Activities and results

Main activities are concentrated along the following lines:

1. Conservation, monitoring and management of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where Rio Tinto QMM operates
Research on flora and fauna of the littoral zone is undertaken to get a better understanding of the issues. Rio Tinto QMM committed to create Protected Areas both inside the deposit (Mandena, Ste. Luce and Petriky) and outside (offsets) and to obtain a legal status (SAPM). Activities include setting up conservation strategies for endangered and endemic species such as translocation, regeneration, seed conservation, marine ecosystem monitoring, etc.  

2. Integrated Sustainable Management
Implementation of joint management agreements with local communities for resource use (DINAs) and promoting income-generating activities for conservation and development such as ecotourism, bee-keeping, crafts, plant nurseries, market gardening, etc  The Integrated Development Plans (IDP) are conceived with the interested population and authorities.

3. Rehabilitation and Ecological Restoration
Set up a rehabilitation/restoration program for disrupted zones after construction and with the progression of the mining exploitation. The program also aims to increase the wood resources availability in the area with community plantations but also their potential revenues to lower their dependency to forest resources.

This program consists mainly in:

• Growing plant seedlings in two nurseries (Mandena: 150,000/year and Mangarivotra: 120,000/year);
• Tree-planting with the communities and reforestation management;
• Capacity-building in village plant nurseries and reforestation;
• Growing plant seedlings for post- mining rehabilitation;
• Growing vetiver to control erosion and stabilize roads and dunes;
• Accumulating knowledge on ecosystem structure and succession;
• Knowing the species, land, exchanges and dynamics of an ecosystem;
• Trial restoration of wetlands (Mahampy) and littoral forest;
• Conservation management of organic matter recovered before mining;
• Forest carbon sequestration measurement and other ecosystems.

4. Environmental surveillance and monitoring
Developing the SEIA and the SEMP - Impact studies and Sector Environmental Management Plans (quarry, roads, port, mine). Identify monitoring indicators and protocols for each one, compliant with ONE (National Environment Office). Monitoring changes associated with our activities in the quarry, port, mine and setting up mitigating measures. 

5. Support regional initiatives on the environment
Collaborating with regional partners (government, NGOs, USAID, universities and scientific institutions) on various region-related issues (creation of protected areas, regional domestic energy strategy and regional reforestation programs, setting up a fire prevention strategy, support for water and energy initiatives in Fort Dauphin).