Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.2
Mine
Fauna
Ambatovy Project
196
January 2006
4.2.3
Baseline Summary
4.2.3.1 Introduction
The mine LSA was surveyed for a variety of taxa in 1997, 2004 and 2005. The
study area was found to have faunal biodiversity levels similar to or higher than
the surrounding zones. In global terms, this is a high biodiversity area with very
high levels of endemicity.
4.2.3.2 Methods
Vegetation Classification
In each local study area, remote sensing data were used to produce spatial land
cover maps. Details of the methods used to determine land cover classifications
for each study area are provided in Volume J (Appendix 1.1).
Faunal Surveys
Baseline surveys for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects were
completed within the mine LSA by teams of Malagasy and international
scientists during the wet season in early 1997 and 2004. Additional surveys were
conducted for birds in late 2004 and for reptiles and amphibians in late 2004 and
early 2005. Emphasis was on conducting studies during seasons best suited to
documenting species presence, which was mainly the wet season. In addition,
bird studies continued in the Torotorofotsy Wetlands through the 2004 dry
season, to fully document the seasonal importance of the wetlands. The methods
employed in each study are summarized in Volume J, Appendix 2.1.
Observations were recorded in each of the three key areas of the LSA:
Ambatovy, Analamay and Torotorofotsy. Survey locations in the Ambatovy and
Analamay areas were focused in the azonal and transitional habitats, with a few
locations in the nearby zonal forest. In the Torotorofotsy area, surveys focused
on the marsh habitat, with some locations in the surrounding zonal forest.
4.2.3.3 Results
Vegetation Classification
Detailed vegetation types were identified for the mine LSA (see Volume J,
Appendix 1.1). These vegetation types were pooled into seven main vegetation
classes (habitats) for the faunal analysis as these categories describe the broad
vegetation classes in the mine LSA. The habitats are as follows:
