Current Status of the Project and Offset
25
BBOP Pilot Project Case Study – Ambatovy Project
2008:
– Preparation of interim report outlining technical aspects of the offset process (e.g. benchmark
selection, confirmation of impacts, preliminary loss calculations and completed Key Biodiversity
Components Matrix (KBCM);
–
Preparation of supplementary report with revised benchmark selection and loss calculations, including
updated KBCM with quantitative species data;
–
Preparation of complementary field work (terrestrial fauna) in response to gap analysis; inclusion of other
Project components (pipeline, tailings, plant and harbour) in overall assessment of residual impacts;
–
Implementation of Ankerana site management programme:
Stakeholder consultations (local communities, NGOs and government including Office National
l’Environnement (ONE,) Forestry Department, Gendarmerie, District of Brickaville, local mayors and
police forces);
Reforestation work on periphery area of proposed offset; this focused mainly on planting wood for
construction uses to avoid primary forest logging in the offset area;
Population awareness campaigns around the proposed offset, conducted by field teams and
partners. The objectives of the campaigns were to define the offset site boundary and explain
existing laws that prohibit forest clearance;
Support provided to the mixed brigade (includes local communities, NGOs, local administrative staff
and the police force) which manages forestry resource exploitation through out the local communes;
Financial and logistic support to update the five year Communal Development Plans for impacted
communes; and
Technical committee meeting with SAPM focusing on integration of the proposed offset site with the
national protected areas network.
Conceptualised and pending (for 2009):
– The offset design work, following guidance in the
BBOP BIODIVERSITY OFFSET DESIGN HANDBOOK
has to
date quantified biodiversity losses as presented below. The next phase of work will be to calculate
offset gains and continue with the design of the offset and offset activity plan;
– The proposed Ankerana offset site has undergone only preliminary characterisation. Detailed baseline
ecological characterisation is planned for 2009 focusing on ecosystems, habitats, fauna, flora and
socioeconomic attributes. This information will underpin the calculation of offset gains;
– Socio-environmental losses will be defined and subsequently an appropriate compensation calculation
strategy and programme will be designed; and
– Continued interaction with stakeholders to refine and enhance the offset activity plan.
In summary, the Project is committed to designing and financing a long-term offset programme that aims at
achieving
NO NET LOSS
on biodiversity and preferably
NET GAIN
. Substantial progress has been made by
calculating the residual impacts on biodiversity and identifying potential offset mechanisms. Ambatovy will
continue to work closely with stakeholders on the offset design and plan the financial mechanisms to secure
the offsets in the long-term, using adaptive management in response to the insecurities of the global financial
crisis. The following pages of this case study detail the actions conducted and those that are planned for the
future.
