Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

Topography and drainage
The topography is generally flat and open, except for the few quartzite mountains
and, given the low rainfall, recent drainage lines that are relatively lightly incised and
shallow. The area does form part of the palaeo-drainage system of the Gariep River
basin, evident on and around the site as the rather ill-defined Koa River wash(es)
and some of their pans (Figs 2-5). The mountains on site generally have their
steepest and coolest sides facing southwest, into the prevailing wind, and their
warmest and less steep sides facing northeast, with associated effects on the
biodiversity on either side.
Soil
Much of the area is covered in deep (up to 30 cm) red sands, forming scattered
and/or fields of red dunes in places most subject to the prevailing southwest wind
and with structures that impede their movement (Fig. 5). The quartzite gravels occur
in three main forms, small fine-grained patches on the tops and foothills of the
mountains, more variable and widespread sizes around the erosion zones below the
mountains, and small feldspar patches (with pink Hoogoor Suite gneiss evident), with
calcrete gravels also emerging in a few patches where exposed by erosion on the
flats. The effects of the mountains, plus the prevailing winds, result in sand and
dunes accumulating mainly on their southern foothills, or in channels between them,
with more exposed and gravelly plains forming in their northeast lee.
Land Use
The only agricultural land use is livestock grazing at low densities (?about 4 large
stock units (LSU)/100 ha), with sheep, cattle and goats currently present on site. A
few game animals (springbok, ostrich) also occur.
5.3 Vegetation Types
The main vegetation type on site is classified as the Bushmanland Sandy Grassland
vegetation unit (NKb 4), with the isolated mountains creating conditions for the
Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld (SKr 19, Mucina & Rutherford 2006).
The Khai Ma local municipality (KMLM) lies to the east of the Richtersveld and
contains virtually the entire extent of the Bushmanland Inselberg priority area - one of
the nine zones identified through the SKEP process as important conservation areas
SATO Aggeneys July 2011 27