Environmental Assessment
Volume E-4.1
Tailings Facility
Flora
Ambatovy Project
158
January 2006
facility LSA) (Table 4.1-2). Of this portion, the non-forest slash and burn/tavy
matrix will be the most affected with a loss of 1,060 ha (48% of this class). The
next most affected class is agroforest and secondary forest vegetation with a loss
of 27 ha (41% of this type). Other disturbed or modified vegetation types
affected include 14 ha of wetlands (23%), 10 ha of rice paddies (11%), 4 ha of
Eucalyptus
and other woodlots (9%) and 3 ha of plantation (43%).
Table 4.1-2 Change in Vegetation Type Area as a Result of Site Clearing within
the Tailings Facility Local Study Area
Vegetation Type/ Land Use Type
Base Case
(ha)
Impact Case
(ha)
Change
(ha)
Change
(%)
Forested Vegetation
eucalyptus & other woodlots
44
40
-4
-9
plantation
7
4
-3
-43
agroforest and secondary forest vegetation
66
39
-27
-41
forested subtotal
117
83
-34
-29
Non-Forested Vegetation
marsh herbaceous vegetation/wetlands
61
47
-14
-23
non-forest slash and burn/tavy matrix
2,219
1,159
-1,060
-48
rice paddies
82
72
-10
-12
non-forested subtotal
2,362
1,278
-1,084
-46
Non-Vegetated Class
village
14
14
0
0
access corridor (road/rail)
18
7
-11
-61
industry (buildings or exploration areas)
14
14
0
0
quarry
3
2
-1
-33
non-vegetated subtotal
49
37
-12
-24
total
2,528
1,398
-1,130
-45
Note: Due to rounding, subtotal and totals may not add precisely to expected values.
Indirect Effects to Plant Communities as a Result of Changes in
Hydrology and Water Quality
Hydrology
Results of the hydrology impact analysis indicate that stream and groundwater
flow leading to local area wetlands will be reduced considerably during the
operation phase (Volume E, Section 3.8). During the closure phase, flows are
expected to return to near-baseline levels. Flow reductions during operations will
occur as a direct result of diverting water from the upper watersheds and through
the interception of groundwater, downgradient of the tailings embankments. All
