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

February 2011 56 12619Wetlands are of a more permanent nature and occur in low-lying areas such as tributaries ofstreams and rivers. Here hydrophytes can be found. Typical plants are the Orange River Lily(Crinum bulbispermum), bulrush (Typha capensis) and reeds (Phragmites australis), sedges of theCyperus, Fuirena and Scirpus genera also occur. The site had many drainage and seepage linesrunning into large streams and into dams. Many of the site drainage and seepage lines hadassociated wetland and riparian flora. This made these areas have a high species diversity interms of both plants and animals and makes them have a high conservation level.Eastern Highveld GrasslandThe Eastern Highveld Grassland occurs in the Mpumalanga and the Gauteng provinces on theplains between Belfast in the east and the eastern side of Johannesburg in the west extendingsouthwards to Bethal, Ermelo and west of Piet Retief. The landscape is slightly to moderatelyundulating plains, including some low hills and pan depressions. The vegetation is short densegrassland dominated by the usual Highveld grass composition (Aristida, Digitaria, Eragrostis,Themeda, Tristachya, etc.) with small scattered rocky outcrops with wiry, sour grasses and somewoody species (Arcacia caffra, Celtis Africana, Diospyros luciodes subspecies lycioides, Parinaricapensis, Protea caffra, P. Welwitschii and Rhus magalismontanum).Figure 7-5: Eastern Highveld Grassland found to the south of Camden Power Station.This vegetation unit is considered endangered with a conservation target of 24%. Only a very smallfraction is conserved in statutory reserves (Nooitgedacht dam and Jericho dam Nature Reserves)and in private reserves (Holkranse, Kransbank, Morgenstond). Approximately 44% is transformedprimarily by cultivation, plantations, mines, urbanisation and by the building of dams. Cultivationmay have had a more extensive impact, indicated by land-cover data. No serious alien invasionsare reported, but Acacia mearnsii can become dominant in disturbed areas.ZITHOLELE CONSULTING