Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.4
Slurry Pipeline
Natural Habitats and Biodiversity
Ambatovy Project
156
January 2006
a result of the relatively small negative changes in these key habitats the
magnitude of the impact from the project on natural habitats and biodiversity is
predicted to be low during construction and operation (Table 4.4-7). No changes
to azonal or marsh edge forest are expected from the slurry pipeline.
Table 4.4-6 Change in Area of Each Land Class for Full Development of the
Pipeline Relative to Baseline Conditions in the Local Study Area
Land Class
Area Baseline
(ha)
Area Full Development
(ha)
Relative Change
(%)
azonal habitat
81
81
0.0
azonal type transitional forest
36
36
0.0
transitional forest
151
146
-3.3
marsh edge forest
26
26
0.0
primary forest
1,403
1,380
-1.6
wetlands
406
401
-1.1
degraded primary forest
1,537
1,483
-3.5
clearing/tavy
30,778
29,978
-2.6
woodlot / plantation
693
659
-5.0
pasture
308
306
-0.7
rice paddies
278
269
-3.3
coastal shrub
227
225
-0.9
water
128
128
0.0
human settlement
120
123
0.0
beach ridge
70
68
-2.4
industrial
25
25
0.0
road
6
6
0.0
railway
2
2
0.0
Table 4.4-7 Residual Impact Classification for Natural Habitats and Biodiversity
Project
Period
Direction Magnitude Geographic
Extent
Duration Reversibility Frequency Environmental
Consequence
What Impact Will the Ambatovy Project Have on Natural Habitats and Biodiversity?
construction
/ operation
negative
low
local
medium-
term
reversible
medium
low
closure
negative
negligible
local
medium-
term
reversible
medium
negligible
