The North Star Magnetite Project in the Pilbara region is being developed as a joint venture, with Fortescue Metals Group being the leading partner.  Ecoscape was appointed to conduct a Detailed flora and vegetation survey of a 4,800 ha area known as Glacier Valley, south of the North Star deposit, over two phases in 2018.  The survey was required to be conducted in accordance with current Environmental Protection Authority requirements.  IB Operations required the survey and report in support of environmental approvals. 

The survey area had previously been subject to conservation significant flora searches, but no other botanical surveys had been conducted.  The field survey identified 11 vegetation types, none of them being conservation significant, and 218 vascular flora species including three that were conservation listed.  The vegetation type assessment was required to take into consideration vegetation mapping of adjacent areas, and utilise consolidated vegetation types to form part of a comprehensive assessment of a wider area.