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BBOP Pilot Project Case Study – Ambatovy Project
11. Lessons Learned
The main lesson learned to date (during the offset conceptualisation and design stages) is that a commitment
to implement a biodiversity offset can generate substantial interest and respect from third parties for the
Project developer in tandem with delivering real and measurable benefits for biodiversity. The ‘
NO NET LOSS
’
offset represents a strong and positive vision that allows the Project to present its mitigation programme
elegantly and coherently to third parties.
The main difficulties encountered to date have been:
While beneficial, the BBOP guideline development process has been lengthy, dense and not always
readily applicable to the Ambatovy Project. However, the Project feels privileged to continue with its
contribution to the improvement of the offset design tools though its feedback.
The integration of biodiversity offsets at the ESIA stage is also crucial if baseline data collection is to:
– Prioritise target species with high biodiversity value for the Key Biodiversity Components Matrix;
– Target sampling stations to ensure that a benchmark is identified;
– Ensure loss and gain sites are adequately covered; and
– Ensure that quantitative data is gathered for the
HABITAT HECTARES
calculations.
Ideally, the offset calculations for
LOSSES
and
GAINS
should have been completed before Project construction
began, in order to alleviate the risk of being confronted with a low gains score. Greater targeting of baseline
data collection during the ESIA would have helped reduce the cost and time associated with subsequent filling
of data gaps.
11.1 Limitations
Limitations and issues identified during the habitat hectare calculations are presented below.
11.1.1 Available data
The main limitation for the Ambatovy Project offset design is that only azonal forests were sufficiently
sampled for habitat structure
ATTRIBUTES
. Fewer data exist for zonal and transitional habitats. In addition,
more accurate improved diversity and abundance data were required for species (especially lemurs and
other taxa) in both the benchmark and impact areas. Obtaining these data in 2009 should improve
precision of the habitat hectares loss calculation.
No available data exist at present for the selected attributes at the proposed Ankerana offset site. This
means that offset gains cannot yet be calculated.
Some of the existing data were not sufficiently habitat specific to meet the requirements of the habitat
hectares calculations. The fauna data did not allow the species identified to be clearly linked to either the
three ecological vegetation classes (azonal, transitional and zonal) or the habitat
CONDITION
classes. The
January 2009 fauna surveys will aim to resolve this.
