Biodiversity Impact Assessment

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Biodiversity Impact Assessment APPENDIX F Biodiversity Impact Assessment REPORT Application for EA, AEL and GA for the proposed Lanele Oil Terminal 1 (Lot 1) Project at Ambrose Park, in Bayhead, Durban: Biodiversity Impact Assessment Lanele Group (Pty) Ltd Submitted to: Lanele Group (Pty) Ltd Submitted by: Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd P.O. Box 6001 Halfway House, 1685 Building 1, Maxwell Office Park Magwa Crescent West Waterfall City Midrand, 1685 South Africa +27 11 254 4800 1791874-324751-8 October 2019 October 2019 1791874-324751-8 Distribution List 1 x electronic copy Lanele Group (Pty) Ltd 1 x electronic copy Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa (Pty) Ltd 1 x electronic copy Golder project folder 1 x electronic copy e-projects library [email protected] i October 2019 1791874-324751-8 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS Abbreviation/Acronym Explanation ADU Animal Demographic Unit BODATSA Botanical Database of Southern Africa CARA Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act No. 43 of 1983) CBA Critical Biodiversity Area CMS Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals C-Plan KwaZulu-Natal Conservation Plan DBSA Development Bank of Southern Africa D’MOSS Durban Metropolitan Open Space System ECO Environmental control officer EFZ Estuarine functional zone EHS Environmental, Health, and Safety EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIS Ecological importance and sensitivity ESS Environmental and Social Sustainability ESSS Environmental and Social Safeguard Standards Golder Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd IFC International Finance Corporation IMO International Maritime Organisation JET A1 Jet Aviation Grade Kerosene Lanele Lanele Group (Pty) Ltd MFO Marine fuel oil MGO Marine gas oil MPP Multi Product Pipeline (previously known as the New Multi Product Pipeline) NEM: BA National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10 of 2004) NFA National Forests Act (Act No. 84 of 1998) NOOA Terminal NOOA Fuel Storage and Handling Terminal ii October 2019 1791874-324751-8 Abbreviation/Acronym Explanation PES Present ecological status Project Lanele Oil Terminal 1 (Lot 1)” project SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute SHEQ Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality Thyssenkrupp Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa (Pty) Ltd ULP 95 Unleaded Petrol 95 octane ULSD Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel iii October 2019 1791874-324751-8 Table of Contents 1.0 PROJECT INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................................... 1 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 3.1 Location .......................................................................................................................................... 1 3.2 Facility Details ................................................................................................................................ 4 4.0 BIODIVERSITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION .................................................................... 5 4.1 Aim ................................................................................................................................................. 5 4.2 Approach and Structure of Report .................................................................................................. 5 4.3 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework ..................................................................................5 5.0 STUDY METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 6 5.1 Terrestrial Ecology (Flora and Fauna) ............................................................................................ 6 5.1.1 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 6 5.1.2 Field Survey ................................................................................................................................ 6 5.2 Wetland Ecology ............................................................................................................................. 7 5.3 Estuarine Ecology ........................................................................................................................... 7 5.4 Assessment of Biodiversity Value ................................................................................................... 8 5.4.1 Species of Conservation Concern ..............................................................................................8 5.4.2 Likelihood of Occurrence ............................................................................................................ 8 6.0 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 9 6.1 KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt ............................................................................................................ 9 6.2 Statutory Conservation Considerations ......................................................................................... 12 6.3 Landscape Context and General Characteristics of the Site ......................................................... 15 6.4 Flora Assessment ......................................................................................................................... 17 6.4.1 On-Site Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 17 6.4.2 Species of Conservation Concern ............................................................................................ 18 6.4.3 Listed Alien Invasive Plant Species .......................................................................................... 20 6.4.3.1 Applicable Legislation ............................................................................................................... 20 6.4.3.2 Listed Alien Species Recorded On-Site .................................................................................... 21 6.5 Land Cover Classification ............................................................................................................. 22 iv October 2019 1791874-324751-8 6.6 Faunal Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 23 6.6.1 Mammals .................................................................................................................................. 23 6.6.2 Birds ......................................................................................................................................... 23 6.6.3 Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians) ................................................................................. 23 6.6.4 Arthropods ................................................................................................................................ 23 7.0 WETLAND ECOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 29 7.1 Historical Wetland Context............................................................................................................ 29 7.2 Wetland Verification and Delineation ............................................................................................ 30 7.2.1 Terrain Unit Indicator ................................................................................................................ 30 7.2.2 Vegetation Indicator .................................................................................................................. 32 7.2.3 Soil Wetness Indictor ................................................................................................................ 33 7.3 Wetland Classification .................................................................................................................. 35 7.4 Wetland Present Ecological State (PES) and Ecological Importance and Sensitivity (EIS) ........... 36 8.0 ESTUARINE ECOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 38 8.1 Estuaries – An Introduction ........................................................................................................... 38 8.2 Durban Bay Estuary ...................................................................................................................... 39 8.2.1 General Characterisation .......................................................................................................... 39 8.2.2 Physical Attributes .................................................................................................................... 40 8.2.3 Biological Communities ............................................................................................................ 40 8.2.4 Existing Threats to Durban Bay Estuary ................................................................................... 41 8.3 Durban Bay Estuary in Relation to the Project Site ....................................................................... 41 9.0 SCREENING OF IMPORTANT BIODIVERSITY FEATURES ...............................................................
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