ambohibary, and by the
National Association for the Management of Protected Areas (ANGAP).
Potential changes that will be seen by local residents, as well as tourists and other
visitors include:
•
removal of vegetation and changes in landforms, with the development
of stock piles, ponds, dikes and pits;
•
generation of visible clouds of dust in dry periods, as well as some
locally visible fossil fuel emissions;
•
operating lights during the night; and
•
the presence of buildings, facilities and infrastructure, some of which
will be visible from outside of the mine area.
The key question for visual aesthetics is:
Key Question VA-1
What Effect Will the Mine Have On Visual
Aesthetics?
