2010
AMBATOVY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
23
C1. Environmental Performance
Amphibian and Reptile Management Program
The goal of the amphibian and reptile program is to ensure
the continued viability of populations of amphibian and reptile
species affected by the Project. The main activities include
carrying out pre-clearance species inventories and salvaging
live animals to conservation forest refuge areas. Between 2007
and 2010, the program relocated 3,906 amphibians
(69 species) and 10,585 reptiles (55 species). This program will
continue until forest clearing operations have been completed.
In addition, a specific conservation program has been
developed for the Golden Mantella Frog,
Mantella aurantiaca
,
a critically endangered frog and a flagship species for
Ambatovy’s conservation efforts. Ambatovy has supported
regional surveys to identify the distribution of the frog and its
critical habitats (in particular, breeding ponds and surrounding
forest slopes) and is working with experts to identify the
steps required to maintain viable populations in the mine
area. Other species which may require similar conservation
initiatives include the gecko species
Phelsuma pronki
, which
has recently been listed as critically endangered by IUCN,
and a new arboreal frog
Platipelys
species, once it has been
taxonomically identified.
Aquatics Management Program
Sixty-five percent of Madagascar’s native fishes are endemic;
approximately 73% are threatened with extinction. This
leaves Madagascar’s freshwater fish as the most threatened
vertebrate taxa on the island. Deforestation, over-fishing
and the introduction of exotic species constitute the main
threats driving the demise of Madagascar’s fish. Prior to any
construction activities, these threats had already seriously
affected most streams associated with the mine area.
The Ambatovy mine area is composed of two main river
systems. Both of these river systems have associated with
them several fish taxa, which are considered evolutionary
significant units, meaning they are taxonomically important.
The Aquatic Management Plan is therefore a very important
tool in ensuring Ambatovy’s policy of no loss of species.
Pre-construction surveys were conducted on the habitat of
targeted fish species and aquatic systems in water courses
located at the mine site and along the route of the pipeline.
These surveys helped determine baseline conditions and
outline environmental procedures for construction. To
minimize the impacts on aquatic systems, stringent mitigation
measures were imposed on contractors during construction.
Endemic fish and their habitats continue to be monitored
regularly in the mine area and in water courses crossing the
sections of the pipeline where endemic fish species still occur.
Endemic fish species tend to be located in streams draining
from catchments with intact forest and where barriers such
as waterfalls prevent invasion by exotic species. Isolation
between catchments results in speciation at the catchment
level. In the case of Ambatovy, four previously undescribed
species occur in the catchments draining from the mine –
two of the genus
Ratsirakia
and two of the genus
Rheocles
.
Although as yet unrecognised by the IUCN (publications are
in preparation), Ambatovy has treated these fish species as if
they were critically endangered. The isolated and fragmented
distribution of these endemic fish makes them especially
vulnerable to local extinction, requiring careful conservation
of even the smallest streams. Ambatovy’s fish management
program endeavours to maintain the viability of these
populations in streams affected by the mine and pipeline
using best available practices.
Flora Management Program
Based on an extensive botanical inventory, Ambatovy, with
the help of the Missouri Botanical Garden, has identified
plant species known to exist only within the mine footprint
and one or two other sites in Madagascar. These plants are
categorized as SOCs.
For these SOCs, as a precautionary measure, Ambatovy’s
comprehensive conservation program includes whole-
plant salvaging, seed collection, plant propagation and the
development of living collections for progressive rehabilitation
of the mine footprint. In parallel with off-site conservation
efforts, Ambatovy supports searches for viable populations of
SOCs in the mine conservation forests. This search effort is
ongoing and has resulted in the progressive reduction in the
number of species requiring off-site conservation. The number
of SOCs still requiring special salvaging has been reduced to
eight species from 173 and is expected to reach zero as off-
site surveys continue.
Forest Habitat Management and Monitoring Program
The Project has a specific forest habitat management
and monitoring program. This program oversees all forest
management activities in the mine lease area, known as
mine conservation forests, and other offsets as well as our
active support role in the management of the Torotorofotsy
Wetlands. Conservation of these areas is underpinned by
the land lease awarded by the Government of Madagascar,
which grants Ambatovy the mandate to manage these forests
effectively.
