Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.2
Slurry Pipeline
Fauna
Ambatovy Project
115
January 2006
Mitigation, including construction in previously disturbed areas and reclamation,
will reduce the magnitude of these impacts.
Table 4.2-8 Residual Impact Classification for Fauna due to Fragmentation and
Barriers to Movement
Component Direction Magnitude Geographic
Extent
Duration Reversibility Frequency
Environmental
Consequence
Issue: Fragmentation
habitats
negative
negligible
local
long-term
reversible
low
negligible
fauna
species
negative
negligible
local
long-term
reversible
high
negligible
Issue: Barriers to Movement
wide-ranging
species
negative
low
regional
long-term
reversible
high
moderate
wary species
negative
low
local
long-term
reversible
high
low
other species
negative
low
local
long-term
reversible
high
low
Prediction Confidence
Prediction confidence is medium with respect to fauna movement effects, given
that the pipeline has been mainly routed through already disturbed areas.
Monitoring
No specific surveys will be conducted to monitor faunal movement.
Conclusions
Impacts to primary habitats and faunal populations as a result of fragmentation
are predicted to be negligible to low because most of the pipeline route was sited
along pre-existing disturbance and will be buried. Construction of the pipeline
will create temporary barriers to movement (e.g., roads, construction activity) for
fauna in environmentally sensitive areas. Connectivity will be restored once the
pipeline is buried and the proposed pipeline route reclaimed. In some areas,
roads will be left in place as part of regional planning so barriers to faunal
movement will remain. The majority of these roads will be in areas of existing
disturbance and higher people density, so will mainly be restricted to species that
occupy disturbed habitats (e.g., tavy, agriculture).
