Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.5
Mine
Protected Areas
Ambatovy Project
302
January 2006
4.5.5.1 Assessment Methods
The assessment of effects on protected areas is based on:
•
a physical analysis of extent of protected areas that the mine footprint
will overlap in the LSA;
•
the results of hydrology, hydrogeology and water quality analyses that
indicate how water flow will be affected in the LSA; and
•
socioeconomic impact information, which helps to determine indirect
population effects on protected areas in the RSA.
Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to conduct the spatial
analysis of impacts to protected areas. The results of the modelling for
hydrology, hydrogeology and water quality were used to discuss potential
impacts on water for the Torotorofotsy Ramsar site. A socioeconomic model,
discussed in Volume B, Section 5.1, was used to estimate population changes and
this information was applied to the impact analysis for protected areas.
4.5.5.2 Assessment Criteria
The assessment criteria presented in Table 4.5-1 were used to evaluate impacts
on protected areas.
Table 4.5-1 Impact Description Criteria for Protected Areas
Direction
Magnitude
Geographic
Extent
Duration
Reversibility
Frequency
positive:
enhanced
management of
protected areas
neutral:
no
change in
protected areas
negative:
degradation of
protected areas
negligible:
no
measurable effect
low:
physical
effects on 1% or
less of a protected
area and/or minor
indirect impacts
moderate:
physical
effects of 10% or
less of a protected
area and/or
moderate indirect
impacts
high:
physical
effects of more than
10% of a protected
area and/or high
indirect impacts
local:
effect
restricted to the
LSA
regional:
effect
extends beyond
the LSA, into the
RSA
beyond
regional:
effect
extends beyond
the RSA
short
term:
<3
years
medium
term:
3 to
30 years
long term:
>30 years
reversible or
irreversible
low:
occurs
once
medium:
occurs
intermittently
high:
occurs
continuously
