INCEPTION REPORT - Department of Agriculture and ...

uThukela DM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
5.1.4 Management of Specialists
The following specialists will be included in the compilation of the EMF:
1. Heritage;
2. Agriculture and land capability;
3. Biodiversity;
4. Aquatic;
5. Social;
6. Economic; and
7. Geological.
Additional specialist studies may be required depending of the findings during the status quo
assessment, gaps in information, or input from the PMT and PSC.
Nemai Consulting will compile the ToR for all the specialist studies and will be responsible for
managing the quality and deadlines of the specialists’ input. The specialists will be required to
participate in all phases of the EMF, including the understanding of the current environmental
state, determining the desired state, establishing management zones and setting management
guidelines. Integration workshops will be held with the specialist at key milestones within the EMF
development process. Specialists will also be tasked with undertaking thorough research to
uncover existing information pertaining to the various disciplines and environmental attributes.
The findings of the specialist will be interpreted within the EMF.
The following generic considerations and requirements will be included in the specialists’ ToR:
1. Address all triggers for the EMF that relate to particular specialist disciplines;
2. Approach to include comprehensive desktop study and site visits, as deemed necessary. Data
gathering to exhaust all possible sources. Data to be managed according to an information
matrix. Local and indigenous knowledge (i.e. targeted consultation) will be regarded as a
potential information resource;
3. Determine status quo of environmental features based on legislative requirements, and
accepted norms and quality standards;
4. Determine issues, opportunities and constraints associated with environmental features under
investigation;
5. During sensitivity analysis, assist with allocation of weightings to environmental features and
attributes based on their intrinsic sensitivity to development pressure or resilience to change;
6. Where necessary, address issues raised by I&APs;
Draft Inception Report (June 2012) Page 8