Ambatovy has committed to “no net loss” of biodiversity and ecosystem services byfollowing the widely accepted “mitigation hierarchy”, which requires (a) the avoidance ofharm to the extent possible; (b) the minimization of unavoided harm; (c) the restoration of33 Antonie Kraemer, “Whose forests, whose voices? Mining and community-based nature conservationin southeastern Madagascar”, Madagascar Conservation and Development, vol. 7, No. 2 (2012), p.95.34 See “The top-secret tortoise sanctuary of Madagascar”, BBC News (16 August 2016).35 Laura Robson and Fanjavola Rakotozafy, “The freedom to choose: integrating community-basedreproductive health services with locally led marine conservation initiatives in southwestMadagascar,” Madagascar Conservation and Development, vol. 10, No. 1 (2015). This effort led to anational network promoting integrated health-environment initiatives. See www.phemadagascar.org.ecosystems that have been harmed; and (d) the offset of residualharmful effects withpositive actions.36 To ensure that the “no net loss” goal is satisfied, at least three conditionsmust be met: biodiversity gains must be comparable to the losses that remain afteravoidance, minimization and restoration; they must be “additional to outcomes that wouldhave resulted in the absence of an offset”; and they must be lasting.37
40. The footprint of the mine is 1,600 hectares, in an environmentally sensitive area. Ambatovy has committed to “no net loss” of biodiversity and ecosystem services by following the widely accepted “mitigation hierarchy”, which requires (a) the avoidance of harm to the extent possible; (b) the minimization of unavoided harm; (c) the restoration of 33 Antonie Kraemer, “Whose forests, whose voices? Mining and community-based nature conservation in southeastern Madagascar”, Madagascar Conservation and Development, vol. 7, No. 2 (2012), p. 95. 34 See “The top-secret tortoise sanctuary of Madagascar”, BBC News (16 August 2016). 35 Laura Robson and Fanjavola Rakotozafy, “The freedom to choose: integrating community-based reproductive health services with locally led marine conservation initiatives in southwest Madagascar,” Madagascar Conservation and Development, vol. 10, No. 1 (2015). This effort led to a national network promoting integrated health-environment initiatives. See www.phemadagascar.org. ecosystems that have been harmed; and (d) the offset of residual harmful effects with positive actions.36 To ensure that the “no net loss” goal is satisfied, at least three conditions must be met: biodiversity gains must be comparable to the losses that remain after avoidance, minimization and restoration; they must be “additional to outcomes that would have resulted in the absence of an offset”; and they must be lasting.37