Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.5
Mine
Protected Areas
Ambatovy Project
308
January 2006
Additional uncertainties are associated with project mitigations, such as the
implementation of the forest management plan, and the level of success of this plan
with respect to land use activity in and around protected areas in the LSA.
4.5.5.6 Monitoring
Water quality for the water being released to the Torotorofotsy Wetlands system
will be monitored as described in the water quality section of this volume
(Volume B, Section 3.9). Water flow levels in the Torotorofotsy Wetlands will
be monitored regularly to ensure that levels are within the natural range of
variation as indicated by baseline data.
4.5.6
Conclusions
Low environmental consequences for protected areas will occur due to several
impacts in the operations phase. The Torotorofotsy Ramsar site is expected to be
impacted by direct clearing of a small part of its watershed, changes to water
quality and quantity, and the indirect effects of increased regional population on
local land use. The planned Mantadia-Zahamena corridor may also be affected
by local changes in stream water quality and quantity, and the indirect effects of
an increased regional population on land use.
Impacts during the construction phase are expected to be of negligible
consequence.
Impacts following closure are expected to be of low consequence, and largely
mitigated through reclamation.
Positive impacts are anticipated through increased economic input into protected
areas in the RSA through tourism, and through the protection of azonal areas by
the project.
The impacts resulting from development of the mine site are not expected to
adversely affect tourism potential for protected areas in the RSA.
