THE AMBATOVY NICKEL PROJECT (AMSA/DMSA) SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN PROJECT PHASE: CONSTRUCTION DATE : MARCH 2007 Page i of 63 THE AMBATOVY NICKEL PROJECT (AMSA/DMSA) SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 THE BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE (BMP-C) .............................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Biodiversity off-set zones.................................................................................2 1.1.2 BMP-C Structure and Design ..........................................................................3 1.2 ESTABLISH BMP CONSERVATION PRIORITIES ........................................................4 1.3 SETTING SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES...................................................7 1.4 PROJECT BIODIVERSITY POLICY ...............................................................................8 2 FLORA...................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................9 2.1.1 Mitigation measures.........................................................................................9 2.1.2 Monitoring ........................................................................................................9 2.2 MINE................................................................................................................................9 2.2.1 Priority Habitats................................................................................................9 2.2.2 Pre-construction studies and priority species ..................................................9 2.2.3 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................10 2.2.4 Monitoring ......................................................................................................11 2.3 ANKERA OFF-SITE CONSERVATION AREA..............................................................12 2.3.1 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................12 2.3.2 Protection.......................................................................................................13 2.3.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................13 2.4 SLURRY PIPELINE.......................................................................................................13 2.4.1 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................13 2.4.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................13 2.4.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................14 2.5 PROCESS PLANT ........................................................................................................15 2.5.1 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................15 2.5.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................15 2.5.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................15 2.6 TAILINGS FACILITY .....................................................................................................15 2.6.1 Pre-construction Studies................................................................................15 2.6.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................16 2.6.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................16 2.7 PORT EXPANSION.......................................................................................................16 2.7.1 Pre-construction Studies................................................................................16 2.7.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................16 2.7.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................17 3 TERRESTRIAL FAUNA ...........................................................................................18 3.1 GENERAL .....................................................................................................................18 3.1.1 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................18 3.1.2 Monitoring ......................................................................................................18 3.2 MINE..............................................................................................................................18 3.2.1 Priority species...............................................................................................18 3.2.2 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................24 3.2.3 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................26 3.2.4 Monitoring ......................................................................................................29 3.3 ANKERA OFFSITE CONSERVATION AREA...............................................................31 Page ii of 63 THE AMBATOVY NICKEL PROJECT (AMSA/DMSA) SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN 3.3.1 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................31 3.3.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................31 3.3.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................31 3.4 SLURRY PIPELINE.......................................................................................................32 3.4.1 Priority Species ..............................................................................................32 3.4.2 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................33 3.4.3 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................34 3.4.4 Monitoring ......................................................................................................35 3.5 PROCESS PLANT ........................................................................................................35 3.5.1 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................36 3.5.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................36 3.5.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................37 3.6 TAILINGS FACILITY .....................................................................................................37 3.6.1 Priority species...............................................................................................37 3.6.2 Pre-construction Studies................................................................................37 3.6.3 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................37 3.6.4 Monitoring ......................................................................................................38 3.7 PORT EXTENSION.......................................................................................................39 3.7.1 Pre-construction Studies................................................................................39 3.7.2 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................39 3.7.3 Monitoring ......................................................................................................39 4 FISH AND AQUATIC HABITATS.............................................................................40 4.1 GENERAL .....................................................................................................................40 4.1.1 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................40 4.1.2 Monitoring ......................................................................................................40 4.2 MINE..............................................................................................................................40 4.2.1 Priority species...............................................................................................40 4.2.2 Pre-construction studies ................................................................................41 4.2.3 Mitigation measures.......................................................................................42 4.2.4 Monitoring ......................................................................................................46 4.3 OFFSITE CONSERVATION AREAS ............................................................................47