2011
AMBATOVY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
20
Environmental Performance
Several other species of mammals other than lemurs,
including endemic rodent and carnivore species, are also
monitored by Ambatovy’s Environment Department.
Inventory of Non-Lemur Mammals at the Mine Site
2010
2011
222 individuals / 19 species
176 individuals / 24 species
Amphibians and Reptiles
The goal of the amphibian and reptile program is to ensure the
continued viability of their populations in Ambatovy areas of
operation. The main activities include carrying out pre-clearance
inventories and salvaging live animals to conservation forest
refuge areas. Inventories of these animals were conducted in the
Ambatovy and Analamay zones and, based on the results, there
are now six priority species of reptiles and amphibians for which
Ambatovy is in the process of developing action plans.
Between 2007 and 2011, the program salvaged just over
19,000 amphibians and reptiles from cleared areas. In 2011
alone, almost 4,700 individual animals were relocated from
the clearing areas, including approximately 2,600 reptiles
from 36 species and 2,100 amphibians from 29 species. This
program will continue until forest clearing operations have
been completed.
A specific conservation action plan has been developed for
the Golden Mantella Frog,
Mantella aurantiaca
, a critically
endangered species. Ambatovy supported regional surveys
to identify the distribution of the frog and its critical habitats
(in particular, breeding ponds and surrounding forest slopes).
We are working with experts to identify the steps required
to maintain viable populations in the mine area. Six new
breeding ponds were found in 2011, five of which are in
the conservation area and one within the mine footprint.
Fifteen potential receptor ponds have been identified outside
Ambatovy’s area of impact. Currently, four ponds have been
designated suitable to receive relocated frogs. The Mantella
Action Plan will be updated in 2012 to include all critical or
endangered Mantella species. The plan will also include
methods for continued monitoring of populations, relocations
of individuals to safe natural ponds outside the area of impact,
and salvaging individuals for a captive breeding initiative to
ensure no net loss of populations.
Aquatic Ecosystems
Ambatovy’s aquatic management program demonstrates
the full extent of our commitment to ensuring no net loss of
Madagascar’s unique biodiversity. Endemic fish communities
throughout Madagascar remain relatively unstudied. Little
was known about the fish in the river systems and lakes
around the mine, pipeline and tailings facility prior to
Ambatovy’s inception. In 2007 Ambatovy initiated scientific
surveys of all these aquatic systems in all of our areas
of impact. Ambatovy partnered with leading international
organizations to conduct genetic tests to assess the
taxonomic status of fish species. Thus far, five previously
undescribed Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs) occur in
the catchments draining from the mine – three in the genus
Ratsirakia
and two in the genus
Rheocles
. Ambatovy has
treated these ESUs as if they are critically endangered
species. 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 endeavours to maintain the habitat quality and
viability of these endemic fish populations in streams affected
by the mine and pipeline. In 2011, we conducted a survey
of aquatic ecosystems along the pipeline and collected data
on the habitat integrity and fish populations at 17 reference
sites. The results revealed that although the habitat integrity
of aquatic systems along the pipeline was still quite low, there
has been a general trend of improvement in habitat quality
since the end of construction.
Ambatovy has continued to maintain two endemic ESUs in
captivity in order to ensure the continued viability of local
populations. We monitored the populations we reintroduced
in 2010 and we are pleased to note that they had successfully
reproduced.
innovative Clearing Method
Encourages Fauna Movement
into Conservation Forests
Ambatovy employs an innovative, paced and directional
clearing technique. Trees are cleared manually at
a pre-determined slow pace, and in a direction that
encourages animals to move freely into the surrounding
conservation forest or buffer areas, rather than back
into the mine footprint. This method is proving to be
highly successful. Statistical analysis has shown a
significantly higher probability that lemurs will move
into the safe conservation zones surrounding the mine
footprint with the utilization of this method. Of the lemur
groups monitored, 92% moved out of the clearing
zones of their own accord. All monitored lemur groups
moved into the adjacent conservation forests, with
65% of groups moving directly into the forests, using
biological corridors and lemur bridges.
