Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.2
Mine
Fauna
Ambatovy Project
232
January 2006
including on-site conservation areas, maintenance of forested corridors through
and around the mine footprint, progressive reclamation and fauna crossing
structures, will reduce the magnitude of these impacts.
Residual Impact Classification
Fragmentation
The configuration and distribution of azonal and transitional forests will be the
most altered because site clearing will break the azonal complexes at Ambatovy
and Analamay into smaller, more separated patches (Volume B, Section 4.4).
Fragmentation effects on habitats range from low to high environmental
consequence, according to specific habitats (Table 4.2-10). The duration of the
effect will be long-term as restoration of habitats will occur post-closure.
However, mitigations such as crossing structures and reclamation post-closure
will reduce fragmentation effects on habitats.
Table 4.2-10 Residual Impact Classification for Fauna due to Fragmentation and
Barriers to Movement
Taxon
Direction Magnitude Geographic
Extent
Duration
Reversibility Frequency
Environmental
Consequence
Issue: Fragmentation
habitats
negative
low to high
local
long-term
reversible
high
low for most
habitats to high for
azonal habitats
wide-ranging
species
negative
low
regional
long-term
reversible
high
moderate
forest interior
species
negative
low
local
long-term
reversible
high
low
other species
negative
negligible
local
long-term
reversible
high
negligible
Issue: Barriers to Movement
wide-ranging
species
negative
low
regional
long-term
reversible
high
moderate
wary species
negative
low
local
long-term
reversible
high
low
other species
negative
low
local
long-term
reversible
high
low
Impacts to fauna are predicted to be greatest for forest interior species,
particularly those in azonal and transitional habitats, and wide-ranging species
(Table 4.2-10). With successful mitigation, including on-site conservation areas,
progressive reclamation, and maintenance and enhancement of forested corridors,
the magnitude of the impacts to fauna is predicted to be low.
