Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.5
Mine
Protected Areas
Ambatovy Project
307
January 2006
The impacts listed above resulting from development of the mine site are not
expected to adversely affect economic sustainability and tourism potential for the
Torotorofotsy Ramsar site, the Mantadia-Zahamena Corridor or any of the other
protected areas in the RSA. However, one additional effect on tourists in these
protected areas may occur due to visual impacts, as described in Volume B,
Section 3.10. Medium-term positive impacts are expected for regional tourism
(to protected areas in the RSA). Long-term positive impacts are expected to
result from the conservation of on site and off site azonal protected areas.
Because these effects are positive, they are not rated in terms of environmental
consequence.
At closure, through reclamation, most impacts on protected areas will become
negligible. However, as discussed in Volume B, Section 3.8, higher flows are
predicted for the wet season after closure.
Table 4.5-3 Residual Impact Classification for Protected Areas
Phase
Direction Magnitude Geographic
Extent
Duration Reversibility Frequency Environmental
Consequence
issue: clearing or fragmentation of protected lands
construction negative
low
local
short-
term
yes
medium
negligible
operations
negative
moderate
local
medium-
term
yes
medium
low
issue: water quality and quantity changes
construction
/ operations negative
low
local
medium-
term
no
medium
low
closure
negative
low
local
long-
term
no
medium
low
issue: indirect impacts of social / population changes (land use modification)
operations
negative
low
local
medium-
term
yes
medium
low
issue: indirect impacts of social / population changes (tourism)
operations
positive
(a)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
issue: direct protection of azonal areas
all
positive
(a)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
(a)
Impact classifications not applicable for positive impacts.
n/a = not applicable.
Prediction Confidence
The prediction confidence for this assessment is moderate, overall. Uncertainties
arise from the uncertainties described in the water quality, hydrology, hydrogeology,
and socioeconomic sections, which relate to potential effects on protected areas.
