Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.5
Mine
Protected Areas
Ambatovy Project
300
January 2006
The proposed Mantadia-Zahamena Conservation are
is also located partly
within the mine LSA. The Mantadia-Zahamena Corridor does not yet have any
protected status but is in the process of being defined as a type of
Site de
Conservation
by the Government of Madagascar, with input from other
interested parties. Tentative boundaries for the conservation area close to the
mine are shown in Volume J, Section 6.1, Figure 6.1-1. An agreement has been
signed between Dynatec and representatives of the Government of Madagascar
(June 21, 2005), stipulating that conservation area boundaries will not overlap
Dynatec’s mining rights areas (Carrés Miniers) The precise boundaries and
protected status of the area have yet to be established, but are expected to be
finalized in 2006. The protected area is planned to accommodate area for both
biodiversity protection (75%) and multiple-use areas (25%).
Other proposed or existing protected areas within the mine RSA are Mantadia
National Park, Analamazaotra Special Reserve, Anjozorobe Forest Corridor and
Maromiza State Forest / private protected areas.
Additional details concerning all proposed and existing protected areas in the
mine LSA and RSA are provided in Volume J, Section 6.1.
In general, tourism in Madagascar, including tourism in protected areas has
experienced strong growth between 1992 and 2002, and again since 2002, despite
a drop in 2002 due to political reasons (PTE/EDEND 2004; Madagascar Contacts
Website 2004). Ecotourism is regarded as an important growth industry at the
national level.
4.5.4
Issue Scoping
Protected areas constitute both a source of tourism income and a way to preserve
the natural heritage of Madagascar. Effects on these areas, both existing and
proposed, must be considered and minimized wherever possible, either by
choosing appropriate location and routing options or by applying effective
mitigations. Public consultation recorded a concern that the project not impact
protected areas, including the Torotorofotsy Ramsar site (Volume A, Section 6).
1
In the new Arrêté 20-021, ratified on December 30, 2005, the corridor is referred to as the Akeniheny-Zahamena
Corridor (CAZ). In addition, this Arrêté proposes a new set of boundaries for the temporary protection of the
conservation area to be created. This information was not available while the EA was being conducted and therefore
the EA reflects the state of affairs as of mid 2005.
