b'world, Brazil is considered to have the greatest Large mammalsbetween 1.6 and 2.7 the Ip amarelo (Handroanthusbiodiversity of any country on the planet. Insectsbetween 1.9 and 3.0 chrysotrichus), which are protected in the It has the highest number of both terrestrial Fishbetween 0.7 and 2.5 State of Minas Gerais.vertebrates and invertebrates of any countryThe footprint of the JIOP, based on the current in the world, with the most known species ofJAMBREIRO IRON ORE PROJECT DRPF layout, will cover an area that has the plants (55,000), freshwater fish (3,000) andfollowing vegetation covers:mammals (689).It also ranks third on the listFlora and Vegetation Biodiversityof countries with the most bird species (1,832)The JIOP, located in the Atlantic Rainforest Clearedarea12%and the second on the list of most reptilespe- biome, is an area characterised by seasonal Plathymenia formations2%cies (744). semideciduous forest. The regional flora is Water bodies3%made up of the following types: seasonal Initial stage seasonal semideciduousJAGUAR NICKEL PROJECT semideciduous forest (at initial and intermediateforest1%stages of regeneration), plathymenia formations, Intermediate stage seasonal semideciduousThe Shannon Index (H) is commonly used inpastures, eucalypt plantations, flooded areasforest32%ecology to represent diversity, which com- and human-settled lands.Pasture5%bines the richness (variety) and abundance Eucalypt plantation45%(number of occurrences) of the identifiedThe baselines flora studies identified 189 species. The maximum H value under thespecies within the area of flora survey,Fauna Diversity & HabitatShannon Index is 5. The Shannon Index for thewhich is larger than the project footprint,The Shannon Index for the JIOP was JNP fauna diversity is currently 3.92, based onincluding the following endangered floracalculated for fauna based on the data the fauna survey from 2019/2020. species: Araticum (Annona dolabripetala),collected in the local area of the JIOP. The The Shannon Index for fauna diversity at thegarapa (Apuleia leiocarpa), cedro (Cedrelaresults will be used as the baseline for future JNP is the following: fissilis), Jacarand cavina, jacarand daplans to retain the integrity of the areas bahia (Dalbergia nigra), Jacarandpaulistabiodiversity and seek opportunities, whereReptiles and amphibians (Machaerium villosum), brana (Melanoxylonbetween 0.89 and 2.47brana), canelasassafrs (Ocotea odorfera),possible, to improve it. The summary in Birdsbetween 2.7 and 4.3 Vinhtico-branco (Plathymenia reticulata) andTable 1 below indicates changes inSmall non-flying mammals Pitombeira (Toulicia stans), as well as biodiversity over time. between 0.6 and 1.7Survey Diversity SurveyDiversityFauna Group Period (H) Observations Period (H) ObservationsPhytoplankton 0.76 Endemic species: 0 1.77 Endemic species: 0Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 0Zooplankton 1.28 Endemic species: 0 1.52 Endemic species: 0Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 0Benthic macroinvertebrates 0.32 Endemic species: 0 1.54 Endemic species: 0Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 0Fish 1.25 Endemic species: 0 0.31 Endemic species: 0Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 0Insects 1.64 Endemic species: 0 1.18 Endemic species: 0Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 02022/2023 2011/2012Amphibians & reptiles 2.33 Endemic species: 17 1.33 Endemic species: 2 Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 0Birds 4.40 Endemic species: 32 4.57 Endemic species: 20Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 1Small terrestrial mammals 1.95 Endemic species: 5 1.96 Endemic species: 1Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 1Large mammals 2.06 Endemic species: 2 0.17 Endemic species: 1Endangered species: 5 Endangered species: 4Flying mammals 1.50 Endemic species: 0 - Endemic species: 0Endangered species: 0 Endangered species: 0Table 1: Summary of changes in fauna biodiversity over time in JIOP areaThe differences observed in the Shannon(rain) and September (drought), while the whereas in the 2022/2023 study, 31 sampleIndices are due to: 2022/2023 study was carried out in points were used Fish: the study carried out in 2022/2023January (rain) and May (drought). This Hydrobiological communities (phytoplankton,used a greater variety of sampling means the 2022/2023 sampling was done in zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates): techniques, as compared to the 2011/2012 wetter periods, which led to greater occur the sampling stations used in the 2011/2012studyrence of amphibians and reptiles study were all different to the ones used inAmphibians and reptiles: the 2011/2012 Large mammals: in the study carried out2022/2023, so it is not possible to comparestudy campaigns were carried out in April in 2011/2012, 26 sample points were used, species diversity17'