Appendix O2 - Biophysical Report.pdf - Zitholele.co.za

February 2011 91 12619Protected AreasThe route alignments of the various alternatives avoid all the existing formal and informalprotected areas as shown in the figures below. The following protected areas occur within10 km of the routes (SANBI):• Informal Protected Areaso Emlwane Game Park;o Utrecht Town Park;o Balele Enlanzeni Valley Game Park; ando Wakkerstroom Wetland Nature Reserve.• Formal Protected Areaso Sibudeni Nature Reserve;o Mome Nature Reserve;o Nkandla Forest Reserve;o Vungwini Nature Reserve;o Enseleni Nature Reserve;o Fundimvelo Nature Reserve;o Ophate Game Reserve;o Matshitsholo Nature Reserve;o Ntinini Training Center;o Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve;o Vryheid Mountain Nature Reserve; ando Ithala Game Reserve.When considering the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy (NPAES) there areseveral of the potential expansion focus areas that fall within the route corridors. The focusareas are:• Maputuland Delagoa Imfolozi;• Moist Escarpment Grassland; and• Thukela.As shown on the figures below there is no single route that can be taken to avoid all theNPAES focus areas.9.3 Comments from the AuthoritiesThe following comments were received from the authorities regarding the proposed projectand routes:ZITHOLELE CONSULTING