Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.1
Mine
Flora
Ambatovy Project
173
January 2006
Table 4.1-6 Residual Impact Classification for Loss or Alteration of Plant
Communities, Forest Structure and Diversity
Component
Direction Magnitude Geographic
Extent
Duration Reversibility
Frequency
Environmental
Consequence
Losses Or Alterations To Plant Communities
azonal forest
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
azonal
thicket
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
disturbed
azonal
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
ephemeral
pond
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
azonal type
transitional
forest
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
transitional
forest
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
azonal
conservation
areas
negative
moderate
local
medium-
term
reversible
high
low
zonal forest
negative
moderate
local
medium-
term
reversible
high
low
eucalyptus
and other
woodlots
neutral
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
marsh edge
forest
neutral
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Torotorofotsy
Wetlands
negative
low
local
medium-
term
reversible
high
low
marsh
herbaceous
vegetation
negative
low
local
medium-
term
reversible
high
low
Losses Or Alterations To Forest Structure
upland
forests
neutral
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
wetlands
forests
neutral
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
thickets
negative
high
local
long-term
irreversible
medium
high
non-forested
uplands
neutral
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
non-forested
wetlands
negative
low
local
long-term
reversible
medium
low
Losses Or Alterations To Plant Diversity
high plant
diversity
negative
moderate
local
medium-
term
reversible
medium
moderate
The size of the conservation area at Ambatovy is about 209 ha, which includes at
least three ephemeral pools (0.18 ha), azonal vegetation (113 ha) and transitional
forest (96 ha). Along some portions of the boundary separating the mine and the
Ambatovy conservation area, there is an additional buffer. This area consists of
