Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.1
Mine
Flora
Ambatovy Project
161
January 2006
Table 4.1-4 Impact Description Criteria for Plant Communities, Structure and
Diversity
Direction
Magnitude
Geographic
Extent
Duration
Reversibility
Frequency
neutral: no
change
(a)
in plant
communities
negative: a change
in plant
communities
negligible: no
measurable effect on
plant communities
low: <10% change in
plant communities
moderate: 10-20%
change in plant
communities
high: >20% change in
plant communities
local: effect
restricted to the
LSA
regional: effect
extends beyond
the LSA
short term: <3
years
medium term:
3 to 30 years
long term:
>30 years
reversible or
irreversible
low: occurs
once
medium:
occurs
intermittently
high: occurs
continuously
(a)
Change in structure or composition.
4.1.5.3 Mitigation
Several mitigations are planned to reduce the magnitude, geographic extent, and
duration of direct impacts from the project on flora in the mine LSA. The main
areas of mitigation include:
•
Creation of on-site azonal conservation areas at Ambatovy and
Analamay that are representative of the key vegetation types affected by
the project.
•
Identification of a proposed off-site azonal protection area and
conservation of this area.
•
Progressive reclamation of disturbed areas using native species
(improving forest structure and plant diversity).
•
Construction of fencing at strategic locations adjacent to azonal
protection areas, to limit damage during construction and operations.
•
Development and implementation of a co-operative Forest Management
Plan in a buffer area around the mine, designed to allow for sustainable
forest use while maintaining biodiversity through conservation and
resource use management.
•
Through off-site reclamation and forest management initiatives, ensure
that the total area of forest restored or protected is greater than the area
disturbed by the mine.
•
Provision of environmental education to mining staff and the local
population to enhance and support conservation and forest management
initiatives.
