2013 Sustainability Report - Ambatovy
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Interested in learning more about biodiversity management at Ambatovy?
Ambatovy's 2014 case study called "Working towards NoNet Loss of Biodiversity and Beyond:Ambatovy, Madagascar"
is available online at
.
In 2013, we developed Ambatovy’s Biodiversity Management System (ABMS), a quality control system for biodiversity designed
to ensure scientific rigor and continuous improvement in biodiversity management. The ABMS, which is one of several action
items in our Biodiversity Action Plan, is scheduled to be fully rolled-out in 2014.
Within the ABMS is the Biodiversity Offset Management Strategy, which defines the offset options, costs, and benefits for offset
sites, such as Ankerana – a 6,800 ha rainforest in eastern Madagascar. The strategy was developed in 2012 with the help of
environmental consultants and organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and Forest Trends.
Species Conservation
Lemurs
In 2013, Ambatovy completed two series of health assessments on 72 lemurs around the mine site. The assessments were
done in collaboration with the Duke Lemur Center and the Columbus Zoo, which also assisted in fitting lemurs with radio collars
for long-term monitoring.
The results, which indicated that the large majority of lemurs studied were in good health, will be used to document lemur
health and population trends as mining progresses. During their mission to Madagascar, the Duke Lemur Centre and the
Columbus Zoo provided training and capacity building for Ambatovy staff as well as training for students from the University of
Antananarivo’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Mantella
The Golden Mantella Frog (Mantella aurantiaca) is a critically endangered frog occurring within Madagascar's eastern rainforest
corridor. During 2013, Ambatovy continued to support a captive population of mantella, undertook rescue and relocation
operations and updated its Mantella Conservation Strategy.
Orchids
Ambatovy, in collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG), designed a second orchardium with the aim of
conserving endemic species. The orcharidum is expected to be constructed in 2014. The MBG also assisted Ambatovy in
classifying orchid species and adding them to the Madagascar orchids catalog.
