Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE I, George Johannes Bredenkamp, Id 4602105019086, declare that I am the owner of Eco-Agent CC, CK 95/37116/23, and we (George Johannes Bredenkamp Id4602105019086, Ignatius Lourens Rautenbach Id4212015012005, Alan Charles Kemp Id4405075033081, Jacobus Casparus Petrus van Wyk Id6808045041084) and Lukas Jurie Niemand Id 7403125004084 furthermore declare that we • Are committed to biodiversity conservation but concomitantly recognize the need for economic development. Whereas we appreciate the opportunity to also learn through the processes of constructive criticism and debate, we reserve the right to form and hold our own opinions and therefore will not willingly submit to the interests of other parties, be it the client or the relevant competent authorities, or change our statements to appease them; • Abide by the Code of Ethics of the S.A. Council for Natural Scientific Profession; • Act as independent specialist consultants respectively in the fields of ecology, vegetation science and botany, as well as in mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology and as well as invertebrates; • Are assigned as specialist consultants by the <strong>SRK</strong> Group for the proposed project “A vegetation and vertebrate fauna diversity assessment for a photovoltaic power (PV) energy generation facility on Portion 3 of the farm Zuurwater 62, near Aggeneys, Northern Cape Province ” described in this report; • Do not have or will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity other than remuneration for work performed; • Have or will not have any vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding; • Have no and will not engage in conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; • Undertake to disclose to the client and the competent authority any material information that have or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority required in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2006; • Will provide the client and competent authority with access to all information at our disposal, regarding this project, whether favourable or not. GJ Bredenkamp I. L. Rautenbach A. C. Kemp JCP van Wyk SATO Aggeneys July 2011 12
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Vegetation Although there are no statutory conservation area within this vegetation type, very little of the area has been transformed. A local exception is in the mine area close to Aggeneys, where mining infrastructure and mine dumps, and also residential areas, transformed some land. All the results indicate that the area is of biodiversity importance. However, the most important areas are the Inselbergs including their quartz gravel plateaus and foot slopes. The dry grassy plains are of relatively less biodiversity importance. Although the proposed development site is not located on the Inselbergs or quartz plains, it is still emphasized that these are considered as No-Go areas and should be protected. Any development on the property should be in accordance with the conservation policies of the relevant authorities. It is suggested that the proposed the development of proposed photovoltaic power generation facility be supported with the condition that the lay-out as shown in this document be strictly followed and no changes be done to the lay-out without consultation of the biodiversity specialists. Mammals Four pertinent matters emerge from the list of mammals compiled during the site visit and the subsequent desktop study: 1. the species assemblage is typical of a western semi-arid region (particularly species such as the elephants shrew species, the ground squirrel, the spectacled dormouse, the various gerbil species, the dassie rat, whistling rats, the blackfooted cat, the bat-eared fox, the Cape fox, the gemsbok, the springbok etc.); 2. the species richness of 56 is typical of an extensive area such as the property (5000 ha) and of adjoining areas, with a near-natural degree of connectivity; 3. land-use practices and civilization pressures are geared to low-key grazing with a focus on concomitant floral conservation to benefit year-round grazing, which are conducive to species richness; and 4. field observations suggested that population levels were low during the site visit. SATO Aggeneys July 2011 13
Page 1 and 2: A vegetation and vertebrate fauna d
Page 3 and 4: Some of the rare or beautiful succu
Page 5 and 6: 6.3.3 Field Survey ................
Page 7 and 8: 12.1 Specific mitigation measures .
Page 9 and 10: Figure 25. The vegetation sensitivi
Page 11: Figure 54. An easterly view from Bo
Page 15 and 16: designated sensitive areas and excl
Page 17 and 18: Holdings (SHE, Pty Ltd). The main c
Page 19 and 20: 2. ASSIGNMENT Eco-Agent Ecological
Page 21 and 22: 3. RATIONALE It is widely recognise
Page 23 and 24: 4. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUD
Page 25 and 26: Figure 3. Satellite image showing t
Page 27 and 28: Topography and drainage The topogra
Page 29 and 30: Figure 6. Close-up satellite image
Page 31 and 32: 6. METHODS Prior to the field visit
Page 33 and 34: 6.1.3 Sensitivity Only High and Low
Page 35 and 36: • Low probability of occurrence w
Page 37 and 38: The biodiversity significance of an
Page 39 and 40: oth by reference to the comprehensi
Page 41 and 42: 6.4. Herpetofauna 6.4.1. Field Surv
Page 43 and 44: • Armadillo Girdled Lizard (Cordy
Page 45 and 46: 7.2 Description of the plant commun
Page 47 and 48: Figure 12. Stipagrostis namaquensis
Page 49 and 50: is low, 70-110 mm per annum, mostly
Page 51 and 52: Figure 14. Grassland on sandy hummo
Page 53 and 54: This plant community with its speci
Page 55 and 56: Crassula sericea Dicoma capensis Cu
Page 57 and 58: Figure 17. A scree slope 4.2.2 Stee
Page 59 and 60: species also occur on the mountain
Page 61 and 62: Schmidtia kalahariensis d Stipagros
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5.2 Washes The drainage lines withi
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in a population going extinct elsew
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7.4 Fine Scale Biodiversity Fine sc
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The SKEP (2005) biodiversity map fo
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National Herbarium. This is therefo
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Figure 26. A map indicating the Bla
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7.10 References Acocks, J.P.H. 1988
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8. RESULTS: MAMMALS Acocks (1988),
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Figure 27. A south-westerly view ov
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8.2 Observed and Expected Mammal Sp
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√ Otocyon megalotis Bat-eared fox
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8.4 Discussion Four pertinent matte
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Knobel, J. & Bredenkamp, G. 2005. T
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9. RESULTS: AVIFAUNA 9.1 General Th
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Figure 33. View east from the Zuurw
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Figure 36. View north from the sout
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Figure 39. View west towards Hoedko
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Figure 42. Patch of green vegetatio
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Table 1: Rating of recognised on-si
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Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burch
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Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis
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9.4. Threatened and Red-Listed Bird
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The remaining four threatened speci
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Department of Environmental Affairs
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10. RESULTS: HERPETOFAUNA 10.1. Her
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Figure 46. A view of red dunes and
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Figure 50. Man-made quarry on the w
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In the western corner of the study
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Very few trees occur on the study s
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Table 1: Reptile and Amphibian spec
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? Prosymna bivittata Two-striped Sh
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Psammophis notostictus Karoo Whip o
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10.6 Conclusions The main conservat
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11. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
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assuming that the water does not ha
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Vegetation Deficient plant -5 Mediu
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Impact Table 2a:: Impact on biodive
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Substrate repair 1 2 2 1 2 15 Very
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maintenance, with designated passin
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M6: Control of plant diversity/stru
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Some Red Data plants and animals oc
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Flora Some areas of infrastructure
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(increasing or decreasing with time
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Table 2: Significance Rating Matrix
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APPENDIX 2: CURRICULII VITAE Abridg
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- >150 papers at national and inter
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Visits to Israel, Italy, Germany, U
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Ignatius
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Alan Cha
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- 15 contributions in or as books
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Jacobus
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Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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