 | This map shows communities within a 5 km buffer zone along the cleared Simandou railroad (546 km of 650 km cleared to date) and in close proximity to the Simandou mining blocks. |
 | This satellite map shows the outline of the proposed Pinselli, Soyah and Sabouyah national park on the border with Sierra Leone, which is thought to be an important landscape for the conservation of primates (Chimpanzees and other species), African Forest Elephants, White-Backed Vultures, and other species (WCF, 2023, Rainforest Trust, 2023). The black line indicates the pathway of the Simandou railroad which was cleared between approximately early 2021 and April 2023 (derived from NICFI data, Planet.com). Orange segments indicate tunnels, which are currently under construction and require extensive blasting efforts. Yellow lines indicate the access roads that were created through the landscape, which extend well beyond the limits outlined in the Project Environmental Impact Assessment. |
 | This map shows the modeled density of Chimpanzees according to Heinicke et al., 2019. Heinicke et al. (2019) caution that “Modeled estimates are associated with uncertainties due to the possibility of missing predictors, and differences in spatial scale of different predictor datasets. Uncertainties are more pronounced for areas with fewer data and those that differ strongly from surveyed areas regarding predictor space coverage.” Bright red areas on the map have high likelihoods of Chimpanzees, though due to the methods used, may not be a perfect indicator. Due to lack of systematic studies of their distribution, it is thought that there may be an under-representation on the Guinean side of the border, especially surrounding the proposed Pinselli, Soyah and Sabouyah national park. The railroad development in the PPS area (see next map) is of particular concern. |
 | This map shows the potential threat to protected areas based on proximity to the railroad and mining areas. Protected areas were derived from the WDPA database and includes all IUCN classes. Red areas indicate protected areas at risk of impacts of the railroad development and mining activities, while the lighter red/pink indicates provisional limits of the Pinselli, Soyah and Sabouyah (PPS) combined protected area. Background layers represent important conservation values such as other protected areas (light green), Key Biodiversity Areas (darker green) and biodiversity hotspots (purple). |
Prepared by Earth Insight for the 11th Hour Project, September 2023
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