Notations and Terms
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ON THE FLORA FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE SKUKUZA SAFARI LODGE AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN SKUKUZA, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE Prepared for: South African National Parks (SANParks) Prepared by: Exigo Sustainability (Pty) Ltd AN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ON THE FLORA FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE SKUKUZA SAFARI LODGE AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN SKUKUZA, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE FLORA SPECIALIST REPORT November 2014 Conducted on behalf of: SANPARKS Compiled by: Dr. BJ Henning (PhD plant Ecology; MSc Botany - Soil Science related Pr.Sci.Nat) Reviewed by: Mr. H. Gildenhuys (EAP) Although Exigo exercises due care and diligence in rendering services and preparing documents, Exigo accepts no liability, and the client, by receiving this document, indemnifies Exigo and its directors, managers, agents and employees against all actions, claims, demands, losses, liabilities, costs, damages and expenses arising from or in connection with services rendered, directly or indirectly by Exigo and by the use of the information contained in this document. This document contains confidential and proprietary information of Exigo and is protected by copyright in favour of Exigo and may not be reproduced, or used without the written consent of Exigo, which has been obtained beforehand. This document is prepared exclusively for SANPARKS and is subject to all confidentiality, copyright and trade secrets, rules, intellectual property law and practices of South Africa. 3 REPORT DISTRIBUTION LIST Name Institution Mrs. R Kruger Exigo Sustainability DOCUMENT HISTORY Date Version Status 6 November 2014 1.0 Final -i- Skukuza Safari Lodge & Infrastructure Flora report Declaration I, Barend Johannes Henning, declare that - I act as the independent specialist; I will perform the work relating to the project in an objective manner, even if this results in views and findings that are not favourable to the project proponent; I declare that there are no circumstances that may compromise my objectivity in performing such work; I have expertise in conducting the specialist report relevant to this project, including knowledge of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998; the Act), regulations and any guidelines that have relevance to the proposed activity; I will comply with the Act, regulations and all other applicable legislation; I will take into account, to the extent possible, the matters listed in Regulation 8; I have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; I undertake to disclose to the project proponent and the competent authority all material information in my possession that reasonably has or may have the potential of influencing - any decision to be taken with respect to the project; and - the objectivity of any report, plan or document to be prepared by myself for submission to the competent authority or project proponent; All the particulars furnished by me in this document are true and correct; and I realise that a false declaration is an offence in terms of Regulation 71 and is punishable in terms of section 24F of the Act. ___________________________________ SIGNATURE OF SPECIALIST Company: Exigo Sustainability Date: October 2014 -ii- Skukuza Safari Lodge & Infrastructure Flora report Table of contents 1 ASSIGNMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 INFORMATION SOURCES ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 REGULATIONS GOVERNING THIS REPORT ........................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 National Environmental Management Act Regulation 543 Section 32 ............................. 1 1.2.2 The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act No. 107 of 1998) ................ 2 1.2.3 Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act No. 43 of 1983) .................................... 2 1.2.4 National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA: Act 10 0f 2004) ............ 3 1.2.5 The National Forest Act (Act 84 of 1998) .......................................................................... 3 1.2.6 Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act ............................................................................. 3 1.3 TERMS OF REFERENCE .................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Motivation for the project ................................................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Scope ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3.3 Limitations and assumptions ............................................................................................. 6 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 7 3 STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY ...................................................................................... 8 3.2 CLIMATE ...................................................................................................................................... 12 3.3 VEGETATION TYPES ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.4 GEOLOGY AND SOIL TYPES ............................................................................................................ 13 4 METHODS ........................................................................................................................................ 13 4.1 VEGETATION SURVEY ................................................................................................................... 13 4.1.1 Data recorded: ................................................................................................................. 14 4.1.2 Red data species ............................................................................................................. 14 4.1.3 Protected trees ................................................................................................................ 14 4.1.4 Protected plants............................................................................................................... 14 4.2 DRAINAGE & HYDROLOGY ............................................................................................................ 14 4.2.1 Data processing............................................................................................................... 15 4.3 SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................. 15 4.3.1 Ecological function .......................................................................................................... 15 4.3.2 Conservation importance ................................................................................................ 15 4.3.3 Sensitivity scale ............................................................................................................... 15 4.4 IMPACT RATING ASSESSMENT MATRIX ......................................................................................... 16 5 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................................... 19 5.1 VEGETATION UNITS ...................................................................................................................... 19 5.1.1 Skukuza Safari Lodge Site and 16 lodge staff sleep-over units ...................................... 20 5.1.2 8 Two Bedroom Units and 2 Three-bedroom units in Skukuza Staff Village .................. 30 5.1.3 4 x Two Bedroom Houses ............................................................................................... 33 5.1.4 New contractors camps and 20 x 2/3 bedroom additional living quarter units ................ 36 5.1.5 Relocation sites of buildings ............................................................................................ 38 5.1.6 Reservoir construction site & associated pipelines (sewer & water supply) and electrical cable route for the proposed Safari Lodge development ............................................................... 43 - iii- Skukuza Safari Lodge & Infrastructure Flora report 5.2 FLORA: SPECIES LEVEL ASSESSMENT .............................................................................................. 47 5.2.1 Red data Flora Species ................................................................................................... 47 5.2.2 Protected tree species (NFA, 1998) ................................................................................ 48 5.2.3 Protected plants (MNCA, 1998) ...................................................................................... 48 5.2.4 Invasive alien species (CARA, 1983) .............................................................................. 49 5.2.5 General ...........................................................................................................................