Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment Proposed Herbertsdale Pipeline
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment Proposed Herbertsdale Pipeline Date: 02/03/2021 Version: Draft Author: J. Pote Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment Proposed Herbertsdale Pipeline Compiled by: Jamie Pote (Pr. Sci. Nat.) Postnet Suite 57, Private Bag X13130, Humewood, Port Elizabeth, 6013, South Africa [email protected] +27 (0)76 888 9890 Compiled for: Engineering Advice and Services Date of report: 02/03/2021 Final Draft This Report has been prepared with all reasonable skill, care, and diligence within the scope of appointment by Mr Jamie Pote, with consideration to the resources devoted to it by agreement with the client, incorporating our Standard Terms and Conditions of Business. This Report is prepared exclusively for use by the client, and the author disclaims any liability in respect of its use by any party other than the client and for the purpose for which it was written. The Report is subject to all the copyright and intellectual property laws and practices of South Africa and contains intellectual property and proprietary information that is protected by such copyright in favour of the author. No person, other than the client, may reproduce, distribute to any third party, or rely on the content of any portion of this report, without the prior written consent of the author. The author accepts no responsibility of whatsoever nature to third parties to whom this Report, or any part thereof, is made known. Any such persons or parties rely on the report at their own risk. Revisions Report/Revision Version Date: Approved/Reviewed by: First Draft 25/01/2021 Jamie Pote Final Draft 02/03/2021 Jamie Pote IAP comments XX//XX/2020 X Final Version (ver 1.0) XX//XX/2020 X Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment: Proposed Herbertsdale Pipeline 3 March 2021 Table of Contents Revisions ........................................................................................................................................................ ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................... i List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................. iv List of Maps .................................................................................................................................................. iv Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................ v Glossary ......................................................................................................................................................... vi 1 Introduction & Background .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of Report .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Procedures for the Assessment and Minimum Criteria for Reporting on identified Environmental Themes ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Description .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.1 Activity Location and Description ......................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Aspects of the project that could potentially have Biodiversity related Impacts ............. 2 1.3 Specialist Requirements ................................................................................................................ 2 1.3.1 Terms of Reference ...............................................................................................................3 1.4 Methodology and Approach ................................................................................................. 4 1.4.1 Data sources and references ............................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 Assumptions, Uncertainties and Gaps in Knowledge ......................................................... 6 2 Policy ................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Company Policy ........................................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Legislation Framework ........................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Systematic Planning Frameworks ............................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 DEA Screening Tool ............................................................................................................. 10 2.3.2 Sustainable Development Goals ......................................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Vegetation of Southern Africa ............................................................................................ 13 2.3.4 National Biodiversity Assessment ...................................................................................... 19 2.3.5 Sub-Tropical Ecosystem Planning (STEP) .......................................................................... 20 2.3.6 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan.............................................................................. 21 2.3.7 Garden Route BSP ............................................................................................................... 23 2.3.8 Protected Areas ................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.9 Strategic Water Source Areas ............................................................................................. 23 2.3.10 Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas ................................................................................ 25 2.3.11 Regional Hotspots and Centres of Endemism .................................................................. 26 2.3.12 Key Biodiversity Areas ........................................................................................................ 26 2.4 Vegetation and Ecological Processes and Corridors ................................................... 27 2.4.1 Critical Biodiversity Areas .................................................................................................... 27 2.4.2 Ecosystem Processes .......................................................................................................... 27 2.4.3 Ecosystem Services ............................................................................................................. 31 2.4.4 Ecological Support Areas .................................................................................................... 33 2.4.5 Critical/Important Terrestrial Habitats ............................................................................... 33 Compiled by: Jamie Pote (Pr. Sci. Nat.) i Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment: Proposed Herbertsdale Pipeline 3 March 2021 3 Biodiversity Risk Identification and Assessment ............................................................................... 35 3.1 Baseline Biodiversity Description ............................................................................................... 35 3.1.1 Site Locality .......................................................................................................................... 35 3.1.2 Topography and Drainage .................................................................................................. 35 3.1.3 Terrestrial Landscape Features (Habitat) .......................................................................... 35 3.1.4 Site Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 36 3.1.5 Present Ecological State ..................................................................................................... 37 3.1.6 Flora..................................................................................................................................... 40 3.1.7 Fauna ................................................................................................................................... 40 3.1.8 Species of Conservation Concern occurring in the region ................................................42 3.1.9 Aquatic Habitat ................................................................................................................... 49 3.2 Terrestrial Vegetation Sensitivity Assessment ......................................................................... 50 3.2.1 Critical Habitat ..................................................................................................................... 52 3.2.2 Ecological Connectivity ....................................................................................................... 53 3.2.3 No-Go Areas ......................................................................................................................... 53 3.2.4