pprust - SRK Consulting

SRK Consulting Page 24(district) socio-economic structures and public services provision, as well as on the regionaleconomy in general.In contrast, the combined cumulative effect of water, air, noise and visual pollution will havea negative effect on tourist activities and the potential for tourism development in the area.Impact Assessment: Accelerated regional economic growth and developmentProbability: HighSeverity:Spatial scope: Local, district, regionModerateTemporal scope: Short term (construction) to long term (operation)Receptors: Affected and adjacent population, Greater Mokopane: DevelopersImpact summary: Positive, with high significanceImpact Description: Loss of Livelihoods (natural resources and productive assets)The proposed open pit development will result in a loss of land currently available and usedfor subsistence agriculture. Arable land amounts to 20% of the project area, grazing land to48.3% and wilderness land to 11.6% (Soil Survey, 2002). The surrounding communities areat least partially dependent on local natural resources and assets and, therefore, extremelyvulnerable if access to these local resources is lost.The loss of natural and/or productive assets often implies increased risk of impoverishmentand this could in the longer term negatively affect health and educational levels, as well asgeneral community well being. Eventual disruption of social networks and support systemswill have a serious negative impact on marginal households and vulnerable individuals.Unmitigated, the loss of access to primary productive resources will contribute to the furtherimpoverishment of the affected rural population and set in motion processes that underminefood security and household stability, worsened by an additional disruption of social supportnetworks and survival strategies. During construction, the affected households could suffertemporary loss of subsurface material (crops), restricted mobility or impeded access. Lossof access to natural vegetation (e.g. fuel wood) will have a short-term negative impact.If unmanaged, the proposed project may have a negative impact on the local economy as aresult of the increased use (depletion/pollution) of available water sources and a reductionin land for subsistence agriculture. A negative impact on property values for the surroundingagricultural land is expected.Impact Assessment: Loss of Livelihoods (natural resources and productive assets)Probability: DefiniteSeverity: MajorSpatial scope: Local, extra localBOEN/MOTFG:\347793 Mokgalekwena 2010\7Reports\Draft EIR\SRK website - electronic upload\Appendices\Appendix I3_Socioeconomic report\PPRust SIA Final (Rev-1).doc May 2002