Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.1
Mine
Flora
Ambatovy Project
151
January 2006
pipeline footprint, plus a 500 m buffer, extending 23 km west from the core area
to the Mangoro River.
4.1.3
Baseline Summary
The following provides a summary of the baseline flora results in the mine LSA.
The summary focuses on those results that are important for assessing impacts
from the project. A complete description of the baseline methods, analysis, and
results are located in Volume J (Appendix 1.1).
4.1.3.1 Vegetation Classification and Mapping
Vegetation mapping was based on one-metre resolution black and white, true
colour and infrared IKONOS satellite imagery acquired August 11, 2004.
Classification of the vegetation types was aided by vegetation analyses and
ground-truthing.
Fifteen vegetation types covering an area of 22,893 ha were identified within the
mine LSA. Ten of the vegetation types are of greatest interest from a floristic
and biological perspective and include:
•
azonal sclerophyl tree thicket;
•
azonal sclerophyl tree forest;
•
azonal non-forest;
•
azonal type transitional forest;
•
transitional forest;
•
zonal forest;
•
Eucalyptus and other woodlots;
•
marsh edge forest;
•
marsh herbaceous vegetation cover; and
•
ephemeral pond.
By comparison of the general patterns of vegetation cover with the geological
makeup of the project area, it was clear that the azonal, azonal type transitional
and transitional vegetation types (in addition to ephemeral pond class)
corresponded closely with the ultra-basic outcrops of the Analamay and
Ambatovy ore bodies on which the vegetation developed. This core area covers
2,874 ha.
