The Offset Design Process
33
BBOP Pilot Project Case Study – Ambatovy Project
each determined (good or degraded). Flora, fauna and aquatic taxa assemblages were associated where
feasible with these habitat types and quality. Finally, habitat surface areas were calculated using ESIA
habitat maps and GIS. Taxa assemblages and forest structural characteristics were determined for each
habitat where possible. Available fauna data were generally qualitative, although pre-clearance survey
data from both the mine footprint and surrounding conservation areas were used, providing updated lemur
densities and abundance.
Clearance of 16.5 ha of fragmented and degraded primary forest during installation of the 218 km buried
slurry pipeline (a total clearance permit for approximately 70.5 hectares was granted as 98% of the pipeline
route passes through secondary, non-sensitive vegetation (e.g. non-native eucalyptus) resulting from
historic slash and burn). Two sections of the pipeline do, however, cross sensitive habitats: the first 2 km
passes through zonal, near-primary forest and the pipeline also crosses the Ankeniheny-Zahamena
Corridor (CAZ). Losses associated with the pipeline’s first 2 km have been included in the mine losses
using the same approach for determining residual impacts as applied to the mine footprint.
Indirect negative impacts
INDIRECT IMPACTS
through edge effects (dust, noise, plant desiccation, invasion of natural heliophytes), will
potentially affect 790 ha of forest surrounding the mine footprint. This area was defined on the basis of a 100
m zone surrounding polygon features (e.g. mine pits and ancillary facilities) and a 50 m zone around linear
features such as roads (except the main access road) and pipelines (see Appendix 4: Mine Footprint
Definition, 2nd Approximation, December 12, 2007). The degree to which these areas will be affected
remains unclear; as a precautionary approach the full 790 ha has been included in the total loss calculations.
This may be modified as information on the degree of impact becomes available through monitoring.
Low or negligible negative impacts for biodiversity
The processing plant is being constructed on a 150 ha (1.5 km
2
) area of the Toamasina industrial zone. The
1,400 ha (14 km
2
) tailings management facility will be located in a highly degraded fire-driven agricultural
matrix. An existing pier at the harbour will be extended by over 300 m. The residual biodiversity impacts
associated with the processing plant, tailings facility and pier extension are expected to be negligible. The
habitat classes for the plant site and tailings facility location would be defined as highly impacted and
degraded and have been omitted from the loss calculations for the time being. However, the Project will
consider how to trade-up these areas by conserving higher priority biodiversity elsewhere; one suggestion is
to simply add the surface areas lost (i.e., 15.5 km
2
) and apply a
MULTIPLIER
to determine the area of higher
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
priority land as part of the offset. The Project will seek assistance from the BBOP
Advisory Committee before making a decision.
Socioeconomic impacts
The Project will conduct loss calculations for the socio-environmental aspects in 2009. The aim of the offset
programme is to compensate for all
AMENITY
and
LIVELIHOOD
related losses experienced by local communities
as a result of the biodiversity offset. Potential compensation measures include the introduction of improved
agricultural techniques to increase crop yield and the provision of jobs related to environmental protection.
At present, a number of positive socioeconomic impacts are also apparent:
Over 80 members of the local community at the mine are permanently employed in biodiversity
management-related jobs (in total, over 8,000 jobs for Malagasies will be generated by the Project); the
biodiversity jobs include ongoing training.
