Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.1
Mine
Flora
Ambatovy Project
156
January 2006
Herbarium Samples
A more intensive inventory of flora from within the mine LSA and inclusive of
trees, shrubs, herbs (including pteridophytes), vines, epiphytes (including
orchids) and parasites was done by the MBG flora study team which yielded a
total of 2,524 plant collections. When added to the 838 collections made by
botanists who visited the Ambatovy/Analamay area at previous times during the
last several decades, a total of 3,362 herbarium collections were available for
analysis by the study team.
From this large collection, a total of 1,401 were sampled to date to the species
level thus far (41.7%). This work has accounted for the identification of 494
species from the mine LSA. Work is ongoing to identify the remaining samples.
This represents one of the most intensive and comprehensive inventory efforts
undertaken at any site in Madagascar, and provides a substantial basis for
evaluating the flora of the Ambatovy/Analamay area. Additional flora surveys
are planned as part of the mitigation strategy for the mine site.
4.1.3.8 Off-site Azonal Areas
An aerial reconnaissance survey took place in March of 2005 to investigate
several of potential off-site azonal conservation areas, to the northeast of
Ambatovy. Twenty-eight ultrabasic formations had been identified from
geological data in the northern regional study area. Fourteen sites were found to
lie outside currently forested habitat and were not considered further. Of the 14
sites visited, one site at Ankera, located northeast of Mantadia National Park is
the best potential off-site azonal vegetation area. The fly-over showed it was not
disturbed and had the general appearance of Analamay. A ground-level survey
was carried out in late September 2005 to verify the presence of ferricrete and
gather additional vegetation data. The general forest appearance at Ankera is
characterized by a dense, stunted azonal-type forest with thick moss carpet. The
flora responds to a higher rainfall-humidity regime and includes more elements
of the eastern forest in contrast to Ambatovy and Analamay where the plateau
flora is quite abundant. The area shows many important similarities to the
project site (Volume J, Appendix 1.1). Additional flora surveys will be done at
this site to determine its appropriateness as a location for off-site compensation.
4.1.4
Issue Scoping
A principal aspect in identifying environmental issues for the project involved
public consultations. These meetings provided the opportunity to solicit input
from local communities, conservation organizations, and government agencies at
