Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.1
Mine
Flora
Ambatovy Project
160
January 2006
Effects of Hydrology Changes
Information from Hydrology (Volume B, Section 3.8) which includes a
discussion on residual impacts as well as predicted changes in stream and
wetlands water levels, were used to help assess the potential impacts to
vegetation within the mine LSA. No regulatory guidelines are available for
determining vegetation effects based on hydrological changes. Therefore, a
qualitative approach was taken.
Effects of Water Quality Changes
Information from Water Quality (Volume B, Section 3.9) which includes a
discussion on residual impacts as well as predicted changes in stream and
wetlands water quality were used to help assess the potential impacts to
vegetation within the mine LSA.
Water quality guidelines are available for human health concerns (WHO 2004)
and aquatic ecosystems (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry 1996).
However, the first edition of the aquatic guidelines is not focused on riparian and
wetlands vegetation effects. Thus, methods used to assess the effects to wetlands
vegetation are largely qualitative but within the context of the drinking water
guidelines.
4.1.5.2 Assessment Criteria
Residual impacts were determined based on a classification system that
incorporates direction, magnitude, geographic extent, duration, reversibility and
frequency of the impact as described in Volume A (Section 7.4). Determination
of the overall environmental consequence uses magnitude, geographic extent,
and duration, and described in Volume A (Section 7.4).
The assessment criteria used for plant communities, structure and diversity are
presented in Table 4.1-4.
