Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.1
Slurry Pipeline
Flora
Ambatovy Project
83
January 2006
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Adherence to a conservation and reclamation plan.
4.1.5.4 Results
Direct Losses to Plant Communities Within the Slurry Pipeline Local
Study Area
Direct losses to native plant communities resulting from construction of the
slurry pipeline will amount to 938 ha (3% of the slurry pipeline LSA)
(Table 4.1-2). Of this portion, the non-forest slash and burn/tavy matrix
vegetation type will be the most affected with a loss of 800 ha (3% of this class
within the LSA). This vegetation type is inherently a highly disturbed land class.
The next most affected class is the degraded/heavily logged zonal forest
vegetation type with a loss of 49 ha (3% of this type). Other vegetation types
affected include 39 ha of woodlot/plantation (6%), 23 ha of zonal forest (2%) and
5 ha of transitional forest (3%). Several other classes affected represent a very
small portion of the overall impact disturbance to vegetation within the slurry
pipeline LSA. No direct impacts will occur to the azonal, azonal type transitional
and marsh edge forest vegetation types.
4.1.5.5 Impact Analysis
Residual Impacts
Residual Impacts to the Transitional Vegetation Type from Clearing Activities
Despite mitigation, activities related to construction of the slurry pipeline will
result in vegetation losses, primarily to areas that are already highly disturbed.
However, at the western end of the pipeline within the vicinity of the mine site,
rare habitat types exist including the transitional forest vegetation type. Within
this zone, there will be a loss of 5 ha of transitional vegetation (3% of this
vegetation type). The magnitude of the losses is deemed low, local in extent, of
long-term duration and resulting in a low environmental consequence
(Table 4.1-3).
Although the loss to transitional vegetation is rated as being low, it is unique to
the region and therefore deserves special attention. Mitigation and monitoring to
deal with these direct effects are outlined in detail within the mine EA Volume B,
Section 4.1.
