23
Ecosystem Services
23.1
Introduction
This chapter presents the assessment of the ecosystem service impacts and dependencies of the Simandou
Mine. Since ecosystem services represent the intersection of the natural and human environment (see box
below), this chapter draws upon the baseline information and analysis conducted in other relevant parts of
the SEIA. This chapter is not intended to be read in isolation, instead it presents and assesses the key
ecosystem service considerations from each relevant chapter, including key inter-linkages. The findings of
the assessment in this chapter have been used to inform the impact assessment and mitigation processes in
each relevant technical chapter.
Ecosystem services are benefits that ecosystems provide to people. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (1)
classified them into four main categories to provide a clear and consistent classification scheme.
Provisioning services are the goods or products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, timber, medicines, fibre,
and freshwater.
Regulating services are the benefits obtained from an ecosystem’s control of natural processes, such as climate
regulation, disease control, erosion prevention, water flow regulation, and protection from natural hazards.
Cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems, such as recreation, spiritual values, and
aesthetic enjoyment.
Supporting services are the natural processes such as soil formation, nutrient cycling and primary productivity that
maintain other ecosystem services.
In line with the IFC Performance Standards, this chapter identifies and prioritises ecosystem services in the
mine study area, establishing those services likely to be impacted by the project that are of relevance to local
communities. It then outlines the mitigation measures to be undertaken by the Project in order to maintain
the value and functionality of these services.
The remainder of the chapter is structured as follows:

Section 23.2 provides a description of the approach and methods used for the assessment, including
defining the study area, preliminary screening of impacts, and relevant performance standards;

Section 23.3 provides a description of the current baseline conditions at the proposed mine site and
presents the findings of the prioritisation exercise for ecosystem services in the study area;

Section 23.4 provides a description of ecosystem service dependencies by the Project and presents the
findings of the prioritisation exercise for these services;

Section 23.5 provides an assessment of the impacts on ecosystem services;

Section 23.6 presents mitigation measures and residual impacts;

Section 23.7 presents management measures for ecosystem service dependencies of the mine; and

Section 23.8 presents a summary of findings of the assessment.
(1) Millennium Eco system Assessment. Available at http://www.maweb.org/en/index.aspx
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23.2
Approach
23.2.1
Overview
The ecosystem services assessment is prefaced by a preliminary screening exercise (Section 23.2.3), the
results of which are used to determine the scope of the assessment and are the first step in prioritising
ecosystem services in the mine study area. This is followed by a baseline analysis of potentially impacted
services in the area, including the importance of these services to beneficiaries and the availability of
sustainable and accessible replacements. The findings of the baseline analysis are then used to provide a
final list of Priority Ecosystem Services (Section 23.3.2). The impact assessment describes direct and
indirect impacts on ecosystem services from mine activities using the methodology described below and in
line with the analysis conducted in the topic area chapters of the SEIA. Project-wide and cumulative impacts
associated with other projects are not addressed in this chapter but are discussed where relevant in
Volume IV: Project Wide Assessment of the SEIA.
The ecosystem services assessment is interlinked with a number of topics from other chapters of the SEIA
including those listed below:











Chapter 4: Scoping and Stakeholder Engagement - past and future stakeholder engagement relating to
ecosystem services;
Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste - impacts on erosion and topsoil quality;
Chapter 6: Water Environment - impacts on drainage and flood control; impacts on water quality
Chapter 9: Local Climate – impacts on local climate regulation services;
Chapter 10: Greenhouse Gas Assessment - carbon sequestration and global climate implications;
Chapter 12: Biodiversity - impacts on habitats and species;
Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage - impacts on Living Cultural Heritage;
Chapter 14: Landscape - impacts on aesthetic value (cultural service);
Chapter 18: In-Migration - impacts resulting from in-migration and induced access;
Chapter 19: Land Use and Land-Based Livelihoods - impacts on natural resource based livelihoods; and
Chapter 21: Community Health, Safety and Security - health impacts relating to natural resource
availability and quality.
23.2.2
Study Area
The study area for ecosystem services takes into consideration the following factors: the likely distance at
which the proposed mine will impact the availability and functionality of ecosystem services; the likely
distance that people are willing to travel to utilise natural resources on a regular basis; and the water
catchments likely to be affected by the mine (as defined in Chapter 6: Water Environment). For a small
subset of services, a wider area of influence has been defined when a reduction in an ecosystem service is
expected to impact beneficiaries in a wider geographic area.
For most terrestrial Provisioning services, the assessment assumes that the furthest distance people will
regularly travel to access these services is 10 km (1). For all provisioning and cultural services except
bushmeat and water resources, this is also believed to be a reasonable distance to assess potential impacts
on ecosystem services from mine activities. Therefore, the basic study area is defined as a 10km radius
from the major components of mine infrastructure (see Figure 23.1) (2). This study area extends slightly
further into Beyla Prefecture to account for areas that may face significant levels of in-migration due to the
presence of the mine. Chapter 15: Socio-Economic and Community Baseline provides more information
about the socio-economic environment in impacted villages and prefectures.
(1) Stakeholder interviews during preparatory fieldwork leading to development of the Pic de Fon Management Plan indicated that
people typically travelled <5km to gather resources such as fuelwood. In some cases they reported traveling as far as 10 km.
(2) For many services, the distance to be considered for impacts and mitigation measures at the village level will be much smaller eg a
reasonable distance to travel to cultivated fields or to access water or wild plants may be much smaller, and the design of detailed
mitigation and restoration measures will take these smaller distances into account as part of the consultation process.
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Chapter 23: Ecosystem Services
23-2
8°50'0"W
MOUSADOU
Boula
Tamikola
Yendédou
Moribiendou
Moussadou
Sibiridou
N.1
Kamandou
Parc Elhaj
Souleymane
Bangalydou
Gbagbadou
Nionsomoridou
Sokourala
960000
Parc Sékouba
Mamadou
Bhoye
Thierno
Kamissadou
Kissiboula
Kouwandala
Bahdata
Korèla
950000
Bousséférédou
Bousséférédou II
Wataférédou II
Amadou
Tourela
Nyela
Kéoulendou
Morisangarédou
Bobaro
Wataférédou I
Kamana
Saadou
Piyaro
Boulaydou
N I O NSiatouro
SOMORIDOU
Traoréla
Parc
Thierno
Parc Finkandou
Parc Elhaj
Doukourela
Soumailadou
Niadou
Sagnola
Wanino
Beyla
Kabaradou
Laidou
Siuakoro
Djibadou
960000
970000
Kamiandou
Sossava
Diondala
Cemandou
Sobakono
Manankoro 2
Kabakoro
Boubaro
Mamouroudou
Parc
Agna
Manakoro
B E Y L Mamoridou
A - C E N T R
E
Tabilala
Thia
Lamandou
Orono
Goékoro
Banankoro Wawakoro
Mafindou
Moribadou
950000
Niamadou
Tiékouradou
8°40'0"N
540000
Diaboidou
8°50'0"N
530000
N.1
8°50'0"N
520000
Sondou
970000
510000
Kénégbébaro
Nialessou
KOUNSAKORO
8°40'0"W
8°40'0"N
9°0'0"W
Kollako-Moussadou
Mandou
Foma
Kotia 1
Gneneketa
Fandou
Soyaro
Famodou
Kotia 2
Domanidou
930000
Dandano
Dibouta
Bakoma
Centre
Tokeleguizia
Centre
Kpiliwou Orémaï 1 Papo
Orémaï 2
Silafarala
O Cemandou O
Koidou
Bouyehou
Fouama
centre
Yapangaye
510000
520000
Brikoidou
Légende:
Zone d'études des services écosystémiques /
Ecosystem Services Study Area
Tracé indicatif de la voie ferrée /
Indicative Rail Alignment
Usine et infrastructures minières /
Mine Plant & Infrastructure
Contour de mine / Mine Outline
Terril de stériles / Waste Emplacement
Projet de route de la mine /
Proposed Mine Road
8°50'0"W
Agglomération / Settlement
LL ee oo nR
n ee A
K O R O P A
Client:
Village / Village
Autre implantation importante /
Other Significant Settlement
Route principale / Primary Road
Route secondaire / Secondary Road
Route tertiaire / Tertiary Route
Cours d'eau / Watercourse
Orata
540000
A4
0
5
kilomètres
Vagbanatou
LL ii bb ee rr ii aa
8°40'0"W
Taille:
Projection: WGS 1984 UTM Zone 29N
M
M aa ll ii
S
S ii ee rr rr aa
Ouinzou 530000
Chef lieu de préfecture /
Prefecture Chief Town
Chef lieu de sous-préfecture /
Sub-Prefecture Chief Town
A
Sabakoro
G
G uu ii nn ee aa
Boola
Orokpoi
9°0'0"W
L
Kouyonou
Saoussoudou
S
S ee nn ee gg aa ll
Boumoukoro
Kamana
Sougbadou
G
Diakolidou-Tininkan
Guuiinn eeaa-- BBiiss ssaauu
Sotédou
920000
8°20'0"N
Fassama
Centre
Betewalazou
Feredou
Diabamoridou Bassikoro
B
Heremakono
Djeoulenou 2
Djeoulenou 1
Sogbéni
Yogodou Gbadédou
Baladou
Homhozou
Goyala
Boïmè
Assaguizia
Pokpadolèmeta
Salawolozou
Diadou
Titre:
Figure 23.1
Zone d'études pour l'évaluation des
services écosystémiques /
Study Area for Ecosystem Services
Assessment
Date: 12/06/2012
Vérifié par: EC
Projet: 0131299
Dessiné par: WB
Approuvé par: KR
Echelle: Comme Barre d’échelle
File: 0131299SimandouGIS_IG_CK\M aps\ERM\Ecosystem Services\mi_ES_Study_Area.mxd
D'giboudou
940000
Touréla
Douokorota
Bitongoro
8°30'0"N
Mimaro
930000
940000
8°30'0"N
KOUANKAN
Kokouna
Manankoro
8°20'0"N
Kankoro
920000
Banko
Dabadou
Koimoridou
In addition to the core study area, a wider area of influence was deemed appropriate for specific ecosystem
services. These are described below.

In the case of bushmeat, the study area is defined as a radius of 20 km, in keeping with the definition
used by Chapter 12: Biodiversity for the maximum distance at which the mine will influence terrestrial
biodiversity receptors. In addition, the wider area of influence for this service extends to the wider
Nzérékore region of Guinea, to account for the probable reach of the local bushmeat trade.

In the case of provisioning and regulating services associated with freshwater resources and erosion
regulation, the mine area of influence is defined in Chapter 6: Water Environment as the water
resources (groundwater, springs, streams, rivers, lakes or other permanent or seasonal water bodies)
and their respective uses that lie downstream of the mine activity ie the mine affected river basins.
Chapter 6: Water Environment provides a summary of the impacted basins and the communities relying
upon them for water resources.
23.2.3
Preliminary Screening
Table 23.1 presents the findings of a preliminary screening exercise. This has been used to define a
preliminary list of ecosystem services to include in the impact assessment. At the screening stage, predicted
impacts on ecosystem services grouped into three categories: moderate or higher, minor, and not
significant. Since this is a screening exercise, the potential impact ratings should not be interpreted as an
ultimate determination of significance but rather an assessment of the potential for an impact on a service to
occur and the potential level of that impact. Potential impacts related to all phases of the mine (construction,
operation, and closure) are incorporated into the screening exercise.
The screening exercise identifies the most likely direct, indirect and secondary drivers of ecosystem change
that may result in a decline in ecosystem services for beneficiaries. World Resources Institute cites the five
most significant direct drivers of ecosystem change as: changes in local land use and land cover, harvest
and resource consumption, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and climate change (1). In addition,
indirect drivers of ecosystem change can include demographic, economic, sociopolitical and religious or
scientific and technological factors that lead to changes in resource consumption.
This broad list of potential drivers has been narrowed to focus on the key sources of potential impacts on
ecosystem services relevant to mine activities, including:

occupation of land during mine construction and operation, resulting in habitat loss, degradation and
fragmentation and / or reduced access to resources for beneficiaries;

disturbance to habitats and species (including introduction of invasive species, and activities causing
habitat degradation);

impacts on surface water due to pollution, resource use (eg mine abstractions) and land use change;
and

impacts on availability and quality of resources due to demographic and economic changes relating to
the influx of people seeking potential employment at the mine.
The results of the preliminary screening exercise incorporating this list of drivers is provided in Table 23.1.
Ecosystem services for which potential impacts are expected to be moderate or higher are carried over from
the screening exercise into the baseline and impact assessment; services that have been screened out are
described in more detail (including the rationale for exclusion) in Annex23A: Ecosystem Services Screened
Out of the Impact Assessment.
(1) Landsberg, F., S. Ozment, M. Stickler, N. Henninger, J. Treweek, O. Venn, and G. Mock. 2011. Ecosystem Services Review for
Impact Assessment: Introduction and Guide to Scoping. WRI Working Paper. World Resources Institute, Washington DC.
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Chapter 23: Ecosystem Services
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Table 23.1 Preliminary Screening Assessment
Category of
Service
Service
Drivers of Change Associated
with the Mine
Include in
Impact
Assessment

Occupation of land
Y

Disturbance to habitats and
species

Demographic and
economic change
Agriculture is the primary
livelihood activity practised by
over 90 % of households in the
mine area.

Occupation of land

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity

Demographic and
economic change
Poultry (58%), cattle (27%),
goats (8%) and sheep (6%).

Occupation of land

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity

Demographic and
economic change

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity

Disturbance to habitats and
species

Demographic and
economic change
Examples
Potential Impacts: Moderate or Higher
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Provisioning
Cultural
Cultural
Food:
Bushmeat
Food: crop
cultivation
Food:
Livestock
cultivation
Food: wild
caught fish
Wild game hunted for food and
sale.
Inland fishing in rivers,
wetlands and bas fonds.
Y
Y
Water Supply:
domestic,
agricultural,
construction
use
Water use for consumption,
bathing, irrigation and brick
making.

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity

Demographic and
economic change
Fibre:
Timber
Timber species used for
construction or trade.

Occupation of land

Demographic and
economic change
Non-timber
forest
products
Raffia palm, bamboo and straw
used as construction, roofing
materials. Raffia wine.

Occupation of land

Demographic and
economic change
Fuel:
Firewood
and charcoal
Wood and plant matter for
charcoal, fuel.

Occupation of land

Demographic and
economic change
Natural
Medicine
Wild plants used for medicinal
purposes.

Occupation of land

Demographic and
economic change
Spiritual or
religious
value
Cult forests, ritual sites and
spirit dwellings are often
associated with rivers, trees
and natural features.

Occupation of land

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity

Access to religious sites
Cultural value placed on
traditional practices such as
hunting, fishing, crafts and use
of natural resources.

Occupation of land

Disturbance to habitats and
species

Demographic and
economic change
Traditional
practices
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Chapter 23: Ecosystem Services
23-5
Category of
Service
Cultural
Cultural
Regulating
Regulating
Regulating
Regulating
Drivers of Change Associated
with the Mine
Include in
Impact
Assessment
Cultural value placed on
landscapes and landmarks in
the area.

Occupation of land
Y

Disturbance to habitats and
species
Species and areas valued
globally as of high
conservation value or concern.
Benefits primarily accrue
nationally & globally.

Occupation of land

Disturbance to habitats and
species

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity

Demographic and
economic change
Service
Examples
Aesthetic
value
Existence
value
Y
Erosion
regulation
Forest and riparian habitats
regulate erosion and sediment
delivery to streams and are
particularly important on steep
slopes where erosion potential
is high.

Occupation of land

Demographic and
economic change
Surface
water and
groundwater
regulation
Role played by the Simandou
ridge in groundwater recharge
and regulation of the volume
and residence time of surface
water flows.

Occupation of land

Impacts on surface water
quality and quantity
Natural
hazard
regulation:
fire
Regulation of fire frequency
and intensity through presence
of vegetative fire breaks.

Occupation of land

Disturbance to habitats and
species

Demographic and
economic change
Disease
regulation
The role habitats play in
providing breeding grounds for
mosquitos and other sources
of vector borne disease; and of
providing natural protection
against the spread of disease.

Occupation of land

Demographic and
economic change
Y
Y
Y
Y
Ecosystem services for which potential impacts are predicted to be minor or not significant are discussed
in more detail in Annex 23A: Ecosystem Services Screened Out of the Impact Assessment, including the
rational for screening them out of the assessment.
Services with minor impacts include:




wild plants and honey (provisioning service);
natural oils (provisioning service);
ornamental resources (provisioning service); and
climate regulation: regional and local climate (regulating service).
Services with no significant impacts expected or that are excluded to avoid double-counting include (1):


food: aquaculture (provisioning service);
air quality regulation by vegetated areas (regulating service);
(1) Supporting services are not included in the impact assessment because they are intermediate ecological outcomes that are captured
elsewhere in the provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that they support. For example, changes to primary production are
captured in the effects on food resources and non-use services of biodiversity.
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Chapter 23: Ecosystem Services
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







water purification (regulating service);
pest regulation (regulating service);
pollination (regulating service);
climate regulation: global (regulating service) (1);
soil formation (supporting service);
primary production (supporting service);
nutrient cycling (supporting service); and
landscape disturbance regime (supporting service).
23.2.4
Baseline Methodology
The ecosystem services baseline draws upon information from a number of other chapters in the SEIA as
well as a range of studies and data sources for the mine study area.
Ecosystem services were identified and prioritised through a combination of secondary information, in-field
environmental, physical and social data collection and stakeholder engagement (see Section 23.3.1). Where
information on a service was not sufficiently detailed or current to make a complete analysis of the service’s
value, expert judgement has been used to make an initial assessment; in some cases, services have been
identified for which additional data collection is required to refine the assessment. This type of assessment
is, by its nature, qualitative and the assumptions made on the importance and sensitivity of ecosystem
services within the area of influence will continue to develop and be refined through the life of the mine
project.
A first round of data collection and stakeholder engagement specifically aimed at ecosystem services was
undertaken in 2010 as part of the preparatory fieldwork leading to development of the Pic de Fon
Management Plan. Field studies undertaken as part of this process included participatory rural appraisals,
key informant interviews, market studies and field visits to 14 villages in the area of the mine. Data collection
focused on ecosystem services including agricultural outputs, water use, non-timber forest products and
cultural sites in and around the Pic de Fon Classified Forest (CF) and neighbouring village territories. In
addition, detailed multi-year meteorological, hydrological and erosion studies have fed into the analysis of
regulating services; these studies are cited and drawn from in the relevant topic area chapters of the SEIA.
Further environmental and social data collection as well as stakeholder engagement was undertaken as part
of the SEIA baseline fieldwork in 2010 and 2011.
On-going stakeholder engagement will be used to refine the Project’s understanding of ecosystem services.
As outlined in more detail in Section 22.6.1, the Project will undertake a combination of socio-economic
surveys, in-migration studies and stakeholder engagement as part of the development of Social
Management Plans. Detailed information on the use and value of ecosystem services at the local level will
continue to be collected as needed along with other socioeconomic data in order to improve understanding
of the value of ecosystem services at the village level and to refine the mitigation measures identified in this
report.
The baseline provides an analysis of two aspects of ecosystem services in the mine study area. These
include: (a) importance of the service to beneficiaries and (b) replaceability by spatial alternatives. These are
explained below and shown in Table 23.2.
a) Importance of ecosystem services to beneficiaries, is assessed according to the following criteria and
assigned a rating from low - essential:
i.
intensity of use – eg daily, weekly or seasonal use of a provisioning service; number of downstream
villages reliant on erosion or flood control services;
ii.
scope of use - eg household level vs village level; subsistence use, trade, or both;
(1) Although losses in carbon sequestration as a result of occupation of land are expected to be very small, these are included in the
assessment of GHG emissions arising from the mine in Chapter 10: Greenhouse Gas Assessment.
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Chapter 23: Ecosystem Services
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iii.
geographic proximity (where possible) (1); and
iv.
degree of dependence: eg contribution of fish or bushmeat to total protein in the diet.
b) Replaceability of ecosystem services is assessed according to the following criteria and assigned a
rating from low – high (2):
i.
the existence of spatial alternatives (other sites where the same ecosystem service is also provided
and that are close enough to be utilised by affected communities); and
ii.
the sustainability of spatial alternatives given the potential for increased resource use, including a
consideration of other users and the existing status and threats to the resource.
A rating of low replaceability indicates that there are no or few spatial alternatives, whereas a rating of high
replaceability indicates that many alternatives are available in the area.
The findings on the importance and replaceability of services are used to place a value rating on ecosystem
services. This rating will be used in the prioritisation of ecosystem services in Section 23.3.2.2 and in the
impact assessment, as described in the following sections. In addition, information collected for the baseline
analysis may contribute to an assessment of whether current utilisation of a service, for example, bushmeat
is unsustainable, meaning that it should not be treated as a priority ecosystem service (ie substitution of
alternative sources of protein and alternative livelihoods may be preferable to maintaining the current value
of the service). This is discussed in more detail in the following section.
23.2.4.1
Ecosystem Services Prioritisation
Undertaking a prioritisation process is an important component of the ecosystem services assessment and is
required to meet IFC standards regarding impacts and mitigation measures for ecosystem services (3). In the
case of the Simandou Mine, the first step in the prioritisation process has been to scope out ecosystem
services according to the potential significance of impacts by the mine. This rating will be used in the
prioritisation of ecosystem services in Section 23.3.2.2 this step has been undertaken in the preliminary
screening exercise in Section 23.2.3. The second step in the prioritisation process is undertaken as part of
the baseline analysis. Through the analysis of baseline data and stakeholder feedback on ecosystem
services, each service is assigned a value rating reflecting the importance to beneficiaries and availability of
alternatives (replaceability) of the service (Table 23.2) (4). Ecosystem services of high – critical value that are
expected to be impacted by the proposed mine are considered ‘priority’ ecosystem services. For these
services, the Project will design mitigation measures to maintain or restore the value and functionality of the
service. Ecosystem services of medium value are still considered of relevance to beneficiaries and are
included in the impact assessment in less detail. Ecosystem services of low value to beneficiaries are
scoped out of the assessment.
(1) As part of the consideration of geographic proximity, the assessment places a premium on services that benefit local communities.
National and global beneficiaries are an intrinsic part of an ecosystem services assessment and are included where relevant; however,
all things being equal, a service benefitting local communities will be given a higher importance rating than one only benefitting national
or global stakeholders.
(2) Replaceability does not refer to the replacement of a particular ecosystem service with a different but comparable service (eg the
replacement of bushmeat with other protein sources such as livestock) or the replacement of a natural service with a man-made
substitute. These are defined as ‘substitutes’ in the context of this assessment and are instead considered in the mitigation section.
(3) IFC PS-6 requires the following: “With respect to impacts on priority ecosystem services of relevance to Affected Communities and
where the client has direct management control or significant influence over such ecosystem services, adverse impacts should be
avoided. If these impacts are unavoidable, the client will minimize them and implement mitigation measures that aim to maintain the
value and functionality of priority services.”
(4) As part of the development of the Pic de Fon Management Plan and biodiversity strategies for the Project, Stakeholder engagement,
including focus groups and questionnaires, was utilised to assess the use and importance of ecosystem services in the mine area.
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Table 23.2 Assessing the Value of Ecosystem Services
Importance of
service to
beneficiaries
Replaceability / Resilience of Service
High
Moderate
Low
(many spatial
alternatives)
(some spatial
alternatives)
(few to no spatial
alternatives)
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Moderate
Low
Medium
High
High
Medium
High
Critical
Essential
High
Critical
Critical
The value of ecosystem services as determined through the prioritisation process in the baseline is also
carried over into the value ratings assigned to ecosystem service receptors for the impact assessment, as
discussed in Section 23.2.5.
At the end of the prioritisation process, a final sustainability filter is applied to the services rated high – critical
value. Sustainable use is defined as maintaining the biological, ecological and socioeconomic sustainability
of the resource underlying a particular ecosystem service. These conditions are defined as follows (1).

Biological sustainability indicates that harvested populations or resources (eg freshwater) should not
show a consistent decline in numbers / quantity.

Ecological sustainability indicates that harvested populations or resources should not be reduced to
densities whereby they no longer fulfill their ecological role.

Socioeconomic sustainability indicates that harvested populations or resources should not be reduced to
densities where they cease to be a significant resource for human users.
If use of an ecosystem service is determined to be unsustainable in the mine study area, the service will not
be considered a priority ecosystem service. If the service is of medium to critical value to beneficiaries,
impacts and mitigation relating to this service will still be assessed, but with the goal of providing alternatives
(either man-made or natural) and / or managing use of the service to sustainable levels, rather than
maintaining the value and functionality of the service at current levels of use.
23.2.5
Impact Assessment Approach and Methods
The assessment of ecosystem services impacts has followed the overall impact assessment methodology
described in Chapter 1: Introduction. These steps include: assigning the sensitivity / value of a receptor;
prediction of the magnitude of impacts; evaluation of their significance; development of mitigation measures;
and assessment of residual impact.
The significance of the impact is assessed according to the value / sensitivity of the receptor and the
magnitude of the impact.
In the case of ecosystem services, the baseline analysis has produced a list of priority ecosystem services
for which the mine must design mitigation measures that aim to maintain or restore the value and
functionality of the service for beneficiaries. Compensation or replacement services are provided in the
interim or where full restoration is not possible (eg some landscape or cultural impacts). For non-priority
ecosystem services that are nonetheless adversely impacted by the project, standard mitigation measures
are proposed that are designed to avoid, or where this is not possible, reduce or compensate for the impact.
(1) Bennett, E. 2008. Hunting and Trade of Bushmeat in Central Africa: A Review of Conservation, Livelihood and Policy Implications.
Report to the World Bank prepared by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
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23.2.5.1
Value
The allocation of a value rating to an ecosystem service takes into account the specific criteria detailed under
the prioritisation process above. This avoids assigning more than one value rating over the course of the
ecosystem services assessment and helps to streamline the assessment approach.
As described in Section 23.2.4, the value rating for a service is based on an assessment of the importance of
the service to beneficiaries, the availability of sustainable alternatives and the resilience of the underlying
habitats and species providing the service; the same matrix and ratings assigned in Section 23.2.4.1 are
applied here.
23.2.5.2
Magnitude
The impact assessment describes what will happen to the environment and communities by predicting the
magnitude of impacts and quantifying this to the extent practicable. The term magnitude is used here to
encompass various possible dimensions of the predicted impact including:





the nature of the consequence (how resources and / or receptors are affected);
the size, scale or intensity of the effect;
geographical extent and distribution;
temporal extent (duration, frequency, reversibility); and
where relevant, the probability of the impact occurring as a result of non-routine events.
The impact assessment also identifies where there is uncertainty about the occurrence or scale of the
impact.
In the case of ecosystem services, the receptor is the service itself, as provided by the underlying
ecosystem. However, because the ultimate beneficiaries are the human users of this service, the
assessment takes into consideration both the magnitude of an impact on an ecosystem service and the
resulting magnitude of impact on the human beneficiaries of that service.
Magnitude is classified as follows:

Negligible: Within the normal range of natural variation;

Small: The impact results in a small reduction in the availability or functionality of the ecosystem service
and / or has implications for a small number of people relative to the population within the area of
influence. There is a perceptible difference from baseline conditions;

Medium: The impact results in a moderate reduction in the availability or functionality of the ecosystem
service and / or has implications for a substantial number of people relative to the population within the
area of influence. Does not threaten the long term viability of the service; and

Large: The impact results in the loss of all or a significant proportion of the availability or functionality of
an ecosystem service and / or has implications for the majority of people within the area of influence.
The long term viability of the service is threatened.
23.2.5.3
Evaluating Significance
The significance of the impact is determined by cross referencing the magnitude of an impact with the value
of the receptor and is categorised as not significant, minor, moderate, major or critical. Table 23.3
provides a matrix that shows how significance is determined as a function of magnitude and sensitivity. This
evaluation differs slightly from other chapters of the assessment due to the wider range of values for
ecosystem services.
When assessing a combination of direct and indirect impacts on an ecosystem service, the highest
magnitude rating is used to assess overall significance of impacts for each mine project phase.
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Table 23.2 Evaluating Significance of Impacts on Ecosystem Services
Value of Receptor
Negligible
Low
Medium
High
Critical
Magnitude of Impact
Negligible
Small
Medium
Large
The impact is within the
normal range of variation.
The impact results in a small
reduction in the availability or
functionality of the ecosystem service
and / or has implications for a small
number of people relative to the
population within the area of
influence.
The impact results in a moderate
reduction in the availability or
functionality of the ecosystem service
and / or has implications for a
substantial number of people relative
to the population within the area of
influence. Does not threaten the
long-term viability of the service.
The impact results in the loss of all or
a significant proportion of the
availability or functionality of an
ecosystem service and / or has
implications for the majority of people
within the area of influence. The longterm viability of the service is
threatened.
The ecosystem service is of negligible
importance to beneficiaries
Not Significant
Not Significant
Not Significant
Not Significant
The ecosystem service is of low
importance to beneficiaries (local,
regional and global) or is of moderate
importance but with many spatial
alternatives available
Not Significant
Not Significant
Minor
Moderate
The ecosystem service has moderate
importance to beneficiaries and
moderate replaceability (some spatial
alternatives), high importance to
beneficiaries and many spatial
alternatives, or low importance and
few to no spatial alternatives
Not Significant
Minor
Moderate
Major
The ecosystem service is of high
importance to beneficiaries and has
moderate replaceability (some spatial
alternatives); is of moderate
importance to beneficiaries and has
few or no spatial alternatives; or is
essential to beneficiaries but has many
spatial alternatives
Not Significant
Moderate
Major
Critical
The ecosystem service is of high
importance to beneficiaries and has
few to no spatial alternatives; or the
service is of high to essential
importance and has moderate to low
replaceability
Not Significant
Major
Critical
Critical
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23.3
Baseline
23.3.1
Data Collection and Sources
The ecosystem services chapter integrates relevant baseline information from other chapters and draws
upon a number of studies and reports that have been organised and commissioned in recent years. In
particular, the following resources have provided a significant amount of information for the SEIA.

Bennett, E. (2008). Hunting and Trade of Bushmeat in Central Africa: A Review of Conservation,
Livelihood and Policy Implications. Report to the World Bank prepared by the Wildlife Conservation
Society.

Centre Forestier N’Zérékoré, Republic of Guinea (2010). Pic de Fon Classified Forest Development and
Management Plan 2010–2030.

Diallo, M.S. (2005). Étude socio-économique de la forêt classée du Pic de Fon. Projet Élargi de
Gestion des Ressources Naturelles (PEGRN), Centre Forestier de N’Zérékoré –VITA – Land O’Lakes–
ACA– PRIDE /Guinée, USAID-DNEF.

Camara, W & Kouyate, S. (2008). Rapport d’enquêtes socio-économiques – Usages et usagers des
ressources de la Forêt classée du Pic de Fon. Direction Générale du Centre Forestier de N’Zérékoré,
Guinée.

Centre Forestier de N’Zérékoré (2007). Étude socio-économique des villages riverains des forêts
classées de Banan, Yonon et Pic de Fon. Rapport provisoire réalisé par la Division Relations
Riveraines. Projet de Gestion des Ressources Forestières (PGRF). 58 p.

SNC Lavalin Environment (August 2010). Social and Environmental Baseline Study (Mine Component):
Volume B – Social Baseline.
23.3.2
Baseline
The tables in the following section provide an overview of the ecosystem services identified through the
earlier screening exercise as potentially impacted by the mine. Each ecosystem service is assessed for the
importance of the service to beneficiaries and the availability of spatial alternatives. Services that have been
screened out through the preliminary screening exercise are described in more detail in Annex 23A:
Ecosystem Services Screened Out of the Impact Assessment.
In the case of a number of provisioning and regulating services identified for the mine, additional stakeholder
engagement is needed to confirm use of the service at the village level, as well as the importance and
replaceability of given services. Planned stakeholder engagement efforts mentioned in the tables below will
be undertaken as part of the PARC Process and development of Social Management Plans (see
Section 23.6.1.2).
The analysis of ecosystem services uses the descriptions of habitat categories and water catchments as
defined in Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods and Chapter 6: Water Environment in order to
provide an assessment of impacts on human beneficiaries of the ecosystem services associated with
different habitats.

Forest (includes Closed Evergreen Lowland / Gallery / Submontane Forest and Areas of Plantation):
Areas consisting of unbroken forest canopy primarily in their natural state. Forest areas are a source of
provisioning services such as collection of firewood and charcoal, construction timber, non-timber forest
products such as natural medicines and oils and fruit, and hunting for bush meat. Forests may also be
established or preserved by communities as a wind break to protect settlements from seasonal
Harmattan winds, and to act as a barrier against bushfires if necessary. Accessible forest lands, mainly
on the lower slopes and in the lower-lying areas, are used for cultivating cash crops such as palm, rice,
raffia wine, coffee and cacao.
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
Woodland, wooded grassland and open grassland (referred to as Savanna in the social chapters):
This habitat is used by local populations for multiple purposes including pasture (seasonal), ’slash and
burn’ agriculture, and harvesting of firewood and non-timber forest products. The uses of savanna
change over time according to the needs of the local population. Savanna land is well suited to grazing,
which serves as a secondary livelihood for some households alongside cultivation. Cattle herds stop or
transit through the savanna region, led by herdsmen. Soil quality influences the value of different areas
of savanna with ‘wooded savanna’ often subjected to clearing for agricultural use (particularly in close
vicinity to settlements). These areas have high susceptibility to bushfires due to drier conditions and
repetition of the ‘slash and burn’ process.

Submontane Grassland: Located on top of the ridge, these areas are sometimes used for low levels of
grazing and occasionally subjected to ‘slash and burn’ processes to rejuvenate growth of vegetation.
Submontane grassland in the study area is predominantly within the Pic de Fon Classified Forest and is
intended to be protected from most uses. Grazing in much of the area is illegal.

Agricultural land: This category includes bas fonds, agricultural plains, hillside agricultural areas and
palm groves. The importance and use of different types of agricultural land is discussed in more detail
under Cultivated Crops in the baseline tables that follow.

Freshwater resources: This category includes groundwater, rivers, lakes and streams. A detailed map
of freshwater resources in the mine area is provided in Chapter 6: Water Environment.
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Table 23.3 Provisioning Services in the Mine Area of Influence
Service
Description
Food:
Bushmeat
Subsistence bushmeat hunting in rural areas is an important
source of affordable protein and the localised bushmeat trade
is a source of income for some households. The cost of
farmed meat is extremely high and wild meat is considered
more desirable. Hunting for bushmeat is also conducted at a
commercial scale for local and regional markets.
In the village territories surveyed, 85% of the meat eaten per
week comes from wild animals and 15% from domestic
(1)
animals . Villagers have reported hunting a number of
wildlife species for food. The most commonly sold animals
according to a 2010 market study included Warthog
(3 894 kg), Cane rat (2 096 kg), Red River Hog (1 680 kgs),
(2)
Buffalo (1 650 kg) and Baboon (1 469 kg) .
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
The Hunting Confederation has declared a
moratorium on hunting inside the Pic de Fon
Classified Forest (CF), potentially putting additional
pressure on surrounding forest habitat. Illegal
hunting is ongoing within and outside the Classified
Forest but is believed to have declined within the CF
following implementation of the moratorium.
Unsustainable resource use is discussed further at
the end of this section.
forest
wooded
grassland
High
Low
agricultural
Essential
Moderate
Ongoing degradation of forest habitat near villages
also threatens targeted species. While livestock
herding could serve as a substitute for some of the
protein provided by bushmeat, there are not
considered to be other natural alternatives to wild
meat in the area; replaceability is therefore rated Low.
Field studies undertaken by the Project in 2011
indicate that three of 32 identified bushmeat species
are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
West African Chimpanzee (IUCN EN), Sooty
Mangabey (IUCN NT) and genet (IUCN NT).
Not all hunting in the area is necessarily unsustainable.
Some species of rodents, ungulates, small mammals
and some birds and reptiles may be more abundant
and could potentially be hunted at sustainable levels.
This will need to be assessed in more detail through
field studies and consultation with local stakeholders.
Food:
Agriculture is the primary livelihood activity practised by over
Many households farm plots of land as far as several
(1) Socioeconomic field studies supporting preparation of the Pic de Fon Management Plan (2010).
(2) Bushmeat field study, 2011
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Service
Description
crop
cultivation
90 percent of households in the mine area. Rice is the
primary crop grown by most households in local villages
followed by cassava, potatoes, groundnuts and corn; women
also cultivate small vegetable gardens. Coffee, fruit, oil palm
and cocoa plantations are present within the Classified Forest
but no new plantations are permitted. Farming is primarily a
subsistence activity, providing food for household consumption
and limited surplus sold for small income. It is not practised
on a commercial scale in the mine area.
There are four primary types of agricultural land in the study
area: lowlands, uplands, plains and plantations.

Lowlands (‘bas fonds’) are highly valued by local farmers.
They constitute favourable places for intensive permanent
cultivation where double cropping is sometimes possible
and yields are higher than other agricultural areas (for
example on slopes). Lowland agricultural areas comprise
4.4% of the total mine project area.

Uplands or hillside land (coteaux) constitute 7.7% of the
mine project area. Most hill plots are cultivated with
upland rice, other cereals (millet, fonio, sorghum) and
groundnuts. Due to the requirement for extensive periods
of regeneration and comparatively short periods of
cultivation these areas comprise approx. 80% fallow land
and 20% cultivated land at any one time (2006 data).

The agricultural plains are an extended area located on
both sides of the river, but constitute only 2.4% of the
mine project area. The main crop is a species of rice
adapted to the plains. In villages such as Goékoro,
Banankoro, Nionsomoridou, Moribadou and Mafindou,
15-25% of households farm on agricultural plains. The
large extent of the agricultural plains enables a large
quantity of produce to be grown. For the Malinké,
agricultural plains are valued as highly as lowland plots.

Natural palm groves, exploited by local populations for
palm oil and palm seeds, and plantations, including coffee
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
kilometres from the village, indicating that cultivatable
land within this distance can be considered
accessible.
land
woodland
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
A good amount of cultivatable land is believed to be
available in the mine area. However, the availability
and viability of unoccupied land as replacement
farmland needs to be confirmed through further
stakeholder consultation. In addition, available land
may be of lower quality than existing farmland and
would require additional inputs to reach equivalent
productivity. Replaceability of cultivated land is
therefore considered to be moderate on average for
the mine area.
Generally speaking, yields in the mine study area are
relatively low for a variety of reasons and could
potentially be increased through support
programmes.
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Service
Description
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Overgrazing of grassland close to the towns of
Wataférédou and Moribadou has been noted,
potentially due to the speed of population growth. In
general there is sufficient good quality land available
for grazing in the area and, feeding cattle is not a
factor limiting growth. Replaceability is therefore
rated Moderate for the mine study area as a whole,
but may vary at the village level.
forest
submontane
grassland
wooded
grassland
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
and cacao, are located across the study area and often
lie within areas of forest. Plantations are rare in the mine
project area, occupying approximately 1% of the area.
Food:
Livestock
cultivation
Traditional livestock farming practised in villages bordering the
Pic de Fon Classified Forest is varied, including small
ruminants (goats and sheep), poultry (chicken) and some
cattle. Some cattle grazing also takes place in savanna areas
of the classified forest under agreement with the CFZ (1).
In the mine project area, households have on average 4.1
cattle (4.7 in the villages east of Pic de Fon), 0.9 sheep and
1.2 goats (0.6 goats in the villages east of Pic de Fon).
However, there are significant variations across the villages.
Chapter 15: Socio-Economic and Community Baseline
provides a detailed account of livestock owned by villages in
the mine study area.
People breed and raise livestock within different land use
categories. Pastures are seasonal, taking advantage of fallow
lands or occupying areas of grassland, wooded savanna and
woodland; permanent pastures are very rare. Due to the
nature of livestock activities, however, it is difficult to estimate
the actual areas occupied by pastures.
Transhumant livestock herding (cattle) also takes place in the
mine area of influence. In addition, traditional herders are
beginning to settle in the area for extended periods. There
are several hamlets between villages of Korela and Traoréla;
many cattle paths and tracks converge towards these areas.
Other villages typically associated with pastoralism are
Wataférédou II, Baladou, Foma and Kéoulendou.
High
Moderate
[1]
Submontane grassland on top of the Simandou ridge
is used occasionally as pasture land for cattle grazing
but because it falls within the boundary of the Pic de
Fon Classified Forest, grazing is prohibited in the
Fully Protected Area and only allowed at no more
than 15 head of cattle per ha in the Production Area.
Illegal grazing is identified as an ongoing problem,
particularly the grazing of zebu cattle, which are
explicitly prohibited in all areas of the Classified
Forest.
Information on value and replaceability will be
gathered at the village level as needed through
stakeholder engagement and data collection as part
of the development and implementation of Social
Management Plans (see Section 23.6.1.2).
(1) Centre Forestier N’Zérékoré, Republic of Guinea. (2010) Pic de Fon Classified Forest Development and Management Plan 2010–2030
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Service
Description
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
The primary fish species utilised by local communities
are known to be fairly resilient and are not currently
threatened.
surface
water
agricultural
land (rice
fields)
Moderate
Moderate
forest
High
High
Livestock rearing is a secondary source of income for most
households near the mine area.
Food:
freshwater
fish
Inland fishing is an important subsistence activity for villagers
although it is marginal in terms of income-generation in most
parts of the mine area. According to baseline studies carp,
shrimp and catfish are the main catches of 59% of the
households surveyed in the village territories. Of the fish
caught, 77% is eaten at home, while 23% is sold. There are
no professional fishermen in the mine area.
Fish are consumed fresh or are smoked. Fishing is generally
an activity carried out by women and mostly during the dry
season after the harvest is finished.
Rivers, wetlands and bas fonds are used for fishing activities.
The availability and health of fish is also closely
linked to surface water quality and quantity in the
study area. At the time of writing, freshwater fish did
not appear to be declining as a result of water quality
and rivers and springs in the area were in good
condition other than directly downstream of villages
(see water resources, below). Targeted fish species
in the area, such as tilapia and crayfish, are known
for their ability to tolerate a wide range of conditions.
[1]
It has not been confirmed whether the freshwater
fishery is being overexploited but fishing is believed
to be sustainable at this time. Due to uncertainty
around fish populations and level of fishing pressure,
replaceability is rated moderate for the area as a
whole. More information will be gathered on fishing
through stakeholder engagement and data collection
as part of the development of Social Management
Plans (see Section 23.6.1.2).
Fibre:
Timber
There is no commercial logging in the Pic de Fon CF or
surrounding forests, but timber is an important resource for
the construction of houses and furniture in villages close to the
Pic de Fon CF; 17 timber species are used for construction or
to trade. Villages engaged in the timber trade include:
Dandano, Nawéssou, Banko, Koreli, Touréla, Baladou, Foma
and recently Moribadou (1).
Some valuable timber resources are rare or
endangered species such as Tieghemella heckelli
(Cherry Mahogany).
The harvesting of wood for rural construction will be
authorised in the production area of the Pic de Fon
CF and in the mining area solely on the basis of
(1) Centre Forestier N’Zérékoré, Republic of Guinea. (2010) Pic de Fon Classified Forest Development and Management Plan 2010–2030.
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Service
Description
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
meeting household needs. Certain regulations will
applyTimber resources are believed to be sufficient to
meet community needs at this time, therefore
replaceability is rated high. Further information on
timber use and replaceability will be gathered at the
village level as needed through stakeholder
engagement and data collection as part of the
implementation of Social Management Plans (see
Section 23.6.1.2).
Fibre:
nontimber
forest
products
Raffia (fibres of buds and stalks) is used in all villages
surveyed. The leaf petioles are similar to bamboo and are
used to build dwellings and storehouses. Every household
uses an average of 375 leaves for this purpose, replacing
them every year. In total, over 400 000 leaves are cut and
(1)
used by the 1 256 households . Raffia is also used by
women to weave baskets and other items for sale and can be
(2)
an important source of cash income in some households .
Raffia wine is produced by villagers for their own consumption
(15%), but mainly to sell in local markets (85%) (3).
Wine production is not a primary income for many households
interviewed in baseline studies, but the wine appears to be
harvested and sold on a large scale in the village of Dandano.
It is also sold locally in the villages of Silafarala, Naweissou,
(4)
Banko, Mandou, Traoréla, Moribadou, and Balladou Foom .
Bamboo and lianas (woody vines) are also used for house
construction and sheaves of straw are collected for thatch
roofs, which are replaced every five years. A significant
Most NTFPs are abundant and relatively fast-growing
and harvesting rates are believed to be sustainable.
However, there are signs that Raphia vinifera is being
overharvested both within the Pic de Fon Classified
Forest and in the village territories in the mine
(4)
area . Increased demand and / or decreasing
supply are evident in local markets: The price of raffia
wine increased from 500 GNF in 2000 to 2 000 GNF
(4)
in 2007 . Over harvesting of raffia in Moribadou
and Traoréla has been connected to the influx of
workers seeking jobs on the Simandou project.
forest
woodland
wooded
grassland
High
[1]
Moderate
Low (raffia)
Due to the fast-growing nature and relative
abundance of most NTFPs, the service is assessed
to be moderately replaceable overall; however
replaceability of raffia is rated low. More information
will be collected to determine the abundance and
availability of alternatives for NTFPs at the village
level through the PARC process and development of
Social Management Plans.
(1) Centre Forestier N’Zérékoré, Republic of Guinea (2010). Pic de Fon Classified Forest Development and Management Plan 2010–2030.
(2) Diallo, M.S. (2005). Étude socio-économique de la forêt classée du Pic de Fon. Projet Élargi de Gestion des Ressources Naturelles (PEGRN), Centre Forestier de N’Zérékoré –VITA – Land O’Lakes–
ACA– PRIDE /Guinée, USAID-DNEF.
(3) Socioeconomic baseline studies 2010.
(4) Centre Forestier N’Zérékoré, Republic of Guinea (2010). Pic de Fon Classified Forest Development and Management Plan 2010–2030.
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Service
Description
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Forest areas in the immediate vicinity of villages have
suffered from degradation in recent years, meaning
that people may have to travel further to access these
resources. The harvesting of fuelwood will be
authorised in the production area of the Pic de Fon
CF and in the mining area solely on the basis of
meeting household needs. Certain regulations will
apply.
forest
woodland
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
proportion of bamboo (49%) and lianas (74%) and most straw
is harvested within the Pic de Fon CF rather than in the wider
(1)
village territories . However, sufficient spatial alternatives
exist in the area.
The small rattan palm, Eremospatha macrocarpa, and
medium rattan, Calamus deerratus are used to make belts for
climbing palm trees and in basketry in Banko, Dandano,
Naweinzou and Touréla. Most rattan related activities take
place in the village of Dandano where people make and sell
baskets, climbing belts and household furniture.
Fuel:
Firewood
and
charcoal
Local communities use fuel wood and charcoal for domestic
and economic purposes. Fuel wood supplies about 77% of
household energy needs and charcoal another 3% (2) (3).
There are 8 main tree species used for firewood these are:
Albizia zygia, Detarium senegalense, Harungana
madagascariensis, Holarrhena febrifuga,Macaranga spp
Myrianthus arboreus, Uapaca somon and Xylopia
aethiopica (4).
The most common use of charcoal is in forges to manufacture
(5)
farm equipment .
Villagers travel various distances to obtain fuelwood with
ranges of 0.5 to 5 km recorded in survey work at the mine.
Essential
Moderate
[1]
There are few alternative sources of energy in the
study area at the current time. In the town of Beyla,
19% of households have access to electricity. The
only available source of electricity in the rural villages
is by means of privately-owned generators, which are
rare.
(1) Socioeconomic field studies supporting preparation of the Pic de Fon Management Plan (2010).
(2) Diallo, M.S. (2005). Étude socio-économique de la forêt classée du Pic de Fon. Projet Élargi de Gestion des Ressources Naturelles (PEGRN), Centre Forestier de N’Zérékoré –VITA – Land O’Lakes–
ACA– PRIDE /Guinée, USAID-DNEF.
(3) Centre Forestier de N’Zérékoré (2007). Étude socio-économique des villages riverains des forêts classées de Banan, Yonon et Pic de Fon. Rapport provisoire réalisé par la Division Relations
Riveraines. Projet de Gestion des Ressources Forestières (PGRF). 58 p.
(4) Socioeconomic field studies supporting preparation of the Pic de Fon Management Plan (2010).
(5) Camara, W. & Kouyate, S. (2008). Rapport d’enquêtes socio-économiques – Usages et usagers des ressources de la Forêt classée du Pic de Fon. Direction Générale du Centre Forestier de
N’Zérékoré, Guinée.
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Service
Description
Most fuelwood used by local communities is collected outside
of the Pic de Fon CF: 18% comes from the classified forest
(3)
and 82% from the wider village territories .
Natural
Medicines
Plant species used for traditional medicine are distributed
throughout village lands both inside and outside the Pic de
Fon CF. According to the socio-economic survey conducted
in the Pic de Fon CF by Camara and Kouyaté (2008) and
Diallo (2010), 36 species are used by local communities for
natural medicine. Local healers interviewed during the survey
said they travelled an average of 1.3 km in search of natural
(1)
medicines . Most collection of medicinal plants takes place
outside the Pic de Fon Classified Forest.
Given the low income of the local populations and the high
cost of drugs on sale in the markets, traditional medicine is an
important resource for many people in the area. It also
remains an important custom in the study area.
Water
Supply:
Domestic water use: Villages in the mine area use river
water for drinking and for other domestic purposes (laundry
washing, hygiene, cooking). Annex 6A: Surface Water
presents a summary of the results of the surface water use
survey that was conducted for villages in the immediate
proximity of the mine, including the types of water use and
flow conditions at the time of the survey
Villages living in hillside catchments have varying degrees of
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Given the lack of alternative energy sources and
some signs of increasing scarcity in the area,
replaceability of fuelwood is rated moderate in the
area as a whole. This is likely to vary somewhat at
the village level and will be assessed further through
planned stakeholder engagement and data collection.
Gathering plants for use in traditional medicine is
generally a sustainable use of the resource.
Harvesting for monetary purposes is not common and
pressure on medicinal resources is believed to be
minimal at this time.
forest
woodland
High
Moderate
[1]
surface
water and
groundwater
Essential
Moderate
[1]
There are believed to be sufficient spatial alternatives
to maintain current levels of use under changing
conditions, within reason. Replaceability of medicinal
plants is therefore rated moderate for the mine area
as a whole; however this may vary at the village level.
Additional stakeholder engagement and data
collection will be undertaken to confirm use and
availability of natural medicines at the village level as
part of the PARC process and development of social
management plans.
Studies indicate that the volumes of water abstracted
for household use are small relative to total daily flow
in local rivers.
As described in Chapter 6: Water Environment , the
baseline surface water quality is generally good, with
occasional highly elevated Total Suspended Solids
(TSS) and turbidity levels due to high rainfall
intensities, relatively erodible soils and steep terrain.
(1) Socioeconomic field studies supporting preparation of the Pic de Fon Management Plan (2010).
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Service
Description
reliance on surface water; some villages have a number of
wells in addition to access to a stream, while others depend
solely on a single stream. Social baseline data indicate that
half of the 26 villages in the study area have access to potable
groundwater supplies and even in these communities, 30% of
households on average abstract water for cooking, drinking or
both from surface water sources. Many of the villages that
could be impacted by changes in base flow have access to at
least one alternative river or groundwater resource.
The main alternative to surface water is use of groundwater
through boreholes and traditional wells. However, many
existing boreholes are defective or inoperative. Well water is
of variable quality and often is used only for washing.
Water quality and quantity are critical to human health and
wellbeing, and are basic requirements for human life. Water
quality in particular has implications for water-borne illnesses
and may influence the health and availability of fish for human
consumption. See Chapter 21: Community, Health, Safety
and Security for more information.
There are no observed or reported direct uses of groundwater
in the area of the ore deposits. However, as the groundwater
discharge from the mine aquifer feeds a number of the major
streams the indirect use of the groundwater is inseparable
from the surface water uses.
Construction: Water from the river is used by communities to
make bricks to construct housing.
A survey on water use showed that 9% of the water collected
in local rivers and carried home was used for construction.
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Iron and trace element concentrations were below the
WHO limits for springs and streams sampled in the
mine area. However, water quality sampling near
village drinking water points found high faecal
coliform readings; high incidence of diarrhoea and
other waterborne illnesses have been reported at all
of the villages surveyed in the mine area.
Additionally, some of the communities consulted in
2008 reported problems with high turbidity levels
(reported as red water) perceived to be as a result of
earlier drilling operations for the project. In order to
distinguish between ‘natural’ and ‘disturbed’ baseline
conditions, automatic and spot sampling TSS data
have been collected since early 2009. The results
indicate that, whilst there is significant variability in
both cases, the TSS in the surface waters from
disturbed catchments is higher. Nevertheless, the
baseline levels in both undisturbed cases are still
frequently higher than the IFC maximum guideline
value for TSS (50 mg/l for 95% of the time) in effluent
discharged from any mining site.
Where river water is used for irrigation, the quantity of
water used for agriculture is several orders of
magnitude larger than for domestic and construction
use. According to baseline studies, irrigation demand
is estimated to range from 5% to 68% of May flow in
a dry year, varying considerably by river and by
village. Nevertheless, rainwater remains the most
common source of water for agriculture in most
villages. There are no known or identified industrialscale water abstractions within the immediate vicinity
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surface
water
Moderate
Moderate
[1]
Chapter 23: Ecosystem Services
23-21
Service
Description
Agricultural water use: Agriculture mainly relies on
rainwater. However, lowland rivers running across foot-hill
floodplains (“bas fonds”) are used for irrigation, mainly for rice
fields and more locally, gardens. River water is also
abstracted for livestock watering. Access to sufficient water
for agricultural use is an important issue for human health and
wellbeing; agriculture is the primary livelihood in the mine
area.
Water is used during the process of palm oil extraction in
villages such as Dandano, Naouinzou and Banko.
(Chapter 15: Socio-Economic and Community Baseline).
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
of the mine site (ie large scale water users that would
compete for resources).
surface
water
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Essential
Moderate
[1]
Access to alternatives to surface water (ie access to
reliable clean water within 2-3km, for example
through wells or alternative rivers or streams) will
vary at the village level. This information is captured
in the more detailed analysis presented in Chapter 6:
Water Environment. Overall, replaceability of
freshwater is considered moderate in the mine study
area as a whole. However, village level replaceability
ratings are applied where appropriate in the
assessment that follows.
Notes: [1] Indicates that the assigned rating reflects the replaceability of the service across the mine area as a whole; however replaceability may be higher or lower on a site-specific basis. Where
necessary, this will be confirmed through further stakeholder consultation as part of the development of Social Management Plans. This is discussed in more detail in Section 23.6.1.
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Table 23.4 Cultural Services in the Mine Area of Influence
Service
Description
Living
Cultural
Heritage
(LCH):
ritual sites
and spirit
dwellings
Important ritual and spiritual sites are forests are often located
at the sources or headwaters of streams and rivers. Rivers
are particularly important sites for male and female rites of
passage ceremonies. Spirit dwellings and other LCH sites
tend to be identifiable environmental features such as large
isolated trees, rock outcrops or springs; sometimes they are
small areas of forest or lengths of streams themselves.
To date, 88 living cultural heritage sites have been identified
in the area around the mine. A full inventory of sites identified
to date is provided in Annex 13D: Inventory of Known Cultural
Heritage Sites in the Mine Area of Chapter 13: Cultural
Heritage. The importance levels of the majority of the sites in
the mine area have been determined through stakeholder
engagement. Following common heritage management
practice, unevaluated sites are presumed to be of high value
pending further investigation.
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
There are de facto no spatial alternatives to any
particular cultural site. However, spiritual sites are
often related to the existence of a forest spirit or
genie. Some of these spirits can be readily moved
using sacrifices; others with difficulty; others are
(1)
entirely immoveable . For example,
Samakounkaba or Elephant Head Rock (CH-67) is
considered to be of medium importance from the
input from local stakeholders who have indicated that
the rock and its sacred function can be moved.
forests
grassland /
woodland
surface
water
other (caves,
rock
outcrops)
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
SiteSpecific
Site-Specific
(1) Socioeconomic field studies supporting preparation of the Pic de Fon Management Plan (2010).
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Service
Description
Non-use
value:
existence
value of
biodiversity
This service refers to the value people globally place on
protecting species and habitats considered “iconic” or as
otherwise having conservation value. The beneficiaries tend
to be global, since the service excludes any physical or
religious values and instead encompasses only the non-use
value people place on the continued existence of a species.
The study area supports a number of species classed as
endangered or vulnerable by IUCN, including the West
African Chimpanzee, West African Black and King colobus
monkey, Ivory Coast Frog and Cherry Mahogany.
The ecosystem services chapter emphasises local over
global beneficiaries, therefore the importance of the service is
rated Moderate. However, biodiversity is treated as its own
equally important component of the impact assessment and is
examined at length in Chapter 12: Biodiversity.
Traditional
practices
Cultural value is placed on traditional practices such as
hunting and fishing, crafts and use of natural resources. For
example, freshly harvested cola nuts from the forests around
the proposed mine are used in traditional hospitality rituals
practiced on special social occasions and meetings.
Mosques are constructed of locally harvested timber, a
practice that links a congregation’s religious practice to its
local surroundings. Hunting also has a long tradition in
Guinea and remains customary throughout the region
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
A full list of critically endangered, endangered and
vulnerable species is included in Chapter 12:
Biodiversity (or in detailed annexes). A cultural value
is placed on these species internationally due to their
threatened status. Of these, primate species
including chimpanzees are the most immediately
recognisable as ‘iconic’ species with a high existence
value placed on them globally. By definition, all
species on this list are threatened, primarily due to
habitat loss and hunting.
critical
habitats as
defined in
the
biodiversity
chapter
Moderate
N/A
forests
surface
water
grassland
Practice
specific
Not
Replaceable
The concept of replaceability does not apply well to
non-use values. Instead, the topic of biodiversity
offsetting is discussed in detail in Chapter 12:
Biodiversity.
A wide range of traditional practices rely on natural
resources in the various environmental settings
around the area of the mine. In some cases the
relationship of the resource to the practice may be
integral and in others the relationship be incidental.
Not all relationships are well defined yet. Ongoing
stakeholder engagement will refine the Project’s
understanding of the importance of particular
products and resources to beneficiaries.
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Service
Description
Aesthetic
value
Pic de Fon is the highest peak and the third highest mountain
in Guinea. Ouéléba is a distinctive ridgeline and escarpment
and is also a clearly visible landform out to 30 km to the west,
north and east. Together, these peaks form the Simandou
ridge. The importance of the Simandou ridge and the
sensitivity of the vantage point was assessed for all
communities in a 30 km radius of the mine (Chapter 14:
Landscape and Visual Resource). Villages of medium-high
sensitivity are described here.
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
No alternatives to the service exist at a particular
view-point. However, the relative importance of the
ridge as a landmark and its replaceability by other of
views or landmarks will vary at the village level.
Many of the aesthetic components of the landscape
can be restored through habitat restoration following
closure of the mine; however the exact form of the
ridge-line is not replaceable as such.
Simandou
ridge and
forests
Importance
to
Replaceability
Beneficiaries
Moderate High
Site-Specific
Moribadou has a population of several thousand and provides
a trading centre for nearby villages. The Pic de Fon and
Ouéléba ridgelines form important landmarks in the
background and local people attach considerable cultural
importance to the landscape. However, since most of the
population migrated to the location since 2005 seeking
employment; the perspective on potential landscape changes
may therefore be viewed as a sign of progress.
The small village of Wataférédou II has a view of the Ouéléba
ridgeline in the middleground and Pic de Fon in the
background. The people of this village are regarded as
custodians of Simandou; therefore the ridge has additional
cultural significance in the life of the village.
Traoréla and Lamandou villages have a clear view of the
Simandou ridge as the highest element in view and at a short
distance. Foma also has an unobstructed view of the Pic de
Fon in the background.
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Table 23.5 Regulating Services in the Mine Area of Influence
Service
Description
Erosion
control
Vegetation cover binds soils and prevents soil loss.
Submontane forest and grassland on the Pic de Fon CF steep
slopes holds soil in place, thereby preventing landslides.
Experimental erosion plots have been used to collect data to
allow the calibration of a sediment flux model which will be
used to predict the quantities of sediment expected in
catchments as a result of altered erosion regimes.
Measurements of total suspended solids (TSS) in disturbed
and undisturbed catchments suggest lower erosion rates on
undisturbed land, suggesting that vegetation plays an
(1)
important role in reducing erosion . However, the hard
carapace that exists over the orebody also plays a role in
binding weaker material on the slopes.
Importance
Replaceability
to
& Resilience
Beneficiaries
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Other than the proposed mine, no existing threats
have been identified for riparian vegetation or
submontane grassland in the area. Areas of
similar and complementary vegetation are present
on slopes and in catchments across the study area.
forest,
grassland
High
Moderate
Other than the proposed mine, no existing threats
have been identified for surface and groundwater
regulation in the study area.
surface and
groundwater
High
Low
Submontane grassland and submontane forest are found at
the highest altitudes, on the steepest slopes and in the zones
of highest rainfall: all factors which increase erosion risk.
Surface
and ground
water
regulation
The Simandou ridge constitutes a prominent groundwater
recharge zone in the study area, with groundwater discharge
occurring locally as seeps and springs and into streams.
Flow derived from groundwater discharge can be as high as
75% of the total stream flow volume. The topography of the
ridge also influences the volume and timing of surface water
flows.
The Simandou ridge forms the headwaters of many local
streams, which feed into four major watersheds (the Diani,
Milo, Loffa and Dion). These in turn feed into two major
transboundary rivers, the Niger River flowing north and east
and the St Paul River flowing south through Liberia.
(1) Baseline Climatology studies for the Simandou Project (2009).
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Service
Description
Natural
hazard
regulation
Dense primary forest acts as a natural fire break. Communities
maintain village forests, in part, as a protective barrier against
bushfires. Natural and human induced fires are standard
parts of the land management cycle of the area. Changes in
land use patterns due to land clearing may increase the
frequency and intensity of fires. The Simandou Range
constitutes a natural barrier between the trade winds of the
south and the harmattan of the northeast. This serves as a
natural fire break, but only to a moderate extent.
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
Importance
Replaceability
to
& Resilience
Beneficiaries
There are some spatial alternatives to protective
vegetation (eg occurrence of similar vegetation in
the immediate area and region). This applies to
both flood regulation and fire regulation services.
Replaceability is therefore rated moderate.
Forest
Moderate
Moderate
Seasonal flooding is a part of the natural landscape in the area
of the mine, and is essential to maintaining lowland agriculture
and water resources in the flood plains fed by waters from the
Simandou Ridge. However, there is also some risk of
uncontrolled flooding during the wet season. This risk is likely
to be mitigated by well-established areas of vegetation along
steep slopes and river basins.
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Service
Description
Disease
Regulation
The spread of malaria is influenced by a number of
environmental factors and characteristics of natural habitats.
Other mosquito-borne diseases are considered to be of less
concern in the area, although there are ongoing epidemics of
yellow fever in northern Côte d’Ivoire which have the potential
to spread into Guinea (see Chapter 21: Community Health and
Safety).
Standing pools of water, including the bas fonds and flooded
areas during the wet season, provide breeding grounds for
malarial mosquitos. Deforestation has been linked to changes
in mosquito populations, often resulting in their increased
abundance. Forest clearance favours heliophelic species such
as Anopheles gambiae, the main vector of malaria in tropical
(1)
Africa, because it cannot develop in the undergrowth .
Importance
Replaceability
to
& Resilience
Beneficiaries
Additional Information (including status, threats
and availability of alternatives to the service)
Relevant
Habitats
The malaria burden is high in the communities
surrounding the mine site and is endemic in the
region, due to a widespread habitat suitable for
mosquito breeding and disease transmission.
High
Wetlands,
forest, lowland
agriculture,
wooded
grassland
Moderate
The area around the mine has relatively abundant
forest resources but replacement of mature forest
takes considerable time, with the potential for
increased transmission of disease following the
loss of forest in a given area. Vegetation will need
to be in relatively close proximity to villages.
The presence of intact forest habitats may provide a degree
of protection against the spread of zoonotic diseases such as
rabies and lassa fever leptospirosis. However, the density of
human habitation and quality of sanitation are stronger drivers
of these diseases.
(1) Coosemans, M. and J. Mouchet. (1990). Consequences of Rural Development on Vectors and their Control. Ann. Soc. Belge Med. Trop. 70: 5-23.
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23.3.2.1
Supporting Services
Because supporting services are intermediate ecological outcomes that are not directly used but rather
support other ecosystem services, these services are not directly assessed but are captured elsewhere in
the provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that they support. For example, changes to primary
production are captured in the effects on food resources and non-use services of biodiversity. They are
described in Annex 23A Ecosystem Services Screened Out of the Impact Assessment.
23.3.2.2
Ecosystem Services Prioritisation
Table 23.6 summarises the importance and replaceability ratings assigned to potentially impacted ecosystem
services in the baseline assessment. As described in Section 23.2.4, these components are combined in a
prioritisation exercise to provide an overall evaluation of the value of ecosystem services to beneficiaries
(see Table 23.2). For example, as a service of high importance and high replaceability, natural medicines
are assigned a medium value rating. Ecosystem Services rated high to critical value are deemed priority
ecosystem services and are assessed in detail in the Impact Assessment. Services rated medium are also
included in the impact assessment but in less detail. At the end of the prioritisation process, a final
‘sustainability’ screen is applied to each services, with further implications for the assessment of impacts and
mitigations.
Table 23.6 Ecosystem Services Prioritisation
Ecosystem Service
Importance to
Affected Community
Replaceability
Value Rating
Food: Bushmeat
High
Low
Critical
Food: Crop cultivation
Essential
Moderate
Critical
Food: Livestock herding
High
Moderate
High
Food: Wild caught fish
Moderate
Moderate
Medium
Fibre: Timber
High
High
Medium
Fibre: non-timber forest products
High
Moderate
High
Fuel: Firewood and charcoal
Essential
Moderate
High
Natural Medicine
High
Moderate
High
Water Supply: Domestic, agricultural,
construction use
Essential
Moderate
High
Spiritual or religious value
Site-specific
Site-specific
Site-Specific
Traditional practices
Resource specific
Not replaceable
Resource Specific
Existence value of biodiversity
Moderate
N/A
Moderate
Aesthetic value of natural landscapes
Moderate - High
Site-Specific
Site Specific
Erosion control
High
Moderate
High
Regulation of surface and groundwater
flows
High
Low
Critical
Natural hazard regulation
Moderate
Moderate
Medium
Disease regulation
High
Moderate
High
Provisioning
Cultural
Regulating
The ratings above represent an overview for the importance and replaceability of services as a whole.
However, as noted in the baseline tables, these characteristics may vary at the site level for a number of
services. In those cases, a more refined assessment will be undertaken at the village level where deemed
necessary. Additional stakeholder engagement and data collection as part of the PARC process and
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development of Social Management Plans will contribute to refining the impacts and mitigations provided in
this report.
As a final screening exercise, the list of priority ecosystem services is evaluated to determine if any of these
services represents an unsustainable use of available resources. In the mine study area, bushmeat hunting
is believed to be unsustainable at current levels and is therefore removed from the list of priority services.
Bushmeat is rated critical in terms of value to beneficiaries in the area of the mine. However, the majority of
hunting undertaken in the study area does not meet any of the three sustainability criteria (biological,
ecological, socioeconomic). Most notably, hunting of primates, IUCN Red Listed species and species of
conservation interest is fundamentally unsustainable as these species are declining rapidly due to numerous
threats, with hunting pressure among the most significant (Chapter 12: Biodiversity). Raffia wine production
is likewise not considered sustainable at this time. Raffia wine is captured under the broader ecosystem
service category of non-timber forest products and therefore remains in the priority ecosystem services list.
However, within this category, the assessment of impacts and mitigation measures relating to raffia palm
takes into consideration unsustainable levels of use.
Collection of firewood is believed to be sustainable at current levels across the mine area as a whole.
However, specific areas of forest may be suffering from overexploitation of fuelwood. As a result, firewood
and charcoal use are retained as a priority service but the sustainability of firewood collection will be
assessed at the site level when determining appropriate mitigation for potential impacts (see Section 23.6.4).
According to baseline data, use of other provisioning services in the mine area appears to be sustainable at
this time.
As described in Section 23.2.5, services rated of medium value are still considered of relevance to
beneficiaries and are included in the impact assessment in Section 23.5.14. In the case of unsustainable
“non-priority” services, mitigation measures are not designed to maintain the current value of the service by
maintaining levels of use (1). Instead, standard mitigation measures are proposed that are designed to avoid,
minimise and compensate for any impacts. Mitigations will tend to focus on collaboration with communities
and local authorities to identify sustainable resource management strategies, reduce dependence on the
threatened resource and / or develop potential substitutes for the service.
23.4
Mine Dependencies on Ecosystem Services
This section provides a brief description and prioritisation of ecosystem services depended on by the mine
during construction, operation and closure. To a large extent, design measures have been put in place to
avoid reliance by the mine or its employees on local natural resources such as bushmeat, cultivated crops
and other provisioning services in order to avoid placing additional pressure on resources in the area of the
mine. As a result, the only ecosystem services for which mine project dependencies have been identified
include:



fresh water (provisioning service);
erosion control (regulating service); and
disease control (regulating service).
These are discussed in more detail in Table 23.8 below.
(1) This is in contrast to the commitment to maintain the value and functionality of priority ecosystem services as defined in the IFC
Performance Standards.
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Table 23.7 Ecosystem Service Dependencies of the Mine Project
Service
Description
Additional Information
(including status, threats and
availability of alternatives)
Relevant
Habitats
Importance
to Project
Freshwater
(provisioning)
The mine will require
freshwater resources for a
number of activities,
including: plant water
supply, haul road dust
suppression, construction
water, potable water for the
workforce and for
washdown areas.
The area of the mine receives
high levels of rainfall and
surface and groundwater
availability is generally good.
Availability will be lower during
the dry season.
Surfacewater
Groundwater
Critical
Moderate
Forest
Grassland
Moderate
Moderate
Forest
wetland
lowland
agriculture
High
Moderate
In addition to operational
needs, water supplies will
also be needed to recharge
the backfilled pit voids with
groundwater as mining
progresses.
Erosion
control
(regulating)
The mine relies on sources
of natural erosion control,
such as vegetation cover,
to protect roads, camps
and infrastructure leading
to the mine.
Replaceability
Figure 6.12 in Chapter 6: Water
Environment shows the overall
water balance for the mine; the
net water balance remains close
to or at zero throughout mine
life.
Other than the proposed mine,
no existing threats to riparian
vegetation or submontane
grassland have been identified
in the area. Areas of similar and
complementary vegetation are
present on slopes and in
catchments across the study
area.
The mine has the potential to
increase erosion in the mine
area of influence (see
Section 23.5.12: Impacts on
Erosion Regulation).
Disease
control
(regulating)
The mine workforce is at
risk of being infected by
malaria. Standing water
plays a role in increasing
vector density, while natural
vegetation plays a role in
decreasing infection rates.
Malaria is endemic in the region.
The area around the mine has
relatively abundant forest
resources but replacement of
mature forest takes considerable
time, with the potential for
increased transmission of
disease following the loss of
forest in a given area.
The most significant ecosystem service dependency of the mine, particularly during operation, is the need to
use freshwater resources. The projected raw water demand for operational and potable supplies is shown in
Table 23.9. It should stressed that the plant water demand shown in the table is very conservative since it is
based upon an assumption that the produced ore will be dry and hence will require dampening for transport.
In practice the moisture content of the ore is likely to be higher than this, and at certain times (eg during the
wet season) may not require any watering.
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Table 23.8 Raw Water Demand Estimates for Mine Operations
Component
Water Demand (l/s)
Comments
Plant water supply
65
Average daily demand when plant is operational.
Dirty water source feasible.
Demand anticipated to reduce during wet season
Haul road dust suppression
37
Dirty water source feasible.
Demand anticipated to reduce during wet season.
Construction water
Potable water
Washdown areas.
23.4.1
2 to 34
Demand from 2012 to 2015.
Primarily clean water.
0.4 to 14
Peak supply in 2014 during construction.
5
Ecosystem Services Prioritisation (Dependencies)
Table 23.10 summarises the importance and replaceability ratings assigned to ecosystem services
depended on by the mine. In keeping with the prioritisation process carried out for potentially impacted
ecosystem services, services with a high – critical value rating are considered priority services for the mine.
Table 23.9 Prioritisation of Ecosystem Service Dependencies
Ecosystem Service
Importance to Mine
Replaceability
Value Rating
Essential
Moderate
Critical
Erosion Control
Moderate
Moderate
Medium
Disease Regulation
High
Moderate
High
Provisioning
Freshwater Provision
Regulating
The prioritisation process identifies freshwater provision and disease regulation (in particular malaria
transmission) as priority ecosystem services in terms of dependency by the mine. Measures undertaken by
the Project to ensure access to water resources and prevent malaria are described in Section 23.7. Impacts
on freshwater availability and disease transmission for other beneficiaries (ie local communities) as a result
of activities associated with the mine are discussed in the impact assessments in Section 23.5.1.
23.5
Assessment of Impacts
23.5.1
Overview
Over the lifetime of the mine, it is expected that there will be a range of impacts on ecosystem services in the
mine area of influence, with implications for the livelihoods, health, culture and wellbeing of communities
within this area. The following sections present the assessment of impacts on priority and non-priority
ecosystem services as defined in Table 23.7. These include:










impacts on cultivated crops (Section 23.5.3);
impacts on livestock (Section 23.5.4);
impacts on firewood and charcoal (Section 23.5.5);
impacts on non-timber forest products (Section 23.5.6);
impacts on medicinal plants (23.5.7);
impacts on freshwater (Section 23.5.8);
impacts on spiritual and religious sites (Section 23.5.9);
impacts on traditional practices (Section 23.5.10);
impacts on regulation of surface water flows (Section 23.5.11);
impacts on erosion regulation (Section 23.5.12);
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impacts on disease regulation (Section 23.5.13); and
impacts on non-priority ecosystem services (Section 23.5.14).
Where an ecosystem service is an intermediary service ie the full value of that service is captured by an
‘end-use’ service, the impact on beneficiaries is evaluated for the end-use ecosystem service only. For
example, the end-use for freshwater used for crop irrigation is the production of cultivated crops; this
component is therefore assessed under impacts on agricultural production. Freshwater used for household
use and consumption, in contrast, is assessed under freshwater resources.
Sections 23.5.3 - 23.5.13 discuss impacts on priority ecosystem services, followed by a less detailed
discussion of impacts on lower priority services in Section 23.5.14. The assessment of impacts on
ecosystem services is broken into direct impacts from land occupation and activities associated with the
mine and indirect impacts from in-migration. The magnitude of impact during different phases of the mine is
assessed as a subcomponent of these overarching categories where relevant. This structure provides a
relatively straightforward structure for capturing the many different components to be synthesised in the
ecosystem services analysis.
As stated previously, the ecosystem services impact assessment relates to and draws from a number of
other core topic area chapters in the SEIA. Rather than repeating considerable detail from the assessment
of impacts and mitigation measures in the topic area chapters, impacts are summarised here and in
Section 23.6: Mitigation Measures and Residual Impacts with reference to the appropriate chapter, while
additional impacts or mitigation measures specific to ecosystem services are described in more detail.
Finally, where ecosystem services are one component of a multifaceted socioeconomic or health impact,
such as food security or the spread of disease, these broad issues are referenced here but covered in the
appropriate topic area chapters.
23.5.2
Consideration of Indirect Impacts from In-Migration and Induced Access
Indirect impacts from in-migration represent a significant concern for a number of ecosystem services.
Chapter 18: In-Migration provides a detailed assessment of in-migration risk associated with the mine. It is
expected that 60 000 to 110 000 people could seek to move into the local study area as a consequence of
the mine development. By 2020, substantial population increases are forecast in several villages near the
mine and in Beyla, which is already a sizeable town (estimated 120% growth to over 48 000 people by
2020). In-migration is expected to rise rapidly during the construction phase and continue at a reduced pace
during the operations phase. The majority of in-migrants are expected to settle in larger communities such
as Beyla, Moribadou and Nionsomoridou, but based on experience from the mine exploration period it is
likely that they will spread into smaller villages and alongside transport corridors if space in larger
settlements is not available. Rapid expansion and uncontrolled urban sprawl has occurred in several places
in recent years, with a burgeoning of informal housing in Moribadou in particular, and development of
informal camps along the roads linking Canga East camp to the N1 and the road between Nionsomoridou
and Moribadou.
Additional in-migration is expected to be much smaller during the operation of the mine and some outmigration of employees is likely. However, in the absence of additional information, the assessment
conservatively assumes that many opportunistic migrants who settled in the area during construction will
remain for the long-term unless significant opportunities arise elsewhere.
Some of the most significant anticipated impacts from in-migration and induced access include increased
rates of bushmeat hunting, clearing of new areas for cultivation and grazing (including through deliberate use
of fire) and increased pressures on natural resources. Indirect impacts are expected to be significant for the
following ecosystem services and are discussed in further detail in the impact assessment sections that
follow:
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

crop cultivation;
livestock farming;
firewood and charcoal;
non-timber forest products;
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medicinal plants;
fresh water supply;
traditional practices;
disease regulation; and
several non-priority ecosystem services, including bushmeat, freshwater fisheries, timber, existence
value and natural hazard regulation.
23.5.3
Impacts on Cultivated Crops
Agriculture is the primary subsistence activity in the area of the mine, practised by over 90% of households.
Crop cultivation is of essential importance and is considered to have moderate replaceability in the study
area. Much of the arable land in the immediate vicinity of the mine is not currently under cultivation; however
many of the higher productivity areas are utilised and availability of replacement land will need to be
confirmed through further consultation. The resulting value of cultivated crops to beneficiaries is critical.
Potential impacts on agriculture from mine activities include direct impacts from occupation of land, changes
in water availability, soil quality and dust deposition, and indirect impacts from in-migration.
23.5.3.1
Direct Impacts from Occupation of Land
Direct impacts from temporary and permanent occupation of land during construction and operation are
expected to affect cultivated land in the vicinity of the mine. Approximately 180 ha, or 3% of the land to be
occupied by the mine is scattered agricultural land around the mine plant and rail loop. Of this total, 110 ha
is agricultural lowland, which is viewed as the most productive land by local farmers and is used to produce
staple subsistence foods for the community. Most occupation of land and hence the most significant direct
impacts will take place during the construction phase. Exclusion zones will also be required, primarily as a
safety measure, causing temporary disruption to agriculture. During operation, there may be additional
isolated impacts on agricultural land although these will primarily be temporary in nature.
In summary, the magnitude of impact from occupation of land on local populations is predicted to be large
during construction and operation. During and after mine closure, the mine pits and waste emplacements
will remain unsuitable for future beneficial use but much of the remaining land will be rehabilitated and
become available for use. The impact on cultivated crops is therefore expected to be negligible.
Given the critical value receptor, the resulting significance of direct impacts on cultivated crops from
occupation of land associated with the mine is assessed as critical during construction and operation. No
significant impacts are expected during closure.
23.5.3.2
Direct Impacts from Changes in Water Availability, Dust and Soil Quality
Impacts on cultivated land will result from changes in water flow in rivers utilised for irrigation as well as
potential impacts from dust due to construction and operation activities and potential ‘sterilisation’ of soil
resources in the mine area.
In a dry year, farmers utilising rivers in the mine area of influence (ie mine-affected river basins) are
estimated to use 20% or more of May river flow to irrigate crops (in some cases much more). As a result,
irrigated land is considered particularly sensitive to changes or fluctuations in water flow. As described in
Chapter 6: Water Environment, most rice irrigation depends on small tributaries to the east of the Simandou
ridge and is therefore unlikely to be affected by dewatering. However, there are some areas on the Miya
River upstream of Nionsomoridou where it appears that flow in the main stream is being used to irrigate rice
crops. The impacts would to a large extent be moderated by the fact that flood flows are being used to
irrigate the rice and those flows are less affected by the changes to baseflows. Nevertheless, the effect may
be exacerbated by conversion of about 8% of the upper catchment area for use by the mine and consequent
loss of natural surface runoff (discussed in Section 23.5.8).
For all catchments, the magnitude of impact on irrigation of crops and rice crops in particular will to a large
extent be moderated by the fact that farmers are using flood flows to irrigate. The resulting magnitude of
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indirect impacts due to changes in water flows will be small or medium in most areas and large on the Miya,
Kinyeko and Fokou West rivers, with some variation across different phases of the mine. A more detailed
breakdown of impacts by catchment and project period is provided in Table 23.10 and in Chapter 6: Water
Environment.
Impacts on crops and other vegetation from dust deposition are assessed in Chapter 8: Air Quality. Dust
from construction work areas and movement of traffic on unsurfaced roads has the potential to result in
nuisance at nearby settlements and to affect crops and natural vegetation through dust deposition.
Experience from construction sites around the world suggests that dust deposition levels can be sufficient to
adversely affect people and vegetation at distances up to a few hundred metres from construction activity.
There are no settlements or sensitive vegetation within this distance of either the construction site or the
access road and significant impacts are not therefore predicted to occur from dust during construction.
Impacts on crops from dust associated with construction activity or traffic within the Project site are therefore
assessed as not significant. It should be noted that this assessment does not include impacts from
construction traffic movements on the public road network. These are assessed as part of the assessment of
overall project construction traffic impacts within the SEIA for the Simandou Railway presented in Volume II.
As shown through air modelling results in Chapter 8: Air Quality, elevated levels of dust deposition are
anticipated during operation, particularly around the mine pits and waste emplacements but these will cause
no significant impacts from dust nuisance in nearby settlements. Dust emissions from these sources will
cause an increase in dust deposition sufficient to cause minor impacts on vegetation in the prevailing wind
direction (to the northeast) up to a few kilometres away but the areas affected are not of importance for
natural vegetation or crops.
The steep topography of the Simandou Range combined with high rainfall intensities and erodible soils
means that there is also a high potential for the affected area to be extended by erosion in surrounding land
where soils are disturbed. During construction, the mine has the potential to cause erosion and degradation
of soil quality as a result of compaction, creation of hardstanding areas, erosion of exposed subsoils in
excavated areas, and mixing lower class soils and subsoils with better quality soils. The impact will generally
be to reduce the agricultural potential of affected area although it is also possible that changes may increase
land capability (see Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste). During operation, the soil resources
impacted by the mine will generally be of low or negligible value for agriculture and are therefore excluded
from the ecosystems assessment.
In summary, given the high value receptor, the resulting significance of indirect impacts on cultivated crops
from changes to surface water availability will range from moderate to critical across different catchments
and periods of the mine. Critical significance impacts are predicted during construction and operation on the
Miya, Kinyeko and Fokou West rivers and on the Miya river following closure. No significant impacts on
crops from dust generation at the mine site are expected during construction and operation. In the absence
of mitigation, the reduction in soil suitability from construction activity is assessed as an impact of moderate
significance based on the occupation of approximately 6 500 hectares of land of which about one third is of
medium value, one third of low value and one third of negligible value. Loss of high value soils is expected
to be very small.
23.5.3.3
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Unplanned settlement expansion will put additional pressure on available land and water resources through
conversion of land for housing and infrastructure and through an increase in domestic water needs. In
addition, an increase in cultivation can be expected, providing additional competition for arable land and
water. As discussed further in Chapter 19: Land Use and Land-Based Livelihoods, in-migration is expected
to have a large magnitude indirect impact on crop cultivation during all phases. Given the critical value of
crop cultivation, the resulting significance of indirect impacts from in-migration is critical prior to mitigation in
all phases.
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23.5.4
Impacts on Livestock
Potential impacts on livestock farming will stem from occupation of pasture land, impacts on water availability
and potential restrictions of access to herding routes as well as indirect impacts from in-migration and
induced access.
Livestock herding is typically a secondary livelihood activity for sedentary villages in the area. However,
transhumance and nomadic herders also utilise the area. Nomadic raising of livestock takes place mostly in
the northern part of the mine project area and transhumant cattle herds stop or transit through this region.
Herders generally camp with their herds for three to four years until pastures are exhausted before moving
on to other zones. They are increasingly becoming sedentary given the high quality of the grazing land in
the mine study area. Other villages typically associated with pastoralism are Wataférédou II, Baladou,
Foma, Bangalidou and Kéoulendou. As described in the baseline, livestock herding is assessed to be of
high importance to beneficiaries and a moderate amount of replacement pasture land is believed to be
available; the resulting value rating for this service is high.
23.5.4.1
Direct Impacts from Occupation of Land
Short and long term land occupation by the mine is expected to impact some areas of pasture land and
longer-distance herding routes. An estimated 60% of the land to be occupied by the mine is savanna and
another 19% is submontane grassland; both habitats are used for low-intensity herding activities. Due to the
low-intensity of livestock farming in the area and relative availability of pasture land, direct impacts on
sedentary farmers are also anticipated to be small. As a result of the high value of the service, impacts on
sedentary livestock farming are assessed as moderate during construction and operation.
The scope of impacts on herding routes will be relatively limited as there are not very many nomadic or
transhumance herders in the mine area, most are located on the east side of the mine where restrictions to
movement are not anticipated and migrations tend to occur only every three to four years. However, it is
recognised that the routes used by nomadic herders can be difficult to confirm without on-going consultation.
As a result, impacts on nomadic herders during construction and operation are predicted to be major prior to
mitigation.
During decommissioning and mine closure, the mine pits and waste emplacements will remain unsuitable for
future beneficial use but much of the remaining land will be rehabilitated and become available for use. The
resulting impacts on livestock farming are not significant.
23.5.4.2
Direct Impacts from Changes in Water Quantity
Baseline surveys found that use of river water for livestock is widespread, but the quantity needed is very
small relative to the overall flow of the river (Chapter 6: Water Environment). As a result, mine impacts on
water flow will be not significant for livestock farming in the mine area.
23.5.4.3
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Indirect impacts from in-migration, including unplanned settlement expansion and potential increases in
livestock farming, will put additional pressure on available land. There is currently believed to be sufficient
available pasture land to sustain a relatively large increase in use but there is still potential for farmer-herder
conflicts, encroachment upon habitats that are important for biodiversity and degradation of pasture land due
to overuse, particularly if population increases are rapid. The magnitude of secondary impacts on livestock
is therefore predicted to be medium in all phases.
As a result of the high value of livestock herding, the estimated significance of indirect impacts from inmigration is major during all phases.
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23.5.5
Impacts on Firewood and Charcoal
Potential impacts on firewood and charcoal services include direct impacts from temporary or permanent
land occupation and indirect impacts from in-migration.
As described in the baseline, fuel wood supplies about 77% of household energy needs and charcoal
another 3%. Most fuelwood used by local communities is collected outside of the Pic de Fon CF, often in
forest areas near villages, but the areas closest to villages have suffered from overexploitation in recent
years, perhaps brought on in part by population growth and limitations on use of the Pic de Fon. As a result,
villagers are required to travel further distances to access fuelwood and other forest resources. Due to the
high dependence on firewood as the primary source of fuel and increasing pressure on the resource,
firewood and charcoal use is considered of high value.
23.5.5.1
Direct Impacts from Occupation of Land
The magnitude of direct impacts on firewood and charcoal resources from temporary loss of access or
permanent occupation of land by the mine is anticipated to be small during construction and operation due to
the relatively low importance of the Pic de Fon as a fuelwood source at the current time.
Given the high value of the service, the significance of direct impacts on firewood and charcoal are assessed
as moderate during construction and operation. No significant impacts are expected during
decommissioning and closure.
23.5.5.2
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Indirect impacts as a result of in-migration of people into the mine area is likely to have much more
significant impact on fuelwood supplies. Increased pressure on wood resources will be highest around
villages that increase rapidly in population, both due to potential land conversion for housing and agriculture
and increased consumption of wood resources. As described in Section 23.5.2, substantial population
increases are forecast in several villages near the mine and in Beyla, which is already a sizeable town
(estimated 120% growth to over 48 000 people by 2020). With the exception of Beyla, where 19% of
households have access to electricity, no alternative energy sources are readily available. As a result, the
magnitude of indirect impacts from in-migration is predicted to be large for construction and operation.
Due to the high value of the service, the estimated significance of indirect impacts from in-migration on
firewood and charcoal is assessed as critical prior to mitigation.
23.5.6
Impacts on Non-Timber Forest Products
Potential impacts on non-timber forest products from mine activities include direct impacts from occupation of
land and indirect impacts due to in-migration of workers, job seekers and opportunistic migrants.
Non-timber forest products, including raffia palm, rattan, bamboo, straw and lianas (woody vines) are
collected in villages across the mine study area for a wide range of uses (see Section 23.3.2). Most of these
resources are used in house construction, while raffia in particular is also used to produce wine for
commercial sale as well as for basket weaving and crafts as a source of cash income. Due to the
importance and extent of use of non-timber forest products and the threat of overexploitation for some
species, the service is considered to be high value.
23.5.6.1
Direct Impacts from Occupation of Land
Some of the villages in the mine study area have village lands that are included within the territory of the
Classified Forest and / or rely on the natural resources within the forest as an integral part of their livelihood
systems. A significant proportion of current harvesting of bamboo, lianas and straw takes place in the Pic de
Fon Classified Forest. However, these resources are widely available in the immediate area. Raffia palm is
typically harvested outside the Pic de Fon forest, where most occupation of land will occur. Given the
relative abundance and location of most non-timber forest products, the mine should be able to avoid
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impacting a significant portion of any given community’s non-timber resources. The magnitude of direct
impacts on non-timber forest products as a result of temporary loss of access or permanent occupation of
land is therefore predicted to be small.
As a result of the high value of the service, the magnitude of direct impacts from occupation of land is
assessed as moderate prior to mitigation.
23.5.6.2
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Indirect impacts from in-migration are predicted to have a much more significant impact on availability of nontimber forest products, both due to land conversion for housing and agriculture and increased pressure on
available resources. As described in the baseline, there are indications that raffia palm is already being
overharvested in the mine area, particularly near villages that have seen population growth due to the influx
of people seeking jobs on the Project. Impacts are expected to be much smaller for fast growing and
abundant bamboo and straw species. The magnitude of impact is therefore estimated to be small for most
non-timber forest products but moderate for raffia.
Prior to mitigation, the estimated significance of indirect impacts from in-migration on non-timber forest
products is assessed as moderate with the exception of impacts on services provided by raffia palm, which
are assessed as major.
23.5.7
Impacts on Medicinal Plants
Plants used for medicinal purposes can be found both inside and outside the Pic de Fon CF. Local healers
are accustomed to walking relatively long distances to collect medicinal plants but resources are not believed
to be threatened by current harvesting rates. As a result, replaceability of the service is considered
moderate for the area as a whole, but may vary at the village level. Given the low income of local
populations and the high cost of drugs, traditional medicine is an important resource for many people in the
area. The value of the service is therefore rated high for the area as a whole. As discussed further in
Section 23.6.1, the Project will undertake further stakeholder consultation and data collection at the village
level as part of the PARC process and development of Social Management Plans.
23.5.7.1
Direct Impacts from Occupation of Land
As with timber and other forest products, the mine will impact collection of natural medicines through
occupation of land and restriction of access during construction and operation. These impacts are expected
to be of small magnitude given the relatively wide distribution of plant resources relative to the loss of access
due to the mine. Given the high value of the service, impacts are assessed as moderate during construction
and operation prior to mitigation.
23.5.7.2
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Indirect impacts on natural medicine from in-migration will stem from unplanned settlement growth and
subsequent loss of habitat as well as the potential for increased demand for specific medicinal plants.
Impacts will likely vary at the village level depending upon the pace and extent of settlement growth, access
to alternatives and the medicinal preferences of newcomers. The magnitude of impact is conservatively
rated medium during all phases but may vary at the village level. The significance of indirect impacts is
therefore major prior to mitigation for the area as a whole, but will be assessed through further studies at the
village level (see further discussion under Mitigation).
23.5.8
Impacts on Fresh Water Supply
The availability of sufficient and clean freshwater is critical to sustaining human life, preventing water related
diseases, irrigating crops, sustaining livestock and maintaining habitat for freshwater fish. A complete
assessment of impacts on freshwater availability and quality in the mine study area is provided in Chapter 6:
Water Environment. A summary of this analysis is provided here and referenced in other sections of this
chapter as appropriate for ‘end-use’ services such as agriculture and freshwater fish. Transmission of waterSimandou SEIA Volume I Mine
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borne diseases such as cholera has been closely linked to sanitation in the home and availability of public
services in the study area; as a result, this impact is not included here but is assessed in more detail in
Chapter 21: Community, Health, Safety and Security.
Mine activities may have direct impacts on fresh water supply due to changes in patterns of surface water
drainage and flow, consumption of water resources by the mine and changes in water quality in catchments
downstream of mining activities. Indirect impacts from in-migration will arise as a result of settlement growth
and an increase in demand for freshwater.
Freshwater supply is one of the most important resources for people living in the vicinity of the mine
(Section 23.3.2). The Pic de Fon and Ouéléba ridges serve as the source of the majority of rivers and
streams in the area, making these catchment areas sensitive to mine activities that could impact water
quality and quantity. A full discussion of the catchment areas and villages utilising surface and groundwater
flowing from Pic de Fon and Ouéléba is provided in Chapter 6: Water Environment.
Freshwater is used by local communities for domestic purposes, for construction and in agriculture. Impacts
on the latter are assessed as an end-use service in Section 23.5.3. As described in the baseline, villages
living in hillside catchments have varying degrees of reliance on surface water; some villages have a number
of wells as well as access to a stream, while others depend solely on a single stream. Most of the villages
that may be impacted by changes in base flow have access to at least one alternative river or groundwater
resource. Overall, freshwater is considered essential to beneficiaries and replaceability is moderate. The
value of the service is therefore high for the mine area of influence as a whole. However, replaceability will
vary at the village level; the value of potentially impacted water sources therefore varies likewise at the local
level.
23.5.8.1
Impacts on Water Quantity
The most significant potential impacts on surface water flows at the mine site will occur due to changes in the
pattern of groundwater flows, and hence springs and stream baseflows as a result of the progressive
excavation and dewatering of the mine pits and the subsequent discharge of dewatered volumes into various
watercourses around the site. Impacts will also occur due to the diversion of surface water flows as the
upper catchment areas of some streams are isolated within the footprint of the mine, or where waste rock
emplacements and flow retention structures are introduced. All of these impacts will vary throughout the
course of the mine life as the process of dewatering, excavation and backfilling progresses. They will
eventually reach a new equilibrium once mining has finished and closure has been achieved.
Chapter 6: Water Environment, describes the results of modelling carried out to assess the magnitude of
impacts from dewatering on surface water flows from the Ouéléba and Pic de Fon ridges over the life of the
mine. The analysis follows a conservative approach in that it describes the potential effects of the mining
operation on stream baseflows, ie the contribution to flow made by groundwater, and excludes contributions
to flow from rainfall-runoff. The significance of the effects described will therefore be much reduced during
the wet season when the flow contribution from surface runoff (and also interflow) is generally much greater.
The relative contributions from surface runoff and baseflow vary according to specific catchment
characteristics, including soil cover and underlying geology. The proportion of surface runoff varies from an
average of around 10% during the dry season, to 50% in the wet season. The proportion is significantly
higher and as much as 90% during times of peak rainfall.
The resulting impact on catchments utilised by communities for domestic and agricultural use is summarised
in Table 23.11 below. Impacts are also presented in Chapter 6: Water Environment in map form. It should
be stressed that these estimates describe potential impacts under low follow (ie dry season) conditions and
are prior to any mitigation being implemented.
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Table 23.10 Assessment of Flow Related Community Water Supply Impacts By Catchment
Village supply
Catchment
Impact significance
Year 10
Year 25
Year 50
Post closure
Western flank (north to south)
Traorela
Kinyeko
Critical
Critical
Critical
Major
Orono
Woron
Not significant
Major
Major
Positive (1)
Mandou
Woron
Not significant
Major
Major
Positive (1)
Tourela
Dianiworo
Not significant
Major
Moderate
Moderate
Kakano
Soumourou
Not significant
Major
Moderate
Positive (1)
Eastern flank (north to south)
Nionsonmoridou
Miya
Critical
Critical
Critical
Critical
Foma (Boe River)
Boe
Moderate
Moderate
Not significant
Not significant
Not significant
Not significant
Not significant
Not significant
All other supplies
Note: all affected supplies classed as high value receptor, with exception of Boe River at Foma where significant alternative nearby
surface water supply exists (Loffa River). Unaffected supplies are not included in table.
In addition to the impacts above, some direct impacts on water supply are anticipated through Project
demand for fresh water over the approximate 50 year lifecycle of the mine. The projected raw water demand
for operational and potable supplies is discussed in Chapter 6: Water Environment and in Section 23.4 of this
chapter. In addition to the operational needs, water supplies will also be needed to recharge the backfilled
pit voids with groundwater as mining progresses. It is currently envisaged that the majority of this water
supply will be drawn from the dewatering boreholes via the Mine Water Management System (MWMS)
described in Chapter 6: Water Environment. The possible exception is the camp potable water supply that
may need to be drawn from an independent borehole close to the camp given its distance from the
dewatering system. For most of the life of the mine, the water available from dewatering will exceed
potential demands on the supply. Moreover, the plant water demand estimates used in the assessment are
very conservative since they are based upon an assumption that the produced ore will be dry and hence will
require dampening for transport. In practice the moisture content of the ore is likely to be high at times, for
example during the wet season.
Notwithstanding the above, there may be discrete periods when demand will exceed available supply from
dewatering, for example from 2025 to 2026 and 2031 to 2037. During these periods, sustainable alternative
supplies may need to be developed for the project that may be additional to the aforementioned groundwater
supply that will be needed for the camp. The development of these supplies may in turn affect nearby
community groundwater supplies, either by reducing their available yield or by interfering with the water table
conditions in the existing wells. These impacts will therefore need to be mitigated.
A shown in Table 23.11, the most significant (critical) impacts of flows relevant to community water supply
are predicted to occur to the northwest and northeast of Ouéléba (Traoréla and Nionsomoridou respectively)
both during mine life and following closure. Major impacts are also predicted to occur for the supplies along
the Woron River and the Dianiworo River at Touréla in mid to late mine life, and by consequence to the
Soumourou at Kakano which is fed by both rivers. Baseflows in the Woron catchment are thereafter
predicted to recover to higher than present levels follow mine closure. Without mitigation, the potential
significance of impacts relating to Project demand for water (water supply conflicts) is assessed as
moderate. This is based upon the high value of the service and the potential for discrete periods when
dewatering flows are insufficient to meet demand and pressures on resources may therefore increase.
(1) In the case of community water supplies, it has been assumed that an increase in average stream baseflow will provide a positive
impact (eg the baseflow effects as modelled would not have any discernible impact on flood flow levels).
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23.5.8.2
Impacts on Water Quality
As described in more detail in Chapter 6: Water Environment, changes in water quality may occur during
construction and operation of the mine due to ground disturbance (see Section 23.5.12: Erosion Regulation),
contaminated surface water runoff, dewatering discharge, acid rock drainage and sewage discharge from
worker camps have the potential to impact water users in the catchment areas downstream of the mine.
Water quality in the area is generally good, with the exception of occasionally high elevated Total Suspended
Solids (TSS) and turbidity levels due to erosion, and high faecal coliform readings downstream of villages.
With regard to the first three issues listed above, the potential risks of detrimental impacts on water quality
will be higher where construction activities are close to surface water bodies. Risks may further increase if
works are carried out within a watercourse (eg for culvert or bridge construction), or from the potential destabilisation of soils and channel banks that may lead to erosion and deposition of sediment into water
bodies. There may also be risks of pollution from the uncontrolled runoff or accidental spillage of fuels and
lubricants, or from the inadequate or unsafe disposal of sanitary wastewater from construction sites. Whilst
the volume of any accidental hydrocarbon (primarily diesel) spillages would typically be very small (a few
litres or less), a road tanker accident could release up to 30 000 litres into the water environment if the
spillage occurred directly into a flowing watercourse.
The potential for pit lakes, runoff and / or groundwater to become contaminated due to acid rock drainage
following closure of the mine is considered small (see Chapter 6: Water Environment). Nevertheless, a Mine
Closure and Reclamation Plan will be developed that will include a detailed analysis of final pit lake water
quality and seasonal discharge regimes to enable suitable discharge controls and (if required) passive
treatment measures to be designed and implemented prior to closure. However, should these control
systems fail after closure, downstream watercourses may become contaminated and water quality impacted.
The magnitude of impacts on water quality prior to mitigation is predicted to be medium during construction
and operation and small following closure. Due to the high value of the service, the significance of impacts
on water quality is assessed as major during construction and operation and moderate following closure.
23.5.8.3
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Indirect impacts on fresh water supply may occur as the population in the area increases due to in-migration.
The growth of settlements, anticipated changes in lifestyle due to increased availability of cash and potential
improvements to water delivery infrastructure will all lead to additional water consumption. This impact will
continue through all mine phases and post closure. The magnitude of this impact is medium in more remote
areas and large near the villages expected to grow most significantly, such as Moribadou, Beyla and
Nionsomoridou (see Chapter 18: In-Migration). Indirect impacts from in-migration are therefore expected to
have a major to critical impact on freshwater services during all phases.
23.5.9
Impacts on Spiritual and Religious Sites (Living Cultural Heritage)
Spiritual or religious sites associated with the living environment may include initiation sites, sacred forests
and trees, sacrifice and offering sites and residencies of genies and spirits. These sites are referred to as
Living Cultural Heritage (LCH) sites within the context of the SEIA cultural heritage impact assessment
(Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage). Direct impacts on spiritual and religious sites may result from occupation of
land, restriction of access, changes in ambience as a result of noise and light during construction and
operation and changes to regulating services such as fire regulation or flood control that result in impacts on
a particular site.
23.5.9.1
Direct Impacts on Spiritual and Religious Sites
As discussed in Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage, direct physical impacts are expected to occur at the following
LCH sites in the mine area:


CH-53, a sacred site known as Siyatouro of medium importance;
CH-56, a sacred site known as Wereba of low importance;
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

CH-64, a sacred site known as Dalaro of medium importance; and
CH-67, known as Samakounkaba or Elephant Head Rock, of medium importance.
For the LCH sites, importance levels were determined by interviews with local informants. For example,
Samakounkaba or Elephant Head Rock (CH-67) is considered to be of medium importance from the input
from local stakeholders who have indicated that the rock and its sacred function can be moved. None of the
LCH sites expected to be impacted by the Project qualify as non-replicable cultural heritage, as stakeholders
have indicated the possibility for the relocation of these sites. In addition to the impacts that can be
predicted for known sites, impacts are likely to occur at cultural heritage sites that have yet to be identified in
the mine project area.
Disruption of site access may occur if Project activities or structures hinder users from accessing a site.
Increased traffic along the road during both construction and operation could make accessing the site more
difficult or dangerous. Disruption of site access is not a predicted impact for any known sites in the mine
area. Changes in the ambience and character of cultural heritage sites in the mine area are likewise not
expected at any known sites in the mine area. However, impacts relating to disruption of access and site
ambience are more difficult to predict than physical impacts and these kinds of impacts may arise as the
Project moves forward. For this reason, the Community Team will be engaging in community consultation
with site users on topics of site use, access and significance to identify potential impacts and decide on
appropriate mitigation measures if impacts do arise.
The resulting significance of impacts on LCH sites is summarised in Table 23.12.
Table 23.11 Significance of Impacts on Living Cultural Heritage Sites in the Mine Study Area
CH Site Code
CH-53
CH-56
CH-64
CH-67
Site Value
Project Impact
Impact Magnitude
Impact Significance
Medium
Lost through development
of waste emplacement.
High
Major
Low
Disturbed or removed by
development of mine pit.
High
Moderate
Medium
Lost through development
of mine pit.
High
Major
Medium
Lost through development
of mine pit.
High
Major
In addition to the above, there is the potential for changes in the provision of certain regulating services to
impact either LCH or archaeological sites in the area of the mine. Fire regulation and flood control have
been identified as regulating services in the mine area with the potential to impact cultural sites. As
described in Section 23.5.14.5, the magnitude of impacts on fire regulation services is estimated to be
medium during construction and operation of the mine and negligible following closure. An increase in
bushfires could lead to ohsyical damage or loss of access to a site. Potentially affected sites have not been
identified at this time. The resulting impact on high value cultural heritage sites due to an increase in fire
potential is therefore conservatively rated major during construction and operation. As described in Section
23.5.14.5, impacts from the mine on flood regulation are expected to be not significant following
implementation of design measures; no impacts are expected on cultural heritage sites.
23.5.10
Impacts on Traditional Practices
Local communities in the mine study area have depended on certain provisioning services, such as
freshwater fish, bushmeat and natural medicines for many generations. Where mine activities have the
potential to impact the availability of, or access to, these services, there is an associated cultural impact, as
local communities face a loss or decline of traditional practices. Traditional practices that depend on
ecosystem services potentially impacted by the project include:


crop cultivation (Section 23.5.3);
livestock herding (Section 23.5.4);
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



production of traditional crafts (Section 23.5.6);
use of natural medicines (Section 23.5.7).
hunting of wild bushmeat (Section 23.5.14);
fishing (Section 23.5.14).
Impacts on each of these provisioning services are described in the relevant sections of this chapter,
referenced in the list above. Prior to mitigation, it is predicted that impacts on traditionally utilised
provisioning services will range from moderate (freshwater fisheries) to critical (eg crop cultivation,
firewood). The cultural value associated with traditional practices is not replaceable. The value of this
service to the individuals and communities who would lose one or more traditional practices is difficult to
estimate in advance of targeted stakeholder consultation; the value placed on traditional cultural practices
may also vary considerably across individuals and groups. As a result, value is conservatively estimated to
be high and the resulting impacts on traditional practices are assessed as critical overall for construction
and operation and moderate during decommissioning and closure.
In addition to placing pressure on provisioning services in the area of the mine, the influx of people as a
result of the mine may have longer-term impacts on cultural practices and traditions in the area. However,
cultural shifts voluntarily adopted by people in the area are not considered negative impacts of the Project
(see Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage).
23.5.11
Impacts on Regulation of Surface Water Flows
Natural regulation of surface water flows is an intermediate service that supports the provision of freshwater
for natural habitats and human use. “End-use” ecosystem services for freshwater include irrigation of
cultivated and semi-wild crops, household water use and freshwater fishing. Impacts on these services as a
result of changes in water availability are therefore assessed in Sections 23.5.3, 23.5.8 and 23.5.14,
respectively.
In addition to impacts on water availability and quality for community use, the mine has the potential to
disrupt local drainage patterns and cause upstream flooding through the construction of permanent crossdrainage infrastructure (eg bridges and culverts). As described in more detail in Chapter 6: Water
Environment, in order to minimise any drainage or flood related effects, a high level of flood conveyance
capacity has been adopted for cross-drainage design that will be applied to individual crossing locations
once the final crossing locations have been established. Taking these measures into account, the
significance of impacts on drainage patterns is assessed as moderate prior to mitigation during construction
and operation of the mine.
23.5.12
Impacts on Erosion Regulation
This section discusses potential impacts on erosion regulation services provided by natural vegetation. As
an intermediate service that contributes to freshwater quality, erosion-related impacts on TSS and water
quality in catchments utilised by local communities are assessed in Section 23.5.8. Other impacts not
captured in the freshwater quality analysis may include decreases in slope stability and soil quality in the
mine area. Erosion regulation does not have natural replacements but restoration of vegetation can return
the service to its original function. Vegetation in the area is generally fast growing and resilient to change.
Replaceability of the service is therefore considered medium and the service is considered of high value
overall.
Activities during the construction and operation phases will result in clearing of vegetation on catchment
slopes in the mine area, resulting in a moderate reduction in erosion regulation provided by these habitats.
Given the high rainfall intensities experienced in most of the project area, the loss of natural regulation
services in addition to any erosion directly caused by mine activities would be a significant concern. Ground
disturbance during construction and pit excavation may increase the potential for erosion. Activities include
pre-stripping within the open pit areas, haul road construction, mineral waste emplacement preparation and
general construction activities.
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Prior to mitigation, impacts on erosion regulation are assessed as major during construction and operation of
the mine. As described in more detail in Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste, no significant
impacts are anticipated during deregulation and closure.
23.5.13
Impacts on Disease Regulation
Natural habitats can influence the spread of vector-borne diseases to humans. As described in the baseline,
the primary concern in terms of vector-borne diseases in the mine area is malaria. Standing can increase
the spread of malaria through provision of breeding grounds. In addition, clearance of dense vegetation has
been shown to improve breeding habitat for Anopheles gambiae, the main vector of malaria in tropical Africa
(see Section 23.3.2). The importance of the service to beneficiaries is high given the seriousness of the
disease and the role of environmental factors in influencing transmission; replaceability of the service is
moderate (assuming vegetation will need to be relatively dense and in relatively close proximity to villages to
reduce transmission and standing water will require moderate efforts to avoid). The resulting value of the
service is rated high.
Direct impacts on disease regulation may occur as a result of changes in the presence of standing water
outside the wet season and clearance of dense forest areas near inhabited areas. Other factors influencing
disease transmission and treatment, such as increased population density and availability of health services,
are not ecosystem related. These are assessed in Chapter 21: Community, Health, Safety and Security.
23.5.13.1
Direct Impacts on Disease Regulation
Increased transmission of malaria as a result of the mine is assessed in further detail in Chapter 21:
Community, Health, Safety and Security. As discussed there, the highly endemic nature of malaria in
Guinea means that the mine is unlikely to significantly add to the already high disease burden of the
community during the wet season. However, the mine is expected to have a direct impact on the spread of
malaria by increasing the availability of mosquito breeding grounds through modifications of the environment
(eg borrow pits, trenches, dams and continuous dewatering) and creation of small water pools (eg wheel ruts
and footprints) that may change mosquito breeding patterns and extend the length of the dry season beyond
the current peak of June to October. This could potentially result in an increase in the number of cases of
malaria during what is currently the low season. These impacts are likely to occur throughout the life of the
mine and will have a long-term impact on most of the communities in the study area. The magnitude of
impact is therefore large during construction and operation of the mine. Due to the high value of the service,
the significance of direct impacts prior to mitigation is considered to be critical.
23.5.13.2
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
There is some potential for indirect impacts on the spread of malaria due to in-migration. Unmanaged
settlement expansion would likely result in the clearing of vegetation and could result in increased rice
farming in the immediate area of villages. These changes could influence breeding patterns and infection
rates in the area. The magnitude of these changes is difficult to predict and will likely be largest around
villages with high levels of predicted in-migration, such as Moribadou and Nionsomoridou. Impacts are
expected to be highest during construction, when villages would likely still be expanding. During operation
and closure, additional clearing of vegetation for settlement growth is considered less likely as in-migration is
expected to slow. As a result, the magnitude of impact from in-migration is conservatively estimated to be
medium during construction and small during operation. Due to the high value of the service, impacts on
disease regulation are conservatively estimated to be major during construction of the mine and moderate
during operation and closure.
23.5.14
Impacts on Non-Priority Ecosystem Services
This section summarises impacts and mitigation measures to non-priority ecosystem services in the mine
area. Non-priority services are those rated of medium value or lower in the prioritisation exercise in
Section 23.3.2 as well as services that are not considered sustainable (eg bushmeat). In the case of nonpriority ecosystem services, mitigation measures do not necessarily maintain the value and functionality of
the service, but do still strive to avoid and minimise impacts in line with the wider approach taken by the
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SEIA. Non-priority ecosystem services potentially impacted by mine activities include bushmeat, freshwater
fisheries, timber, existence value, aesthetic value and natural hazard regulation.
The assessment of impacts on non-priority services is summarised at a slightly higher level than for the
priority ecosystem services assessed above. Where the topic area is still of high importance to the overall
SEIA, as is the case for bushmeat, this is covered in considerable detail in other chapters of the SEIA.
23.5.14.1
Bushmeat
The mine will have direct impacts on species hunted by local people through habitat loss and fragmentation
as well as other activities associated with the mine. In-migration and induced access are expected to
increase the intensity of bushmeat hunting, with negative impacts on targeted species, habitats and
biodiversity in the area as well as long-term implications for the people relying on the service. A detailed
assessment of direct and indirect impacts on habitats and species targeted by hunters is provided in Chapter
12: Biodiversity. Due to the fact that bushmeat hunting is considered an unsustainable activity in the area,
the primary concern regarding impacts on the service is to avoid contributing to further expansion of
bushmeat hunting while avoiding negative impacts on food security and livelihoods.
According to baseline studies, bushmeat is considered of essential importance to local people living in the
area of the mine. An estimated 85% of meat consumed in local communities comes from wild animals; the
cost of buying meat is high and wild meat is considered more desirable than farmed meat (Section 23.3.2).
The abundance and availability of alternatives for wild-caught meat (ie replaceability) is low, resulting in a
critical value rating for the service. Substitutes for the protein provided by bushmeat exist in the area, but
are considered less desirable by many local people as compared to bushmeat. Hunting of some of the more
abundant and resilient species in the area may be sustainable; this would need to be assessed in more
detail through further field studies and collaboration with local stakeholders.
Some direct impacts on bushmeat hunting are anticipated due to loss of access and degradation of habitat in
the area of the mine. However, these impacts will be small in magnitude due to the fact that most impacts
will accrue in the Pic de Fon Classified Forest, where a moratorium on hunting has been in place for several
years. There will still be some impacts on illegal hunting in the Pic de Fon CF. Direct impacts as a result of
employee hunting or consumption of bushmeat are expected to be major prior to mitigation, due to the large
number of employees and duration of activities.
The most significant impacts on bushmeat hunting are expected to result from in-migration and induced
access. Conversion of forest and grassland due to growth of settlements, cultivated land and livestock
farming as well as increased hunting pressure are predicted to have a large magnitude impact on provision
of this service. Bushmeat hunting is expected to increase in the short term, with negative consequences for
targeted species, particularly those that are already threatened by habitat loss and overexploitation. Growing
affluence in the mine area is also expected to lead to a greater ability to purchase bushmeat, potentially
driving up hunting pressure even further. Over the medium to long term, this is expected to impact the
viability of bushmeat as a food source as well as have significant consequences for biodiversity. Given the
critical value of the service and overall large magnitude of impacts, the mine is assessed to have a critical
impact on bushmeat prior to mitigation.
23.5.14.2
Freshwater Fisheries
Potential impacts on wild-caught fish from mine activities include impacts from changes in patterns of surface
water drainage and flow at the mine, degradation of water quality and indirect impacts from in-migration.
Inland fishing in rivers, wetlands and bas fonds is a moderately important subsistence activity and provides a
secondary source of protein and income for a number of households in the mine study area. The freshwater
species targeted by people in the study area are relatively abundant and adaptable to changes in water
quality and quantity. The resulting value rating for freshwater fisheries is medium for the mine study area.
Additional information on the importance and sustainability of fish catch at the village level will be collected
through on-going stakeholder engagement activities as part of the PARC and Social Management Plan
processes.
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Impacts on freshwater fisheries may occur as a result of impacts from the mine on water quantity and quality
during construction and operation (described in more detail in Section 23.5.8). The most significant potential
impacts in the mine study area will occur due to changes in surface water drainage and flow caused by the
dewatering of the mine. These changes will affect wild-caught fish during the construction and operation
phases and to a lesser extent following closure of the mine. Changes in water quality due to ground
disturbance, dewatering discharge, acid rock drainage and worker camps also have the potential to impact
fish abundance and health. The magnitude of combined water quality and flow impacts on freshwater fishing
during construction and operation is conservatively assessed as large prior to mitigation and small following
closure of the mine.
Indirect impacts on wild caught fish may occur as result of in-migration of workers and opportunity seekers to
the area. Fish species targeted by local communities are not currently believed to be overexploited, but with
additional pressure on agriculture and forest resources there may be a corresponding increase in fish
consumption as a cheap, relatively accessible source of protein. Secondary impacts due to in-migration are
expected to have a medium magnitude impact on wild caught fish.
Taking into account the medium value of the resource the significance of combined impacts on freshwater
fisheries prior to mitigation is assessed as major during construction and operation and minor following
closure of the mine.
23.5.14.3
Timber
The mine will impact wood products used for local construction through occupation of land and restriction of
access to forest resources. There is currently no commercial logging in the Pic de Fon CF or surrounding
forests, but timber is an important resource for the construction of houses and furniture. Timber is
considered to have a moderate amount of spatial alternatives in the study area, with some species more
susceptible to overharvesting than other. This service is therefore considered of medium value in the study
area. Some regulated harvesting of wood for construction will be allowed in the production and mining areas
of the Pic de Fon CF, solely on the basis of meeting household needs. As this is not expected to be a major
source of wood and access to resources will be maintained, the magnitude of direct impacts during
construction and operation are anticipated to be small.
Indirect impacts on timber from in-migration will stem from unplanned settlement growth and increased
pressure on forest resources, including wood products. As is the case for other forest products and natural
resources in the study area, these impacts are expected to be more significant and more difficult to predict
than direct impacts. Given the relatively good availability of wood resources in the area, the magnitude of
impact from in-migration during construction and operation is predicted to be medium.
Due to the medium value of the service, combined direct and indirect impacts are expected to have a
moderate impact on timber resources during all phases prior to mitigation.
23.5.14.4
Existence Value of Biodiversity
The value that people around the world place on the knowledge that species and habitats exist, typically
rare, beautiful or otherwise distinctive ones, is known as ‘existence value.’ This value is expressed
internationally through support for conservation organisations and in organised causes to protect particular
species or areas from human use, among other examples. Field studies undertaken by the Project in 20092010 included this topic to an extent and found that communities tended to express value through spiritual
and religious values (Section 23.5.9).
Since existence value is not a tangible or easily quantified concept, the SEIA does not attempt to assign a
rating to impacts on this service. Instead, the biodiversity assessment considers impacts on habitats and
species that have been identified as high value through the determination of critical habitat (see Chapter 12:
Biodiversity).
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23.5.14.5
Aesthetic Value of Natural Landscapes
As described in Chapter 14: Landscape, the mine will have a direct impact on the view of the Pic de Fon and
Ouéléba ridge as seen from a number of villages in the mine study area. The Pic de Fon and Ouéléba
ridges are significant landmarks for villages in the area and local people attach considerable cultural
importance to the landscape. The value derived from these landscape features is not the same for all
villages in the area; rather, those with prominent and unobstructed views of the two ridgelines are considered
the most sensitive receptors. Since aesthetic value is not directly linked to the livelihoods, health, safety
and / or cultural heritage of communities in most instances, it is not considered a priority ecosystem service.
A number of management measures for landscape impacts are already included in Project design and
operational planning. These are referenced in Section 23.5.1 and incorporated into the prediction of impacts
here. As described in the text and photographic examples provided in Chapter 14: Landscape, construction
activities including clearing and stripping, vehicle movements and construction of infrastructure, will have a
medium magnitude impact on the character of the surrounding landscape.
During operation, the progression of mining activities will change the appearance of the ridgelines and nighttime lighting during construction and operation will be visible in some areas. The mined escarpment and
exposed faces will appear unnatural until they are rehabilitated within five years of closure. Areas where
large magnitude impacts are expected during operations include views from Moribadou, Wataférédou II, and
Traoréla. A detailed description of impacts at the village level is provided alongside photographic examples
in Chapter 14: Landscape. A summary of the major considerations in the assessment of impacts is provided
below.
The population of Wataférédou II is considered to be highly sensitive and is predicted to experience critical
landscape and visual impacts due to its proximity to the mine components and unobstructed view.
Moribadou is in proximity to the mine components and populated by several thousand people who currently
are able to clearly see Pic de Fon, the third highest mountain in Guinea, and the Ouéléba escarpment from
their houses and communities. Pic de Fon and the Ouéléba escarpment are considered to be landmark
landscapes. Under these circumstances, these Sensitive Visual Receptor (SVR) locations would usually be
considered highly sensitive to change. However, the population increased from approximately 768 in 2007
to approximately 8 078 in 2011 with the majority of people migrating to seek employment with the Project. It
is likely that they will associate changes to the landscape and visual resources with a potential improvement
in livelihood and quality of life. Accordingly, this location is considered moderately sensitive and is predicted
to experience major landscape and visual impacts.
Traoréla is also in proximity to the mine components, principally mining activity at Ouéléba, seen from a
distance of 2.4 km away. Traoréla’s population increased from 329 in 2007 to 1 053 in 2011, however, most
of this in-migration is from within the local government administrative district and is not motivated primarily by
employment with the Project. The population is therefore likely to have a closer cultural connection to
Simandou than the population at Moribadou. However, views from Traoréla are partially screened by
topography in the foreground and for this reason it was considered to be moderately sensitive. It is predicted
to experience major landscape and visual impacts.
In summary, the landscape and visual impact assessment finds that there is likely to be a critical impact on
views from Wataférédou II owing to a large magnitude of change on a highly sensitive visual receptor. There
are likely to be major landscape and visual impacts on views from Moribadou and Traoréla owing to a large
magnitude of change on moderately sensitive visual receptors.
23.5.14.6
Natural Hazard Regulation
As described in the baseline, natural vegetation plays multiple roles in terms of regulating the occurrence
and severity of natural hazards. Wild bushfires are a recurring event in the study area and forested areas,
particularly dense forest, act as a natural fire break. Natural vegetation along steep catchment areas can
help to prevent hazardous flood events. Areas where natural vegetation provides a protective function are
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relatively abundant in the study area, but would take a moderate length of time to return to their present state
following disturbance. These areas are therefore considered of medium value to beneficiaries.
Direct impacts on fire regulation services in the mine study area include degradation and fragmentation of
forest resources through land occupied for the mine and its facilities. Approximately 1 095 ha of forest land
is expected to be occupied by the mine. This may have some implications for fire prevention around the
mine area. Given the fact that the mine will not directly impact the community forests that are maintained
around villages in part as a form of firebreak, the magnitude of the impact is estimated to be medium during
construction and operation. No direct impacts are expected following revegetation after mine closure.
Potential indirect impacts from in-migration include degradation and loss of forest resources as a result of
settlement growth. In addition, deliberate setting of fires to clear new land may lead to additional threat of
brushfires, increasing the importance of fire regulation in the area. The magnitude of this impact is
conservatively rated large during all phases of the project. Given the medium value of the service, the
significance of indirect impacts on fire regulation is therefore major for all phases.
23.6
Mitigation Measures and Residual Impacts
23.6.1
Overview
As standard good practice, the mine will strive to avoid and then to minimise all impacts through design
before undertaking mitigation. Design measures aimed at achieving this goal are summarised in the
description of relevant Project design measures provided earlier in the chapter (Section 23.5.1). The
following section provides a description of mitigation measures and predicted residual impacts on ecosystem
services in the mine study area, including:












mitigation of impacts on cultivated crops;
mitigation of impacts on livestock;
mitigation of impacts on firewood and charcoal;
mitigation of impacts on non-timber forest products;
mitigation of impacts on medicinal plants;
mitigation of impacts on freshwater;
mitigation of impacts on spiritual and religious sites (Living Cultural Heritage);
mitigation of impacts on traditional practices;
mitigation of impacts on regulation of surface and groundwater flows;
mitigation of impacts on erosion regulation;
mitigation of impacts on disease regulation; and
mitigation of impacts on non-priority ecosystem services.
For the 11 priority ecosystem services identified in the study area, the measures implemented by the Project
have the additional goal of maintaining the value and functionality of these services for beneficiaries over the
short and long term. Due to the cross-cutting nature of the subject area, mitigation of impacts on ecosystem
services will be captured under a range of programmes under both the Environmental Management
Framework (EMF) and Social Management Framework (SMF) to be implemented by the Project. In some
cases, mitigation measures are common across several impact topics, for instance, provision of support for
natural resource management efforts by authorities and local communities is important for nearly all impacts
on provisioning services in the area. A brief discussion of some of the management plans and programmes
that will be relevant across a number of different ecosystem services is provided in Sections 23.6.1.1 to
23.6.1.3.
23.6.1.1
Social Management Framework
The Social Management Framework (SMF) provides a structure for the detailed design and implementation
of the Project’s social mitigation measures, which will be captured in a series of Social Management Plans.
The SMF covers all social mitigation included under the Project, including the PARC Framework and Inmigration Management Plan, discussed in more detail below. A full discussion of the SMF is provided in
Volume V: Social and Environmental Management Plan.
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As illustrated in Figure 23.2 the SMF groups social mitigation measures into a number of programmes under
four themes: Urban and Rural Planning; Employment Creation and Livelihoods; Community Health, Safety,
and Security; and Cultural Heritage and Awareness. These themes serve to highlight linkages between
mitigation measures developed for different impacts and to promote coordination of efforts during detailed
mitigation design and implementation. The Social Management Plans will build upon the SMF to describe
detailed actions, indicators and targets for each theme to be achieved through their respective programmes.
The detailed design and implementation of the SMF mitigation measures will be influenced by a number of
factors, including prioritisation of mitigation measures, alignment with the development policies and plans of
local communities and government authorities and consultation with affected communities (see Chapter 16:
Employment and Economic Development for a full discussion).
Due to the fact that the final receptors of any changes in ecosystem services will be human beneficiaries,
most of the mitigation for ecosystem service impacts will fall under the Social Management Framework
(SMF). That said, where there are cross-cutting issues, the social and environmental teams will coordinate
to develop and implement appropriate mitigation.
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Figure 23.2 Simandou Project Social Management Framework
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
• Vision and Objectives • Organisation • Funding • Programmes • Schedule • Communication • Monitoring and Evaluation Programme Development
Prioritisation
Project Affected Peoples
Beneficiaries
Alignment
Impacts and Risks
Urban and Rural Planning
Development
Policies
Project Phase
Employment Creation and
Livelihoods
Regional Development Forum
PACV
Studies and
Analysis
Community Health, Safety,
and Security
Cultural Heritage and
Awareness
Resettlement and Livelihood Restoration
(PARC Framework and Implementation)
Community Health
Tangible Heritage
In-Migration
Community Safety and
Security
Intangible Heritage
Employee Housing
Agriculture and Food Security
Infrastructure
Local Procurement
Human Rights
SME Development
Employment and Work
Readiness
Stakeholder Engagement
Consultation, Information Exchange, and Partnerships
Capacity Building
Government
Donors
Communities
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Civil Society
and NGOs
Private
Sector
Grievance Management
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Some of the key programmes under the SMF in terms of mitigating impacts on ecosystem services include:
1. resettlement and livelihood restoration (PARC Framework and implementation);
2. in-migration management; and
3. agriculture and food security (including impacts on natural resources and land-based livelihoods).
More detail on the relationship of these programmes to mitigation of impacts on ecosystem services is
provided below.
1. Implementation of the PARC Framework: Where the Project directly affects livelihood activities,
household or communal assets through land occupation and use a number of measures outlined in the
Plan d’Action de Reinstallation et de Compensation (PARC) will be implemented. These are provided in
greater detail in Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods. The PARC Framework will guide
the programme for Resettlement and Livelihood Restoration within both the Urban and Rural Planning
and Employment Creation and Livelihoods themes, working in complement with programmes targeting
non-resettled communities.
Based on the assessed impacts and the broad entitlement principles, Project-affected people will
typically be entitled to the following kinds of compensation and assistance:









compensation for loss of land, crops, trees etc;
compensation for structures (residential and commercial) and other immovable assets;
compensation for loss of livelihood and livelihood restoration support;
compensation and assistance for loss of common resources (such as fishing area, water resources,
forest) and dependent livelihoods;
assistance for resettlement, relocation and rehabilitation;
replacement and shifting of community assets;
strengthening and rebuilding and / or restoration of community resources, assets and / or facilities;
preferential employment and skill building support; and
community development activities.
A broad entitlement matrix has been developed indicating the options that will be available for different
groups and types of impact. This is presented in Table 19.4 of Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based
Livelihoods. Where aspects of the PARC Framework address impacts on one ecosystem service in
particular, these are discussed further in the relevant mitigation section of this chapter.
2. In-Migration Management: It is recognised that the Project may be in a position to significantly
influence and assist national and local authorities in managing the impacts of opportunistic in-migration
occurring as a result of the mine. The growth of unplanned settlements and the major governance and
natural resource challenges that these could bring will need to be planned for and managed proactively
by government authorities to avoid wide-ranging negative impacts.
The Project has developed an In-Migration plan to help mitigate the broad range of impacts associated
with in-migration to the mine area. The plan is discussed in more detail in Chapter 18: In-Migration. It
addresses the following objectives:
 minimise in-migration as far as possible;
 manage and direct the flow of in-migrants in accordance with regional planning objectives; and
 implement mitigation measures to address the adverse environmental and social consequences, and
maximise the benefits of in-migration.
As discussed further under the development of Project Social Management Plans, the Project will
undertake a series of in-migration studies to identify and prepare appropriate mitigation for areas with
high levels of expected in-migration. A focus on identifying potential impacts on natural resources and
associated ecosystem services as a result of population growth will be central to this effort.
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Some of the activities designed to direct the flow of migrants and manage their impacts on receiving
communities include working closely with national, regional, local authorities, village leaders, and
communities (as appropriate for the area of focus) to:
 develop and implement a targeted communications plan in areas known to be potential sources of inmigration and, using migrant networks, inform potential in-migrants of the scale and nature of
opportunities, manage expectations and, where appropriate discourage them from moving to the
Project area;
 support regional development planning that encourages distribution of opportunities across a wider
area to avoid concentration of attraction at key Project locations;
 undertake urban planning and development in larger centres to accommodate in-migrants, in
complement with planning for Project employee housing and infrastructure;
 support development of village zoning plans for settlements at high risk from in-migration, to direct inmigrant related development to defined areas where impacts will be minimised and to encourage local
people to remain in their villages; and
 explicitly include consideration of biodiversity and natural resource impacts of in-migration, and
integration of appropriate responses into the overall programme;
The full suite of in-migration measures is provided in Chapter 18: In-Migration. Despite these measures,
it is anticipated that in-migration will be a challenge in the mine area. The growth of unplanned
settlements and the major governance and natural resource challenges that these could bring will need
to be planned for and managed proactively by government authorities to avoid wide-ranging negative
impacts. Residual impact ratings on a number of priority ecosystem services reflect the uncertainty and
challenges surrounding management of in-migration and the implications this could have for ecosystem
services in the study area.
3. Agriculture and Food Security: The Agriculture and Food Security programme under the Employment
Creation and Livelihoods theme can be divided into three categories:
 agriculture, fishing, and livestock support, which focusses on bolstering or diversifying local
communities’ primary land-based livelihoods;
 natural resources management, which supports sustainable natural resources management and
conservation; and
 food security, which aims to ensure, in partnership with government authorities, that foodstuffs remain
in adequate and accessible supply to local communities.
Agriculture, Fishing, and Livestock Support
The Project has already begun to develop and support a number of focussed agricultural development and
intensification activities near the mine, as noted in Chapter 15: Socio-Economic and Community Baseline.
The Project will apply lessons learned and, where possible and practicable, continue to utilise partnerships
established to date, to enhance and expand these activities or develop new activities suitable for identified
community needs. With regards to agriculture, fishing, and livestock-breeding, the Project will:

develop sustainable agricultural, fishing, and livestock-breeding programmes, as identified through
needs-based assessments and community consultation, that aim to diversify and increase production in
the Project area through best practice techniques. Needs based assessments and community
consultation with take into account production activities by men, women, and youth;

provide training to farmers, fishermen, herders, and other key producers as appropriate in targeted
locations to improve their technical capabilities and support the marketing and sale of produced goods;
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
support access to equipment and other inputs (including through microfinance);

help establish market linkages between producers and potential customers, including the Project (eg
support for cooperatives, local market infrastructure, procurement contracts);

align agricultural, fishing, and livestock-breeding programmes with applicable conservation–based
outcomes to support sustainable production; and

in the event of injury or mortality of livestock due to construction or operations, the Project will notify
nearby communities and provide appropriate compensation as determined by the PARC Framework or
Grievance Procedure.
Natural Resource Management
Under this theme, the Project will undertake a number of mitigation measures that aim to maintain the value
and functionality of provisioning services provided by farmed, wild and semi-wild flora and fauna in the mine
study area.
To support sustainable natural resources management and conservation, the Project will:

develop, implement and monitor workforce codes of conduct for Project personnel regarding the
exploitation of natural resources;

consult communities regarding species and areas that are locally valued and on impacts to flora and
fauna;

where it is safe and practical to do so, provide communities access to cleared timber;

design and implement an information and awareness programme regarding sustainable harvesting,
grazing, and conservation of natural resources in partnership with relevant organisations where
available and appropriate (eg Pic de Fon management plan stakeholders);

undertake appropriate interventions (eg nurseries), as identified in needs assessments, to replace lost
resources and to harvest and replant species of local significance, particularly medicinal species;

work with local communities on management of brush fires and forest fires;

explore alternative off-grid power provision (eg solar, wind) for employee housing and, where
practicable, surrounding communities to reduce demand for wood for energy; and

through Project and participatory environmental monitoring, monitor pressure on natural resources used
by the community (eg firewood, bushmeat, wild plants).
Capacity building for authorities, education campaigns and support to the local people would be provided to
include education on threats to biodiversity from human activities and examples / case studies of coexistence
between human activities and natural areas of habitat. The education, management and development
programme would draw upon the model employed within the Pic de Fon Management Plan, taking account
of lessons learned from periodic evaluation of the Plan and its implementation.
23.6.1.2
Stakeholder Engagement and Data Collection for Development of Social Management Plans
As described above, Social Management Plans or programmes will provide the mechanism for implementing
all of the social mitigation measures under the Project. As the initial step in development of most Social
Management Plans, including those covering ecosystem service related mitigations, the Project will
undertake targeted data collection and stakeholder engagement activities to refine the mitigation measures
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identified in this report. For a number of relevant services, this step will include identification of the use,
importance and replaceability of ecosystem services at the village level. These activities will include:

Socio-Economic Surveys: These surveys, currently underway through the PARC Framework, will
collect detailed socio-economic data from households and settlements anticipated to be directly
impacted by the Project and thus potentially experiencing economic and / or physical displacement. As
discussed in Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods, livelihoods linked to natural resources
other than land, such as fishing, are considered for entitlements and in overall livelihood restoration
under the PARC framework.

In-Migration Studies: These studies will collect socio-economic data within settlements anticipated to
experience high levels of in-migration, with resulting indirect impacts on the community. Studies will
focus on key adverse impacts associated with in-migration, such as pressures on land, land-based
resources, water, and infrastructure. Where needed, information on the importance and replaceability of
existing ecosystem services will be collected from stakeholders as part of this effort.

Stakeholder Engagement: The Project will continue to engage community and other stakeholders as
part of the SEIA submission process and other Project activities, at which time it will collect further
information related to mitigation development as appropriate.
Data collection and stakeholder engagement activities will be scheduled in advance of Project phase
transitions (eg design to construction, construction to operation) to allow for the timely development of
appropriate mitigation measures and the updating of Social Management Plans. Should the activities reveal
distinct differences between communities, the Project will also consider the development of communityspecific impact management plans.
In addition to the above, further data collection and monitoring of priority regulating and provisioning services
such as freshwater provision and fire prevention will be undertaken during Detailed Design. The results of
detailed hydrological assessments, water balance estimates and mapping of receptors will feed into
mitigation measures for freshwater provision, agriculture and community health and safety (see Sections
23.6.6 and 23.6.13.6).
23.6.1.3
Environmental Management Framework
As a counterpart to the SMF, the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) provides a structure for the
detailed design and implementation of the Project’s environmental mitigation measures, which will be
captured in a series of Environmental Management Plans and Procedures. A full discussion of the EMF is
provided in Volume V: Social and Environmental Management Plan.
The EMF groups environmental mitigation measures into a number of programmes under five themes: Land
Use Stewardship, Biodiversity, Water, Mineral Waste, Other Emissions and Non-Mineral Waste. For the
most part, the ecosystem-service related mitigation measures addressed by these themes tend to relate to
only one or two ecosystem services and are therefore discussed in more detail under the relevant mitigation
sections that follow. Measures regarding induced access are an exception to this, as they potentially
influence impacts on a number of ecosystem services, most notably bushmeat, medicinal plants, timber,
firewood and charcoal and the non-use value placed on the existence of habitats and species.
Minimising Impacts from Induced Access: In addition to the in-migration measures to be implemented
under the Social Management Framework, a number of measures will be put in place to explicitly manage
impacts from induced access in the mine area. Specific measures related to bushmeat hunting are detailed
further in Section 23.6.13.1.
The framework for control of potential third-party impacts in the Pic de Fon CF has been put in place through
the development and ongoing implementation of the Pic de Fon Management Plan, described in detail in
Chapter 12: Biodiversity. This has established co-management of the area in which the Simandou mine and
much of its infrastructure are situated, and the Project has already made a commitment to continued support
to implementation of the Plan and the institutions involved in co-management, throughout mine life.
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Furthermore, as described in Chapter 12: Biodiversity, the Project will focus development of the mine to the
east of the Simandou Ridge, and will support the objective of restricting access to the Protection Zone on the
western flanks of the Range.
In addition to the measures outlined in the Pic de Fon MP, the Project will consider developing partnerships
with government agencies, local government authorities and NGOs to deliver a multi-faceted education,
management and development programme aiming to establish sustainable use of local natural resources
while maintaining livelihoods within the wider area around the mine. It would be tailored to the specific social
and ecological conditions of the area (at an appropriate scale to be agreed with stakeholders). Further
details are provided in Chapter 12: Biodiversity.
In the longer term, further pressure may be exerted on the natural resource base upon decommissioning and
closure of a project, if alternative economic activities and livelihoods have not been developed to replace
economic activity related to the project. Consequently, as part of closure planning, the Project will develop
partnerships with local government and local communities, and consider further support and contribution to
capacity building measures and development of alternative livelihoods to mitigate potential impacts of Project
closure.
23.6.2
Mitigation of Impacts on Cultivated Crops
23.6.2.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts from Land Occupation
All Project infrastructure will, as far as possible, be sited to avoid, or otherwise maximise distance from,
highly productive agricultural land such as rice fields and land used for other livelihood activities. Where the
mine directly affects livelihood activities through temporary or permanent losses of cropland due to land
occupation, the Project will follow procedures outlined in the Plan d’Action de Reinstallation et de
Compensation (PARC) Framework. As described in Section 23.6.1.1, under the PARC Framework the
Project will aim to fully restore and where possible improve the livelihoods of economically or physically
displaced households. Proposed entitlements for lost agricultural land are separated into village and / or
general community land, host community land, lineage land and individual or family land. In the case of
individual or family land, replacement land of similar size and potential will be allocated through the
traditional lineage land allocation mechanisms within the boundaries of the village territory. Cash
compensation will be provided for any improvements on the land, including clearing, irrigation systems and
ploughing. Should there be a lack of suitable replacement land and unless otherwise agreed with the
community and affected people, the Project will provide cash compensation for land and improvements on
land at replacement value and / or livelihood restoration assistance (such as preference in employment, skill
building support).
For more information on compensation measures under the PARC, see the detailed entitlement matrix in
Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods. In addition to the PARC, a number of other livelihood
support programmes will be applied under the Agriculture and Food Security Programme, to address both
direct and indirect impacts from the mine (see Section 23.6.1.1). Finally, the Project will consult
communities, including sedentary communities and transhumant pastoralists who use the area to identify all
access routes that will be impacted and avoid disrupting these routes where possible.
23.6.2.2
Mitigation of Direct Impacts from Changes in Water Availability, Dust and Soil Quality
As discussed further in Section 23.6.6, mitigation of impacts on the surface water flow regime from
dewatering will be achieved through the Mine Water Management System (MWMS). This system will collect
groundwater from dewatering and storm water runoff from the pit area and distribute it via a pipeline system
to supplement flows in streams affected by dewatering. Catchments where a moderate to critical impact is
predicted will receive environmental flow compensation that will allow baseflows to recover to at least 95% of
their natural levels. For catchments where there is established riparian agriculture bordering the mountainfed streams that are affected by dewatering, the Simandou Mine Water Management System (MWMS) will
include flow monitoring to determine whether there are any noticeable effects on early wet season flows
used for irrigation. This is not considered likely, but if such effects are found then the allocation of
dewatering discharges within the system will be reassessed and provision made for agricultural water users
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accordingly. In addition to the above, the mine will avoid diversion of existing irrigation channels that sustain
irrigated agriculture. Where this is not possible, new irrigation channels will be constructed that improve, but
as a minimum restore, irrigation to these areas.
As described in Chapter 9: Air Quality, dust suppression measures will be implemented along unpaved roads
where they pass within the vicinity of towns, villages, settlements and cultivated land. These include:

water sprays will be used where excessive dust levels are predicted or reported; and

if necessary, further treatment or binding of road surfaces will be considered if high traffic flows are
expected for long periods and people will be exposed to unacceptably high levels of dust.
In order to minimise the sterilisation of soil resources during construction and operation of the mine the area
of land to be occupied for the mine project will be kept to the minimum necessary for the works. A Land Use
Management Plan will be designed and implemented to minimise impacts on soil resources. Examples of
measures include: topsoil stripping, stockpiling and management will be planned prior to ground disturbance
works commencing; topsoil (and subsoil where deemed necessary) will be salvaged for re-use; soil
resources will be re-used as soon as possible after stripping by re-spreading on adjacent areas or stored in
segregated stockpiles for later use in site rehabilitation. The full suite of measures is described in Chapter 5:
Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste. In addition, a Mineral Waste Management Plan will be implemented to
control erosion on waste emplacements (further details are provided in Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and
Mineral Waste).
23.6.2.3
Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Mitigation measures related to management of in-migration and unplanned settlement growth are described
in Section 23.6.1.1 under the In-Migration Plan. In addition, Project investment in agricultural support
programmes in the area of the mine are discussed in the same section under the Agriculture and Food
Security theme of the SMF. Despite these measures, it is recognised that the Project will not have full
control over unplanned settlement growth and subsequent impacts on agriculture.
23.6.2.4
Residual Impacts
The mitigation measures to be undertaken by the Project will reduce direct impacts from land occupation to
minor, maintaining the ecosystem service in most cases and compensating for any losses through the
PARC process and through the development of alternative livelihood strategies. Impacts from changes in
water availability and soil quality area likewise reduced to minor following mitigation. Impacts from dust
deposition will be not significant. Finally, where the Project provides alternate livelihood activities and / or
contributes to increased agricultural production through extension programmes, residual impacts on
cultivated crops may be positive (see Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods).
The Project’s efforts to work with local communities and authorities to manage in-migration and settlement
growth can be expected to reduce the magnitude of indirect impacts from in-migration but not eliminate them
entirely. Ongoing and planned efforts by the Project to invest in agricultural productivity should help to
further offset the negative impacts of in-migration, but only if the scale of migration is managed to a
reasonable level. Otherwise, the promise of productive land and agricultural extension programmes will
continue to feed a cycle of opportunistic growth in the area. As a result of the uncertainty around the extent
and management of the population influx into the mine study area, residual impacts on cultivated crops due
to in-migration are conservatively assessed as moderate during all mine phases.
23.6.3
Mitigation of Impacts on Livestock
23.6.3.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts from Occupation of land
The Project will avoid acquiring or restricting access to important pastureland wherever possible are
incorporated into the impact rating. Where direct impacts on pasture land through land occupation are
unavoidable, the Project will follow procedures outlined in the PARC Framework. Replacement land of
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similar size and potential will be allocated through the traditional community land allocation mechanisms
within the boundaries of the village territory or as agreed with the impacted and host groups and
communities, respectively. A detailed entitlement matrix describing compensation measures under the
PARC is provided in Chapter 19: Land Use and Land-Based Livelihoods. In addition to the PARC, a number
of other livelihood support programmes will be applied under the Agriculture and Food Security Programme,
to address both direct and indirect impacts from the mine (see Section 23.6.1.1).
As part of the Pic de Fon Management Plan, the Project, in conjunction with its partners, will continue to
implement grazing management measures in the classified forest mining area.
Finally, the Project will consult communities, including sedentary communities and transhumant pastoralists
who use the area to identify all access routes that will be impacted and avoid disrupting these routes where
possible.
23.6.3.2
Mitigation of Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
As described in Section 23.6.1, the Project will undertake a number of mitigation measures in collaboration
with local authorities to help minimise and control unplanned growth of settlements. In particular, careful
planning and implementation of zoning rules for land use will help to minimise the encroachment of
residential and cultivated land on pasture areas. In addition, livestock farming programmes will be developed
and implemented under the Agriculture and Food Security Programme to support livestock farming in the
mine area.
23.6.3.3
Residual Impacts
The mitigation measures to be undertaken by the Project will reduce direct impacts on livestock to the level
of minor during all phases, maintaining the basic functionality of the ecosystem service. Indirect impacts
from changes in freshwater availability were assessed as not significant prior to mitigation. Efforts to
develop livestock programmes and manage settlement growth are expected to bring residual impacts from
in-migration to the level of minor significance during all phases; as discussed further in Chapter 19:
Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods, there is the potential for positive residual impacts following the
implementation of programmes under the Agriculture and Food Security Programme in the mine area.
23.6.4
Mitigation of Impacts on Firewood and Charcoal
23.6.4.1
Mitigation of Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
Identification of important community resources under the PARC process will include consultation with
stakeholders to identify the location of important firewood collection areas in order to fully define potential
impacts from the mine. Mitigation for short- to medium-term losses of access to fuelwood collection areas will
include providing access to alternative sources of fuelwood. The Project will also explore alternative off-grid
power provision (eg solar, wind) for employee housing and, where practicable, surrounding communities to
reduce demand for wood for energy.
Since the majority of impacts on fuelwood collection are anticipated to be caused by in-migration, mitigation
by the Project will include implementation of the In-Migration Plan and natural resource management
measures under the Agriculture and Food Security Programme (see Section 26.6.1.1). As part of the
development of these plans, stakeholder engagement and in-migration studies will help the Project to both
determine appropriate mitigation measures and facilitate community acceptance of solutions for difficult
natural resource management issues. Through Project and participatory environmental monitoring, the
Project will help communities to monitor pressure on natural resources used by the community (eg firewood,
bushmeat, wild plants).
23.6.4.2
Residual Impacts
Direct impacts from mine activities were assessed as minor prior to mitigation and no additional reduction in
significance through mitigation is anticipated. Through the implementation of the mitigation measures
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discussed above, the Project will aim to minimise negative impacts on wood for fuel and charcoal resulting
from in-migration. However, because aspects of in-migration will be outside of the Project’s control and
difficult to predict, residual indirect impacts on firewood and charcoal are conservatively estimated to be
moderate.
23.6.5
Mitigation of Impacts on Non-Timber Forest Products
23.6.5.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts from Occupation of Land
The Project will work with forestry authorities and undertake ongoing consultation at the village level to
identify and attempt to avoid direct impacts on key plant species utilised for non-timber products (for
example, raffia palm). In the event that full avoidance of impacts on collection of non-timber forest products
is not possible, compensation will be provided under the PARC Framework. Loss of timber and non-timber
products will be included in community level compensation for losses of access to land in forest and savanna
areas.
23.6.5.2
Mitigation of Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
As is the case for firewood and several other forest-based resources, in-migration is expected to be the
source of the majority of impacts on non-timber forest products. Mitigation by the Project will include
implementation of the In-Migration Plan and natural resource management measures under the Agriculture
and Food Security Programme. Overexploited resources such as raffia palm will be targeted in natural
resource management efforts, with a focus on involving local authorities and communities in sustainable
resource planning and monitoring,
23.6.5.3
Residual Impacts
Following implementation of the measures above, residual direct impacts are assessed as not significant
for all non-timber forest products except raffia palm, which will be reduced to minor. Given the uncertainties
around the extent and management of in-migration, residual impacts from in-migration on most non-timber
forest products are assessed as minor; residual indirect impacts on raffia palm are assessed as moderate
for all phases.
23.6.6
Mitigation of Impacts on Natural Medicines
As is the case for several other provisioning services, the Project will undertake additional stakeholder
engagement and needs assessments in villages where significant impacts on medicinal plants are
anticipated. This information will help to determine the importance of medicinal plant collection for local
communities and to design appropriate mitigation. These findings will feed into the PARC process and the
in-migration management process, as appropriate, to determine the mitigation measures that are best suited
to community needs (see Section 23.6.1.1 for more detail).
The PARC Framework provides compensation, including replacement of lost resources, for any impacts
resulting from temporary or permanent land occupation by the mine. Where appropriate, this process will be
managed through consultation with local healers in order to identify and replace any important medicinal
resources lost.
Mitigation of potential impacts from in-migration will be implemented through the In-migration Plan and
through the Agriculture and Food Security Programme. As described in Section 23.6.1.1, measures such as
planting nurseries, support for sustainable resource use planning and provision of improved access to
alternative natural or pharmaceutical resources will be applied as determined through the stakeholder
engagement process.
23.6.6.1
Residual Impacts
Following implementation of mitigation, direct impacts from the mine on medicinal plant resources are
expected to be not significant to minor, depending upon the site. Following implementation of the
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mitigation measures above, residual impacts from in-migration are conservatively assessed as minor to
moderate during construction and operation depending upon the area, level of anticipated in-migration and
importance of the resource to the local community
23.6.7
Mitigation of Impacts on Freshwater
23.6.7.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts on Freshwater Quantity
The mitigation of impacts on the surface water flow regime from dewatering will be achieved through the
Mine Water Management System (MWMS). This system will collect groundwater from dewatering and storm
water runoff from the pit area and distribute it via a pipeline system to supplement flows in streams affected
by dewatering. It is anticipated that the water quality from dewatering will be similar to that from existing
springs and so it will most likely be possible to discharge it to streams with minimal (if any) pre-treatment.
This of course will be subject to meeting the water quality standards defined in Chapter 6: Water
Environment, Table 6.12. However, pit runoff will need to be diverted to sediment control systems for
treatment prior to discharge.
The final design of the MWMS will only be possible once the numerical groundwater modelling study has
been completed during the detailed engineering phase of the Project, when detailed dewatering plans and
rates are available. However, the preliminary results shown in Chapter 6: Water Environment indicate that
there should be sufficient volumes of water available from dewatering to compensate for the reduction in
baseflow in all of the significantly affected streams around the mine site throughout mine life. There are
some important assumptions behind this conclusion as follows:

that the dewatering surpluses for Ouéléba and Pic de Fon will be managed such that there are no
additional pressures on community water users (surface or otherwise) from the mine;

that the MWMS will be designed to discharge flows to all significantly affected streams;

that advanced dewatering will be implemented on Ouéléba; and

that the environmental flow requirements for affected streams are in some cases set lower than existing
natural baseflow conditions depending upon catchment sensitivity (see discussion in Chapter 6).
Chapter 6: Water Environment provides a detailed discussion of how the MWMS will address the points
above. Mitigation measures specific to impacts on community water use are discussed in more detail below.

Sufficient flows will be maintained at surface water supply points in high community value catchments to
meet current (and where appropriate projected future) use. For the current assessment, all catchments
that contain a surface water supply have been conservatively assigned a ‘high’ value, regardless of the
relative importance of the surface water supply to the different communities. During detailed design, a
water use audit will be conducted at each supply point to determine more precisely the value of the
surface water supply to each community. Values will be assigned based upon current use (and where
appropriate projected future use), the availability of alternative supplies, and the assigned value may
vary on a seasonal basis.

If and when a flow ‘deficit’ occurs in the MWMS such that all of the above compensation flow and project
water supply requirements cannot be met by the dewatering supply (see Section 6.4.3), then the
minimum compensation flow thresholds will be re-set to 70% of natural baseflow conditions for those
catchments with low or negligible value.

The compensation flow required to achieve these minimum flows will initially be determined for each
stream and for each month and year of mine life based upon the final groundwater modelling results (ie
equivalent to the estimated reduction in flow due to dewatering). However, these flows will be refined if
necessary based upon the monitoring of actual catchment flow responses once the dewatering
programme has commenced.
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In addition, the MWMS will aim to re-instate a passive post closure flow (and water quality) regime to mimic
pre-mining conditions where feasible (details provided in Chapter 6: Water Environment).
After mine closure and allowing sufficient time for flow equilibrium to re-establish, the preliminary model
results suggest there should be no requirement to mitigate for baseflows in the majority of streams flowing
from the mining area. Most will remain relatively unaffected, or are predicted to recover to their pre-mining
levels or thereabouts (and in some cases above).
The notable exceptions to this are on Ouéléba, where the model currently predicts a shift in groundwater
flows away from the Kinyeko / Mala and Miya catchments in the northwest and northeast and towards the
Woron catchment that flows to the southwest, and the Western Spur catchment to the northwest of Pic de
Fon. In the case of Ouéléba, the impacts will be primarily felt by surface water users in Traoréla and
Nionsomoridou, and in the latter case, there are likely to be additional pressures on water supplies due to the
proximity of the rail and the influx of migrants to the area due to increased economic activity. For this
reason, the Project will work with the authorities in both villages to identify and develop a sustainable long
term water supply strategy that is less reliant on surface water supplies (see above). As discussed
previously, further groundwater modelling and a more site specific evaluation of potential impacts of flow
reductions on biodiversity and communities in the mine area will be carried out during Detailed Design and
operation to determine the need and (if necessary) inform the development of post-closure mitigation
measures for other catchments, including the Western Spur.
Depending upon actual progress with the mine plan and dewatering, supplementary water supplies may be
required for the mine project during discrete periods. Their development would include a hydrological
assessment for each proposed source, and a long term sustainable yield assessment, with field testing
where appropriate, to guarantee any existing patterns of use by downstream communities. The rights to
access any supplies will also be negotiated with government agencies and local communities as appropriate.
As discussed in Chapter 6: Water Environment, a detailed backfill aquifer recharge plan will also be
developed and tested using the groundwater model at the detailed design stage to ensure that there are no
adverse impacts on the ability of the MWMS to meet the baseflow compensation requirements. This is likely
to require the utilisation of ‘surplus’ wet season flows to recharge the aquifers wherever possible, and to also
maximise the use of any excess dewatering flows during peak periods of dewatering.
In addition to the above, the Project will also work with project affected communities surrounding the mine to
support them in securing safe and sustainable water supplies for their inhabitants throughout mine life,
including consideration of requirements arising from in-migration. In some cases this may involve providing
direct support for the construction of local wells and / or water treatment facilities and, where appropriate, for
improved sanitation to address health and hygiene issues associated with safe water use.
Finally, the Project will also seek to implement technically and financially feasible measures to minimise use
of raw water wherever possible by:





removing or reducing the need to use water by changing designs and processes;
monitoring water use;
using recycled water if quality permits;
using dewatering water and rainwater if quality permits; and
using other sources of poorer quality water in preference to higher quality supplies.
23.6.7.2
Mitigation of Direct Impacts on Water Quality
For the most part, general construction related water quality risks will be minimised by the effective
implementation of standard requirements for all construction within or in close proximity to surface water
bodies and / or water supply wells. These are described in further detail in Chapter 6: Water Environment,
and include standard measures such as avoidance of surface water bodies wherever possible, strict
procedures for in-stream construction works, keeping exposed surfaces to a minimum and re-vegetating
and/or stabilising immediately following works; design and maintenance of sediment and erosion control
measures designed to minimise surcharging under normal flood conditions and other examples of best-
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practice. In addition, an Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Plan will be developed and
implemented detailing how the Project will minimise the likelihood and consequences of accidental spills.
As described in Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste, a number of erosion control measures will be
put in place during construction and operation, reducing impacts on turbidity and TSS in surface water
bodies. Measures in the Land Use Management Plan with a particular focus on minimising erosion near
freshwater bodies include: avoiding works within 50 m of a river or stream unless necessary for crossing
works; scheduling works with high erosion potential to avoid periods of intensive rainfall where possible;
diversion of surface run-off from exposed areas; and use of storm water and sediment retention ponds to
reduce erosion and sediment loads in discharges. An additional list of erosion control measures to be
applied across activities for the mine is discussed in Section 23.6.11 and in Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and
Mineral Waste.
During mine operation, all of the dewatering discharges, in-pit runoff and waste facility effluents will be
managed or treated to meet the water quality and effluent standards shown in Table 6.12 of Chapter 6:
Water Environment. Recognising that communities utilise surface water for potable supply without prior
treatment, WHO drinking water guideline values (or baseline, where greater) will be met in those receiving
waters that are used by communities downstream of the mining operations. This applies to the majority of
catchments that will receive water from the mine operations. The WHO parameters will be measured at a
suitable location upstream of the point of first use in each receiving catchment. Further detail on mitigation
measures to meet IFC and WHO guidelines, including development and monitoring of water quality
standards and separate measures for managing and treating (as needed) worker camp discharges,
dewatering discharges and in-pit storm runoff is provided in Chapter 6: Water Environment. Finally, a series
of sediment control systems are under consideration for managing runoff from waste rock emplacements and
acid rock drainage to meet the water quality guidelines indicated above. These are described in the water
environment chapter, and will be further researched and developed during Detailed Design.
23.6.7.3
Mitigation of Indirect Impacts from In-Migration
The implementation of the In-Migration Plan as described in Section 23.6.1.1 will play an important role in
managing increased pressure on water resources. In addition, increased demand for water in local
communities will be addressed under the SMF through the Infrastructure Programme under the Urban and
Rural Planning theme. The infrastructure programme will include surveys of affected settlements to gather
detailed information on water sources and water needs, developing a consultation programme to identify
preferred water infrastructure at the village level and partnering with local authorities and relevant
organisations where available and appropriate (eg donors, civil society and NGOs) to facilitate delivery of
sufficient supply and adequate quality of water to affected settlements. More detail on the programme is
provided in Chapter 19: Land Use and Land Based Livelihoods.
23.6.7.4
Residual Impacts
With the implementation of the MWMS and erosion regulation measures as described above and in more
detail in Chapter 6: Water Environment and Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste, the predicted
impacts on stream baseflows due to dewatering during operation should be reduced to minor in all
catchments. In particular, those catchments where a moderate to critical impact is predicted will receive
environmental flow compensation that will allow baseflows to recover to at least 95% of their natural levels.
The residual impacts following mine closure are also predicted to be minor almost in all cases, with effective
implementation of mitigation for community water supplies in Nionsomoridou and Traoréla. Higher residual
impacts are anticipated in some catchments with implications for biodiversity and ecological health (but no
community users); these are highlighted in Chapter 6: Water Environment and Chapter 12: Biodiversity.
The significance of impacts on water supply due to project demands will be minor following the
implementation of mitigation measures.
The potential significance of impacts on surface water quality will be reduced through the mitigation
measures described above to the level of moderate during mine operation and minor following mine
closure. Impacts on erosion will be reduced to the level of minor impacts during all phases. As noted in
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Chapter 6: Water Environment, the moderate rating for water quality impacts overall is retained due to the
size and duration of the Project and the likelihood that despite all of the safeguards, issues may arise from
time to time with the possibility that control measures may on occasion only be installed after the event.
The in-migration management measures and community support programmes described above can be
expected to help reduce the magnitude of impacts from in-migration over the life of the mine and in some
cases improve the available water supply. Residual impacts on freshwater supply due to in-migration are
therefore assessed as minor with the possibility that this impact may become positive.
23.6.8
Mitigation of Impacts on Spiritual and Religious Sites
23.6.8.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts from Mine Activities
As described in Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage, a project wide site reconnaissance and local consultation
process is now being undertaken and will include identification of additional LCH sites and collection of
further information of known sites. Specific additional LCH topics to be investigated in the mine areas
include:

identification of new LCH sites within the mine study area; and

establishing additional details about traditional uses of LCH sites that will assist in the Community
Department’s management of potential impacts, such as the role of the villages as “keepers of the
mountain” and the significance of water bodies as potential sacred areas or as the home of water spirits.
Many LCH sites certainly exist in the mine area but have not yet have been identified by the Project. Preconstruction mitigation will involve community engagement to identify additional unknown sites within the
Project area of influence. Community engagement will focus not only on widely known LCH sites, but will
also engage sensitive groups such as religious minorities, women’s groups or secret societies, who many not
wish to share the exact location of their sacred sites.
The strategy for mitigating impacts on LCH sites is provided in detail in Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage. A
summary of these steps is provided below.
1. Consultation with affected groups (local community, women’s groups, men’s groups, traditional authority
figures, different religious and ethnic groups) conducted by the Community Department to determine
significance, function, access and use of the site during detailed design planning and continuing during
construction. The Community Department, working in conjunction with the Working Group, will engage
affected groups to develop appropriate mitigation and negotiate compensation if necessary in
accordance with the guidance outlined in PS8.
2. Where LCH resources may be lost or damaged by Project activities, the Project will consult with and gain
the consent of affected communities and site users before proceeding with any non-avoidance
mitigation. If possible and acceptable to affected people, natural and man-made objects and moveable
spiritual sites will be relocated to avoid impacts, using approaches for moving and placing objects that
are sensitive to local wishes and traditional practice.
3. Where relocation is not possible, or where displacement of a feature will result in the loss of some of its
cultural value or functionality, consideration will also be given to the need for compensation. The Project
Resettlement and Compensation Framework (PARC), as described in Chapter 19: Land Use and LandBased Livelihoods, will also include provision for displacement of features of cultural importance
Mitigation of risks to living cultural heritage sites outside the immediate mine footprint will be undertaken as
follows.

Sites near the perimeter of the works will be clearly marked and if necessary fenced to prevent
encroachment by Project personnel and activities and to protect them from accidental disturbance. All
Project personnel working in the area will be made aware of their importance and any actions needed to
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avoid impacts. Sites will be inspected regularly to confirm no inadvertent or unreported damage has
occurred and to identify any risk of impact from the Project.

The exact location and significance of any sites will only be communicated to the minimum number of
people required to ensure effective protection of the area.

If a cultural heritage site is damaged it will be treated as an incident, if any features are lost or damaged
a mitigation strategy will be further developed under the direction of the Cultural Heritage Working
Group. Any grievances related to impacts on cultural heritage will be managed through the Project
Grievance Procedure. Further details are provided in Chapter 12: Cultural Heritage.
No instances of disruption to site access or ambience of living cultural heritage sites have been identified in
the mine area to date. However, a range of mitigation measures applicable to both LCH and archaeological
sites have been developed and are described in Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage.
Potential impacts from increased fire frequency were the only regulating service identified with potential
impacts on cultural heritage sites in the mine area. Mitigation to maintain natural fire regulation services in
the mine area are described in Section 23.6.13.6. Through implementation of these measures, the Project
will work with communities to reduce the number of fires resulting from human activity and help communities
to maintain and improve natural fire breaks near villages and other important areas, such as cultural heritage
sites.
23.6.8.2
Residual Impacts
LCH sites expected to be impacted by direct physical encroachment include four sacred sites: Siyatouro
(CH-53), Wereba (CH-56), Dalaro (CH-64) and Samakoukaba (CH-67), where one minor and three
moderate residual impacts are expected (see Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage). Samakoukaba or Elephant
Head Rock (CH-67), is a sacred rock located at the centre of the planned mine pit at Pic de Fon.
Consultation with local residents of the nearby village of Moribadou indicated that the rock could be moved to
another area as long as proper ceremonies were performed at the time of the relocation. The possibility of
relocation further reduces the residual impact, since this site will not be destroyed or damaged by Project
activities.
As described in Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage, preconstruction stakeholder identification and consultation will
enable understanding of locations, boundaries, use, access and importance of LCH sites not identified to
date, and should allow development of appropriate mitigation in consultation with the affected communities.
With appropriate responses in terms of avoidance, relocation and compensation, residual impacts should be
no more than moderate for most LCH sites.
Measures undertaken to reduce incidences of brushfire and maintain natural regulation of fires are expected
to result in residual impacts of minor during construction and operation and not significant for
decommissioning and closure.
23.6.9
Mitigation of Impacts on Traditional Practices
23.6.9.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts from Mine Activities
The primary mitigation measures undertaken to maintain the cultural value of traditional practices will be to
maintain the value and function of the provisioning services that tend to be utilised in traditional activities.
These measures are described in the relevant sections of this chapter, referenced in the list of services
below.





crop cultivation (Section 23.6.2);
livestock herding (Section 23.6.3);
production of crafts from non-timber forest products (Section 23.6.5);
use of natural medicines (Section 23.6.6).
hunting of wild bushmeat (Section 23.6.13.1); and
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
fishing (Section 23.6.13.2).
To minimise indirect impacts from in-migration, the Project will undertake measures relating to in-migration
and natural resource management as described in Section 23.6.1. In addition, as with other traditional areas
of knowledge and practice, potential impacts on traditional practices will also be addressed through ongoing
community dialogue and good faith negotiations with affected people to plan appropriate and feasible
mitigation measures. As a result of these consultations, the Community Team will be able to design and
implement programmes and partnerships to promote and enhance the conservation of intangible cultural
heritage. In this process the Project recognises that communities may choose voluntarily to abandon some
traditional practices as a part of normal cultural change and economic development. A more detailed
discussion of mitigation of impacts on intangible cultural heritage, which includes the value placed on
traditional practices, is provided in Chapter 13: Cultural Heritage.
23.6.9.2
Residual Impacts
It is anticipated that some impacts on provisioning services, particularly those impacted by in-migration, will
not be fully mitigated. Residual impacts on traditional cultural practices cannot be determined at this stage,
but the aim will be to avoid significant impacts where possible and mitigate remaining impacts so that they
are no more than minor or moderate.
23.6.10
Mitigation of Impacts on Regulation of Surface Water Flows
As an intermediate service supporting freshwater provision, mitigation measures for impacts on regulation of
surface water flows are provided in Sections 23.6.2, 23.6.6 and 23.6.13.2. In particular, Section 23.6.6
discusses the specific mitigations planned to address changes in baseflow during construction, operation
and post-closure. Residual impacts are assessed for the relevant end-use services, listed above. Mitigation
of changes in baseflows as they relate to habitats and biodiversity are assessed as part of the initial topicarea assessment in Chapter 6: Water Environment.
To mitigate against impacts on local drainage patterns as a result of construction of cross-drainage
infrastructure, the Project will design structures and drainage systems to meet the following requirements:

drainage crossings, control structures and culverts will be designed to transmit a specific storm event
that will consider the consequences of failure;

cross-drainage structures will be located so that backwater conditions during flooding will not impact on
any village housing or infrastructure;

embankments and cross-drainage arrangements will retain seasonal drainage pathways and water level
profiles in wetland / floodplain areas that are of significant ecological value, or are used by communities
for recession or wetland-based agriculture;

all drainage structures and sediment and erosion control measures will be inspected and maintained on
a regular basis, including clearance of channels or silt traps during the wet seasons. Given the high
rainfall intensities experienced in most project areas these sediment control measures will be
engineered and maintained to minimise the chance of failure under normal flood conditions; and

disturbance of river or stream banks will be kept to the minimum necessary and where required will be
carefully planned to minimise any potential disruption to existing drainage patterns and disturbance of
riparian vegetation.
23.6.10.1
Residual Impacts
With implementation of the mitigation measures described above, impacts on drainage and flood patterns as
a result of mine infrastructure will be minor during construction and operation of the mine.
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23.6.11
Mitigation of Impacts of Erosion
23.6.11.1
Mitigation of Direct Impacts
As described in Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste, a Land Use Management Plan will be
developed by the Project before the start of construction, setting out land use zones and management
objectives for all land used by the Project, how land disturbed by the Project will be rehabilitated after
construction and detailing how progressive rehabilitation of the mined area will be carried out. The full suite
of erosion management measures are provided in Chapter 5: Geology, Soils and Mineral Waste. Some of
the measures relevant to working near unstable or steep slopes include:






avoiding unnecessary disturbance of stable surfaces;
avoiding unnecessary clearance of vegetation;
locating temporary construction areas away from land susceptible to erosion;
stabilising exposed surfaces using controls such as re-vegetation;
scheduling works with high erosion potential to avoid periods of intensive rainfall wherever possible; and
rehabilitating non-working disturbed areas as soon as possible after completion of works.
In addition to the above, erosion control measures near freshwater bodies are discussed in Section 23.6.6.
23.6.11.2
Residual Impacts
Through the implementation of the measures listed above, the Project will avoid or restore erosion regulation
functions along catchments and slopes over the lifetime of the mine. The resulting impact is minor over the
course of construction and operation and not significant following closure.
23.6.12
Mitigation of Impacts on Disease Regulation
23.6.12.1
Mitigation of Direct and Indirect Impacts
Mitigation of impacts on natural disease regulation will focus on preventing the creation of additional
breeding habitat by the mine and managing in-migration and unplanned settlement growth. The crosscutting in-migration measures described in Section 23.6.1 will be relevant for managing increased pressure
on protective vegetation located close to settlements. In addition, the following measures will be adopted to
target creation of breeding habitat (see Chapter 21: Community Health, Safety and Security for more detail).

The Project will implement measures to reduce the presence of standing water onsite through
environmental controls and source reduction to avoid the creation of new breeding grounds.

If warranted, based on entomological surveillance, undertake larviciding.

The Project will maintain the current workplace malaria and vector control programmes and extend and
modify these as appropriate throughout the life of the Project.

The Project will monitor the incidence of malaria using available data most notably the number of
workforce cases that occur.
In addition to the above measures targeting disease regulation by local ecosystems, the Project will continue
to implement measures to reduce the potential for mosquito-human interactions at worker accommodation,
office space and other buildings. The Project will work with relevant partners (health authorities, NGOs,
development agencies) to extend its existing community based malaria and vector control activities to
additional communities prior to the commencement of construction and continue to implement such
programmes throughout the life of the Project (see Chapter 20: Community Health, Safety and Security for
more detail).
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23.6.12.2
Residual Impacts
The implementation of the above mitigation should reduce direct and indirect impacts from in-migration on
disease regulation to not significant for all phases of the mine. The additional malaria risk awareness
programmes should ultimately result in a moderate benefit to beneficiaries (communities and workers). As
described in Chapter 21: Community Health, Safety and Security, while it is anticipated that cases of malaria
will continue to occur around the mine site it is expected that the overall burden of disease associated with
malaria will decline with benefits for co-morbidity with other diseases such as anaemia helping to contribute
to an overall improvement in health.
23.6.13
Mitigation of Impacts on Non-Priority Ecosystem Services
23.6.13.1
Bushmeat
As described in Chapter 12: Biodiversity, the development and implementation of mitigation measures to
manage bushmeat hunting and wildlife trade require the development of actions in consultation and
partnership with a range of stakeholders. As a result this will be a continuing process throughout the
Detailed Design, construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the mine. The Pic de Fon
Management Plan and Hunters’ Confederation (see Chapter 12: Biodiversity) has established a foundation
for the control of bushmeat hunting within the Pic de Fon CF, and early data suggest that hunting has
subsequently declined. With the scheduled start of construction at the mine and other components of the
Simandou Project later in 2012, bushmeat hunting management will be extended over the entire Project
area, and developed mitigation measures will be outlined in two documents, both of which will be developed
with input from appropriate experts:

a Bushmeat Management Plan (addressing matters under the direct management control of the
Project); and

a Bushmeat and Wildlife Trade Strategy, involving multiple stakeholders.
Despite protection in place from the Hunters’ Confederation and Pic de Fon Management Plan initiatives, it is
likely that in-migration and the pressures of induced access will further stimulate the demand for bushmeat,
both for domestic consumption and for the bushmeat trade. A number of measures will be put in place by
the Project to meet the objectives of:


not contributing to further expansion of bushmeat hunting beyond its already unsustainable levels; and
not providing a stimulus to the commercial trade of bushmeat, live animals or animal parts.
Since bushmeat hunting is not a sustainable ecosystem service, the overarching goal will be to minimise
negative impacts on beneficiaries (eg through provision of support for alternative livelihoods and alternative
protein sources) rather than to maintain the functionality of the ecosystem service. A summary of the
measures being considered by the Project is provided below, with the full suite of measures provided in more
detail in Chapter 12: Biodiversity. Additional actions may be identified through expert input and monitoring
feedback.

The Project will establish partnerships with national and local government to support policy, legislation
and enforcement measures and to evaluate options for control measures, supported by the active
involvement of local communities and NGOs during inception and implementation. Such partnerships
have already started to be developed through the Pic de Fon CF Management Plan.

The Project will develop and support provision of alternative livelihoods, extending as appropriate from
the work already being done at the mine site. Alternative livelihoods could include agriculture, ecoguards to patrol and control bushmeat hunting, conservation workers and small scale local sustainable
craft industries, most of which have already been developed in the immediate vicinity of the Pic de Fon
CF.
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
The Project will consider supporting the development and implementation of restrictions on hunting by
working with partners to implement the following measures: promotion of the use of hunting permits to
facilitate sustainable hunting by local people; promotion of strict bans on hunting of high value species;
development of provision of alternative protein sources; development of provision of alternative
livelihoods and development of policy; capacity building and development of legislation and enforcement
measures in partnership with local and national government, local communities and NGOs; training and
development of eco-guards in partnership with local and national government, local communities and
NGOs; and community education to inform the purpose and importance of each of the measures to
prevent unsustainable hunting.
The Bushmeat Management Plan will include the following mitigation measures:

project personnel will be strictly forbidden from engaging in hunting, selling, transporting or purchasing
bushmeat, live wild animals or animal parts during work hours or within project work areas or facilities;

inspections of work areas and Project vehicles to verify compliance;

firearms and snares will be prohibited in all work areas and accommodation;

induction training will be provided to all Project and contractors’ personnel will include a bushmeat
component, emphasising the Project’s strict prohibition on hunting and any consumption of bushmeat in
any areas under the control of the Project;

transportation of bushmeat along the railway will be controlled by means of:

recruitment, training and deployment of ecoguards (in partnership with appropriate government
agencies);

spot searches in all areas and facilities controlled by the Project;

a prohibition on staff allowing or facilitating transport via train or other Project vehicle;

on project-controlled access roads through use of gates, ecoguards, or curfews as appropriate; and

on non-project controlled roads though collaboration with, and support to, local government enforcement
officers, including capacity building, funding and training.
In addition, the Project will implement the series of cross-cutting in-migration and natural resource
management measures described in Section 22.6.1.1. These are expected to help minimise the impacts of
in-migration and unplanned settlement growth.
The above measures are expected to reduce direct impacts of the mine on bushmeat to minor significance
following mitigation. However, residual impacts from in-migration are conservatively estimated to be major
for high alue species such as the West African chimpanzee, moderate for medium value mammal species
and minor or below for lower value species (see Chapter 12: Biodiversity). As discussed further in
Chapter 19: Land Use and Land-Based Livelihoods and implied through the measures above, impacts on
beneficiaries will be mitigated to the level of moderate or lower through the implementation of agriculture
and livelihoods support programmes through the Agriculture and Food Security Programme (ie provision of
substitutes for the service).
23.6.13.2
Freshwater Fisheries
Mitigation measures for impacts on fisheries through changes to freshwater habitats (including quality and
quantity of freshwater) are outlined in Section 23.5.7 and in Chapter 6: Water Environment. Mitigation
measures for indirect impacts from in-migration to wild caught fish include implementation of the in-migration
and natural resource management measures described in Section 23.6.1. As part of the mitigation
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measures described in Chapter 12: Biodiversity, the Project will also focus in particular on monitoring
changes in freshwater fauna in river basins affected by the mine.
Mitigation measures for water quality and quantity impacts are predicted to reduce indirect impacts on wild
caught fish to the level of minor. Residual indirect impacts on freshwater fisheries from in-migration are
conservatively assessed as moderate for all phases of the mine.
23.6.13.3
Timber
Mitigation measures undertaken by the Project will be similar to those recommended for non-timber forest
products, firewood and other forest resources, including implementation of an In-Migration Management Plan
and natural resource management measures as described in Section 23.6.1. In terms of natural resource
management efforts in collaboration with the CFZ and the CEGENS, a key step will be to identify the multiuse plant species that are under the greatest pressure, such as soungbalani and kani, in order to provide
guidelines for the harvesting of wood and non-timber products.
Residual impacts on timber products are assessed as minor for direct impacts and moderate for indirect
impacts from in-migration for all phases of the mine.
23.6.13.4
Aesthetic Value Provided by Natural Landscapes
The scope for further mitigation of the impacts associated with the change in profile to the ridgeline is limited
but the project will continue to give careful attention to the fit of the mined landform with the surrounding
landscape and consult with local communities to ensure their opinions are taken into account. As discussed
in more detail in Chapter 14: Landscape, during construction, the Project will aim to keep the area of
vegetation clearance to a minimum, use low level bollard lighting on roads and conveyors where possible,
use fencing, earthworks and screen planting (trees and shrubs) to reduce visual intrusion on nearby
settlements, and other measures. During operation, the following measures will be put in place as part of the
Land Rehabilitation Plan to reduce visual impacts:



temporary work areas are successfully rehabilitated;
landscape planting continues to provide screening where required; and
working areas and operational facilities are kept tidy and clear of clutter.
Further, more specific, mitigation measures will also be investigated, in consultation and agreement with the
affected communities, to minimise impacts on visual resources by measures such as forest plantation
screening. This is particularly applicable to the settlements of Wataférédou II, Moribadou, Traoréla and
Foma. Where significant adverse impacts cannot be avoided or reduced to a level acceptable to the affected
communities at SVR locations, in particular at Wataférédou II, the scope for further landscape and visual
resource mitigation measures beyond those listed above is limited. The Project will continue to give careful
attention to the fit of the mined landform with the surrounding landscape and consult with local communities
to ensure their opinions are taken into account. Local communities will also be provided with regular and
appropriate information about progress and future plans for development.
As noted above, it will not be possible to entirely avoid or mitigate impacts on the visual character of the
landscape during mine construction and operation. Mitigation measures will therefore result in residual
impacts of major significance in Moribadou and Wataférédou II and moderate for Foma and villages west of
the Simandou Ridge (eg Traoréla).
23.6.13.5
Existence Value of Biodiversity
As discussed in Section 23.5.14.4, the SEIA does not attempt to assign a rating to impacts on this service.
Rather, as described above, the biodiversity assessment (Chapter 12: Biodiversity) considers impacts on
habitats and species that have been identified as high value. The goal of maintaining existence value is
incorporated into the development of mitigation measures to avoid and minimise negative impacts on
biodiversity in the area of the mine and an offset programme to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity
overall.
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23.6.13.6
Natural Hazard Regulation
Following implementation of Project design measures, impacts on flood regulation are assessed as not
significant prior to mitigation for all phases of the mine.
Mitigation measures for loss of fire regulation services include measures to manage brush and forest fires as
per Project commitments. These include:






unauthorised open fires will be prohibited;
fire breaks will be developed around Project sites;
adequate water supplies for use in the case of a fire will be established in critical locations;
trained fire crews will be available in each region and personnel will be trained in communication of fire
related hazards and first response;
work with local communities on management of brush fires and forest fires; and
facilitate emergency response, containment and clean-up in the case of a fire, spill or other emergency.
Through implementation of these measures, the Project will work with communities to reduce the number of
fires resulting from human activity and help communities to maintain and improve natural fire breaks near
villages and other important areas, such as cultural heritage sites. This will help to maintain the value of
natural firebreaks as an ecosystem service, resulting in residual direct impacts of minor during construction
and operation and not significant for decommissioning and closure. In combination with implantation of the
in-migration plan and related measures, the above measures will help to reduce indirect impacts from inmigration on fire regulation to moderate for all phases.
23.7
Management Measures for Mine Dependencies on Ecosystem Services
This section discusses the priority ecosystem services depended on by the mine in the study area. No
dependency or impact ‘ratings’ are given as this section is not part of the formal impact assessment process.
Instead, a description is provided of any measures required for the mine to maintain the availability and
function of a service for Project use or to establish access to substitutes where needed. The management
measures described below are not considered mitigation measures and are not included in the SEMP.
As it is not a priority service in terms of mine dependence, erosion regulation is not discussed in further detail
here.
23.7.1.1
Management Measures for Freshwater Resources
As discussed in Chapter 6: Water Environment, the Project envisages that freshwater supplies will be drawn
from dewatering boreholes. Figure 6.12 in Chapter 6: Water Environment shows the overall water balance
for the mine, which remains close to or at zero throughout mine life and the water balance analysis shows
that sufficient water is available to meet the project’s needs without bringing in outside water or negatively
impacting the flow of the service. As described in Section 23.5.7 where possible the Project will explore
possibilities for reusing or recycling water rather than accessing fresh water supplies. No additional
measures are envisaged to maintain this service at the level required for mine activities.
23.7.1.2
Management Measures for Disease Regulation
As described earlier and in Chapter 21: Community Health, Safety and Security, the mine workforce is at risk
of contracting malaria in the study area. The presence of dense vegetation has been shown to reduce
infection rates, whereas the presence of standing water tends to provide breeding habitat and increase the
density of vectors in the area.
As described in the mitigation for impacts on disease regulation (Section 23.5.13), the mine is putting in
place a number of measures to avoid creating standing pools of water during the dry season, when breeding
grounds would not ordinarily be present. In addition, the mine site has already put in place a number of
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mitigation measures to reduce the risk of workers contracting malaria. Existing and planned mitigation
measures include:




workplace malaria and vector control programmes including a policy requiring long sleeves and
encouraging the use of malaria chemoprophylaxis;
indoor residual spray (IRS) programmes and planned space spray fogging at worker camps;
measures to reduce the potential for mosquito-human interactions in worker accommodation, office
space and other buildings; and
implementation of regular (annual) information and education campaigns around malaria with the
workforce throughout the life of the mine.
These programmes should be monitored and reviewed regularly to determine effectiveness.
23.8
Summary of Findings
This section summarises the findings of the assessment of impacts on ecosystem services during all phases
of the Simandou Mine. Through the implementation of a wide range of project design and mitigation
measures, the Project aims to avoid, minimise and where necessary mitigate impacts on ecosystem services
in the area of the mine. For the 11 priority ecosystem services identified in the study area, the measures
implemented by the Project have the additional goal of maintaining the value and functionality of these
services for beneficiaries over the short and long term. A summary of predicted and residual impacts on
ecosystem services is provided in Table 23.13.
23.8.1
Provisioning Services
Development of the mine is expected to result in impacts of moderate or higher significance on ten
provisioning services in the mine study area. These include six priority ecosystem services - crop cultivation,
livestock herding, non-timber forest products, firewood and freshwater supply – and four non-priority services.
In the case of most provisioning services, wherever avoidance of direct impacts on a service through
occupation of land is not possible, a series of mitigation measures will be applied under the PARC
Framework to ensure that livelihoods are restored through replacement of land and assets. In the case of
impacts on freshwater, the Simandou Mine Water Management System (MWMS) will be implemented to
avoid or minimise negative impacts on availability of freshwater to communities through dewatering
discharges. Where this is not sufficient, provision of access to alternative water resources will be provided
through the Social Management Framework. These measures bring direct impacts on all priority services to
a residual level of minor or lower for all phases of the mine.
In the case of nearly all provisioning services in the mine area, indirect impacts from in-migration are more
difficult to predict and may fall outside of the Project’s management control. Mitigation measures for impacts
from in-migration include implementation of an In-Migration Management Plan, coordination with local
communities to manage settlement expansion and implementation of natural resource management and
monitoring measures under the Agriculture and Food Security Programme. In the case of some natural
products, such as raffia palm products or natural medicines, additional measures may include working with
communities to plant and maintain nurseries or semi-natural plantations in order to maintain the function of
these services. In addition, the Project has designed agricultural, infrastructure and economic improvement
programmes as part of a wider effort to minimise impacts on the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities in
the mine area. Despite these measures, the fact that a number of impacts stemming from in-migration lie
outside of Project control results in a moderate residual impacts rating for a number of provisioning services
(including crop cultivation, firewood and charcoal, fisheries, timber and some non-timber forest products).
23.8.2
Cultural Services
Spiritual and religious sites and traditional practices are considered priority ecosystem services in the mine
study area. Existence value and aesthetic value are included in the assessment as non-priority services.
For all cultural impacts, the Project will be undertaking extensive consultation to understand stakeholder
concerns and additional mitigation options beyond the ones recommended in the SEIA report.
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Where impacts are anticipated for specific cultural or spiritual sites, the project will relocate sites or natural
objects where feasible and clearly mark and protect any sites outside the immediate mine footprint. Residual
impacts are expected to vary from minor to moderate depending upon the site. In the case of impacts on
traditional practices, mitigation measures aiming to maintain the function of provisioning services will help to
mitigate impacts on traditional activities. As with other traditional areas of knowledge and practice, such as
dance and oral history, the Project will also develop programmes to support selected traditional practices that
might otherwise be lost. Residual impacts will be managed to the level of minor to moderate. Finally,
impacts on the aesthetic value that people place on natural landscape features are assessed according to
the sensitivity of receptors, as described in Chapter 14: Landscape. These impacts will be addressed
through Project design and updated as needed through stakeholder consultation, resulting in impacts
ranging from minor to major significance depending upon the location and sensitivity of receptors.
The SEIA does not attempt to assign impact ratings for impacts on existence value. Rather, as discussed in
detail in Chapter 12: Biodiversity, the goal of maintaining existence value is incorporated into the
development of mitigation to avoid and minimise negative impacts on biodiversity in the area of the mine and
an offset programme to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity overall.
In recognition of the fact that it may be difficult in a number of cases to maintain the value of specific cultural
services at the pre-mine level, the Project will assess residual impacts on cultural services through
community consultation and address these through the PARC Framework where necessary.
23.8.3
Regulating Services
Development of the mine is expected to result in impacts of moderate or higher significance on four
regulating services in the mine study area. Three of these services – regulation of surface water flows,
erosion regulation and disease regulation – are considered priority ecosystem services in the study area.
As an intermediate service, impacts and mitigation relating to changes in regulation of surface water flows
are captured in the analysis of freshwater availability for household and agricultural use. Impacts on erosion
regulation in the mine area are addressed through a number of avoidance and minimisation measures such
as minimising works in areas where there is the potential for slope instability, particularly during the rainy
season and rehabilitating all disturbed land as soon as practical after completion of works. Implementation
of these measures is expected to result in impacts of minor significance during construction and operation
and no significant impacts following closure. Residual impacts on water quality as a result of changes in
erosion regulation are also minor and are incorporated into the freshwater analysis.
Implementation of mitigation measures to reduce the creation of mosquito breeding grounds and to help limit
uncontrolled settlement will reduce the significance of mine impacts on regulation of malaria to not
significant for all phases. Ecosystems are not believed to play a significant role in regulation of other major
diseases in the area. Additional mitigation measures are expected to produce a more favourable residual
impact on people (beneficiaries of the service). In this case, mitigation measures including education and
prevention programmes are expected to produce an overall moderate benefit for the health of communities
and workers in the mine area.
23.8.4
Summary of Findings: Residual Impacts Table
The assessment of impacts presented in Table 23.13 follows the breakdown described in Section 23.5.1 (ie
direct, indirect and indirect impacts from in-migration). In the interest of simplifying the presentation, where
there were variations across the different phases of the mine, the table includes only the highest impact
rating assigned (for example, direct impacts on livestock are estimated to be moderate during construction
and operation and not significant during decommissioning and closure; the moderate rating is included in
the table below).
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Table 23.12 Summary of Mine Impacts on Ecosystem Services
Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures
Residual Impact
Critical

Livelihood restoration, monitoring and compensation for lost assets
under the PARC Framework.
Minor

Dust suppression techniques such as water sprays will be used
where excessive dust levels are predicted or reported.
Minor
Implementation of measures to protect soils under the Land Use
Management Plan. For example, topsoil (and subsoil where
deemed necessary) will be salvaged for re-use (additional measures Moderate
detailed in Chapter 5 and in the SEMP).
Provisioning Services
Cultivated Crops
 Direct impacts from occupation of
land
 Direct impacts from changes in
water availability, soil quality and
dust deposition
 Indirect impacts from in-migration
Critical or below (depending on
catchment)

Critical


Livestock
 Direct impacts from occupation of
land
 Direct impacts from changes in
water availability
 Indirect impacts from in-migration
Moderate (sedentary)
Major (nomadic herders)


Not Significant
Major


Firewood and Charcoal
 Direct impacts from occupation of
land
 Indirect impacts from in-migration
Moderate


Critical
Implementation of the In-Migration Plan and related measures.
Development of agricultural support programmes under the
Agriculture and Food Security Programme.
Livelihood restoration, monitoring and compensation for lost assets Minor
under the PARC Framework.
Consult communities, including sedentary communities and
transhumant pastoralists who use the area to identify all access
routes that will be impacted and avoid disrupting these routes where Not Significant
possible.
Minor
Design and implement an information and awareness programme
regarding sustainable harvesting, grazing, and conservation of
natural resources in partnership with relevant organisations where
available and appropriate (eg Pic de Fon management plan
stakeholders).
Develop livestock farming programmes under the Agriculture and
Food Security Programme.
Compensation for lost community resources through the PARC
Framework.
Explicitly include consideration of biodiversity and natural resource
impacts of in-migration, and integration of appropriate responses
into the overall In-Migration Plan.

Mitigation for short- to medium-term losses of access to collection
areas will include providing access to alternative sources of
fuelwood.

Explore alternative off-grid power provision (eg solar, wind) for
employee housing and, where practicable, surrounding communities
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Minor
Moderate
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Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures
Residual Impact
to reduce demand for wood for energy. Other context-specific
measures will be developed through consultation with local villagers
and authorities in the area.


Non-timber Forest Products

Direct impacts from occupation
of land

Indirect impacts from inmigration
Natural Medicines


Direct impacts from occupation
of land
Indirect impacts from inmigration
Moderate


Moderate (most NTFPs)
Major (Raffia palm)

Moderate

Major


Fresh Water Supply




Impacts on surface water flow
impacts from water supply
conflicts
Impacts on water quality
Indirect impacts from inmigration
Through Project and participatory environmental monitoring, monitor
pressure on natural resources used by the community (eg firewood,
bushmeat, wild plants).
Cooperation with local authorities to design and implement contextspecific natural resource management measures to help
communities to manage fuelwood resources over the longer term.
Identification of and compensation for any direct impacts on NTFP
Not Significant (most NTFPs)
resources through the PARC process.
Minor (raffia palm)
Explicitly include consideration of biodiversity and natural resource
impacts of in-migration, and integration of appropriate responses
into the overall In-Migration Plan.
Minor (most NTFPs)
Implementation of natural resource management measures through Moderate (Raffia Palm)
the Agriculture and Food Security Programme.
Additional stakeholder engagement to determine the importance and Minor to Not Significant
replaceability of the resource and to determine appropriate
mitigation measures through the PARC and in-migration processes.
The Project will provide support for medicinal plant gardens where
access has declined and will work with local medicinal healers to
identify and ensure sufficient access to important medicinal plants.
Implementation of the In-Migration Plan and related measures.
Minor to Moderate, depending
upon the area
Critical or below (depending on
catchment)
Summary of key measures. For a full list see Chapter 6: Water
Environment
Minor or below (depending on
catchment) during operation &
Moderate

Minor
Design, construct, regularly review and update a Mine Water
Management System (MWMS) in order to:
Major

Major to Critical depending upon
the level of in-migration in a given
area


ensure that existing water requirements of high value ecological Moderate
and / or community receptors are met before operational
requirements;
Minor
mitigate impacts on existing water users, including communities
and ecosystems;

comply with standards for all discharges to the environment; and

minimise large fluctuations in dewatering rates.
Implementation of the In-Migration Plan and related measures.
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Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures

During detailed design a water use audit will be conducted at each
supply point to determine more precisely the value of the surface
water supply to each community. Values will be assigned based
upon current (and where appropriate projected future) use, the
availability of alternative supplies, and the assigned value may vary
on a seasonal basis; and

MWMS designed and operated such that:

natural baseflow conditions in all medium and high ecological
value catchments will be maintained;

compensation flows for medium and high ecological value
catchments will be discharged where possible at existing spring
locations in order to mimic the natural flow regime;

sufficient flows are available at community surface water supply
points to meet current (and where appropriate projected future)
use; and

in the event of a flow ‘deficit’, whereby compensation flows and
project water supply requirements cannot be met, then minimum
compensation flow thresholds for low or negligible value
catchments will be re-set to 70% of natural baseflow conditions.

Carry out hydrological / yield assessments, integrating concept of
environmental flows for alternate supplies.

The Project will work with the project affected communities to
support them in securing safe and sustainable water supplies.

Finalise design of water quality standards, control measures,
compliance points and monitoring programmes as described in
Chapter 6: Water Environment.

Implementation of erosion control measures included in the Land
Use Management Plan.

Staff training and implementation of Emergency Prevention,
Preparedness and Response Plan.
Residual Impact
Cultural Services
Spiritual and Religious Sites

Moderate to Major depending on
Direct impact from mine activities the site
and occupation of land


Avoidance, or if not possible and if acceptable to stakeholders,
mitigation strategies developed through good faith negotiations with
local stakeholders.
Consultation with local communities to identify additional unknown
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Residual impact cannot be
determined at this stage but aim
will be to avoid significant
impacts where possible and
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Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures



Direct impacts due to a reduction Major
in natural fire regulation
Traditional Practices

Critical*
Direct impact from mine activities
*Conservative rating covering
and occupation of land
traditional practices as a whole.
Values and impacts will vary
significantly at the village level and will
be assessed in more detail through
stakeholder engagement under the
CHMP.



Residual Impact
sites, understand site boundaries, identify use and access issues.
Implementation of the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP).
Implementation of measures to maintain natural fire regulation
services (see Natural Hazard Regulation).
mitigate remaining impacts so
that they are no more than
minor or moderate.
Mitigation measures directed at maintaining the function of
provisioning services that tend to be utilised in traditional activities
including the Pic de Fon management plan and In-Migration Plan.
Ongoing consultation with stakeholders to better understand
potential impacts, establish a full understanding of and respect for
cultural norms, and design appropriate responses to impacts on
cultural services over the course of mine activities.
Minor to Moderate depending
upon the traditional practice in
question.
Minor
Explicitly include consideration of biodiversity and natural resource
impacts of in-migration, and integration of appropriate responses
into the overall In-Migration Plan.
Regulating Services
Regulation of Surface water flows
Moderate

All river crossings and culverts will be designed to convey an
estimated 100 - year return period flood event.
Cross-drainage structures will be located so that backwater
conditions during flooding will significantly reduce the potential for
impacts on upstream infrastructure.
Cross-drainage arrangements retain the seasonal drainage
pathways and water level profiles in areas that are of significant
ecological value, or are used by communities for recession or
wetland-based agriculture.
Drainage systems for operational areas will be designed to take
account of any potential for increased flood peaks downstream by
installing flood retention or other peak flow balancing / control
measures if required.
There will be regular clearance and maintenance of all cross
drainage structures to maintain capacity.
In-stream construction works will be carefully planned to minimise
any potential disruption to existing drainage patterns.
Minor
Implementation of a Land Use Management Plan, including measures
such as:
Minor





Erosion Regulation
Major

avoiding unnecessary disturbance of stable surfaces;
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Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures





Disease Regulation


Direct impacts leading to
increased breeding habitat and
clearing of protective vegetation
Indirect impacts from inmigration
Critical


Major


protection of soils outside work areas from damage by prohibiting
the movement of construction vehicles and equipment outside
designated areas;
locating temporary construction areas to avoid ground at risk from
erosion wherever possible;
minimising works in areas where there is the potential for slope
instability;
scheduling works with high erosion potential during the dry season
wherever possible; and
rehabilitating all disturbed land as soon as practical after completion
of works.
Measures to reduce the presence of standing water onsite and
offsite through strict environmental controls and run-off
management.
Monitoring the incidence of malaria using available data most
notably the number of workforce cases that occur.
Measures to reduce the potential for mosquito-human interactions at
worker camps and office buildings.
Implementation of the in-migration plan and related measures.
Residual Impact
Not Significant**
** Residual impacts on beneficiaries
are expected to be moderately
positive following implementation of
malaria awareness and prevention
programmes (this is unrelated to the
regulating service provided by the
ecosystem)
Non-priority ecosystem services
Bushmeat

Direct impacts from the mine

Indirect impacts from inmigration
Major (employee consumption)
Minor (land occupation)


Minimising Project-induced in-migration, to the extent possible.
Conducting spatial planning to manage the inflow of migrants, in
accordance with the objectives of regional development planning.
Minor
Critical

Purchase or sale of bushmeat by or within onsite catering facilities
will be strictly forbidden.
Firearms will be prohibited in all Project areas and accommodation.
Project personnel will be strictly forbidden from engaging in hunting,
selling or purchasing bushmeat during work hours or within Project
work areas or facilities.
Continued support of Pic de Fon CF Management Plan, and
development and implementation of Project-wide Bushmeat Hunting
Management Plan.
Promotion of strict bans on hunting of high value species.
Development of provision of alternative protein sources.
Capacity building and development of legislation and enforcement
measures in partnership with local and national government, local
Major for high value species***






Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
*** Residual impacts on
beneficiaries are expected to be
moderate or lower due to
programmes focusing on the
creation of alternative sources of
food and income (substitutes for the
service).
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Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures
Residual Impact
communities and NGOs.
Freshwater Fisheries

Direct impacts from the mine

Indirect impacts from inmigration

Training and deployment of ecoguards, in partnership with local and
national government, local communities and NGOs.
Major

Explicitly include consideration of biodiversity and natural resource
impacts of in-migration, and integration of appropriate responses
into the overall In-Migration Plan.
Minor
Moderate

Implementation of natural resource management measures as
described in the Pic de Fon Management Plan.
Implementation of the Simandou Mine Water Management System
(MWMS).
Explicitly include consideration of biodiversity and natural resource
impacts of in-migration, and integration of appropriate responses
into the overall In-Migration Plan.
Moderate
Implementation of natural resource management measures as
described in the Pic de Fon Management Plan.
The local population should be consulted on the mitigation measures
acceptable to them to mitigate, and if necessary compensate for, the
adverse landscape and visual impact.
Moderate

Timber

Direct impacts from the mine

Indirect impacts from inmigration
Aesthetic Value

Direct Impacts on the aesthetic
value provided by natural
landscapes
Moderate

Moderate

Major in Moribadou, Traoréla and 
other villages west of the
Simandou Ridge

Critical in Wataferedou II
Moderate in Foma

Provision of regular and appropriate information to people about
progress and future plans for regional development.
Minor
Major in Moribadou and
Wataferedou II
Moderate in Traoréla and other
villages west of the Simandou
Ridge and in Foma
During design and construction, the Project will aim to minimise
visual intrusion by sensitive deign of structures and implement
measures to manage lighting, waste, vegetation clearance and
tidiness. Detailed mitigations are provided in Chapter 14:
Landscape.
During the operational phase, measures will include:

temporary work areas are successfully rehabilitated;

landscape planting continues to provide screening where
required; and

working areas and operational facilities are kept tidy and clear of
clutter.
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Description of Impact
Significance before Mitigation
Key Mitigation Measures
Natural Hazard Regulation
Moderate



Major


Direct impacts on natural fire
breaks

Indirect impacts from inmigration


Residual Impact
Unauthorised open fires will be prohibited.
Minor
Fire breaks will be developed around Project sites.
Adequate water supplies for use in the case of a fire will be
established in critical locations.
Trained fire crews will be available in each region and personnel will Moderate
be trained in communication of fire related hazards and first
response.
Work with local communities on management of brush fires and
forest fires.
Facilitate emergency response, containment and clean-up in the
case of a fire, spill or other emergency.
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