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

February 2011 51 12619LowveldThe Lowveld bioregion is found in the low-lying frost free areas near the coastline of South Africa.Here there is an abundance of typical savanna trees namely those members of the Acacia genusthat along with the numerous grasses create the typical patchwork of grassy plains and clumps oftrees. The following vegetation types were identified within the bioregion:• Swaziland Sour Bushveld;• Northern Zululand Sourveld;• Zululand Lowveld; and• Zululand Coastal Thornveld.Sub-Escarpment SavannaThe Sub-escarpment Savanna is found typically just below the escarpment of South Africa’sDrakensberg mountains and the northern escarpment as the name suggests. Here the drop inaltitude and lack of frost allows the thorn trees to propagate and the vegetation changes from thegrasslands to savanna. The following vegetation types were found along the corridors:• Ngongoni Veld; and• Eastern Valley Bushveld.Inland Azonal VegetationThe Azonal Vegetation bioregion is characterised by those vegetation units that is associated withinland water features such as riparian and wetland vegetation. Along the proposed route only onevegetation type was identified, namely Easter Temperate Freshwater Wetlands.7.2.2 Site DescriptionEach of the vegetation types identified along the corridors are described in more detail below andshown in the maps below.ZITHOLELE CONSULTING