Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.1
Mine
Flora
Ambatovy Project
150
January 2006
4.1
FLORA
4.1.1
Introduction
This section of the environmental assessment (EA) provides an evaluation of
potential effects of the proposed Ambatovy Project (the project) on flora in the
mine site local study area (LSA). In compliance with the Terms of Reference
(Volume H, Appendix 1), site-specific data were collected to address the
following elements as they relate to flora within the project area:
•
inventory each natural plant community during the wet and dry seasons
to determine species richness, diversity and relative abundance;
•
map and describe the baseline flora of the study areas in terms of their
vegetation communities, including a consideration of structure and
species composition;
•
describe the current level of disturbance of each natural terrestrial
community type within the study area;
•
quantitatively assess the adequacy of baseline sampling;
•
characterize the flora including the assessment of species endemicity
(including local endemics) by community type;
•
select key indicator species to focus the assessment; provide the
selection criteria and rationale for the choice of key species or higher
indicator taxa (e.g., orchids);
•
discuss the mitigation and compensatory mechanisms to be used to
reduce/offset losses to flora and natural community types including
forest rehabilitation activities and identification of offsite areas of
similar community types that may have similar species assemblages;
•
assess residual impacts to flora (including Torotorofotsy Wetlands)
through mine activities including site clearing, air and water impacts for
both the operations and post-closure phases of the project; and
•
provide details on flora monitoring and management that include
participation of stakeholders.
4.1.2
Study Area
The core area of the mine LSA for terrestrial resources encompasses the ore body
complex (Ambatovy and Analamay ore bodies), and portions of the
Torotorofotsy Wetlands that border the plateau and the associated watersheds
(Volume A; Figure 7.2-1). The LSA also includes the proposed water intake
