Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.2
Mine
Fauna
Ambatovy Project
209
January 2006
Table 4.2-3 Species Observed in a Single Habitat
Habitat
Species Group
Azonal
Transitional
Zonal
Marsh
herptiles
16
8
4
6
lemurs
0
0
0
0
small mammals
3
2
4
0
bats
0
0
0
1
ants
7
9
7
0
lepidopterans
44
10
11
2
total
(a)
69
30
26
9
(a)
May not sum exactly due to rounding.
The mine site will be progressively reclaimed during operations. At closure, all
buildings and facilities will be decommissioned and removed. Reclamation goals
will be based on regional planning, including input from stakeholders and
government. The biological goal of reclamation will be to develop a self-
sufficient vegetative community that provides protection against erosion and
multiple end uses, including faunal habitat. The azonal, transitional and
ephemeral ponds habitats cannot be restored so these losses are permanent.
Other forested habitats will replace these key habitats. Recent habitat evaluations
at a potential off-site azonal conservation area, show many similarities to the
project area, including the presence of seasonal ponds. Conservation of this off-
site area will help compensate for residual faunal impacts on-site.
Change in Hydrology
Through design, the mine water management will result in seasonal downstream
flows similar to those under baseline conditions. However, increases between
0% and 24% in downstream flows may occur during the wet season (for details
refer to Volume B, Section 3.8).
Increased flows in the wet season could cause a change in vegetation
communities, if elevated water flow causes increased moisture levels in soil or
water levels in standing water. Vegetation communities most likely to be
affected occur along the edges of standing water, such as the Torotorofotsy
Wetlands. As these rare edge habitats have been identified as a key habitat for
bats (other species groups were not sampled in this area), alteration in the
distribution and extent of these vegetation communities could have an impact on
fauna distribution and abundance in this habitat and the LSA.
