Tracking Development - Rio Tinto - Qit Madagascar Minerals

The construction Phase
Through close consultations with the affected communities
and support from the government and the World Bank, most
of the issues have been resolved. All claims for compensation
have been investigated and 91.5 per cent of the claims have
been settled. From the beginning, QMM stressed the objective
of the resettlement programme was more than to simply
provide cash or in-kind compensation for the loss of land or
assets, but to ensure livelihoods were restored, if not improved.
Livelihood restoration projects have since been implemented
in collaboration with Cielo Terra, the regional government, the
World Bank and QMM to increase literacy, improve fishing,
aquaculture, agriculture and develop handicraft production.
Community health initiatives have also been implemented
and infrastructure built, including wells, latrines, a community
drugstore, a basic health centre and a training centre.
A Weir and the Andrakaraka Fishermen
Part of the infrastructure included the construction of a weir in
the lagoons downstream from lake Ambavarano. During the
extraction and separation of minerals from sand, fresh water
is used. The weir was built to prevent salt-water intrusion
into the lagoon system, from where water is pumped to the
mineral separation plant (MSP). This infrastructure also allows
future restoration efforts to take place, as salt water cannot be
used for replanted forests and fuel-wood plantations.
The Ambavarano lake and lagoon system is important in the
daily lives of surrounding communities, who fish from the lake
and use the water system to access the ocean. To identify
users and stakeholders, define issues and impacts and develop
a management plan and communication strategy, an impact
assessment was undertaken with the various stakeholders.
To accommodate local fishing boats and tourist vessels, a lock
was built as per suggestions from stakeholders’.
The weir has been a point of dispute for some stakeholders.
The new infrastructure has been perceived to restrict
movement, while contributing to diminished fish intake.
To investigate these grievances, extensive surveys were
commissioned. Studies tracked and recorded species variety
and quantity and the lagoon system users. Restricting the
natural flow of water, the weir changed the lake and lagoon
ecosystem from a brackish ecosystem to a freshwater
ecosystem, which has in turn influenced the aquatic species
living in the system. Certain species thrive, while others
decline in the new freshwater system. The surveys also
discovered fishermen increased by three-fold during the
study period, which has contributed to overfishing.
Measures were established to mitigate many of the weir’s
impacts. To strengthen technical capacities and enhance
intake, theoretical and practical training was offered to users.
New regulation fishing nets were distributed, as the previous
use of small mesh nets contributed to reduced fish numbers
and environmental damage. Microfilament rope, weighing
scales and traps were provided. Fibreglass pirogues and
motors were supplied, with trainings conducted on motor
maintenance and use. An association of fishermen from
Andrakaraka, FIMIRA, was formed to manage the lagoon
system. Eighty-four lake and sea fishermen benefited from
the initial project.
Transition to sustainable fishing practices has not been easy,
particularly the use of large mesh nets and initial neglect of
women’s roles in marketing the fish. However, continuing
dialogue with the fishermen and an increase in fish stocks are
addressing the remaining points of dispute. The Programme
de Développement Intégré (PDI, or Integrated Development
Programme) is currently being implemented to mitigate impacts
of the weir and ensure the affected population continues to
receive support.
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