2011
AMBATOVY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
23
Environmental Performance
Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining
There was evidence of third-party, small-scale illegal mining
in the AMFC and along the pipeline during 2011. In order to
ensure that the conservation forests were protected, Ambatovy
increased visibility of fencing. Furthermore, information and
awareness activities in local communities were organized
with the CIREF. The CSR Department has worked with local
authorities along the pipeline to maintain continuous protection
along the pipeline route. After September, observations of small-
scale mining were not reported for the remainder of the year.
Restoration to a Sustainable Landscape
Ambatovy plans to restore a multifunctional forest on the mine’s
footprint through progressive reclamation and replanting.
The year 2011 marked the launch of the nursery complex
construction, which consists of five community nurseries, a
research nursery and an industrial nursery. All nurseries should
become fully operational by mid-2012 in order to be ready for
the first pit rehabilitation by 2017. During 2011, the nurseries
produced about 134,000 saplings which sustained the immediate
reclamation work, the annual Ambatovy tree planting initiative,
long-term ecological restoration trials and the standing stock at
the industrial nursery.
Construction of the pipeline was completed in 2010. The last
year was dedicated to erosion control and re-vegetation along
the route. Extensive work was undertaken to limit erosion and a
monitoring system was put in place. Deep-rooting plants were
planted along the route to stabilise slopes and a combination
of hydro-seeding, planting and passive regrowth resulted
in regenerated vegetation along the right-of-way. This was
accompanied by careful compliance monitoring of water quality
in the streams that collect run-off along the pipeline route.
Erosion monitoring showed a substantial decline in erosion
events since handover from the construction contractors in
October 2010. The average severity of erosion events and
levels of total suspended solids in water courses also declined
substantially during the same period.
The long-term ecological restoration trials have been the
subject of regular monitoring and are proving successful.
There is an annual average tree growth in each plantation of
13 cm in height. Biological monitoring of 110 restored micro-
habitats over the past 12 months has shown a progressive
increase in faunal classes and species colonizing these
rehabilitated ecosystems, including seven species of birds
and three species of reptiles.
A Pioneering Biodiversity Offsets Program Moves Forward
2011 was an exciting year for Ambatovy’s Biodiversity Offsets Program. The first scientific expedition to the Ankerana offset
took place early in the year. This was the first occasion on which the area’s biodiversity had been scientifically surveyed.
The results of the expedition were factored into loss-gain calculations that were presented at the BBOP annual meeting in
October. A second expedition will take place in the first quarter of 2012 to assess the north-eastern sector, which is comprised
of ultramafic rocks similar to the ones found in Ambatovy’s mine footprint. In addition, Ambatovy’s environmental manager
was appointed a member of the BBOP executive committee and Ambatovy staff participated in the 2011 revision of the BBOP
Standard. We are very pleased that our experience implementing the pilot project has contributed to the development of
criteria and guidelines that will improve the implementation of biodiversity offsets around the world.
