Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.4
Mine
Natural Habitats and Biodiversity
Ambatovy Project
280
January 2006
Table 4.4-1 Species Richness, Endemism and Conservation Status of Flora,
Wildlife and Fish in the Mine Local Study Area
Species
Richness
Number of
Endemics
IUCN Species
CITES
(a)
Species
fauna birds
113
63
15
16
reptiles and amphibians
111
110
16
21
lemurs
7
9
7
9
small mammals
18
not determined
2
0
bats
12
6
1
0
butterflies
131
about 45 to 50%
1
0
ants
75
not determined
1
0
total
469
214
43
46
flora
494
127
9
58
fish
12
2
2
0
(a)
CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
Based on the proportional area of the LSA, the azonal, transitional and marsh
ecotypes were extremely rare relative to zonal habitat (Volume J, Appendix 4.1,
Section 6.1.2). Similarly, endemism of these rare vegetation communities was
also high, especially for the azonal and transitional habitats which will be
impacted by the mine. The marsh ecotype (i.e., Torotorofotsy) will not be
impacted by the mine footprint or slurry pipeline. In contrast, zonal habitat is
found elsewhere on Madagascar, and consequently has a lower intrinsic level of
endemism. Overall, the cumulative ranking of natural habitats was highest for
azonal and transitional ecotypes, followed by marsh and zonal ecotypes.
The number of endemic flora species was highest in the Ambatovy site, followed
by Analamay and the Torotorofotsy Wetlands complex (Volume J, Appendix 4.1;
Section 6.1.3.2). The number of Priority 2 (endemic to the LSA) and 3 (endemic
to Madagascar) species was similar for the two ore bodies, and the number of
Priority 1 species (potentially endemic to the project footprint) was 2.5 times
greater in the Ambatovy site. The low number of endemics in the Torotorofotsy
was likely correlated with lower sampling intensity in this area relative to the
mine footprint area.
For fauna, one ant species was designated as Priority 1 in the Ambatovy site, and
two amphibian species were classified as Priority 1 endemics in the Analamay
site. No fauna species listed as Priority 1 in the Torotorofotsy Wetlands
complex. The number of Priority 2 designated species was largely comprised of
amphibians and reptiles in the Ambatovy (84%) and Analamay sites (73%),
