Table of Contents - SRK Consulting

Remaining Natural Vegetation: Medium-Low sensitivityDisturbed Areas: Low sensitivity.All wetlands are considered to be sensitive in South Africa (National Water Act, 1998(Act 36 of 1998) particularly in arid areas such as the Limpopo Province. All wetlandsand associated plant communities discussed in this report have thus been classifiedwith having at least a High Sensitivity. This includes the 50 meter buffer associatedwith the catchment of each wetland, with the exception of National FreshwaterEcosystem Priority Areas (the 1km buffer on the edge of the riparian fringe for theLimpopo River and one of the pans on the southern boundary of the FarmGannavlakte 299 LQ).Wetlands are the most sensitive sites within the arid landscape, although a limiteddiversity of long-lived plant species within the wetlands limits their ecologicalsensitivity. Some wetlands within LWM Study area have a higher sensitivity thanothers, with the Limpopo River and associated floodplain being of particularimportance, considered to have a Very High Sensitivity.The largest aquatic ecosystem within the proposed Mine is Groenfontein Pan (6 ha),on the Farm Matopi, which is unlikely to hold water for longer than a few weeks.Aquatic biodiversity within the proposed Mine is Low. The closest significant aquaticecosystem to the proposed mine area is the Limpopo River, located 7 km north of theproposed mine lease boundary at its nearest point.Using all information provided by the biodiversity specialist team, a final Areas ofSensitivity map was compiled. The Limpopo River and its associated floodplain wasidentified as Critically Sensitive and is considered “No-Go” and worthy of protection.The impacts classified as having a VERY HIGH or HIGH significance have beensummarized below:Aspect Impact SignificancePre-MitigationRemoval of natural Loss of vegetation types with a Very Highvegetation and High sensitivitytopsoilLoss of vegetation types with a High HighsensitivityThe destruction of available natural Highhabitat for faunal species, includingfossorial species, and the resultant lossof species that will not disperseLoss or disturbanceof wetland habitatCreation of artificialhabitats (e.g.pitlakes)SignificancePost-MitigationHighHighHighLoss or disturbance of an irreplaceableresourceVery High Very HighLoss or injury to fauna High Moderate-Highvi