Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.2
Slurry Pipeline
Fauna
Ambatovy Project
102
January 2006
Residual impacts to stream and river habitats are predicted to be low. The
greatest impacts to streamflows and sediment concentrations are predicted to
occur during construction and will be temporary. These impacts will be reduced
to negligible or low during operations. The environmental consequence of
changes in faunal habitats due to alteration or loss of stream sections are
predicted to be low as the magnitude of impact is low and the effects are
predicted to be local, of short duration, reversible and occur only once during
construction.
Prediction Confidence
Prediction confidence for impacts to habitats as a result of site clearing is high.
The areal extent of the habitat losses along the proposed pipeline route of these
habitats is well known.
Uncertainties in the impact predictions for fauna as a result of direct habitat loss
include:
•
Species habitat associations are derived from limited field survey
observations.
•
Location and areal extent of access roads, camps and laydown areas is
currently unknown so additive effects of direct habitat loss are also
unknown.
Monitoring
Reclamation of natural forest habitats is planned for pipeline segments in the
Mantadia-Zahamena corridor as part of a regional corridor/carbon project. At
baseline, these areas are currently disturbed. Reclamation success will be
assessed through vegetation monitoring at these sites.
Indirect Habitat Loss
Potential Impact Pathways
For justification of the potential causes of indirect habitat loss, see Volume B,
Section 4.2. The potential impacts will occur mainly in areas along the proposed
pipeline route where primary habitats currently exist.
Sensory Disturbance
Noise levels will exceed baseline levels during the construction phase of the
slurry pipeline with minimal effects during operation for maintenance activities
(Volume C, Section 3.4). Construction of the pipeline will occur during daylight
