DRAFT SCOPING REPORT METEOROLOGICAL MASTS FOR A POTENTIAL WIND FARM IN THE ML43 MINING AREA, NAMIBIA NAMDEB
Reference:Project number: 508965 508965 Oranjemund_Met_Masts_DRAFT_07052021.docx, 2021/05/072021/05/07 Revision 11 1
Revision: 1 Submission date: 2021/05/072021/05/07
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Document prepared by: Zutari Namibia (Pty) Ltd Reg No 90/469 Unit 1 Mandela Offices, Cnr Nelson Mandela & Simon Bolivar Street, Klein Windhoek Namibia PO Box 5353, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
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Report title Draft Scoping Report: Meteorological Masts for the Oranjemund Wind Farm, Namibia Document code 12597 Project number 508965
Client NAMDEB
Client contact Client reference
Rev Date Revision details/status Author Reviewer Verifier Approver (if required) 0 2021/05/07 Draft Scoping Report Wynand Reuben Not Stephan van Loftus Heydenrych required den Berg 1 2021/05/07 Draft Scoping Report Wynand Reuben Not Stephan van addressing client comments Loftus Heydenrych required den Berg
Current revision 1
Approval
Author signature Approver signature
Name Wynand Loftus Name Stephan van den Berg Title Senior Consultant Title Technical Director
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Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 8 1.1 Background ...... 8 1.2 Project Role Players ...... 8 1.2.1 Proponent ...... 8 1.2.2 Environmental Assessment Practitioner ...... 8 1.2.3 Specialists ...... 9 1.2.4 Interested and Affected Parties ...... 9 1.2.5 Competent Authority ...... 9
2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...... 10 2.1 Project Location ...... 10 2.2 Wind Resource ...... 13 2.3 Proposed Meteorological Masts ...... 14
3 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT ...... 16 3.1 National legislation ...... 16 3.2 Policies, Guidelines, Plans and Strategies ...... 19 3.2.1 Namibia Vision 2030...... 19 3.2.2 Namibia’s Second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2013- 2022) ...... 20 3.2.3 National Policy on Climate Change ...... 20 3.2.4 National Energy Policy ...... 20 3.2.5 Company-specific Environmental Management Standards ...... 20
4 NEED AND DESIRABILITY ...... 21 4.1 Energy in Namibia ...... 21 4.2 Namdeb’s Strategy to Reduce its Carbon Footprint ...... 22 4.3 Strategic Context ...... 22
5 ALTERNATIVES ...... 26 5.1 Location alternatives...... 26 5.2 Type of activity to be undertaken ...... 26 5.3 The design or layout of the activity ...... 26 5.4 The technology to be used in the activity ...... 26 5.5 Operational aspects of the activity ...... 27 5.6 The No-Go Alternative ...... 27
6 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...... 28 6.1 Land Use and Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park ...... 28 6.2 Infrastructure and Access ...... 30 6.3 Climate ...... 30 6.4 Topography, Soils and Hydrology ...... 30 6.5 Biodiversity ...... 30 6.5.1 Flora ...... 30 6.5.2 Tree and shrub diversity ...... 31 6.5.3 Grass diversity ...... 31 6.5.4 Vertebrate fauna ...... 31 6.5.5 Reptile diversity ...... 32 6.5.6 Amphibian diversity ...... 32 6.5.7 Mammal diversity ...... 32
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6.5.8 Avian diversity ...... 32 6.6 Heritage ...... 34 6.6.1 Related archaeological and historical information ...... 34 6.6.2 Buried sites ...... 35 6.6.3 Flooded sites ...... 35 6.6.4 Fossilized sites ...... 35 6.6.5 Implications ...... 36
7 IDENTIFIED IMPACTS AND PROVISIONAL ASSESSMENTS ...... 37 7.1 Biodiversity impacts ...... 37 7.1.1 Impacts on avifauna ...... 37 7.1.2 Impacts on other vertebrate fauna (amphibians, mammals, and reptiles) ... 39 7.1.3 Impacts on flora ...... 41 7.2 Heritage impacts ...... 43 7.2.1 Sensitivity to disturbance ...... 43 7.2.2 Disturbance during the construction and operation phase ...... 44 7.2.3 Disturbance in other areas ...... 44 7.2.4 Recommendations for mitigation measures and monitoring ...... 44
8 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...... 45 8.1 Tasks to be Undertaken as Part of the Assessment Process ...... 45 8.2 Consultation with the Environmental Commissioner ...... 46 8.3 Assessment Methodology ...... 46 8.4 Calculations ...... 47
9 PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS ...... 49 10 ASSUMPTIONS, LIMITATIONS AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE ...... 50
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Locality map for the potential Oranjemund Wind Farm sites and associated meteorological mast positions ...... 11 Figure 2: Aerial photo (left) and ground-level photo depicting the general environmental characteristics of the southern site (right) ...... 12 Figure 3: Aerial photo (left) and ground-level photo depicting the general environmental characteristics of the central site (right) ...... 12 Figure 4: Aerial photo (left) and ground-level photo depicting the general environmental characteristics of the northern site (right) ...... 13 Figure 5: High wind resources reflected in the project area in coastal southern Namibia (Source: Global Wind Atlas, Technical University of Denmark) ...... 13 Figure 6: Example of a meteorological mast and associated equipment (Source: Zutari) ...... 14 Figure 7: Diagrammatic representation of meteorological masts ...... 15 Figure 8: Namibia’s total electricity access 1990-2018 (Tracking SDG7, 2020) ...... 21 Figure 9: Management zones of the TKNP (left) (MEFT, 2019) and Vegetation types within the TKNP (right) (Burke, 2006, in MEFT, 2019) ...... 29 List of Tables
Table 1: Requirements of a Scoping Report in terms of Regulation 8 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2012) under the Namibian Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007) ...... 7 Table 2: Details of the EAP ...... 9 Table 3: Details of the specialists ...... 9 Table 4: Competent Authority details ...... 9 Table 5: Locality details of the proposed wind farm sites ...... 10 Table 6: Applicable legislation ...... 16 Table 7: Need (timing) of the proposed project ...... 23 Table 8: Desirability (Placing) of the proposed project ...... 24 Table 9: Key sites for avian conservation in the study area ...... 33 Table 10: Potential avifaunal disturbance during construction ...... 37 Table 11: Potential avifaunal impacts during operation ...... 38 Table 12: Potential avifaunal impacts during decommissioning ...... 38 Table 13: Potential loss/ disturbance of vertebrate fauna during construction ...... 39 Table 14: Potential loss/ disturbance of vertebrate fauna during operation ...... 40 Table 15: Potential loss/ disturbance of vertebrate fauna during decommissioning ...... 41 Table 16: Potential loss of flora during construction ...... 41 Table 17: Potential loss of flora during operation ...... 42 Table 18: Potential loss of flora during decommissioning ...... 43 Table 19: Specialist fields to inform the assessment process...... 45 Table 20: Assessment criteria for the evaluation of impacts ...... 47 Table 21: Definition of confidence ratings ...... 48 Table 22: Definition of reversibility ratings ...... 48 Table 23: Definition of irreplaceability ratings ...... 48
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Abbreviations
BID Background Information Document CBD Convention on Biological Diversity DEA&DP Department of Environmental & Development Planning DSR Draft Scoping Report EAP Environmental Assessment Practitioner ECC Environmental Clearance Certificate EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMA Environmental Management Act EMPR Environmental Management Programme GHG Green House Gas I&AP Interested and Affected Party IFC International Finance Corporation LIDAR light detection and ranging MET Meteorological MEFT Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism MEFT: DEA Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism: Directorate of Environmental Affairs MAWLR Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform MWAF Ministry of Water, Agriculture, and Forestry MOEAC Ministry of Education and Culture: National Heritage Council NAMREP Namibian Renewable Energy Programme NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NCAA Namibia Civil Aviation Authority NIMPA Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area PCP Public Consultation Process RT&E Rare, Threatened and Endangered SCM Southern Coastal Mines TKNP Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park TDA Tourism Development Planning Areas SODAR Sonic detection and ranging WOMS Wet Overburden Mining System
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Table 1: Requirements of a Scoping Report in terms of Regulation 8 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2012) under the Namibian Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007) EIA Regulations 2012 Regulation Content as required by the EIA Regulations Section of Report The curriculum vitae of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner/s (EAP) who 8 (a) Appendix A prepared the report 8 (b) A description of the proposed activity Section 2 A description of the site on which the activity is to be undertaken and the location of 8 (c) Section 2.1 the activity on the site a description of the environment that may be affected by the proposed activity and 8 (d) the manner in which the geographical, physical, biological, social, economic and Section 6 cultural aspects of the environment may be affected by the proposed listed activity an identification of laws and guidelines that have been considered in the preparation 8 (e) Section 3 of the scoping report details of the public consultation process conducted in terms of regulation 7(1) in Section 9 connection with the application, including – (i) The steps that were taken to notify potentially interested and affected parties of Section 9 the proposed application (ii) Proof that notice boards, advertisements and notices notifying potentially 8 (f) interested and affected parties of the proposed application have been Appendix C
displayed, placed or given (iii) A list of all persons, organisations and organs of state that were registered in Appendix D terms of regulation 22 as I&APs in relation to the application (iv) Summary of the issues raised by Interested and Affected Parties, the date of Appendix C receipt of and the response of the EAP to those issues A description of the need and desirability of the proposed listed activity and any identified alternatives to the proposed activity that are feasible and reasonable, 8 (g) Section 4 including the advantages and disadvantages that the proposed activity or alternatives have on the environment and on the community that may be affected by the activity a description and assessment of the significance of any significant effects, including cumulative effects, that may occur as a result of the undertaking of the activity or 8 (h) Section 0 identified alternatives or as a result of any construction, erection or decommissioning associated with the undertaking of the proposed listed activity 8 (i) Terms of reference for the detailed assessment Section 8 a draft management plan, which includes Appendix I (aa) information on any proposed management, mitigation, protection or remedial measures to be undertaken to address the effects on the environment that have been Appendix I identified including objectives in respect of the rehabilitation of the environment and closure 8 (j) (bb) as far as is reasonably practicable, measures to rehabilitate the environment affected by the undertaking of the activity or specified activity to its natural or Appendix I predetermined state or to a land use which conforms to the generally accepted principle of sustainable development; and (cc) a description of the manner in which the applicant intends to modify, remedy, control or stop any action, activity or process which causes pollution or environmental Appendix I degradation remedy the cause of pollution or degradation and migration of pollutants
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd (hereafter ‘Namdeb’) plans to develop a wind farm to supply its operations near Oranjemund and potentially to export surplus power to the NamPower network. This would contribute to Namdeb’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint as well as providing additional capacity for growing mining demands, and possibly generate revenue through the export of energy. Three potential wind farm sites have been identified within Namdeb’s Mining Licence (ML-43) area (aka Mining Area 1) north of Oranjemund, with three sizing options being considered. In order to establish what option, or combination of options, will be most feasible in terms of energy generation, wind monitoring is required. Therefore, Namdeb proposes that three meteorological (MET) masts be developed to measure the wind resources available at the sites. Meteorological masts are typically tall lattice structures supported by cable stays anchored in concrete foundations. Measuring instrumentation is installed at the top of the tower and measures ambient temperature, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction. Zutari Engineering Consultants Namibia (Pty) Ltd (formerly Aurecon Namibia (Pty) Ltd)) (hereafter ‘Zutari’) has been appointed as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to register the project and undertake submissions to the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism: Directorate of Environmental Affairs – Environmental Commissioner (MEFT: DEA). Zutari submitted an application for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to the MEFT: DEA in 2020 as part of an environmental screening application. MEFT confirmed on 30 October 2020, in response to the application (reference no. APP-002051), that environmental scoping is required to investigate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed meteorological masts. The Environmental Management Act, 2007 (Act No. 7 of 2007) (EMA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (Government Notices 28 to 30 of 2012) require at least a Scoping Report to obtain an ECC from the MEFT before the project may proceed. According to the EIA Regulations, a Scoping Report “means a document prepared by the proponent to present the case for the assessment of an activity as part of the initial assessment process”. The project team initiated a Scoping Process complying with the requirements stipulated in the EIA Regulations to investigate the potential impacts of the three proposed meteorological masts. Specialist studies forming part of the Scoping Process include biodiversity and heritage – refer to Section 6 and Section 0 respectively for a summary of the specialist investigations. In accordance with the EIA Regulations the Draft Scoping Report (DSR) is being made available to the public, interested parties and relevant authorities for a 21-day review and comment period. Following the comment period, the application, draft and final reports will be submitted to the Environmental Commissioner in terms of the above-mentioned regulations, for decision-making.
1.2 Project Role Players
There are a number of role-players involved in the Environmental Process. The details and roles of each are set out below.
1.2.1 Proponent Namdeb is seeking for approval for the development of three meteorological masts and are therefore the project proponent.
1.2.2 Environmental Assessment Practitioner The Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) means “a person designated by a proponent to manage the assessment process”. It is the role of the independent EAP to facilitate the project’s application for ECC on behalf of the Proponent, as required in terms of EIA Regulations (2012). Zutari has been appointed as the EAP for this project.
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Mr Reuben Heydenrych (details below) from Zutari is facilitating the process (i.e. principle consultant) for this application and assume the roles of project leader, managing the EIA process, reviewing reports and signing off on reports. He is mainly supported by two of Zutari’s environmental staff members namely Wynand Loftus and Andrea Siebritz. Refer to Appendix A for the full CVs of the environmental team.
Table 2: Details of the EAP Company Zutari Namibia (Pty) Ltd EAP Reuben Heydenrych EAP Support Wynand Loftus and Andrea Siebritz Postal Address PO Box 74381, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa Riverwalk Office Park, 41 Matroosberg Road, Physical Address Ashlea Gardens, Extension 6, Pretoria Telephone Number +27 12 427-2136 / +27 83 450 0628 Email Address [email protected]
1.2.3 Specialists
Two specialist disciplines have been identified as relevant to the nature of the proposed development and the receiving environment, they are biodiversity and heritage. The specialist details are set out in the table below, with summaries of their reports in Section 6 and 0 and the full reports included in Appendix B.
Table 3: Details of the specialists Specialist Field Company Specialist Appendix Biodiversity Environment & Wildlife Consulting, Namibia Peter Cunningham B1 Heritage Kolmanskop Train Company Dr Dieter Noli B2
1.2.4 Interested and Affected Parties Interested and Affected Party (I&AP), “in relation to the assessment of a listed activity includes – ► any person, group of persons or organisation interested in or affected by an activity; and ► any organ of state that may have jurisdiction over any aspect of the activity”. The Public Consultation Process (PCP) is detailed in Section 9 and complies with the EIA Regulations (2012). Proof of all relevant PCP activities included in Appendix C and a register of Registered I&APs can be found in Appendix D
1.2.5 Competent Authority The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism: Directorate of Environmental Affairs – Environmental Commissioner (MEFT: DEA) is the Competent Authority for the proposed activity – details included in the table below.
Table 4: Competent Authority details Authority Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT): Directorate of Environmental Affairs – Environmental Commissioner (MEFT: DEA) Contact / Case Officer Not specified Postal Address Private Bag 13306, Windhoek Physical Address Phillip Troskie Building, Uhland Street, Windhoek Telephone Number +264 61 284 2111 Email Address [email protected] / [email protected]
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2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The subject of the DSR is the MET masts at the three proposed locations, although these masts are also discussed in the context of the potential future wind farm/s near these sites.
2.1 Project Location
The meteorological masts for the proposed Oranjemund Wind Farm will be located in the coastal area of the Karas region in southern Namibia, within the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park (TKNP) (see Figure 1). The TKNP was proclaimed in 2008 as a national park. Previously, the area had been closed to the public, under tight security restrictions, for 100 years and subject to mining mostly along the coast and near the Orange River. The TKNP covers an area of up to 21,750 km2 and spans a distance of 320 km from the northeast to the southeast. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Orange River to the south, the Namib-Naukluft National Park to the north, and farmlands to the east. Settlements and towns occur at each of the four corners of the Park, mainly the towns of Aus, Rosh Pinah, Lüderitz and Oranjemund (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, 2019). Namdeb holds four mining licences on land and up to 5 km offshore. Mining Licence 43 (“Mining Area 1”, also referred to as “Southern Coastal Mines” (SCM)) is the largest land-based licence, and the wind farm is proposed to be located within this area. . Three potential wind farm sites have been identified within Mining Area 1 north of Oranjemund (see Figure 1 to Figure 4). At these three locations, three sizing options are under investigation and discussed in more detail in Section 6 below. Locality details of the three sites that are being considered for wind farm development are shown in Table 5 below. Close-up aerial photos and ground-level photos of the sites are shown in Figure 2 (southern site), Figure 3 (central site) and Figure 4 (northern site). The wind farm sites are located on state land and do not affect any private land parcels.
Table 5: Locality details of the proposed wind farm sites Site Locality Details South Central North Location Near the existing Namdeb 45km northwest of the Namdeb 70km northwest of the Namdeb Description substation at Uubvlei substation near Kerbehuk substation Latitude: Longitude: Latitude: Longitude: Latitude: Longitude: Coordinates - 28.4547° 16.3118° - 28.2180° 16.0397° - 27.9454° - 15.7141°
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Figure 1: Locality map for the potential Oranjemund Wind Farm sites and associated meteorological mast positions
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Figure 2: Aerial photo (left) and ground-level photo depicting the general environmental characteristics of the southern site (right)
Figure 3: Aerial photo (left) and ground-level photo depicting the general environmental characteristics of the central site (right)
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Figure 4: Aerial photo (left) and ground-level photo depicting the general environmental characteristics of the northern site (right)
2.2 Wind Resource
A key driver for proposing wind energy generation at the proposed site is the inland wind resource, which is known to be of good quality in coastal southern Namibia, as depicted in Figure 5 below. Development of the proposed meteorological masts would collect site-specific wind resource data to further inform potential wind farm development at the proposed locations.
Oranjemund
Figure 5: High wind resources reflected in the project area in coastal southern Namibia (Source: Global Wind Atlas, Technical University of Denmark)
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2.3 Proposed Meteorological Masts
To locate, design and operate a wind farm as efficiently as possible, accurate data relating to meteorological data, including wind conditions that predominate at the site, are required. Specifically, ambient temperature, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction will be measured. Meteorological masts are typically tall lattice structures with measuring instrumentation installed at the top. Instruments include anemometers, wind vanes, temperature sensors, a rain gauge and a pressure sensor. In this case the masts are usually triangular in shape and would be 100m in height and held in place by cable stays to anchor the mast. The footprint at the base is a square / rectangular concrete foundation measuring a maximum of approximately 2m x 2m and 0.5m deep (note that this is indicative as a worst case and subject to the final mast selected). Refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7, respectively, for photos of a typical meteorological mast, and a diagrammatic representation. Each mast will include a lightning protection device, an autonomous power system (solar panels), anti-climb and anti-vandalism protection. Aviation (obstacle) lighting shall be provided in compliance with the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations. Note the NCAA has confirmed in writing that it has no objection to the erection of the meteorological masts and that the three meteorological masts do not infringe the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces for the Oranjemund Airport (refer to Appendix E for the NCAA’s statement), subject to completion of the environmental impact assessment processes. Meteorological masts are typically lifted into place section by section, after which the stays are tuned to ensure the mast is straight and the stays have the correct tension. The stays are anchored in concrete blocks with approximate dimensions of 1.2m to 1.5m in length, widths of 1.1m and a depth of 0.5m. Maintenance to the masts involves annual inspections or ad hoc servicing of the equipment, where necessary, and adjustment of the stays if they become loose or if the mast begins to tilt. This is likely to only involve a small team for a very short duration of time on the site. Once the most feasible wind farm site/s have been selected, these masts could remain for the duration of the wind farm or could be decommissioned. Decommissioning will be via dismantling and removal, and the materials reused or recycled where possible.
Figure 6: Example of a meteorological mast and associated equipment (Source: Zutari)
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Figure 7: Diagrammatic representation of meteorological masts
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3 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
This section provides an overview of the laws and guidelines that have been considered in the preparation of the DSR.
3.1 National legislation
The table below provides a review of national legal requirements and their applicability to the meteorological masts project.
Table 6: Applicable legislation Legislation Administering Obligation Relevance to the project title authority The Government of There are two clauses contained in the Namibian Constitution that The Environmental Process Constitution of the Republic of are of particular relevance to sound environmental management undertaken is in line with the the Republic of Namibia practice, viz. articles 91(c) and 95(l). These clauses commit the Constitution. Namibia (1990) State to actively promote and sustain the environmental welfare of the nation by formulating and institutionalising policies to accomplish sustainable development objectives. Environmental Ministry of To give statutory effect to the Environmental Assessment Policy A listed activity in terms of the Management Environment, of 1998, the Environmental Management Act (EMA) (No. 7 of EMA, is triggered by the proposed Act (No. 7 of Forestry and 2007) was gazetted on 27 December 2007 in Government project. 2007) Fisheries: Gazette No. 3966. Part 1 of the EMA describes the rights and Directorate of obligations of citizens and Government, including an environment Environmental that does not pose threats to human health, proper protection of Affairs (MEFT: the environment, broadened locus standi (the right or capacity to DEA) bring an action or to appear in a court, from Latin: a place for standing) on the part of individuals and communities, and reasonable access to information regarding the state of the environment. Part 2 of the EMA sets out twelve principles of environmental management, which the MEFT: DEA, as the organ of state responsible for management and protection of its natural resources, is responsible to pursue. The EMA provides the framework for environmental decision-making in the country. The proponent has the responsibility to ensure that the proposed activity as well as the EIA process conforms to the principles of EMA and the EIA Regulations (2012) (see below). The EIA Regulations list certain activities (referred to as ‘listed activities’) which could have a substantially detrimental effect on the environment and require an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the competent environmental authority, i.e. MEFT: DEA, prior to their commencement.
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Legislation Administering Obligation Relevance to the project title authority Environmental MEFT: DEA Whilst the EMA provides the framework for environmental Construction of the proposed MET Impact decision-making in the country, the EIA Regulations serve as the masts will trigger listed activity Assessment instrument through which development decisions can be made. 10.1(j) as the activity states that the construction of any type of (EIA) Proponents of new developments have a responsibility to ensure mast needs an ECC from the Regulations that the proposed activity and relevant environmental processes competent authority prior to (Government conforms to the principles of the EMA and to the EIA Regulations construction such a mast. Notices 28 to (2012) under the Act. 30 of 2012) Listed activities that may potentially be detrimental to the environment are contained in the EIA Regulations and an Application for ECC must be made, and approved, prior to any of these activities being carried out. The proposed MET masts trigger the following listed activity: ► Activity 10.1 (j) – The construction of – (j) masts of any material or type and of any height, including those used for telecommunication broadcasting and radio transmission, but excluding – (i) Flag poles; and (ii) lightning conductor poles National Ministry of The Act provides for the protection and conservation of places A heritage specialist has been Heritage Act Education and and objects of heritage significance and their registration. Part VI, appointed to assess the sites and (No. 27 of Culture: National Section 55 Paragraphs 3 and 4 require that any person who the potential impact the proposed 2004) Heritage Council discovers an archaeological site should notify the National project may have on heritage (MOEAC) Heritage Council. Section 51 (3) sets out the requirements for resources – refer to Section 6.6 for impact assessment. It is important to note that no regulations a summary of the specialist report. have been formulated for the implementation of the National The full report is included in Heritage Act provisions concerning impact assessment. However, Appendix B2 archaeological impact assessments of large projects have become accepted practice in Namibia. Forestry Act Ministry of Water, The Act provides for the management and use of forests and A biodiversity specialist has been (No. 12 of Agriculture, and forest products. It offers protection to any living tree, bush or shrub appointed to investigate the site 2001) Forestry (MWAF): growing within 100 metres of a river, stream or watercourse on and identify any protected trees or Forestry Council land that is not a surveyed erf of a local authority area. A licence plants. Refer to Section 6.5 for a would be required to cut and remove any such vegetation. summary of the Biodiversity Compensation for trees bigger 30cm in diameter is to be paid to Impact Assessment specialist the Ministry of Water, Agriculture and Forestry. Several tree report. The full report is included in species are listed as being “plants or species of any plant Appendix B1 declared to be protected plants” in terms of the 2015 Forest Regulations of the Forest Act (No. 12 of 2001). Nature MEFT The Act is the primary law that governs biodiversity in Namibia, The proposed meteorological Conservation particularly the conservation of wildlife, protected areas and masts would be in the TKNP and Amendment communal conservancies. biological resources / biodiversity Act (No. 3 of The Act also governs the operation of tourism activities of which and potential future tourism 2017) a number has been identified for the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) activities (which has its foundation National Park (TKNP) as stated in the park’s Management Plan in the natural resources of the (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, 2019). area) may be affected (see Section6for more detail regarding the TKNP). A Biodiversity Impact Assessment has been undertaken to determine the level of ecological impact in the area (see Section 6.5). Nature MEFT The long title of the Nature Conservation Ordinance states the The proposed meteorological Conservation following: “An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws masts are to be located in a Ordinance relating to the conservation of nature; the establishment of game national park. Due diligence was (Ordinance 4 of parks and nature reserves; the control of problem animals and to followed by requesting permission 1975) provide for matters incidental thereto.” from the Minister of MEFT to The Act, and activities that are prohibited in Namibia’s nature construct the masts in the Park. reserves e.g. hunting and unauthorised picking of indigenous Permission was granted (See plants, is governed by MEFT. Appendix F).
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Legislation Administering Obligation Relevance to the project title authority Water Ministry of This Act provides a framework for managing water resources Siting of the meteorological masts Resources Agriculture, Water based on the principles of integrated water resources would have to take cognisance of Management and Land Reform management. It provides for the management, protection, the presence of any water Act (No. 11 of (MAWLR) development, use and conservation of water resources and the resources such as rivers and 2013) (WRMA) regulation and monitoring of water services and to provide for wetlands. General water resource incidental matters. protection measures are included in the EMPR. Soil Ministry of The Act provides for the prevention and control of soil erosion and The potential risk of erosion and Conservation Agriculture, Water the protection, improvement and conservation of soil, vegetation damage to vegetation and water Act (No. 76 of and Land Reform and water supply sources and resources, through directives supply sources is addressed via 1969) (MAWLR) declared by the Minister. best practice standards included in the EMPR. Public and Ministry of Health The Act serves to protect the public from nuisance and states that The requirements of this Act must Environmental and Social no person shall cause a nuisance or shall allow any nuisance or be complied with in order to Health Act (No. Services other condition which is injurious or dangerous to health on land provide a safe working 1 of 2015) or premises owned or occupied by them. environment that is not dangerous to health. This project poses no health risks. Operations will be fully complaint with Namdeb Safety Procedures. Labour Act 11 Ministry of The Act and Regulations provide instructions relating to the health Namdeb and its contractors have of 2007 and Labour, Industrial and safety of employees. an obligation to comply with this Regulations Relations and Act and its Regulations as it relating to the Employment applies to this project. health and Creation safety of employees at work (GN 156 of 1997) Labour Act 6 of Ministry of The Act and Regulations provide instructions relating to the The only potential hazardous 1992, Labour, Industrial protection of employees from hazardous substances. substance associated with the Regulations Relations and construction of the meteorological relating to the Employment masts would be the storage of fuel health and Creation during construction, which will be safety of managed as per best practice employees at standards included in the EMPR. work, GN 156, GG 1617 of 1 August 1997, Act 11 of 2007 and Amendments Act of 2012 Atmospheric MEFT The Act lists the prohibited activities within controlled areas and Although not anticipated, should Pollution serves to control air pollution as it affects occupational health and any scheduled processes in terms Prevention safety issues. Although it addresses air pollution from point of this Act be identified, the Ordinance (No. sources, it does not consider ambient air quality. necessary processes are to be 11 of 1976) initiated. Hazardous Ministry of The manufacturing, storage, handling or processing of all The only potential hazardous Substances Labour, Industrial hazardous substances are defined in the Hazardous Substances substance associated with the Ordinance Relations and Ordinance, 1974. construction of the meteorological (Ordinance 14 Employment The Ordinance provides for the control of substances which may masts would be the storage of fuel of 1974) Creation cause injury or ill-health to or death of human beings by reason of during construction, which will be their toxic, corrosive, irritant, strongly sensitizing or flammable managed as per best practice nature or the generation of pressure thereby in certain standards included in the EMPR. circumstances and for the control of the use, storage and dumping of such substances.
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Legislation Administering Obligation Relevance to the project title authority Electricity Act Ministry of Mines The Electricity Act provides a facilitation and regulation role for Construction of the proposed (4 of 2007) and Energy the generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, supply meteorological masts do not and use of electric energy. It endeavours to provide electricity and require approval in terms of this the planning and regulation of electrification and related matters. Act, however Namdeb would have The Act furthermore speaks to access to land for installations and to comply with the principles of the electrification plans and strategies. Act, whether by standard or application, should the wind resource at the site prove to be favourable and a wind farm be developed Road Traffic Ministry of Works The Act set out the control of traffic on public roads, the licensing All vehicles and loads associated and Transport and Transport of drivers, the registration and licensing of vehicles, the control with the construction of the Act (22 of and regulation of road transport across Namibia’ s borders; and meteorological masts must 1999) and for matters incidental thereto. comply with the Act and its regulations regulations. Approvals/permits for GN53 of 2001 the transport of loads exceeding the limitations described in the Act and Regulations (should this be the case) must be issued prior to such loads being transported. Civil Aviation Namibian Civil The Act sets out to provide for a civil aviation regulatory and The NCAA has formally indicated Act (6 of 2016) Aviation Authority control framework for maintaining, enhancing and promoting the that it has no objection to the (NCAA) safety and security of civil aviation for ensuring the erection of the three 100m [formerly the implementation of international aviation agreements, and for meteorological masts and that the Directorate of incidental matters thereto. three meteorological masts does Civil Aviation] not infringe the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces for the Oranjemund Airport (refer to Appendix E for the NCAA’s statement). Red data list International The IUCN Red list is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of The biodiversity specialist has Union for the global conservation status of biological species, used the IUCN Redlist as a Conservation of reference when assessing the Nature Red List of biodiversity of the site (refer to Threatened Appendix B1). Species (1964) Protected Declaration of ecologically sensitive areas in parks unavailable to This bill is currently draft areas and prospecting and mining, protected species management. The bill legislation, and although not wildlife stipulates conditions under which prospecting and mining in strictly relevant to the current management protected areas can take place. application, it may become bill applicable to mining operations in the TKNP in future. Convention on The Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting A biodiversity specialist has been Biological sustainable development and the protection of biodiversity. appointed to assess the Diversity biodiversity on site and to ensure (1992) the biodiversity is protected (refer to Appendix B1). The report considers the international conservation status of potentially affected species.
3.2 Policies, Guidelines, Plans and Strategies
Other environmental and social plans, policies and company-specific management procedures that are applicable to the proposed project are summarised in the section below.
3.2.1 Namibia Vision 2030 The goal of Vision 2030 is to improve the quality of life of the people of Namibia by 2030. It embraces the idea of sustainable development. Chapter 5 of Vision 2030 highlights the importance of maintaining the “integrity of vital
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ecological processes, natural habitats and wild species throughout Namibia … whilst significantly supporting national socio-economic development through sustainable low-impact, high quality consumptive and non-consumptive uses…”
3.2.2 Namibia’s Second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2013- 2022)
Namibia signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992 and ratified it in 1997. Namibia has developed the second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP2) to build upon the first National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP1) and to better align to the latest national and global trends (e.g. the CBD Strategic Plan Aichi Biodiversity Targets). The NBSAP2 demonstrates the Namibian Government’s commitment to the sustainable management of its biodiversity and ecosystems and assist with the realisation of Vision 2030.
3.2.3 National Policy on Climate Change The National Policy on Climate Change aims to provide the legal framework and overarching national strategy for the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. The policy promotes the enhancement of synergies amongst sectors and stakeholders for effective and efficient mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change in Namibia. In addition, the policy facilitates identification of sector and cross-cutting climate change strategies and actions to lower the overall risks and the risks to the most vulnerable people. The policy also provides a legal basis for resource mobilisation to address climate change adaptation and mitigation.
3.2.4 National Energy Policy The National Energy Policy of 2017 describes the government’s intent, direction and undertakings regarding the development and future of the Namibian energy sector. It aims to see the energy sector develop, in alignment with Vision 2030, for the benefit of all Namibians in a sustainable manner. The primary goals of the National Energy Policy of 2017 are to: ► “Ensure the security of all relevant energy supplies to the country; ► Create cost-effective, affordable, reliable and equitable access to energy for all Namibians; ► Promote the efficient use of all forms of energy; ► Incentivise the discovery, development and productive use of the country’s diverse energy resources”.
3.2.5 Company-specific Environmental Management Standards Namdeb’s company-specific environmental management standards that will be adhered to, and which contractors will be contractually required to follow, are the following: ► The Environmental Management Programme for Namdeb’s ML43 (2018); ► The Anglo-American Environmental Way: Management System Standard; ► Anglo Environmental Performance Standard: Biodiversity; ► Anglo Energy and GHG Emissions and Management Standard; ► Anglo Hazardous Materials Management Standard; ► Anglo Water Management Standard; ► Namdeb Chance Finds Procedure for heritage finds (Appendix G); and ► Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan (2020) (Appendix H).
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4 NEED AND DESIRABILITY
The Namdeb Operations are a large consumer of grid-supplied electricity. Namdeb would like to investigate the development of a Wind Farm in the Namdeb Mining Area No.1 in the future to achieve its objective of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. To ensure the site is suitable for a Windfarm, a wind resource measurement station is required. This project to construct a wind mast is not for power generation purposes but a data collection mast to aid in quantifying the bankable wind resource in the area. The Key outcomes of the proposed project are: ► To define the most suitable wind turbine, define the layout of the wind farm and to calculate the expected energy production of the wind farm. ► Energy cost predictability for the Namdeb Operations. This means that the mine is able to make reasonable long-term predictions as to the cost of energy from the project; ► Reduced Carbon Footprint: This project will contribute the Namdeb strategy to reduce its footprint, by reducing the quantity of non-renewable forms of energy purchased. ► Energy Security: This implies an ability to maintain mine operations in the event of an interruption of power from the grid
4.1 Energy in Namibia
There are around 1 million Namibians (±54%) that lack access to electricity, which means that almost half of the country is without access, as the country has a population of approximately 2.45 million people (Tracking SDG7, 2020).
Figure 8: Namibia’s total electricity access 1990-2018 (Tracking SDG7, 2020) Namibia’s average consumption rate surpasses 3000GWh/year, while its generation capacity is around 1305GWh/year. The supply gap is covered by imports from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique. Namibia’s generated electricity is mainly from: ► the 240 MW hydro-electric power plant on the Kunene river in Ruacana; ► the 120 MW van Eck coal-powered plant north of Windhoek; ► the Paratus 24 MW heavy fuel-oil powered plant in Walvis Bay; ► the 5.78 MW solar plant in Trekkopje in the Erongo region;
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► the 22 MW ANIXAS diesel power station at Walvis Bay; ► the 20 MW Omburu PV Power plant in Omaruru; and ► the 45.5MW solar park in Mariental. The National Climate Change strategy and action plan 2013-2020 addresses actions on reducing current and future emissions including renewable energy sources and energy efficient technology. In 2020 four wind power plants proposed by NamPower were approved for construction in the Tsau Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park near Lűderitz. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism stated that It will enable Namibia to meet its goals under National Development Goals and will actually also place Namibia to have most of its energy generated from wind energy. Namibia has committed itself to increase the share of renewable energy to about 70 % of electricity by 2030.
4.2 Namdeb’s Strategy to Reduce its Carbon Footprint
The De Beers Group has set a strategic objective to become carbon neutral on all its operations, which includes the Namdeb operation. The current long-term forecast for Namdeb is that its Southern Coastal operations would be consuming about 147,000 MWh/year electricity which equates to about 157,000 ton CO₂ supplied by Eskom (Eskom emission factor of 1.07 MWh/tCO₂). Namdeb would also consume about 35 million litres of diesel, which is equivalent to 92,667 ton CO₂.
Namdeb is currently evaluating various options and solutions to reduce the carbon footprint, including the following: ► Improved energy efficiency via new technology and energy equipment with higher efficiency; ► Consumer awareness programs to reduce electricity and water use; ► Implementation of quick win solutions like rooftop solar, solar geysers and testing of battery electric vehicles and buses; ► The development of a wind farm or wind farms to provide renewable energy; ► The use of nature-based carbon capture solutions along the coast; and ► Conversion of current mobile mining equipment to electrical or hydrogen fuel cell units.
It should further be noted that wind-farm and carbon capture solutions would be developed in such a way that it will contribute to long-term sustainable business development in the region in the form of job creation and supporting businesses, especially after future mine closure.
4.3 Strategic Context
The ‘need and desirability’ of the project should be evaluated against the strategic context of the development proposal, along with the broader societal needs and public interest. The concept of ‘need and desirability relates to the “nature, scale and location of a development being proposed as well as the wise use of land”. The DEA&DP Guideline for Need and Desirability (2013) highlights the obligation for all proposed activities that trigger the EIA regulations to be considered in light of (amongst others) National Framework for Sustainable Development, the spatial planning context, broader societal needs, and financial viability. [This guideline, although written for the Western Cape South Africa, has been used as a best practice tool since it is the most recent guideline on need and desirability.] This information allows the authorities to contemplate the strategic context of a decision on the proposed project. The concept of ‘need and desirability’ can be explained in terms of the broader meaning of its two components, need referring to time and desirability to place. It is acknowledged that ‘need and desirability’ are interrelated and the two components collectively should be considered in an integrated and holistic manner. This section seeks to provide the context within which the need and desirability of the proposed activity should be considered. It is important to state that the wind resource measurement station is required to enable development of a commercial wind farm in future, this project to construct a wind mast is not for power generation purposes but a data collection mast to aid in quantifying the bankable wind resource in the area. The overall need and desirability of the proposed development, in the context of developing renewable energy generation in Namibia and globally, is considered and described in this section. In summary wind energy is desirable as it:
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► Creates a more sustainable economy by promoting Namibia’s energy policy towards energy diversification. ► Reduces the demand on scarce resources such as water by promoting energy generating facilities which are less resource intensive. ► Reduces pollution by using ‘cleaner’ energy generating mechanisms and reducing the demand on carbon- based fuels. ► Promotes local economic development by creating jobs and promoting skills development. ► Enhances energy security by diversifying generation. ► Contribute to Namdeb’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint. Table 7 and Table 8 below provide more detail regarding the project-specific responses to the questions raised in the need and desirability guidelines.
Table 7: Need (timing) of the proposed project NEED Consideration Response/Motivation Should development, or if applicable, expansion of the Yes. The meteorological masts will be used as a resource to collect wind data for the town/ area concerned in terms of this land use proposed Oranjemund Wind Farm and potentially generate surplus energy for the (associated with the activity being applied for) occur at national NamPower network. This early collection of data will inform the viability of the this point in time? proposed Windfarm in this area. Development of renewable energy is a prioritised in strategies on national scale. Although located in the TKNP, mining operations have been carried out in the area for over 100 years and various infrastructure associated with the mining operations developed during that time. The TKNP Management Plan recognizes the presence of the mining activities and the importance of ensuring that both the environment and mining operations are sustainably managed. There is therefore no conflict with the proposed activity and the current land use of the site and considering the global emphasis to move to renewable energy sources, the proposed activity can therefore occur at this point in time. Does the community/ area need the activity and the Yes. If the data from the meteorological Masts indicate favourable conditions, then associated land use concerned (is it a societal the proposed windfarm (if authorized) will provide electricity for Namdeb operations priority)? and potentially to export surplus power to the national NamPower network. The sites for the proposed activity are located in a previously restricted area (Sperrgebiet) and on government-owned land. Communities would therefore not be directly affected/impacted by the proposed meteorological masts. From a societal perspective the development of facilities for renewable energy generation is globally recognised as a priority. The development and operations (data collection) of the proposed meteorological masts would additionally assist with identifying the best locations for wind farm development and thus promote sustainable and best use of the environment. Are there necessary services with appropriate Very Few services will be required for the proposed meteorological masts, particularly capacity currently available (at the time of application), during the operational phase. or must additional capacity be created to cater for the Access to the location will be via existing roads in the area. development? Overall, it is highly unlikely that additional pressure will be placed on any existing services. Is this development provided for in the infrastructure No, the proposed development of meteorological masts will have little to no impact on planning of the municipality, and if not, what will the infrastructure planning of any nearby Municipality. The area falls within the Mining implication be on the infrastructure planning of the License owned by Namdeb. Townlands are excised from the licence areas. No municipality (priority and placements of services)? municipal services will be required for the meteorological masts once operational. As such, the project is anticipated to have negligible implications for municipal infrastructure planning. Is this project part of a national programme to address Yes. The National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2013-2020 addresses an issue of national concern or importance? the promotion and development of renewable energy at all levels to reduce GHG emissions and to develop and diversify secure energy backup systems through renewable energy security and efficient use of energy (Strategic Aim 1 and 2 under theme B1: Sustainable Energy and Low Carbon Development). Although the Masts will not directly influence these strategic aims, it will inform the potential development of a future wind farm. The Namibian Renewable Energy Programme (NAMREP) is expected to contribute to climate stabilization by reducing or avoiding CO2 emissions in the order of 230,000 tonnes of CO2 per year (over a 15-year period between 2021 and 2036) and the development of renewable energy facilities would assist in reaching this goal.
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NEED Consideration Response/Motivation Considering the socio-economic context, what will the The 2011 Census showed the population of Oranjemund has 24% unemployment. If socio-economic impacts be of the development (and wind conditions are favourable, the Oranjemund Wind Farm would create direct and its separate elements / aspects), and specifically also indirect job opportunities (with associated skills development and transfer) for the on the socio-economic objectives of the area? Will the community (local, district/regional and provincial). A potential wind farm would also development complement the local socio-economic provide a sustainable energy economy post mine closure in future. initiatives (such as local economic development (LED) Development of the proposed meteorological masts would generate limited work initiatives), or skills development programmes? opportunities during the construction phase. Some work will be done locally by civil contractors to cast the concrete base. The erection of the meteorological masts requires high skills. Professionals brought in to undertake this work will have accommodation at the local lodges. What measures were taken to ensure that the The potential for the proposed development to negatively impact on the natural, social responsibility for the environmental health and safety and economic environments have been recognised and investigated to ensure a good consequences of the development has been understanding of these potential impacts throughout the project’s life cycle. The first addressed throughout the development’s life cycle? step involved a screening exercise undertaken with the heritage and bird specialists. For more information on the anticipated impacts and associated recommendations please refer to section 7.1 and 7.2 of these reports, respectively. A Draft Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) applicable to the pre- construction, construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the proposed project to ensure that an environmentally and socio-economically sustainable “cradle to grave” approach is implemented, has been developed and is included in Appendix I. What measures were taken to ensure the participation The Public Consultation Process (PCP) was aligned with the legislative requirements of all interested and affected parties? What measures in the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007). The following actions were were taken to ensure that the interests, needs and taken: values of all interested and affected parties were taken ► Adverts were placed on the 11th and 18th March 2021 in the local newspapers – into account, and that adequate recognition were The Namibian and Die Republikein given to all forms of knowledge, including traditional ► A Site Notice was placed at the mine entrance and a Poster was put up on the and ordinary knowledge? local community notice board in Oranjemund. ► Key Stakeholders were identified and communicated with on 11 March 2021, providing the Background Information Document and were invited to register and Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP) for the project should they wish to participate in the Environmental Process. The list of stakeholders is provided in Appendix D. ► All registered I&APs were added to the project stakeholder database. The database of I&APs can be found in Appendix D. ► The Draft Scoping Report and associated documents were uploaded to Dropbox and Google drive and made available for a 21-day comment period from 07 May 2021 to 30 May 2021. ► A hard Copy of the Draft Scoping Report was placed at Oranjemund Library during the abovementioned 21-day comment period. ► All comments received on the Draft Scoping Report were responded to and incorporated into the development proposal where relevant.
Proof of all PCP-related activities is included in Appendix C.
Table 8: Desirability (Placing) of the proposed project NEED Consideration Response/Motivation Is the development the best practicable environmental Yes. The proposed sites are suitable and feasible for the development of option (BPEO) for this land/ site? meteorological masts. The investigations undertaken by the heritage and biodiversity specialist did not identify any significant environmental constraints or fatal flaws within the direct sphere of influence of the proposed mast sites. If the data gathered from the meteorological masts indicates that the areas in which they are developed is unsuitable for the development of a wind farm in that area, those particular masts will be removed.
How will this development use and/or impact on non- This development will only monitor the wind energy at the specified three locations. A renewable and renewable natural resources and the biodiversity impact assessment (Appendix B1) has been undertaken to determine the ecosystem of which they are part? potential impacts the masts will have on terrestrial flora, fauna and avifauna in the area. The impacts are assessed in detail in section 7.
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NEED Consideration Response/Motivation Should the wind resource at the site be found to be feasible and potential wind farm development be pursued, such a wind farm development would be subjected to the appropriate environmental process as per the Environmental Management Act and relevant EIA Regulations at that time. Would the approval of this application compromise the No. Namdeb holds the mining licence on the area. The site, and mining area, is integrity of the existing environmental management located in the TKNP and park’s Management Plan recognizes the presence of the priorities for the area and if so, can it be justified in mining activities and the importance of ensuring that both the environment and mining terms of sustainability considerations? operations are sustainably managed. In this regard the proposed meteorological masts would not compromise the integrity of the existing environmental management priorities for the area as environmental management for the area already considers and incorporates the presence of mining activities. The data from the meteorological masts will feed into the proposed wind farm that will ultimately contribute to the electrical supply of the Namdeb operations. Therefore, the proposed development will enhance the integrity of the existing environmental management priorities by supplying Namdeb with renewable energy. How will the activity or the land use associated with Potential impacts associated with the proposed project have been assessed and are the activity applied for, impact on sensitive natural and discussed in this report (refer to Section 0). cultural areas (built and rural/ natural environment)? The northern site was initially positioned inside a proclaimed highly sensitive zone. After the environmental screening process, which included confirmation of zonation of the TKNP, the meteorological mast was positioned outside of this sensitive area. No naturally sensitive sites will be affected by the proposed development. How will the development impact on people’s health The project is not expected to affect health negatively. The locations of the masts are and wellbeing (e.g. in terms of noise, odours, visual situated in an isolated area where public access is restricted and minimal human character and sense of place, etc.)? interactions. The development of the proposed masts would therefore not impact on any visual receptors. How will this development disturb or enhance Meteorological masts are typically 100m in height, with an aviation warning light that landscapes and/or sites that constitute the nation's may cause some visual disturbance at night. cultural heritage? The visual impact is largely dependent on the sensitivity of the views and related perspective of visual receptors. The locations of the masts are in isolated areas and are not anticipated to disturb or enhance the landscape during the daytime, due to their location farm from any residential areas. The closest settlement (Oranjemund) is 15 km from the southern-most site. Lűderitz, the closest town to the northern site, is 150km from this site. Will the proposed land use result in unacceptable No. There are no other known similar developments in this region and cumulatively cumulative impacts? the development of three meteorological masts will not result in any unacceptable impacts. It is also to be noted that the three mast positions allow for consideration of alternatives.
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5 ALTERNATIVES
The Environmental Management Act No. 7 of 2007, requires that alternatives are considered during the EIA process. According to the 2012 EIA Regulations, an alternative is defined as follows: “in relation to a proposed activity, means different means of meeting the general purpose and requirements of the activity, which may include alternatives to – (a) the property on which or location where it is proposed to undertake the activity; (b) the type of activity to be undertaken; (c) the design or layout of the activity; (d) the technology to be used in the activity; and (e) the operational aspects of the activity.”
In addition to the above, the no-go alternative is also considered in this study.
5.1 Location alternatives
Three potential locations for meteorological masts have been identified within Namdeb’s ML43 area, namely: ► Southern: latitude -28.4547°, longitude 16.3118° ► Central: latitude -28.2180°, longitude 16.0397° ► Northern: latitude -27.9454°, longitude 15.7141°
These sites are located in areas that have potentially favourable wind conditions.
Namdeb used the following criteria in determining the proposed meteorological mast locations: • Locations of favourable wind climates, as determined by a pre-feasibility technical assessment • Accessibility – the sites are close to existing roads and other electrical infrastructure (particularly at the southern and central positions), thus limiting the impacts of associated infrastructure; and • Environmental and heritage sensitivity – the sites will not affect any known sensitive environmental or heritage resources.
The proposed locations of the meteorological masts are first and foremost linked to the potentially good wind resources at the sites, based on existing available information. As such, for the purposes of this Scoping Report, no reasonable or feasible alternative locations have been identified or considered.
5.2 Type of activity to be undertaken
Wind resource measurement is a critical aspect of wind power development. The information regarding wind speed and direction determines how much power a proposed windfarm would produce. Meteorological masts are generally fitted with a variety of instruments, including anemometers, wind vanes, temperature sensors, a rain gauge and a pressure sensor. Limited alternatives exist in terms of wind measurement. Although LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and SODAR (sonic detection and ranging) technologies exist, their ability to provide accurate data for this application has not been proven. Therefore, the meteorological masts are the preferred activity for the purpose of measuring the wind resource.
5.3 The design or layout of the activity
The design of the meteorological mast is described in section 2.3 above. The design was assessed by ecological and heritage specialists. The ecological specialist recommended the installation of bird flight diverters on guy ropes of the proposed masts at Chameis Bay and Kerbehuk., No other layout or design alternatives emerged from their findings. No other design alternative was considered.
5.4 The technology to be used in the activity
Technology used on the masts would include the measuring instruments. The instruments considered for this project are standard and therefore no technology alternatives exist.
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5.5 Operational aspects of the activity
The operational phase of the proposed project is carried out when the masts are in working order and recording and downloading the necessary data. Namdeb will do general site inspections and maintain the masts. The masts will be operational for at least a year. It has not yet been confirmed if the masts will remain in operation or be decommissioned if wind farms are constructed, although it is likely that at least the mast in the area confirmed to have the best wind resource would remain.
5.6 The No-Go Alternative
The no-go alternative in this case would be the option of not undertaking the wind resource measurement at the three locations. The proposed meteorological masts are a strategically important component of a future wind farm and will allow Namdeb to generate renewable energy for use at its operations.
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6 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
6.1 Land Use and Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park
Mining started in the early 20th century and is expected to continue until 2037 in Namdeb’s ML43 area (Burke & Pulfrich, 2018). The potential extension of the life of mine was evaluated and approved. The focus of dry mining in ML43 is behind seawalls on accreted beaches, whereby overburden, tailings and dredged material is disposed in the sea to push the shoreline seawards (Burke & Pulfrich, 2018). Access restrictions to some areas of the Park are under review. In addition to the mining activities, the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park (TKNP) is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and is subject to a management plan (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (2019). For conservation management purposes, the Park is divided into a number of management zones to guide activities. Most of the Park falls under general ‘Wildlife Management’, with the coastal mining areas classified as ‘Managed Resource Use’. There are some areas identified as having ‘Special Value’ buffered by areas of ‘Minimal Disturbance’. With reference to the project sites, the Northern site lies within proximity, to the north of an area of Special Value, which corresponds with very high levels of plant endemism (>30) as identified by Burke (2006). It also lies north of a mapped area of Special Scientific Interest, one that is biologically important, namely with regard to its proximity to the lichen fields. However, the site has been located to remain outside these sensitive areas. Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 9 indicating the mapped biodiversity of the area. A more detailed description of the biodiversity is included in Section 6.5. Development activities in the park is governed by the TKNP Management Plan. According to this plans (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, 2019), six Tourism Development Planning Areas (TDAs) have been identified within the park and are the subject of a separate plan (the Tourism Development Plan for the period 2020/21 to 2029/30). Within the project’s area of influence, the land to the west of the Oranjemund-Lüderitz Road is named as the Oranjemund Coastal/River TDA, and the Southern Uubvlei site, the Central site and the Northern site fall in this zone. Tourism concessions in this area include the Oranjemund Coast and Mining and Orange River Mouth. To the east of the road is the Wilderness Area TDA, in which the Southern Inland site falls. No tourism concession opportunities have yet been identified in this Wilderness Area.
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Figure 9: Management zones of the TKNP (left) (MEFT, 2019) and Vegetation types within the TKNP (right) (Burke, 2006, in MEFT, 2019)
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6.2 Infrastructure and Access
The Park includes existing infrastructure relating to its mining history and electrical infrastructure as shown on Figure 1. All the wind farm areas would be accessible from Oranjemund along existing roads. The Southern sites are 15 to 20 km north of Oranjemund and adjacent to existing roads. A coastal tarred road connects Oranjemund and Affenrücken hostel, where after it is unsurfaced (Burke & Pulfrich, 2018). This road connects the Central site to Oranjemund. The Northern site is more remote but can be accessed from Namdeb’s private surfaced road. The Southern sites are close to the existing Namdeb substation and overhead powerlines already exist, and the Central site is also in proximity to an existing overhead powerline, which terminates at Kerbehuk.
6.3 Climate
The region has an arid climate regime, with a long-term mean annual rainfall at Oranjemund of 51 mm and moderate temperatures (annual mean temperature of <16°C, according to Mendelsohn et al, 2002) (Burke and Pulfrich, 2018). The area has regular fog (over 100 days/annum) and persistent, strong southerly winds that contribute to the prevailing landforms and habitats. The wind resource map in Figure 5 depicts the favourable wind resource in the study area. Easterly, hot berg winds sometimes occur during winter, pushing temperatures up to 35°C, even near the coast (Burke & Pulfrich, 2018).
6.4 Topography, Soils and Hydrology
The TKNP comprises 16 different landform units influenced by geology and geomorphological processes. Mining Area 1 more specifically is characterised by coastal sand plains and coastal hummocks, with a few rocky outcrops towards the north of the approximately 4 km wide coastal strip (Burke and Pulfrich, 2018). A large drainage system originating in the east of Mining Area 1 ends at Uubvlei (north and west of the Southern sites) and forms an extensive pan (Burke & Pulfrich, 2018) and other smaller drainage systems near the Kerbehuk and Affenrücken ridges have been partially blocked by the road and have not formed more defined dry rivers due to the low levels of run-off in the last several thousand years (Burke, 2006) (as shown in Figure 1). There are a few springs in the area, such as at Affenrücken. The Orange River is the only perennial river in the region and is characterised by a floodplain with islands and sandbars and is one of the most important wetlands in southern Africa (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, 2019). This is discussed in more detail in the biodiversity section below (Section 6.5). Soils of the area include gypsum-rich soils along the coast, soils rich in other salts and calcrete on gravel plains, and sandy soils in areas of dunes and sand sheets (Burke, 2006). In Mining Area 1 specifically, soils are deep dune sands, or shallow alluvium, gravel and calcareous soils with no agricultural potential (Burke & Pulfrich, 2018).
6.5 Biodiversity
The study area is extremely barren with the perennial Orange River and associated vegetated delta area, on the border between South Africa and Namibia, the only true lifeline in the general area. The importance of the Orange River as habitat for all fauna is clear as the closest other coastal wetlands are the Olifants River (~400km south) and Sandwich Harbour (~500km north). The coastal areas, especially in the vicinity of Oranjemund and to a lesser extent Elizabeth Bay, as well as some portions along the Orange River, have been heavily impacted by onshore and coastal diamond mining activities. A number of small rocky islands are home to Cape Fur Seals and a variety of marine birds are located along this stretch of coast and the Lüderitz Bay area. Other interesting features include the Bogenfels rock arch and various early mining settlements.
6.5.1 Flora The Tsau//Khaeb National Park has more than 1,000 plant species, comprising approximately 25% of the entire Namibian flora, with numerous endemic and near-endemic. The vegetation types within which the meteorological mast sites are proposed is described by Burke (2006) as follows.
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6.5.1.1 Northern site The extent of this vegetation type is 3.63% of the TKNP and up to 90 species are expected. Dwarf stem- and leaf- succulent shrubs dominate this vegetation type with the vegetation mostly <30cm in height and plant cover continuous with 10-15%. This continuous cover makes the area important as food and moisture source for wildlife. The dune hummocks in the Kerbehuk and Uubvlei areas are viewed as high conservation importance. Large numbers of protected species occur in this area, including Adromischus, Amphibolia, Cephalophyllum, Conophytum, Crassula, Dracophilus, Eberlanzia, Fenestraria, Juttadinteria, Lithops, Psammophora, Ruschia, Stroeberia and Tylecodon species as well as various Southern Namib endemics.
6.5.1.2 Central site The extent of this vegetation type is 3.92% of the TKNP and between 50 to 100 plant species are expected. There are a number of species of conservation importance such as Amphibolia rupis-arcuatae, Aridaria noctiflora, Cephalophyllum ebracteatum, Crassula, Conophytum, Eberlanzia species, Fenestraria rhopalophylla and Stroeberia beetzii. The conservation importance is viewed as “medium”
6.5.1.3 Southern site The extent of this vegetation type is 6.15% of the TKNP. Grasses and low stem- and leaf-succulents mainly <30cm in height dominate this vegetation type, while the perennial plant cover is low (1-10%). TKNP endemics include Brownanthus arenosus, Dracophilus and Zygophyllum species. The conservation importance is considered “medium”.
6.5.2 Tree and shrub diversity Larger trees and shrubs (>1m in height) are limited in the TKNP, which is dominated by succulents with an estimated 30 species of larger “key” (i.e. most important) tree and shrub species known to and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area. Although the TKNP is extremely rich floristically, the three vegetation types relevant to the proposed meteorological mast sites, from north to south, include the Othonna Dwarf Shrubland, Southern Dwarf Succulent Shrubland and the Southern Othonna Dwarf Shrubland. The TKNP succulent vegetation, in its entirety, is viewed as an extremely important area floristically in Namibia. Of these 45 species; six species are endemic (13.3%), 11 species (24.4%) are classified as near endemic, five species (11.1%) are protected by the Forest Act No. 12 of 2001 and three species (6.7%) are protected by the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975 and one species (2.2%) is listed as a CITES Appendix 2 species. Some species have more than one protected status. The larger trees and shrubs are limited to the Orange River habitat, as the general area is extremely marginal for larger species due to severe water constraints and strong winds. The most important species are viewed as the Red Data, especially species listed as rare, endangered, near threatened, etc. However, none of the important larger tree/shrub species are exclusively associated with the proposed meteorological mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
6.5.3 Grass diversity
Up to 29 grasses are expected in the general Oranjemund area. Most of these species are associated with the Orange River habitat. Of these, three species are alien, one species is endemic (Stipagrostis sabulicola) and one species is near-endemic (Stipagrostis geminifolia). None of the grasses mentioned are exclusively associated with the general area and are normally not viewed as very important in the winter rainfall areas such as the TKNP.
6.5.4 Vertebrate fauna The general area is regarded as “low” in overall (terrestrial) diversity. It is estimated that at least 49 reptiles, seven amphibians, 33 mammals, and 175 birds bird species are known to or expected to occur in the general/immediate area. A large portion of reptiles (56.3%) are endemics.
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6.5.5 Reptile diversity The 49 species expected to occur in the general area consist of at least two tortoises; one blind snake; one thread snake; 15 typical snakes; six skinks; eight old world lizards; one plated lizard; one girdled lizard; one monitor lizard; three agamas; one chameleon and 10 geckos. However, none of the important reptile species are exclusively associated with the proposed meteorological mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
6.5.6 Amphibian diversity At least seven species of amphibians can occur in suitable habitat in the general area. The area is under-represented, with two toads, 1 species each for rain frog, river frog, rubber frog, sand frog and platanna known and/or expected to occur in the area. Of these, one species (Phrynomantis annectens) is endemic, although it is widespread throughout Namibia, while Breviceps macrops is classified as “near threatened” and is probably the most important amphibian species in the area due to coastal diamond mining destroying its habitat in Namibia. However, none of the important amphibian species are exclusively associated with the proposed meteorological Mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
6.5.7 Mammal diversity The overall mammal diversity in the general area is estimated at between 31 and 45 species with three to four species being endemic to the area. The majority of mammalian species expected to occur in the general area are respectively 10 bats and eight carnivores. One bat is viewed as “rare” and three carnivores are classified as “vulnerable”. Cunningham (2003, 2013a) confirmed the presence of 1 and 12 mammal species from the WOMS (Wet Overburden Mining System) at the southern and central meteorological mast site areas, respectively. However, none of the important mammal species are exclusively associated with the proposed meteorological mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
6.5.8 Avian diversity Bird diversity is viewed as “low to average” in the general area with 51-80 species estimated along the northern coastal area, 81-110 associated with the southern coastal area and the Orange River environs including one to three endemic species. No Namibian endemic/near-endemic species are expected from the general area and a “low” ranking for southern African endemics and red data birds is applicable. Furthermore, the entire TKNP and offshore islands are classified as Important Birding Areas (IBA) with a global status in Namibia. The TKNP is home to 17 of the 60 bird species listed as Namibian Red-listed birds. Coastal areas and wetlands are immensely important, as eight and 34 bird species are classified as either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable in each of the biomes (i.e. coastal areas and wetlands). At least 175 species of birds (breeding residents and/or species found in the area throughout the year) occur and/or could occur in the general Oranjemund area at any time. All the migratory birds (e.g. Petrel, Albatross, Skua, etc.) and species breeding extralimital (e.g. Stints, Sandpipers, etc.), have been excluded here. This would imply that many more birds (e.g. Palaearctic migrants) could occur in the area depending on “favourable” environmental conditions. Two of the 14 Namibian endemics (Dune lark and Gray’s lark) are expected to occur in the general area. Furthermore, two species are classified as Critically Endangered (Great crested grebe, Cape gannet), nine species as Endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, Black harrier, Tawny eagle, Booted eagle, Martial eagle, Bank cormorant, Cape cormorant, Black stork, African penguin), seven species as Vulnerable (Hartlaub’s gull, Caspian tern, African fish eagle, Secretarybird, Greater flamingo, Lesser flamingo, Great white pelican) and nine species as Near-threatened (Cape eagle owl, Kori bustard, African black oystercatcher, Chestnut-banded plover, Damara tern, Verreaux’s eagle, Peregrine falcon, Black- necked grebe, Crowned cormorant), while three species are classified as potentially invasive aliens. The most important bird areas are viewed as the Orange River mouth estuary and the saline pan known as “Pink Pan” in the general vicinity of the proposed southern meteorological mast sites. Up to 251 bird species are known to occur at the Orange River mouth, with up to 64 wetland species, making it the wetland with the 6th highest bird diversity in southern Africa. Not all the bird species listed occur at each of the three proposed meteorological mast sites, but rather throughout the general Orange River/Pink Pan environs and/or the general south-western coastal part of Namibia.
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Bird species expected to be potentially affected by the mast guy wires are species known to fly at meteorological mast height; species with nocturnal transients; the various Palaearctic and other migrants frequenting the coastal areas and the breeding residents of conservation concern. Although little is known regarding bird flight paths in Namibia, birds usually take the shortest route between habitat features visited, with sites closest to the coast viewed as the most problematic. A distance of more than 1.5km from the coast would minimise potential bird collisions with the mast stays as most bird activity takes place within this distance of the coast. All proposed meteorological mast positions are at least 3km from the coast. None of the important birds known and/or expected to occur in the general meteorological mast site areas are exclusively associated with the proposed development sites although the general area – especially coastal bays, mining ponds, Orange River Mouth, etc. – are important foraging sites for a variety of important species. Table ?? below shows the important areas for avian conservation to be considered in the proposed three meteorological mast locations.
Table 9: Key sites for avian conservation in the study area Area Description Chameis Bay A known breeding population of Damara terns are confirmed from the Chameis Pan system. The Bay is also used as foraging site for various marine, aquatic and Palaearctic migrant species i.e. a bird attraction site and along a known/expected bird flyway. The proposed meteorological mast site (north) located to the southeast of Chameis Bay would potentially be located within this flight path. Furthermore, Chameis Bay is also part of the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA). Mining ponds Maritz (2020) highlights the importance of the mining ponds, albeit artificial habitat, along the coast as breeding, and more especially, foraging sites for a variety of bird species. The northern mining pond areas are viewed as the most important to birds as these areas are not frequented by humans. The proposed meteorological mast site (central) located in the Kerbehuk area would be in close proximity to the mining ponds frequented by a variety of birds and would potentially be located within this flight path. Pink Pan Although most of the areas towards the south and west of Oranjemund are disturbed by various anthropomorphic disturbances, parts of the area around the Pink Pan (i.e. north/north east) is mostly pristine (although there are old disused tracks and some litter). An extensive dune hummock system occurs between the Oranjemund Airport and the Pink Pan system. This pan system is important for aquatic birds (e.g. greater and lesser flamingo) associated with the saline pan system. Furthermore, the area is extensively frequented by various animals for foraging, especially the “lawn” areas. However, this area will not be directly affected by the proposed meteorological masts. The distance from the southernmost mast to Pink Pan is 17.5km. Orange River The perennial Orange River and associated vegetated delta area is classified as a Ramsar Estuary Site, and is thus an important birding area globally. However, this area will not be directly affected by the proposed meteorological masts. The distance between the southernmost mast position and Ramsar Site is 20km.
The ranking (from most sensitive to least sensitive) of the three proposed meteorological mast sites between Chameis Bay and Oranjemund are thus viewed as follows:
Chameis Bay (north) Site – Kerbehuk (central) Site – Uubvlei (south) Site
As both the Uubvlei sites (west and east) are located more than 3km from the coastline (i.e. outside the expected bird flight paths) and the western site is located closer to human disturbances, the western site is consequently viewed as the site with the least impact on vertebrate fauna and flora. The ranking (from most sensitive to least sensitive) of the two Uubvlei sites is as follows: Uubvlei (east site) - Uubvlei (west site)
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6.6 Heritage
The archaeological material present in the TKNP and its adjacent areas in general has in the past been categorised as being from the Early Stone age (ESA, about one million to 200 000 years ago), the Middle Stone Age (MSA, about 200 000 years ago to 40 000 years ago), the Late Stone Age (LSA, about 40 000 years ago to the present) and from the historical period (about 500 years ago to the present). While the presence of pottery indicated that the Kerbehuk site could be dated to the last 500 years of the Late Stone Age, the presence of possibly earlier material of an undiagnostic nature – such as crude flakes or ostrich eggshells and sea shells – meant that earlier dates could not be ruled out.
6.6.1 Related archaeological and historical information MSA artefacts in the form of blades, points, scrapers and flakes have been found within about 12 km of the TKNP coastline, mainly at vantage points such as the tops of hills, or at present or past water sources such as seepages, springs and dry pans in presently inhospitable areas. This suggests that conditions may have been slightly wetter than they are at present during at least some of the MSA period. MSA sites are rarely found closer to the coast itself than about 3 km, a phenomenon that could be attributed to changes in sea level, which may have drowned most coastal MSA sites. Accounts of MSA material being found well away from both the coastline and the river are limited but convincing, and both open sites and rock shelters have been reported. The most spectacular rock shelter is the Apollo 11 site, excavated by Wendt, the evidence from which suggested an MSA occupation until about 25 000 years ago. This may clash slightly with the general view that the MSA lasted from about 200 000 years ago until about 40 000 years ago in southern Africa, but the exact time period of the MSA does vary a somewhat from site to site. In 1988 Mr. Daan Marais found a fossilized human skullcap near Oranjemund. It is thought to be from the MSA. The LSA is generally believed to have lasted from about 40 000 years ago to the present. In addition to stone tools such as flakes, cores, microliths (stone tools small enough to fit into a matchbox) and grindstones, it includes ostrich eggshell water containers, ostrich eggshell beads, seabird eggshell, seashells, bone, pottery, glass, metal, charcoal and wood. LSA sites are located along the actual coastline in the form of shell middens, and at water sources near the coast and along natural routes to the interior. It would therefore seem that, while LSA man inhabited the coast, the desert itself was merely travelled through. The lower Orange River, being both a water source and a natural route to the interior, is rich in LSA sites, which are concentrated in the sandy area lying between the river and the Proto/Meso-Orange deposits. The coastal evidence suggests that sites with formal mircrolithic tools may date to between 5600 and about 2400 years ago, whereas evidence from the interior suggests that microliths may have been introduced about 10 000 years ago. This is not necessarily a contradiction, since all coastal LSA sites much older than about 5000 years were in any event drowned by rising sea levels. Pottery is generally taken as having been introduced into southern Africa about 2000 years ago. With three exceptions, however, all dated sites with pottery in southern Namibia are from the last 500 years, so that pottery sites can generally taken as being both free of microliths and being only about 500 years old in the south- western Namib. Stone circles and graves, though rarely directly dated, are generally attributed to the LSA. Both painted and engraved rock art exists in the TKNP and its adjoining areas. A painted rock slab from the Apollo 11 cave has been reliably dated to 28 000 years, but the age of the rest of the art, as well as the identity of the authors, is still very much under discussion. According to Wendt (1978), however, the heavily patinated naturalistic engravings of both humans and animals should be attributed to “Bushmen”, and may be about 6 000 or 8 000 years old. The abstract engravings, on the other hand, he attributes the Nama of Bethanien, a scenario which would mean that they were only made during the last 500 years. The end of the LSA coexisted with the beginning of historic times. It would seem that hunting and gathering Nama in possession of ceramics entered the southern Namib some 500 years ago, either displacing or absorbing the remnants of the original population The legacy left by the Namib nomads is not only made up of the archaeological record, but also of an intricate system of roads and tracks. Inside the TKNP, where many of the German tracks fell into disuse after WWI, and where the Bushmen no longer roam, the old routes have now completely disappeared. The German and subsequent mining activities, which commenced in 1908 with the discovery of diamonds in the vicinity of Kolmanskop, have also left a substantial number of traces in the TKNP. While the modern mining period – which started in the late 1920’s with the discovery of diamonds in the vicinity of the Orange River mouth – was initially limited to the coastal strip between Chamais in the north and Oranjemund in the south, this is no longer the case. The modern
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plant at Elizabeth Bay, the pocket beaches, the workings along the Orange River itself and the efforts of land and sea- based subcontractors have in recent years ensured that the entire coastline of the TKNP (both onshore and offshore), as well as the adjacent banks of the Orange river, were being subjected to extensive mining and prospecting activities. As a result, old fuel drums, oil stains, plastic, wrecked cars and abandoned earth moving equipment were slowly but surely being added to what one day will be the archaeological record of the future.
6.6.2 Buried sites While it could be argued that archaeological sites are clearly recognisable, this is sadly not the case. It is for this reason that the Heritage Mangement Strategy and the procedure for Chance-finds exist. In 2002 an elephant tusk turned up on a conveyor belt in the mining area at Plant 3, near Oranjemund. No other elephant bones were found. At the time it was suspected that with the exception of that one tusk, an entire elephant hand been mined, loaded, transported to the crusher and processed unseen. In 2008, however, it transpired that the tusk concerned had been part of the cargo of a 500 years old Portuguese ship that had been wrecked some 18 km north of the mouth of the Orange River (Knabe & Noli, 2010). That just goes to show: We don’t know what is buried. Corvenius (1983) spent a lot of her time picking over mine dumps for stone tools, and drew attention to the vast amount of buried archaeological material that exists in the mining area near the Orange River mouth. Hart and Halkett (1999) did an assessment of the archaeological baseline surveys that had been conducted by this author in the TKNP from 1995 to 1999 voicing their thoughts on the subject of buried sites. It follows that the occurrence of buried archaeological sites at ANY part of the TKNP cannot be ruled out. And it is exactly for this reason that Namdeb has a chance find procedure and a heritage management plan in place.
6.6.3 Flooded sites Rises in sea levels had reached, in comparison to today’s mean sea level, –60 m by about 40 000 B.P. (before present), -20 m by 7130 B.P. and + 3.6 m by 4940 B.P., dropping to + 1.5 m by 1190 B.P. (Noli 1989). It follows that most LSA coastal sites probably date from the last 5000 years, earlier sites having been drowned. This means that throwing up sea walls and excavating to below the highwater mark need NOT necessarily only involve archaeologically barren deposits. Hand axes, for instance have been located in both Table Bay and False Bay, in South Africa (Werz & Flemming 1991). Even –as demonstrated by the recent discovery and excavation of the above-mentioned Oranjemund Shipwreck - the occurrence of shipwreck material (Fig.18) cannot be excluded. The mechanisms, however, for locating, identifying and preserving underwater archaeological sites are as yet not very well developed. The possibility, however, of the gradual development of scientific, public, political and legislative awareness of ‘wet’ archaeology has to be noted. It also has to be remembered that shipwreck material does not necessarily have to be found on the coast. Either the shipwreck survivors themselves or roaming bushmen that came upon the wreck site could very well have carried material from the ship considerable distances inland. In theory, therefore, portable shipwreck material can be found anywhere.
6.6.4 Fossilized sites A special category of buried site is formed by the fossilized site, in which geological processes petrify the layer of sand in which the archaeological material is present. Such a scenario is normal in palaeontology, but until recently it was not associated with the archaeology of the TKNP This changed in 2018, when stone tools were discovered at Hexen Kessel which had been cemented in place in aeolian deposits by means of calcium carbonate as a result of freshwater seepage (Pickford et al, 2019). This event was followed by a report of a rich assemblage of stone tools, Patella shells, oysters, mussels and ostrich eggshell fragments being found in indurated grey sandstone (lime-cemented aeolian sand) at the Klinghardfelder in 2019 (Senut et al, 2019). In 2016 an archaeological site had been found at 28-10-39.0 S; 16-01-28.6 E, located some 8 km north of Kerbehuk. It consisted of three mounds some 5 m high, made up of about five beds of fine sand subdivided by thin calcareous crusts. The mounds had formed as a result of water seepage causing surface tension which had trapped fine wind-blown sand, gradually causing the vertical accretion of the sand. Burnt ostrich eggshell, Patella shells, tortoise bones, oyster shells, stone flakes and pottery had been observed on the surface of the mounds. There were also grindstones in the vicinity. It was suggested (Pickford et al, 2020) that although archaeological material had only been observed on the surface of
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the mounds, there could also be material going back some 2000 years embedded within the layers of the mounds, creating a stratified site with a depth of about 5 m.
6.6.5 Implications While the archaeological material reported for the surface at Kerbehuk largely fits into that which is to be expected for the region, it is not of such a unique or extensive nature as to be able to contribute in any meaningful way to the regional record of the region. If, however, the Kerbehuk site does indeed contain an in situ archaeological deposit within the mounds, it would turn a relatively unimportant site into an extremely important and in certain aspects unique site. Archaeological sites with any appreciable depth to them are extremely rare in the TKNP. And a depth of five meters, spread over 2000 years, is unheard of. It follows that to visit the site to establish whether or not it has any depth to it may well be worth the effort. Such a visit will therefore in due course be conducted, the findings being added to this report as an addendum
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7 IDENTIFIED IMPACTS AND PROVISIONAL ASSESSMENTS
7.1 Biodiversity impacts
7.1.1 Impacts on avifauna The impact of meteorological mast infrastructure is expected to be detrimental to certain bird species and may potentially result in bird collisions with guy wires if meteorological masts are located <1.5km from the coast; if no bird flight diverters are attached to guy wires; or if located in sensitive areas – i.e. Chameis Bay and Kerbehuk (within bird flight paths). The development footprint at each meteorological mast is relatively small and not expected to impact potentially unique bird habitat negatively, especially if the proposed mitigation measures are followed. None of the unique/important bird species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area, although these species pass through the area along flight paths between the Orange River estuary and Chameis Bay); forage along the coast/mining ponds; or breed in the area.
Table 10: Potential avifaunal disturbance during construction
Project phase Construction Impact Avifauna disturbance Description of Bird habitat affected impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); • Avoid constructing meteorological masts <1.5km from the coast; • Attach bird flight diverters (BFD’s) to meteorological mast guy wires; • Avoid disturbing birds, especially Rare, Threatened & Endangered (RTE) species at breeding sites; • Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. egg and bird collection); • Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and • Enforce a contractor code of conduct. Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 year year Extent Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of the study area the study area Magnitude Moderate Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are moderately and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Certain / There are sound scientific reasons Certain / There are sound scientific reasons definite to expect that the impact will definite to expect that the impact will definitely occur definitely occur Confidence High Substantive supportive data exists High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment to verify the assessment Reversibility Medium The affected environment will High The affected environmental will only recover from the impact with be able to recover from the significant intervention impact Resource Medium The resource is damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably but is represented irreparably or is not scarce elsewhere Significance Minor - negative Negligible negative
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Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Table 11: Potential avifaunal impacts during operation
Project phase Operation Impact Avifauna mortalities Description of Bird collisions with meteorological Mast guy wires impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Attach bird flight diverters to meteorological mast guy wires; • Monitor bird mortalities; and • Enforce a contractor code of conduct. Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Permanent Impact may be permanent, or in Short term impact will last between 1 and 5 excess of 20 years years Extent International Impacts felt outside the study International Impacts felt outside the study area, at an international level area, at an international level
Magnitude High Natural and/ or social functions Low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably and/ or processes altered are somewhat altered Probability Certain / There are sound scientific reasons Certain / There are sound scientific reasons definite to expect that the impact will definite to expect that the impact will definitely occur definitely occur Confidence High Substantive supportive data exists High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment to verify the assessment Reversibility Medium The affected environment will High The affected environmental will only recover from the impact with be able to recover from the significant intervention impact Resource Medium The resource is damaged Medium The resource is damaged irreplaceability irreparably but is represented irreparably but is represented elsewhere elsewhere Significance Major - negative Moderate - negative Comment on Without mitigation the impact is expected to be negative especially for Palaearctic migrant & RT&E species significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Table 12: Potential avifaunal impacts during decommissioning
Project phase Decommissioning Impact Avifauna disturbance Description of Bird habitat affected impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats; and • Enforce a contractor code of conduct • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitments and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately
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Extent Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Very low Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Almost certain It is most likely that the impact Probable The impact has occurred here or / Highly will occur elsewhere and could therefore probable occur Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Minor - negative Negligible - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
7.1.2 Impacts on other vertebrate fauna (amphibians, mammals, and reptiles)
The impact of aboveground meteorological mast infrastructure would be detrimental to desert rain frog and brown hyena – i.e. if located in sensitive habitats such as vegetated dune areas (desert rain frog) & close to brown hyena den sites. No vegetated dune areas occur at any of the proposed mast sites.
The development footprint at each meteorological mast is relatively small and not expected to impact potentially unique other vertebrate habitat negatively, especially if the proposed mitigation measures are followed.
None of the unique/important other vertebrate species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area although may occur in area depending on habitat (e.g. desert rain frog + vegetated dune hummocks and brown hyena den sites, etc.).
Table 13: Potential loss/ disturbance of vertebrate fauna during construction Project phase Construction Impact Loss/disturbance of vertebrate fauna Description of Fauna species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); • Avoid constructing meteorological Masts & access routes in vegetated dune hummocks; • Avoid constructing meteorological Masts & access routes close to brown hyena den sites; • Avoid disturbing any other vertebrates, especially Rare, Threatened & Endangered species; • Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. kill perceived dangerous spp. such as snakes and/or collect chameleons, etc); • Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct; • Undertake pre-construction monitoring of areas around proposed mast sites to confirm whether brown hyena dens are present; and • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance. Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Short term impact will last between 1 and 5 Immediate Impact will self-remedy years immediately
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Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude High Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur
Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Minor - negative Negligible - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Table 14: Potential loss/ disturbance of vertebrate fauna during operation
Project phase Operation Impact Loss/disturbance of vertebrate fauna Description of Fauna species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct; • Record keeping of animal mortalities; • Record keeping of Brown Hyena sightings by Namdeb’s in-house large carnivore specialist. • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Low Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes and/ or processes are negligibly are somewhat altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
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Table 15: Potential loss/ disturbance of vertebrate fauna during decommissioning Project phase Decommissioning Impact Loss/disturbance of vertebrate fauna Description of Fauna species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Rehabilitate disturbed areas; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct. • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Negligible Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are negligibly and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
7.1.3 Impacts on flora The impact of aboveground meteorological Mast infrastructure is expected to be detrimental to flora – i.e. if located in sensitive habitats such as the Othonna Dwarf Shrubland in the Chameis Bay area, or where unique plant species occur in isolated patches and/or on specific geological formations or features (e.g. rocky areas). The development footprint at each meteorological mast is relatively small and not expected to impact potentially unique flora and/or habitat negatively, especially if the proposed mitigation measures are followed. The construction of tee-offs is a potential risk therefore should be carefully routed during the design and construction phase. None of the unique/important flora species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area although may occur in area depending on habitat (e.g. lichen fields, rocky outcrops, Othonna Dwarf Shrubland, etc.). Impacts to flora during the operational phase relate to the potential deviation op operational personnel from the established routes into the veld.
Table 16: Potential loss of flora during construction Project phase Construction Impact Loss of flora Description of Floral species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation already exists Potential mitigation • The proposed mast positions already avoid sensitive vegetated areas. No further mitigation is needed. • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance
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Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Permanent Impact may be permanent, or in Short term impact will last between 1 and 5 excess of 20 years years Extent Local Impacts felt mostly throughout Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude High Natural and/ or social functions Very low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably and/ or processes are slightly altered altered Probability Certain / There are sound scientific reasons Certain / There are sound scientific reasons definite to expect that the impact will definite to expect that the impact will definitely occur definitely occur Confidence High Substantive supportive data exists High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment to verify the assessment
Reversibility Low The affected environment will not High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact - permanently modified impact Resource Medium The resource is damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably but is represented irreparably or is not scarce elsewhere Significance Moderate - negative Minor - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Table 17: Potential loss of flora during operation
Project phase Operation Impact Loss of flora Description of Flora species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation already exists Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Medium term Impact will last between 5 and 10 Immediate Impact will self-remedy years immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Very low Natural and/ or social functions Very low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly and/ or processes are slightly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur
Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce
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Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Table 18: Potential loss of flora during decommissioning Project phase Decommissioning Impact Loss of flora Description of Flora species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation already exists Potential mitigation • Rehabilitate disturbed areas; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Very low Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur
Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - negative Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
7.2 Heritage impacts
7.2.1 Sensitivity to disturbance The arid nature of the TKNP means that the evidence is not protected by thick layers of rapidly accumulated rotting vegetation, or camouflaged by impenetrable undergrowth, but is lying out in the open for all to see. Further complications are caused by the fact that the Namib Nomads, the herders who displaced them, and the early colonials all lived by camping, and therefore sought out all the best camping spots, which are now archaeological sites. Modern man is now seeking out these locations – not because he is looking for archaeological sites, but because he is also looking for temporary relief from a harsh environment.
The above scenario, combined with modern man’s obsession with souvenirs, his aversion to walking and his pride in the abilities of his off-road vehicles, combine to make the archaeological sites of the TKNP not only highly vulnerable to
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disturbance, but also highly likely to be disturbed – if, that is, there is anything worthwhile to disturb. At the Kerbehuk archaeological site this is to date not the case as far the as archaeological material is concerned. To date. This may change if the site turns out to have any depth to it.
7.2.2 Disturbance during the construction and operation phase At this point it is important to draw attention to the fact that the archaeological “Kerbehuk site” is some 8 km north of Kerbehuk. It is also some 4.7 km north of the intended location of the central meteorological mast. It follows that the archaeological site located at 28 – 10 – 39.0 S; 16 – 01 – 28.6 E is not in any way directly threatened by the currently intended location of the central mast. Even so, constructing anything in the desert can be a massive operation with a substantial environmental impact. Due care should therefore be taken to limit the impact of the construction of the meteorological masts. In addition, however, to the construction site, consideration should also be given to the access route to that site. Proper track discipline during this phase would be most useful. Only one track should go to any one place. And it should be strictly adhered to. It should be remembered at all times that Google Earth enables the world to look into our backyard. We should limit the extent of any visible disturbance, thereby avoiding having to look at spectacular “before” and “after images” provided by the world press at a later stage.
7.2.3 Disturbance in other areas While this study is limited to the mast to be constructed at Kerbehuk, it has to be remembered that two other meteorological masts are going up as well. One will be located towards the north of MA1, at 27 deg. 56 min 43.44 sec S; 15 deg 42 min 50.76 sec. E, the other towards the south at 28 deg. 27min 16.92 sec. S; 16 deg. 18 min 42.48 sec. E. Other areas of MA1, therefore, may therefore eventually have to be looked at as well. In this regard it is important to point out that the location of known archaeological sites is very often a function of the degree to which the area concerned has been covered. It is difficult enough for an archaeologist to explore and research the diamond area as such – especially without an escort.
As a result, the pattern of known archaeological sites largely follows the pattern of access. That is why the first 90 km of coastline running north from Oranjemund is comparatively bare, while the first 90 km of river bank running east from Oranjemund is comparatively rich in archaeological sites: Over the years, this author was given the opportunity to cover all of the last 90 km of the northern banks of the Orange River of the on foot, on his own and in his own time, discovering some 183 archaeological sites in the process. Until a similar scenario can be arranged for MA1, that area will forever remain a place of mystery, where diamonds are nestled against lost gold, prehistoric stones and bleached bones, with the soft sand sifting over it all.
7.2.4 Recommendations for mitigation measures and monitoring
• Keep the construction and access route footprints as small as possible • Locate the construction and access route footprints where they will do the least damage • Fence off the archaeological site • On site monitoring of the construction process for the occurrence of archaeological material • Implement the Namdeb Chance Finds Procedure if anything should be found • Adhere to the Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan during construction
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8 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
This Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have been compiled in terms of the content requirements listed in Section 9 of EIA Regulations (2012), and includes: (a) A description of all tasks to be undertaken as part of the assessment process, including any specialist to be included if needed; (b) An indication of the stages at which the Environmental Commissioner is to be consulted; (c) A description of the proposed method of assessing the environmental issues and alternatives; and (d) The nature and extent of the public consultation processes to be conducted during the assessment process. This section furthermore describes the assessment methodology that will be utilised in determining the significance of the construction, operational and decommissioning impacts associated with the proposed project on the environment. The Draft Scoping Report identified potential environmental impacts that will undergo ongoing assessment / refinement in the EIA Phase. The Scoping Phase PCP will provide all registered I&APs and authorities with further opportunity to review and provide comment regarding the proposed terms of reference for the EIA and the identified impacts.
8.1 Tasks to be Undertaken as Part of the Assessment Process
During the Assessment Process, specialist assessments will be refined based on potential further data collection or comments received during the DSR PCP. The provisional impact assessments included in the DSR will be revisited and adapted where necessary and applicable. The specialist reports included in the DSR will be updated where necessary by incorporating any new information that became available, finalising impact assessments and mitigation measure recommendations. Where required, consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders will be undertaken. The specialist disciplines that have been identified as relevant to the project and included in the DSR are:
Table 19: Specialist fields to inform the assessment process. Specialist Field Company Specialist Appendix Biodiversity Environment & Wildlife Consulting, Namibia Peter Cunningham B1 Southern Africa Institute of Maritime B2 Heritage Dr Dieter Noli Archaeological Research
The following terms of reference will be issued to any additional specialist assessment that may become a requirement as part of the Assessment Process: ► A focussed and relevant description of all baseline characteristics and conditions of the receiving environment (e.g.: site and/or surrounding land uses including urban and agricultural areas as applicable) in relation to the Specialist’s field, based on all relevant available data, reports and maps, and information obtained from any field work investigations undertaken to date. ► A detailed list and evaluation of the predicted impacts of the project on the receiving environment, or of the receiving environment on the project as per the Zutari methodology, that uses the criteria of extent, duration and intensity to quantify the significance of the potential impacts (refer to Section 8.3 for assessment methodology). The evaluation of impacts should include:
• A list of potentially significant direct, indirect and cumulative impacts relating to the construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. • A pre-mitigation assessment of the listed impacts using the Zutari methodology. • An assessment of any reasonable and feasible identified alternatives, including the No-Go option. • A list of key recommendations and mitigations (to be practical, reasonable and stated as succinctly as possible).
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• A post-mitigation assessment of the listed impacts using the Zutari methodology (assuming your mitigation measures and recommendations are implemented). ► Specify whether any discipline specific methodology was used to inform the assessment of impacts. ► Provide recommendations to avoid negative impacts and where this will not be possible then provide feasible and practical mitigations, management and/or monitoring options required to reduce or manage negative impacts and or beneficiate positive impacts. Recommendation and mitigations should be short, clear and to the point. The mitigations must be readily achievable and measurable/auditable that it can be included in the Environmental Management Programme. ► Where relevant, recommendations and instructions regarding additional authorisation, permitting or licensing procedures, or any other requirements pertaining to legislation and policies relevant to the Specialist’s field of interest. ► Specific conditions, in respect of the Specialist’s field, for inclusion in the ECC. ► A reasoned opinion as to whether the proposed activity, or portions of the activity should be authorised. ► Review and incorporate where relevant any new project information that may arise during the Scoping Phase or as a result of new data becoming available.
8.2 Consultation with the Environmental Commissioner
Prior to the preparation of this Scoping Report, Zutari prepared a screening application to confirm what environmental authorisations (including an ECC) may be necessary for the proposed meteorological masts. This entailed the submission of a Background Information Document (BID) and an online application for an ECC. The MEFT replied via email on 30 October 2020 (with reference number APP-002051) that, considering the location of the project, the sensitivity of the area and the scale of operation of the project, a scoping process is required. The following requirements were specified: ► Scoping Report; ► Management Plan; ► Proof of Consultation (minutes, newspaper adverts, etc.); ► Project site area (map) with clear coordinates; and ► Curriculum Vitae of designated Environmental Assessment Practitioner to manage the assessment process as per Regulation 3 & 4.
Namdeb and Zutari also consulted with the Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), which resorts under the same Ministry. In response, this Directorate responded by letter on 2 February 2021. This letter indicated in-principle support for the erection of meteorological masts, but requested all necessary environmental authorisation processes need to be followed.
8.3 Assessment Methodology
The assessment of the significance of impacts for a proposed development is by its nature, a matter of judgement. To deal with the uncertainty associated with judgement and ensure repeatable results, Zutari rates impacts using a standardised and internationally recognised methodology adhering to ISO 14001 and World Bank/International Finance Corporation (IFC) requirements. This section outlines the proposed method for assessing the significance of the potential environmental impacts. For each predicted impact, criteria are ascribed, and these include the intensity (size or degree scale), which also includes the type of impact, being either a positive or negative impact; the duration (temporal scale); and the extent (spatial scale), as well as the probability (likelihood). The methodology is quantitative, whereby professional judgement is used to identify a rating for each criterion based on a seven-point scale (refer to Table 20); and the significance is auto- generated using a spreadsheet through application of the calculations. The assessment methodology is adopted by all specialists working on the project to ensure a standardised method of assessment across all disciplines. Where specialist require finer scale ratings or disagree with the auto-calculated impact significance rating, they have the opportunity to comment.
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8.4 Calculations
For each predicted impact, certain criteria are applied to establish the likely significance of the impact, firstly in the case of no mitigation being applied and then with the most effective mitigation measure(s) in place. These criteria include the intensity (size or degree scale), which also includes the nature of impact, being either a positive or negative impact; the duration (temporal scale); and the extent (spatial scale). These numerical ratings are used in an equation whereby the consequence of the impact can be calculated. Consequence is calculated as follows: Consequence = type x (intensity + duration + extent) To calculate the significance of an impact, the probability (or likelihood) of that impact occurring is applied to the consequence. Significance = consequence x probability Depending on the numerical result, the impact would fall into a significance category as negligible, minor, moderate or major, and the type would be either positive or negative.
Table 20: Assessment criteria for the evaluation of impacts Criteria Numerical Category Description Rating 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy immediately 2 Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 year 3 Short-term Impact will last between 1 and 5 years 4 Medium-term Impact will last between 5 and 10 years
Duration 5 Long-term Impact will last between 10 and 15 years 6 Ongoing Impact will last between 15 and 20 years 7 Permanent Impact may be permanent, or in excess of 20 years 1 Very limited Limited to specific isolated parts of the site 2 Limited Limited to the site and its immediate surroundings
3 Local Extending across the site and to nearby settlements 4 Municipal area Impacts felt at a municipal level
Extent 5 Regional Impacts felt at a regional level 6 National Impacts felt at a national level 7 International Impacts felt at an international level 1 Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are negligibly altered 2 Very low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly altered 3 Low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are somewhat altered 4 Moderate Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are moderately altered
Intensity 5 High Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably altered 6 Very high Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are majorly altered 7 Extremely high Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are severely altered 1 Highly unlikely / None Expected never to happen 2 Rare / improbable Conceivable, but only in extreme circumstances, and/or might occur for this project although this has rarely been known to result elsewhere
3 Unlikely Has not happened yet but could happen once in the lifetime of the project, therefore there is a possibility that the impact will occur 4 Probable Has occurred here or elsewhere and could therefore occur
Probability 5 Likely The impact may occur 6 Almost certain / Highly It is most likely that the impact will occur probable 7 Certain / Definite There are sound scientific reasons to expect that the impact will definitely occur
When assessing impacts, broader considerations are also considered. These include the level of confidence in the assessment rating; the reversibility of the impact; and the irreplaceability of the resource as set out in Table 21, Table 22 and Table 23, respectively.
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Table 21: Definition of confidence ratings Category Description Low Judgement is based on intuition Medium Determination is based on common sense and general knowledge High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment
Table 22: Definition of reversibility ratings Category Description Low The affected environment will not be able to recover from the impact - permanently modified Medium The affected environment will only recover from the impact with significant intervention High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the impact
Table 23: Definition of irreplaceability ratings Category Description Low The resource is not damaged irreparably or is not scarce Medium The resource is damaged irreparably but is represented elsewhere High The resource is irreparably damaged and is not represented elsewhere
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9 PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS
Consultation with the public forms an integral component of the environmental authorisation process. In terms of Section 21 of the EIA Regulations a call for open consultation with all I&APs at defined stages of the EIA process is required. This entails participatory consultation with members of the public by providing an opportunity to comment on the proposed project and environmental reports. I&APs are provided with an opportunity to review documents/reports and to raise issues or concerns regarding the proposed activities and their potential impacts and mitigation thereof.
The objectives of stakeholder engagement are to inform the public about the project on an ongoing basis, understand their concerns related to the project, to obtain local knowledge about the area and provide review opportunities at key stages in the process.
Task Details Date I&AP identification An existing I&AP database was provided. I&AP Ongoing identification continues throughout the public consultation process. I&APs are able to register for the project at any time during the scoping life cycle. Site Notices Six site notices were placed at the following locations: 11 March 2021 1. S -28,555964°, E 16,409119° (Site Entrance) 2. S -28,557882°, E 16,419931° 3. S -28,552675°, E 16,427876° 4. S -28,552341°, E 16,427752° 5. S -28,552126°, E 16,427748° 6. S -28,551542°, E 16,425911°
Newspaper New paper adverts were published in the Namibian and 11 and 18 March Advertisements in the Republikein for two consecutive weeks. 2021 BID distribution The BID was distributed to the I&AP database through 11 March 2021 an email notification. Stakeholder A stakeholder engagement meeting was held with the TBC Meetings Parks board to discuss the proposed project and highlight any initial concerns. Availability of The Draft scoping report was made available for a 21-day TBC reports comment period. The reports were available at the following locations: • Dropbox • Google Drive • Hardcopy at the Namdeb Mineral Resource Management Offices in Oranjemund at the Environmental department offices
Proof of the consultations mentioned above are available in Appendix C
During the environmental screening process, which preceded the scoping process, the MEFT requested the following, in addition to the submission of this Scoping Report: ► Permission from Namibian Civil Aviation Authority for construction of the masts; ► An avifaunal impact assessment; and ► Permission from the Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks for development of the masts in the TKNP. The first two are of these documents are provided in Appendix E and B1 respectively.
Permission from the Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks for development in the TKNP is subject to acceptance of this Scoping Report.
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10 ASSUMPTIONS, LIMITATIONS AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE
In undertaking this investigation and compiling the Draft Scoping Report, the following assumptions and limitations apply: ➢ It is assumed that the information provided by Namdeb is accurate and unbiased, and that no information that could change the outcome of the EIA process has been withheld. ➢ The scope of this investigation is limited to identifying and assessing the environmental impacts associated with the Meteorological Masts to obtain wind resource data. ➢ There will be no accommodation for the construction or operational phase staff on site. ➢ Namdeb will follow relevant legislation related to closure and decommissioning of the facility once it reaches the end of its life. ➢ The Vertebrate fauna and flora studies and the Heritage studies were limited to a comprehensive literature study with no fieldwork conducted.
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In diversity there is beauty
and there is strength.
MAYA ANGELOU
Document prepared by: Zutari Namibia (Pty) Ltd Reg No 90/469 Unit 1 Mandela Offices, Cnr Nelson Mandela & Simon Bolivar Street, Klein Windhoek Namibia PO Box 5353, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
T +264 61 237 704 F +264 61 237 706 E [email protected]
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APPENDIX A
EAP CV
Qualifications Reuben Heydenrych
BL Landscape Senior Environmental Practitioner Architecture Reuben is employed as an environmental assessment practitioner at Zutari. He MPhil Environmental Management has extensive experience in the project management of various small and large- scale infrastructural and environmental projects. Professional registrations He has been involved in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and planning processes in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Professional Landscape Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Antarctica, Architect, South African Council for the as required by relevant national legislation, financial institution performance Landscape Architectural standards and in terms of international requirements as EIA team leader and Profession (SACLAP) team member. These projects are primarily the power generation sector (solar, Member, International wind, hydro, coal and nuclear), and power transmission/distribution, but have Association for Impact projects as diverse as fuel storage facilities, mines, industrial developments, Assessment, South Africa (IAIAsa) telecommunications, water and sewage infrastructure, transport (airports, rail and roads), and residential development. Many of these were completed to lender Specialisation safeguard requirements, including the European Investment Bank, IFC, AfDB and Equator Principles. Environmental management Reuben also has experience in environmental advisory services and strategic environmental management, including due diligence assessments, strategic 29 environmental assessments (SEAs); environmental scans/pre-feasibility studies and environmental management frameworks (EMFs); environmental years in industry management programmes (EMPRs) for construction and operation; environmental auditing, ISO 14001 systems development and auditing, legal
compliance and waste and water use license audits.
He obtained a Master's degree in Philosophy: Environmental Management from the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa in 1993 and a Bachelors' degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 1991. Reuben is registered as a professional landscape architect with the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) and is also a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment, South Africa (IAIAsa). Experience
Independent engineering audits for the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), Regional, South Africa, South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and N3 Toll Concession (Pty) Ltd (N3TC), 09/2009 – 04/2023, Environmental Specialist The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) signed a 30-year concession contract with the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) to maintain and upgrade the section of National Route 3 (N3) between Cedara and Heidelberg. Zutari was appointed as the independent engineer to oversee and audit the
contract, including reviewing all designs, audit construction work, maintenance work and the toll plaza operations as well as environmental audits of the environmental system implementation. Responsible for annual auditing and monitoring of the environmental system, including site visits and review of the documented environmental management system and annual environmental report. Hlotse Senqu Footbridge, Lesotho, Lesotho Roads Directorate, 03/2020 - 03/2022, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed for the design review and construction supervision of two footbridges in Lesotho, over the Hlotse and Senqu Rivers. The footbridge over the Hlotse River is a 50 m long steel truss bridge and the footbridge over the Senqu River is a 150 m long suspension bridge. Responsible for the compilation of an Environmental Project Brief (EPB) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the footbridge. Upgrading of Marakabei-Monontsa Road, Northern Lesotho, China Geo-Engineering Corporation Lesotho (Pty) Ltd (China Geo), 01/2019 - 02/2022, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to provide detailed design services for the upgrading of Marakabei-Monontsa Road in Butha-Buthe District of northern Lesotho. Responsible for review of the existing Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the proposed Western Spur Road and km. 27 - 46 of the Marakabei - Monontsá Road. UK Prosperity Fund, Various provinces, South Africa, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 09/2019 - 12/2021, Environmental Practitioner The Global Future Cities Programme builds upon three integrated pillars, namely: urban planning, transportation and resilience. In South Africa, its main beneficiaries would be the cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Zutari was engaged to provide an integrated basket of advisory offerings including planning, asset management, digital (to a lesser extent) and infrastructure. Responsible for the compilation of an environmental screening report of potential environmental and social opportunities and constraints for the development of Diepsloot, Soweto. Traffic impact assessment for solar photovoltaic plant at Mogalakwena Mine, Limpopo Province, Rustenburg Platinum Mines, South Africa, 07/2020 - 06/2021, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to undertake a traffic impact assessment (TIA) for a 70 - 90 MW proposed solar farm as part of an application for environmental authorisation scoping phase of the legislated impact assessment process, in accordance with the 2014 EIA Regulations and National Environmental Management Act. Responsible for management and coordination of the environmental scoping process, including team management, client communication, progress reporting, stakeholder engagement presentations, report generation and financial management. ACSA master plans, Various provinces, South Africa, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), 02/2019 - 03/2021, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to develop fully fledged airport master plans and development plans for Bram Fischer, George, Kimberley and Upington airports in order to address 21st century aviation trends such as commercialisation, globalisation and technological advances. Responsible for screening of potential environmental and social opportunities and constraints relevant to the potential expansion of four regional airports. Weba, Weco Muzi Hydropower Project feasibility study, Southern Province, Zambia, Frontier Energy Hydro Power Zambia, 10/2019 - 03/2021, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to undertaken technical, environmental and social feasibility studies for three small (up to 20 MW) hydropower projects on small rivers along the Zambezi Valley escarpment in Southern Zambia. The environmental scope involved scoping and environmental impact assessment to Zambian legal requirements and IFC performance standards. Responsible for report review and quality control of deliverables.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 2
Project Zebra: Ekland Safaris Lodge upgrade, Limpopo Province, South Africa, OBMI, 02/2017 - 02/2021, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to undertake the sewer and water design of four existing lodges in the Ekland Safaris luxury game lodge near Louis Trichardt in Limpopo. The extensions to the lodges include spa's and private suites. The project also comprised the upgrade and rehabilitation of an existing runway to comply with ICAO Annex 14 standards and recommended practices in order to operate the Pilates PC12 and Cessna Caravan. The design included the addition of a surfaced apron, terminal building, airfield ground lighting and all associated services. The stormwater boundary fence and drainage system of the airstrip needed to be redesigned in order to accommodate the increase runway width and runway strip dimensions. All associated airfield ground lighting, services and access roads was included in the design. The project involved several environmental authorisation applications, including those for a lodge, fencing, staff housing facilities and other related facilities. Responsible for report review and quality control of deliverables. Concept development for Shimoni LNG Terminal, Kenya, African Gas & Oil Company Kenya, 04/2020 - 01/2021, Environmental Reviewer AGOL is planning to construct an LNG import and storage facility in Kenya. Zutari was appointed to provide a pre-feasibility study to investigate the use of an AGOL owned site near Shimoni for this purpose. The suitability of the site was evaluated by looking at both the marine and land side of the development. The LNG properties, project baseline and process design have been defined to determine the landside requirements. Concept site layouts and high level costing was provided. On the marine side the available vessel approach channel was assessed to determine the size LNG tanker that should be able to access the site without then need for expensive dredging. A concept berth layout was provided including dolphin structure and multi-buoy mooring systems with the use of Connect LNG universtal transfer systems. Environmental approvals have been considered. Responsible for environmental due diligence. This included a review of environmental impact assessment, environmental management plan and related documents against financial institution, environmental and social performance standard requirements. BPC Lot 1 North West Transmission Grid (NWTG) project, Botswana, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), 10/2014 - 12/2020, Independent Environmental Reviewer The Botswana Power Corporation required the development of a robust and adequately dimensioned transmission system which links power sources to the various load centres at various sites in the north western part of Botswana. The scope of works entailed electrical engineering consultancy services for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a 400 kV line bay at Morupule B 400 kV substation, a 230 km 400 kV line from Morupule B substation to proposed Letlhakane 400/220 kV substation, the proposed substation at Letlhakane and a 17 km 220 kV line from the proposed substation to the existing Orapa 220 kV switching station. Work also included a 60 MVAr line-connected reactor at Morupule B substation on Letlhakane line and 2 x 60 MVAr line-connected reactors at Letlhakane substation and 30 MVAr switched tertiary connected shunt reactor for each primary grid transformer at Letlhakane. Zutari's services also included geotechnical investigation, aerial survey as well as an environmental and social impact assessment for the proposed transmission line route and substation site. Responsible for the review of the environmental and social impact assessment and environmental and social management plans. Feasibility study: Midvaal Remainder of Portion 3 of the Farm Witkop 180 IR, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Midvaal Local Municipality, 05/2020 - 12/2020, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed by the Midvaal Local Municipality to conduct a feasibility study to determine the potential of developing a sustainable integrated human settlement on the Remainder of Portion 3 of the farm Witkop 180 - IR situated near the R59 development corridor, between Meyerton town and the southern extents of the City of Ekurhuleni. The parameters that determine the feasibility for the proposed development of an Integrated Human Settlement Development have been outlined and the financial preconditions for project feasibility were defined. A total of 4 700 housing opportunities in a mixed-use development were planned as part of the project. Responsible for screening of potential environmental and social opportunities and constraints relevant to the proposed establishment of a housing scheme.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 3
New Bugesera International Airport (NBIA), Rwanda, Bugesera Airport Company Limited (BAC), 08/2017 - 12/2020, Environmental Construction Officer Zutari is providing design review and construction supervision services on the greenfield New Bugesera International Airport (NBIA) project, with capacity for 1.44 million passengers per year utilising a terminal building of approximately 30 000 m². The runway and parallel taxiway length will be 3.8 km, with the Airbus A330 as design aircraft. This is an engineering and procurement (EPC) contract between the Bugesera Airport Company (BAC) and Mota-Engil Africa (MEA). Responsible for environmental audits of the contractor (Mota-Engil) against the approved Environmental and Social Management Plan; Mota-Engil's own Project Environmental and Social Plan (PESP); and the client's Construction Environmental and Social Management Plan (CESMP). Namdeb wind monitoring campaign, Namibia, Namdeb, 03/2020 - 12/2020, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to investigate conduct a technical pre-feasibility study of a wind farm to provide electricity for Namdeb's diamond mines along the southern Namibian coastline. Responsible for compilation of environmental screening report and submission to the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Rift Valley due diligence, Tanzania, Rift Valley Corporation Zimbabwe, 06/2020 - 12/2020, Environmental Practitioner Rift Valley Energy (RVE) owns and operates a number of energy generation and distribution assets in Tanzania, including one wind farm and several run of river hydroelectric projects. Some of these are operational, some under construction and others in planning stage. RVE appointed Zutari to undertake a technical and environmental due diligence of its operations, in anticipation of investment into its portfolio by an unnamed investor. Responsible for environmental due diligence. This included a review of environmental impact assessments, environmental management plans and related documents against financial institution, environmental and social performance standard requirements as well as Tanzanian environmental legal requirements. Technical due diligence for the Nacala Power Project, Nacala, Mozambique, Benzelda (Pty) Ltd, 06/2020 - 10/2020, Environmental Reviewer Zutari was appointed to undertake technical due diligence on the Nacala Power Project’s Bankable Feasibility Study and final project configuration to financial close, as concluded in February 2020. The technical due diligence included a review for completeness of project and design documentation, development strategy, project agreements and general feasibility documentation. The focus was placed on technical accuracy of the design, review of the EPC contractor and overall cost estimates. Responsible for environmental due diligence. This included a review of environmental impact assessment, environmental management plan and related documents against financial institution, environmental and social performance standard requirements. Transaction advisor for the Mogalakwena PV plant, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Cresco Project Finance, 08/2017 - 08/2020, Environmental Specialist Anglo American Platinum (AAP) has a large base load power demand at its Mogalakwena Platinum Mine and intends to reduce its consumption of grid-supplied power by procuring locally generated solar power from an independent power producer (IPP). The solar power is to be generated from an approximately 75 MW photovoltaic (PV) farm to be located near the mine and processing plant. A transaction advisory team, consisting of financial, legal and technical consulting firms, has been appointed to assist in defining, structuring, evaluating and negotiating the IPP procurement. Zutari is fulfilling the role of technical advisor within the transaction advisory team. Zutari’s scope includes site visits and data gathering; power consumption data analysis; geographic information systems (GIS) mapping and site selection; solar resource analysis; plant sizing and performance modelling; load flow analysis and identification of electrical connection point/s. The scope further involves capital and operations and maintenance (O&M) cost estimates, technical advice relating to structuring of the procurement process, drafting/inputs to request for qualification (RFQ) and request for proposal (RFP) documentation, including technical requirements, power purchase agreement (PPA), etc., evaluation of RFQ and RFP submissions from IPPs and negotiations with Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 4
the preferred IPPs. Responsible for environmental screening of potential alternative sites, considering biodiversity risks and heritage risks; identification of potential environmental red flags or fatal flaws per site; identification of appropriate environmental authorisation processes. RMB Lender's Technical Advisor for the new Terminal Port of Ngqura, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo, 04/2019 - 06/2020, Environmental Specialist Zutari acted in an advisory role to the lender (Rand Merchant Bank - RMB) on the construction of a 155,000 cbm liquid bulk storage facility undertaken by Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (Pty) Ltd (“OTGC”). Zutari went through two phases of review with the aim to limit risk and guide the project to finanicial close. The review included both a commercial and technical due diligence. Throughout the duration of this project, Zutari worked closely with both the lender (RMB) and the owner (OTGC). Responsible for due diligence of project compliance with the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation and Equator principles. Engineering services for the Aga Khan University Hospital Kampala, Kampala, Uganda, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), 09/2016 - 06/2020, Environmental Impact Assessment Team Leader Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) intends to develop a 600-bed hospital on a 60 acre site at the junction of Jinja and New Port Bell Rd in Nakawa, Kampala. The initial phase of the project known as the “Launch Phase” will be developed on a 7 – 10 acre portion of the site and will consist of a 85-bed teaching hospital with an estimated 14 300 m² gross building area. Responsible for the site visit and compilation of the report for the Phase 1 environmental site assessment and for management of the environmental impact assessment process (EIA), including report writing and the public participation process, and review of all specialist reports. Nkomazi Game Reserve, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, AP Vos & Sons (Pty) Ltd, 05/2019 - 05/2020, Environmental Practitioner Environmental management services were undertaken for the tented camp at Nkomazi Game Reserve. Mkomazi Game Reserve, near Barberton in Mpumalanga, is constructing a number tented camp facilities for tourist accommodation. Zutari was appointed to assist them with the environmental applications for these facilities. Responsible for report review and quality control of deliverables. Due diligence for the head Office of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gauteng Province, South Africa, African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), 02/2020 - 04/2020, Environmental Practitioner The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has been planning since 2009 to construct a new head office complex at a site in Berea Park, Pretoria. This complex is proposed to be constructed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIMM), one of the potential investors in this PPP, develops and manages private equity infrastructure funds designed to invest long-term institutional unlisted equity in African infrastructure projects. AIMM requested a comprehensive technical and commercial due diligence assessment of the project. The objective of the Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) was to identify and assess all-project related environmental, community, social and health and safety risks and impacts associated with the investment, and to identify areas where positive project impacts can be enhanced, as part of a larger commercial due diligence that AIIM will undertake on the investment. Responsible for written assessment of the ESDD, which includes a description of the risks and gaps identified against applicable environmental and social requirements; recommendations to address identified risks and gaps through a high-level environmental and social action plan (ESAP) as per the AIIM ESAP format; and identified opportunities for value creation through ES interventions. Cato Ridge land development pre-feasibility study, Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Cato Ridge Development Company Ltd/Assmang, 04/2019 - 04/2020, Environmental Practitioner A pre-feasibility investigation was undertaken for a financial model to determine the extent of the project area, based on physical encumbrances on the properties and the expected CAPEX to develop the land and measure the financial inputs against the market. The main objective was to release and develop land in a responsible manner to achieve triple bottom line and hence a benefit for all stakeholders. In doing so, Assmang wished to leave behind a positive legacy in Cato Ridge. Responsible for environmental component
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 5
of the pre-feasibility study, which included investigation of the natural and social (heritage and palaeontological) baseline of the site and the identification of potential fatal flaws, red flags and other concerns and the interpretation of specialist findings for the client. Luapula River Hydroelectric Scheme, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), 07/2018 - 03/2020, Environmental Practitioner Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have decided to jointly expedite the development of hydropower on the common sites of the transboundary Luapula River. Zutari was contracted to undertake pre-feasibility studies for the proposed scheme. Zutari was engaged to carry out pre-feasibility studies for the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) opportunity for the development of the proposed Luapula River Hydroelectric Scheme. The scheme, which includes multiple dams with capacities ranging from 600 to 900 MW, is geared to secure electricity supply for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To bring this vision to life, Zutari will work in parallel with a technical team to document the project baseline, assess and recommend alternatives, and identify the environmental and social concerns. The project team will also develop terms of reference (ToR), which will guide the ESIA. Responsible for development of an Environmental and Social Screening Report to identify potentially significant environmental and social fatal flaws, red flags and other concerns. This included a comprehensive assessment of environmental and social baseline conditions, based on secondary and primary data collection, and identification of potential environmental and social impacts and constraints and assessment of alternative designs and project configurations (e.g. dams at different sites and full supply levels). The Screening Report included a Resettlement Planning Framework, a Stakeholder Engagement Framework and Terms of Reference for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and stakeholder engagement results. Transaction advisory services for Angola-Namibia (ANNA) transmission line interconnector, Angola and Namibia, Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), 03/2017 - 03/2020, Environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) Manager Zutari was appointed for the provision of transaction advisory services for the Angola Namibia (ANNA) Transmission Interconnector Feasibility Study. It includes multidisciplinary study to support an investment decision to build the interconnector. It also comprises the pre-feasibility including the development of concept; Part 2: feasibility to PIM; and Part 3: PIM to EPC and financial close. In addition, Part 4 is included, with the focus on training and knowledge transfer to the SAPP as the client and the two utility Sponsors, being NamPower (Namibia) and RNT (Angola). Responsible for coordinating and managing the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and resettlement action plan for the proposed 400 kV powerline. Tiapata Hydropower feasibility study, Guinea, West Africa, responsAbility Renewable Energy, 05/2018 - 02/2020, Environmental Practitioner Tiapata Small Hydropower Project (SHP) aims to abstract water from the Saala River which descends through a series of rapids and waterfalls within the Fouta Djallon Highlands region of central Guinea. Zutari was appointed to upgrade the feasibility study completed by SAEMS Hydro Ltd and Wollstra (2018) to a bankable feasibility level. Zutari was responsible for carrying out the prefeasibilty study and then the feasibility study of the preferred option. The scheme will likely comprise of a diversion weir, 2.3 m diameter low pressure pipeline, surge tank, 2.3 m diameter steel penstock and a power station housing 4 Pelton wheen turbines. Responsible for the environmental impact assessment to national standards and to IFC standards. Meta Abo brewery expansion, Ethiopia, Diageo Great Britain, 08/2017 - 01/2020, Environmental Assessment Practitioner Zutari was appointed in combination with Yerer Engineering to undertake an environmental impact assessment study and develop an environmental management plan for the planned expansion of the Meta Abo Brewery, to include a spirits bottling plant. Responsible for coordination and management of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA).
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 6
rAREH Tanzania Reconnaissance Study, Tanzania, responsAbility Renewable Energy, 02/2019 - 12/2019, Environmental Specialist Zutari was appointed by responsAbility Renewable Energy Holding (rAREH) for a desktop study and a reconnaissance study to identify potential hydropower sites in Tanzania, and refine the findings of the sites' actual potential. The services were carried out by first conducting, a desktop study to identify possible hydropower sites using topographical mapping, applications such as Google Earth®, obtaining information on the river systems, etc., and thereafter a reconnaissance of selected/preferred sites. Henceforth, two separate reports compiled, namely, the desktop study report and a reconnaissance study. The project has a three-facet approach, the first one being to identify sites from scratch, the second being to identify ‘owners’ of sites who are looking for investors to partner with them in the development of the sites and lastly, whilst on the site reconnaissance, to speak to the locals and obtain information about other potential sites which might not have been picked up during the desktop study phase. Responsible for desktop level environmental screening of potential project sites. Assessment of trade and transport needs in North-West Uganda, Uganda, TradeMark East Africa Uganda, 09/2018 - 11/2019, Environmental Specialist Uganda is home to around 1.1 million refugees, from countries such as South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia. Several humanitarian organisations are involved in attending to the needs of refugees (such as WFP and UNHCR) providing support in the form of food and non-food items. The presence of refugees and the continuous support in the form of food and non-food items has a significant impact on the transport logistics of Uganda. Warehouses have been erected, while vehicle fleets distribute the goods to storage facilities and ultimately to refugees in settlements. Considering the above, TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) appointed Zutari to prepare a scoping study of the trade and transport needs in North- West Uganda, with specific focus on the impact of the refugee influx. This included a high-level screening of the potential environmental impacts of refugee camps and the transport interventions. Responsible for generation of an environmental screening report of the potential environmental impacts of refugee camps and transport options. Viability analysis for a Private-Public Partnership for implementation of the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) project at Medupi Power Station, Limpopo Province, South Africa, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 01/2017 - 07/2019, Environmental Specialist Zutari was appointed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers to assist with a viability analysis of proposed public- private partnerships (PPP) for the implementation of various capital projects by Eskom Generation at its power stations. This included the Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) project at Medupi Power Station. Responsible for generation of the environmental portion of the viability analysis report. ZESCO Lusaka transmission and distribution refurbishment (TDR) project, Lusaka, Zambia, ZESCO Limited, 10/2014 - 05/2019, Independent Environmental Reviewer ZESCO intended to reinforce and upgrade the power transmission and distribution infrastructure in the Lusaka area as a priority to increase the capacity and improve the reliability of the electricity network for all consumers throughout the area. Zutari was appointed to carry out investigations and planning, design, procurement, construction supervision and project management services for ZESCO Lusaka transmission and distribution refurbishment project. Responsible for the review of the environmental and social impact assessment and environmental and social management plans against European Investment Bank standards and for .auditing of transmission line and substation contractors against financial institution (EIB and IFC) environmental and social safeguard standards. Square Kilometre Array Central Processing Facility Upgrade, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, National Research Foundation (NRF), 07/2017 - 01/2019, Environmental Specialist The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope is a science mega-project that aims to build the world’s largest radio telescope. The SKA1 Observatory will consist of two instruments – the SKA1_Mid telescope to be constructed in South Africa and the SKA1_Low telescope to be constructed in Australia. SKA1_Mid includes approximately 133 steerable dishes that are 15 m in diameter combined with 64 dishes from the MeerKAT precursor instrument. The SKA1_Low includes roughly 130,000 smaller dipole fixed antennas. The scope of Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 7
works for this project involved various sub-element upgrades concomitant with the upgrade of the Central Processing Facility (CPF) to serve the SKA1_MID telescope. The main components of the power infrastructure included a 33 kV overhead line from Eskom’s Karoo Substation (near Carnarvon); a central core site substation at the Site Complex called the Power Facility (PF); and a 22 kV underground cable network supplying mini-substations which in turn supplies groups of MeerKAT dish antennas at 400 V. Responsible for generation of environmental screening report; analysis of environmental legal requirements; review of potential environmental risks of construction; generation of an environmental management plan. Marine fibre cable landing sites environmental screening, South Africa, Vodacom, 11/2017 - 01/2019, Environmental Specialist The project entailed environmental screening of potential landing sites for marine fibre lines near Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape) and Amamzimtoti (KZN) and identification of potentially applicable environmental and related authorisation requirements. Responsible for generation of environmental screening report; analysis of environmental legal requirements; review of potential environmental risks of alternative landing sites; recommendation for most suitable landing sites. EIA/WULA for bridge over watercourse, Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Sommereg Beleggings, 04/2017 - 11/2018, Environmental Assessment Practitioner Zutari was appointed for a basic assessment process and water use license application (WULA) for the construction of a bridge and concrete wall along the eastern edge of the watercourse adjacent to the BUCO commercial facility in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. Responsible for review of basic assessment report and appendices, including environmental management plan. Usafi Transport Terminal, Kampala, Uganda, Pegasys AME, 01/2018 - 11/2018, Environmental Specialist The objective of this assignment was to provide a detailed plan for developing Kampala's Usafi Market area into a private sector mixed-use development with public transport connections. Zutari, in partnership with IMC Worldwide and Pegasys, was engaged in December 2017 to undertake a pre-feasibility study that investigates private sector-delivered options for a mixed-use development with public transport connections at the Usafi Market in Kampala. Works included supporting the overall management of the project; overseeing the development of a methodology for carrying out the study; client interaction; and stakeholder consultation. Responsible for environmental pre-feasibility study of environmental and social opportunities and risks. Sisi and Simu Hydropower Project feasibility study, Uganda, ResponsAbility Africa, 02/2017 - 04/2018, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reviewer Zutari was appointed for the bankable feasibility study, environmental and social impact assessment and for drafting the employer’s requirements. The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed hydro-electric project on the Sisi and Simu Rivers on Mount Elgon. Responsible for reviewing the EIA deliverables of a local consultant appointed to undertake an EIA in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Equator Principles (EPs). Lagos Cable Transit Project - environmental services, Lagos, Nigeria, African Development Bank (AfDB), 05/2012 - 03/2018, Environmental Reviewer The Lagos Cable Transit Project, an African first, consists of the construction of three cable propelled transit (CPT) lines for mass transit which will link Lagos Island with Lagos Mainland and will also link residential and business areas. The implementation of the CPT lines could serve as a model for implementation of similar systems in other congested African cities. Zutari was responsible for undertaking technical advisory services related to all technical aspects of the project. The environmental component of the project comprised a review of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) of the proposed the Lagos Cable Car Transit. The review comprised a comparison of the requirements of the Nigerian EIA legislation, the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards for Environmental and Social Sustainability and the Equator Principles. Responsible for review of environmental impact assessment: It also entailed an analysis and assessment of the content and quality of the ESIA report against these requirements;
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 8
identification of environmental and social impacts that are likely to occur as a result of the proposed project; an assessment of the adequacy' of the ESIA in addressing environmental impacts and recommending appropriate mitigation measures and the identification of gaps in the ESIA and recommendations to rectify shortcomings. 24G environmental application for Standerton Oil Mill, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Standerton Oil Mills, 11/2016 - 02/2018, Environmental Management System Specialist/Internal Environmental Reviewer The project entailed applications for legalisation of infrastructure that had been commenced illegally in relation to the Standerton Oil Mills operations. This included the compilation of an environmental impacts and aspects register towards the development of an ISO 14001 environmental management system. Responsible for review of the Section 24G legislation documents, and for compilation of the environmental impacts and aspects register. Transnet Tippler 3 Project FEL 3 Port of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Transnet SOC Richards Bay, 01/2017 - 01/2018, Internal Environmental Reviewer Zutari was appointed by Transnet Capital Projects to undertake the complete design and construction methodology of the tippler and all bulk material handling equipment and services for a single cell tippler installation in the Port of Richards Bay. The appointment involved the preparation of various drawings for mechanical, structural, electrical and control and instrumentation elements of the tippler. In addition, various environmental and sustainability documentation were produced by Zutari. Responsible for internal review of the following report deliverables: sustainability report; environmental and community interface report and design criteria report. Overvaal Rail Tunnel, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Transnet Freight Rail, 06/2017 - 12/2017, Internal Environmental Reviewer The project entailed the compilation of a number of sustainability reports for Transnet to review the sustainability of the proposed second Overvaal Rail Tunnel. Responsible for internal review of the following report deliverables: sustainability report; environmental and community interface report and water use license report. Aviation master plan for North West Province, North West Province, South Africa, North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, 04/2017 - 12/2017, Environmental Specialist The project entailed master planning for the network of airports and airfields in the North West Province. The environmental scope of work involved screening of each airport to determine the environmental opportunities and constraints regarding potential expansion at each of these airports or airfields. Responsible for the compilation of a screening report. Baseline design for the construction of railway line from Dar es Salaam - Isaka, Tanzania, CPCS Transcom St Michael Barbados, 09/2016 - 12/2017, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed for the baseline design for the construction of a railway line from Dar es Salaam to Isaka in Tanzania. Part of the scope included an environmental screening exercise to determine the environmental feasibility of the upgrading and re-alignment of the railway line. Responsible for site visit, compilation and editing of environmental screening report, which identified the applicable IFC performance standards, potential environmental and social impacts and requirements for the update of the environmental and social impact assessment. Haakdoorndrift opencast project, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Anglo American Platinum, 03/2016 - 11/2017, Environmental Assessment Practitioner Zutari was appointed by Anglo American Platinum to undertake the environmental impact assessment (EIA), waste and water licenses for the Haakdoorndrift opencast project at their Amandelbult Complex as part of their opencast activities. Specialist studies include groundwater, soil and land capability, terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, noise, blasting and vibration, heritage and palaeontology, social impact assessment
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 9
(SIA) as well as floodline determination. An environmental screening exercise determined the environmental feasibility of relocation of a railway line on a proposed opencast pit in the Amandelbult mining complex. Three environmental basic assessments applied for environmental authorisation for Open Pits 37, 62 East and 36W. Zutari also audited the implementation of a phase out plan for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)- containing materials at Anglo's Waterval Smelter near Rustenburg. Responsible for the compilation of environmental screening report for a number of proposed open pits. Also responsible for the management, coordination and quality control of the basic assessments for Pits 37 and 62 East, including review of specialist studies. Other duties included the management, coordination and quality control of the environmental management programme for Open Pit 36W, as well as authority liaison, meetings and follow - ups regarding granting of authorisation and correction of mistakes on authorisations that had been granted. Furthermore, he was responsible for the internal review of an audit of PCB-containing materials at the Waterval Smelter. Sibanye Gold photovoltaic plant environmental impact assessment (EIA), Gauteng Province, South Africa, Sibanye Gold Shared Services/Sibanye Stillwater, 06/2015 - 11/2017, Environmental Assessment Practitioner Zutari managed the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process required for authorising the proposed photovoltaic facility in terms of the National Environmental Management Act. Sibanye Gold, a mining company, intends to develop the project to gain greater independence from Eskom. The project will provide power exclusively to Sibanye Gold. The generated electricity may be used at any one of its mines in the Westonaria/Carletonville region. Responsible for the management of the environmental impact assessment process (EIA), including report writing and the public participation process, and review of all specialist reports. Also responsible for amendment of the environmental authorisation and related authority liaison, as well as undertaking a Phase 1 environmental site assessment of the proposed site to confirm the presence of any potential environmental risks for project development. Lord's View Data Centre, Midrand, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), 09/2017 - 11/2017, Internal Environmental Reviewer Zutari undertook the feasibility assessment for the establishment of a data centre in an industrial park. The environmental feasibility study was one of several technical feasibility studies. Responsible for internal review of the environmental screening report. Dragline relocation pre-feasibility study at Landau Colliery, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Anglo Operations Proprietary, 11/2015 - 09/2017, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to undertake a dragline relocation pre-feasibility study at Landau Colliery located in eMahlahleni. The scope of works extended to waste classification of discard m{FB}aterial sources for Madini and Elandsfontein dumps. The works also included the compilation of a scoping and environmental impact report for the proposed construction of a road, with the purpose of relocating the dragline from the Kromdraai Section to the Navigation Section of Landau Colliery. Responsible for an internal review of scoping and environmental impact reports and public participation documents; as well as participation in impact assessment workshops and client review workshops. Kiwira pre-feasibility study for hydro-electric power stations, Mbeya Region, Tanzania, Kiwira Energy Limited, 11/2016 - 10/2017, Environmental Specialist Zutari was appointed to undertake a pre-feasibility investigation for a number of small scale hydroelectric sites along the Kiwira River in western Tanzania. Responsible for identification of environmental fatal flaws and red flags through site visits. Also responsible for the generation of environmental project briefs and project registration with the Tanzanian National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) to initiate the environmental authorisation process. Other duties included the compilation and internal review of a scoping report for the proposed Kiwira II hydroelectric site, in addition to the compilation of an environmental screening report for the proposed Momba Dam.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 10
Mohembo Bridge over the Okavango River, Botswana, Itinera/Cimola JV, 11/2016 - 06/2017, Environmental Assessment Practitioner Zutari was appointed by Itinera, a contractor, to develop a site-specific Environmental, Health and Safety Management Plan (EHSMP) for the construction of the Mohembo Bridge over the Okavango River in the north-west of Bostwana. Responsible for the development of the environmental portion of the EHSMP. Mogalakwena 33 kV powerline, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Mogalakwena Local Municipality, 05/2015 - 06/2017, Internal Environmental Reviewer/Environmental Assessment Practitioner The Mogalakwena Local Municipality appointed Zutari to design a 33 kV powerline in the Waterberg, and to obtain environmental authorisation under the environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998. Responsible for internal review of the environmental basic assessment report and environmental management programme. Environmental screening and general environmental advice to SAIL Mining, Gauteng Province, South Africa, SAIL Mining, 05/2014 - 06/2017, Environmental Advisor The project entailed environmental screening to determine the need for any environmental authorisations as well as providing general advice regarding the management of environmental risks on the site in Rosslyn (chrome, waste, stormwater and dust) and management of a dust monitoring programme. Responsible for drafting of an environmental screening report and provision of ad hoc environmental advice. Environmental, health and safety legal register of Khanyisa Power Station, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Alstom/General Electric, 06/2016 - 12/2016, Environmental Specialist Zutari was tasked with the compilation of a comprehensive database of environmental, health and safety and spatial planning legal authorisations for construction of the proposed Khanyisa Power Station, with a focus on requirements applicable to the contractor. Responsible for project management and identification of environmental legal requirements. Waterberg feasibility (FEL 3) study for rail infrastructure, South Africa, Transnet SOC Johannesburg, 12/2014 - 12/2016, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to assist Transnet in attaining their business goal of establishing an incremental rail capacity development plan for coal tonnage throughput up to 24 Mtpa, for export and domestic destinations. Zutari investigated and established the requirements in terms of upgrading the existing rail infrastructure between Lephalale and Ermelo in order to support the envisaged expansion, which includes infrastructure, rolling stock and other assets. Responsible for editing and revision of FEL 3 environmental feasibility reports, including the environmental design criteria report, environmental and social governance report and sustainable development design report. Menlyn diesel spill response, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Pareto, 08/2016 - 11/2016, Independent Environmental Specialist The project entailed a response to spillage of approximately 20 000 litres of diesel from Menlyn Park shopping centre into the Moreletaspruit in eastern Pretoria. Responsible for review of spill response in terms of company's procedures and processes; compilation of emergency reports to relevant environmental authorities; liaison with authorities; and review of specialist ecological reports. Overvaal Tunnel FEL 3 and FEL 4, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Transnet SOC Johannesburg, 06/2014 - 11/2016, Internal Environmental Reviewer Zutari was appointed for the feasibility (FEL 3) development in respect of the construction of the second Overvaal tunnel as well as the complete engineering (FEL 4) thereof. In addition to the development of the tunnel, Transnet SOC required to reinstate, upgrade and/or construct a ventilation system for the existing tunnel. The new tunnel needs to accommodate a double electrified signalled track. Responsible for the review of the environmental and social management plan (ESMP) and the water use license application report.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 11
Sebokeng CBD feasibility study, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), 09/2015 - 10/2016, Environmental Practitioner The purpose of the feasibility study is to determine the potential technical and financial sustainability and success of the project to be implemented. An environmental screening exercise was undertaken to determine environmental feasibility of the development of a mixed use precinct in Sebokeng. Responsible for the compilation of the screening report. Pilgrim's Rest residential development, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Mpumalanga Provincial Government: Department of Human Settlements, 10/2015 - 10/2016, Environmental Assessment Practitioner The project comprised an environmental basic assessment process for the authorisation of the construction of a residential area at Pilgrim's Rest. Responsible for internal review of basic assessment report, participation documents and specialist reports. Ingula pumped storage scheme, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Eskom Holdings SOC, 11/2011 - 08/2016, Environmental Reviewer The project comprised annual environmental compliance audits against the requirements of the Ingula pumped storage scheme’s water use licence (WUL) and integrated water use licence (IWUL). Responsible for the compilation of and review of integrated waste and water management plan (IWWMP) audits. Lesotho knit fabric mill development, Lesotho, Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), 04/2016 - 08/2016, Environmental Practitioner Zutari was appointed to develop options for service delivery for three knit fabric mill plants located in existing industrial parks in Tikoe, Nyenye and Ha Belo in Lesotho. The scope of works entailed preparing a block plan for each of the three estates indicating the consolidation of stands required to suit the needs of each investor, investigating the available supply of electricity and making recommendations regarding upgrades that were required, ensuring that measures were in place to improve electricity efficiency were outlined, investigating potential water supply sources and covering ground water, surface water and municipal supply. Additional services include undertaking a cost benefit analysis on the three options for each individual site, designing a wastewater treatment package plant to suit the capacity requirements for each investor based on the contaminants specified by the investor, and as well as carrying out a high level environmental screening highlighting all potential environmental issues and applications required. Responsible for compilation of the screening report. Olifants River water resources development project, Phase 2, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), 09/2009 - 06/2016, Internal Reviewer The second phase of the Olifants River water resources development project (ORWRDP-2) is an extensive water resource development project to supply water for domestic and industrial (mining) use in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) appointed the Aurecon (now Zutari) Ndodana Joint Venture (ANJV) to undertake the design and construction supervision of the project. Responsible for internal review of a visual impact assessment for upgrading of reservoirs and pipelines. Mokolo Crocodile Water Augmentation Project (MCWAP), Limpopo Province, South Africa, Trans- Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), 09/2009 - 06/2016, Reviewer The project entailed comprehensive engineering services for the Mokolo Crocodile Water Augmentation Project (MCWAP), including the construction of two major bulk raw water transfer systems and associated infrastructure. The MCWAP supplies raw water to meet the demands of the new power station in Lephalale, mines and industry, and domestic users. The main components of the scheme are abstraction weirs, pump stations, pipelines and balancing storage. Responsible for the independent review of a draft basic assessment report (BAR).
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 12
Servitudes and EMP for transmission line construction, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Eskom Holdings SOC Limited, 05/2013 - 05/2016, Internal Reviewer Zutari’s appointment entails the acquisition of options to register servitudes over land within an environmentally approved corridor for 2 x 400 kV transmission lines for a distance of 119.611 km from Matla Power Station near Secunda, Mpumalanga Province to Jupiter B Substation, in the vicinity of Rosherville, Gauteng Province and the management of the EMP during construction of the corridor on behalf of Eskom. Responsible for the review of the internal report. Klipplaats 400 kV line deviation, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Glencore Xstrata Coal South Africa (Glencore South Africa (Pty) Ltd), 01/2015 - 05/2016, Environmental Reviewer The project entailed environmental studies, water use license application and preliminary design for the Klipplaats 400 kV line deviation at the Tweefontein Coal Mine, the registered land owner of the farm Klipplaat 14IS in Mpumalanga. Responsible for the review and quality control of the basic assessment report and environmental management programme. Lesotho MCA Health Infrastructure Programme 2010, Maseru, Lesotho, Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) - Lesotho, 10/2009 - 04/2016, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Environmental Management (EM) Manager This project involved the provision of programme management, construction supervision and environmental management services for the health infrastructure programme in Lesotho. This included the design of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and blood transfusion centre, the design of student and staff hostels at existing Lesotho Hospital, and the construction of 138 new health centres and 14 new outpatient departments (OPDs). Responsible for liaising between client and contractor to facilitate resolution of outstanding construction to address health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues. Legal authorisation requirements for a variety of solar photovoltaic facilities, South Africa, SunEdison, 09/2015 - 03/2016, Reviewer The project comprised the identification of potential gaps in existing environmental authorisations (e.g. listed activities, validity of previous authorisations, etc.) for five different planned solar photovoltaic facilities. Responsible as internal reviewer. Basic assessment for the upgrade of Island View substation, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Transnet SOC, 06/2015 - 02/2016, Environmental Assessment Practitioner Appointed for the basic assessment for the proposed upgrade of Island View substation, Fynnlands industrial basin, Port of Durban. Responsible for the management of the basic assessment (BA) process, including report writing and the public participation process, and review of all specialist reports. Kinangop Wind Farm, 1A status review and risk assessment, Kenya, Kinangop Wind Park, 11/2015 - 12/2015, Report Contributor Following termination of the EPC contract Zutari were appointed to assess the project status and risks associated with remobilising the 60.8 MW wind farm project. Responsible as report contributor regarding legal and administrative requirements. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) at the Komati Mill, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, TSB Sugar, 06/2014 - 12/2015, Environmental Assessment Practitioner The project entailed environmental authorisation application and water use licence application (WULA) for the establishment of new cane fields at TSB Sugar's sugar mill near Malalane. Responsible for the management of the environmental impact assessment process (EIA).
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 13
Environmental control officer (ECO) services for the construction of the KDS-Homestead power line, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, Eskom Distribution, 07/2014 - 12/2015, Environmental Assessment Practitioner The project comprised the environmental monitoring of construction of the KDS-Homestead distribution power line in Kimberley. Responsible for the management and review of environmental monitoring deliverables. Feasibility (FEL 3) development for the construction of a second Overvaal tunnel (Part 1) and the complete engineering (FEL 4) for Part 2, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Transnet SOC Johannesburg, 06/2014 - 12/2015, Reviewer Zutari was appointed for the feasibility (FEL 3) development in respect of the construction of the second Overvaal tunnel as well as the complete engineering (FEL 4) thereof. In addition to the development of the tunnel, Transnet SOC required to reinstate, upgrade and/or construct a ventilation system for the existing tunnel. The new tunnel needs to accommodate a double electrified signalled track. Responsible for the review of the environmental and social management plan (ESMP) and the water use license application report. Khanyisa Power Station, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, ACWA Power, 02/2015 - 11/2015, Environmental Assessment Practitioner The project involved the application for amendment of an existing environmental authorisation for the expansion of the authorised capacity of 450 MW to 600 MW and other related processes. Responsible for the management of the environmental impact assessment process (EIA), amendment report, amendment report, revision of the environmental management programme (EMPr), and all related specialist reports. Uganda's detailed strategic implementation plan (SIP), Uganda, Ministry of Works and Transport (Uganda), 09/2014 - 10/2015, Environmental Specialist As a land-locked country, Uganda depends on regional road, rail and inland water transport systems for the transportation of goods. Majority of the import and export traffic passes through the Northern corridor to Mombasa, little using the Central corridor to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. In order to strengthen the use of the Central Corridor, the National Transport Masterplan (NTMP) was implemented and adopted a multi- modal approach. Responsible for the compilation of report on environmental and social safeguard issues to be considered in project prioritisation, as well client training on these issues. Identification of legal requirements for a gas-fired power station, South Africa, Enel, 07/2015 - 10/2015, Report Author Appointed for the compilation of a database of legal authorisation requirements for the construction and operation of a gas-fired power station. Other authors contributed sections on health and safety, grid planning and land use authorisations. Responsible as report author. Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) short-term coal stockpile, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), 05/2013 - 07/2015, Internal Reviewer Design of a short-term coal stockpile at Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to handle 1.0 Mtpa of coal for New Entrants Miners. Responsible for the review of the internal report. Netcare Energy Policy, South Africa, Netcare Limited, 02/2015 - 05/2015, Policy Writer The project entailed drafting an energy management policy for Netcare, a health service provider, towards the development of their environmental management system. Responsible for the drafting of policy. National Transport master plan (NATMAP) review and upgrade, South Africa, Department of Transport, 01/2015 - 05/2015, Reviewer The project involved the revision of the National Transport master plan, a strategic plan for transport development in South Africa developed by the Department of Transport. The initial draft document was developed in 2007 and was required to be revised to be accepted by the Department of transport and
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 14
Cabinet. Responsible for data collection, presentation of the current status quo and revision of Chapter 8 (Energy and Environment). Bankable feasibility study (BFS) for a small hydropower scheme on the Nithi River in Central Kenya, Tharaka-Nithi County (Mt Kenya), Kenya, Frontier Investment Management, 04/2014 - 04/2015, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reviewer The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed hydro-electric project on the Nithi River, Mount Kenya. Responsible for reviewing the EIA deliverables of a local consultant appointed to undertake an EIA in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Equator Principles (EPs). Mobile disaster recovery trailers for Vodacom, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Planning & Cost Engineering Services (Pty) Ltd (PaCE), 10/2014 - 03/2015, External Reviewer The project entailed mobile disaster recovery trailers for Vodacom's Gauteng data centres, with the scope of work being communicated as the project progresses. Responsible for the role of an external reviewer. Feasibility study for Southern Energy's 2×330 MW coal fired power plant project, Zimbabwe, Southern Energy, 01/2015, Environmental Reviewer The project entailed a review of a feasibility study report for the construction of a proposed new 660 MW coal-fired power station near Hwange in Zimbabwe. Responsible for the review of the feasibility study against the performance standards of international development finance institutions. Feasibility assessment for proposed small-scale hydro-electric facilities on the Tugela River, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Various clients, 2015, Report Author The project comprised environmental opportunities and constraints and a fatal flaw assessment (as contribution to a feasibility study) for four proposed mini hydro-electric facilities between Bergville and Ladysmith. Responsible as report author. Feasibility study of the Nyamagasani II Hydropower Project, Kasese Province, Uganda, Frontier Investment Management, 02/2014 - 12/2014, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reviewer The project comprises a feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the 5 MW Nyamagasani II Hydropower Project, located on the Nyamagasani River. The feasibility study includes geotechnical; hydrological (daily flows and floods); environmental and social, including resettlement action plan (RAP) and environmental management plan (EMP); civil and hydraulics; mechanical, electrical and interconnection, flow measurements and economic studies. Responsible for reviewing the EIA deliverables of a local consultant appointed to undertake the EIA in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Equator Principles (EPs). Ekurhuleni smart metering feasibility study, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, 09/2013 - 10/2014, Report Author The Grantee's Energy Department's (EED’s) electricity metering and billing processes and systems suffered from several shortcomings, which consisted of inaccurate meter reading, delays in billing, delays in revenue collection, and unbilled electricity. Zutari was appointed to carry out a feasibility study to evaluate the technical, financial, environmental and other critical aspects of implementing advanced metering infrastructure in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. Responsible for undertaking an environmental screening exercise to identify potential environmental and social impacts and review environmental authorisation requirements. Also responsible as a report author. ISO 14001 internal audit for the Matimba Power Station, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Eskom Generation: Matimba Power Station, 08/2014, Environmental Auditor The project comprised a second party internal environmental management systems (EMS) audit of the coal- fired Matimba Power Station in Lephalale. Responsible for environmental auditing against ISO 14001 and audit management system requirements.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 15
Feasibility study investigating the upgrading the 98 km Thaba Tseka – Taung - Mokhotlong road to a bituminous surfacing standard, Lesotho, Lesotho Ministry of Public Works and Transport, 04/2014 - 07/2014, Environmental Specialist The project entailed a pre-feasibility assessment of the proposed upgrading of the Thaba Tseka - Mokhotlong dirt road to a tarred road. Responsible for reviewing the environmental issues relevant to the proposed upgrading of the road, including a site visit and a review of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) undertaken on the same project in 2006. AFGRI Mill ISO 14001 certification audit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, AFGRI Milling, 11/2013 - 06/2014, Lead Environmental Auditor The project entailed a third party Stage 1 ISO 14001 certification audit for AFGRI Mill in Kinross. Responsible for conducting the Stage 1 ISO 14001 certification audit of the environmental management system (EMS). Contamination assessment of selected Transnet properties, Regional, South Africa, Transnet SOC, 03/2014 - 03/2015, Environmental Reviewer The project comprised contamination assessment of various sites to identify environmental contamination as well as compile site assessment reports and financial model for the closure and rehabilitation of these sites - included various specialist studies. Responsible for the review and quality control of the contaminated site assessment report. Nuclear-1 environmental impact assessment (EIA), Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa, Eskom Generation, 04/2013 - 03/2014, Project Leader The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for the proposed Nuclear-1 Power Station. Responsible for project management, responding to stakeholder comments, and authority liaison, review of approximately 30 specialist reports and providing overall strategic guidance of the EIA process. Port of Saldanha Expansion Project, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Transnet SOC Limited, 11/2013 - 03/2014, Project Leader The project involved environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes and atmospheric emission licence for the installation of a third tippler at the Port of Saldanha. The project also included a scoping and environmental impact report (EIR) process for the expansion of the port (the latter was suspended prior to submission of the draft scoping report). Responsible for the finalisation and submission of the basic assessment report (BAR) for the third tippler, responding to the interested and affected parties' (I&AP's) comments and authority liaison to ensure a timeous authorisation, and post-authorisation amendment of the authorisation and response to appeals by interested parties. Foskor integrated water and waste management plan (IWWMP), KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Foskor, 03/2014, Internal Reviewer The project involved an internal review of a draft integrated water and waste management plan (IWWMP) for the installation of a proposed expansion to the phosphate handling facilities in Richards Bay. Responsible for conducting an internal review. Third party ISO 14001 audit reports, Various provinces, South Africa, Various clients, 04/2013 - 03/2014, Internal Reviewer The project comprised an internal review of a range of third party ISO 14001 audit reports for various clients throughout South Africa. Basic assessment (BA) and Section 24G rectification assessment of the Vaal River pipeline, North West Province, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, 11/2009 - 03/2014, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental basic assessment (BA) for the installation of a water pipeline on the Vaal River Gold Mine in Orkney. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 16
Engineering design (FEL 4) for Nacala Port, Nampula Province, Mozambique, Vale Moçambique Limitada, 10/2011 - 11/2013, Senior Environmental Scientist Zutari was appointed for the complete on-shore port front-end-engineering design (FEED) for the Nacala Port, consisting of bulk materials handling (BMH), bulk earthworks, rail embankment and utilities and transportation infrastructure. Zutari undertook a number of general functions during its detailed design, including verifying and updating the design criteria documents generated during the Nacala Port front-end loading 3 (FEL 3) study and the engineering design to achieve the requirements for the construction phase. Responsible for review of engineering reports and designs and strategic advice on environmental issues and implications of the design for the environmental authorisation. ABSA Project X, Gauteng Province, South Africa, ABSA, 04/2012 - 11/2013, Due Diligence Assessor Zutari was part of a professional team involved in the conversion and upgrading of an existing factory building and office block of 24 000 m² in Waltloo into a call centre, administration building, canteen, two large gate houses and security buildings and a data centre. Zutari provided structural, civil, fire, wet services, roads and landscaping services on the project. Responsible for the site visit and the compilation of the environmental due diligence assessment (EDDA). Epol Rustenburg Feed Mill ISO 14001 certification audit, North West Province, South Africa, Epol, 09/2013, Lead Environmental Auditor The project entailed a third party Stage 1 ISO 14001 certification audit for the Epol Feed Mill in Rustenburg. Responsible for conducting the Stage 1 ISO 14001 certification audit of the environmental management system (EMS). Nuclear-1 environmental impact assessment (EIA), Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa, Arcus GIBB, 06/2012 - 04/2013, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a proposed Generation III nuclear power station with a maximum generation capacity of 4 000 MW to be located at one of three alternative sites in the Eastern and Western Cape. Zutari was contracted to assist GIBB with the revision of the revised draft environmental impact report (EIR) and to respond to stakeholder comments on this report. Responsible for the revision of the EIR, responding to stakeholder comments, and authority liaison. Saldanha Tank Farm, Western Cape Province, South Africa, WorleyParsons, 03/2012 - 03/2013, Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) Specialist The project involved a visual impact assessment (VIA) for a proposed oil storage facility at Saldanha. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Environmental basic assessment for the return water pipeline at Mponeng Gold Mine, Gauteng Province, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, 07/2011 - 02/2013, Senior Environmental Scientist Zutari was appointed to do the tender design for the replacement of the existing return water pipeline that feeds into the Mponeng process plant in Carletonville. The project included a 4 km pipeline with a 400 mm diameter. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Port of Richards Bay capacity expansion conceptual study (FEL 1), KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, Transnet SOC, 03/2012 - 11/2012, Reviewer The port facilities in Richards Bay reached operational capacity necessitating expansion. The key objectives of the conceptual (FEL 1) and pre-feasibility (FEL 2) studies were to determine the requirements for all land, rail, terminal, port and marine service engineering options to facilitate the expansionary development of the terminal ports. Zutari's services included rail infrastructure, bulk materials handling (BMH), civil and structural infrastructure, port structural engineering, marine and berth engineering, earthworks, geotechnical and electrical engineering, utilities, health and safety, environmental and solid waste. Responsible for the internal review of report deliverables, including an environmental and community interface report and a sustainability report.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 17
Visual assessment of Springfontein Wind Farm, Free State Province, South Africa, Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, 06/2012, Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) Specialist The project entailed a visual impact assessment (VIA) of the proposed wind farm near Springfontein. Responsible for the site visit, quality control of deliverables and revision of the VIA report. Environmental advice for the construction of a remote apron stand at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Gauteng Province, South Africa, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), 04/2012 - 05/2012, Senior Environmental Scientist The project involved providing environmental advice regarding the interpretation of legal requirements for the recommencement of construction of the remote apron stand at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Kempton Park. Responsible for the review of legal requirements and drafting of a report on the recommended way forward. Pre-feasibility study of Mulepe-1 Diamond Mine, Lunda Norte Province, Angola, De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM), 11/2011 - 05/2012, Senior Environmen{FB}tal Scientist Zutari was appointed to carry out the pre-feasibility study of the hydropower potential in three rivers surrounding De Beers' Mulepe-1 Concession. The project consisted of the measurement of flows in the rivers, rainfall/runoff hydrological modelling, environmental fatal flaw analysis, site reconnaissance, preliminary geological evaluation and determination of the hydropower potential. Zutari determined the optimal and most cost effective solution for the supply of reliable clean energy to the mine. Responsible for the compilation of the screening report. Tau Tona pipeline basic assessment (BA), Gauteng Province, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, 07/2010 - 04/2012, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental basic assessment (BA) for a pipeline at Tau Tona Gold Mine in Carletonville. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Environmental audit of the Matola Coal Terminal (TCM), Maputo, Mozambique, Grindrod Limited, 03/2012, Environmental Audit Team Leader The project entailed an environmental audit of the operation of the Matola Coal Terminal (TCM) in Maputo. Responsible for one site audit and the compilation of the audit report. Visual opinion for Witberg, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Arcus GIBB, 11/2011 - 01/2012, Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) Specialist The project involved giving an opinion on the visual impact of an access road to the proposed Witberg Wind Farm near Matjiesfontein. Responsible for the site visit and the compilation of a brief opinion on the expected visual impacts. Extension of Sunderland Ridge wastewater treatment works (WWTW), Gauteng Province, South Africa, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM), 01/2007 - 12/2011, Senior Environmental Scientist Zutari was appointed to provide the engineering services for the extension of the Sunderland Ridge wastewater treatment works (WWTW) to 95 Ml/d. The purpose of the project was to provide a feasibility study for the 30 Ml/d extension; licence applications; environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and the relevant authorisations for the 30 Ml/d extension and process design of the extension. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Revision of the initial report for Langehoogte Wind Farm, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Arcus GIBB, 10/2011, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed the revision of the visual impact assessment (VIA) for the Langehoogte Wind Farm near Caledon. Responsible for report revision based on peer review comments.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 18
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) for St. Helena Wind Farm, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Arcus GIBB, 09/2011 - 11/2011, Senior Environmental Scientist The project comprised a visual impact assessment (VIA) of the St. Helena Wind Farm near Saldanha as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) phase. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Scoping phase for St. Helena Wind Farm, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Just Energy, 01/2011 - 06/2011, Senior Environmental Scientist During the scoping phase of this project, a visual impact assessment (VIA) was prepared for the St. Helena Wind Farm near Saldanha. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Scoping phase for Wolseley Wind Farm, Western Cape Province, South Africa, SAGIT Energy Ventures, 01/2011, Senior Environmental Scientist This project entailed a visual impact assessment (VIA) for the proposed Wolseley Wind Farm near Wolseley. Responsible for the compilation of a scoping phase visual impact assessment. Scoping phase for Langehoogte Wind Farm, Western Cape Province, South Africa, SAGIT Energy Ventures, 01/2011, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed a visual impact assessment (VIA) for the Langehoogte Wind Farm near Caledon. Responsible for report based on peer review comments. Visual impact assessment (VIA) for Langebaan boathouse for the 4 Special Forces Regiment, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Department of Public Works (DPW), 07/2010 - 09/2010, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a visual impact assessment (VIA) for the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Section 24G, application for the authorisation of a boathouse construction for the 4 Special Forces Regiment at Langebaan. Responsible for the compilation of VIA. Second party ISO 14001 environmental management systems (EMSs) audits, Mpumalanga and Western Cape Province, South Africa, Eskom Generation, 2008 - 2010, Environmental Auditor The project entailed second party ISO 14001 environmental management systems (EMSs) audits, including three-day second party comprehensive EMSs audits of coal-fired power stations in Mpumalanga, a pumped storage scheme in KwaZulu-Natal and gas turbine plants in the Western Cape. Responsible for environmental auditing. Greater Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, Rivers State Government of Nigeria and Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority (GPHDA), 2008 - 2010, Senior Environmental Scientist The project comprised a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), generic environmental management plan (EMP) and the development of terms of reference (TOR) for the environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for Greater Port Harcourt. Responsible for the compilation of the SEA. Strategic environmental technical support team for the Gautrain Project, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Gautrain, 2008 - 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed the provision of a strategic environmental technical support team to the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) for the R20 billion Gautrain Project. Technical support was provided during the construction and operational phases of this flagship transport service project. Responsible for the environmental monitoring of contractor activities; the review of the environmental snag list; attendance and advice to the monthly provincial environmental committee (PEC) and the environmental management committee (EMC) meetings and coordination and management of annual external environmental audits.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 19
OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) Midfield Development, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed the provision of a strategic advisory team (SAT) to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) for the Midfield Development at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Kempton Park. Responsible for providing inputs for strategic advice to ACSA regarding environmental implications of proposed upgrades. Namakwa Sands basic assessment processes for co-generation power plants, South Africa, Promethium Carbon/Prana Energy, 2008 - 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project involved basic assessment processes for the installation of co-generation power plants at mines and industrial facilities across South Africa, for the generation of electricity from waste gas. The projects enable the project initiator to earn carbon credits through the clean development mechanism (CDM) in terms of the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. De Hoek Cement Factory, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed basic assessments (Bas) for upgrades to the Pretoria Portland Cement's (PPC's) De Hoek Cement Factory in Malmesbury. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Medupi Landfill Site Project, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Envirolution Consulting, 2009, Senior Independent Reviewer The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Medupi Landfill Site Project in Lephalale. Responsible for the review of EIA documentation. Apollo-Lepini distribution power line, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Envirolution Consulting, 2009, Senior Independent Reviewer The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Apollo-Lepini distribution power line. Responsible for reviewing applicable legislation and projects against EIA legislation requirements. Mokopane Integration Project, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, 2008 - 2009, Senior Independent Reviewer The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Mokopane Integration Project, including transmission lines and substations. Responsible for the independent review of the EIA documentation and the compilation of a review report. Watershed-Mmabatho distribution power line, North West Province, South Africa, Eskom Distribution, 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental basic assessment (BA) for the Watershed-Mmabatho distribution power line. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Westgate-Tarlton-Kromdraai distribution power line, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Eskom Distribution, 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Westgate-Tarlton-Kromdraai distribution power line. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Mulilo Coal-fired Power Station, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Mulilo Power (through Parsons Brinkerhoff), 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project involved an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process of the proposed Mulilo Coal-fired Power Station near Musina. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 20
Environmental management programme (EMPR) for Finsch Mine, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, De Beers, 2008 - 2009, Project Leader and Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed updating the environmental management programme (EMPR) to consolidate various guidelines and operating procedures. Responsible for the updating of the EMPR. Development of a master plan for Matjhabeng (Welkom) Local Municipality, Free State Province, South Africa, Latitude Management Services, 2008 - 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project involved the compilation of the environmental portion of the status quo assessment, critical interventions and master plan for the municipality. Responsible for the development of environmental components of the master plan. Tumelo distribution power line, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Eskom Distribution, 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process of the Tumelo distribution power line near Kagiso. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Kalukundi Copper-Cobalt Project, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africo Resources, 2008 - 2009, Senior Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental services for the proposed copper and cobalt mine in the Kolwezi District in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Responsible for field surveys, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and an environmental management plan (EMP). Nuclear power station, Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa, Eskom Generation, 2008 - 2009, Senior Environmental Scientist The project, implemented by the Generation Division of Eskom Holdings Limited, entailed a detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA), including the screening and selection of a suitable site for the nuclear plant, and a scoping process. The project also included social and biophysical specialist studies, public consultation and legal and nuclear technology studies. Responsible for the compilation of the environmental impact report (EIR) and environmental management plan (EMP). Hendrina-Prairie-Marathon transmission line, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Eskom Transmission, 05/2007 - 06/2008, Project Manager The project comprised an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed 185 km-long, 400 kV Hendrina-Prairie-Marathon transmission line between Hendrina and Nelspruit. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Crude acrylic acid (CAA) tank, Free State Province, South Africa, Sasol, 2008, Project Manager The project entailed a scoping and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for the installation of a crude acrylic acid (CAA) tank at Sasol's site in Sasolburg. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Environmental management plan (EMP) for Eskom Transmission, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Eskom Transmission, 2008, Senior Environmental Scientist The project comprised the compilation of an environmental management plan (EMP) for the construction and operational phases of the Perseus-Gamma, and Hydra-Gamma 765 kV transmission power lines, an extension to the Hydra Substation, turn-ins of the Beta-Hydra 765 kV transmission power line to Perseus and the upgrading of the Perseus Substation. Responsible for the review of project documentation and the EMP. Delta Apron at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Gauteng Province, South Africa, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), 2008, Project Leader/Senior Environmental Scientist The project comprised a basic assessment for the upgrading of the Delta Apron at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Kempton Park. Responsible for the environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 21
Eskom Komati Water Scheme pipeline and power line project, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Eskom Generation, 2008, Project Manager The project entailed scoping and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Eskom Komati Water Scheme pipeline and power line project. Responsible for the EIA. Huddle Park Golf & Recreation Estate, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Tiyani Consortium, 2005 - 2008, Project Leader and Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Huddle Park Golf & Recreation Estate in Johannesburg. Responsible for the EIA, client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Alluvial Diamond Prospecting, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, South African National Parks (SANParks) through Cameron Cross Inc., 2008, Reviewer Pico Diamonds environmental management plan (EMP) for Alluvial Diamond Prospecting in the Richtersveld National Park. Responsible for review of scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports. Kliprivier Nature Estate, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Dabchick Consultancy Limited, 2008, Reviewer The project comprised a scoping report for the proposed Kliprivier Nature Estate on Portions 4 and 8 of the farm Kliprivier 464 KQ, and Portion 10 of the farm Rhenosterfontein 465 KQ. Responsible for review of scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports. Backlog of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), scoping and exemption applications in terms of the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989), Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2007 - 2008, Reviewer The project involved the backlog of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), scoping and exemption applications in terms of the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989), on behalf of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LDEDET) and the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture and Land Administration (MDALA). Responsible for the review of environmental scoping and impact assessment reports. Millsite Development in Krugersdorp, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Rand Leases, 2007 - 2008, Project Manager The project comprised scoping and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Millsite Development in Krugersdorp. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Mmamabula-Delta 400 kV transmission lines, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Haygon Safaris (Pty) Ltd, 05/2007, Reviewer The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for the four proposed 400 kV Mmamabula-Delta transmission lines in Lephalale. Responsible for site visits, review of EIA documentation, client liaison and general project management. Shopping centre and residential development on the Farm Klipriviersdal, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), 2007, Reviewer The project involved a scoping and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) application for a proposed shopping centre and residential development on the Farm Klipriviersdal 371 in Meyerton. Responsible for the review of EIA documentation and report writing.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 22
Emalahleni integrated municipal environmental programme (IMEP), Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Emalahleni Local Municipality, 2007, Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed the auditing of legal compliance for the Emalahleni Local Municipality's integrated municipal environmental programme (IMEP) in Witbank. Responsible for an audit of environmental legal compliance. Abattoir Waste Management Guideline Manual (AWM Guideline Manual) document and standard environmental management plan (EMP), South Africa, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), 2007, Project Manager The project involved the provision of an Abattoir Waste Management Guideline Manual (AWM Guideline Manual) and a standard environmental management plan (EMP) for the evaluation of environmental impact assessment (EIA) applications. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management, quality control and presentations to stakeholders. Lesotho rehabilitation and conservation strategy, Lesotho, Lesotho Department of Water Affairs, 2007, Project Manager The project entailed supplemental field studies and beneficiary analysis related to a proposed rehabilitation and conservation strategy for the wetlands in the highlands of Lesotho, including an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Responsible for client liaison, team management and financial management. Development of Comet in Boksburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Urban Dynamics, 2007, Project Manager The project comprised scoping and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Comet Extension, including eight commercial and light industrial developments. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Orlando Dam Intersection in Soweto, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), 2007, Project Leader and Senior Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the proposed Orlando Dam Intersection, a mixed-use redevelopment at the former Orlando Power Station site in Soweto, including an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Limpopo Wildlife Estate, Limpopo Province, South Africa, South African National Parks (SANParks) through Cameron Cross Associates, 2007, Reviewer The project entailed a scoping report for the proposed Limpopo Wildlife Estate on portions of the farms Modena 13 MS, Parma 40 MS and Pontdrift 12 MS in Limpopo. Responsible for the review of scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports. Dome Paradise Township, North West Province, South Africa, Advocate Jaco Venter, 2007, Reviewer The project entailed scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports for the proposed Dome Paradise Township on Portions 19 and 37 of the Farm Rietpoort 518 IQ. Responsible for the review of scoping and EIA reports. Senqu Sources Protected Area strategic environmental assessment (SEA), Lesotho, Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project (MDTP), 2006 - 2008, Project Leader and Senior Environmental Manager The project entailed a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for the proposed Senqu Sources Protected Area with the aim of establishing a network of formally protected areas in the Maloti Drakensberg Region. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management, quality control and fieldwork.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 23
Flood control of the Apies River in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, BKS Group (Pty) Ltd, 2006 - 2007, Project Manager The project comprised environmental scoping for proposed flood control berms in the Apies River floodplain between Wonderboompoort and the Bon Accord Dam. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Eskom Kudu Integration Project, South Africa and Namibia, Eskom, 2006 - 2007, Project Leader/Senior Environmental Scientist The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Eskom Kudu Integration Project for a proposed 400 km-long, 400 kV electricity transmission line from the Kudu Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station in Oranjemund, Namibia, through the Northern Cape, to Vredendal in the Western Cape, South Africa. Responsible for leading the EIA, client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. K'Shani Golf and Nature Reserve near Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, K'Shani Golf and Nature Reserve (Pty) Ltd, 2006 - 2007, Project Manager The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act's (NEMA's) EIA regulations for the proposed 2 300 ha K'Shani Golf and Nature Reserve near Nelspruit. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables. Ispat brick making plant, South Africa, Clay Fusion Technologies (Pty) Limited, 2006, Project Manager The project entailed an environmental impact report (EIR) for a brick making plant at Ispat Iscor site. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Upgrade of Ispat Galvanising plant in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Iscor, 2006, Project Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the upgrading of the galvanising plant at Ispat Iscor. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Viking Bay Development, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Tribid Investments, 2006, Project Manager The project comprised an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the new hotel, residential golf estate and game farm development at Viking Bay, adjacent to the Vaal Dam. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Variant alignment for the Gautrain, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Centurion Association for a Reasonable Environment (WeCARE), 2006, Reviewer The project entailed several environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports and the environmental management plan (EMP) for the proposed variant alignment of the Gautrain through the Centurion area. Responsible for the review of the EIA reports, the EMPs and other related documents, quality control, client liaison and financial management. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations training manual, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2006, Senior Environmental Manager The project entailed the development of a presentation for a series of information seminars on environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998) in Pretoria. Responsible for preparation of presentations and interpretation of legal requirements.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 24
Environmental implementation plan (EIP) for Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 2006, Project Manager The project entailed the development of a second edition environmental implementation plan (EIP), in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998). Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. ISO 14001 auditing, Various venues, South Africa, South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), 2005 - 2011, Technical Expert The project comprised ISO 14001 auditing for the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), including witnessing of the conduct of the ISO 14001 Certification Body auditors during audits and the assessment of certification body management systems and documentation. Responsible for the assessment of the competence of accredited environmental auditors. Water pipeline between the Vaal Dam and Secunda, Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), 03/2005 - 07/2005, Project Manager The project was concerned with an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a 115 km, 1.9 m diameter water pipeline between the Vaal Dam and Secunda, as part of the Vaal River Eastern Subsystem Augmentation Project (VRESAP). Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Menlyn Roads Project: upgrading of the National Route 1 (N1) highway in the eastern part of Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality/South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), 2005 - 2006, Project Manager The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Menlyn Roads Project, including the upgrading of municipal roads and the National Route 1 (N1) highway in the eastern part of Pretoria. Responsible for project management and quality control of deliverables for the municipal and national road upgrades. Widening of 14th Avenue in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Arup, 2005, Project Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the widening of 14th Avenue in Johannesburg. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Widening of Addo Road in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, PD Naidoo & Associates (PNA), 2005, Project Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the widening of Addo Road (Road MR 450) in Port Elizabeth. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Statue of Freedom in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, KPMG Consortium - GAPP Architects, 2005, Environmental Manager The project comprised environmental feasibility/risk assessment for the Statue of Freedom in Port Elizabeth. Responsible for report writing and assessment of alternative sites. Socio-Economic Impact Assessment and Risk Management, Integrated Environmental Management Information Series 22 and 23, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2005, Editor and Project Manager The project entailed the editing and project management of the Integrated Environmental Management Information Series 22 and 23 documents, namely the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment and the Risk Management documents, for the Pretoria area. Responsible for management of sub-consultants, quality and financial management and report writing.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 25
Environmental Assessment of International Agreements, Integrated Environmental Management Information Series 19, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2005, Co-author with James Cross The project involved compiling the Environmental Assessment of International Agreements, Integrated Environmental Management Information Series 19 document. Responsible for management of sub- consultants, quality and financial management and report writing. Development of a lodge for the Automotive Supplier Park (ASP), Gauteng Province, South Africa, PD Naidoo & Associates (PNA), 2004, Project Leader and Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental considerations for the development of a lodge at the Automotive Supplier Park (ASP) in Rosslyn. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Water pipeline from Driefontein Dam to Duvha Power Station, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Eskom, 2004, Environmental Manager The project comprised environmental scoping for a water pipeline from Driefontein Dam to Duvha Power Station in Emalehleni. Responsible for site visits, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), report writing and public participation. Extensions to Clover Hill in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Clover Hill Developments (Pty) Ltd, 2004, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the Clover Hill Extensions 1 - 4, adjacent to the Bronkhorstspruit Dam. Responsible for public participation (stakeholder engagement) and report writing. Desilting of Alberton Dam, Gauteng Province, South Africa, SRK Consulting, 2004, Project Leader and Environmental Manager The project involved environmental scoping and an environmental management plan (EMP) for the desilting of the Alberton Dam. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Development of a shopping centre on agricultural holdings, Gauteng Province, South Africa, AJP Group, 2004, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the development of a shopping centre on Holdings 34 and 35 in Kempton Park, Pretoria. Responsible for report writing, site assessment of alternative sites and the public participation process (PPP). Electricity supply cables between Pretoria North Substation and Annlin Extension 19, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Moolman Group, 2003, Environmental Manager The project involved environmental scoping for the installation of electricity supply cables between Pretoria North Substation and the proposed Annlin Extension 19. Responsible for report writing, site assessment of alternative sites and the public participation process (PPP). Access road for The Innovation Hub, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Arup, 2003, Environmental Manager The project involved environmental scoping for the access road to the Innovation Hub in Pretoria. Responsible for report writing, site assessment and public participation process (PPP) meetings. Dunkeld West Filling Station in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Seedprop Consolidated Investments, 2003, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for a filling station in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg. Responsible for site visits, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), report writing and public participation.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 26
Environmental scoping for the upgrading of the Sinter Plant at Iscor, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Iscor Flat Steel, 2003, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the upgrading of the Sinter Plant at Iscor in Vanderbijlpark. Responsible for site visits, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), report writing, public participation and sub-consultant management. Revision of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2{FB}003, Environmental Manager The project included the revision of Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act No 107 of 1998), which deals with environmental impact assessment (EIA) and integrated environmental management (IEM) procedures. Responsible for report writing, stakeholder engagement, preparation of presentations and other project documentation. National environmental management bills, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2003, Assistant and Report Writer The project involved costing of the promulgation of a series of six national environmental management bills, including the Air Quality Amendment Bill, the Biodiversity Bill, the Protected Areas Amendment Bill and the National Environmental Management Act's (NEMA's) 1st and 2nd Amendment Bills. Responsible for the management of sub-consultants, report writing and stakeholder liaison. Development of an environmental management system (EMS) for Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Mbombela Local Municipality, 2003, Project Leader and Environmental Manager The project was concerned with the development of an environmental management system (EMS) for the Mbombela Local Municipality in Nelspruit. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management, quality control and training of client representatives. Development of an environmental policy for Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Mbombela Local Municipality, 2003, Project Leader and Environmental Manager The project entailed the development of an environmental policy for the Mbombela Local Municipality in Nelspruit. Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management and quality control. Telecommunications tower for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Gauteng Province, South Africa, Telkom, 2003, Environmental Control Officer (ECO) The project entailed an environmental management plan (EMP) for the construction of a 40 m-tall concrete microwave telecommunications tower at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Responsible for on-site monitoring of environmental effects of construction work. Environmental management framework (EMF) for Centurion, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), 2002, Project Assistant The project comprised the development of an environmental management framework (EMF) for the Loch Vaal region in Centurion. Responsible for field work and report writing. Gauteng Communication Network Strategy (GAUCONS), Gauteng Province, South Africa, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), 2002, Environmental Manager The project entailed the development of the Gauteng Communication Network Strategy (GAUCONS), a decision-support and administration system for the authorisation of telecommunications masts in Johannesburg. Responsible for report writing and stakeholder liaison. Buffer Zone projects, South Africa, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), 2002, Environmental Manager This project entailed Phases 1 and 2 of the Buffer Zone projects for the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Developments (GDARD), which provides guidelines for the authorisation of developments in proximity to activities that cause pollution, including landfill sites, sewage treatment plants (STPs), industries and mine dumps. Responsible for report writing and fieldwork. Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 27
National Forest Inventory (NFI) for the Eastern Cape, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Department of Water Affairs (DWA), 2002, Environmental Assistant The project entailed data gathering and database population of the National Forest Inventory (NFI). Responsible for data gathering and capturing and stakeholder liaison. Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), 2002, Environmental Manager The project delivered a report on the environmental management framework (EMF) for the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) in Johannesburg. Responsible for field data. Cellular phone mast sites for Cell C, National, South Africa, Zutari, 1999 - 2002, Environmental Manager The project entailed exemption applications of approximately 300 cell phone mast sites for the Cell C network. Responsible for site visits, assessments and reporting. Road upgrades for Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province, South Africa, Eco Assessments CC, 2002, Environmental Manager The project included fieldwork, public participation, the development of an environmental management plan (EMP) and environmental scoping of roads and the bulk water supply system at Madikwe Game Reserve. Responsible for fieldwork assessment, public participation (stakeholder engagement) and report writing. Brits/Doreen Roads filling station in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Gerneke & Potgieter, 2002, Environmental Manager The project entailed the development of a filling station on the corner of Brits Road and Doreen Road in Akasia, Pretoria. Responsible for fieldwork assessment, public participation (stakeholder engagement) and report writing. Marion Island research base in the South Atlantic Ocean, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2002, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the research base on Marion Island. Responsible for public participation (stakeholder engagement), report writing and the development of an environmental management plan (EMP). Rehabilitation of cutting, South Africa, Naas Grimbeek, 2002, Environmental Manager The project involved the rehabilitation of a cutting at the house of Mr Naas Grimbeek at the Hartebeespoort Dam. Responsible for site inspections and the development of a rehabilitation plan. Makgabetlwane water pipeline, North West Province, South Africa, Munayi Malaka Engineers, 2001, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping of a water pipeline at Makgabetlwane. Responsible for public participation (stakeholder engagement) and report writing. Development of Alberton Waterfront, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Odyssey Development and Construction, 2001, Environmental Manager The project entailed environmental scoping for the development of the Alberton Waterfront. Responsible for fieldwork assessment, public participation (stakeholder engagement) and report writing. Environmental management framework (EMF) for the Loch Vaal area, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Zutari, 2001, Environmental Manager The project included a report on data gathering and fieldwork, and an environmental management framework (EMF) for the Loch Vaal area in Centurion. Responsible for the compilation of the EMF document.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 28
Declaration of the Prince Edward Islands (PEI) as a world heritage site, Prince Edward Islands (PEI), Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 2001, Environmental Manager The project entailed a motivation report for the declaration of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) as a world heritage site (WHS). Responsible for report writing and management of consultants. Midrand Estates Development, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Eco Assessments, 2000, Environmental Manager The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed Midrand Estates development. Responsible for fieldwork, site assessment and report writing. Development of a Cell Phone Code of Practice, South Africa, South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), 1999, Assistant The project entailed the development of a South African Code of Practice, including environmental considerations for the planning and management of telecommunications structures. Responsible for report writing and providing of general project assistance. Nissan environmental management system (EMS), Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Nissan South Africa, 1998 - 1999, Group Environmental Manager The project entailed the implementation and certification of ISO 14001 compliant environmental management system (EMS). Responsible for company-wide coordination of EMS implementation, environmental auditing, training, general advice, strategic review of EMS performance and reporting to top management. Environmental management system (EMS) for Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, De Beers Research and Development Company (DebTech), 1998, Project Leader and Senior Environmental Manager The project entailed the development of an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) for the De Beers Research and Development Centre (DebTech). Responsible for client liaison, team management, financial management, quality control and initial review of client's environmental impacts and aspects. Information management system (IMS) directorate for Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, Department of Water Affairs (DWA), 1998, Project Assistant The project comprised the development of an information management system (IMS) directorate, namely the Forest Regulation of the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). Responsible for report writing, conducting interviews, reporting and the monitoring of templates. National strategy for the development of integrated environmental management (IEM), South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 1998, Assistant The project involved the development of a discussion document, namely a national strategy for the development of integrated environmental management (IEM). Responsible for report writing and management of sub-consultants and stakeholders. ISO 14001 certification and surveillance audits, Various provinces, South Africa, South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), 1997 - 1998, Environmental Auditor The project entailed ISO 14001 certification and surveillance audits of four companies in various provinces of South Africa. Responsible for environmental auditing. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) for Marion Island, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 1997 - 1998, Environmental Manager The project comprised an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed tourism to Marion Island. Responsible for site visits, data collection, specialist study coordination and report writing.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 29
Environmental management system (EMS) for Antarctica, Antarctica, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), 1995, Environmental Auditor The project entailed the development of an environmental management system (EMS) for the South African National Antarctic Expedition's (SANAE's) IV Base. Responsible for environmental auditing. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) for Letsibogo Dam, Botswana, Cave Klapwijk & Associates (CKA), 1994 - 1995, Environmental Assistant The project entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Letsibogo Dam on the Motloutse River in north eastern Botswana. Responsible for report writing, quality control and review of the sub- consultant's deliverables. Open cast coal mining rehabilitation, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Amcoal, 11/1991 - 01/1992, Researcher The project entailed fieldwork for the rehabilitation of open cast coal mining, including vegetation monitoring and soil compaction monitoring on Amcoal's open cast coal mines. Responsible for the collection of field data.
Reuben Heydenrych Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 30
Qualifications Wynand Loftus
Aquaculture Certificate Senior Consultant MTech Nature Wynand is an environmental scientist with more than five years' experience in Conservation environmental science, including environmental management, environmental BTech Nature impact assessments (EIAs), and environmental regulatory compliance. He has Conservation been involved in a range of projects across South Africa, including EIAs for NDip Nature municipal civil infrastructure and housing, renewable energy developments and Conservation environmental auditing and compliance monitoring. Professional He is experienced in managing full EIA processes, including, amongst others, in registrations compiling cost proposals for environmental advisory services; client interaction; Professional Scientist, budget management; conducting public participation processes (PPPs); South African Council for compiling project reports such as EIA reports and environmental management Natural Scientific Professions (SACNSP) programmes (EMPrs); and compiling of environmental maps in ArcView GIS. Member, International Wynand is also an experienced environmental control officer (ECO), with Association for Impact expertise in, amongst others, auditing and monitoring environmental compliance Assessment South Africa on site, compiling environmental audit reports, and conducting environmental (IAIAsa) induction training with contractors. Specialisation He obtained a Master of Technology in Nature Conservation in 2013 and a Environmental Bachelor of Technology in 2011, both from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan management, impact University (NMMU) in South Africa. He is registered as a professional scientist assessments and with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) in is regulations a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa 6 (IAIAsa). years in industry Experience
Nuweveld wind farms, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Red Cap Energy (Pty) Ltd (Red Cap), 03/2019 - 12/2021, Senior Consultant to Project Manager
Aurecon has been appointed to facilitate three environmental impact
assessments (EIAs) for the proposed Nuweveld wind farms, and to undertake one basic assessment (BA) process for an approximately 120 km gridline connection. Responsible for assisting the project manager with all delivery related tasks, including compiling reports, conducting site inspections, and managing spatial data. Environmental advisory services to the Mossel Bay Local Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Mossel Bay Local Municipality, 01/2019 - 06/2021, Senior Consultant Aurecon was appointed on a municipal panel to provide environmental advisory services, including environmental impact assessments (EIAs), basic assessments (BAs) and environmental management programmes (EMPrs).
Responsible for compiling and submitting an environmental applicability checklist to the local environmental, competent authority. Also responsible for facilitating the BA and EIA processes. Environmental advisory services to George Local Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa, George Local Municipality, 02/2019 - 02/2021, Senior Consultant Aurecon was appointed to carry out the basic assessment (BA) environmental process for remedial works along Rooidraai Road in Herolds Bay. Responsible for compiling basic assessment reports (BARs), the public participation process (PPP), and the application form. Duties include corresponding with and managing environmental specialists and liaising with environmental competent authority. Materials supply for gravel roads, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC): Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW), 02/2015 - 02/2020, Senior Consultant/Environmental Control Officer (ECO) Aurecon has been appointed to assist with the material supply and planning, design and control aspects for the maintenance of gravel roads in the Central Karoo and Eden District Municipalities. Services include engineering geology, environmental studies, materials source identification and project management. The contract primarily entails locating and proving suitable material sources for the re-gravelling of 300 km and maintenance activities of 45 000 km of all gravel roads in the two identified district municipalities. Obtaining approval for the use of material sources was a challenge due to the associated environmental and legal aspects, where legal approval was required from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP). Responsible for carrying out basic assessment (BA) processes to apply for environmental authorisation and mining permits from the DMR. The BA included all relevant authority correspondence and public participation processes (PPPs). Also responsible for carrying out environmental control officer (ECO) duties at various borrow pits throughout the Garden Route and Central Karoo District Municipalities, including site inspections, compiling monthly ECO reports, monitoring mining activities, and corresponding with the two district municipalities. Mossel Bay Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP), Western Cape Province, South Africa, Mossel Bay Local Municipality, 01/2017 - 12/2019, Senior Consultant Aurecon was appointed to provide project management services for informal settlement upgrading in the Mossel Bay Local Municipality via the UISP, as a follow on to the National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP). Aurecon's scope of works included the project planning, procurement of requisite planning and environmental permissions and implementation oversite for 22 informal settlements. Responsible for coordinating environmental processes and project management, including four Section 24G processes and one amendment application, facilitating specialist inputs and assessments, and corresponding and interacting with relevant organs of state and authorities. Basic assessment (BA) for the Koeris Wind Energy Facility (WEF) temporary fuel storage facility, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, Mainstream Renewable Power, 10/2018 - 10/2019, Senior Consultant Aurecon was appointed to facilitate the requisite basic assessment (BA) environmental process for the construction of a temporary fuel storage facility for the construction period of the Koeries Wind Energy Facility (WEF) in Springbok. Responsible for carrying out the full BA process, including compiling a basic assessment report (BAR) and environmental management programme (EMPr), conducting a full public participation process (PPP) and carrying out all project management related duties. Environmental planning and compliance for the Working for Wetlands Programme 2017-2019, National, South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), 11/2016 - 06/2019, Senior Consultant Aurecon, in association with GroundTruth, was appointed to undertake the planning and approval processes for the Working for Wetlands Programme for the period 2017-2019. The programme has been mandated to rehabilitate damaged wetlands and to protect pristine wetlands. The methodology followed constitutes three phases. The coarse-scale planning (Phase 1) entails the identification of degraded wetlands for rehabilitation purposes; the detailed planning (Phase 2) is for the identification and design of rehabilitation interventions
Wynand Loftus Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 2
and obtaining environmental authorisations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act no 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and Phase 3, the provision of implementation support, includes setting out and signing off constructed interventions and monitoring and evaluating wetland rehabilitation projects. Responsible for the compilation of basic assessment reports (BARs), the public participation process (PPP) and application form as well as conducting site inspections. Environmental audit for the Garden Route Casino, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Garden Route Casino, 07/2018 - 06/2019, Senior Consultant The project involved providing environmental advisory services and the complete requisite environmental audit for the Garden Route Casino and determining the best way forward for the casino to comply with its responsibilities. Responsible for correspondence with the local environmental competent authority regarding the regulatory environmental audit requirements applicable to the Garden Route Casino. Also responsible for carrying out the environmental audit, compiling an audit report and submitting the report to the competent authority. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the extension of ashing facilities at Kriel Power Station, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Eskom, 08/2016 - 11/2017, Senior Consultant Aurecon was appointed to undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the extension of an ash dam facility at the Kriel Power Station. The EIA was postponed after the scoping phase was completed in 2011 due to further geotechnical investigation being required for the preferred site. In 2016, Aurecon's appointment was amended to allow for a new EIA process to be undertaken in terms of the latest environmental legislation. Responsible for comparing 2014 National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) EIA regulations with the amended 2017 NEMA EIA Regulations and listing similarly listed activities. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Hotazel Solar Park, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd, 05/2016 - 10/2017, Senior Consultant The project comprised entailed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the development of a 200 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility, including a utility scale battery storage facility, as well as transmission line. Aurecon's services included environmental management and advisory, transport assessments, hydrological assessments and stormwater planning. Responsible for assisting the project leader with public participation process (PPP). Ladismith West flood damage repair, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Hatch Goba, 01/2016 - 03/2017, Environmental Control Officer (ECO) The project entailed providing environmental control officer (ECO) services for the construction and repair of stream crossings along a provincial road. Work was carried out within watercourses and sound environmental management was particularly important. Responsible for conducting site inspections and compiling the ECO reports to ensure compliance with the environmental maintenance management plan (MMP). Also responsible for conducting environmental induction training with the contractor and his staff, informing them of the environmental sensitivity of the site, identifying no-go areas, and educating staff on the importance of practising sound environmental management. Saffraan Rivier maintenance management plan (MMP), Western Cape Province, South Africa, Private client, 2015 - 03/2017, Consultant/Environmental Control Officer (ECO) The appointment involved providing environmental advisory services to a private landowner in Oudtshoorn, including correspondence with the competent authority and the compilation of a road management plan and an environmental maintenance management plan (MMP) for the property. Responsible for compiling a road rehabilitation plan and MMP for the farm and acting as environmental control officer (ECO) on the river rehabilitation and alien clearing activities. Midbrak sewer upgrades and pump station (Great Brak River), Western Cape Province, South Africa, V3 Consulting Engineers, 2016 - 03/2017, Environmental Control Officer (ECO) The project involved providing environmental control officer (ECO) services for the construction of a main sewer line and pump station. Responsible for conducting site inspections and compiling ECO reports, the
Wynand Loftus Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 3
post-construction audit report, and post-rehabilitation audit reports. The rehabilitation comprised the re- planting a variety of coastal forest species along the pipeline alignment and watering the plants every fortnight. Also responsible for conducting environmental induction training with the contractor and his staff, informing them of the environmental sensitivity of the site, identifying no-go areas and educating staff on the importance of practising sound environmental management. Herold Meander mixed-use development, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Sonqua Consulting, 01/2016 - 03/2017, Consultant The project involved a mixed-used development (i.e. agricultural village) comprising various agricultural components, including amongst others hops farming, small scale product processing, flower farming, honey farming, an aquaculture facility, and grazing for livestock). The housing component and infrastructure included package plant wastewater treatment works (WWTWs), a reservoir and pipelines. The development also has various tourism activities and a community hall. Responsible for carrying out the scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes, which included compiling environmental reports, and public participation and project management duties such as specialist management and consultation with authorities. Beaufort West 22 kV power lines, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Eskom, 2015 - 2016, Environmental Control Officer (ECO) The project involved providing environmental control officer (ECO) services for the construction of six 22 kV powerlines through undeveloped land in Beaufort West. Responsible for ECO services. Basic assessment (BA) process for the Bitou Public Safety Centre, Western Cape Province, South Africa, SMEC, 2015 - 2016, Consultant The project involved a full basic assessment (BA) process for the Bitou Public Safety Centre in Plettenberg Bay. Responsible for compiling reports, including the basic assessment report (BAR) and environmental management plan (EMP); conducting a full public participation process (PPP); and all project management related duties. Brandwacht Mediclinic amendment application, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Atterbury Property Developments, 2015 - 2016, Consultant The project involved a Part 2 amendment application process, which included compiling an impact statement report and public participation, for the Brandwacht Mediclinic in Stellenbosch. The original decision was appealed and therefore an amendment application was submitted via the Western Cape Minister of Environmental Affairs' Office. Responsible for coordinating the amendment application process. Uitvlug Section 24G application, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Private client, 2014 - 2016, Consultant The project involved carrying out a full environmental Section 24G process for the illegal construction of a road and vegetation clearance in Oudtshoorn. Responsible for carrying the Section 24G rectification process. Henque waste management licence (WML), Western Cape Province, South Africa, Henque Waste, 2015, Consultant Responsible for carrying out a full waste management licence (WML) application for a waste management and sorting facility. Sonskynvallei Phase 3 municipal housing project, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Mossel Bay Local Municipality, 2014 - 2015, Consultant The project entailed providing environmental advisory services and carrying out a full basic assessment (BA) environmental process for the municipal housing development in Sonskynsvallei. Infrastructure upgrades associated with the project included increasing the capacity of an existing water reservoir, and constructing a new bulk water pipeline and sewer rising main. Specialist assessments included archaeological, botanical, heritage, traffic and visual assessments. Responsible for carrying out a full BA process, including the
Wynand Loftus Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 4
compilation of environmental reports such as a basic assessment report (BAR) and environmental management programme (EMPr); conducting a full public participation process (PPP) and all project management related duties, including specialist management and consultation with authorities.
Wynand Loftus Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 5
Qualifications Andrea Siebritz
BSc (Hons) Environmental Scientist Environmental and Water Science Andrea is an environmental consultant at Aurecon where she focuses on BSc Environmental and environmental and water science. She has assisted in the scoping, basic Water Science assessment and environmental impact assessment processes on various projects located in South Africa. More specifically, she has gained experience on Professional the Working for Wetlands project, during which she assisted in compiling the registrations basic assessment report and the public participation process. Member, International Association for Impact She obtained her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental and Water Assessment, South Africa Science from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa. In (IAIAsa) addition, she is a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa (IAIAsa). Specialisation
Environmental management and water Experience science Upgrading of the Welvanpas water treatment works (WTW), Western Cape Province, South Africa, Drakenstein Local Municipality, 04/2012 - 09/2020, 3 Environmental Consultant years in industry Aurecon was appointed for the upgrading of the Welvanpas water treatment works (WTW), including the pump station, to transfer surplus water from the Welvanpas reservoir to the Con Marine and Van Blerk reservoirs. A 10 Ml direct filtration WTW was designed and constructed as well as a depot building for the regional staff. Aurecon's services included civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process, control and instrumentation (C&I) and building services. Responsible for
the water use licence application (WULA) and having meetings with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). Land infrastructure services for solid waste infrastructure in Ceres, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Witzenberg Local Municipality, 09/2017 - 12/2019, Environmental Consultant Aurecon was contracted for the planning of new solid waste infrastructure for Ceres. The project entailed the preliminary design of six public waste drop-off facilities and a central material recovery facility and transfer station to service the Witzenberg municipal area. The new solid waste infrastructure provides a streamlined network of waste drop-off points for the community to drop off their garden waste and any other oversized waste not collected by the municipality. It also serves as a depot to drop off recyclable waste. The material recovery facility ensures that all recyclables are diverted from landfill, saving the municipality the cost to transport and dispose of the waste. Responsible for facilitating the public participation process (PPP) and assisting with report writing.
Woolworths distribution centre in Montague Gardens, Western Cape Province, South Africa, Woolworths (Pty) Ltd, 11/2014 - 12/2019, Environmental Consultant Woolworths bought a 16 ha Telkom site in Montague Gardens with the aim of constructing a new distribution centre on the site. Aurecon was engaged to provide consulting engineering services on the project, including civil, structural, traffic engineering and environmental management services. Demolition works of the existing infrastructure commenced in February 2016 and construction commenced in August 2016. Woolworths also applied for a water use licence (WUL) to abstract water and dispose of brine. Responsible for the water use licence application (WULA) and attending having meetings with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). Mossel Bay Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP), Western Cape Province, South Africa, Mossel Bay Local Municipality, 01/2017 - 12/2019, Environmental Consultant Aurecon was appointed to develop the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) for 17 informal settlements in Mossel Bay. The objective of the project is to prepare the upgrading plans and acquire statutory approvals from the relevant government authorities. Responsible for compiling 24G applications and writing the impact assessments reports. Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer resilience project, Western Cape Province, South Africa, City of Cape Town, 10/2017 - 12/2019, Environmental Consultant The project involves developing boreholes in three geographic areas of the Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer to augment the water supply to Cape Town as part of the city's water resilience strategy. The work included the drilling of boreholes, the mechanical and electrical equipping thereof, and the pipelines required to connect to existing dams. Aurecon's scope involves the design and construction of a new 20 Ml/d groundwater abstraction scheme comprising 16 x 30-50 kW positive displacement borehole pumps on variable speed drives (VSDs), connected by 18 km of buried medium-voltage (MV) cable. The project also involved an environmental component, as the site is in a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, which attracts environmental impact considerations in design and construction. Responsible for writing up method statements for the sites, auditing the water use licences (WULs), engaging with stakeholders, and doing mapping for the project. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) Impofu Wind Farms, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Red Cap Impofu, 08/2017 - 10/2019, Environmental Intern Aurecon was appointed to undertake environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for three wind farms for the proposed Impofu Wind Energy Facility (WEF). The project also involved a basic assessment report (BAR) for associated grid connection infrastructure to connect the wind farms to one of two existing substations in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal area. Responsible for assisting with the compilation of the database and compiling the background information document (BID), as well as managing the database for the landowners/adjacent landowner. Environmental planning and compliance for the Working for Wetlands Programme 2017-2019, National, South Africa, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), 11/2016 - 08/2019, Environmental Intern Aurecon, in association with GroundTruth, was appointed to undertake the planning and approval processes for the Working for Wetlands Programme for the period 2017-2019. The programme has been mandated to rehabilitate damaged wetlands and to protect pristine wetlands. The methodology followed constitutes three phases. The coarse-scale planning (Phase 1) entails the identification of degraded wetlands for rehabilitation purposes; the detailed planning (Phase 2) is for the identification and design of rehabilitation interventions and obtaining environmental authorisations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and Phase 3, the provision of implementation support, includes setting out and signing off constructed interventions and monitoring and evaluating wetland rehabilitation projects. Responsible for writing the draft basic assessment report (BAR) and rehabilitation plan, and compiling the intervention booklets.
Andrea Siebritz Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 2
Komsberg and Gunstfontein wind energy facilities (WEFs), Northern and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa, Komsberg Wind Farms (Pty) Ltd, 11/2018 - 07/2019, Environmental Consultant The project involved the basic assessment, environmental management and amendment application for the Komsberg and Gunstfontein wind energy facilities (WEFs). Responsible for writing the basic assessment report (BAR) and facilitate the public participation process (PPP) for the Komsberg WEF. Requisite environmental processes for the Kokerboom wind farms, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, Business Venture Investments No 178 (Pty) Ltd, 09/2015 - 07/2018, Environmental Intern The project involved the construction of three wind energy facilities (WEFs) and associated infrastructure north of Loeriesfontein. The construction was carried out in three phases, each of which had a maximum generation capacity of 140 to 200 MW, and a combined generation capacity of approximately 560 to 800 MW. A separate basic assessment (BA) was undertaken for the 132 kV transmission line. Aurecon was appointed to undertake the requisite environmental process as required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), as amended. The work involved an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the grid connection. Responsible for assisting with the public participation process (PPP).
Andrea Siebritz Zutari, previously known as Aurecon 3
APPENDIX B1
BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT
VERTEBRATE FAUNA & FLORA EXPECTED TO OCCUR AT THE METEOROLOGICAL MAST SITES: ORANJEMUND WIND FARM (Oranjemund area) [Baseline/Scoping]
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
Prepared by:
Peter L Cunningham
Environment & Wildlife Consulting, Namibia
P. O. Box 417 Karasburg Namibia Mobile: +264 81-3004080 E-mail: [email protected]
Prepared for:
Mr Reuben Heydenrych
Zutari
1 Century City Drive, Waterford Precinct, Century City South Africa 7441 Telephone: +27-83-4500628 E-mail: [email protected]
Desktop Study: Vertebrate Fauna & Flora - Cunningham
CONTENTS
1 Introduction 3
2 Methods 6 2.1 Literature Review 6 2.2 Terms of Reference 6
3 Assumptions and Limitations 7
4 Results 7 4.1 Reptile Diversity 7 4.2 Amphibian Diversity 11 4.3 Mammal Diversity 13 4.4 Avian Diversity 16 4.5 Flora 26 4.5.1 Tree and Shrub Diversity 26 4.5.2 Grass Diversity 30 4.5.3 Other species 31
5 Important Species 32
6 Important Areas 35
7 Conclusion 38
8 Envisaged Impacts 40 8.1 Introduction 40 8.2 Faunal Disturbances 40 8.2.1 Avifauna 43 8.2.2 Other Vertebrate Fauna 45 8.3 Floral Disturbances 48 8.3.1 Flora 50
9 References 53
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Vertebrate Fauna and Flora expected to occur at the Meteorological Mast Sites (Oranjemund area)
1 Introduction
A desktop study (i.e. literature review) was conducted between 5 and 8 March 2021 on the vertebrate fauna (e.g. terrestrial fauna: especially avifauna, but also amphibians, mammals & reptiles) and flora (trees and shrubs >1m in height and other species) expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area. The aim of this study is to determine the effect that the proposed 100m meteorological masts (3 x MET masts) for the proposed Oranjemund Wind Farm at three sites (e.g. southern [Uubvlei], central [Krebehuk] & northern [Chameis Bay]) may have on the vertebrate fauna and flora in the affected areas and immediate surroundings as gathered from a comprehensive literature study (i.e. Baseline/Scoping report) (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The proposed MET Mast Sites (black dots) located in the potential future wind farm sites (green shaded areas) known as Northern [Chameis], Central [Krebehuk] and Southern [Uubvlei] – note that the Southern site has 2 potential areas (Source: Zutari).
This literature review was to determine the actual as well as potential vertebrate fauna and flora associated with the general area commonly – albeit broadly – referred to as the Desert and Succulent Steppe [winter rainfall area] (Giess 1971) or Succulent Steppe (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). The vegetation structure is classified as succulent shrubs (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). The Succulent Karoo has been identified as one of 25 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ in the world and of extreme high conservation value (Burke 2003). The Namib Biome is well represented in the protected area network in Namibia making up 69% of the network (Barnard 1998). The entire coastline (biotic richness – arachnids, birds, lichens); offshore islands (seabird breeding sites, rich marine fauna and guano) and Orange River mouth MET Mast Sites (Oranjemund area) – March 2021 3
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(migrant shorebirds) are viewed as sites of special ecological importance in Namibia (Curtis and Barnard 1998). Due to its isolation as a diamond mining area the general area has been well protected since the early 1900’s and currently it is formally protected as the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebied) National Park. There are no communal or freehold conservancies in the area (Mendelsohn et al. 2002, NACSO 2010).
The area is extremely barren with the perennial Orange River and associated vegetated delta area, on the border between South Africa and Namibia, the only true lifeline in the general area (Anderson 2006, Shaw et al. 2004). The importance of the Orange River as habitat for all fauna is clear as the closest other coastal wetlands are the Olifants River (~400km south) and Sandwich Harbour (~500km north) (Kolberg n.d.).
The coastal areas, especially in the vicinity of Oranjemund and to a lesser extent Elizabeth Bay, as well as some portions along the Orange River (e.g. Daberas, Sendelingsdrift, etc.) have been heavily impacted by onshore and coastal diamond mining activities. A number of small rocky islands home to Cape Fur Seals and a variety of marine birds – Roastbeef, Sinclair, Plumpudding, Pomona, Albatros, Possession, Long, Hallifax, Penguin and Seal – are located along this stretch of coast and the Lüderitz Bay area. Other interesting features included the Bogenfels rock arch and various early mining settlements.
Vertebrate fauna The general area is regarded as “low” in overall (all terrestrial species) diversity (Mendelsohn et al. 2002) while the overall terrestrial endemism in the area on the other hand is viewed as “average” (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). The overall diversity and abundance of large herbivorous mammals (big game) is viewed as “low” with 1-2 species (gemsbok and springbok) while the overall diversity of large carnivorous mammals (large predators) is determined at 4 species with brown hyena being the most important with “medium” densities expected in the area (Mendelsohn et al. 2002).
It is estimated that at least 49 reptiles, 7 amphibians, 33 mammals, 175 bird species (breeding residents), are known to or expected to occur in the general/immediate area of which a high proportion – especially reptiles (56.3%) – are endemics.
Flora According to Maggs (1998) there are approximately 4344 higher plant species with the most species being within the grasses (422), composites (Asteraceae) (385), legumes (Fabaceae) (377) and fygies (Mesembryanthemaceae) (177), recorded from Namibia. Total species richness depends on further collecting and taxonomic revisions. High species richness is found in the Okavango, Otavi/Karsveld, Kaokoveld, southern Namib and Central Highland (Windhoek Mountains) areas. Endemic species – approximately 687 species in total – are mainly associated with the Kaokoveld (northwestern) and the succulent Karoo (southwestern) Namibia. The major threats to the floral diversity in Namibia are:
1). Conversion of the land to agriculture (with associated problems) and, 2). poorly considered development (Maggs 1998, Mendelsohn et al. 2002).
The vegetation in the Succulent Karoo Biome which is associated with some winter rainfall and fog, has an astounding richness in plants – mostly low perennial shrubs (chamaephytes) – that have succulent leaves, branches and stems and are found extensively throughout the families Aizoaceae, Crassulaceae, Liliaceae and Euphorbiaceae and have many endemics as well as endangered or rare species (Lovegrove 1999). The dominant shrub throughout this biome is the pioneer species Galenia africana that colonises overgrazed and disturbed areas while the annuals are mostly represented by the family Asteraceae (Lovegrove 1999).
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This great diversity of plants makes it the most important botanical area in Namibia (Mendelsohn et al. 2002, Robertson et al. 2012).
The average plant production is extremely low with 0-5% variation in green vegetation biomass (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). The overall plant diversity (all species - “higher” plants) in the general area is estimated at less than 50 species in suitable/unique habitats. Plant endemism is relatively “high” with more than 26-35 species expected from the general area (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). Simmons (1998b) puts the plant endemism at between 41 to 50 species depending on the locality while Maggs (1998) estimates 180 species being endemic and almost 200 being near-endemic. Burke (2003) estimates that over 5,000 species of plants occur in the Succulent Karoo Biome and at least 660 species in the northern regions of the Sperrgebied with the biggest threats to the botany in this area being mining and illegal collection – e.g. most populations of the ‘halfmens’ (Pachypodium namaquanum) have been eradicated by unscrupulous collectors. Furthermore, very little is also known regarding many other species favoured by collectors – e.g. Lithops and Conophytum. Succulents are increasingly in danger due to various developments in southern Africa (Smith and Crouch 2009). The Tsau//Khaeb National Park (within which the 3 MET Mast sites fall) – most of which is pristine area – has more than 1,000 plant species comprising approximately 25% of the entire Namibian flora with numerous endemic and near-endemic species (Mannheimer et al. 2008). However, plant diversity decreases away from the species rich Lüderitz Peninsula (Burke 2006).
The 3 x MET Mast sites fall within landforms classified as coastal hummocks (north) and southern sand plains (central and south) with the north site located in an area viewed as high conservation importance while the central and south sites located in areas viewed as medium conservation importance (Burke 2006). Furthermore, the research coverage of the area is viewed as poor for birds, plants and reptiles and medium for mammals (Burke 2006).
According to Burke (2006) the vegetation types within which the MET Mast sites are proposed, include:
Northern [Chameis Bay] = Othona Dwarf Shrubland; Central [Krebehuk] = boundary of Othona Dwarf Shrubland and Southern Dwarf Succulent Shrubland; and Southern [Uubvlei] = Site 1 (west); boundary of Othona Dwarf Shrubland and Southern Dwarf Succulent Shrubland and Site 2 (east); Southern Othonna Dwarf Shrubland.
Othona Dwarf Shrubland The extent of this vegetation type is 783.8km² or 3.63% of the Sperrgebied and up to 90 species are expected (within the quarter-degree square associated with this mapping unit). Dwarf stem- and leaf-succulent shrubs dominate this vegetation type with the vegetation mostly <30cm in height and plant cover continuous with 10-15%. This continuous cover makes the area important as food and moisture for wildlife. The dune hummocks in the Kerbehuk and Uubvlei areas are viewed as high conservation importance. Large numbers of protected species occur in this area which include Adromischus, Amphibolia, Cephalophyllum, Conophytum, Crassula, Dracophilus, Eberlanzia, Fenestraria, Juttadinteria, Lithops, Psammophora, Ruschia, Stroeberia and Tylecodon species as well as various Southern Namib endemics such as Brownanthus arenosus, B. namibensis, Euphorbia verruculosa, Jamesbrittenia merxmuelleri, Limonium dyeri, Marlothiella gummifera, Pelargonium cortusifolium, P. sibthropiifolium, Pteronia pomonae and Zygophyllum longicapsularae. Key species include Othonna furcata on plains/rocky ridges and dune areas; Amphibolia rupis-arcuatae, Brownanthus arenosus and Eberlanzia sedoides on sandy plains and Salsola spp. and Sarcocaulon patersonii on ravel plains. The recovery potential is
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Southern Dwarf Succulent Shrubland The extent of this vegetation type is 847.9km² or 3.92% of the Sperrgebied and etween 50 to 100 plant species expected. There are a number of species of conservation importance such as Amphibolia rupis-arcuatae, Aridaria noctiflora, Cephalophyllum ebracteatum, Crassula, Conophytum, Eberlanzia species, Fenestraria rhopalophylla and Stroeberia beetzii. Key species include Brownanthus arenosus, Amphibolia rupis-arcuatae, Othonna furcata, Stroeberia beetzi and Salsola spp. including Cladoraphis cyperoides (sand dunes) and Pelargonium curtusifolium (rocky areas). The conservation importance is viewed as “medium” and the recovery potential as “medium while threats include infrastructure developments for roads, power and telecommunications (Burke 2006).
Southern Othonna Dwarf Shrubland The extent of this vegetation type is 1329.8km² or 6.15% of the Sperrgebied. Grasses and low stem- and leaf-succulents mainly <30cm in height dominate this vegetation type while the perennial plant cover is low between 1-10%. Sperrgebied endemics include Brownanthus arenosus, Dracophilus and Zygophyllum species while the key species include Brownanthus arenosus, which is common throughout, and Othonna furcata, O. cylindrica, Brownanthus marlothii, Salsola and Zygophyllum species. The conservation importance is viewed as “medium” and the recovery potential as “high” (sandy areas) to “medium” (gravel areas) while no threats expected (Burke 2006).
It is estimated that at least 30 larger trees and shrubs and 29 grasses are known to or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area.
2 Methods
2.1 Literature Review
A comprehensive and intensive literature review (i.e. desktop study) regarding the vertebrate fauna (reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds) and flora (larger trees and shrubs [>1m in height], including “other” species as well as grasses) that could potentially occur in the general/immediate Oranjemund area (i.e. area between Chameis Bay to Uubvlei) was conducted between 5 and 8 March 2021 using as many references as manageable. A list of the references consulted can be viewed in the Reference section (Page 53).
2.2 Terms of Reference (ToR)
According to the ToR the following was expected:
1. Assess the vertebrate fauna and flora issues relevant to the above mentioned area according to the available literature. Vertebrate fauna would include amphibians, reptiles, mammals (small & large) and birds (the avifauna section would also include power line sensitive birds) while the flora will focus on species potentially affected within the actual footprint at each development site; 2. Assess the significance of development and environmental impact that the proposed MET mast facilities and associated infrastructure may have on the vertebrate fauna and flora at the proposed three development sites including general comments; and 3. Identify important species (vertebrate fauna) and flora of conservation value – i.e. endemic, rare, threatened and endangered species, etc.
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3 Assumptions and Limitations It is assumed that: • all the relevant documents/maps have been supplied; • all the proposed development activities have been indicated; • all the areas to be developed have been indicated; and • no additional developments planned consequently to this study being undertaken.
Limitations: • Vertebrate fauna and flora studies were limited to a comprehensive literature study only with no fieldwork conducted to determine actual species composition present at the sites. This could mean that species – especially flora and small mammals (e.g. rodents and bats) – may be present throughout the area or at the various proposed MET Masts sites (north, central and south) that are not included in the literature review. This is likely for flora although unlikely for the vertebrate fauna with rather more species indicated as potentially occurring in the general area due to the literature study conducted.
4 Results
4.1 Reptile Diversity
Reptile diversity known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast Site areas (literature study only) is presented in Table 1.
Approximately 261 species of reptiles are known or expected to occur in Namibia thus supporting approximately 30% of the continents species diversity (Griffin 1998a). At least 22% or 55 species of Namibian lizards are classified as endemic. The occurrence of reptiles of “conservation concern” includes about 67% of Namibian reptiles (Griffin 1998a). Emergency grazing and large scale mineral extraction in critical habitats are some of the biggest problems facing reptiles in Namibia (Griffin 1998a).
The overall reptile diversity and endemism in the general area is estimated at between 41-50 species and 9-12 species, respectively (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). Griffin (1998a) presents figures of between 11-20 and 3-4 for endemic lizards and snakes, respectively, from the general area. The Diamond Coast (i.e. Sperrgebied) has an estimated 38 species of reptiles (Griffin 1998a).
At least 49 species of reptiles are expected to occur in the general area with 13 species being endemic – i.e. 26.5% endemic. Two species expected to occur in the area (Psammophylax rhombeatus and Meroles micropholidotus) are classified as “rare”; 1 species as “vulnerable” 2 species as protected game; 1 species as indeterminate; 2 species as insufficiently known and 2 species as peripheral. The IUCN (2020) classifies 28 species with some form of international conservation status, with 1 species classified as “endangered” (Psammobates tentorius trimeni) and 27 species as “least concern” while all the other reptiles have not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List. Bitis schneideri, previously classified as “vulnerable” has recently been downgraded to “least concern”. The SARDB classifies 1 species as “rare”, 1 species as “vulnerable” and 4 species as “peripheral” while 4 species are classified by CITES as Appendix 2 species.
The 49 species expected to occur in the general area consist of at least 2 tortoises; 1 blind snake; 1 thread snake; 15 typical snakes; 6 skinks; 8 old world lizards; 1 plated lizard; 1 girdled lizard; 1 monitor lizard; 3 agamas; 1 chameleon and 10 geckos.
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Table 1. Reptiles known and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area – i.e. south-western Namibia.
Species: Scientific name Species: Common name Cunningham Cunningham Namibian conservation and legal International Status (2003) (2013) status SARDB IUCN CITES TURTLES AND TERRAPINS Chersina angulata Angulate or Bowsprit Tortoise √ Peripheral; Protected Game LC C2 Psammobates tentorius trimeni Namaqualand Tent Tortoise Vulnerable; Protected Game E C2 SNAKES Blind Snakes Rhinotyphlops schinzi Schinz’s Beaked Blind Snake Secure; Endemic P LC Thread Snakes Namibiana (Leptotyphlops) occidentalis Western Thread Snake Secure; Endemic P LC Typical Snakes Boaedon (Lamprophis) fuliginosus Brown House Snake Secure Pseudaspis cana Mole Snake Secure Prosymna frontalis South-western Shovel-snout Secure; Endemic P LC Dipsina multimaculata Dwarf Beaked Snake √ Secure; Endemic Psammophylax rhombeatus Spotted or Rhombic Skaapsteker Indeterminate; Rare? Psammophis notostictus Karoo Sand Snake Secure Psammophis leightoni namibensis Namib Sand Snake √ √ Secure LC Dasypeltis scabra Common or Rhombic Egg Eater Secure LC Aspidelaps lubricus lubricus Coral Snake Secure Naya nivea Cape Cobra Secure Naja nigricincta woodi Black-necked Spitting Cobra Secure; Endemic? R Bitis caudalis Horned Adder √ Secure Bitis cornuta Many Horned Adder √ Secure Bitis schneideri Namaqua Dwarf Adder Insufficiently known V LC Bitis peringueyi Péringuey’s Adder Endemic; Secure LC LIZARDS Skinks Acontias lineatus lineatus Striped Legless Skink Secure LC Typhlosaurus meyeri Meyer’s Blind Legless Skink Secure; Endemic LC Trachylepis capensis Cape Skink Secure Trachylepis occidentalis Western Three-striped Skink Secure
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Trachylepis sulcata ansorgii Western Rock Skink Secure Trachylepis variegata variegata Variegated Skink Secure Old World Lizards Meroles anchietae Shovel-snouted Lizard Secure LC Meroles ctenodactylus Smith’s Desert Lizard √ Secure LC Meroles cuneirostris Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard √ Secure; Endemic Meroles knoxii Knox’s Desert Lizard √ Secure LC Meroles micropholidotus Small-scaled Desert Lizard Endemic; Insufficiently known; Rare? LC Meroles suborbitalis Spotted Desert Lizard √ Secure LC Pedioplanis lineoocellata pulchella Spotted Sand Lizard Secure Pedioplanis namaquensis Namaqua Sand Lizard Secure Plated Lizards Cordylosaurus subtessellatus Dwarf Plated Lizard Secure; Endemic LC Girdled Lizards Karusasaurus (Cordylus) polyzonus Karoo Girdled Lizard √ Secure LC C2 Agama Agama anchietae Anchieta’s Agama Secure LC Agama atra Southern Rock or Knobel’s Agama Secure LC Agama hispida Southern Spiny Agama Secure LC Chameleons Chamaeleo namaquensis Namaqua Chameleon √ Secure LC C2 Geckos Chondrodactylus angulifer angulifer Giant Ground Gecko √ Endemic; Secure LC Goggia lineata Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko Secure LC Chondrodactylus (Pachydactylus) Bibron’s Thick-toed Gecko √ Secure bibronii Chondrodactylus (Pachydactylus) turneri Turner’s Thick-toed Gecko Secure Pachydactylus punctatus Speckled Thick-toed Gecko Secure Pachydactylus rugosus rugosus Rough Thick-toed Gecko √ Secure; Endemic LC Pachydactylus serval onscepensis Western Spotted Thick-toed Gecko Secure LC Pachydactylus weberi Weber’s Thick-toed Gecko Secure LC Pachydactylus rangei Web-footed Gecko √ Endemic; Secure P LC Ptenopus garrulous maculatus Common Barking Gecko √ Secure Namibian conservation and legal status according to the Nature Conservation Ordinance No 4 of 1975 (Griffin 2003) Endemic – includes Southern African Status (Branch 1998) SARDB (2004): R – Rare; V – Vulnerable; P – Peripheral
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IUCN (2020): E – Endangered; LC – Least Concern [All other species not yet assessed by the IUCN Red List] CITES: CITES Appendix 2 species
Source for literature review: Alexander and Marais (2007), Bates et al. (2014), Branch (1998), Branch (2008), Boycott and Bourquin 2000, Broadley (1983), Buys and Buys (1983), Cunningham (2003), Cunningham (2006), Cunningham (2013a), Griffin (2003), Hebbard (n.d.), IUCN (2020), Marais (1992), Tolley and Burger (2007)
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Old world lizards (8 species with 2 species being endemic and 1 species classified as “rare” [37.5%]), typical snakes (15 species with 4 species being endemic and 1 species classified as “rare” [33.3%]) and gecko’s (10 species with 3 species being endemic [30%]), are the most important groups of reptiles expected to occur in the general area. Griffin (1998a) confirms the importance of the gecko fauna in Namibia while Namibia with approximately 129 species of lizards (Lacertilia) has one of the continents richest lizard fauna (Griffin 1998a).
As a group of reptiles, tortoises, are viewed as the most under threat in Namibia (Griffin 1998a), making the two species potentially occurring in the area (e.g. Chersina angulata and Psammobates tentorius trimeni) important, with P. s. trimeni the most important due to its classification of “endangered” and population decreasing by the IUCN (2020). Bitis schneideri [“Insufficiently known” and “vulnerable”] and the endemic Bitis peringueyi are viewed as the most important snakes potentially occurring in the area. The main habitats of B. schneideri – i.e. vegetated coastal dune hummock areas – are severely impacted by coastal diamond mining, especially in the Oranjemund [ML1] area, probably making this species the most vulnerable of all species expected to occur along this stretch of coastline. The small-scaled desert lizard (Meroles micropholidotus) classified as endemic, “insufficiently known” and “rare” is another important species expected from the area although also found further inland. However, the presence of Psammobates tentorius trimeni in Namibia is uncertain (IUCN 2020).
Cunningham (2003, 2013a) confirmed 2 and 15 reptile species from the WOMS (Wet Overburden Mining System; MA 1, Oranjemund – i.e. south MET Mast site area) and Karingarab (west of Krebehuk – i.e. central MET Mast site area) areas, respectively (Table1).
Due to the fact that reptiles are an understudied group of animals, especially in Namibia, it is expected that more species may be located in the general area than presented above.
However, none of the important reptile species are exclusively associated with the proposed MET Mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
MET Mast impacts Except for local site disturbance (i.e. habitat destruction) the impact of the proposed MET Mast developments – all sites – is not expected to detrimentally affect unique reptile species potentially occurring at these sites.
4.2 Amphibian Diversity
Amphibian diversity known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast Site areas (literature study only) is presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Amphibians known and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area – i.e. south-western Namibia.
Species: Scientific name Species: Common Namibian International name conservation Status: IUCN and legal status Rain Frogs Breviceps macrops Desert Rain Frog Vulnerable NT Toads Sclerophrys capensis (Amietophrynus rangeri) Raucous Toad LC Vandijkophrynus gariepensis Karoo Toad LC Rubber Frog
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Phrynomantis annectens Marbled Rubber Frog Endemic LC River Frog Amietia angolensis Common River Frog LC Sand Frogs Tomopterna tandyi Tandy’s Sand Frog LC Platannas Xenopus laevis Common Platanna LC Endemic – (Griffin 1998b) IUCN (2020): NT – Near Threatened; LC – Least Concern Source for literature review: Carruthers (2001), Channing (2001), Channing and Griffin (1993), Du Preez and Carruthers (2009), IUCN (2020), Passmore and Carruthers (1995)
Amphibians are declining throughout the world due to various factors of which much has been ascribed to habitat destruction. Basic species lists for various habitats are not always available with Namibia being no exception in this regard while the basic ecology of most species is also unknown. Approximately 4,000 species of amphibians are known worldwide with just over 200 species known from southern Africa and at least 57 species expected to occur in Namibia. Griffin (1998b) puts this figure at 50 recorded species and a final species richness of approximately 65 species, 6 of which are endemic to Namibia. This “low” number of amphibians from Namibia is not only as a result of the generally marginal desert habitat, but also due to Namibia being under studied and under collected. Most amphibians require water to breed and are therefore associated with the permanent water bodies, mainly in northeast Namibia.
According to Mendelsohn et al. (2002), the overall frog diversity in the general area is estimated at between 4-7 species. Griffin (1998b) puts the species richness in the general area at 3-9 species and the Diamond Coast (i.e. Sperrgebied) has an estimated 3 species of amphibians (Griffin 1998b). Anderson (2006) estimates 6 species of amphibians from the Orange River mouth area. Breviceps macrops is the most important and listed as “near threatened” by the IUCN (2020).
According to the literature, at least 7 species of amphibians can occur in suitable habitat in the general area. The area is under represented, with 2 toads 1 species each for rain, river, rubber, sand and platanna known and/or expected (i.e. potentially could be found in the area) to occur in the area. Of these, 1 species – Phrynomantis annectens – is endemic (14.3%) although occurs widespread throughout Namibia while Breviceps macrops, classified as “near threatened” (IUCN 2020), is probably the most important amphibian species in the area due to coastal diamond mining destroying its habitat – i.e. vegetated coastal dune hummocks – in Namibia. Phrynomantis annectens, Amietia angolensis and Xenopus laevis require fresh water for breeding purposes and are not expected to occur in the immediate vicinity of the MET Mast site areas due to a lack of open surface water.
With the exception of the vegetated coastal dune hummocks and vegetated Orange River area being suitable to amphibians, the coastal areas and associated salt pans are generally viewed as overall marginal habitat for amphibians (Cunningham and Jankowitz 2010). Although the population trend for Breviceps macrops is unknown, threats include mining and quarrying (IUCN 2020). This species probably occurs in the area (e.g. vegetated dune hummock areas), but is only active during fog and/or rainy spells, and consequently difficult to observe.
However, none of the important amphibian species are exclusively associated with the proposed MET Mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
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MET Mast impacts Except for local site disturbance (i.e. habitat destruction) the impact of the proposed MET Mast developments – all sites – is not expected to detrimentally affect unique amphibian species potentially occurring at these sites. However, vegetated coastal dune hummock areas should be avoided as these are preferred habitat for desert rain frogs (Breviceps macrops).
4.3 Mammal Diversity
Mammal diversity known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast Site areas (literature study only) is presented in Table 3.
Namibia is well endowed with mammal diversity with at least 250 species occurring in the country. These include the well known big and hairy as well as a legion of smaller and lesser-known species. Currently 14 mammal species are considered endemic to Namibia of which 11 species are rodents and small carnivores of which very little is known. Most endemic mammals are associated with the Namib and escarpment with 60% of this rock- dwelling (Griffin 1998c). According to Griffin (1998c) the endemic mammal fauna is best characterized by the endemic rodent family Petromuridae (Dassie rat) and the rodent genera Gerbillurus and Petromyscus. Mammals are generally not well represented in the saline pan areas found along the Namibian coast (Cunningham and Jankowitz 2010).
The overall mammal diversity in the general area is estimated at between 31-45 species with 3-4 species being endemic to the area (Mendelsohn et al. 2002). Kolberg (n.d.) indicates that the Orange River mouth area support 33 species of mammal. Griffin (1998c) puts the species richness distribution of endemics also between 1-2 species in the general area while the Diamond Coast (i.e. Sperrgebied) is expected to have up to 25 species of mammals.
According to the literature at least 33 species of mammals are known and/or expected to occur in the general area. Two species (6.1%) are classified as endemic; 1 rare; 3 vulnerable; 4 protected game; 2 insufficiently known; 1 peripheral; 2 indeterminate; 2 problem animals; 2 huntable game and 2 species not listed. The majority of mammalian species expected to occur in the general area are bats and carnivores – 10 and 8 species each (i.e. 30.3% and 24.2% each) of which 1 bat (10%) is viewed as “rare” and 3 carnivores are classified as “vulnerable” (37.5%), respectively. Eremitalpa granti and Cistugo seabrai are classified as endemic species.
Ten species (30.3%) have some form of international conservation status of which 8 species are listed by the SARDB (5 near threatened, 2 vulnerable and 1 data deficient) and 1 species listed by the IUCN (2020) near threatened (all other species listed as least concern) and another 2 species are listed as CITES Appendix 2 species.
Habitat alteration and overutilization are the two primary processes threatening most mammals (Griffin 1998c) with species probably underrepresented in the above mentioned Table 3 for the general area being the bats and rodents, as these groups have not been well documented from the arid south western part of Namibia. However, bats are not sedentary with the overall available coastal desert habitat not viewed as a preferred habitat in the area although the Orange River mouth could be an important feeding ground not yet confirmed.
Terrestrial mammals known to occur in the Orange River mouth area by Anderson (2006) include black-backed jackal, brown hyena, caracal, Cape fox, African wild cat, small spotted genet, Cape clawless otter, springbok, oryx, steenbok, vervet monkey and porcupine.
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Table 3. Mammals known and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area – i.e. south-western Namibia.
Species: Scientific name Species: Common name Cunningham Cunningham Namibian conservation and legal International Status (2003) (2013) status SARDB IUCN CITES Moles Eremitalpa granti Grant’s Golden Mole √ Endemic; Secure V LC Elephant Shrews Macroscelides proboscideus Round-eared Elephant-shrew √ Secure LC Bats Epomophorus wahlbergi Wahlberg’s Epauletted Fruit Bat Indeterminate DD LC Lissonycteris angolensis Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat Not listed LC Rhinolophus capensis Cape Horseshoe Bat Secure NT LC Taphozous mauritianus Mauritian Tomb Bat Secure LC Nycteris thebaica Egyptian Slit-faced Bat Secure LC Chaerephon (Tadarida) ansorgei Ansorge’s Free-tailed Bat Not Listed LC Tadarida aegyptiaca Egyptian Free-tailed Bat Secure LC Cistugo seabrae Namibian Wing-gland Bat Endemic; Insufficiently known; Rare V LC Eptesicus hottentotus Long-tailed Serotine Bat Secure LC Neoromicia (Pipistrellus) capensis Cape Serotine Bat Secure LC Hares and Rabbits Lepus capensis Cape Hare √ Secure LC Rodents Mole-rats Bathyergus janetta Namaqua Dune Mole-rat Secure NT LC Porcupines Hystrix africaeaustralis Porcupine √ Secure LC Rats and Mice Micaelamys (Aethomys) namaquensis Namaqua Rock Mouse Secure LC Parotomys brantsii Brants’ Whistling Rat Secure LC Parotomys littledalei Littledale’s Whistling Rat √ Secure NT LC Desmodillus auricularis Cape Short-tailed Gerbil Secure LC Gerbillurus paeba Hairy-footed Gerbil √ Secure LC Primates Papio ursinus Chacma Baboon √ Secure; Problem animal LC C2
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Carnivores Parahyaena (Hyaena) brunnea Brown Hyena √ Insufficiently known; (Vulnerable?); NT NT Peripheral; Protected Game Felis silvestris African Wild Cat Vulnerable LC C2 Mellivora capensis Ratel √ Secure; Protected Game NT LC Genetta genetta Small-spotted Genet Secure LC Atilax paludinosus Marsh Mongoose Indeterminate LC Vulpes chama Cape Fox Vulnerable? LC Canis mesomelas Black-backed Jackal √ Secure; Problem animal LC Ictonyx striatus Zorilla (Striped Polecat) Secure LC Antelopes Oryx gazella Gemsbok √ Secure; Huntable game LC Silvicapra grimmia Common Duiker Secure; Protected Game LC Raphicerus campestris Steenbok √ Secure; Protected Game LC Antidorcas marsupialis Springbok √ Secure; Huntable game LC SARDB (2004): NT – Near Threatened, V – Vulnerable, DD – Data Deficient IUCN (2020): NT – Near Threatened, LC – Least Concern CITES: CITES Appendix 2 species Source for literature review: Cunningham (2003), Cunningham (2013a), De Graaff (1981), Griffin and Coetzee (2005), Estes (1995), Frost (2014), IUCN (2020), Joubert and Mostert (1975), Monadjem et al. (2010), Picker and Griffiths (2011), Skinner and Smithers (1990), Skinner and Chimimba (2005), Stander and Hanssen (2003) and Taylor (2000)
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Vervet monkey is however known from along the Orange River although a bit further inland than the actual mouth area (Cunningham 2013b). Some of these species – e.g. small spotted genet, Cape clawless otter and vervet monkey – are not expected away from the Orange River habitat.
Alien and invasive mammals expected/known from the area, especially the Orange River mouth and urban areas such as Oranjemund town, include feral domestic cat (Felis catus), house mouse (Mus musculus) and house rat (Rattus rattus) (Picker and Griffiths 2011).
The most important species from the general area are probably all those classified as endemic, “rare” (Namibian wing-gland bat), and “vulnerable” (i.e. brown hyena, African wild cat and Cape fox) by Namibian legislation. Other important species are those classified internationally by the IUCN (2020) and SARDB as “near threatened” (i.e. brown hyena – IUCN 2020; Cape horseshoe bat, Namaqua dune mole-rat and Littledale’s whistling rat) (See Table 3). Brown hyena is known to breed in the Karingarab area (see Cunningham (2013a) as well as also known to forage along the coastal areas.
Cunningham (2003, 2013a) confirmed 1 and 12 mammal species from the WOMS (Wet Overburden Mining System; MA 1, Oranjemund – i.e. south MET Mast site area) and Karingarab (west of Kerbehuk – i.e. central MET Mast site area) areas, respectively (Table1). However, none of the important mammal species are exclusively associated with the proposed MET mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
MET Mast impacts Mammal species potentially negatively affected by MET guy wires are bats (although very little is known about bat species in the general area) with the endemic and rare Cistugo seabrai viewed as the most important species. Brown hyena den sites are also viewed as important areas and should be avoided.
4.4 Avian Diversity
Bird diversity known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast Site areas (literature study only) is presented in Table 4.
Although Namibia’s avifauna is comparatively sparse compared to the high rainfall equatorial areas elsewhere in Africa, approximately 658 species have already been recorded with a diverse and unique group of arid endemics (Brown et al. 1998, Maclean 1985). Fourteen species of birds are endemic or near endemic to Namibia with the majority of Namibian endemics occurring in the savannas (30%) of which ten species occur in a north-south belt of dry savannah in central Namibia (Brown et al. 1998).
The combination of nutrient rich ocean waters, tidal shoreline and coastal wetlands along the Namibian coast provides a habitat and feeding ground for many species of seabirds and waders that congregate in very large numbers at certain times of the year (Lowery 2001). Bird diversity is viewed as “low to average” in the general area with 51-80 species estimated along the northern coastal area (i.e. Chameis Bay area) and 81-110 associated with the southern coastal area (i.e. Krebehuk-Uubvlei-Oranjemund) and Orange River environs including 1-3 endemic species (Mendelsohn et al. 2000). Simmons (1998a) indicates no Namibian endemic/near-endemic species expected from the general area and a “low” ranking for southern African endemics and red data birds. Furthermore, the entire Sperrgebiet and offshore islands are classified as Important Birding Area’s (IBA) in Namibia with a global status (Simmons 1998a).
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Table 4. Avian diversity known and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area – i.e. south-western Namibia.
Species: Scientific name Species: Common name Cunningham Maritz Namibian International status (2013) (2020) conservation and legal status Southern IUCN Africa Struthio camelus Common Ostrich √ Pternistis capensis Cape Spurfowl End Numida meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl Alopochen aegyptiaca Egyptian Goose √ Tadorna cana South African Shelduck √ End Anas capensis Cape Teal √ Anas sparsa African Black Duck √ Anas undulata Yellow-billed Duck Anas smithii Cape Shoveler End Anas erythrorhyncha Red-billed Teal Tricholaema leucomelas Acacia Pied Barbet N-end Upupa africana African Hoopoe Alcedo cristata Malachite Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher √ Merops hirundineus Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Colius colius White-backed Mousebird End Urocolius indicus Red-faced Mousebird Tachymarptis melba Alpine Swift Apus bradfieldi Bradfield’s Swift N-end Apus affinus Little Swift Apus caffer White-rumped Swift Tyto alba Barn Owl Bubo capensis Cape Eagle-Owl NT Bubo africanus Spotted Eagle-Owl Asio capensis Marsh Owl Columba livia Rock Dove Alien Columba guinea Speckled Pigeon Streptopelia senegalensis Laughing Dove Streptopelia capicola Cape Turtle Dove
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Streptopelia semitorquata Red-eyed Dove Oena capensis Namaqua Dove Neotis ludwigii Ludwig’s Bustard E N-end E Ardeotis kori Kori Bustard NT NT Porphyrio madagascariensis African Purple Swamphen Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen Fulica cristata Red-knobbed Coot Pterocles namaqua Namaqua Sandgrouse Rostratula benghalensis Greater Painted-snipe Burhinus capensis Spotted Thick-knee Haematopus moquini African Black Oystercatcher √ NT End Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt √ Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet √ Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz’s Plover √ Charadrius tricollaris Three-banded Plover √ Charadrius pallidus Chestnut-banded Plover NT NT Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Plover √ Vanellus armatus Blacksmith Lapwing √ Cursorius rufus Burchell’s Courser N-end Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull √ Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull √ Larus hartlaubii Hartlaub’s Gull √ V End Sterna caspia Caspian Tern V Sterna bergii Swift Tern √ Sterna balaenarum Damara Tern End/N-end; NT End V Chlidonias hybrida Whiskered Tern Pandion haliaetus Osprey Elanus caeruleus Black-shouldered Kite Haliaeetus vocifer African Fish Eagle V Circaetus pectoralis Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circus maurus Black Harrier E E Melierax canorus Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk √ N-end Buteo rufofuscus Jackal Buzzard End Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle E V Aquila verreauxii Verreauxs’ Eagle NT Aquila pennatus Booted Eagle E
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Polemaetus bellicosus Martial Eagle E E Sagittarius serpentarius Secretarybird V E Falco rupicolus Rock Kestrel √ Falco rupicoloides Greater Kestrel Falco biarmicus Lanner Falcon Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon NT Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe √ Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe CE Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe √ NT Morus capensis Cape Gannet CE End E Anhinga rufa African Darter Phalacrocorax africanus Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax coronatus Crowned Cormorant NT End NT Phalacrocorax lucidus White-breasted Cormorant √ Phalacrocorax neglectus Bank Cormorant √ E End E Phalacrocorax capensis Cape Cormorant √ E End E Egretta garzetta Little Egret √ Egretta intermedia Yellow-billed Egret Egretta alba Great Egret Ardea cinerea Grey Heron √ Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron Ardea goliath Goliath Heron √ Ardea purpurea Purple Heron Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron Ixobrychus minutus Little Bittern Scopus umbretta Hamerkop Phoenicopterus ruber Greater Flamingo √ V Phoenicopterus minor Lesser Flamingo √ V NT Bostrychia hagedash Hadeda Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus African Sacred Ibis √ Platalea alba African Spoonbill √ Pelecanus onocrotalus Great White Pelican V Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork Ciconia nigra Black Stork E
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Ciconia ciconia White Stork Spheniscus demersus African Penguin E End E Dicrurus adsimilis Fork-tailed Drongo Nilaus afer Brubru Telophorus zeylonus Bokmakierie N-end Batis pririt Pririt Batis N-end Corvus capensis Cape Crow Corvus albus Pied Crow Lanius collaris Common Fiscal Parus afer Grey Tit End Riparia paludicola Brown-throated Martin Hirundu albigularis White-throated Swallow Hirundo cucullata Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo fuligula Rock Martin √ Pycnonotus nigricans African Red-eyed Bulbul N-end Sylvietta rufescens Long-billed Crombec Eremomela icteropygialis Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela gregalis Karoo Eremomela End Acrocephalus baeticatus African Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris Lesser Swamp-Warbler Parisoma layardi Layard’s Tit-babbler End Parisoma subcaeruleum Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler Zosterops pallidus Orange River White-eye End Cisticola subruficapilla Grey-backed Cisticola N-end Cisticola juncidis Zitting Cisticola Prinia flavicans Black-chested Prinia Prinia maculosa Karoo Prinia √ End Phragmacia substriata Namaqua Warbler End Calendulauda albescens Karoo Lark End Calendulauda barlowi Barlow’s Lark √ End Calendulauda erythrochlamys Dune Lark End End Ammomanopsis grayi Gray’s Lark End N-end Chersomanes albofasciata Spike-heeled Lark N-end Certhilauda curvirostris Cape Long-billed Lark √ End Eremopterix verticalis Grey-backed Sparrowlark N-end Calandrella cinerea Red-capped Lark
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Alauda starki Stark’s Lark N-end Monticola brevipes Short-toed Rock-Thrush N-end Turdus smithi Karoo Thrush End Bradornis infuscatus Chat Flycatcher N-end Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher Cossypha caffra Cape Robin-Chat Cercotrichas coryphoeus Karoo Scrub-Robin End Saxicola torquatus African Stonechat Oenanthe monticola Mountain Wheatear N-end Oenanthe pileata Capped Wheatear Cercomela sinuata Sickle-winged Chat End Cercomela schlegelii Karoo Chat √ N-end Cercomela tractrac Tractrac Chat √ N-end Cercomela familiaris Familiar Chat Onychognathus nabouroup Pale-winged Starling N-end Creatophora cinerea Wattled Starling Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling Alien Nectarinia famosa Malachite Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus Southern Double-collared Sunbird End Nectarinia fusca Dusky Sunbird N-end Ploceus velatus Southern Masked-Weaver Quelea quelea Red-billed Quelea Euplectes orix Southern Red Bishop Estrilda astrild Common Waxbill Vidua macroura Pin-tailed Whydah Passer domesticus House Sparrow Alien Passer motitensis Great Sparrow Passer melanurus Cape Sparrow N-end Motacilla aguimp African Pied Wagtail Motacilla capensis Cape Wagtail Anthus cinnamomeus African Pipit Serinus alario Black-headed Canary End Crithagra atrogularis Black-throated Canary Crithagra flaviventris Yellow Canary √ N-end Crithagra albogularis White-throated Canary N-end Emberiza impetuani Lark-like Bunting N-end
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Emberiza capensis Cape Bunting N-end [This table excludes migratory birds (e.g. Petrel, Albatross, Skua, etc.) and species breeding extralimital (e.g. stints, sandpipers, etc.) and rather focuses on birds that are breeding residents or can be found in the area during any time of the year. This would imply that many more birds (e.g. Palaearctic migrants) could occur in the area depending on “favourable” environmental conditions]
Southern Africa: End - Endemic, N-end - Near Endemic (Hockey et al. 2006) Namibia: CE – Critically Endangered, E – Endangered, NT – Near Threatened, V – Vulnerable (Simmons et al. 2015), End/N-end – Endemic/Near- endemic (Brown et al. 1998, Simmons et al. 2015) IUCN (2020): E – Endangered, V – Vulnerable, NT – Near Threatened [All other species are listed as LC (Least Concern) or have not yet been assessed by the IUCN Red List]
Source for literature review: Anderson 2006, Brown et al. (1998), Cunningham (2013a), Hockey et al. (2006), IUCN (2020), Komen (n.d.), Little and Crowe (2011), Maclean (1985), Maritz (2020), Peacock (2015), Peacock (2016), Picker and Griffiths (2011), Simmons et al. (2015) and Tarboton (2001)
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Wetland habitats contain the greatest number of threatened bird species of all the biomes in Namibia, indicating the importance of the Orange River mouth area (Simmons 1998a). The Orange River mouth area is also important for coastal and wetland red data bird species (Simmons 1998a) and viewed as one of the most important wetlands in southern Africa often supporting >1% of the global population of Damara tern and Hartlaub’s gull (Kolberg n.d.). The Orange River Mouth area is also a Ramsar site (Kolberg n.d.). Furthermore, the Orange River mouth “top birds” are viewed as the black-necked grebe, great white pelican, Damara tern, Caspian tern, chestnut-banded plover, peregrine falcon, osprey, Cape long-billed lark, Barlow’s lark, grey tit, dusky sunbird, Karoo eremomela, grey-backed cisticola and black- headed canary (Anderson 2006).
According to Simmons et al. (2015) 28 wetland bird species are of special concern in Namibia. The Namib coast is especially important for 8 species and in terms of global populations it supports >90% of the world’s chestnut-banded plovers (Charadrius pallidus); 31% of Cape teals (Anas capensis); and 26% of African black oystercatchers (Haematopus moquini). In terms of African endemic races it supports: >90% of the black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis gurneyi); and 33% of the white-fronted plover (Charadrius m. Marginatus); and in terms of southern African sub-continental populations it supports 31% of pied avocets (Recurvirosta avocetta), 13.7% of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and 10.3% of lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor) (Williams and Simmons 2008). Furthermore, up to 200,000 Holarctic shorebirds are supported seasonally along the Namibian coast belonging largely to 12 annually occurring species, of which 5 species occur in numbers that form a significant proportion of the southern African flyway populations – e.g. curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea 35%); sanderling (C. alba 32%); ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres 17.5%); grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola 7.8%) and red knot (Calidris canutus 1.6%) (Williams and Simmons 2008).
The Sperrgebied is home to 17 of the 60 bird species listed as Namibian Red-listed birds (See: Simmons et al. 2015). Coastal areas and wetlands are immensely important as 8 and 34 bird species are classified as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable in each of the biomes (i.e. coastal areas and wetlands), respectively (Simmons 1998a).
At least 175 species of birds (breeding residents and/or species found in the area throughout the year) occur and/or could occur in the general Oranjemund area – i.e. Chameis Bay- Krebehuk-Uubvlei-Oranjemund – at any time (Anderson 2006, Hockey et al. 2006, Maclean 1985, Tarboton 2001). All the migratory birds (e.g. Petrel, Albatross, Skua, etc.) and species breeding extralimital (e.g. stints, sandpipers, etc.), have been excluded here. This would imply that many more birds (e.g. Palaearctic migrants) could occur in the area depending on “favourable” environmental conditions.
Two of the 14 Namibian endemics (dune lark and Gray’s lark) are expected to occur in the general area (14.3% of all Namibian endemic species or 1.1% of all the species expected to occur in the area). Damara tern is viewed as a near-endemic species by Simmons et al. (2015). Furthermore, 2 species are classified as critically endangered (great crested grebe, Cape gannet), 9 species as endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, black harrier, tawny eagle, booted eagle, martial eagle, bank cormorant, Cape cormorant, black stork, African penguin), 7 species as vulnerable (Hartlaub’s gull, Caspian tern, African fish eagle, secretarybird, greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, great white pelican) and 9 species as near threatened (Cape eagle owl, kori bustard, African black oystercatcher, chestnut-banded plover, Damara tern, Verreauxs’ eagle, peregrine falcon, black-necked grebe, crowned cormorant) (Simmons et al. 2015) while 3 species are classified as potentially invasive aliens (rock dove, house sparrow, common starling) (Picker and Griffiths 2011). Except for the African fish eagle, the other larger eagles would only occur as vagrants and/or from time-to-time in the area.
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Fifty three species have a southern African conservation rating with 28 species classified as endemic (16% of all the birds expected) and 25 species classified as near endemic (14.3% of all the birds expected) (Hockey et al. 2006). The IUCN (2020) classifies 8 species as endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, black harrier, martial eagle, secretarybird, Cape gannet, Cape cormorant, bank cormorant, African penguin), 2 species as vulnerable (Damara tern, tawny eagle) and 4 species as near threatened (kori bustard, chestnut-banded plover, crowned cormorant, lesser flamingo).
Other important species that potentially could occur in the general area, although not included in Table 4 as they are extralimital breeding species, include Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) – near threatened – and African marsh-harrier (Circus ranivorus) – endangered (Simmons et al. 2015).
Maritz (2020) confirmed 36 species at mining ponds along the coast which include the following species not included in Table 4 as they are extralimital breeders: common tern (Sterna hirundu), greenshank (Tringa nebularia), common whimbril (Numenius phaeopus), curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginia), marsh sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula), sanderling (Calidris alba) and sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). Cunningham (2013) confirmed 10 species from the Karingarab area, albeit inland, but in the general vicinity of the proposed central MET Mast site at Krebehuk.
The most important birds in the general area the two endemics (dune and Gray’s lark), and the species classified as critically endangered (great crested grebe, Cape gannet), endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, black harrier, tawny eagle, booted eagle, martial eagle, bank cormorant, Cape cormorant, black stork, African penguin), vulnerable (Hartlaub’s gull, Caspian tern, African fish eagle, secretarybird, greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, great white pelican) and near threatened (Cape eagle owl, kori bustard, African black oystercatcher, chestnut-banded plover, Damara tern, Verreauxs’ eagle, peregrine falcon, black-necked grebe, crowned cormorant) (Simmons et al. 2015) as well as those classified as endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, black harrier, martial eagle, secretarybird, Cape gannet, Cape cormorant, bank cormorant, African penguin), vulnerable (Damara tern, tawny eagle) and near threatened (kori bustard, chestnut-banded plover, crowned cormorant, lesser flamingo) by the IUCN (2020).
The most important bird areas are viewed as the Orange River mouth estuary and the saline pan known as “Pink Pan” in the general vicinity of the proposed southern MET Mast sites (See Figure 1). Up to 251 bird species are known to occur at the Orange River mouth with up to 64 wetland species making it the 6th most important wetland in southern Africa (Simmons et al. 1998). More importantly, the Orange River provides critical habitat for wetland associated Red Data species such as the black stork, fish eagle and white-backed night heron (Simmons and Alan 2002). A summer 2013 (February), Orange River mouth bird count resulted in 670 birds of 29 species although only conducted on the Namibian side and expected to be higher if the South African side was also surveyed (Kolberg 2013).
Chameis Pan is an important bird area as it is the southernmost breeding colony in Namibia for Damara tern with 1-7 pairs known to use the area (Braby 2011, Simmons et al. 2015). Furthermore, Chameis Bay is also part of the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) (Currie et al. 2009).
Mining ponds are also viewed as important bird areas as these are utilised by a variety of species, albeit viewed as artificial human structures, with the most important ponds being the northern ones with high densities of black-necked grebe. These ponds are also important for the endangered Cape cormorant and common terns especially since their numbers have been in decline throughout most of their range (Maritz 2020).
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Not all the bird species listed in Table 4 actually occur at each of the 3 proposed MET Mast sites, but rather throughout the general Orange River/Pink Pan environs and/or the general south-western coastal part of Namibia.
However, none of the important bird species are exclusively associated with the proposed MET Mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
MET Mast impacts MET mast structures and guy wires are known to cause bird mortalities (Drewitt and Langston 2006). Bird species expected to be potentially affected by the mast guy wires are species known to fly at MET Mast height (e.g. Ludwig’s bustard, swifts, sandgrouse, ravens, raptors and aquatic and marine species); species with nocturnal transients (e.g. Palaearctic migrants and wetland birds); the various Palaearctic and other migrants frequenting the coastal areas (e.g. chestnut-banded plovers, black-necked grebe, white-fronted plover, pied avocets, curlew sandpiper, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, grey plover and red knot); and the breeding residents of conservation concern (nationally/internationally) (e.g. African black oystercatcher, Damara tern, Cape gannet, crowned cormorant, bank cormorant, Cape cormorant, greater flamingo and lesser flamingo).
Other species of conservation concern, but not expected to be affected by the MET Mast guy wires due to being occasional visitors – rainfall related; mainly associated with inland areas, small species or flightless/island dwellers are Ludwig’s bustard (don’t normally frequent the coastal areas (however, have been known to breed on the Lüderitz Peninsula after years with good coastal rains and are then more common in area – J. Kemper pers. com.); kori bustard (probably only occasionally visit the area after localised rain showers); African penguin (flightless and offshore island inhabitants); dune lark (found further inland and a small bird) and Gray’s lark (found further inland and a small bird).
Furthermore, species known to be negatively affected by transmission lines in Namibia (i.e. “pylon sensitive” bird species – See Scott and Scott n.d.) are expected to be similarly affected by the MET Mast guy wires. Such “pylon sensitive” bird species known/expected to occur in the general area include: • African fish-eagle; • Black stork; • Booted eagle; • Cape eagle owl; • Caspian tern; • Chestnut-banded plover; • Great-crested grebe; • Great white pelican (although not common in area it is included due to its size); • Greater flamingo; • Kori bustard; • Lesser flamingo; • Ludwig’s bustard; • Martial eagle; • Peregrine falcon; • Tawny eagle; and • Verreauxs’ eagle.
Something else that may be relevant to the MET Mast tower is birds that may nest in the structure and include: • Cape crow; and • Pied crow.
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Potential bird flight paths are indicated in Figure 2. Although little is known regarding bird flight paths in Namibia, birds usually take the shortest route between habitat features visited, with the sites closest to the coast – i.e. MET Mast sites north, central and south (western site) viewed as the most problematic. Erecting the MET Mast(s) at a distance of at least 1.5km from the coast would minimise potential bird collisions with the mast guy wires as most bird activity along the coastal areas takes place within this distance (J. Kemper pers. com.).
4.5 Flora 4.5.1 Tree and Shrub Diversity
The tree and shrub diversity known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast Site areas (literature study only) is presented in Table 5.
Larger trees and shrubs (>1m in height) are limited in the Sperrgebied which is dominated by succulents with an estimated 30 species of larger “key” (i.e. most important) tree and shrub species (mainly succulent shrubs) known to and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area.
Although the Sperrgebied is extremely rich floristically the three vegetation types relevant to the proposed MET Mast sites, from north to south, include the Othona Dwarf Shrubland, Southern Dwarf Succulent Shrubland and the Southern Othonna Dwarf Shrubland – See Introduction (Burke 2006). The Sperrgebied succulent vegetation, in its entirety, is viewed as an extremely important area floristically in Namibia.
According to Burke (2003), Burke (2006), Cunningham (2015), Cunningham (2019) and Mannheimer and Curtis (2018) at least 45 tree/shrub species (including other species) occur in the general Oranjemund area. Mannheimer and Curtis (2018) include larger plants (>1m in height) from the general area while Burke (2003) presents dwarf shrubs and shrubs and Burke (2006) focuses on the key plants known from the 3 main vegetation types associated with the proposed MET Mast sites.
Of these 45 species indicated in Table 5, 6 species are endemic (13.3%), 11 species (24.4%) are classified as near endemic, 5 species (11.1%) protected by the Forest Act No. 12 of 2001 and 3 species (6.7%) protected by the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975 and 1 species (2.2%) listed as a CITES Appendix 2 species. Some species have more than 1 protected status (See Table 5). The larger trees and shrubs are limited to the Orange River habitat as the general area is extremely marginal for larger species due to severe water constraints and strong winds. Strumaria spp. flowers are used to distinguish various species (e.g. some species potentially occur in the area include S. barbarae [rare and near endemic], S. phonolithica [rare and endemic] and S. hardyana [least concern]) and should be treated as potentially important species as bulbs are viewed as important in the general area (Burke 2006). The endemic (Limonium dyeri) and near endemic (Brownanthus marlothii) are also viewed as important species albeit not exclusively associated with the area. The most important key species according to Burke (2006) are viewed as the southern coastal endemics – e.g. Limonium dyeri and Pelargonium cortusifolium.
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Table 5. Vegetation diversity (mainly trees and shrubs, but including other species) as presented by Burke (2003) and Mannheimer and Curtis (2018) from the general Oranjemund area and by Burke (2006) – i.e. 3 vegetation types associated with the proposed MET Mast sites. Species indicated below by Burke (2006) are the key species (∆) know from each vegetation type. Species confirmed by Cunningham (2015, 2019) from the general Oranjemund area, are also presented.
Species: Scientific name Cunningham Cunningham Dwarf Trees and Othona Southern Southern Namibian (2015) (2019) shrubs shrubs Dwarf Dwarf Othonna conservation and and (Mannheimer Shrubland: Succulent Dwarf legal status shrubs and Curtis Burke (2006) Shrubland: Shrubland: (Burke 2018) Burke (2006) Burke (2006) 2003) Acacia karoo √ Acanthosicyos horridus √ N-end; Protected (F) Amphibolia rupis-arcuatae √Δ √Δ N-end; NC Brownanthus arenosus √Δ √Δ √Δ N-end Brownanthus marlothii √ √Δ N-end Ceraria fruticulosa √ N-end Ceraria namaquensis √ N-end Cladoraphis cyperoides √ Δ Commiphora capensis √ N-end; Protected (F) Didelta carnosa var. tomentosa √ Diospyros ramulosa √ Eberlanzia sedoides √Δ N-end; NC Ectadium latifolium √ End Eremothamnus marlothianus √ End Euclea pseudebenus √ Protected (F) Euphorbia dregeana √ End Euphorbia gummifera √ End Helichrysum obtusum √ Lebeckia multiflora √ Lycium cinereum √ Lycium tetrandrum √ Limonium dyeri √ End Microloma calycinum √ Crassothonna (Othonna) cylindrica √Δ Crassothonna (Othonna) furcata √ √ √Δ √Δ N-end MET Mast Sites (Oranjemund area) – March 2021 27
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Pelargonium cortusifolium √ √Δ √Δ End Psilocaulon dinteri √ Salix mucronata √ NC, C2 Salsola spp. √ √ √ √Δ √Δ √Δ Sarcocaulon patersonii √ √Δ N-end Searsia pendulina √ Sisyndite spartea √ √ N-end Stroeberia beetzi √Δ N-end Stoeberia utilis √ Strumaria spp. √ Sutherlandia frutescens √ Tamarix usneoides √ Protected (F) Triathema hereroensis √ Ziziphus mucronata √ Protected (F) Zygophyllum clavatum √ Zygophyllum longicapsulare √ Zygophyllum microcarpum √ N-end Zygophyllum morgsana √ Zygophyllum prismatocarpum √ N-end Zygophyllum spp. √Δ ∆ - Key species (most prominent) End – Endemic and N-end – Near-endemic (Burke 2003, Mannheimer et al. 2008, Mannheimer and Curtis 2018) Protected (F) – Forest Act No. 12 of 2001 NC – Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975 C2 – CITES Appendix 2 species
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Loots (2005) lists at least 54 species of conservation concern – i.e. Red Data species – from the general Oranjemund area of which 32 species are endemic, 12 species viewed as rare (Antimima buchubergensis, Babiana longicollis, Babiana namaquensis, Bulbine francescae, Bulbine namaensis, Delosperma klinghardtianum, Drimia secunda, Eriospermum buchubergense, Hoodia officinalis subsp. delaetiana, Larryleachia perlata, Strumaria bidentata, Strumaria phonolithica, Trachyandra peculiaris), 1 species as endangered (Aloe erinacea), 5 species as near threatened, 19 species protected by the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975 and 35 species viewed as least concern.
Table 6. Important species – i.e. Red Data spp. – known to occur in the general Oranjemund area according to Loots (2005).
Species: Scientific name Conservation status Arctotis frutescens Endemic, LC Aloe erinacea Endemic, NC, C2, E Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma NC, C2, LC Aloe pachygaster Endemic, NC, C2, LC Antimima buchubergensis Endemic, NC, Rare Antimima quarzitica Endemic, NC, LC Astridia velutina Endemic, NC, LC Brownanthus namibensis Endemic, LC Babiana longicollis Endemic, Rare Babiana namaquensis Rare Bulbine francescae Endemic, Rare Bulbine namaensis Rare Cephalophyllum confusum Endemic, NC, LC Conophytum saxetanum NC, LC Crassula ausensis subsp. ausensis Endemic, LC Crassula elegans subsp. namibensis Endemic, NT Crassula expansa subsp. pyrifolia LC Crassula mesembrianthemopsis LC Crassula plegmatoides LC Crassula pseudohemisphaerica LC Delosperma klinghardtianum Rare Drimia secunda Endemic, Rare Eberlanzia schneideriana NC, LC Eremothamnus marlothianus Endemic, LC Eriocephalus klinghardtensis Endemic, LC Eriospermum buchubergense Endemic, Rare Euryops mucosus Endemic, NT Euphorbia angrae Endemic, C2, LC Euphorbia cibdela C2, LC Euphorbia verruculosa Endemic, C2, LC Fenestraria rhopalophylla subsp. aurantiaca NC, NT Fenestraria rhopalophylla subsp. rhopalophylla Endemic, NC, LC Ferraria schaeferi LC Hartmanthus pergamentaceus LC Hoodia alstonii NC, LC Hoodia officinalis subsp. delaetiana Endemic, NC, Rare Juttadinteria simpsonii Endemic, NC, NT Juttadinteria suavissima Endemic, NC, LC Larryleachia perlata NC, Rare Lasiopogon ponticulus LC Lithops optica Endemic, NC, NT Marlothiella gummifera Endemic, LC Crassothonna (Othonna) clavifolia Endemic ,LC
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Oxalis ausensis LC Pelargonium klinghardtense LC Psammophora nissenii Endemic, NC, LC Pteronia spinulosa Endemic, LC Strumaria bidentata Rare Strumaria hardyana Endemic; LC Strumaria phonolithica Endemic, Rare Trachyandra peculiaris Endemic, Rare Tridentea pachyrrhiza Endemic, NC, LC Zygophyllum macrocarpon LC Zygophyllum pterocaule LC Endemic (Loots 2005) NC – Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975 Rare, E – Endangered; V – Vulnerable; NT – Near Threatened; LC – Least Concern (Loots 2005)
The most important species are viewed as the Red Data, especially species listed as rare, endangered, near threatened, etc. (See Loots 2005 – Table 6) and endemic species (See Burke 2006; Table 5).
However, none of the important larger tree/shrub species are exclusively associated with the proposed MET mast sites and general Oranjemund area.
MET Mast impacts Except for local site disturbance (i.e. habitat destruction) the impact of the proposed MET Mast developments – all sites – is not expected to detrimentally affect unique flora species potentially occurring at these sites. However, some unique plant species are found in isolated patches associated with a specific habitat and/or geological feature, and should be avoided if encountered.
4.5.2 Grass Diversity
It is estimated that up to 29 grasses – 3 to 22 species – (Burke 2003 [4 sp.], Burke 2006 [3 sp.], Mannheimer et al. 2008 [4 sp.], Müller 2007 [10sp.], Van Oudshoorn 2012 [22 sp.]) potentially occur in the general Oranjemund area.
The grass diversity known, and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area is presented in Table 7 below.
Table 7. Grass diversity known and/or expected as derived from 1Müller (2007), 2Van Oudtshoorn (2012), 3Burke (2003), 4Burke (2006) and 5Mannheimer et al. (2008) to occur in the general Oranjemund area and confirmed Cunningham (2015, 2019) from various sites around Oranjemund.
Species: Scientific name Cunningham Cunningham Namibian Ecological Grazing (2015) (2019) conservation Status Value and legal status 2Aristida adscensionis Increaser 2 Low 1Aristida engleri ? Low 2Bromus pectinatus Alien 1,2,5Centropodia glauca Decreaser High 2Chaetobromus dregeanus Decreaser High 3,4,5Cladoraphis cyperoides √ 2,3,5Cladoraphis spinosa Increaser 1 Low
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1,2,4Cynodon dactylon √ Increaser 2 High 2Dichanthium annulatum Decreaser High 2Ehrharta calycina Decreaser High 2Ehrharta longiflora Increaser 2 Average 1,2Enneapogon desvauxii Intermediate Average 1,2Enneapogon scaber ? Low 1Eragrostis annnulata Increaser 2 Low 2Eragrostis nindensis Increaser 2 Average 2Fingerhuthia africana Decreaser Average 2Phalaris minor Alien 2Pentaschistis airoides Increaser 2 Low 4Phragmites australis √ Decreaser Low 2Polypogon monspeliensis Alien 2Schmidtia kalahariensis Increaser 2 Low 2Setaria verticillata Increaser 2 Average 2Sorghum bicolor ? High 1,2,3Stipagrostis ciliata Decreaser High 1Stipagrostis fastigiata √ ? High 3,5Stipagrostis geminifolia 5Near endemic ? High 3Stipagrostis sabulicola √ √ 1,5Endemic ? Low 1,2Stipagrostis Decreaser High namaquensis 1,2Stipagrostis obtusa Increaser 2 Low Endemic – Burke (2003) and Mannheimer et al. (2008) ? – not classified in literature, but often similar to other species within the genus
Up to 29 grasses are expected in the general Oranjemund area of which most are associated with the Orange River habitat. Of these, 3 species are alien, 1 species endemic (Stipagrostis sabulicola) and 1 species near endemic (Stipagrostis geminifolia). The endemic Stipagrostis sabulicola however, is widespread and usually associated with dune areas, especially close to drainage lines in the general area. Three species are viewed as invasive alien species. Although Stipagrostis sabulicola is viewed as endemic (Müller 2007, Mannheimer et al. 2008) it occurs widespread in sandy/dune areas in the southern Namib and not specifically associated with the Oranjemund area.
Cunningham (2015, 2019) confirmed 4 and 3 species of grass (Odyssea paucenervis [not included in Table 7]) from the general Oranjemund area, respectively (Table 7).
None of the grasses mentioned in Table 7 are exclusively associated with the general area and generally not viewed as very important in the winter rainfall areas such as the Sperrgebied.
MET Mast impacts Except for local site disturbance (i.e. habitat destruction) the impact of the proposed MET Mast developments – all sites – is not expected to detrimentally affect unique grass species potentially occurring at these sites.
4.5.3 Other Species
Aloes Aloes are protected throughout Namibia and although the coastal south western areas are not favourable habitat for most aloes there are a number of species occurring in the general – inland – areas – e.g. Aloe claviflora, A. erinacea, A. gariepensis, A. microstigma, A. pearsonii, A. ramosissima, and A. striata ssp. karasbergensis (Rothmann 2004).
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Ferns At least 64 species of ferns, of which 13 species being endemic, occur throughout Namibia. Ferns in the general Oranjemund area include at least 5 endemic species (Cheilanthes rawsonii, C. robusta, C. capensis, C. deltoidea and C. kunzei) and 5 indigenous species (Adiantum capillus-veneris, Asplenium cordatum, Cheilanthes eckloniana, Equisetum ramosissimum and Ophioglossum polyphyllum) and 1 invasive alien species associated with the aquatic Orange River habitat (Azolla filiculoides) (Crouch et al. 2011). Although the Oranjemund area is marginal habitat for ferns the general area is undercollected with more species probably occurring than presented above.
Lichens The overall diversity of lichens is poorly known from Namibia, especially the coastal areas and statistics on endemicity is even sparser (Craven 1998). More than 100 species are expected to occur in the Namib Desert with the majority being uniquely related to the coastal fog belt. Lichen diversity is related to air humidity and generally decreases inland from the Namibian coast (Schults and Rambold 2007). Off road driving is the biggest threat to these lichens which are often rare and unique to Namibia. To indicate how poorly known lichens are from Namibia, the recent publication by Schultz et al. (2009) indicating that 37 of the 39 lichen species collected during BIOTA surveys in the early/mid 2000’s were new to science (i.e. new species), is a case in point. Wirth (2010) confirms some 80 species of lichens – many endemic – known to occur along the coastal areas including the northern Namib section. However, this literature review could not confirm all the lichens species known/expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area. Lichens are not viewed as particularly important in the southern dune dwarf shrubland vegetation type (Burke 2006).
Lithops Lithops species – all protected (See Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975) – are also known to occur in the general area and are often difficult to observe, especially during the dry season when their aboveground structures wither. Species expected to occur in the general area is Lithops herrei (Cole and Cole 2005, Earle and Round n.d.).
Invasive Aliens Although various invasive alien plant species are known to occur along the Orange River (e.g. Nicotiana glauca, Prosopis spp., etc.) the coastal areas are probably less susceptible due to the overall harsh environment.
MET Mast impacts Except for local site disturbance (i.e. habitat destruction) the impact of the proposed MET Mast developments – all sites – is not expected to detrimentally affect “other” unique flora species potentially occurring at these sites. However, some unique species are found in isolated patches associated with a specific habitat and/or geological feature, and should be avoided if encountered. Site disturbances could potentially result in invasive alien species becoming established and such species should be eradicated immediately when observed.
5 Important Species
Vertebrate Fauna It is estimated that at least 49 reptile, 7 amphibian, 33 mammal and 175 bird species (breeding residents) are known to or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area.
Reptiles The high percentage of endemic reptile species (26.5%) known and/or expected to occur in the general Oranjemund area underscores the importance of this area for reptiles.
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As a group of reptiles, tortoises, are viewed as the most under threat in Namibia (Griffin 1998a), making the two species potentially occurring in the area (e.g. Chersina angulata and Psammobates tentorius trimeni) important, with P. s. trimeni the most important due to its classification of “endangered” and population decreasing by the IUCN (2020). Bitis schneideri [“Insufficiently known” and “vulnerable”] and the endemic Bitis peringueyi are viewed as the most important snakes potentially occurring in the area. The main habitats of B. schneideri – i.e. vegetated coastal dune hummock areas – are severely impacted by coastal diamond mining, especially in the Oranjemund [ML1] area, probably making this species the most vulnerable of all species expected to occur along this stretch of coastline. The small-scaled desert lizard (Meroles micropholidotus) classified as endemic, “insufficiently known” and “rare” is another important species expected from the area although also found further inland. However, the presence of Psammobates tentorius trimeni in Namibia is uncertain (IUCN 2020).
None of the important reptiles known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast site areas are exclusively associated with the proposed development sites.
Amphibians Of the 7 species of amphibians expected to occur in the general area, Breviceps macrops, classified as “near threatened” by the IUCN (2020), is viewed as the most important amphibian species in the area due to coastal diamond mining destroying its vegetated coastal dune habitat. Although the population trend for Breviceps macrops is unknown, threats include mining and quarrying (IUCN 2020). This species probably occurs in the area (e.g. vegetated dune hummock areas), but is only active during fog and/or rainy spells, and consequently difficult to observe.
None of the important amphibians known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast site areas are exclusively associated with the proposed development sites.
Mammals Of the 33 species of mammals expected to occur in the general area, 6.1% are endemic and 30.3% are classified under some form of international conservation legislation indicating the importance of certain mammals occurring in this marginal area.
The most important species from the general area are probably all those classified as endemic, “rare” (Namibian wing-gland bat), and “vulnerable” (i.e. brown hyena, African wild cat and Cape fox) by Namibian legislation. Other important species are those classified internationally by the IUCN (2020) and SARDB as “near threatened” (i.e. brown hyena – IUCN 2020; Cape horseshoe bat, Namaqua dune mole-rat and Littledale’s whistling rat) (See Table 3). Brown hyena is known to breed in the Karingarab area (see Cunningham (2013a) as well as also known to forage along the coastal areas.
Mammal species expected to be negatively affected by the proposed MET Mast developments are bats (although very little is known about bat species in the general area) with the endemic and rare Cistugo seabrai viewed as the most important. Brown hyena den sites are also viewed as important areas and should be avoided.
None of the important mammals known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast site areas are exclusively associated with the proposed development sites.
Birds The most important birds in the general area the two endemics (dune and Gray’s lark), and the species classified as critically endangered (great crested grebe, Cape gannet), endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, black harrier, tawny eagle, booted eagle, martial eagle, bank
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Desktop Study & Rapid Site Assessment: Vertebrate Fauna & Flora - Cunningham cormorant, Cape cormorant, black stork, African penguin), vulnerable (Hartlaub’s gull, Caspian tern, African fish eagle, secretarybird, greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, great white pelican) and near threatened (Cape eagle owl, kori bustard, African black oystercatcher, chestnut-banded plover, Damara tern, Verreauxs’ eagle, peregrine falcon, black-necked grebe, crowned cormorant) (Simmons et al. 2015) as well as those classified as endangered (Ludwig’s bustard, black harrier, martial eagle, secretarybird, Cape gannet, Cape cormorant, bank cormorant, African penguin), vulnerable (Damara tern, tawny eagle) and near threatened (kori bustard, chestnut-banded plover, crowned cormorant, lesser flamingo) by the IUCN (2020).
Bird species expected to be potentially affected by the mast guy wires are species known to fly at MET Mast height (e.g. Ludwig’s bustard, swifts, sandgrouse, ravens, raptors and aquatic and marine species); species with nocturnal transients (e.g. Palaearctic migrants and wetland birds); the various Palaearctic and other migrants frequenting the coastal areas (e.g. chestnut-banded plovers, black-necked grebe, white-fronted plover, pied avocets, curlew sandpiper, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, grey plover and red knot); and the breeding residents of conservation concern (nationally/internationally) (e.g. African black oystercatcher, Damara tern, Cape gannet, crowned cormorant, bank cormorant, Cape cormorant, greater flamingo and lesser flamingo).
Potential bird flight paths are indicated in Figure 2. Although little is known regarding bird flight paths in Namibia, birds usually take the shortest route between habitat features visited, with the sites closest to the coast – i.e. MET Mast sites north, central and south (western site) viewed as the most problematic. A distance of 1.5km from the coast would minimise potential bird collisions with the mast stays as most bird activity takes place within this distance.
None of the important birds known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast site areas are exclusively associated with the proposed development sites although the general area – especially coastal bays, mining ponds, Orange River Mouth, etc. – are important foraging sites for a variety of important species.
MET Masts and Birds Birds, especially migratory aquatic species, are expected to be affected most by the proposed MET Mast guy wires. According to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) wind farm developments, of which MET Masts are the first step, can harm birds in three possible ways – disturbance, habitat loss or damage (both direct and indirect), and collision and if located away from major migration routes and important feeding, breeding and roosting areas of those bird species known or suspected to be at risk, there is a strong possibility that they will have minimal impact on wildlife (See: www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/windfarms). Placement of MET Masts (including wind farms) should avoid breeding grounds of especially vulnerable species (Pearce-Higgins et al. 2009, See: www.birdwatch.co.uk).
A number of scientific studies published in peer reviewed journals have been conducted on the effects wind farms have on birds with birds generally expected to be sensitive to wind farms, although effects vary between sites and species (e.g. Pearce-Higgens et al. 2009). The same authors furthermore indicate that the wind turbines are avoided more strongly than the transmission lines related to these turbines, but conclude that wind farms should be avoided in areas with high densities of potentially vulnerable species. Species differ greatly in their sensitivity to wind turbines as found off the coast in the North Sea (Garthe and Hüppop 2004) and thus long-term monitoring of such a facility would be necessary locally to eventually determine which species are more prone to wind turbine collisions. These studies do not address MET Mast impacts though, but expected to be similar.
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Bird abundance and mortality (mainly raptors) due to collision with wind turbines are not closely related – i.e. mortality is not highest in season with highest bird abundances (De Lukas et al. 2008). The authors concluded that vultures (Griffin) seemed to be greatest affected by the wind turbines and wind farms should avoid typical vulture habitat and that other than for species, turbine height and elevation above sea level result in more raptor mortalities. This is probably true for MET Masts as well. However, larger raptors are not common in the general Oranjemund area and not expected to be affected.
Birds use vision to avoid wind turbines (probably MET Masts as well) which may result in loss of habitat – i.e. some birds avoid wind farms and should these be located in favourable habitat it would consequently result in a loss of such habitat (Larson and Guillemette 2007).
Placement (i.e. away from bird breeding/roosting/foraging sites) and visibility of turbines (including MET Masts) – diurnal and nocturnal – is thus imperative to minimise bird collisions. MET Mast guy wires should be fitted with bird flight diverters to minimise bird collisions (Ralston-Paton et al. 2017). As wind farms (including MET Masts) are relatively new to Namibia, long term monitoring and formal studies once the wind farms/MET Masts are in place, are imperative to determine which species would be affected most and how species would be affected.
Flora The Sperrgebied succulent vegetation is viewed as an extremely important area floristically in Namibia. Often deserts and plants associated with this marginal area look “dead” although are not, and thus not viewed as important. All desert vegetation serves as a source of habitat and/or food for desert dwelling fauna – e.g. Salsola hummocks are known to be habitat for Breviceps macrops, various arthropods and reptiles (Burke 2006).
The most important species are viewed as the Red Data (See Loots 2005 – Table 6) and endemic species (See Burke 2006; Table 5).
Grasses are not viewed as very important in the general area and usually only make up a small proportion of the vegetation in this fog based winter rainfall succulent dominated system.
Other important species potentially occurring in the general area include various unique Aloe, Lithops, ferns, lichens, succulents, etc.
Although none of the important flora known and/or expected to occur in the general MET Mast site areas are exclusively associated with the proposed development sites and the development “footprint” is expected to be small, there are some unique species that are located in patches and/or isolated geological features that are important and should be avoided.
6 Important Areas
The most important areas are highlighted from north to south:
Chameis Bay A known breeding population of Damara terns are confirmed from the Chameis Pan system (Simmons et al. 2015, Braby 2011). The Bay is also used as foraging site for various marine, aquatic and Palaearctic migrant species – i.e. a bird attraction site and along a known/expected bird flyway. The proposed MET Mast site (north) located to the southeast of Chameis Bay would potentially be located within this flight path. Furthermore, Chameis Bay is also part of the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) (Currie et al. 2009).
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Mining Ponds Maritz (2020) highlights the importance of the mining ponds, albeit artificial habitat, along the coast as breeding, and more especially, foraging sites for a variety of bird species. The northern mining pond areas are viewed as the most important to birds as these areas are less frequented by humans – i.e. mining not in progress. The proposed MET Mast site (central) located in the Kerbehuk area would be in close proximity to the mining ponds frequented by a variety of birds and would potentially be located within this flight path.
Pink Pan Most of the areas towards the south and west of Oranjemund are disturbed by various anthropomorphic activities (e.g. mining and airport infrastructures, tracks, litter, power line, etc.), parts of the area around the Pink Pan (i.e. north/north east) is mostly pristine (although there are old disused tracks and some litter) (Cunningham 2019). An extensive dune hummock system, mainly dominated by Salsola nollothensis and lawns of Odyssea paucenervis, occurs between the Oranjemund Airport and the Pink Pan system. This pan system is an important for aquatic birds (e.g. greater and lesser flamingo) associated with the saline pan system. Furthermore, the area is extensively frequented by various animals for foraging, especially the Odyssea paucenervis “lawn” areas, by oryx, ostrich, springbok, etc. However, this area will not be directly affected by the proposed MET Mast development project.
Orange River Estuary The perennial Orange River and associated vegetated delta area, is classified as a Ramsar site, and important birding area globally. However, this area will not be directly affected by the proposed MET Mast development project.
Bird flyways Although very little is known regarding bird flight paths in Namibia, especially species moving/migrating at night, most birds seem to follow the shortest routes between selected habitats – e.g. dams, estuaries, bays, etc. However, unpredictable rainfall events may lure species into areas not normally frequented – e.g. kori and Ludwig’s bustards into the coastal areas – and storms (e.g. berg winds) may also force birds into areas not regularly visited. Planning for all eventualities is therefore not always possible (Figure 2).
Avifauna is expected to be potentially affected by the proposed MET Mast structure. Although, none of the unique/important bird species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area(s) – i.e. Chameis-Krebehik-Uubvlei – the effect of the infrastructure, especially the guy wires, is expected to be detrimental to certain bird species.
Species potentially affected by the proposed overhead MET Mast and associated guy wires once operational and at greatest risk would be those larger species flying at mast height (e.g. bustards, eagles, vultures); nocturnal travellers (e.g. flamingos and Palaearctic species) and species potentially visiting the area for roosting/foraging, etc. (e.g. bustards).
Although very little is known regarding the actual flight paths used by the birds frequenting the general Oranjemund area, Figure 2 indicate potential flight paths while Figure 3 indicates the documented bird mortalities caused by power lines in Namibia. Anti-collision mechanisms – e.g. bird flight diverters such as coils, flappers, etc. – should be attached to the guy wires, irrespective of where the MET Mast is located (Ralston-Paton et al. 2017). Van Rooyen (n.d.) suggests that monitoring of mortalities is imperative for future placement of flight diverters.
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Figure 2. Expected bird flight paths are indicated between Chameis Bay and the Orange River estuary (white arrow); offshore route (yellow arrow); Pink Pan to Orange River estuary (black arrow) and the Orange River route (orange arrows). The MET Mast sites north (Chameis Bay), central (Krebehik) and south, western location (Uubvlei) are all expected to fall within bird flight paths (red dotted circles) while the eastern location (south – Uubvlei) is expected to fall outside expected bird flight paths (white dotted circle).
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Figure 3. Known bird mortalities caused by power lines throughout Namibia (May 2018) are indicated by blue circles. The general Oranjemund area – indicated by a red circle – is a “hotspot” BIRD collision risk area (Source: www.the-eis.com).
The ranking (from most sensitive to least sensitive) of the three proposed MET Mast sites between Chemeis Bay and Oranjemund are thus viewed as follows:
Chameis Bay (north) Site – Krebehuk (central) Site – Uubvlei (south) Site
The ranking (from most sensitive to least sensitive) of the two Uubvlei (south) Sites is ranked as follows:
Uubvlei (west site) – Uubvlei (east site)
The Uubvlei (east site) is viewed as the site with the least impact on vertebrate fauna and flora, especially avifauna, as determined from a literature review only (See Figure 2 – white dotted circle).
7 Conclusion
It is estimated that at least 49 reptile, 7 amphibian, 33 mammal and 175 bird species (breeding residents), 30 species of larger trees and shrubs (45 species if confirmed other species are included) and up to 29 species of grasses are known to or expected to occur in the general/immediate Oranjemund area of which a large proportion are endemics. Endemics include at least 26.5% of the reptiles, 14.3% of the amphibians, 6.1% of the
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Desktop Study & Rapid Site Assessment: Vertebrate Fauna & Flora - Cunningham mammals, 1.1% of all the breeding and/or resident birds and at least 13.3% of the larger trees and shrubs while at least 54 plants species of conservation concern – i.e. Red Data species – are known and/or expected to occur in the general area.
As a group of reptiles, tortoises, are viewed as the most under threat in Namibia (Griffin 1998a), making the two species potentially occurring in the area (e.g. Chersina angulata and Psammobates tentorius trimeni) important, with P. s. trimeni the most important due to its classification of “endangered” and population decreasing by the IUCN (2020). However, the presence of Psammobates tentorius trimeni in Namibia is uncertain (IUCN 2020) (See Table 1).
Amphibians are not well represented in the area and except for Breviceps macrops associated with vegetated dune hummocks; the overall area is not viewed as very important for amphibians (See Table 2).
The most important mammal species from the general area are probably all those classified as endemic, “rare” (Namibian wing-gland bat), and “vulnerable” (i.e. brown hyena, African wild cat and Cape fox) by Namibian legislation. Other important species are those classified internationally by the IUCN (2020) and SARDB as “near threatened” (i.e. brown hyena – IUCN 2020; Cape horseshoe bat, Namaqua dune mole-rat and Littledale’s whistling rat) (See Table 3).
Birds are expected to be the species most affected by the proposed MET Mast structure(s). Bird species expected to be potentially affected by the mast guy wires are species known to fly at MET Mast height (e.g. Ludwig’s bustard, swifts, sandgrouse, ravens, raptors and aquatic and marine species); species with nocturnal transients (e.g. Palaearctic migrants and wetland birds); the various Palaearctic and other migrants frequenting the coastal areas (e.g. chestnut-banded plovers, black-necked grebe, white-fronted plover, pied avocets, curlew sandpiper, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, grey plover and red knot); and the breeding residents of conservation concern (nationally/internationally) (e.g. African black oystercatcher, Damara tern, Cape gannet, crowned cormorant, bank cormorant, Cape cormorant, greater flamingo and lesser flamingo). Although very little is known regarding the actual flight paths used by the birds frequenting the general area, Figure 2 indicate potential flight paths. These indicate that the proposed MET Mast sites north (Chameis Bay) and central (Kerbehuk) fall within known/expected flight paths. Placement (i.e. away from bird breeding/roosting/foraging sites) and visibility of guy wires – diurnal and nocturnal – is thus imperative to minimise bird collisions while long term monitoring and formal studies are imperative to determine which species would be affected most and how species would be affected should these Masts (and future wind turbines) be established.
The general area is viewed as an area of special ecological importance in Namibia as it falls within the winter rainfall region and has biotic richness and endemism (e.g. succulent plants, arachnids and insects) and areas of scenic grandeur (Curtis and Barnard 1998). The Othona Dwarf Shrubland vegetation type in the Chameis Bay area is the most diverse floristically of the 3 vegetation types within which the proposed MET Masts are to be located with up to 90 plant species of which many are protected species as well as many with restricted range and high economic potential for the horticultural trade.
The Uubvlei (east site) is viewed as the site with the least impact on vertebrate fauna and flora, especially avifauna, as determined from a literature review only (See Figure 2 – white dotted circle).
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8 Envisaged impacts
8.1 Introduction All developments change or are destructive to the local fauna and flora to some or other degree. Assessing potential impacts is occasionally obvious, but more often difficult to predict accurately. Such predictions may change depending on the scope of the development – i.e. development, once initiated, may have a different effect on the fauna and flora as originally predicted. Thus continuing monitoring of such impacts during the development phase(s) is imperative.
8.2 Faunal disturbance Faunal disturbance with the proposed MET Mast activities would be localised. However, these impacts are based on literature study only and not backed by actual fieldwork. The following table indicates the potential/envisaged impacts expected regarding faunal disturbance (which is obviously closely linked to habitat destruction):
Description Faunal disturbance will vary depending on the scale/intensity of the development operation and associated and inevitable infrastructure. Extent 1. Access routes - Localised disruption/destruction of the habitat and thus consequently fauna associated directly with the actual routes. This however, would be a relatively small area with localised implications. 2. MET Mast sites - Localised disruption/destruction of the habitat and thus consequently fauna associated directly with the actual sites. This however, would be a relatively small area – depending on scale of operations – with localised implications.
Duration 1. Access route(s) - The duration of the impact is expected to be permanent along the route(s). 2. MET Mast sites - The duration of the impact is expected to be permanent at the sites. Intensity 1. Access route(s) - The actual sites where construction of the access route(s) would be located would be permanently altered. This however, would be a relatively small area(s) with localised implications. 2. MET Mast sites - The actual Mast sites would be permanently altered. This however, would be relatively small areas with localised implications.
The areas adjacent the MET Mast sites and other associated infrastructure should not be significantly affected. This however, would depend on control over the contractors during the construction phase(s), but should be limited to localised implications.
Areas not directly affected by the MET Mast sites and associated infrastructure although within the immediate area would be affected minimally. This would include dust, noise, sound and other associated disturbances in the area, but be limited to the construction periods. Mitigation General 1. Limit the development to the actual MET Mast sites and associated infrastructure only and avoid affecting adjacent areas – i.e. minimise the overall impact.
2. Avoid development and associated infrastructure in sensitive areas – e.g. vegetated dune hummocks, brown hyena den sites and bird flight paths. This would minimise the negative effect on the local environment especially unique species potentially affected by these proposed developments.
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3. Avoid placing access routes (roads and tracks) trough sensitive areas – e.g. coastal bays; brown hyena den sites; rocky ridges/outcrops/mountains; drainage lines & rivers; lichen “hotspot” areas; patches of unique flora.
4. Avoid driving randomly through the area (i.e. “track discipline”), but rather stick to permanently placed roads/tracks – especially during the construction phase. This would minimise the effect on localised potentially sensitive habitats in the area.
5. Avoid nocturnal driving throughout the area as this could lead to an increase in road mortalities of nocturnal species – e.g. brown hyena, reptiles. Avoid nocturnal construction activities, but should this be required then use focused lighting for the least effect on nocturnal species (e.g. bats and owls).
6. Stick to speed limits of maximum 30km/h as this would result in fewer faunal road mortalities. Speed humps could also be used to ensure the speed limit. Lower speeds would also minimise dust pollution.
7. Remove (e.g. capture) unique fauna and sensitive fauna before commencing with the development activities and/or species serendipitously located during the construction period and relocate to a less sensitive/disturbed sites in the immediate area.
8. Prevent and discourage the setting of snares (poaching), illegal collecting of veld foods (e.g. tortoises, etc.), indiscriminate killing of perceived dangerous species (e.g. snakes, etc.) as this would diminish and negatively affect the local fauna – especially during the development phase(s).
9. Rehabilitation of the disturbed areas – i.e. initial development access route “scars” and associated tracks as well as associated infrastructures. Preferably workers should be transported in/out to the construction sites on a daily basis to avoid excess damage to the local environment (e.g. poaching, etc.). Such rehabilitation would not only confirm the company’s environmental integrity, but also show true local commitment to the environment.
10. Initiate a suitable waste removal system (i.e. remove all waste generated during the construction phase; mobile latrines on site) to the official Oranjemund landfill site as this often attracts wildlife – e.g. black-backed jackal, crows, gulls, etc. – which may result in human-wildlife conflict issues and increased presence (e.g. birds) potentially affected by the MET Mast guy wires (bird strikes).
11. Investigate the idea of employing an Environmental Officer during the construction phase(s) to ensure compliance and minimise the overall impact on the fauna and the environment. Namdeb environmental section and MET should be included throughout.
Tracks 12. Implement erosion control. Although rain is limited in the general area, access routes up steep gradients could result in erosion. Avoid constructing tracks on steep gradients; incorporate erosion furrows (runoff sites) and humps along tracks to channel water off the tracks to minimise erosion problems.
13. Plan, design and develop one access route track servicing the MET Mast site(s) and avoid multiple access routes. This would minimise the overall effect of tracks on the local environment and could result in less erosion
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issues and better control of access to the various sites.
14. Avoid tracks in any of the sensitive areas – e.g. dune hummocks, brown hyena den sites, etc.
MET Mast 15. The following are recommendations to mitigate potential bird-MET Mast mortalities: (i) Avoid establishing MET Mast(s) <1.5km from the coast; (ii) Avoid establishing MET Mast(s) in the Chameis Bay (north) and Krebehuk (central) areas as these sites could potentially lead to numerous bird-guy wire mortalities as it would be located on various flight paths to-from Chameis Bay and the Orange River Estuary and various other coastal bays and feeding grounds (unless >1.5km from the coast); (iii) The Uubvlei (eastern site) is the preferred site with the least potential overall impact on the vertebrate fauna, especially avifauna; (iv) Guy wires to have bird flight diverters (e.g. coils, flappers, lights, etc.) to prevent bird collisions; and (v) Implement a long term monitoring programme to determine bird-guy wire mortalities and alternative mitigations once operational.
16. The following are recommendations to mitigate potential brown hyena- MET Mast conflict: (i) Avoid establishing Mast(s) close to known active brown hyena den sites; (ii) Avoid access routes servicing the Mast(s) to be constructed past known active brown hyena den sites; and (iii) Implement a long term monitoring programme to determine how brown hyena would be affected by MET Mast developments once operational.
17. The following are recommendations to mitigate potential desert rain frog- MET Mast conflict: (i) Avoid establishing Mast(s) within vegetated dune hummocks; and (ii) Avoid access routes servicing the Mast(s) to be constructed through vegetated dune hummocks. Frequency of Expected to be a “once off” issue affecting the selected site(s). Further occurrence developments and associated infrastructures (i.e. wind turbine developments and associated infrastructures, etc.) throughout the area would however increase the frequency of occurrence. Probability Definite (100%) negative impact on vertebrate fauna, especially avifauna, is expected as well as the access route(s). This however, would be much localised and cover only a small area and should avoid sensitive areas.
Highly Probable (75%) negative impact on vertebrate fauna is expected in the general areas especially during the construction phase(s) as a result of noise, increased activities, etc.
Probable (50%) negative impact on vertebrate fauna is expected from the infrastructure (tracks, etc.).
Precautionary principle (e.g. avoid unique habitat features as well as adhering to the proposed mitigating measures would minimise this) would decrease the significance of these potential impacts.
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Significance Before mitigation: High After mitigation: Medium to Low
Status of the impact Negative Localised unique species – e.g. avifauna (Palaearctic migrants, etc.), brown hyena (den site disturbances) and desert rain frog (vegetated dune hummocks) – would bear the brunt of this proposed development, but be limited in extent and only permanent at the actual development site(s); access routes and infrastructure sites. Legal requirements N/A
Degree of As an ecologist I am sure of the above mentioned predictions made and confidence in would suggest that the mitigation measures be implemented to minimise predictions potentially negative aspects regarding the local vertebrate fauna in the area.
8.2.1 Avifauna
Impact of MET Mast The impact of aboveground MET Mast infrastructure is expected to be detrimental to certain bird species – i.e. could potentially result in bird collisions with guy wires if MET Mast located <1.5km from the coast; if no bird flight diverters are attached to guy wires; if located in sensitive areas – i.e. Chameis Bay, Krebehuk (within bird flight paths).
The development footprint at each MET Mast is relatively small and not expected to impact potentially unique bird habitat negatively, especially if the proposed mitigation measures are followed.
None of the unique/important bird species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area although pass through the area (along flight paths between Orange River estuary & Chameis Bay); forage along the coast/mining ponds; breed in area, etc.
Construction mitigation: 1. Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); 2. Avoid constructing MET Mast <1.5km from the coast; 3. Attach bird flight diverters (BFD’s) to MET Mast guy wires; 4. Avoid disturbing birds, especially RT&E spp., at breeding sites; 5. Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. egg and bird collection); 6. Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and 7. Contractor code of conduct.
Operational mitigation: 1. Attach bird flight diverters (BFD’s) to MET Mast guy wires; 2. Monitor bird mortalities; and 3. Contractor code of conduct.
Decommissioning mitigation: 1. Avoid sensitive habitats; and 2. Contractor code of conduct.
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Project phase Construction Impact Avifauna disturbance Description of Bird habitat affected impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); • Avoid constructing meteorological masts <1.5km from the coast; • Attach bird flight diverters (BFD’s) to meteorological mast guy wires; • Avoid disturbing birds, especially Rare, Threatened & Endangered (RTE) species at breeding sites; • Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. egg and bird collection); • Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and • Enforce a contractor code of conduct. Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 year year Extent Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of the study area the study area Magnitude Moderate Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are moderately and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Certain / There are sound scientific reasons Certain / There are sound scientific reasons definite to expect that the impact will definite to expect that the impact will definitely occur definitely occur Confidence High Substantive supportive data exists High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment to verify the assessment Reversibility Medium The affected environment will High The affected environmental will only recover from the impact with be able to recover from the significant intervention impact Resource Medium The resource is damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably but is represented irreparably or is not scarce elsewhere Significance Minor - negative Negligible - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Project phase Operation Impact Avifauna mortalities Description of Bird collisions with MET Mast guy wires impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Attach bird flight diverters to meteorological mast guy wires; • Monitor bird mortalities; and • Enforce a contractor code of conduct. Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Permanent Impact may be permanent, or in Short term impact will last between 1 and 5 excess of 20 years years
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Extent International Impacts felt outside the study International Impacts felt outside the study area, at an international level area, at an international level
Magnitude High Natural and/ or social functions Low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably and/ or processes altered are somewhat altered Probability Certain / There are sound scientific reasons Certain / There are sound scientific reasons definite to expect that the impact will definite to expect that the impact will definitely occur definitely occur Confidence High Substantive supportive data exists High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment to verify the assessment Reversibility Medium The affected environment will High The affected environmental will only recover from the impact with be able to recover from the significant intervention impact Resource Medium The resource is damaged Medium The resource is damaged irreplaceability irreparably but is represented irreparably but is represented elsewhere elsewhere Significance Major - negative Moderate - negative Comment on Without mitigation the impact is expected to be negative especially for Palaearctic migrant & RT&E species significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Project phase Decommissioning Impact Avifauna disturbance Description of Bird habitat affected impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats; and • Enforce a contractor code of conduct • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitments and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Very low Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Almost certain It is most likely that the impact Probable The impact has occurred here or / Highly will occur elsewhere and could therefore probable occur Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Minor - negative Negligible - positive
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Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
8.2.2 Other vertebrate fauna (amphibians, mammals, reptiles)
Impact of MET Mast The impact of aboveground MET Mast infrastructure is expected to be detrimental to desert rain frog and brown hyena – i.e. if located in sensitive habitats such as vegetated dune areas (desert rain frog) & close to brown hyena den sites.
The development footprint at each MET Mast is relatively small and not expected to impact potentially unique other vertebrate habitat negatively, especially if the proposed mitigation measures are followed.
None of the unique/important other vertebrate species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area although may occur in area depending on habitat (e.g. desert rain frog + vegetated dune hummocks and brown hyena den sites, etc.).
Construction mitigation: 1. Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); 2. Avoid constructing MET Masts & access routes in vegetated dune hummocks; 3. Avoid constructing MET Masts & access routes close to brown hyena den sites; 4. Avoid disturbing any other vertebrates, especially RT&E spp.; 5. Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. kill perceived dangerous spp. such as snakes and/or collect chameleons, etc); 6. Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and 7. Contractor code of conduct.
Operational mitigation: 1. Monitor interaction of brown hyena with MET Masts; and 2. Contractor code of conduct.
Decommissioning mitigation: 1. Avoid sensitive habitats; and 2. Contractor code of conduct.
Project phase Construction Impact Loss/disturbance of vertebrate fauna Description of Fauna species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); • Avoid constructing meteorological Masts & access routes in vegetated dune hummocks; • Avoid constructing meteorological Masts & access routes close to brown hyena den sites; • Avoid disturbing any other vertebrates, especially Rare, Threatened & Endangered species; • Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. kill perceived dangerous spp. such as snakes and/or collect chameleons, etc); • Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct; • Undertake pre-construction monitoring of areas around proposed mast sites to confirm whether brown hyena dens are present; and • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance
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Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negtaive Duration Short term impact will last between 1 and 5 Immediate Impact will self-remedy years immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude High Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur
Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Minor - negative Negligible - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Project phase Operation Impact Loss/disturbance of vertebrate fauna Description of Fauna species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct; • Record keeping of animal mortalities; • Record keeping of Brown Hyena sightings by Namdeb’s in-house large carnivore specialist. • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Low Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes and/ or processes are negligibly are somewhat altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce
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Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Project phase Decommissioning Impact Loss/disturbance of vertebrate fauna Description of Fauna species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Rehabilitate disturbed areas; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct. • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Negligible Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are negligibly and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
8.3 Floral disturbance Floral disturbance with the proposed MET Mast activities would be localised. However, these impacts are based on literature study only and not backed by actual fieldwork. The following table indicates the potential/envisaged impacts expected regarding faunal disturbance (which is obviously closely linked to habitat destruction):
Description Floral disturbance will vary depending on the scale/intensity of the development operation and associated and inevitable infrastructure. Extent 1. Access routes - Localised disruption/destruction of the habitat and thus consequently flora associated directly with the actual routes. This however, would be a relatively small area with localised implications. 2. MET Mast sites - Localised disruption/destruction of the habitat and thus consequently flora associated directly with the actual sites. This however, would be a relatively small area – depending on scale of operations – with
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localised implications.
Duration 1. Access route(s) - The duration of the impact is expected to be permanent along the route(s). 2. MET Mast sites - The duration of the impact is expected to be permanent at the sites. Intensity 1. Access route(s) - The actual sites where construction of the access route(s) would be located would be permanently altered. This however, would be a relatively small area(s) with localised implications. 2. MET Mast sites - The actual Mast sites would be permanently altered. This however, would be relatively small areas with localised implications.
The areas adjacent the MET Mast sites and other associated infrastructure should not be significantly affected. This however, would depend on control over the contractors during the construction phase(s), but should be limited to localised implications.
Areas not directly affected by the MET Mast sites and associated infrastructure although within the immediate area would be affected minimally. This would include dust, and other associated disturbances in the area, but be limited to the construction periods. Mitigation General 1. Limit the development to the actual MET Mast sites and associated infrastructure only and avoid affecting adjacent areas – i.e. minimise the overall impact.
2. Avoid development and associated infrastructure in sensitive areas – e.g. rocky areas; areas with high densities of succulents; lichens, etc. This would minimise the negative effect on the local environment especially unique species potentially affected by these proposed developments.
3. Avoid driving randomly through the area (i.e. “track discipline”), but rather stick to permanently placed roads/tracks – especially during the construction phase. This would minimise the effect on localised potentially sensitive habitats (and flora) in the area.
4. Stick to speed limits of maximum 30km/h as this would minimise dust pollution potentially affecting important species such as lichens.
5. Remove unique and sensitive flora (e.g. all succulents, Aloe spp., Lithops, etc.) before commencing with the development activities and relocate to a less sensitive/disturbed sites in the immediate area should these occur at the proposed development sites during the construction period.
6. Prevent the illegal collection of unique flora – e.g. Aloe spp., Lithops, various other succulents with a potential horticultural potential.
7. Rehabilitation of the disturbed areas – i.e. initial development access route “scars” and associated tracks as well as associated infrastructures. Preferably workers should be transported in/out to the construction sites on a daily basis to avoid excess damage to the local environment (e.g. illegal collection of unique flora, etc.). Such rehabilitation would not only confirm the company’s environmental integrity, but also show true local commitment to the environment.
8. Eradicate all invasive alien plant species should these be encountered in
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the proposed development areas.
9. Investigate the idea of employing an Environmental Officer during the construction phase(s) to ensure compliance and minimise the overall impact on the flora and the environment. Namdeb environmental section and MET should be included throughout.
Tracks 10. Implement erosion control. Although rain is limited in the general area, access routes up steep gradients could result in erosion. Avoid constructing tracks on steep gradients; incorporate erosion furrows (runoff sites) and humps along tracks to channel water off the tracks to minimise erosion problems.
11. Plan, design and develop one access route track servicing the MET Mast site(s) and avoid multiple access routes. This would minimise the overall effect of tracks on the local environment and could result in less erosion issues and better control of access to the various sites.
12. Avoid tracks in any of the sensitive areas – e.g. dune hummocks, lichen fields, patches of unique flora, rocky areas, etc.
MET Mast 13. The precise location of the proposed Mast(s) should be moved slightly one-way-or-another – i.e. local site selection to favour flora – dependent on local flora to have the least impact on the flora at each site.
14. Avoid establishing wind turbines at the Chameis Bay (north) site as this area is much more diverse floristically (or assess site and select area with the least impact on flora).
15. The Uubvlei (south – eastern site) is the preferred site with the least potential overall impact on the flora. Frequency of Expected to be a “once off” issue affecting the selected site(s). Further occurrence developments and associated infrastructures (i.e. wind turbine developments and associated infrastructures, etc.) throughout the area would however increase the frequency of occurrence. Probability Definite (100%) negative impact on flora, especially unique species, is expected as well as the access route(s). This however, would be much localised and cover only a small area and should avoid sensitive areas.
Highly Probable (75%) negative impact on flora is expected in the general areas especially during the construction phase(s) as a result of dust, increased activities, etc.
Probable (50%) negative impact on flora is expected from the infrastructure (tracks, etc.).
Precautionary principle (e.g. avoid unique habitat features as well as adhering to the proposed mitigating measures would minimise this) would decrease the significance of these potential impacts.
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Significance Before mitigation: High After mitigation: Medium to Low
Status of the impact Negative Localised unique species – e.g. succulents, lichens, etc. – would bear the brunt of this proposed development, but be limited in extent and only permanent at the actual development site(s); access routes and infrastructure sites. Legal requirements N/A
Degree of As an ecologist I am sure of the above mentioned predictions made and confidence in would suggest that the mitigation measures be implemented to minimise predictions potentially negative aspects regarding the local flora in the area.
8.3.1 Flora
Impact of MET Mast The impact of aboveground MET Mast infrastructure is expected to be detrimental to flora – i.e. if located in sensitive habitats such as the Othonna Dwarf Shrubland in the Chameis Bay area – or where unique plant species occur in isolated patches and/or on specific geological formations or features (e.g. rocky areas).
The development footprint at each MET Mast is relatively small and not expected to impact potentially unique flora and/or habitat negatively, especially if the proposed mitigation measures are followed.
None of the unique/important flora species are exclusively associated with the proposed development area although may occur in area depending on habitat (e.g. lichen fields, rocky outcrops, Othonna Dwarf Shrubland, etc.). Construction mitigation: 1. Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); 2. Avoid constructing MET Masts & access routes in the Othonna Dwarf Shrubland vegetation type (i.e. Chameis Bay area); 3. Move MET Masts & access routes slightly one-way-or-another – i.e. local site selection to favour flora – dependent on local flora to have the least impact on the flora at each site; 4. Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. collect for resale unique succulent species, etc); 5. Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and 6. Contractor code of conduct.
Operational mitigation: 1. Contractor code of conduct.
Decommissioning mitigation: 1. Avoid sensitive habitats; and 2. Contractor code of conduct.
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Project phase Construction Impact Loss of flora Description of Flora species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • The proposed mast positions already avoid sensitive vegetated areas. No further mitigation is needed. • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Permanent Impact may be permanent, or in Short term impact will last between 1 and 5 excess of 20 years years Extent Local Impacts felt mostly throughout Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude High Natural and/ or social functions Very low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are notably and/ or processes are slightly altered altered Probability Certain / There are sound scientific reasons Certain / There are sound scientific reasons definite to expect that the impact will definite to expect that the impact will definitely occur definitely occur Confidence High Substantive supportive data exists High Substantive supportive data exists to verify the assessment to verify the assessment
Reversibility Low The affected environment will not High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact - permanently modified impact Resource Medium The resource is damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably but is represented irreparably or is not scarce elsewhere Significance Moderate - negative Minor - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Project phase Operation Impact Loss of flora Description of Flora species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Avoid sensitive habitats; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Medium term Impact will last between 5 and 10 Immediate Impact will self-remedy years immediately Extent Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in isolated areas of the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Very low Natural and/ or social functions Very low Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly and/ or processes are slightly altered altered
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Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur
Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
Project phase Decommissioning Impact Loss of flora Description of Flora species negatively affected by development activities impact Mitigatability High Mitigation exists and will considerably reduce the significance of impacts Potential mitigation • Rehabilitate disturbed areas; • Enforce a contractor code of conduct • Contractors should be managed to ensure commitment and compliance Assessment Without mitigation With mitigation Nature Negative Negative Duration Brief Impact will not last longer than 1 Immediate Impact will self-remedy year immediately Extent Limited Impacts limited to specific parts of Very limited Impacts very limited / felt in the study area isolated areas of the study area Magnitude Very low Natural and/ or social functions Negligible Natural and/ or social functions and/ or processes are slightly and/ or processes are negligibly altered altered Probability Likely The impact may occur Likely The impact may occur
Confidence Medium Determination is based on Medium Determination is based on common sense and general common sense and general knowledge knowledge Reversibility High The affected environmental will High The affected environmental will be able to recover from the be able to recover from the impact impact Resource Low The resource is not damaged Low The resource is not damaged irreplaceability irreparably or is not scarce irreparably or is not scarce Significance Negligible - negative Negligible - positive Comment on significance Cumulative impacts Further developments with wind turbines & transmission lines
9 References
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APPENDIX B2
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF METEOROLOGICAL MASTS IN MA 1
A report of 14/3/2012 by Dr. D. Noli
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
This report is a historical and archaeological desktop study of the Kerbehuk area in MA 1 (ML 43) in the southern Namibian Tsau//Khaeb National Park (TKNP) with special reference to an archaeological site located near one of the positions selected for the construction of meteorological masts.
Methods
The study was based on an in-depth literature review and the earlier personal observations of this author. All relevant sites that had been reported previously (e.g. Noli 1989, Noli 1995, Noli 1998, Noli 2003, Noli 2013, Pickford et al, 2020) were taken into consideration and the results were discussed with respect to the known archaeology of the area. TKNP images taken by the author were used for illustrative and explanatory purposes.
Results
Related archaeological and historical information suggests that Early Stone Age, Middle Stone Age, Late Stone Age and historical material, covering the period from about one million years ago to the present, can be found in the entire area. In 2016 a Late Stone Age site with a possible layered deposit some 5 m deep had been reported from some 8km north of Kerbehuk.
Discussion
The recently discovered archaeological material near Kerbehuk fits well into the known regional patterns of the area. A layering of material on site would have made it important. This, however, has not been demonstrated. The site was also 4.7 km north of the intended construction area.
Implications for meteorological mast construction
The visible archaeological material at the Kerbehuk archaeological site is so generic and so far away from the construction site that it can be ignored. The possibility of a deep, layered deposit, however, means that the site has to be protected until its depth and value can be established.
Recommendations for mitigating measures and monitoring
Indications are that any measure designed to protect the environment in general (such limiting the physical footprint of construction operations) will also protect the archaeological heritage. In this case archaeological the site is far enough away from the construction site for it to be protected by merely avoiding its location, leaving its further investigations for the future. Adherence to the Namdeb Chance Finds Procedure and the Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan is recommended.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The area
The TNKP, formerly known as the “Sperrgebiet”, is a unique piece of access-controlled desert some 300 km long and 100 km wide, located in the south-western Namib. Most of it lies within the rough open rectangle formed by the Luedertiz-Aus road to the north, the Orange River to the south, and the Atlantic shoreline to the west, with a narrow extension in coastal proximity extending as far north as the 26th parallel. It was created in 1908 to protect the interests of the diamond mining industry, a purpose which – from a practical point of view - it serves to this day in spite of having been declared a national park several years ago.
1.2. The project
As part of its intention to extend the current Life of Mine well into the future, Namdeb developed a new Long Term Business Plan, part of which is assessing the potential of developing a wind farm to supply its mining operations near Oranjemund. The current project is its initial phase of this assessment, which is the gathering of wind and weather data, to which end meteorological masts will have to be constructed at three pre-selected locations, one of which – that for the central mast at Kerbehuk – was thought to contain an important archaeological site (Fig. 1, 2).
Fig. 1. MA1. Meteorological mast locations
Fig. 2. Kerbehuk archaeology (KH1) and central mast.
1.3. This study
This study forms the historical and archaeological assessment of the Kerbehuk area of MA 1, the aim being to establish the importance and hence the implications of the archaeological site located about 8 km north of Kerbehuk, at 28 deg. 10’ 39.0” S; 16 deg. 01’ 28.6” E
2. METHODS
2.1 Literature review & map study
The study commenced with an in-depth review of all the published and unpublished literature relevant to the history and prehistory of the south-western Namib. Following this, 1: 50 000 Trigonometric Survey maps and 1: 100 000 German maps from 1913 were used to make a detailed map study of the research area and its adjacent regions, with special attention being paid to old waterholes, historical structures and colonial access routes. In addition, aerial images, maps and literature concerning the study area were provided by Namdeb and taken into consideration.
These exercises provided a rough idea of the kind of archaeological sites that could be expected to be in the area, where they might be found and what kind of material they could contain. They also indicated what the significance of the recently discovered site at Kerbehuk was. Where applicable, relevant modified and unmodified sections from previous reports by this author (e.g. Noli 1988, Noli 2003) were included.
2.2. Field trip
This author was not able to conduct a field trip at this time. It is planned, therefore, for such a visit to be conducted at a later date, at which point its findings will be added to this report as an addendum.
2.3. Problems & limitations
Not being able to actually inspect the Kerbehuk site was somewhat problematic, the main question being whether the archaeological material was merely on the surfaces referred to or whether it was actually embedded in them. Layered LSA deposits outside of caves or shell middens are extremely rare. Open archaeological sites – other than shell middens - within the TKNP and in its adjacent areas are generally deflated in such a manner that Early Stone Age, Middle Stone Age and Late Stone Age materials are conflated in the same layer.
Pickford et al (2020) had suggested that the unusual and delicately balanced combination of sand, wind and water seepage may have resulted in a steadily growing mound which was continuously coated with artefacts by early man over the last 2000 years or so. Due to time pressure, however, this could not be confirmed by those authors. And neither could it be established by this author.
2.4. Categorisation & analyses.
The archaeological material present in the TKNP and its adjacent areas in general has in the past been categorised as being from the Early Stone age (ESA, about one million to 200 000 years ago), the Middle Stone Age (MSA, about 200 000 years ago to 40 000 years ago), the Late Stone Age (LSA, about 40 000 years ago to the present) and from the historical period (about 500 years ago to the present). While the presence of pottery indicated that the Kerbehuk site could be dated to the last 500 years of the Late Stone Age, the presence of possibly earlier material of an undiagnostic nature – such as crude flakes or ostrich eggshells and sea shells – meant that earlier dates could not be ruled out.
The information gathered was described, its archaeological implications were discussed, the implications for construction and access were pointed out, and mitigating and monitoring measures for any possible negative impacts were suggested.
3. RESULTS
3.1. Related archaeological and historical information
Davis and Walsh (1955) drew attention to the existence of ESA material in the diamondiferous raised beaches north of Oranjemund. Rudner and Grattan-Bellew (1964) reported ESA, MSA and LSA material from along the TKNP coastal region, and Rudner (1968) reported on pottery from the same area. Corvinus (1977, 1983) found ESA, MSA and LSA material between Arriesdrift and Obib on the northern banks of the Orange River, and ESA material on the raised beaches to the north of Oranjemund. Wendt (1972, 1975a, 1975b, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981) conducted extensive research on the history, rock art, ESA, MSA and LSA of those parts of the south-western Namib lying outside the TKNP. Cruz-Uribe and Klein (1983) reported on some of the faunal remains of Wendt’s excavations, as did Avery (1985). Noli (1989) investigated the archaeology of the Koichab River Area to the north of the road between Luederitz and Aus. Noli (1995) reported on an archaeological survey of the TKNP coastline and its boundary with the Orange River. Noli (1988) investigated the archaeology along the road from Luederitz to Oranjemund, Sendlingsdrift, Rosh Pinah and Aus. The above sources, combined with personal observations, suggest the following scenario:
ESA artefacts (Fig. 3, 4, 5) such as hand-axes, cleavers, knives, scrapers, discoids, picks, spheriods, choppers, untrimmed flakes and cores made from river cobbles are found on the Proto/Meso-Orange deposits along the Orange River below Sendelingsdrif. These deposits are 50-80m high banks of sand, gavel and stones which were deposited by the Orange River some 17 million years ago, after which the river cut through them, so that they now form bluffs overlooking the river. At one time similar artefacts made from beach cobbles were found on the raised beaches between Oranjemund and Affenruecken, but these sites have now been largely destroyed by mining activities. The ESA artefacts are from the Acheulian industry, indicating an age of between about one million and 200 000 years. Their distribution suggests that ESA people used the Orange River valley as a route to the coast, and ventured up the coast for some 70 km, but did not penetrate into the interior of the Namib desert. The large number of cores, flakes and half-finished tools, as well as numerous cores with pieces which can be re-fitted, indicate that the tools were manufactured along the Orange River. So far however, only one living site has been found, located some four km north of the Orange River at Obib. This raises the question as to where the other living sites are. As the mean sea level was lower during much of the ESA than it is today, many coastal ESA sites could have been drowned, while floods could have destroyed any ESA sites located in the sandy area right next to the river. Isolated ESA artefacts have been found away from the coast and from the Orange River, but these are of little significance, as they could easily have been brought in by MSA or LSA people as sources of raw material.
MSA artefacts (Fig. 6) in the form of blades, points, scrapers and flakes have been found within about 12 km of the TKNP coastline, mainly at vantage points such as the tops of hills, or at present or past water sources such as seepages, springs and dry pans in presently inhospitable areas. This suggests that conditions may have been slightly wetter than they are at present during at least some of the MSA period. MSA sites are rarely found closer to the coast itself than about 3 km, a phenomenon that could be attributed to changes in sea level, which may have drowned most coastal MSA sites. As was the case with ESA artefacts, MSA artefacts also occur on the Proto/Meso-Orange River deposits along the Orange River below Sendelingsdrif, and may have occurred more numerously next to the river itself before floods destroyed them. In addition, MSA artefacts also occurred on vantage points along the river. Accounts of MSA material being found well away from both the coastline and the river are limited but convincing, and both open sites and rock shelters have been reported. The most spectacular rock shelter is the Apollo 11 site, excavated by Wendt, the evidence from which suggested an MSA occupation until about 25 000 years ago. This may clash slightly with the general view that the MSA lasted from about 200 000 years ago until about 40 000 years ago in southern Africa, but the exact time period of the MSA does vary a somewhat from site to site. In 1988 Mr. Daan Marais found a fossilized human skullcap near Oranjemund. It is thought to be from the MSA.
The LSA (Fig 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is generally believed to have lasted from about 40 000 years ago to the present. In addition to stone tools such as flakes, cores, microliths (stone tools small enough to fit into a matchbox) and grindstones, it includes ostrich eggshell water containers, ostrich eggshell beads, seabird eggshell, seashells, bone, pottery, glass, metal, charcoal and wood. LSA sites are located along the actual coastline in the form of shell middens, and at water sources near the coast and along natural routes to the interior. It would therefore seem that, while LSA man inhabited the coast, the desert itself was merely travelled through. The lower Orange River, being both a water source and a natural route to the interior, is rich in LSA sites, which are concentrated in the sandy area lying between the river and the Proto/Meso-Orange deposits. The LSA inhabitants of the area, like the MSA people before them, made extensive use of open sites, but did not hesitate to use rock shelters when these were conveniently located. The coastal evidence suggests that sites with formal microlithic tools may date to between 5600 and about 2400 years ago, whereas evidence from the interior suggests that microliths may have been introduced about 10 000 years ago. This is not necessarily a contradiction, since all coastal LSA sites much older than about 5000 years were in any event drowned by rising sea levels. Pottery is generally taken as having been introduced into southern Africa about 2000 years ago. With three exceptions, however, all dated sites with pottery in southern Namibia are from the last 500 years, so that pottery sites can generally taken as being both free of microliths and being only about 500 years old in the south-western Namib. Stone circles and graves, though rarely directly dated, are generally attributed to the LSA. LSA people probably only entered the Namib Desert after good rains, never permanently or even on a regular basis.
Noli (1998, 2003) had made the connection between the land snail Trigonephrus and archaeological sites in deflation hollows. While it had initially been thought that the snails were there because of the deflation hollows, not because of the archaeological sites, the discovery of a veritable snail shell midden in front of a cave at Buntfeldschuh had demonstrated that their occurrence was the function of people, rather than of nature. This led to the investigation of several concentrations of land snail shells on a high dune ridge adjacent to the northern shore of the lower Orange River, near Oranjemund (Fig 13, 14), all of which turned out to be archaeological sites associated with either LSA or MSA material. This came as quite a surprise, since the ridge is very exposed to the prevailing winds. A perusal of the relevant literature (Pallet 1995), however, revealed that the snails, while living on sand sheets and low dunes, are only active at night or in the early morning in the winter, during rain or heavy fog, when the surrounding desert is moist. This, in turn argues for the winter occupation of the sites where they occur.
Both painted and engraved rock art exists in the TKNP (Fig 15, 16) and its adjoining areas. A painted rock slab from the Apollo 11 cave has been reliably dated to 28 000 years, but the age of the rest of the art, as well as the identity of the authors, is still very much under discussion. According to Wendt (1978), however, the heavily patinated naturalistic engravings of both humans and animals should be attributed to “Bushmen”, and may be about 6 000 or 8 000 years old. The abstract engravings, on the other hand, he attributes the Nama of Bethanien, a scenario which would mean that they were only made during the last 500 years.
The end of the LSA coexisted with the beginning of historic times. It would seem that hunting and gathering Nama in possession of ceramics entered the southern Namib some 500 years ago, either displacing or absorbing the remnants of the original population. These Nama may have been the “Bushmen” referred to by the early travellers. Who the original inhabitants were is not known, but small groups of Damaras lived at least as far south as the 26th parallel prior to the 19th century. In the course of the 19th century both the “Bushmen” and the Damara were displaced, enslaved or exterminated by various waves of nomadic Nama herders, who had first crossed the Orange River from the south in the 17th century. The Nama herders were in turn subjugated by the German colonial forces, which were expelled by the South Africans during WWI. In 1931 the police rounded up the last two groups of free-roaming hunter-gatherers of the south-western Namib in the vicinity of the Aurus Mountains. The adults were variously charged with trespassing in the diamond area, having unlicensed dogs and weapons, and the possession of klipspringer and gemsbok skins and gemsbok meat, and were jailed for up to five months. Once their survival strategies had been curtailed, the Namib nomads ceased to exist. The legacy left by the Namib nomads is not only made up of the archaeological record, but also of an intricate system of roads and tracks. The reason for this is that the first Germans used the last Bushmen as guides. As these Germans were either travelling on foot, or on horseback, or with ox wagons, they were very reliant on the ready availability of water along the way. It follows that the Bushmen would have guided the colonials along the best routes with the best water sources. These routes, dutifully mapped by the Germans, eventually became paths, tracks and dirt roads, still leading past the water sources, which often became the locations of the farmhouses, or even of towns. Inside the TKNP, where many of the German tracks fell into disuse after WWI, and where the Bushmen no longer roam, the old routes have now completely disappeared. They can, however, still be followed by the simple expedient of using German maps pre-dating WWI, especially the 1:100 000 series prepared by Sprigade and Lotz (1913). These maps not only show the routes with great accuracy, but also indicate the waterholes. Along these routes and at the waterholes, German artefacts can be found, and archaeological sites abound.
The German and subsequent mining activities, which commenced in 1908 with the discovery of diamonds in the vicinity of Kolmanskop, have also left a substantial number of traces in the TKNP. These, however, are mainly limited to a narrow coastal strip some 16 km wide, most of the earlier activity having taken place between Luederitz in the north and Bogenfels (Fig. 17) in the south. The remains are largely in the form of four major ghost towns (Kolmanskop, Elisabeth Bay, Pomona, Bogenfels), ruined diamond plants, abandoned diamond workings, disused narrow gauge railway lines and derelict mining equipment. Due to the proximity of the sea, the moisture from the fog and the strong winds that the coastal strip is known for, these historical remains are rapidly deteriorating. Some of the houses (one or two in each of the ghost towns) have been restored and are being maintained, but these represent the minority.
While the modern mining period – which started in the late 1920’s with the discovery of diamonds in the vicinity of the Orange River mouth – was initially limited to the coastal strip between Chemais in the north and Oranjemund in the south, this is no longer the case. The modern plant at Elizabeth Bay, the pocket beaches, the workings along the Orange River itself and the efforts of land and sea-based subcontractors have in recent years ensured that the entire coastline of the TKNP (both onshore and offshore), as well as the adjacent banks of the Orange river, were being subjected to extensive mining and prospecting activities. As a result, old fuel drums, oil stains, plastic, wrecked cars and abandoned earth moving equipment were slowly but surely being added to what one day will be the archaeological record of the future.
The Namdeb Environmental department, however, is currently a very effective driving force as far as the rehabilitation of the areas affected by modern mining is concerned, with great efforts being made to remove all traces that recent mining may have left behind.
3.2. Buried sites
While it could be argued that archaeological sites are clearly recognisable, this is sadly not the case. It is for this reason that the Heritage Management Strategy and the procedure for Chance- finds exist. In 2002 an elephant tusk turned up on a conveyor belt in the mining area at Plant 3, near Oranjemund. No other elephant bones were found. At the time it was suspected that with the exception of that one tusk, an entire elephant hand been mined, loaded, transported to the crusher and processed unseen. In 2008, however, it transpired that the tusk concerned had been part of the cargo of a 500 years old Portuguese ship that had been wrecked some 18 km north of the mouth of the Orange River (Knabe & Noli, 2010). That just goes to show: We don’t know what is buried. Corvenius (1983) spent a lot of her time picking over mine dumps for stone tools, and drew attention to the vast amount of buried archaeological material that exists in the mining area near the Orange River mouth. Hart and Halkett (1999) did an assessment of the archaeological baseline surveys that had been conducted by this author in the TKNP from 1995 to 1999, voicing their thoughts on the subject of buried sites as follows:
“Of particular concern are deeply buried archaeological sites relating to the Emian marine transgression of about 120 000 years ago. A site of this type (of which there are only a few in the world) was exposed at Boegoeberg south of Alexander Bay when a cave at the end of a buried gully was broken open to mine diamondiferous gravels. Unfortunately, the bulk of the archaeological material was mined out of it before archaeologists had the opportunity to study the site in detail. This impact was unmitigable and resulted in the loss of heritage of international importance…. Potentially sensitive areas will need to be identified and monitored during mining operations. Identified sites need to be conserved or mitigated.”
It follows that the occurrence of buried archaeological sites at ANY part of the TKNP cannot be ruled out. And it is exactly for this reason that Namdeb has a chance find procedure and a heritage management plan in place.
3.3 Flooded sites
Rises in sea levels had reached, in comparison to today’s mean sea level, –60 m by about 40 000 B.P. (before present), -20 m by 7130 B.P. and + 3.6 m by 4940 B.P., dropping to + 1.5 m by 1190 B.P. (Noli 1989). It follows that most LSA coastal sites probably date from the last 5000 years, earlier sites having been drowned. This means that throwing up sea walls and excavating to below the highwater mark need NOT necessarily only involve archaeologically barren deposits. Hand axes, for instance have been located in both Table Bay and False Bay, in South Africa (Werz & Flemming 1991). Even –as demonstrated by the recent discovery and excavation of the above-mentioned Oranjemund Shipwreck - the occurrence of shipwreck material (Fig.18) cannot be excluded. The mechanisms, however, for locating, identifying and preserving underwater archaeological sites are as yet not very well developed. The possibility, however, of the gradual development of scientific, public, political and legislative awareness of ‘wet’ archaeology has to be noted.
It also has to be remembered that shipwreck material does not necessarily have to be found on the coast. Either the shipwreck survivors themselves or roaming bushmen that came upon the wreck site could very well have carried material from the ship considerable distances inland. In theory, therefore, portable shipwreck material can be found anywhere.
3.4. Fossilized sites
A special category of buried site is formed by the fossilized site, in which geological processes petrify the layer of sand in which the archaeological material is present. Such a scenario is normal in palaeontology, but until recently it was not associated with the archaeology of the TKNP
This changed in 2018, when stone tools were discovered at Hexen Kessel which had been cemented in place in aeolian deposits by means of calcium carbonate as a result of freshwater seepage (Pickford et al, 2019). This event was followed by a report of a rich assemblage of stone tools, Patella shells, oysters, mussels and ostrich eggshell fragments being found in indurated grey sandstone (lime-cemented aeolian sand) at the Klinghardfelder in 2019 (Senut et al, 2019).
In 2016 an archaeological site had been found at 28-10-39.0 S; 16-01-28.6 E, located some 8 km north of Kerbehuk. It consisted of three mounds some 5 m high, made up of about five beds of fine sand subdivided by thin calcareous crusts. The mounds had formed as a result of water seepage causing surface tension which had trapped fine wind-blown sand, gradually causing the vertical accretion of the sand.
Burnt ostrich eggshell, Patella shells, tortoise bones, oyster shells, stone flakes and pottery had been observed on the surface of the mounds. There were also grindstones in the vicinity. It was suggested (Pickford et al, 2020) that although archaeological material had only been observed on the surface of the mounds, there could also be material going back some 2000 years embedded within the layers of the mounds, creating a stratified site with a depth of about 5 m.
4. DISCUSSION
4.1. Regional archaeological implications
While the archaeological material reported for the surface at Kerbehuk largely fits into that which is to be expected for the region, it is not of such a unique or extensive nature as to be able to contribute in any meaningful way to the regional record of the region (Fig 19).
It merely confirms what we knew before, which is that early hunter-gatherers commuted between the interior and the coast through the desert, making extensive use of such water sources as were available and living off the land, making use of fire and carrying their water along in containers made of ostrich eggs.
4.2. Specific archaeological implications
If, however, the Kerbehuk site does indeed contain an in situ archaeological deposit within the mounds, it would turn a relatively unimportant site into an extremely important and in certain aspects unique site.
Archaeological sites with any appreciable depth to them are extremely rare in the TKNP. And a depth of five meters, spread over 2000 years, is unheard of. It follows that to visit the site to establish whether or not it has any depth to it may well be worth the effort.
Such a visit will therefore in due course be conducted, the findings being added to this report as an addendum.
5. IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ACCESS
5.1. Legal implications
The Namibian National Heritage is composed of the cultural and natural elements that the Nation as a whole inherits from the past. These elements, be they buildings, works of art, archaeological sites or natural features, are protected by Namibian law in so far as it is necessary. In the case of Kerbehuk it may be advisable to err on the side of caution and to protect the site – just in case it turns out to be important because it really does have depth.
5.2. Political implications
The concepts of “tribal lands” and “ancient burial grounds” are in ascendance all over the world. Such sentiments have not as yet been officially addressed with respect to south-western Namibia.
If, however, the test of tribal lands should be applied to the TKNP, nobody would really have a very strong case. The Nama of Bethanien, who took the area by displacing, enslaving and exterminating the Namib Nomads, sold a “twenty geographical miles” wide coastal strip from the Orange River to the 26th parallel to the Germans in 1883 for 260 guns and 600 Pounds Sterling in gold. The Namib Nomads had in turn either displaced or absorbed the original population. As archaeologists have not yet managed to establish the identity of either the original population or their heirs with any degree of certainty, the Namibian people will for the time being have to hold the land concerned in trust. It follows that there are no legal impediments on developers as far as the original inhabitants of the area are concerned.
Experiences elsewhere, however, have shown that political activists do not heed the law, and that they tend to use the destruction of graves to great effect to gather national and international support for their cause. Construction crews, therefore, are generally advised to treat all graves and suspected graves with the greatest respect, and not a single one should be disturbed - quite regardless of the fact that by law they can bulldoze them with impunity.
In the case of the Kerbehuk area, however, there are no reported indications of any graves (Fig. 20). It follows that there can be no political backlash.
5.3. Sensitivity to disturbance
Archaeology is the reconstruction of the past based on the physical remains of that past. It follows that the mechanics of archaeology are very similar to detective work. The only difference is that, unlike Sherlock Holms, who inspects the room the morning after the murder, the archaeologist inspects the rock shelter or open site thousands of years after the event, carefully sifting through rubble and refuse. For this reason, the slightest disturbance at an archaeological site amounts to tampering with the already very sketchy evidence, thus making the task of the archaeologist difficult, if not impossible.
The arid nature of the TKNP means that the evidence is not protected by thick layers of rapidly accumulated rotting vegetation, or camouflaged by impenetrable undergrowth, but is lying out in the open for all to see. Further complications are caused by the fact that the Namib Nomads, the herders who displaced them, and the early colonials all lived by camping, and therefore sought out all the best camping spots, which are now archaeological sites. Modern man is now seeking out these locations – not because he is looking for archaeological sites, but because he is also looking for temporary relief from a harsh environment.
The above scenario, combined with modern man’s obsession with souvenirs, his aversion to walking and his pride in the abilities of his off-road vehicles, combine to make the archaeological sites of the TKNP not only highly vulnerable to disturbance, but also highly likely to be disturbed – if, that is, there is anything worthwhile to disturb. At the Kerbehuk archaeological site this is to date not the case as far the as archaeological material is concerned. To date. This may change if the site turns out to have any depth to it.
5.4. Disturbance during the construction and operation phase
At this point it is important to draw attention to the fact that the archaeological “Kerbehuk site” is some 8 km north of Kerbehuk. It is also some 4.7 km north of the intended location of the central meteorological mast. It follows that the archaeological site located at 28 – 10 – 39.0 S; 16 – 01 – 28.6 E is not in any way directly threatened by the currently intended location of the central mast.
Even so, constructing anything in the desert can be a massive operation with a substantial environmental impact. Due care should therefore be taken to limit the impact of the construction of the meteorological masts.
In addition, however, to the construction site, consideration should also be given to the access route to that site. Proper track discipline during this phase would be most useful. Only one track should go to any one place. And it should be strictly adhered to. It should be remembered at all times that Google Earth enables the world to look into our backyard. We should limit the extent of any visible disturbance, thereby avoiding having to look at spectacular “before” and “after images” provided by the world press at a later stage.
5.5. Disturbance in other areas
While this study is limited to the mast to be constructed at Kerbehuk, it has to be remembered that two other meteorological masts are going up as well. One will be located towards the north of MA1, at 27 deg. 56 min 43.44 sec S; 15 deg 42 min 50.76 sec. E, the other towards the south at 28 deg. 27min 16.92 sec. S; 16 deg. 18 min 42.48 sec. E. Other areas of MA1, therefore, may therefore eventually have to be looked at as well. In this regard it is important to point out that the location of known archaeological sites is very often a function of the degree to which the area concerned has been covered. It is difficult enough for an archaeologist to explore and research the diamond area as such – especially without an escort.
As a result, the pattern of known archaeological sites largely follows the pattern of access. That is why the first 90 km of coastline running north from Oranjemund is comparatively bare, while the first 90 km of river bank running east from Oranjemund is comparatively rich in archaeological sites: Over the years, this author was given the opportunity to cover all of the last 90 km of the northern banks of the Orange River of the on foot, on his own and in his own time, discovering some 183 archaeological sites in the process. Until a similar scenario can be arranged for MA1, that area will forever remain a place of mystery, where diamonds are nestled against lost gold, prehistoric stones and bleached bones (Fig 21, 22, 23, 24), with the soft sand sifting over it all.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MITIGATING MEASURES AND MONITORING
Keep the construction and access route footprints as small as possible
Locate the construction and access route footprints where they will do the least damage
Fence off the archaeological site
On site monitoring the construction process for the occurrence of archaeological material
Implement the Namdeb Chance Finds Procedure if anything should be found
Adhere to the Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan during construction.
7. REFERENCES
AVERY, G. 1985. Late Holocene use of penguin skins: evidence from a coastal shell midden at Steenbras Bay, Luederitz Peninsula, South West Africa – Namibia, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 96(3): 55- 65.
CORVINUS, G. 1977. Palaeontological and archaeological investigations in the lower Orange Valley from Arrisdrift to Obib. Palaeoecology of Africa and the Surrounding Islands 10/11: 75- 91.
CORVINUS, G. 1983. The raised beaches of the west coast of South West Africa/Namibia: an interpretation of their archaeological and palaeontological data: Munich: C.H. Beck.
CRUZ-URIBE, K. and KLEIN, R.G. 1983. Faunal remains from some Middle and Later Stone Age archaeological sites in South West Africa. Journal SWA Wiss. Gesellschaft 37: 91-114.
DAVIS, O. and WALSH, R.C. 1955. Raised beaches and associated Stone Age material in Namaqualand. S. Afr. J. Sci. 51: 277-282.
HART, T. and HALCETT, D. 1999. An assessment of recent archaeological baseline surveys in the Sperrgebiet. Internal report prepared for NAMDEB by the Archaeology Contracts Office of the University of Cape Town.
HOFMANN, undated. 1:500 000 map of the Sperrgebiet, showing features, names and routes, believed to date from the 1930s. Original in Luederitz Museum.
KNABE, W. and NOLI, D. 2010. Gesunken auf dem Weg nach Indien: das Gewuerzhandels- schiff Bom Jesus. In: Holl, F (ed) Gewuerze – Sinnlicher Genuss, Lebendige Geschichte. Begleitbuch zur Sonderausstellung im Ausstellungszentrum Lokschuppen Rosenheim 25. Maerz – 10. Oktober 2010: 149-159. Rosenheim: 2010 Veranstaltungs + Kongress GmbH Rosenheim.
KNABE, W. and NOLI, D. 2012. Die versunkenen Schaetze der Bom Jesus. Berlin: Nicolai.
NOLI, D. 1989. An archaeological investigation of the Koichab River region of the south- western Namib Desert, centred on the activities of Holocene hunter-gatherers. Unpublished M. A. Thesis, University of Cape Town.
NOLI, D. 1995. Reaching for the past. Ewi Namdeb 4th Quarter 1995: 16-21.
NOLI, D. 1998. Archaeological specialist study: Oranjemund Link Road EIA. Unpublished report, prepared for Enviroscience, Windhoek.
NOLI, D. 2003. Archaeological specialist study: Expansion sites archaeology. Unpublished report, prepared for Namdeb.
PALLET, J. (ed.) 1995. The Sperrgebiet: Namibia’s least known wilderness. DRFN and NAMDEB, Windhoek, Namibia.
PICKFORD, M. SENUT, B. and BENTO DA COSTA, L. 2018. Precision concerning the age of the Gray Sandstone at Hexen Kessel, Sperrgebiet, Namibia. Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia, 19, 132-140.
PICKFORD, M., SENUT B. and RUNDS, M., 2020. On the age of the artefact-bearing sediments in the valley north of Kerbehuk, Sperrgebiet, Namibia. Communications of the Geological Survey of Namiba, 22, 81-90.
RUDNER, J. 1968. Strandloper pottery from South and South West Africa. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 49: 441-663.
RUDNER, J. and GRATTAN-BELLEW, P. 1964. Archaeological sites along the southern coast of South West Africa. South African Journal of Science 60: 67-79.
SENUT, B., MOCKE, H. and PICKFORD, M.. 2019. Stratigraphy, Palaeontology and Archaeology of Klinghardtfelder, Sperrgebiet, Namibia. Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia, 21, 94-111.
SPRIGADE, P. and HEINE, F. 1911. Karte des Gebietes Laengs der Luederitzbahn zwischen Luederitzbuch und Schakalskuppe (1: 200 000), nach Aufnahmen des Regierungsgeologen Dr. Paul Range. Mitteilnungen aus den Deutschen Schutzgebieten 24.
SPRIGADE, P. and LOTZ, H. 1913. Karte des Sperrgebietes Deutsch Sudwest Afrikas in zehn Blaettern (1: 100 000). Berlin: Deutsche Diamantengesellschaft.
SPRIGADE, P. and MOISEL, M. 1904. Kriegskarte von Deutsch-Suedwestafrika (1: 800 000) Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.
WENDT, W.E. 1972. Preliminary report on an archaeological research programme in South West Africa. Cimbebasia (B) 2: 1-61.
WENDT, W.E. 1975a. Ein Rekonstructionsversuch der Besiedlungsgeschichte des westlichen Gross-Namalandes seit dem 15. Jahrhundert. Journal SWA Wiss. Gesellschaft 29:23-56.
WENDT, W.E. 1975b. Hinweise auf das fruehere Vorkommen einiger Grosswildarten im westlichen Gross-Namaland.
WENDT, W.E. 1976. ‘Art mobilier’ from the Apollo 11 cave, South West Africa’s oldest dated works of art. S. Afr. Archaeol. Bull. 31: 5-11.
WENDT, W.E. 1978. Felsgravierungen im suedlichen Suedwestafrika. Journal SWA Wiss. Gesellschaft 32: 7-68.
WENDT, W.E. 1980. Fragmente aus der Ur- und Fruehgeschichte des westlichen Gross- Namalandes. Afrikanischer Heimatkalender (1980): 33-50.
WENDT, W.E. 1981. Die Letzten Sammler und Jaeger aus der suedlichen Namib. Afrikanischer Heimatkalender (1981): 45-62.
Werz, B.E.J.S. & Flemming, N.C., 2001. Discovery in Table Bay of the oldest handaxes yet found underwater demonstrates preservation of hominid artifacts on the continental shelf. South African Journal of Science 97, 183-185.
APPENDIX C
PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS
Public Consultation Process
Consultation with the public forms an integral component of the environmental licensing process. In terms of Section 21 of the EIA Regulations a call for open consultation with all interested and affected parties (I&Aps) at defined stages of the EIA process is required. This entails giving members of the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed project and environmental reports, so that they can raise issues or concerns regarding the proposed activities, their potential impacts and mitigation of these impacts.
The objectives of stakeholder engagement are to inform the public about the project on an ongoing basis, understand their concerns related to the project, to obtain local knowledge about the area and provide review opportunities at key stages in the process The following tasks have been undertaken:
1 I & AP identification
An existing I&AP database provided by Namdeb was edited by Zutari for the purpose of the environmental licensing process. I&AP identification continues throughout the public consultation process. I&APs may register for the project at any time during the scoping life cycle. The I&AP database can be found in Appendix D of the Scoping Report.
2 Site Notices
Six site notices were placed at the following locations at and around Oranjemund:
Table 1: Proof of Site notices
S -28,555964°, E 16,409119° (Site Entrance) S -28,557882°, E 16,419931°
1
S -28,552675°, E 16,427876° S -28,552341°, E 16,427752°
S -28,552126°, E 16,427748° S -28,551542°, E 16,425911°
3 Newspaper Advertisement
Newspaper adverts were published in the Namibian and the Republikein for two consecutive weeks on 11 and 18 March 2021.
Figure 1: Advert published in the Namibian on 11 March 2021
2
Figure 2: Advert published in the Republikein on 11 March 2021
3
Figure 3: Advert published in the Republikein on 18 March 2021
4
Figure 4: Advert published in the Namibian on 18 March 2021
5
4 BID Distribution
The Background Information Document (BID) was distributed to all parties on the I&AP database through an email notification.
6
7
5 Way forward
The draft Scoping Report will be released for public comment during a 21 day period from 7 May 2021 to 31 May 2021. All comments received and responses thereto will be presented in the final Scoping Report in the table below.
Table 2: Comment received during the 21-day Public Participation Period
No Details Comment Response from the Responded regarding Applicant, EAP, Specialist by the comment received 1
8
APPENDIX D
I&AP DATABASE
I&AP Database
Organisation Name
EnviroScience Dr Burke
Debmarine Namibia Mr Paulo
Department Water Affairs (MAWRD) Dr de Wet
Department Water Affairs (MAWRD) Mr Roeis
Desert Research Foundation of Namibia Mr Henschel
Directorate Environmental Affairs (Ministry of Environment & Tourism) Mr Mike Griffin
Directorate Environmental Affairs, Ministry Environment & Tourism Mr Nghitila Teo
Directorate Environmental Affairs, Ministry Environment & Tourism Ms Claassen Connie
Directorate: Scientific Services Ministry of Environment & Tourism Dr Demas
Directorate: Scientific Services Ministry of Environment & Tourism Mr Kolberg
Geological Survey of Namibia (Ministry of Mines & Energy) Dr Schneider
Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources Dr Oelofsen
National Botanical Research Institute (MAWRD) Ms Mannheimer
SPAN Mr Samson
SPAN - Strenghtening the Protected Areas Network Project - MET Mr Midori
Ministry of Environment & Tourism Mr Cooper
Ministry of Environment & Tourism Mr Clerence Kutako
Ministry of Environment & Tourism Mr Lane Patrick
Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources Dr Hay Clinton
Skorpion Zinc Project - Namibia Ms Yates Michelle
Director of Geological Survey Ministry of Miines and Energy Dr Schneider Gaby
Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment & Dr Barnard Phoebe Tourism http://www.dea.met.gov.na/programmes/biodiversity.htm
Namibia Nature Foundation Dr Brown Chris http://www.nnf.org.na
Private Ms Alexander
Private Ms Maritz
Private Mr. O'Donaghue
Project number Project number Appendix D- I&AP Database.docx, Select date 1
African Penguin Conservation Project Ms Kemper
Alma Marine Trust (tourism & diamond) Mr Head
Chamber of mines of Namibia Mr Rogers
Council, Luderitz, City Officials Ms Amupewa
Dept. Water Affairs, Ministry of Water & Rural Development Mr Roberts
Desert Research Foundation, Non Governmental Organisations Dr Seely
Diamond Affairs, Ministry of Mines and Energy Mr Hamutenya
Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA) (MET) Ms Mansfield
Directorate of Environmental Affairs, (MET) Mr Nghileendele
Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Dr Barnes Tourism
Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Dr Robertson Tourism
Directorate Scientific Services Dr Lindeque
Directorate Scientific Services, Ministry of Environment and Tourism Dr Simmons
Division of Resource Management, Ministry of Environment and Mr Beytell Tourism
Division of Resource Management, Ministry of Environment and Mr Coetzee Tourism
Division of Resource Management, Ministry of Environment and Mr van Rooyen Tourism
Earthlife Namibia, NGO's Ms Kohrs
Hartlief, NGO's Mr Eins
Luderitz Chamber of Commerce Mrs Morgan
Luderitz Marine Research, Env. South, Ministry of Fisheries and Ms Noli-Peard Marine Resources
Mines, Ministry of Mines and Energy Mr Mudhika
Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Rural Development Mr Heyns
Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Rural Development Hon. Smit
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Dr De Wet
Ministry of Works Mr Beukes
Ministry of Works Mr Booysen
NACOMA Braby Rod
2
Namib Desert Brown Hyena Research Project, NGO's Ms Wiesel
Namibian Tour & Safaris Association Ms Zehrt
National Botanical Research Institute, Ministry of Water & Rural Dr Maggs-Koling Development
National Marine Information & Research, Ministry of Fisheries and Ms Currie Marine Resources
National Museum of Namibia, Ministry of Basic Education, Sport & Mr Marais Culture
OMDis Mr Tony
OMDis Ms Ronel
Regional Council, Karas, City Official Hon. Fluksman
Regional Council, Oranjemund, City Officials Mr Toivo
ReitSafari Hose Trails Namibia Mr Waldi
Sperrgebiet Gazette, Media Ms Beukes
Sperrgebiet Gazette, Media Ms du Plessis
Sperrgebiet Gazette, Media Mr Milomo
Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme - SKEP Mr Schroder Sub Region: Namibia
Ms Fiona, Gemma and The Butcher, Media Lydia
Town Council, Luderitz, City Official Mr Kangandjera
Wildlife Society of Namibia Ms Dembski
Windhoek Observer, Media Mr Marais
Windhoek Observer, Media Mr Smith
Namibia tourism Unknown
//Kharas Parks Chief Warden Mr Handley
Senior Conservation Sientist Mr Rikambura
3
APPENDIX E
NCAA Approval
APPENDIX F
MEFT Letter
APPENDIX G
Chance find procedure
APPENDIX H
Cultural Heritage Management Plan
Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan 2020
Report prepared by Dr Antje Burke & Dr Gabi Schneider
EnviroScience
PO Box 90230
Klein Windhoek
Namibia
Tel:+264-61-211729
Prepared for Namdeb Diamond Corporation
PO Box 35 Oranjemund
Namibia
Copyright All photos by Antje Burke, unless otherwise indicated. Namdeb has permission to use these photos, as long as
the photographer is acknowledged.
Acknowledgements Dr Martin Pickford and Prof Brigitte Senut provided additional information on fossil sites and Dr Dieter Noli on some historic sites. Namdeb’s geologists generously shared their knowledge and provided the information on geologically important sites. Other Namdeb staff also provided input during workshops and comments to the report. We would like to thank them all.
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Contents
Abbreviations and glossary ...... 5 Figures and tables...... 5 Summary...... 7 1 ...... 10 Introduction...... 10 1.1 Area of influence and scope...... 10 1.2 Project status and Life of Mine ...... 11 2 ...... 13 Namdeb’s industrial heritage...... 13 2.1 Transport...... 13 2.2 Electricity generation and transmission ...... 14 2.3 Processing...... 14 2.4 Earth-moving and stripping ...... 15 2.5 Mining...... 16 2.6 What to preserve ...... 16 3 ...... 20 Legal and policy frameworks ...... 20 3.1 Namibian legislation...... 20 3.2 De Beers and Anglo American standards ...... 20 3.3 International standards ...... 21 3.4 Environmental management, permit, and closure commitments...... 21 4 ...... 22 Approach...... 22 4.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest...... 22 4.2 Archaeology ...... 23 4.3 Marine archaeology...... 23 4.4 Historic sites ...... 24 4.5 Stakeholder engagement...... 24 4.6 Stakeholder mapping ...... 25 4.6.1 Stakeholder groups ...... 25
4.6.2 External stakeholder engagement...... 25
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4.7 Update of 2020...... 27 5 ...... 28 Risk assessment and vision...... 28 5.1 Methodology...... 28 5.2 Risks to cultural heritage within Namdeb’s licence areas ...... 29 5.3 Opportunities and gaps ...... 31 5.4 Cultural heritage strategy...... 32 5.4.1 Vision ...... 32
5.4.2 Strategic management objectives...... 32
6 ...... 33 Management actions...... 33 6.1 Management actions in Namdeb’s control ...... 34 6.1.1 Identify all potential cultural heritage assets...... 34
6.1.2 Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts...... 35
6.1.3 Identify process and resources for effective implementation of measures 36
6.2 Management actions not in Namdeb’s control ...... 36 6.3 Management actions which are not Namdeb’s responsibility...... 36 7 ...... 39 Implementation...... 39 7.1 Resources and accountabilities...... 39 7.1.1 Allocating responsibilities...... 39
7.1.2 Budget ...... 39
7.2 Reporting and review ...... 40 7.3 Recommendations ...... 40 8 ...... 42 Cultural heritage at Namdeb ...... 42 8.1 Mining licence 42 ...... 42 8.2 Mining licence 43 ...... 45 8.3 Mining licence 44 ...... 47 8.4 Mining licence 45 ...... 49 8.5 Mining licence 46 ...... 51 9. References ...... 53
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Annex 1. Localities of cultural heritage sites...... 55 Annex 2. Namdeb chance find procedure...... 65 Annex 3. Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb’s licence areas ...... 67 Annex 4. Risk assessment ...... 104
Abbreviations and glossary
ADT iculated Dump Truck CHMP Cultural Heritage Management Plan CDM Consolidated Diamond Mines EMPR Environmental Management Programme Report EPL Exclusive Prospecting Licence GN Government of Namibia IFC International Finance Corporation mesa flat-top mountain MEFT Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism ML Mining Licence SCEP Southern Coastal Expansion Project SEAT Socio-Economic Assessment Tool SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest
Figures and tables
Figure 01. Appropriately resting at the base of a bowl-scraper dump, this bowl-scraper with push dozer (in the background) illustrates some of the historic stripping machinery...... 15
Figure 02. This dump between No.2 and No.1 plant forms an almost natural-looking outcrop. Originating from the 1970s, it is now well vegetated and supports plant diversity only rivalled at natural rocky outcrops in Southern Coastal Mines, such as Kerbehuk and Tafelkop. It has been included as a site to be preserved...... 17
Figure 03. Archaeological site are not always obvious, such as this collection of shells and other artefacts at Buntfeldschuh...... 24
Figure 04. The fate of the historic mining village at Kolmanskop in ML45 needs to be clarified...... 42
Figure 05. Seemingly unremarkable this trench at Arriesdrif yielded one of the most diverse Miocene faunal records in Africa...... 44
Figure 06. Not much remains of the former early 20th century German police station today, but the site also provides a spectacular view over the lower Orange River...... 44
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Figure 07. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s Orange River mining licence (ML42)...... 45
Figure 08. Modern, but nevertheless an important stripping tool to show-case Namdeb’s industrial history, a bucket-wheel excavator in Southern Coastal Mines...... 46
Figure 09. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s ML43...... 47
Figure 10. A paradise for photographers – the historic Bogenfels mining ‘ghost town’...... 48
Figure 11. Cultural heritage site in Namdeb’s mining licence 44...... 49
Figure 12. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s ML45...... 50
Figure 13 Wind-fluted travertine at Elizabethfeld yielded a diverse representation of early Miocene fauna, including remains of ancestors of modern gemsbok...... 51
Figure 14. The processing plant at Charlottental dates from the early days of diamond history in the 1910s...... 52
Figure 15. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s ML46...... 53
Table 1. Mining licences and their current expiry dates...... 11
Table 2. Items of potential importance to document the diamond industry’s history...... 18
Table 3. Criteria and metrics for rating risks...... 30
Table 4. Residual risks within Namdeb’s control identified during a workshop with Namdeb on 14 July 2020. The risk ratings incorporate existing management of risks...... 31
Table 5. Residual risks outside Namdeb’s control identified during a workshop with Namdeb on 14 July 2020. The risk ratings incorporate existing management of risks...... 32
Table 6. Summary of cultural heritage-related objectives and actions...... 38
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Summary
1. Cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas includes historic, geological and archaeological sites and also industrial history. The purpose of this Cultural Heritage Management Plan is to provide an inventory of all currently known sites of archaeological, geological and historic importance, to identify the risks to cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas and to provide guidelines for management of cultural heritage sites.
2. Namdeb owns a large number of artefacts of remarkable technological innovations at their time. These relate to transport (railway systems), electricity generation and transmission, diamond processing, earth-moving equipment and mining techniques. Some of this heritage is recognised and features in Namdeb’s Environmental Management Programs, but many items are not yet formally recognised. A list of items to be preserved in Namdeb’s licence areas as testimony of industrial heritage is provided in this chapter.
3. Cultural heritage is regulated in Namibia’s National Heritage Act which governs sites in Namdeb’s licence areas. Namdeb also follows De Beers and Anglo American standards as well standards of the International Finance Corporation. Management and protection of cultural heritage is translated into practical activities in Namdeb’s Environmental Management Programmes and integrated in the Environmental Management System.
4. Sites of Special Scientific Interest and archaeological sites – including marine archaeology – have been amalgamated to provide a comprehensive GIS database to manage cultural heritage sites at Namdeb. Industrial heritage sites will need to be included once a formal decision has been made on such sites. In addition, a risk assessment with Namdeb staff took place and Namdeb’s CHMP has been aligned with the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park’s cultural heritage project as far as possible.
5. Risks were identified in a workshop and categorised according to regulatory aspects, loss of cultural heritage, rehabilitation, closure and aftercare, finance and reputation. Actions were developed for management of cultural heritage in Namdeb’s control, outside Namdeb’s control and actions which are not linked to a Namdeb-controllable risk but of sufficient importance that these risks need to be addressed. A vision and strategic management objectives guide the Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
6. Management actions
Management objective Action
In Namdeb’s control Identify all potential • Conduct baselines for cultural heritage in an area cultural heritage assets • Map all cultural heritage sites and place on mine plan • Continuously update environmentally sensitive area map • Liaise with MEFT and share non-confidential information to avoid ‘disconnect’ between industrial heritage and MEFT cultural heritage project • Identify structures of industrial heritage importance
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Management objective Action and exclude from Namdeb’s demolition program • Agree on structures to remain to showcase Namdeb’s industrial history with future landholder Avoid, minimise and • Obtain required cultural heritage permits manage adverse impacts • Brief employees and contractors on cultural heritage sites during inductions • Ensure contractor compliance with cultural heritage protocols (e.g. include in contract) • Demarcate cultural heritage sites near exploration and mining operations in the field • Conduct impact assessment on cultural heritage sites where blasting is near sites of significance • Follow EIA process for all new exploration and mining activities and ensure cultural heritage is included in baselines and assessment • Ensure adequately qualified practitioners undertake cultural heritage assessments • Ensure relevant government agencies are consulted during EIA process • Ensure cultural heritage aspects are included during rehabilitation, decommissioning and closure in the same was as during exploration and mining • Implement chance find procedure Identify process and • Raise awareness of Environmental Management System resources for effective at Namdeb Follow existing management system for implementation corrective action • Develop budget for significant sites under the Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation • Include implementation of CHMP in company and staff performance instruments • Implement preservation of cultural heritage sites identified to demonstrate Namdeb’s industrial history
Outside Namdeb’s control, but actions to retain Identify all potential • Support research related to identifying cultural cultural heritage assets heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas • Identify significant cultural heritage sites and facilitate possible declaration as SSSI Avoid, minimise and • Communicate CHMP to government and stakeholders manage adverse impacts • Participate and raise awareness of cultural heritage aspects at TKSNP committee meetings • Make available and publicise information on cultural heritage sites • Develop effective communication strategy for information on cultural heritage Identify process and • Identify historic sites requiring maintenance resources for effective • Undertake periodic inspection of selected known implementation cultural heritage sites
Not Namdeb’s responsibility Avoid, minimise and • Initiate and facilitate formal protection of significant manage adverse impacts sites under the National Heritage Act which are within Namdeb’s custodianship
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Management objective Action • Continue to render logistic support to the shipwreck studies in SCM
7. Cultural heritage encompasses a number of cross-cutting aspects, with environmental and ‘positive legacy’ staff at the forefront. Budget allocations take place in various departments under working costs, but the future allocation of support to Kolmanskop is currently in question.
8. Archaeological sites along the Orange River and the coast, spectacular fossil finds and geological sites and a wealth of historic structures are scattered throughout Namdeb’s licence areas. The maps in this report place these in a spatial context.
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Chapter
1 Introduction
Cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas includes historic, geological and archaeological sites and also industrial history.
The purpose of this Cultural Heritage Management Plan is to provide an inventory of all currently known sites of archaeological, geological and historic importance, to identify the risks to cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas and to provide guidelines for management of cultural heritage sites.
Namibia’s development is directly linked to the development of the diamond industry in the south-western part of the country. Diamond mining in this area commenced in 1908 with developments not short of an industrial revolution in the middle of a desert, and will likely continue far into the future. Namdeb Holdings currently holds the mining licences of the largest alluvial diamond placer in the world.
People have lived in and moved through the area for thousands of years, the shores were visited by seafarers and diamonds have been extracted for over a century. For these reasons, cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas is unique and plentiful and therefore deserves utmost protection.
Cultural heritage includes:
◊ historic sites, demonstrating the development of the diamond mining industry and other aspects of historic importance in the area,
◊ geological sites, illustrating unique features of the development of this placer, as well as other scientifically important geological features and
◊ archaeological sites, documenting the pre-historic life and conditions of our early ancestors.
1.1 Area of influence and scope
Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd (Namdeb) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namdeb Holdings (Pty) Ltd. Namdeb operates an alluvial diamond mining operation on the west coast of Namibia and is jointly and equally (50:50) owned by the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers. Operations consist of prospecting, large-scale, open cast mining and small scale off-shore mining by independent operators within the Holding Company’s Mining Licence and Exclusive Prospecting Licence areas. The company currently has seven mining licences: ML 42 (Orange River Mining Licence) along the international Orange River, ML43 (Mining
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Area 1 Licence), ML44 (Bogenfels Mining Licence Area) and ML46 (Douglas Bay Mining Licence Area). All these licence areas are situated in the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park. ML43 to ML46 are all coastal licences that stretch for approximately 5.5 km into the sea. Adjacent to the coastal licence areas the company also holds midwater licences ML128A, B and C. Namdeb’s social influence stretches locally from the Oranjemund/Rosh Pinah and Lüderitz communities to regionally in the Karas region and nationally at Namibian level.
This Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) has been prepared in accordance with IFC Performance Standard 8 on Cultural Heritage Management. The plan makes provision for tangible cultural heritage in the form of historic buildings, historic graves, petroglyphs, shell midden sites, Stone Age tools, historic shipwrecks, fossil sites and geological sites of Special Scientific Interest. The plan covers the full life cycle of mining i.e. exploration, projects, operations and closure. This CHMP includes management actions related to new projects such as the Namdeb’s potential Long-term Life of Mine Plan and the work that is ongoing in the midwater areas. It also includes the recent changes in the Life of Mine of the various operations. Assessment of impacts and development of management actions for cultural heritage management during operations, decommissioning and rehabilitation and post-closure phase are therefore included.
1.2 Project status and Life of Mine
Namdeb is currently in various phases of the life cycle of a mine. ‘Green fields’ exploration is ongoing in ML43 and Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 3749 in the Karas Region for rare earth elements. Current active operations include ML42 (Daberas, Obib and Sendelingsdrif) and ML43 (Mining Area No.1/Southern Coastal Mines). The mine at Elizabeth Bay and the entire licence area (ML45) has been sold. ‘Brown fields’ exploration also takes place within these active mining operations. Areas which were decommissioned include Pocket Beach sites 2, 3 and 11 and 12 and Auchas mine. The latest Life of Mine information is as follows:
Table 1. Mining licences and their current expiry dates.
Mining licence Expiry date
ML42 22 November 2035
ML43 22 November 2035
ML44 22 November 2035
ML45 22 November 2035
ML46 22 November 2035
ML 128A,B and C 22 May 2038
The purpose of this Cultural Heritage Plan is to
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◊ provide an inventory of all currently known sites of archaeological, geological and historic importance ◊ identify the risks to cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas and ◊ provide guidelines for management of cultural heritage sites.
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Chapter
2 Namdeb’s industrial heritage
Namdeb owns a large number of artefacts of remarkable technological innovations at their time. These relate to transport (railway systems), electricity generation and transmission, diamond processing, earth-moving equipment and mining techniques.
Some of this heritage is recognised and features in Namdeb’s Environmental Management Programs, but many items are not yet formally recognised. A list of items to be preserved in Namdeb’s licence areas as testimony of industrial heritage is provided in this chapter.
The development of the largest diamond placer in the world in Namibia sparked unprecedented technical innovations in diamond recovery, transport and earth- moving, leading to an unparalleled development that is nothing short of an industrial revolution in the Namib Desert in the early 20th century. From the trommel-sieves, the hand-operated Plietz jigs, the highly-efficient Schiechel separators to the sophisticated processing plants of today, Namibia’s diamond industry remains the leading player in the alluvial diamond mining field. Documenting and demonstrating these remarkable developments and their sheer size in the face of an adverse and unforgiving desert environment is therefore of utmost importance.
In the early days of the 20th century, the developments in the Namib Desert boasted the largest private railway network in the world, the most sophisticated processing plant (Elizabeth Bay), seawater desalination plants, a vivid stock exchange in Lüderitz, huge bucket wheel excavators, mansions in Lüderitz and the most modern coal-fired power station in the world with coal supplied all the way from Wales in the UK. The power station in Lüderitz was the reason that such developments could take place. Apart from enabling and driving these technological developments, people in Kolmanskop enjoyed the comfort of electrical street lights, while most towns in Germany and England, even London, were still lighted by gas lamps.
Similarly, the power station erected in Oranjemund in 1940, which was later enlarged, was the largest privately owned diesel-driven power station in the world.
2.1 Transport
The railway system developed from mule-driven to steam locomotives and, due to the scarcity of water, a unique benzole-electric locomotive to finally electric locomotives. This resulted in the only fully electrified railway system in Namibia’s history.
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When the diamond fields were exhausted at the endpoints of the railway (e.g. Bogenfels) the line was dismantled and the material used to build a new railway line somewhere else. However, the heaped up railway sleepers along the old line from Pomona to Kolmanskop were not to be “recycled” in the southern Namib, but were to be used in the North Africa campaign during World War II. However, General Montgomery was victorious over Feldmarschall Rommel before the material could be transported to North Africa. Today it remains as a memento of what happened in 1942, and one can only imagine the irony if Montgomery had defeated the “Desert Fox” with the aid of a German built railway system. It is therefore worthwhile conserving these heaps of sleepers.
Although most of the railway system has been dismantled, the route of the line is still visible in many areas. For example near Elizabeth Bay and around Pomona, it is indicated by embankments and the occasional remaining sleepers. The complete railway system shows up well in aerial photography. A railway system was also employed in the southern mines near Oranjemund until the early 1970s (Corbett 2002). Although these were continuously moved, following the active mine sites, remnants of the old tracks can also still be observed in some areas.
2.2 Electricity generation and transmission
As already mentioned, most of the developments were made possible by building the power plant in Lüderitz. While this building today is part of the Lüderitz waterfront development, and its conservation therefore assured, there are still some remnants of the vast electricity distribution network in Namdeb’s license area, and they should be conserved as part of showcasing the technological investments made in the early days of the 20th century.
2.3 Processing
Diamond processing evolves around breaking and sorting material into different size fractions and specific weights. Even today diamond processing is still largely a mechanical process, with crushing, scrubbing, screening and weight separation forming the core activities in a processing plant. The earliest tools were hand- operated trommel sieves, Plietz jigs and Schiechel separators. Remains of these can be found around Charlottental, Kaukausibtal, Idatal, Bogenfels, Elizabeth Bay and Kolmanskop, for example.
The Schiechel separators were then further developed and sets of these comprised the hearts of the early processing plants, for example at Charlottental, Fiskus, Elizabeth Bay, and Centralwäsche and Unverhofft between Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay. The first plant was erected in 1910 at Bogenfels though.
More developed plants incorporated crushers to treat conglomerate and magnetic separators to remove the magnetic fraction of the ore, for example the plants at Kaukausibtal and Idatal. Vibrating screens, so-called Plansichters, used in the milling industry, were later integrated in many processing plants erected during and after
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World War I. Centralwäsche also employed a new wet-screening technique to treat the clayey material excavated from clay footwall deposits.
Recycling was already the smart thing to do in the early days, as the coarse tailings at the Centralwäsche, for example, were made into bricks, and water was recycled over and over again in all wet-screening plants.
2.4 Earth-moving and stripping
After the surficial diamond deposits had been exhausted in some areas, machines needed to be employed to extract the diamond-bearing material. Electric shovels were used for excavating and bucket-wheel and rotary-bucket excavators, modelled on the machines used in the German coalfields, were adapted for this purpose. These were initially introduced at Charlottental and Schmidtfeld, but subsequently also employed in many other areas. The earliest bucket-wheels can still be admired at Charlottental today.
The greatest variety of methods and advances in earth-moving techniques were, however, made when mining moved to Oranjemund in 1929. Facing the removal of tremendous amounts of overburden, old techniques (e.g. electrified scoops, bucket- wheels) as well as new (from draglines, modified Sherman tanks - another memento to General Montgomery – bowl-scrapers to dredges) were employed to find the most efficient stripping method. Whatever examples of these different stripping tools may still be around, they are valuable to illustrate the development of the diamond industry. The quest for efficient stripping methods continues, as production costs need to be reduced (Corbett 2002; Schneider 2009).
Figure 1. Appropriately resting at the base of a bowl-scraper dump, this bowl-scraper with push dozer (in the background) illustrates some of the historic stripping machinery.
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2.5 Mining
In the late 1960’s mining started to move into the intertidal area with the first construction of seawalls. Mining takes place in dewatered areas behind the seawalls with conventional dry excavation methods. As with the development of stripping and processing techniques, seawall construction is continuously improved and new techniques are being developed to move further into the sea.
2.6 What to preserve
The amazing history of the diamond industry needs to be told and illustrated to future generations. Representative examples of this development are needed and must be preserved, telling the story from the early days to today.
The historic mining towns of Elizabeth Bay, Kolmanskop, Pomona and Bogenfels need no further explanation, as these are well-known and have been agreed by Namdeb to remain and finally be handed over to the future owner. All remains of these early days of mining have been mapped as far as possible, and are included in the data accompanying this management plan. However, the more recent items of importance, have not yet been identified and agreed upon.
In terms of machinery, it is unfortunate that the historic importance of Sherman tanks, bowl-scrapers and bucket-wheel excavators had not been recognised at the time and most of these succumbed to Namdeb’s scrap removal program. However, there is still one bucket-wheel excavator left, and this and the Sherman tank in Oranjemund should be preserved. There are also structures that have been moved from Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay which are still present today, for example the clock tower of the Oranjemund school which was originally gracing the administrative buildings in Kolmanskop.
Which structures to retain in Southern Coastal Mines requires a vision towards future land use and a look beyond what can today be declared as ‘historic’. All aspects of the diamond industry need to be demonstrated in some way.
Some structures have already been identified in Southern Coastal Mines and are therefore excluded from Namdeb’s demolition and rehabilitation programs, namely:
Affenrücken Hostel Mittag Hostel No.2. plant water intake tunnel Some representative bowl-scraper dumps and CDM plant of 1942.
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Figure 2. This dump between No.2 and No.1 plant forms an almost natural-looking outcrop. Originating from the 1970s, it is now well vegetated and supports plant diversity only rivalled at natural rocky outcrops in Southern Coastal Mines, such as Kerbehuk and Tafelkop. It has been included as a site to be preserved.
The Sendelingsdrif and Hohenfels police stations in ML42 and the old mining villages Pomona and Bogenfels and associated structures, as well as Jammerbucht, Prinzenbucht, Buntfeldschuh police station and Stauch’s Lager in ML44 have been agreed with MEFT to remain; so have Kolmanskop, Grillental, Grasplatz and Elizabeth Bay village, historic processing plant and associated structures in ML45 and Charlottental in ML46.
The following more modern structures are valuable to illustrate aspects of mining techniques, working conditions and procedures and these all need to be preserved. Safety and maintenance aspects will need to be considered and discussed with the
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In order to serve future tourism structures and features should be retained in logical spatially units, for example tailings dumps need to be near the processing plants to be preserved and historic stripping equipment should remain next to the dumps the machinery created. Leaving isolated structures which form part of a larger process scattered over this wide area should be avoided, unless there is a compelling reason for doing so.
Table 2. Items of potential importance to document the diamond industry’s history.
Item Description
Machinery Bucket-wheel One bucket-wheel excavator remains presently which is excavator not operational (included in the CHMP dataset, but no formal decision has yet been made to retain it). Open-bowl One open-bowl scraper with push dozer still remains at scraper unit the base of a bowl-scraper dump to the east of 50G (included in CHPM dataset). Dredge Although the floating treatment plant had been destroyed by a fire, a dredge modified for stripping ore demonstrates a very different technique of removing overburden or processing ore. Infield Screening One example of an infield screening plant will Plant demonstrate a step in the screening of diamonds Haul truck At least one example of a large haul truck demonstrates the magnitude of the earth-moving tasks. Jet Rig The Jet Rig is another unique technology developed specifically for the particular environment in which Namdeb operates, and demonstrates the challenges of coastal/marine diamond mining.
Structures No. 3 plant This relatively modern treatment plant contains all components of diamond processing and can therefore illustrate every step in extracting diamonds from ore to the production of concentrate. Even if the plant is modernised over the years to come, it will be the best example of a modern treatment plant. Gateway section No better illustration of the efforts to curb diamond of PCC theft can be found than passing through the gateway section of the Personnel Control Centre at the mine entrance. This can give visitors first-hand experience of some of the working conditions experienced by the miners. Red Area Before passing through the exit controls at PCC, visitors Complex can have a look into final product recovery if this
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Item Description
structure is retained. Part of Uubvlei Sections of the Uubvlei workshops contain specialised workshops equipment for servicing the once largest earth-moving fleet in the world. Even if the workshops themselves are not preserved, perhaps some of this equipment could be moved to a mining museum. Part of Uubvlei The central complex contains bank, post office and hostel artwork by the mineworkers illustrating the lifestyle of the migrating labour force. The ‘sand hotel’ illustrates that traditional customs of the mineworkers were maintained even within the high security area. Remains of Due to the extensive mining in Southern Coastal Mines, railway line very little is left, but it may be worth preserving some of the still visible embankments. Historic Exploration trenches provide an unique opportunity to exploration see stages in the natural deposition process of trenches diamonds. Some representative sites have been identified by Namdeb geologists and are included in the dataset accompanying this management plan. Historic trenches from the 1930s and 1940s, however, even without spectacular geological features, illustrate the prospecting phase in the early days and should also be identified and maintained. Power station in Largest privately owned power station in the world in Oranjemund the 1950s. Although not in use today, should be considered for an alternative use, for example housing a museum.
Landmarks No.3 plant No. 3 plant tailings dump provides a good viewpoint tailings dump and demonstrates the output of the processing plant. Although some of this has been removed for accretion, this tailings dump should be profiled, made safe and remain as an example. Pond and A pond near No.3 plant and conveyors to the sea conveyor should form part of the No.3 plant complex to be preserved. Dumps near clay Several dumps next to the clay channel north of No.2 channel plant (which has been identified as a site of geological interest (SSSI)) show remarkable colouration due to the unusual material excavated from the clay channel. These dumps should also be included in the SSSI. Mesa dump Well vegetated, combined bowl-scraper, ADT dump from the 1970s, forming an almost natural-looking mesa. Examples of A typical example of bowl-scraper and early ADT dumps bowl-scraper from the 1970s south of Affenrücken Hostel should also and ADT dumps be retained. Tailings dump Forms part of the mining landscape around the old near old CDM processing plant (German) plant
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Chapter
3 Legal and policy frameworks
Cultural heritage is regulated in Namibia’s National Heritage Act which governs sites in Namdeb’s licence areas and Namdeb also follows De Beers and Anglo American standards as well standards of the International Finance Corporation. Management and protection of cultural heritage is translated into practical activities Namdeb’s environmental Management Programme and integrated in the Environmental Management System.
3.1 Namibian legislation
National Heritage Act 27 of 2004
This Act provides for the preservation and registration of places and objects of national significance. It establishes a National Heritage Council and a National Heritage Register. The Act replaces the National Monuments Act 28 of 1969 inherited from South Africa. It came into force on 1 September 2005 (GN 105/2005, GG 3490).
Regulations: Regulations, appointments and declarations made under the National Monuments Act 28 of 1969 are still valid under the new law. Regulations are promulgated under the new law in GN 106/2005 (GG 3490). These regulations do not replace or repeal any regulations which may have been made in terms of the previous South African Act (and which have not been recorded here).
Declarations of national monuments and other protected areas: Sites of Special Scientific Interest would be declared under the National Heritage Act. Each site to be declared requires a statement of their significance and a management plan.
3.2 De Beers and Anglo American standards
Anglo American’s Socio-Economic Assessment Tool (SEAT) (2012) and the Anglo ‘Social Way’ (Anglo American 2020), both of which have been adopted by De Beers, were considered during the compilation of the Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
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3.3 International standards
International Finance Corporation performance standards
Guidance for this CHMP is provided by International Finance Corporation’s (IFC 2012) Performance Standard 8 on Cultural Heritage along with the accompanying Guidance Note. The applicable objective in Performance Standard 8 on Cultural Heritage is
“to preserve and protect cultural heritage from Project impacts”, and specifies methods as follows:
◊ Include cultural heritage concerns in Project assessment process and management systems ◊ Integrate cultural heritage impacts into the Social and Environmental Assessment ◊ Include direct and indirect impacts and opportunities for enhancement to cultural heritage in the Assessment ◊ Consult with experts, government authorities, local communities when applicable to identify cultural heritage resources ◊ Comply with National laws and any applicable treaties and conventions ◊ Design and site Projects to avoid cultural heritage ◊ Use internationally recognized practices for the protection, field-based study, and documentation of cultural heritage ◊ Develop and implement Chance Finds Procedures for construction and operation ◊ Preserve sites in place unless there are no technically or financially feasible alternatives; and/or benefits from Project outweigh any heritage losses ◊ Remove cultural heritage that cannot be avoided using the best available techniques.
3.4 Environmental management, permit, and closure commitments
The most important commitments made in the Environmental Management Programme Reports (EMPR) for Namdeb’s licence areas relate to the protection of cultural heritage under the National Heritage Act, 27 of 2004. The cultural heritage sites in the respective licence areas are documented in specialist studies and included in Namdeb’s Geographical Information System. The locations are shown in Annex 1.
One management objective of the EMPR is “to protect the environment, inclusive of cultural heritage”. A permit is obtained from the National Heritage Council when a cultural object needs to be unearthed or removed from a mining site. The closure vision of the company is to “Hand over all licence areas in a condition that supports sustainable land uses agreed with the landowner.”
Detailed activities and procedures relating to cultural heritage sites are integrated in Namdeb’s Environmental Management System and undergo regular assurance, review and audits.
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Chapter
4 Approach
Sites of Special Scientific Interest and archaeological sites – including marine archaeology – have been amalgamated to provide a comprehensive GIS database to manage cultural heritage sites at Namdeb. Industrial heritage sites will need to be included once a formal decision has been reached on such sites.
In addition a risk assessment with Namdeb staff took place and Namdeb’s CHMP has been aligned with the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park’s cultural heritage project.
This report updated and compiled a comprehensive GIS database of all currently known Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), archaeological sites and marine archaeological sites in Namdeb’s licence areas. Industrial heritage sites have not yet been included, as these require some discussion and agreement within Namdeb and with relevant stakeholders.
4.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Geology is the fundamental discipline that is responsible for discovering and evaluating the ore reserves. So to nobody’s surprise, there is a tremendous number of geological sites of importance in Namdeb’s mining licence areas. The majority relates, in geological terms, to the recent late Cenozoic history of diamond deposition. There are sites illustrating the trapping of diamonds along the Orange River, the depositioning processes on the beaches and testimonies of fluctuating sea levels. Fossils help to determine the age of these geological features and strata and palaeantological research has been supported by Namdeb for many decades.
In addition to the sites of more recent geological history, there are also various sites demonstrating geological forces and processes in the more distant geological past. These include remnants of intrusive rock formations related to the break-up of Gondwana such as syenite outcrops at Granitberg and Signalberg, as well as spectacular erosion remnants of the Gariep Group such as Bogenfels. At present 73 sites of geological interests and 76 fossil sites have been identified in Namdeb’s licence areas. The selection process and more detailed descriptions are provided in Annex 3. Some of these may be sufficiently significant to warrant protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, such as the treasure of Miocene fossil fauna at Arriesdrif which represents the richest Mesozoic fossil site on the African continent.
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4.2 Archaeology
People have lived in and moved through the southern Namib since pre-historic times. The perennial Orange River and the rich resources of the ocean were always an attraction to early humans. Early, Middle and Later Stone Age artefacts are therefore abundant throughout Namdeb’s licence areas. These include graves, shell middens, tool manufacturing and living sites (e.g. Noli 1995, 2002). Stone tools of these various periods are found on all Orange River terraces and at various other sites throughout the area.
Over 200 archaeological sites have been recorded and mapped in Namdeb’s licence areas (Annex 1).
Figure 3. Archaeological site are not always obvious, such as this collection of shells and other artefacts at Buntfeldschuh.
4.3 Marine archaeology
Early in 2008 remains of a shipwreck were found in the inshore area licensed to Namdeb. The shipwreck was excavated, and the results of the excavation were published (e.g. Werz 2015). The shipwreck most probably is none other than that of the merchantman nao Bom Jesus, which sunk on its way from its homeport at Lisbon to Western India via the Cape of Good Hope. The date of this catastrophe was March
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AD 1533. During the excavations by archaeologists the remains of the shipwreck, together with a few thousand artefacts, were recovered (Knabe & Noli 2012).
These artefacts comprise of weapons such as cannons, swords and muskets, and commodities such as ivory, lead, tin, wood, textiles, astrolabes, cooking pans, copper ingots and 2,159 coins – just to mention some. Most of the coins are Spanish Excellentes showing the portrait of Queen Isabella I of Castile e Leon and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragón, but Portuguese coins with the emblem of Johann II were also found. In addition, some coins from Venetian, French and Moorish mints were recovered. Also recovered from the wreck were a large number of tusks of ivory, for which the merchandise must already have been traded probably in West Africa before it sunk. Apart from the many metal tools, weapons, simple commodities and trading goods mentioned, 1,845 copper ingots with a total weight of almost 20 tons were recovered. While this shipwreck does not directly form a part of Namdeb’s cultural heritage, it is noteworthy that it would never have been discovered were it not for diamond mining activities, and the artefacts are currently housed in an Uubvlei workshop. There is therefore merit to include this in Namdeb’s CHMP. The site of the discovery, albeit under water now, is included in the CHMP dataset as a proposed Site of Special Scientific Interest.
A number of other shipwrecks have also occurred on the shores of Namdeb’s mineral licenses which are included in the CHMP dataset (see below).
4.4 Historic sites
The majority of historic sites in Namdeb’s licence areas relates to the diamond mining history. But there are also some shipwrecks and remains of other mining endeavours. Just over 100 sites have been recorded.
4.5 Stakeholder engagement
The most significant stakeholder engagement activities related to cultural heritage include the activities associated with the nomination of Bogenfels Arch as a national heritage site at the annual Namdeb Stakeholders Forum and recent interaction with the National Heritage Council, with a subsequent meeting with stakeholders on the process and information needed for the nomination.
Other stakeholder consultation and communication of a significant nature includes the discovery of the 500 year old shipwreck in Southern Coastal Mines in 2008 and subsequent discoveries of artefacts that are linked to the shipwrecks. In 2018 Namdeb has also rendered support to outside scientists who continue to conduct research on the copper tin and lead ingots found near the shipwreck that are currently stored at Uuvblei in Southern Coastal Mines. Engagements are in the form of logistical support and the coordination of research talks related to the artefacts.
Namdeb was approached by the Namparks IV project (Ministry of Environment and Tourism) in November 2019 to provide logistic support to the identification of historic
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buildings that should be preserved, protected and restored within the park. Specialist historians and an architect were involved in this process.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is in the process to declare regulations for the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park. A park management plan has been completed which incorporates a zonation plan, biodiversity framework and a tourism development plan. Cultural heritage is included in these plans and Namdeb has been instrumental in the development of this legislation.
4.6 Stakeholder mapping
The Cultural Heritage Management Plan needs to be introduced to stakeholders. This, however can only happen once vision, strategic objectives and actions are agreed upon within Namdeb.
4.6.1 Stakeholder groups
◊ Namdeb staff ◊ Service providers and contractors ◊ Regulators and other government officials ◊ Oranjemund residents ◊ Conservation agencies and initiatives ◊ Tour operators
Namdeb staff is a stakeholder group on three levels of involvement:
1. to endorse the CHMP, 2. to provide input and manage the CHMP and 3. to be made aware of and participate in its actions.
Service providers and contractors will need to be aware of certain actions and could also be encouraged to participate in voluntary actions, such as cultural heritage- related data gathering. Regulators and other government officials need to be informed of the CHMP and encouraged to share information related to its content. Oranjemund residents need to be made aware and controlled to refrain from actions negatively impacting on cultural heritage, such as souvenir hunting. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is the direct external stakeholder which will be responsible for preserving structures in the future. The National Heritage Council is an evident partner for implementing more far-reaching activities such as preservation of historic villages.
4.6.2 External stakeholder engagement
The objectives of external stakeholder engagement will be three-fold:
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1. To obtain acceptance of the CHMP by authorities and landholders 2. To involve key stakeholders in the development of actions that need to continue beyond mine closure 3. To identify the right partners for implementation of actions outside the company’s level of responsibility and expertise.
4.6.2.1 When is the right time?
Stakeholder engagement should commence once the company has reached consensus on a broad vision and strategic objectives and has developed proposals for dealing with the various aspects of cultural heritage management.
Perhaps not all aspects need to be developed in great detail – in fact those involving stakeholders in the implementation should not already be fully developed, but provide an opportunity for input. However, examples of the type of actions should be presented. Stakeholders will then better understand the concept and consequences of the proposed action.
4.6.2.2 Means of communication
Initially the aim of stakeholder engagement will be to present the CHMP and gauge the response by regulators, key stakeholders and the public. During all interactions, stakeholder input will need to be recorded, screened for relevance, and if necessary, incorporated in a revision of the CHMP. The initial discussions should also be used to determine the best means of further involvement of certain stakeholder groups.
Ways of communication will differ between stakeholder groups, but targeting certain groups in one-to-one interactions is preferred to addressing all groups in one meeting at once. Existing avenues for information exchange should be utilised as much as possible, rather than embarking on a separate communication activity. For example the CHMP should be presented at the Namdeb stakeholder forum and the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) park management committee. Internal communication can be achieved through regular company briefs and inclusion at company events.
4.6.2.3 What to present and discuss
Effective stakeholder engagement needs to be well planned to manage expectations. Adequate time needs to be spent on explaining the background, principles, concept and process. This should also include a clear explanation of where and how stakeholders can influence the process.
The content to be discussed needs to be tailored to the level of expertise of the relevant stakeholder group. Facilitators and translators are recommended to be involved where language barriers are expected. Once an adequate level of confidence in the CHMP is achieved, it should be available to the public (e.g. on Namdeb’s website and/or other web-based platforms, e.g. the Environmental Information System of Namibia).
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4.6.2.4 How to begin
The first step in stakeholder engagement will be presenting the draft CHMP to government officials and potential partners for implementation of actions. These are the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Heritage Council. These stakeholder engagements are likely to identify other opportunities and the next steps can follow from there.
4.7 Update of 2020
The 2020 update of the CHMP included:
1. review and inclusion of all identified potential Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including historic, archaeological, marine archaeological, fossil and geological sites
2. a risk assessment with Namdeb staff and a specialist on history and geology of the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park and
3. alignment with the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park’s cultural heritage project.
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Chapter
5 Risk assessment and vision
Risks were identified in a workshop and categorised according to regulatory, loss of cultural heritage, rehabilitation, closure and aftercare, finance and reputation. Actions were developed for management of cultural heritage in Namdeb’s control, outside Namdeb’s control and actions which are not linked to a Namdeb-controllable risk but of sufficient importance that these risks need to be addressed. A vision and strategic management objectives guide the Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
In 2020 a risk assessment was undertaken to guide the development of the cultural heritage management plan. A risk matrix was prepared by the consultant, distributed for review and discussed at a workshop 14 July 2020 with Namdeb staff and the specialist on Sperrgebiet history. Namdeb representatives of Mineral Resources Management and Environment (Exploration and Environmental Section), and Positive Legacy and Social Performance Departments attended the workshops.
5.1 Methodology
The risk assessment in 2020 was guided by the questions
◊ What are the risks to Namdeb as a result of poorly managed impacts on cultural heritage? and ◊ What are the risks to cultural heritage as a result of Namdeb’s actions?
Three criteria were used for rating the risks.
◊ Legal requirements ◊ Reputational risks (these are linked to question 1) ◊ Severity of risk to biodiversity (these are linked to question 2)
A 3-scale ranking of high (=3), medium (=2) and low (=1) was assigned to each criterion. The values were then added for each risk and a risk rating of high, medium and low were assigned (Table […]).
The risk assessment took existing controls for managing risks into account and is therefore an assessment of residual risks. The detailed risk assessment is documented in the accompanying spreadsheet (Annex 4).
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Table 3. Criteria and metrics for rating risks.
Rating Legal Reputation Severity Sum
3 high 7 to 9
2 medium 5 to 6
1 low 3 to 4
The following categories of risks were considered:
◊ Regulatory ◊ Loss of cultural heritage ◊ Rehabilitation, closure and aftercare ◊ Finance and ◊ Reputation.
5.2 Risks to cultural heritage within Namdeb’s licence areas
For management purposes the risks were divided into those under Namdeb’s control and risks outside Namdeb’s control.
The table below lists the identified residual risks and their risk ratings. Risks under Namdeb’s control will be addressed in the management plan.
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Table 4. Residual risks within Namdeb’s control identified during a workshop with Namdeb on 14 July 2020. The risk ratings incorporate existing management of risks.
Risk Rating
Regulatory
Removal of cultural heritage artefacts during all phases of mining medium
Loss of cultural heritage
Souvenir hunting by staff and contractors medium
Staff operating near cultural heritage sites is not adequately informed low
Not all potential localities of cultural heritage importance near Namdeb’s operations are known low
Rehabilitation, closure and aftercare
Inadvertent disturbance of cultural heritage sites during rehabilitation medium
Structures and sites of importance for documenting industrial history not agreed high
Finance
No budget to preserve Namdeb’s cultural heritage sites medium
Reputation
Poorly executed or not implemented cultural heritage plans tarnish Namdeb’s reputation medium
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Table 5. Residual risks outside Namdeb’s control identified during a workshop with Namdeb on 14 July 2020. The risk ratings incorporate existing management of risks.
Risk Rating
Capacity to assess compliance with regulations is lacking medium
Not all localities of cultural heritage importance are known medium
Significance of all cultural heritage sites is not known medium
Natural deterioration of historic sites low
Cultural heritage sites are not protected after mining licences are relinquished medium
Others operating in Namden’s licence areas (tour guides, government inspectors) damage cultural heritage sites inadvertently medium
Only one risk was rated “high” – the lack of agreement on structures and sites of importance to Namdeb’s history, and with this Namibia’s diamond history. This has a direct bearing on Namdeb’s demolition program for mine closure. As a first step, a chapter with recommendations related to industrial history are therefore included in this management plan.
Management actions for all risks are included in this management plan, but management actions are divided into three categories. These are:
◊ Management actions in Namdeb’s control
◊ Management actions not linked to a Namdeb-controllable risk, but to be addressed and
◊ Management actions which are not Namdeb’s responsibility
The management actions are described in more detail below, following these distinctions and organised within these according to the overarching objectives.
5.3 Opportunities and gaps
During the workshop the following opportunities were identified:
◊ Raising cultural heritage issues with the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) Park Management Committee ◊ Collaborating with relevant authorities and stakeholders on conservation and preservation of significant historic sites and ◊ Uncovering potential archaeological and historic sites during mining.
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The participants at the workshop concluded that there are no gaps to be addressed in cultural heritage management at Namdeb.
5.4 Cultural heritage strategy
5.4.1 Vision
To continue making a long-term contribution to cultural heritage by following the mitigation hierarchy in areas impacted by mining, and supporting initiatives contributing to the global scientific knowledge and preservation of cultural heritage in the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park.
Overarching (strategic) management objectives will contribute to achieve this vision.
5.4.2 Strategic management objectives
These are the following:
1. To identify all potential cultural heritage assets.
2. To avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining.
3. To identify process and resources for effective implementation of these measures.
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Chapter
6 Management actions
Summary of cultural heritage-related objectives and actions.
Management objective Action
In Namdeb’s control Identify all potential • Conduct baselines for cultural heritage in an area cultural heritage assets • Map all cultural heritage sites and place on mine plan • Continuously update environmentally sensitive area map • Liaise with MEFT and share non-confidential information to avoid ‘disconnect’ between industrial heritage and MEFT cultural heritage project • Identify structures of industrial heritage importance and exclude from Namdeb’s demolition program • Agree on structures to remain to showcase Namdeb’s industrial history with future landholder Avoid, minimise and • Obtain required cultural heritage permits manage adverse • Brief employees and contractors on cultural heritage impacts sites during inductions • Ensure contractor compliance with cultural heritage protocols (e.g. include in contract) • Demarcate cultural heritage sites near exploration and mining operations in the field • Conduct impact assessment on cultural heritage sites where blasting is near sites of significance • Follow EIA process for all new exploration and mining activities and ensure cultural heritage is included in baselines and assessment • Ensure adequately qualified practitioners undertake cultural heritage assessments • Ensure relevant government agencies are consulted during EIA process • Ensure cultural heritage aspects are included during rehabilitation, decommissioning and closure in the same was as during exploration and mining • Implement chance find procedure Identify process and • Raise awareness of Environmental Management System resources for effective at Namdeb Follow existing management system for implementation corrective action • Develop budget for significant sites under the Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation • Include implementation of CHMP in company and staff performance instruments • Implement preservation of cultural heritage sites identified to demonstrate Namdeb’s industrial history
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Outside Namdeb’s control, but actions to retain Identify all potential • Support research related to identifying cultural cultural heritage assets heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas • Identify significant cultural heritage sites and facilitate possible declaration as SSSI Avoid, minimise and • Communicate CHMP to government and stakeholders manage adverse impacts • Participate and raise awareness of cultural heritage aspects at TKSNP committee meetings • Make available and publicise information on cultural heritage sites • Develop effective communication strategy for information on cultural heritage Identify process and • Identify historic sites requiring maintenance resources for effective • Undertake periodic inspection of selected known implementation cultural heritage sites
Not Namdeb’s responsibility Avoid, minimise and • Initiate and facilitate formal protection of significant manage adverse impacts sites under the National Heritage Act which are within Namdeb’s custodianship • Continue to render logistic support to the shipwreck studies in SCM
The management actions are presented as those (1) in Namdeb’s control, (2) not in Namdeb’s control, but where Namdeb will implement management actions to contribute to lowering the risk and (3) not in Namdeb’s control and the management action is not necessarily implemented.
6.1 Management actions in Namdeb’s control
6.1.1 Identify all potential cultural heritage assets
This management objective has three essential steps:
1. Identification of sites in the field
2. Capturing the data related to these sites and
3. Regular review to ensure that new information is integrated with all activities associated with mining.
Archaeology and palaeontology have always been considered in Namdeb’s operations and relevant expertise was at hand (e.g. Corvinus 1978; Noli 1995; Pickford 1987; Pickford & Senut 2003). Well-known historic sites are respected, and to some extent even restored. Industrial history, however, has received little formal attention so far. This is of utmost importance as Namdeb’s activities may inadvertently destroy important artefacts.
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In this context the widely used threshold of 50 years to qualify as historic cannot be strictly applied, as even modern structures today will be of importance to document the development of mining methods in the future.
Actions related to addressing this risk are similar to those already applied to other cultural sites of importance and the first step will be identifying important structures to remain. However, as the boundary between historic and contemporary is somewhat blurry, and this will also require a vision towards future land use, the future landholder (MEFT) needs to be consulted and agree to the items to remain.
Information to stimulate this discussion and provide some background is provided in chapter 2 and table2 lists a number of items that should be excluded from the demolition and landscaping programs in Southern Coastal Mines.
6.1.2 Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts
The importance of cultural heritage sites needs to be integrated in all exploration and mining and rehabilitation activities and made clear to all staff working near such sites. This includes contractors and measures to protect such sites are included in contracts where applicable.
In areas where machinery operates close to cultural heritage sites during exploration, operations, rehabilitation or decommissioning, demarcation needs to be considered. The emphasis is on ‘considered’ because in some instances (e.g. fossils and archaeological sites) it may not serve the protection of the sites if there is attention drawn to them, for example along a public road. This needs to be decided case-by- case. All geological SSSI’s in the vicinity of active operations or rehabilitation, however, need to be demarcated and sign-posted. Where blasting occurs near significant historic buildings an impact assessment should be undertaken.
When exploration and mining move into new areas, Environmental Impact Assessments are undertaken and these also include cultural heritage. If cultural heritage baselines, which form part of an EIA, are commissioned to external practitioners, Namdeb still needs to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are consulted and the practitioners are adequately qualified and experienced to address cultural heritage issues.
Namdeb’s chance find procedure helps to protect sites uncovered during mining operations. Two significant sites have this way been uncovered during mining operations already: the unique site of Miocene fossil fauna at Arriesdrif (Corvinus 1978; Pickford & Senut 2003) and the 16th century shipwreck Bom Jesus in Southern Coastal Mines (Knabe & Noli 2012). A number of smaller sites have also produced important scientific evidence of fauna and flora in geological times gone past (e.g. Auchas).
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6.1.3 Identify process and resources for effective implementation of measures Namdeb’s Environmental Management System includes measures and corrective action to protect cultural heritage sites. Integrating the implementation of this Cultural Heritage Plan with performance instruments will further foster the efficient management of cultural heritage sites. While potential impacts on cultural heritage are managed at Namdeb, a budget for preservation of significant sites, however, is required. The development of a budget for the preservation of historic sites is one of the actions of the CHMP. Any preservation work must, however, be guided by an architectural specialist, as restoration can also do damage.
6.2 Management actions not in Namdeb’s control
Namdeb recognises that better knowledge of cultural heritage sites, even if not directly in the vicinity of exploration or mining, helps understanding patterns and contributes to the advancement of science. This will ultimately help to learn from the past and to better preserve these sites. Namdeb contributed directly to identifying geological sites of significance as Namdeb staff has the expertise to recommend such sites.
There are other stakeholders moving in Namdeb’s licence areas such as fisheries and mine inspectors, police, MEFT staff and tour operators. Many are not aware of cultural heritage sites and may inadvertently impact these. Sharing relevant information from this Cultural Heritage Management Plan with other stakeholders in the area therefore helps to protect such sites. One avenue for sharing this information would be the park management committee, but there are likely also other avenues that could be pursued. A communication strategy would formalise these.
6.3 Management actions which are not Namdeb’s responsibility
Although this is largely out of Namdeb’s control, the protection of cultural heritage sites after Namdeb relinquishes its mining licences is desirable for two reasons:
◊ to avoid destruction of sites that have been protected for decades at Namdeb’s costs and
◊ to retain Namdeb’s reputation as a conscientious custodian of the Sperrgebiet’s cultural heritage.
While Namdeb cannot control what happens to their licence areas after relinquishment, the process of initiating and facilitating the formal protection of significant sites can already commence during the Life of Mine.
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Table 6. Summary of cultural heritage-related objectives and actions.
Management Action Risk objective rating
In Namdeb’s control Identify all • Conduct baselines for cultural heritage in an area low potential • Map all cultural heritage sites and place on mine plan cultural heritage • Continuously update environmentally sensitive area map assets • Liaise with MEFT and share non-confidential information to avoid ‘disconnect’ between industrial heritage and MEFT cultural heritage project • Identify structures of industrial heritage importance and high exclude from Namdeb’s demolition program • Agree on structures to remain to showcase Namdeb’s industrial history with future landholder Avoid, minimise • Obtain required cultural heritage permits medium and manage • Brief employees and contractors on cultural heritage sites adverse impacts during inductions • Ensure contractor compliance with cultural heritage protocols (e.g. include in contract) • Demarcate cultural heritage sites near exploration and mining operations in the field • Conduct impact assessment on cultural heritage sites where blasting is near sites of significance • Follow EIA process for all new exploration and mining activities and ensure cultural heritage is included in baselines and assessment • Ensure adequately qualified practitioners undertake cultural heritage assessments • Ensure relevant government agencies are consulted during EIA process • Ensure cultural heritage aspects are included during rehabilitation, decommissioning and closure in the same was as during exploration and mining • Implement chance find procedure Identify process • Raise awareness of Environmental Management System at medium and resources Namdeb Follow existing management system for corrective for effective action implementation • Develop budget for significant sites under the Debmarine- Namdeb Foundation • Include implementation of CHMP in company and staff performance instruments • Implement preservation of cultural heritage sites identified to high demonstrate Namdeb’s industrial history
Outside Namdeb’s control, but actions to retain Identify all • Support research related to identifying cultural heritage in medium potential Namdeb’s licence areas cultural heritage • Identify significant cultural heritage sites and facilitate assets possible declaration as SSSI Avoid, minimise • Communicate CHMP to government and stakeholders medium and manage • Participate and raise awareness of cultural heritage aspects adverse impacts at TKSNP committee meetings • Make available and publicise information on cultural heritage
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sites • Develop effective communication strategy for information on cultural heritage Identify process • Identify historic sites requiring maintenance low and resources • Undertake periodic inspection of selected known cultural for effective heritage sites implementation
Not Namdeb’s responsibility Avoid, minimise • Initiate and facilitate formal protection of significant sites medium and manage under the National Heritage Act which are within Namdeb’s adverse impacts custodianship • Continue to render logistic support to the shipwreck studies in SCM
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Chapter
7 Implementation
Cultural heritage encompasses a number of cross-cutting aspects, with environmental and ‘positive legacy’ staff at the forefront. Budget allocations take place in various departments under working costs, but the future allocation of support to Kolmanskop is currently in question.
7.1 Resources and accountabilities
7.1.1 Allocating responsibilities
Although the Cultural Heritage Management Pan has initially been developed and the update commissioned by Namdeb’s Environmental Section, it contains many elements of cross-cutting issues which fall under the auspices of staff dealing with sustainability of the town and the “positive legacy” team. Responsibilities for the actions in this plan therefore need to be clearly allocated to the staff best placed to deal with the specific action.
7.1.2 Budget
The CHMP is currently not covered under a standalone budget. In case some ad-hoc work is required and, depending on the location of the operation and the work required, Namdeb will follow the procurement process to appoint the services of a cultural heritage specialist and/or environmental practitioner. Alternatively the working cost budget will be used to make the necessary transport and accommodation arrangements to accommodate the specialists on site, when and if required.
The following tasks may require a budget:
◊ EIA for exploration or mining in new areas
◊ Services of a cultural heritage specialist if sites are uncovered during exploration or mining
◊ Identification of structures of industrial heritage importance and sites requiring maintenance
◊ Preservation of important cultural heritage sites
◊ Support to research identifying cultural heritage in Namdeb’s licence areas
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◊ Development of communication strategy
◊ Publicising of information on cultural heritage sites
The required budget to maintain Kolmanskop and other important sites forms currently part of the working costs of Elizabeth Bay mine. The sale of this licence will impact this allocation. The Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation has also sponsored restoration work of historic building in the past, such as some of the Kolmanskop infrastructure.
7.2 Reporting and review
Individuals responsible for authoring, reviewing and approving the CHMP include the Environmental Manager and Sustainability Manager. The Environmental team (coordinators and senior environmental officers) and Namdeb’s Integrated Closure Team received a copy of the CHMP. Integration of the CHMP will require a review of actions already included in Namdeb’s EMS and the adding of additional tasks, if necessary.
The CHMP should be reviewed and updated regularly, ideally parallel with updates of Namdeb’s EMPRs.
7.3 Recommendations
As the actions in this management plan have been developed during workshops and only actions agreed with Namdeb were included, this section provides some comments from the consultants.
In our opinion three aspects of cultural heritage importance do presently not receive the attention they deserve:
the nomination of Bogenfels as a National Monument
the fate of the artefacts related to the 16th century shipwreck and
the future of Kolmanskop and other historic structures in ML 45 and 46.
These presently fall under actions “not Namdeb’s responsibility”. However, these are of such significance that, if dealt with capably, can contribute greatly to Namdeb’s vision to leave a ‘positive legacy’.
The nomination of Bogenfels as a National Monument should therefore be further pursued, and supporting the establishment of a museum for the shipwreck in Oranjemund would be a sensible move to provide a feature attracting visitors to Oranjemund.
The ownership of the historic structures in ML45 and 46 needs to be clarified and Namdeb’s future role in the maintenance of Kolmanskop and other historic structures thereof are to be agreed with all relevant stakeholders.
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The alignment between Namdeb’s and MEFT’s cultural heritage inventories was only partially possible during the allocated time frames for both assignments and interactions with MEFT in this activity should commence as soon as possible.
Figure 4. The fate of the historic mining village at Kolmanskop in ML45 needs to be clarified.
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Chapter
8 Cultural heritage at Namdeb
Archaeological sites along the Orange River and the coast, spectacular fossil finds and geological sites, and a wealth of historic structures are scattered throughout Namdeb’s licence areas. The maps in this report place these in a spatial context.
Cultural heritage is summarised and presented in maps below per Namdeb’s licence areas. More detailed information on individual sites is included in Annex 3 and the localities are listed with their geographical positions in Annex 1.
8.1 Mining licence 42
ML42 is littered with archaeological sites along the Orange River as people have used the permanent water source as a convenient travel route to the coast. Most Orange River terraces harbour collections of stone tools and there are graves, livings sites and rock engravings. Some good examples of rock engravings are near Daberas.
Significant historic sites in ML42 are the early 20th century German police stations at Sendelingsdrif and Hohenfels.
Mining uncovered some remarkable fossil sites along the Orange River – one of international significance is the trench at Arriesdrif where the most complete example of Miocence fauna in Africa was found (Pickford & Senut 2003). But mining also uncovered fossil trees at Auchas (Bamford 1983) and more examples of Miocene fauna (Pickford & Senut 2003).
Geological sites of interest are all related to good examples that illustrate the processes of depositing diamonds in this highly dynamic river environment (Jacob 2005). These include trap sites, typical terrace formations and exposed scour pools.
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Figure 5. Seemingly unremarkable this trench at Arriesdrif yielded one of the most diverse Miocene faunal records in Africa.
Figure 6. Not much remains of the former early 20th century German police station today, but the site also provides a spectacular view over the lower Orange River.
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Figure 7. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s Orange River mining licence (ML42).
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8.2 Mining licence 43
Namdeb’s largest mining area has many sites of cultural heritage importance, largely related to geology and history. Most geological sites illustrate diamond depositing processes in a beach environment (Spaggiari et al. 2006), but there are also examples of Proterozoic bedrock areas and marine cliffs worth preserving.
Artefacts of historic importance are plentiful in this mining licence area as this is where the second phase of Namibia’s diamond mining history takes place. These include abandoned mines sites from the first mining activities near Oranjemund – the old CDM plant of 1942 – and more recent mining-supporting infrastructure such as hostels and examples of technological innovations. Examples of typical dumps made by different machinery, open bedrock areas and trenches also contribute to illustrate Namdeb’s industrial history. As recommended in the introduction, more structures of currently modern origin should be considered to be preserved.
A most remarkable discovery during mining was a 16th century Portuguese shipwreck from the period of the great ocean exploration and the earliest establishment of trade routes. This is a historic artefact of unrivalled significance (Knabe & Noli 2012).
Figure 8. Modern, but nevertheless an important stripping tool to show-case Namdeb’s industrial history, a bucket-wheel excavator in Southern Coastal Mines.
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Figure 9. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s ML43.
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8.3 Mining licence 44
A wealth of cultural heritage sites is found in Namdeb’s Bogenfels licence area. Geological sites include a variety of sites related to Cretaceous weathering and sedimentation, as well as remnants of intrusive, volcanic activities such as Granitberg and Signalberg (Miller 2008). A remarkable number of fossil sites illustrate fauna, flora and depositing and erosion processes mostly of Neogene age (Pickford & Senut 2016).
The Bogenfels licence area also contains a tremendous number of historic sites. The mining ‘ghost’ towns Pomona and Bogenfels, which were active during the development of the fist diamond fields in the early 20th century, fall into this licence area. Along with these early settlements, there are various sites with remnants of processing plants, machinery, living quarters and grave yards exemplifying the harsh conditions of the early diamond mining industry, as well as accessory works such as railway and water infrastructure.
The history of the Pomona area and its silver mine is also part of the cultural heritage.
Figure 10. A paradise for photographers – the historic Bogenfels mining ‘ghost town’.
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Figure 11. Cultural heritage site in Namdeb’s mining licence 44.
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8.4 Mining licence 45
The Elizabeth Bay mining licence area also abounds with cultural heritage sites. The wealth of historic sites relates to the first diamond mining operations at Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay, and the accompanying settlements, processing plants and accessory works, including railways and water infrastructure.
Figure 12. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s ML45.
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There are also numerous archaeological sites, largely along the coast, which include shell middens, stone manufacturing sites and collections of stone tools (Noli 1995b).
There is an impressive assemblage of fossils related to the early drainage network of the Grillental-Kaukausib area. Examples of Miocene and Pliocene fauna and flora are contained in the tufa deposits at Elizabethfeld and various pans in the Fiskus and Grillental area.
Geological sites of interest include sites related to typical diamond deposit sites and the geologically recent (Oligocene) igneous monchiquite plug Schwarzer Berg.
Figure 13 Wind-fluted travertine at Elizabethfeld yielded a diverse representation of early Miocene fauna, including remains of ancestors of modern gemsbok.
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8.5 Mining licence 46
Although far in the north, and away from current mining activities, the Douglas Bay mining licence area is no less important in terms of cultural heritage than the southern licences. This area too had its share of the early diamond mining endeavours and sites such as Charlottental and Schmidtfeld document the early diamond mining history. Examples of the first bucket-wheel excavator and early diamond processing technologies can be found in at Charlottental, just east of Lüderitz, for example.
Signs of early pre-historic human activities include shell middens and sites with collections of stone tools and ostrich eggshell shards (Noli 1995b).
There are not many geological sites, but remnants of ancient shorelines at Hottentots Bay deserve to be preserved.
Figure 14. The processing plant at Charlottental dates from the early days of diamond history in the 1910s.
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Figure 15. Cultural heritage sites in Namdeb’s ML46.
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9. References
Anglo American (2012) SEAT toolbox. Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox. Anglo American, London.
Anglo American (2020) Social Way toolkit. https://socialway. angloamerican.com/ toolkit.
Bamford M (1983) Preliminary report on fossil wood from Auchas, Namibia. Report to De Beers. BPI Palaeontology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Burke A (2015) Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb's licence areas. Report for Namdeb Diamond Corporation, June 2015.
Corbett A (2002) Diamond beaches - a history of Oranjemund. Namdeb Diamond Corporation, Oranjemund.
Corvinus G & Hendey QB (1978) A new Miocence vertebrate locality at Arrisdrift in Namibia (South West Africa).N. Jb. Geol. Palaeot. 1478:193-205.
International Finance Corporation (2012) IFC performance standards on environmental and social sustainability. World Bank Group, Washington.
Jacob RJ (2005) The erosional and Cainozoic depositional history of the lower Orange River, southwestern Africa. Ph.D. thesis, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Miller R McG (2008) Lüderitz alkaline province. In: Miller, R. McG (ed.) The geology of Namibia, Vol 3, Geological Survey of Namibia, Windhoek, pp. 19-1 to 19-16.
Knabe W & Noli D (2012) Die versunkenen Schätze der Bom Jesus. Nicolai Verlag, Berlin
Namdeb (2018) Namdeb’s consolidated Cultural Heritage Management Plan. Oranjemund.
Noli D (1995) Archaeological survey Chameis to Gibraltar. Report for Namdeb Diamond Corporation, Oranjemund.
Noli D (2002) Expansion sites archaeology. Report for Namdeb Production Expansion Study, Oranjemund.
Pickford M (1987) Miocene Suidae from Arriesdrif, south West Africa, Namibia. Annals of the South African Museum 97: 283-295.
Pickford M & Senut B (2003) Palaeontology of the Orange River Valley, Namibia. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Namibia 19.
Schneider G (2009) Treasures of the diamond coast. A century of diamond mining in Namibia. Macmillan, Windhoek.
Spaggiari, R.I., Bluck, B.J. & Ward, J.D. (2006) Characteristics of diamondiferous Plio- Pleistocene littoral deposits within the palaeo-Orange River mouth, Namibia. Ore Geology Reviews 28: 475-492.
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Werz B (2015) Some methodological aspects related to the study of historical shipwrecks, based on two decades maritime archaeological research in Southern Africa. In: Tripati, S. (ed.), Shipwrecks Around the World. Revelations of the Past. Delta Book World, New Delhi, pp. 308-334.
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Annex 1. Localities of cultural heritage sites.
Fossils (from south to north)
Latitude Longitude Description -28.496083 16.536972 GP Pan North -28.475861 16.707083 Arrisdrift -28.461111 16.669444 Skilpadberg -28.357017 16.761017 Auchas -28.356417 16.760517 Auchas -28.348800 16.760917 Auchas -28.348700 16.760567 Auchas -28.348444 16.761389 Auchas -28.297222 16.583333 Rooilepel West Aeolianite -28.270033 16.611633 Rooilepel -28.260833 16.610889 Rooilepel -28.236850 15.999800 K 40 -28.206389 16.357500 fossil eggshells -28.204500 16.359639 Karingarab -28.190833 16.239167 fossil eggshells -28.189056 16.791806 Obib -28.157222 16.225278 Wolwekop: fossil eggshells -28.130833 16.225278 Wolwekop: Chelonia -27.818028 15.662000 Chameis calcrete & termite nest -27.600217 15.576333 Buntfeldschuh -27.598750 15.556472 Phragmites in red sandstone -27.598583 15.556500 Phragmites in grey sandstone -27.597806 15.547028 oysters in situ -27.592278 15.548972 algae in limestone -27.499417 15.496000 Strauchpfutz Snail Site -27.473333 15.492000 Calcrete Eisenkieselklippenbacke -27.466056 15.477694 Kalkrücken -27.460389 15.497556 Eisenkieseklippenbacke -27.457194 15.471111 Glastal -27.416694 15.419861 Langental Shark Tooth Site -27.416639 15.419917 Langental shark site -27.405600 15.408267 Langental -27.405389 15.403639 Langental Creodont Site -27.405139 15.406028 Langental Miocene Site -27.404611 15.405306 Langental Hyrax Site -27.398111 15.405500 Wanderfeld IV -27.396028 15.405111 Langental Eocene Site -27.390333 15.446222 Steffenkop -27.389617 15.403117 Shaw's Trench -27.385972 15.621278 Graben -27.382417 15.442194 Blaubock Tree 4 -27.382333 15.442583 Blaubock Tree 5 -27.382028 15.442056 Blaubock Tree 6 -27.381167 15.441250 Blaubock Tree 7
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Latitude Longitude Description -27.380694 15.440417 Blaubock Tree 8 and 9 -27.379806 15.588694 Reuning -27.379778 15.465972 Black Crow Calc-crust -27.379667 15.424583 Blaubock Wood -27.379222 15.426389 Blaubock Tree 10 -27.377528 15.398556 Blaubock Tree 11 -27.376083 15.589806 Reuning's Depression -27.376056 15.438111 Blaubock Tree 1 -27.376000 15.462944 Black Crow Main -27.375583 15.440000 Blaubock Tree 3 -27.375250 15.438694 Blaubock Tree 2 -27.369639 15.443750 Namib Calc-crust Egg Site -27.349861 15.595306 Eocliff -27.346806 15.611444 Eoridge -27.316222 15.602972 Phytoherms -27.292933 15.329600 Hexenkessel: Pliocene -27.274417 15.418333 Silica South -27.269194 15.382944 Chalcedon Tafelberg -27.252972 15.418444 Silica North -27.249056 15.319639 Elfert's Tafelberg Egg Site -27.211917 15.323222 Tafelberg Nord -27.179222 15.333083 RvK sponge site -26.981250 15.265167 Elizabethfeld -26.980028 15.332250 Grillental Lateral Valley Snail Site -26.971528 15.325472 Grillental 6 -26.961861 15.316444 Grillental Carrière -26.961500 15.292639 Grillental Pipeline Site -26.910389 15.345250 Grillental North -26.858944 15.214278 Fiskus Aeolianite Ridge Site? -26.753639 15.245167 Fiskus -26.753278 15.243417 Fiskus -26.542500 15.167500 Schmidtfeld
Geological sites (from south to north)
Latitude Longitude Description -28.583767 16.413650 fluviatile deposit -28.583067 16.413617 pit -28.575830 16.401850 beach sequence -28.574800 16.401350 D-beach boulderbed -28.568700 16.400780 G25 gravel -28.568600 16.400850 E-F beach barrier spit -28.567950 16.400883 trenches through barrier spit deposit -28.567583 16.370117 Orange River - bedrock right bank contact -28.565250 16.373017 D(?) boulderbed and C-crest and subtitdal -28.563783 16.398233 spit-lagoonal wash-over deposit -28.563240 16.398330 G29 gravel -28.562017 16.363333 bedrock -28.557217 16.453067 Fan delta, possible marine base overlain by meso -28.555767 16.449700 Fan delta, possible marine base overlain by meso -28.554533 16.446717 Fan delta, possible marine base overlain by meso
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Latitude Longitude Description -28.515933 16.306783 bedrock: intense swash gullies -28.514233 16.313317 remnant of C-beach crest -28.513167 16.311583 remnant of C-beach crest and subtidal D-beach -28.513017 16.311333 G127 trench: C-beach crest -28.499900 16.287383 bedrock: swash gullies, potholes joining -28.367233 16.771317 AM11 pit: waterfall and scour feature -28.367100 16.771517 AM11 pit: scour feature -28.349050 16.760517 AM02 scour, gravel and fossils -28.338733 16.114600 M76 unmined: B and D-beach, Donax rogersi -28.318683 16.751850 Daberas canyon -28.278433 16.050150 East cliff -28.266193 16.813050 meso-trench -28.257067 16.780717 Zone 13 channel and scour -28.246183 16.761367 Zone 11 channel and scour -28.199883 15.951050 K97 clay channel -28.189183 16.797700 Obib gorge -28.169517 16.870083 intermediate terrace -28.167350 15.911017 K121 clay channel -28.154125 16.867086 Pre-proto terrace (bar?) gravel -28.139583 16.875600 Proto push-slope -28.137750 16.875900 top of terrace, N-end scour -28.127167 16.874900 tufa deposit -28.126617 16.874200 reed fossils -28.124650 16.872250 silt deposit overlain by sheetwash -28.123933 16.871800 waterfall - diamictite exposure -28.096667 16.198333 Karingarab cabonatite plug -28.011033 15.738083 sheetwash exposure and silcrete -27.934650 15.676663 Pantherhead -27.841633 15.848100 Blaubock gravel -27.738450 15.660250 Cretaceous weathering profile with silcrete capping -27.599850 15.576567 Eocene remnant -27.598111 15.542972 silcrete boulders on wave-cut platform -27.597944 15.559222 agates in situ -27.588450 15.570417 Eocene remnant -27.461317 15.496733 Eisenkieselklippe Bake -27.459583 15.391733 Bogenfels -27.458550 15.495200 Gemsboktal gravel -27.437000 15.395900 Palaeo yardang field -27.385667 15.421083 Marine gravel -27.379250 15.426333 fossil tree in Blaubock gravel -27.325917 15.369700 fluted syenite -27.300183 15.358550 fluted dolomite -27.299767 15.361500 Eocene remnant -27.207200 15.281850 Silcrete table mountain with trenches into Pomona beds(?) -27.193217 15.263333 Signalberg syenite -27.144783 15.418533 Monchiquite plug -27.014972 15.394600 Drachenberg syenite -26.992683 15.357417 dolomite eroded -26.966000 15.282667 pan travertine -26.921017 15.340800 Grillental barchans -26.865700 15.224200 redbed exposure with sheetwash component
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Latitude Longitude Description -26.865417 15.224650 redbed deposit -26.702917 15.234950 Fiskus sandstone -26.247778 14.985555 Anichab pan bivalves -26.147900 14.941120 4m-beach, sharp-crested -26.147210 14.942070 4m-beach with coarse clasts -26.142400 14.941180 4m-beach -26.141480 14.942400 4m-beach
Historic sites (from south to north)
Latitude Longitude Description -28.594900 16.415567 bucket wheel -28.583833 16.402450 German plant -28.559617 16.367467 bowl-scraper unit -28.556783 16.403683 PCC entrance -28.507083 16.616770 Hohenfels police station -28.506500 16.616983 Hohenfels police station foundations? -28.503700 16.277750 No.3 plant pond & conveyor -28.498300 16.281483 No.3 plant -28.481330 16.655090 Orange River- stock post3 -28.474960 16.253080 BomJesus-U area -28.470240 16.687620 Orange River-historic 1850 -28.424430 16.770800 Orange River- stock post2 -28.359200 16.801857 Stock enclosure -28.358867 16.134317 bowl-scraper, bucket-wheel, ADT dumps -28.358830 16.802500 Orange River- stock post1 -28.354700 16.307083 Chameis road:reservoir and windmill1 -28.349833 16.304183 Chameis road: reservoir1 -28.301022 16.069475 2plant tunnel -28.289920 16.080860 Mittag hostel -28.216900 15.977300 K area: "flotsam" beacon -28.196972 15.955222 bowl-scraper dump, well vegetated -28.176317 16.100200 Chameis road:reservoir and windmill2 -28.170583 15.910100 dumps near K121 clay channel -28.169717 16.881600 Sendelings police station -28.162283 16.072372 Chameis road: reservoir2 -28.156842 16.061567 Chameis road: reservoir and fence -28.149567 16.028995 Chameis road: windmill and slab -28.115156 15.842164 H area: bowl-scraper, ADT dumps -28.078317 15.810950 Affenrucken hostel -27.922983 15.685383 Chameis shipwreck -27.871553 15.657245 Fort Reef -27.866936 15.652325 Barge 77 -27.854167 15.656667 Chameis well -27.844847 15.725625 Chameis police station -27.837975 15.717742 Chameis airstrip -27.674336 15.526569 shipwreck material -27.607400 15.498670 shipwreck/LSA open site -27.578483 15.574883 Buntfeldschuh camel station -27.568760 15.470490 Dreimaster-DN75 -27.541933 15.481000 Frohe Hoffnung - German plant1
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Latitude Longitude Description -27.536680 15.482350 Frohe Hoffnung -27.535783 15.477567 Frohe Hoffnung - historic refuse -27.534300 15.477567 Frohe Hoffnung - German plant2 -27.459880 15.392367 Bogenfels-desalination -27.453395 15.413567 Bogenfels-CDM plant -27.444417 15.392583 Bogenfels graveyard -27.434500 15.405200 Bogenfels village -27.396850 15.394800 Buschmannshohe? -27.388350 15.529617 Luderitz road -27.381033 15.376317 Bogenfels reservoir -27.377200 15.396800 Granitberg station -27.376817 15.396850 Granitberg plant -27.376567 15.397283 Granitberg bakery? -27.250350 15.315083 Stauch's lager -27.248800 15.310133 German dump and sieves -27.206110 15.280970 Pomona copper mine -27.194967 15.300783 Pomona graveyard -27.192790 15.304960 Pomona village -27.191183 15.279983 W of Pomona -German trench -27.188917 15.297483 Pomona workers' graveyard -27.184367 15.311283 Pomona German heaps -27.176850 15.272300 Jammerbucht station -27.176400 15.271717 Jammerbucht plant -27.176383 15.273950 Jammerbucht cemetery -27.166033 15.326467 Pomona windmill -27.164470 15.327750 N of Pomona -27.122333 15.273483 Carlstalecke? German dump -27.110550 15.255460 Prinzenbucht -27.080667 15.270950 Phoenix? German station? -26.997667 15.363617 Grillental building2 -26.995233 15.357817 Grillental building1 -26.994383 15.358283 Grillental pump house1 -26.993800 15.358250 Grillental pump house2 -26.993267 15.358267 Grillental house -26.919650 15.187583 E-Bay CDM plant -26.912170 15.187500 Elizabeth Bay village -26.881260 15.233260 Artesian well -26.871790 15.213420 Graves -26.833067 15.234933 E-Bay deflation valley German plant -26.831217 15.229567 Elizabeth Bay deflation valley1 -26.830970 15.179000 Unverhofft graves -26.829817 15.229433 Elizabeth Bay deflation valley2 -26.823670 15.180970 Elizabeth Bay German plant -26.769883 15.105717 N of Reef bay - Starfish -26.756453 15.243500 Fiskus plant -26.723533 15.226767 Zentralwasche3 -26.722417 15.229317 Zentralwasche2 -26.722117 15.292533 Grasplatz -26.720700 15.225467 Zentralwasche1 -26.704170 15.233330 Kolmanskop village -26.702872 15.240431 Kolmanskop cemetery
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Latitude Longitude Description -26.695470 15.174170 Luderitz graves -26.669650 15.240133 Charlottental no.4 plant -26.667183 15.226533 Charlottental no.3 plant -26.650220 15.231820 Charlottental ruins -26.648264 15.232917 Charlottental no.2 plant -26.643583 15.240350 Charlottental no.1 plant -26.639150 15.241833 Charl. large bucket-wheel -26.636658 15.233739 Charl. small bucket-wheel -26.626117 15.205800 Charlottental accommodation -26.613917 15.205000 Charlottental reservoir -26.543086 15.163619 Schmidtfeld German plant -26.358888 15.047778 German camp -26.349713 15.051942 Hottentots Bay-farm -26.346473 14.992199 shipwreck/wagon -26.318020 15.037060 historic/LSA midden -26.138660 14.944030 Hottentots Bay -26.137958 14.944656 Hottentots Bay canning factory
Archaeological sites from south to north
Latitude Longitude Description -28.496705 16.719603 96 - ESA/MSA -28.496661 16.721656 95 - grave -28.496659 16.721648 Grave -28.496556 16.723338 94b - grave -28.496226 16.724038 Stone features -28.495900 16.725741 grave -28.494764 16.727828 90 - LSA -28.491973 16.700556 97A - ESA/MSA -28.491943 16.699904 97B - grave -28.491824 16.701315 97C - ESA -28.489188 16.731946 90 - ESA/MSA -28.487529 16.734941 ESA 1 grave -28.486995 16.643908 LSA -28.484532 16.703508 98 - ESA/MSA -28.484191 16.651710 LSA -28.479374 16.701406 101 -ESA/MSA -28.476097 16.707472 fossil miocence site -28.475031 16.696465 102 - LSA living site -28.473213 16.656555 LSA -28.469889 16.687267 104 - stone platform -28.469690 16.690241 100 - grave -28.469599 16.683432 Stone platform -28.468974 16.610344 LSA -28.468280 16.690646 99 - 6 graves -28.467743 16.688092 103 - grave -28.467263 16.680406 MSA/LSA -28.462165 16.685911 107 - two graves -28.462016 16.751003 LSA
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Latitude Longitude Description -28.459625 16.682594 MSA -28.457331 16.754761 ESA -28.456700 16.760225 ESA, MSA, LSA -28.451082 16.767762 LSA -28.449849 16.769326 ESA/MSA -28.449746 16.667973 ESA/MSA -28.446546 16.763422 ESA -28.444052 16.772024 ESA/MSA -28.440679 16.664837 ESA -28.440303 16.753759 ESA/MSA -28.437765 16.773589 LSA 1 grave -28.427649 16.767854 ESA/MSA -28.384249 16.784109 MSA -28.372618 16.795823 LSA -28.371371 16.794704 ESA/MSA -28.361435 16.793713 ESA -28.352371 16.790742 LSA -28.342757 16.787140 LSA -28.338037 16.781224 ESA/LSA -28.335036 16.777640 LSA -28.333226 16.774442 ESA -28.326073 16.770286 ESA/MSA -28.319058 16.768027 Grave -28.312340 16.760323 Grave -28.275316 16.808066 2 graves -28.274783 16.811599 LSA -28.274450 16.804715 LSA 1 grave -28.274183 16.803149 LSA -28.273433 16.818567 LSA -28.272917 16.802448 Rcck art -28.272717 16.799082 Rock art -28.271533 16.819134 ESA/MSA -28.269775 16.753671 LSA rock shelter -28.267783 16.797900 ESA/MSA -28.267533 16.823967 2 shelters -28.266417 16.790581 10 graves -28.266067 16.799183 ESA/MSA -28.266025 16.755453 Rock art -28.265517 16.794465 ESA/MSA -28.265333 16.820068 ESA -28.264951 16.791998 ESA/MSA -28.264250 16.797132 ESA/MSA -28.263367 16.799599 ESA/MSA -28.262784 16.797866 ESA/MSA -28.261784 16.788798 LSA/MSA -28.261768 16.786431 Rock art -28.261750 16.801616 LSA -28.261285 16.758163 MSA/LSA 2 graves -28.259185 16.782897 LSA -28.258933 16.821968 ESA/MSA -28.258201 16.778014 LSA 1 grave
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Latitude Longitude Description -28.258134 16.785265 1 grave -28.258050 16.760115 2 graves -28.257952 16.758790 1 grave -28.257285 16.763279 LSA 3 graves -28.257101 16.777714 2 graves -28.256468 16.764480 LSA 10 graves -28.253867 16.822534 ESA/MSA -28.253430 16.764090 Cave -28.252467 16.822684 ESA/MSA -28.252037 16.767977 ESA -28.249544 16.765749 ESA/MSA -28.249259 16.768533 ESA/MSA -28.249250 16.820784 ESA -28.248426 16.766587 Rock art -28.247339 16.779560 MSA stone circle -28.247319 16.779368 MSA/LSA -28.246210 16.779646 ESA -28.244265 16.776868 Rock art -28.244041 16.777132 Rock art -28.243834 16.820234 1 grave -28.242984 16.817534 ESA -28.240933 16.764363 ESA/MSA -28.240926 16.765474 MSA -28.239545 16.781310 Rock art -28.236208 16.782417 Rock art -28.233708 16.776584 Rock art -28.219730 16.743030 LSA cave -28.216611 16.803503 MSA grave -28.216507 16.838045 LSA, 2 graves -28.216080 16.832344 ESA/MSA -28.215791 16.801577 LSA -28.215297 16.802994 LSA -28.213782 16.806676 LSA -28.213727 16.833926 1 grave -28.213450 16.814704 LSA, 1 grave -28.213112 16.811476 1 grave -28.213026 16.836444 2 graves -28.212762 16.841863 1 grave, stone circle -28.209912 16.814170 LSA 1 grave -28.206645 16.806954 LSA -28.200545 16.842360 1 grave, stone circle -28.198486 16.793320 ESA/MSA/LSA -28.197197 16.791650 ESA -28.188692 16.782715 ESA/MSA/LSA -28.187909 16.789764 LSA.Stone circle -28.187630 16.784286 LSA -28.173799 16.850913 1 grave -28.173463 16.865842 stone circle -28.171386 16.864164 ESA -28.164804 16.851190 ESA/LSA.2.graves -28.163454 16.855173 ESA
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Latitude Longitude Description -28.163347 16.865264 ESA -28.162534 16.847059 LSA -28.161530 16.861346 ESA -28.157188 16.842841 ESA -28.156814 16.839604 ESA -28.150552 16.847921 ESA -28.177500 16.024611 Kerbehuk -27.852547 15.656617 LSA/ (?) MSA/ESA midden -27.850146 15.658716 waterhole (6 ppm salt) -27.847296 15.726031 LSA/hist./spring (5.5 ppm salt) -27.665336 15.533219 LSA open site -27.630867 15.532752 LSA/ESA open site -27.601849 15.498103 ? -27.574846 15.572534 LSA/MSA/ESA midden -27.569429 15.583667 LSA/MSA open site -27.568429 15.579100 LSA/MSA open site -27.518610 15.466253 solitary ESA find -27.503743 15.449004 LSA open site -27.476058 15.448920 spring -27.468407 15.435370 MSA open site -27.415687 15.541217 MSA open site -27.404004 15.366689 LSA open site -27.284263 15.327906 waterhole (10 ppm salt) -27.200291 15.271890 LSA midden -27.195724 15.276906 LSA midden -27.194008 15.262774 LSA midden -27.192924 15.263190 LSA open site/2 graves -27.192591 15.261274 historic/LSA midden -27.145204 15.422385 MSA open site -27.091218 15.257990 spring (25 ppm salt) -27.085617 15.257290 LSA open site -27.066433 15.259706 LSA open site/spring -27.010129 15.234190 LSA midden/ 29 graves -27.008613 15.234823 LSA midden -27.599778 15.554944 stonetools, Patella, oysters, mussels, OES -27.292933 15.329600 Hexenkessel -27.586222 15.548444 stone tools -26.987511 15.276422 MSA site a dry vley -26.981144 15.278638 5 (?) graves, LSA/MSA midden -26.959993 15.251872 water hole -26.945942 15.233806 LSA midden -26.912023 15.190840 LSA midden -26.883538 15.222956 MSA open site -26.880171 15.228089 LSA open site -26.869721 15.160874 shell scatter -26.850470 15.156874 LSA (?) midden -26.848753 15.158624 LSA open site -26.832985 15.144525 LSA/MSA open site -26.826768 15.147025 LSA/MSA midden/open site -26.825851 15.143041 midden -26.812167 15.133608 LSA midden
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Latitude Longitude Description -26.578934 15.169051 LSA midden -26.578319 15.163856 LSA/MSA midden/open site -26.577802 15.160039 LSA midden -26.482213 15.132656 LSA midden -26.480746 15.125390 LSA midden/(?) MSA grave -26.458078 15.120256 LSA midden -26.408858 15.099390 large lower grindstone -26.384590 15.070207 midden -26.375273 15.065691 midden -26.360589 15.050341 historic/LSA midden -26.358455 15.049024 historic/LSA midden -26.358138 15.052991 LSA midden -26.351338 15.043825 LSA midden -26.350821 15.046708 LSA midden -26.347271 15.040241 midden -26.335154 15.040991 LSA midden -26.333237 15.040575 LSA midden -26.326803 15.038541 midden -26.318019 15.037058 historic/LSA midden -26.311402 15.048891 water (9.5 ppm salt) -26.308419 15.034108 LSA midden -26.305202 15.031491 LSA midden -26.304019 14.956660 LSA midden/ 15 graves -26.301052 14.959160 LSA midden -26.287051 14.955660 LSA midden -26.280317 14.952327 LSA midden/2 stone middens -26.122607 14.977142 LSA open site -26.051752 14.975225 LSA midden -26.045185 14.975025 LSA open site -26.018133 14.960108 LSA midden
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Annex 2. Namdeb chance find procedure PR-EV-25
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Annex 3. Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb’s licence areas
67 November 2020
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb’s licence areas
June 2015
Dr Antje Burke EnviroScience
68 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb’s licence area
Compiled by Antje Burke
with input by Jürgen Jacob, Marais Loubser, Gottfried Grobbelaar, Kim Pitcher, Cindy Andrews, Brigitte Senut and Martin Pickford
This report was compiled for Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd by
Dr Antje Burke EnviroScience P.O. Box 90230 Windhoek Namibia Tel: +264-61-211729
…And Namdeb’s geologist
Acknowledgements
I am grateful for the lively discussion and valuable input to this assignment by Yolanda Fortunato, Ursula Witbooi, Greg McGregor, Jefta Amupeja and Julien Cloete. Jori Jordaan’s vast knowledge of the northern areas was invaluable to track some of the sites. Discussions with Renato Spaggiari helped unravelling the intricacies of diamond deposition processes. Namdeb’s survey department provided spatial data, and particular thanks are due to Francois van Dyk and Edmund Nel.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Summary
To preserve important sites for future tourism and conservation in Namdeb’s licence areas effectively, such sites need to be known and considered during mining and infrastructure developments. Many sites have already been identified during environmental assessments, but geological sites of importance, for example, have not yet been formally recorded, and the information is not always easy to access. This report compiled an inventory of all Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Namdeb licence areas proposed to date and is supplemented by a spreadsheet and GIS data.
The focus was on identifying all Sites of Special Geological Interest and compiling biological and historic sites from available sources. Over 200 individual localities were identified in Namdeb’s licence areas of particular interest for geological, biological or historic reasons. The SSSI inventory includes well known sites such as the Bogenfels rock arch and the Arrisdrift fossil site as well as lesser known sites, many related to the geological history of diamond deposition.
A distinction was made between long-term SSSIs and witness sections for geological sites. While the former should be preserved indefinitely, witness sections can be mined, provided that a site with the same feature of equal extent is preserved elsewhere.
Recommendations
• The SSSI inventory should receive a prominent status in Namdeb’s GIS and included in all maps for planning, operational and reporting purposes. The inventory should be updated when new information becomes available. • Sites near mining operations, infrastructure developments and roads should be clearly demarcated and placed out of bounds. • The inventory of heritage sites needs to be finalised, and the application for National Monuments in Namdeb’s licence areas be revived.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Table of contents
BACKGROUND...... 72 INTRODUCTION...... 73
APPROACH...... 74
DEFINITION OF SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST...... 74 Criteria...... 74 LONG-TERM SSSIS ...... 75 WITNESS SITES ...... 76
GEOLOGY IN NAMDEB’S LICENCE AREAS...... 77
PROPOSED SITES OF GEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE...... 87 BIOLOGICAL SITES...... 92
CRITERIA ...... 92 HISTORIC SITES ...... 96
THE GIS DATASET ...... 98
RECOMMENDATIONS...... 99
USING THIS INFORMATION...... 99 DEMARCATION OF SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST ...... 99 Geological sites...... 99 Biological sites...... 99 PROCLAMATION OF WELL-KNOWN SITES AS NATIONAL MONUMENTS ...... 100 HERITAGE SITES OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE ...... 100 Historic sites ...... 100 Archaeological sites of importance ...... 100
REVIEWED LITERATURE...... 101
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Background
Namdeb operates diamond mines in the (Tsau//Khaeb) – Sperrgebiet National Park. This assumes a future land use of conservation and tourism, once the diamond reserves are depleted and no other mineral resources of strategic importance are exploited. During the course of diamond mining many geological features of significance were uncovered and since mining has been going on for over 100 years now, there are also many historic structures in Namdeb’s licence areas. Both are of interest to future tourism. In order to protect these from inadvertent disturbance during the course of mining, infrastructure developments and rehabilitation these sites require special protection.
The concept of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) has been adopted (Nature Conservancy Council 1991) to cater for these sites. This is applied to sites of geological, palaeontological and biological importance, while historic and archaeological sites are covered under National Heritage legislation and, if perceived of special importance, should receive protection as National Monuments (National Heritage Act No.27 of 2004). There have been attempts by Namdeb in the past to proclaim the Bogenfels Arch and Kolmanskop as National Monuments, but a formal application has to date not been submitted to the National Monuments Council (Schneider, pers. comm., June 2015).
When Namdeb’s rehabilitation plan (2008) was compiled, sites of geological importance which could possibly be affected by rehabilitation activities at the time, were identified (DOCS # 84645). This exercise focused on areas near proposed rehabilitation activities, but ultimately all sites in Namdeb’s licence areas should be known and adequately protected. The goal of this assignment is therefore to identify, agree on and map all Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb’s licence areas and include these in Namdeb’s GIS database.
The aim is to compile a comprehensive inventory of all sites of geological, palaeontological and biological importance. Although known sites of historic importance are listed, more research is required here to ensure that this list is complete. Their protection would also need a different process to establish a legal status (National Heritage Act 2004) and ideally the National Monuments Council should be involved in this exercise.
Namdeb geologists Cindy Andrews and Yolanda Fortunato Namdeb geologists Marais Loubser and Gottfried proudly show the undisturbed red bed they discovered in Grobbelaar explain aspects of diamond geology to the Elizabeth Bay area. Julien Cloete and Jefta Amupeja.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Introduction
The status of National Park for the area provides an overall protection for sites of heritage importance, natural landscapes and biodiversity in a broad sense, but does not provide sufficient guidance when mining operates in the vicinity of particularly important sites. The concept of “sensitive areas” is adopted during environmental assessments, which provides special management guidance for “sensitive areas”. Yet not all areas and developments are subjected to an environmental assessment process, and some sensitive areas may thus not be known to all people working in the area.
Cataloguing all Sites of Special Scientific Interests gives such “sensitive areas” an official status.
The output of this assignment is this report, an excel spreadsheet with all sites’ co-ordinates listed and a shapefile (GIS information) of sites depicted as areas.
The dark material in the middle-ground are remains of a A trench into an Eocene deposit preserved around a fossil tree which was deposited with Blaubock gravels in bedrock island in Southern Coastal Mine’s estuarine the Bogenfels area, under scrutiny by Namdeb geologists. delta is inspected by Namdeb’s environmental team.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Approach
1. Literature review of geological, palaeontological and ecological information for the Sperrgebiet 2. Review of discussion document by Namdeb geologists 3. Workshop to agree on critical sites to be included 4. Fieldtrip to geological sites to log position of those not yet included in Namdeb’s database 5. Survey request to map extent of larger sites and sites near mining operations
This work builds onto the 2005 review of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (DOCS # 84645).
Definition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Criteria
The following criteria are adopted for sites of geological interest (Nature Conservancy Council 1991):
• At least of national importance (either in its own right, or as a site within a network of closely related sites. It is therefore important to assess a site within the national context.) • Representative • Exceptional features o Not necessarily representative, but textbook example of geological/ geomorphological feature o Educational value o Aesthetic value
There are two types of sites: • Exposure sites, which are quarries or mine sites and these would be managed by maintaining access to these sites for future study. • Deposit sites are limited in extent or physically delicate and they are managed for protection from erosion and other disturbance
During the discussions it became evident that two categories of sites will be required:
1. Protected in the long-term 2. Assigned as witness section
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Long-term SSSIs
Sites protected in the long-term follow the concept of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and these should thus be protected indefinitely. This is applied to unique features which are difficult or impossible to replace, once lost. Management of such sites implies that all efforts are made to protect these sites in their current state. Agreed SSSIs will receive a special protection status and these should never be mined or disturbed in any other way. Most sites identified during this assignment are long-term SSSIs.
The spectacular Arrisdrift fossil site (trench AD7) is an example for a long-term SSSI. This trench, opened up during exploration by Consolidated Diamond Mines in 1976, yielded one of the most diverse Miocene faunal records in southern Africa. Such sites are rare because they require a particular depositional environment to form.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Witness sites
Witness sites are identified as interesting features which are presently uncovered, but which are not unique. Management of such sites allows disturbing these during the course of mining, provided that another witness section illustrating the same features and of similar extent, is preserved elsewhere.
The long trench through the Daberas meso-terrace exposes many typical features of Orange River meso deposits. Keeping a witness section is thus of geological importance, but does not necessarily have to be here at this locality. Should this terrace be mined, another section through a typical Orange River meso deposit must be preserved elsewhere.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Geology in Namdeb’s licence areas
To place the identified sites into context a brief sketch of the most significant geological events shaping the landscapes in Namdeb’s licence areas is provided here.
Landscapes in the very south-western corner of Namibia today are the result of several phases of continental movements, ocean formation, mountain building, erosion and sedimentation processes. Remnants of some of the earliest events in earth’s history in this area are the metasedimentary rocks (largely gneiss) of the Namaqua Metamorphic Complex (1500-1200 Ma) around Lüderitz in the northern part of Namdeb’s licence areas. These are exposed around Elizabeth Bay.
Flanking this valley between the Lüderitz peninsula and Elizabeth Bay are the erosion-resistant gneisses of the Namaqua Metamorphic Complex.
Slightly younger are the deformed sedimentary and volcanic rocks placed during the phase of plate subduction, orogenetic and sedimentation processes which resulted in the Gariep Group (900-500 Ma), exemplified by the Marmora terrane in Namdeb’s licence areas (Frimmel 2008). These underlie today most of the central and southern coastal areas and are exposed along the Orange River. The famous Arch at Bogenfels is one the erosion remnants from this period.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Schist and other metasedimentary rocks of the Gariep Dolomite outcrops, scattered throughout Namdeb’s Group are exposed as bedrock during mining along the licence areas, are another reminder of sedimentary southern Namibian coast. Potholes, created by stones and subsequent deformation of rocks of the ancient pummelling bedrock repeatedly during tidal action are the Gariep Group. richest diamond trap sites.
A grey-blue dolomite of Gariep age is exposed at the Daberas Blue Diamictites are well exposed at the Mountain – an SSSI of biological importance, because of rare plant Dreigrat River gorge, with a more recent species occurring here, such as Juttadinteria albata. tufa deposit nearby.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The subsequent nearly 400 million years of erosion and sedimentation processes left no record in Namdeb’s licence areas, but the break-up of the supercontinent Gondwana left its mark. Volcanic activities in the early Cretaceous (133 Ma) are signs of these turbulent times, which created the rocks of the Lüderitz Alkaline Province. They are exposed as carbonatite plugs and intrusive rocks at various places in Namdeb’s licence areas, such as Karingarab, Panther Head, Granitberg and Signalberg.
Syenite of the Lüderitz alkaline province is exposed at Granitberg and shows a surreal-looking surface due to severe wind erosion.
Subsequent erosion created substantial sediments offshore, but these are today only exposed in few areas around Bogenfels and Pomona (“Pomona beds”), due to a rise in sea level at about 85 Ma. Other remnants of the Cretaceous period are silcretes remaining from erosion and subsequent silica precipitation, which have remained in some areas, now often rising above the current landscape due to their relative hardness. In some places these silcretes preserve remnants of weathered bedrock of the African surface or older marine deposits.
During the early Tertiary (60-45 Ma) formidable rivers drained the inland areas towards the sea at several places, forming the Proto-Kaukausib, Proto-Langental, Proto-Gemsboktal and Proto-Glastal valleys and the Blaubock drainage (Pickford & Senut 2000) carrying gravel and in some instances trees with them. These are today fossilised and found amongst the Blaubock gravels. During a subsequent period (42-40 Ma) sea levels were up to 160 m
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest higher than today and these ancient shorelines are preserved at several places in areas around Bogenfels and Buntfeldschuh. Likely associated with these were dunes, today fossilised and outcropping as sandstone at Buntfeldschuh.
Protected from erosion by a hard silcrete layer, The silcrete–capped Tafelkop near Affenrucken is not Cretaceous marine sediments (Pomona beds) are only of geological interest, but also supports a variety of preserved in very few places around Pomona. here Sperrgebiet costal endemic plants. exposed in a trench as lighter material.
Volcanic activity during the early Tertiary created the Klinghardt phonolites (outside Namdeb’s licence areas), and the slightly younger (35 Ma) volcanic cone at Schwarzer Berg, and outcrops at Dreyer Rücken and Chalcedon Tafelberg (Lock & Marsh in Miller 2008). A small outcrop of marine Cretaceous sediment was found during mining, now preserved ex situ as the Wanderveld IV site, with a remarkable suite of marine fossils from that period.
A landmark along the Oranjemund-Lüderitz road, Schwarzer Berg is a volcanic cone composed of monchiquite.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The diamond history in the licence areas started in the Eocene (56 Ma) when the Orange River commenced to transport diamonds from Cretaceous Kimberlite pipes in Lesotho and the South African Highveld to the continental shelf. This process was exacerbated during the Oligocene (34 Ma), when due to a massive drop in sea level, the Orange River cut deeply into the long-established Orange River valley and brought enormous loads of sediment from the highland areas inland, including diamonds (Jacob 2005). Several levels of diamond- bearing river terraces developed along the Orange (termed pre-Proto, Proto and Meso), but large amounts of diamonds were also deposited in the Orange River delta and offshore.
A Proto-terrace, complete with push-slope and scour feature is still present south-west of Dreigratberg.
These offshore and fan delta deposits were re-worked and concentrated during several phases of oscillating sea levels during the Pliocene (starting 5 Ma) and Pleistocene (starting 2.5 Ma) (Spaggiari 2011) and transported north, some over 1000 km, with the Benguela current’s longshore drift (Corbett & Burrell 2001, Spaggiari et al. 2006).
Diamonds were deposited in linear beaches north of the Orange River mouth for some 100 km, corresponding to several sea-level stands, initially termed A- to E- beaches by Consolidated Diamond Mines’ geologists (Stocken 1962 in Miller 2008). North of these linear beaches, diamonds were concentrated in j-bays, in “pockets” (pocket beaches) and in powerful aeolian transport corridors blown inland and concentrated further in deflation deposits. The deflation deposits were the first to be discovered in 1908. The large sediment deposit at Elizabeth Bay is a combination of Eocene marine, Miocene fluvial and lacustrine and more recent aeolian deposition (Burger et al. 2009). Vast amounts of diamonds were also deposited offshore.
The oldest layer of diamondiferous sediment (“red beds”) at Elizabeth Bay is still present in some areas and has been exposed by mining. This site is proposed to be preserved and shows the characteristic red colour due to iron oxidation and cross-bedding due to different wind-patterns during the deposition process.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The suite of SSSIs identified in Namdeb’s Southern Coastal Mines illustrates well the different depositional forces and environments.
At the former trench through G29, exposures of a The megatrench at G19 shows all features of a typical barrier beach, estuarine lagoon clays and spit tips can linear beach depositional environment, such as barrier be observed. spit, spit tips, estuarine lagoon clays, washover and even some plant fossil remains.
At G25 the most landward position of a gravel barrier spit can be observed and good examples of blade- and sphere-shaped clasts, typical of the foreshore gravels. Some t-trenches to the north of the exposed face also show the lagoonal deposition (Spaggiari 2011).
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The Orange River right bank contact is well exposed in Remnants of C-beach crests and subtidal D-beach are the G40 area, where remains of sandstone islands exposed at several places in the G127 area. served as excellent diamond trap sites.
Since containing only few diamonds, the D-beach Preserved under sheetwash gravel, the sandy beach material at M76 was never mined, now showing a nice deposit at K40 harbours many Donax rogersii fossils. A exposure of the key fossil Donax rogersii of the 30m- second bedrock platform and a good exposure of the beach package. east-cliff nearby make this area a valuable SSSI.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Parallel events of geological importance during the diamond deposition period were, now consolidated, deposits of Orange River sands locally rich in fossils (17 Ma) – today exposed at Rooilepel and Karingarab, the establishment of the Benguela current (15-10 Ma) and with this the subsequent development of the Namib Desert (10-7 Ma) initiating the arid conditions still prevailing today. There are also Mid Miocene aeolian and flood plain deposits in the Elizabeth Bay - Grillental area and at Langental, which are rich in fossils.
Although submerged, when mining activities stop and no longer pump out the water, zone 13 at Daberas presents a spectacularly deep incision into Gariep metasedimentary bedrock.
Fossil finds have been one of the most important tools to date rocks and sediments and thereby re-construct the geological history of the area. Sites with fossil-bearing rocks are therefore of particular importance. The most spectacular fossil site was unearthed during exploration – the trench at Arrisdrift at the Orange River yielded a collection of one of the most diverse Miocene faunas ever found in this area. In fact, the Sperrgebiet provides the most complete record of fossils for the Eocene to Miocene period in southern Africa (B. Senut, pers. comm. April 2015) and most fossil sites are therefore irreplaceable and warrant to be logged as SSSIs.
June 2015 EnviroScience 84
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
At Shaw’s trench in the Bogenfels area, a suite of marine fossils Fossil wood was found during mining at the Auchas pit AM02. from the Eocene was found, including shark’s teeth (centre). Some pieces are preserved ex situ.
Rooilepel sandstone is criss-crossed by cemented root and One key fossil at Rooilepel is ostrich eggshell (here the now termite casts, including fossilised nest chambers. extinct Diamantornis wardi), which are used to date the Namib’s Miocene deposits (Photo by Kim Pitcher).
June 2015 EnviroScience 85
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Wind-fluted pan travertine at Elizabethfeld in Namdeb’s northern areas. This site has yielded a good and diverse representation of early Miocene fauna, including remains of ancestors of modern gemsbok.
Several clay channels underlie the beach deposits in the Kerbehuk and Uubvlei area. Some were exposed during mining, here at K121.
June 2015 EnviroScience 86
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Proposed sites of geological importance
The sites have been identified by literature review, discussion with Namdeb’s geologists and verified in the field. These are organised by licence area and then chronological according to age. The code refers to the locality record in the accompanying spreadsheet. Grey shading indicates witness sites, all others are Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Orange River Mines Code Position Name Description Proterozoic 15ORM06 W of Dreigratberg Dreigrat waterfall Diamictites of Numees formation and recent tufa and sheetwash deposits Eocene/Oligocene 15ORM07 Sendelingsdrif Snake beacon Pre-Proto 1 terrace at snake beacon, 80 m above present river Miocene 15ORM08 Sendelingsdrif Sendelingsdrif Terrace deposit intermediate between intermediate terrace proto and meso Fos2 Auchas: AM02 pit AM02 fossils Exposed scour pool, fossil tree trunks, mammal and reptile fluviatile fossils of Lower Miocene 15ORM15 Auchas AM02 fossils ex situ Fossils from AM02 stored ex situ Fos24 GP pan N Miocene aeolianite Miocene fossil record fossil Fos1 Arrisdrift (trench Arrisdrift Lower Miocene (17.5-17 Ma) Arrisdrift AD7) fossils in Proto-Orange; gravels, spectacular fluviatile fossil site uncovered during mining, earliest rhino record (Diceros) and early bovids (Namacerus,17 Ma) Fos39 Rooilepel Rooilepel sandstone Miocene fossil record: ostrich eggshell, formation Trigonephrus 15ORM01 Dreigrat Dreigrat deposit Proto push-slope 15ORM16 Auchas main pit AM11 push-slope Exposed bedrock section with push-slope and waterfalls and waterfalls at deepest point of Auchas pit 15ORM09 Zone 11 Zone 11 channel Exposed channel in bedrock area at (Daberas) western section of Daberas hub 15ORM24 Zone 13 Zone 13 scour Deep section into bedrock uncovered (Daberas) feature during mining, submersed, suitable for diving experience 15ORM19 Oranjemund Fan delta Potential marine base overlain by meso deposit Pliocene 15ORM22 Daberas Daberas meso trench Large 1970s trench through meso deposit Pleistocene 15ORM10 Daberas Daberas canyon Silt deposits and bedrock exposure Fos38 Obib Pleistocene aeolianite fossils
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mining Area 1 / SCM Code Position Name Description Proterozoic 15SCM16 50G 50G bedrock area Diamond trap sites 15SCM12 S of 3plant G132 bedrock area Intense swash gullies 15SCM11 E of 3plant W64 (62?) bedrock Swash gullies, potholes, joining area potholes 15SCM08 N of 2 plant East cliff Marine cliffs behind C-beach Cretaceous 15SCM26 Karingarab hill Karingarab Early Cretaceous igneous ring complex: small carbonatite plug 15SCM27 Panther Pantherhead Carbonatite plug of Cretaceous (Chameis) igneous ring complex 15SCM02 Tafelkop Tafelkop trench High-lying gravel deposit, sheetwash exposure, Late Cretaceous silcrete capping Eocene 15SCM20 ED01.5 ED01 Eocene suite Eocene deposit on bedrock island in palaeo-Orange River mouth Miocene Fos31 S of Karingarab Karingarab sandstone Tertiary sandstone with abundant ostrich and other fossils 15SCM05 K area K27 clay channel Early Tertiary clay channel exposed during mining 15SCM04 K area K121 clay channel Early Tertiary clay channel Plio- Pleistocene 15SCM21 G19 mega- G19 mega-trench D-beach boulderbed; barrier spit, trench, 8 km N of estuarine lagoon clays, plant remains; river mouth fossil plant remains underneath E- beach 15SCM22&23 G25 trench G25 gravel Facies A: gravel barrier spit, E-F-beach MA1-5 15SCM24 G29 trench G29 gravel Representative gravel area: type MA1-4 section Facies C = barrier beach initiated by schist bedrock island 15SCM13 G127 (500m S of G127 trench C-beach crest MA1-7) 15SCM17 G40 Orange River bedrock Bedrock Orange River contact area, pit right bank into boulderbed and C-beach crest 15SCM09 M76 M76 unmined Unmined section of B- and D-beach with Donax rogersi, and low-grade diamondiferous grit M167 M167 East cliff East cliff exposure 15SCM07 K 48 K48 cliff Donax rogersi fossils, east cliff exposure, 2. bedrock platform Recent (Anthropogene) 15SCM10 M area M area dumps Bucket-wheel and belly-scraper overburden dumps 15SCM03 H area H area dumps Belly-scraper and ADT dumps
June 2015 EnviroScience 88
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Bogenfels Code Position Name Description Fos50 Tafelberg north Lebensspuren Cretaceous Fos47 Wanderfeld IV (2 Wanderfeld IV Small outcrop of only marine km N of Bogenfels in Cretaceous sediment on Namibian Langental) coast, 95-83 Ma, greenish sandy beds with marine fossils (e.g. ammonite Placenticeras) 15BOG01 Chameis road Cretaceous weathering Remnant of intense weathering of profile Gariep bedrock during Cretaceous, kaolinised, protected by silcrete capping 15POM17 Signalberg (W of Signalberg Syenite rings and porphyry, Pomona Pomona) foyaite of early Cretaceous igneous ring complex 15BOG11 Granitberg Granitberg Foyaite Complex: 4 intrusive pulses emplaced in circular rings; wind-fluted rocks of early Cretaceous igneous ring complex 15POM11 W of Pomona Pomona beds Trenches into Cretaceous sediment on table mountains capped by silcrete Palaeocene – Pre-Lower Eocene 15BOG17 Eisenkuppe Blaubock gravels Eocene Fos7 Blaubock tree 11 Fossil wood in Blaubock gravels, Pre Upper Eocene (Bamford) Fos5-6, Blaubock trees 1-10, fos8-15 Blaubock wood 15BOG16 Buntfeldschuh Rare Eocene suite Limit of lower Eocene shoreline, N part clasts marine, low grade diamondiferous with Pomona gravels imbedded; S part = Kaokoberg: coastal margin of palaeo- erg, top ferricrete, with silicified rhyzoliths, possibly nara 15BOG02 10 km E of Gemsboktal gravel Bogenfels 15BOG03 10 km E of Eisenkieselklippe Bake Gemsboktal gravel, Eocene outcrop, Bogenfels deflation surface, fluted dolomite 15BOG07 N of Bogenfels Eocene trench Eocene gravel 15BOG10 5 km N of Shaw’s trench Eocene outcrop, warm water fossils Bogenfels 15BOG12 Lüderitzkrater Lüderitzkrater Eocene remnant, silcrete capping, possibly Pomona beds Fos18 Eisenkieselklippebake Eocene freshwater limestone Fos4 Black Crow Black Crow main Eocene Fos17 Chalcedon Chalcedon Tafelberg Eocene freshwater limestone, Tafelberg Oligocene limburgite, pan silcrete capping Fos41 & 42 Silica Silica North & South Eocene freshwater limestone
June 2015 EnviroScience 89
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Fos43 Steffenkopf Steffenkopf Eocene freshwater limestone Fos48 Langental Langental shark site Eocene sharks and molluscs Fos49 RvK RvK sponge site Eocene freshwater sponges Fos51,52 Eoridge, Eocliff Eocene mammals and molluscs Fos53 Reunings depression Eocene molluscs Fos54 Graben Eocene plants Fos56 Phytotherms Eocene plants Miocene Fos3 Black crow Black crow Miocene: Black Crow calcrete crust Fos33 to Langental Upper Eocene and Miocene: earliest bovid record in the fos 36, fos Lower Miocene world (Namibiomeryx) and 46 Langental fossil site climacoceratid (Sperrgebietomeryx) Fos16 Calcrete Calcrete Eisenkiesel Miocene calcrete Eisenkiesel Fos23 Glastal Glastal Miocene fluviatile Fos30 Kalkrucken Kalkrucken Miocene aeolianite Fos44 Stauchpfutz Stauchpfutz Miocene calcrete: Snail Plio-Pleistocene Fos19 Elfert’s Tafelberg Elfert’s Tafelberg E Pleistocene aeolianite fossils Fos37 Namib calc crust Namib calc crust egg site Fos45 Vlei 315 Vlei 315 Pleistocene, paludal 15BOG04 NW of Bogenfels Palaeo-yardang Palaeo-yardang field
A trench through Eocene gravel north of Bogenfels exposes a fine assortment of Eocene clasts such as agates and other chalcedony rocks.
June 2015 EnviroScience 90
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Elizabeth Bay Code Position Name Description Oligocene 15BOG14 Schwarzer Berg Schwarzer Berg Igneous monchiquite plug Miocene Fos21, 22? Fiskus Early Miocene fauna? S. daberasensis, plants, Hodotermes, and 57 Or Pliocence? rodents, ruminants, carnivores, rhino Fos28 Grillental N Gastropods, charophytes Fos25- Grillental Grillental Carri, 6, fluviatile fossils 27,29 Lateral V, pipeline Fos20 Elizabethfeld Elizabethfeld Molluscs, amphibians, Prohyrx, earliest (21 Ma) true ostrich (Struthio coppensi), bovid (Namibiomeryx) and climacoceratid (Sperrgebietomeryx) Fos55 Elizabethfeld Elizabethfeld Miocene mammals and molluscs Pliocene 15EB01 Fiskus pan Pliocene – 6 km S of Up to 50m thick, Pliocene sandstone sandstone Kolmanskop, W of layer associated with ancient shorelines Grillental, N and E of 160m above present sea level – E-Bay, Annental representative example of Elizabeth (Unverhofft), Russel’s Bay deposit and fossil record of micromammals and medium-sized perch, Pomona area ruminants Fos22 EB deflation Pleistocene(?) Fiskus valley Aeolianite? 15EB03 Elizabeth Bay EB deflation valley Redbeds diamond deposit site deflation valley 15POM16 Elizabethfeld Elizabethfeld Proto-Kaukausib pan travertine, fluted
Douglas Bay Fos40 Schmidtfeld Schmidtfeld Miocene aeolianite fossils of high significance HB003,5,7,8 Palaeo- Hottentot’s Bay Remnants of +4m-beach beaches 15EB08 Anichab Anichab pan bivalves Bivalve deposit of unknown age
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Biological sites
Criteria
The same overall criteria as for geological sites apply, namely
• At least of national importance • Representative • Exceptional features of o Educational value and/or o Aesthetic value
Biological sites encompass a wide range of areas of importance and the underlying criteria therefore differ depending on the component to be preserved. In the case of animals usually breeding areas of particular species of conservation importance are selected, while for plants concentrations of species which have a limited range (endemics), are red-listed (as vulnerable, threatened or endangered) or legally protected are sites which warrant special protection.
Many environmental assessments use the concept of delineating environmentally sensitive areas within the context of the proposed development for which an assessment is undertaken. The purpose in this instance is to propose environmental management guidelines tailored to minimise the anticipated impacts, usually in a locally confined area. Although some of these “sensitive areas” qualify as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, if they meet the criteria above, not all sensitive areas identified during environmental assessments warrant this special status.
The current compilation is based on a review of available information from biodiversity and conservation planning documents for the area (Pallet et al. 1995; Burke 2006), supplemented by baseline information for environmental assessments (e.g. Burke 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2014, EnviroScience 2000).
Typically sites designated to preserve important flora cover the habitat of critical species, and can be quite extensive, for example an entire mountain range. Where populations of particular species warrant a SSSI and these are known, the delineation can be more specific. Only the Sperrgebiet coastal endemic Namibia cinerea has been proposed as a single criterion for the selection of a site, as it is known to be of extremely limited range. The range of another range-restricted species, Juttadinteria albata, is contained within the sites proposed along the Orange River. In some instances biological sites overlap with geological sites, which enhances their importance (e.g. Tafelkop, Kaokoberg, Bogenfels Arch, Pomona Tafelberg).
Sperrgebiet coastal endemics, of which there are a fair number (Burke 2005), are automatically also Namdeb-licence area endemics. Namdeb has a special responsibility towards protecting population of these species.
The proposed sites are included in the spatial data as shapefile.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest can be habitats with … or populations of particular species such as concentrations of several critical species, such as here at seals which are important for a range of Skilpadberg, with Aloe pearsonii in the centre. flagship animals in the Sperrgebiet.
Orange River Mines Locality and name Description Flora Dreigratberg Concentrations of plant endemics Obib Mountains Concentrations of plant endemics Gomtsawibberg Concentrations of plant endemics Niclaas Pass Concentrations of plant endemics Daberas Blue Mountain Concentrations of plant endemics Schakalsberge Concentrations of plant endemics Auchas ridges Concentrations of plant endemics Arriesdrift ridges Concentrations of plant endemics Skilpadberg Concentrations of plant and insect endemics
Southern Coastal Mines Flora Kerbehuk Concentrations of plant endemics Tafelkop and Concentrations of plant endemics associated outcrops Boeboegerg lichen field Dense lichen growth and concentrations of plant endemics Boegoeberg Concentrations of plant endemics Fauna Marmora pan Damara tern breeding colonies Baker’s Bay headland Seal colony Sinclair Island Seabird breeding colonies
June 2015 EnviroScience 93
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Bogenfels Locality and name Description Flora Kaokoberg Concentrations of endemics Baker’s Bay outcrops Concentration of endemics Bogenfels Arch Concentration of endemics Pomona dolomite outcrops Namibia cinerea populations Lüderitzkrater Namibia cinerea population Fauna Plumpudding island Seabird breeding colonies Van Reenen Bay Seal colony Pomona island Seabird breeding colonies
Elizabeth Bay Flora Grillental dolomite outcrops Namibia cinerea populations Elizabeth Bay lichen field Dense lichen growth Kowisberge Concentration of endemics Fauna Albatross rocks Seabird breeding colonies Possession island Seabird breeding colonies North and South Long islands Seabird breeding colonies Wolf Bay Seal colony North Long island onshore Seal colony Atlas Bay Seal colony
Douglas Bay Ichaboe island Seabird breeding colonies Anichab pan Damara tern breeding colony
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The plant species illustrated on this page are some indicators for “concentrations of plant endemics”. With the exception of Juttadinteria deserticola, which also occurs south of the Orange River, all others have presently only been recorded in Namdeb’s licence areas.
Juttadinteria deserticola
Frankenia pomonensis Limonium dyeri
Fenestraria rhopalophylla Namibia cinerea
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Historic sites
The list of historic sites proposed here is based on knowledge of people working at Namdeb and literature review. However, as indicated above, possibly not all sites have been listed and the time frame for this review was inadequate to map all historic sites. So this is a starting point to built onto. (? = data from Namdeb GIS, but no further description or distinction between historic or archaeological site).
Code Locality Name Description 5 Hottentots Bay Factory 15H01 Hottentots Bay Anichab German farming 15H02 Hottentots Bay German camp German exploration camp 15H03 Schmidtfeld German plant 13 ? Historic/LSA midden L1-L4 Charlottental Plant, machinery, accommodation L6 Luderitz Site 11 Historic graves peninsula L5 Kolmanskop Historic mining town 15EB07 Grasplatz Grasplatz Historic railway station 15H12 Kolmanskop Zentralwasche Historic processing plant 15H04 N of Reef Bay N of Reef Bay Shipwreck (Starfish) EB7 Unverhofft German plant EB8 Unverhofft Historic graves 15EB06 Elizabeth Bay German plant German plant in deflation valley 15EB04 Elizabeth Bay German jigs German jigs 15EB05 Elizabeth Bay German Screening plant foundations foundations EB1 Deflation valley Graves EB2 Deflation valley Artesian well EB6 Elizabeth Bay Historic village 48 Grillental Grillental Houses and pump station 15POM15 Phoenix? Phoenix? German station? 54 Prinzenbucht Prinzenbucht Historic foundations 15POM14 Carlstalecke? Carlstalecke? Jigs and German dump 56 N of Pomona ? ? 15POM06 Pomona Pomona Windmill 57 Jammerbucht Historic plant 15POM13 Jammerbucht Jammerbucht Graves cemetery 15POM07 Pomona Pomona German heaps 64 Pomona Historic copper mine? 60 Pomona Pomona village Historic mining village 15POM09 Pomona German dump Dump and jigs 15POM08 Pomona Stauch’s lager Historic accommodation BF9 Granitberg Railway station
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BF10 Bogenfels German reservoir BF11 Bogenfels Hohe Bake? Foundations of German house BF1 Bogenfels Bogenfels village Historic village BF2 Bogenfels graveyard German graveyard 15H05 Bogenfels CDM plant CDM plant 15H06 Bogenfels Desalination plant German desalination plant FH1-3 Frohe German plant, accommodation, waste Hoffnung 75 Dreimaster Bay Railway and jetty Remains of railway line and jetty BS11 Buntfeldschuh Historic police & camel station BS12 Buntfeldschuh Historic water hole 81 False False shipwreck plumpudding plumpudding 15H07 Chameis Chameis airstrip Chameis airstrip and hangar 15H08 Chameis Chameis station Historic police station and spring 15H09 Chameis Chameis well Well 15H10 PB-Site2 PB-Site2 Barge 77 15H11 PB-Site2 PB-Site2 Fort Reef 15SCM01 Chameisbucht Chameisbucht shipwreck MA2-3 Affenrucken Affenrucken Hostel 15SCM03 H area H area Belly-scraper and ADT dumps SP06 Chameis road Stock post SP05 Chameis road Stock post SP04 Chameis road Stock post SP03 Chameis road Stock post MA1-2 Mittag Hostel 15SCM25 No.2 plant No.2 plant tunnel Seawater intake tunnel SP02 Chameis road Stock post SP01 Chameis road Stock post 15SCM10 U area U area Belly-scraper, bucket-wheel & ADT dumps GP06 ED area German plant OR6 Skilpadberg? Police station OR5 Arriesdrif Site 111 Stock enclosure OR4 Arriesdrif Site 104 ? OR3 Auchas Site 88 Stock enclosure OR2 Auchas Site 74 Stock enclosure OR1 Sendelingsdrif Police station
15H13 Southern Bom Jesus 16th century historic shipwreck Coastal – U area
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The GIS dataset
The dataset has been compiled from all available information in Namdeb’s database, new field survey information, digitising on google satellite images and positions provided by Martin Pickford and Brigitte Senut. The accompanying data are contained in an Excel spreadsheet for point localities and ArcView shapefile for delineated areas.
The dataset is complete for geological data at this point of time, but archaeological and historic data are not necessarily complete, as no thorough review and no field surveys have been undertaken for these components.
The biological sites have also only been compiled from available information and the author’s experience, and therefore the delineation of areas is in some instances very broad.
The Excel spreadsheet has the following attribute data:
Table 3. Headers in Excel spreadsheet sssis-2015-V1.
Header Description Code The code refers to the code used in the tables in the report. degS Degree South min-S Minutes South degE Degree East min-E Minutes East LAT Latitude position in decimal degrees LON Longitude position in decimal degrees Locality Locality Age Age, if available for geological and palaeontological sites Description Description Category Category: geology, fossil, archaeology, historic, unknown significance Significance, if available accuracy Data accuracy: GPS, satellite image, topographic map or verbal The file name of the source data are indicated, if existing information prior to source field survey; all new information = 2015-sssis comment Comments, where applicable
The accompanying shapefile (sssis_areas_2015-dd) contains the attributes “Name” and “Category” and thereby distinguishes between geology and biological sites, and combinations of these. Where positions in the spreadsheet overlap with delineated areas, the areas take precedence. For example, some fossil localities were eventually contained in an area because not only the point localities should be protected but a wider area. Appendix 1 shows the current dataset.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Recommendations
Using this information
• The inventory of Sites of Special Scientific Interest provided in this report and accompanying dataset should be used in all stages of the mining life cycle. This information should form an essential layer in all maps produced for planning, operation and reporting activities. It is therefore important that it is saved in a directory in Namdeb’s GIS which contains all critical information for mine planning and is incorporated in all maps.
• This information should be updated when new discoveries are made.
• Information relevant at a particular site should be made available to the site’s management.
• Relevant sections should also be included in site and environmental inductions.
Demarcation of Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Protection of the identified sites can only be achieved, if these sites are well-demarcated and known to all staff working in areas nearby.
Geological sites
All sites, that is witness and long-term SSSIs, near active mining and exploration areas need to be clearly demarcated and placed out of bounds. Fencing should only be considered where no other means of protecting the site can be found. In many cases, well-placed signs (ideally not only showing “no entry”, but identifying the site as an SSSI) and cairns or survey pegs (with special allocated colour for an SSSI) to demarcate the extent, will likely be adequate.
Biological sites
Biological sites of limited spatial extent and not determined by a particular landscape feature (such as Skilpadberg, Kerbehuk, Sinclair island) which may inadvertently be impacted by mining, exploration, road works or similar activities, should also be demarcated in the same manner as geological SSSIs. This applies to two sites on the current list: • Boegoeberg lichen field and • Elizabeth Bay lichen field.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Proclamation of well-known sites as National Monuments
Two very important sites of natural and historic significance in Namdeb’s licence areas had already been considered as potential National Monuments – the Bogenfels rock arch and the Kolmanskop historic mining village. Several attempts had made by Namdeb to compile the relevant documentation for submission to the National Monuments Council, but the process has never been completed.
Heritage sites of special importance
Historic sites
The list of historic sites is not complete and will need to be finalised. The report only mentions those sites which are generally known. Strictly speaking these do not fall under the category “SSSI” and require a different process for protection which should ideally involve the National Monuments Council.
Archaeological sites of importance
Namdeb’s GIS database includes a comprehensive list archaeological sites, but those of special importance would need to be identified with input by an archaeologists.
There are plenty of potential historic sites scattered throughout Namdebs’ licence areas, which may net yet reach the conventional 50-year old threshold, but which are important features to illustrating industrial heritage- here a view from the abandoned Affenrücken Hostel in Southern Coastal Mines.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Reviewed literature
Bamford M. (1983) Preliminary report on fossil wood from Auchas, Namibia. Report to De Beers, 5 pp. BPI Palaeontology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 5 pp.
Bamford, M. (1990) Report on fossil wood from the Bogenfels area, Namibia. Report 760 to Namdeb. BPI Palaeontology, University of Witwatersrand.
Bamford M. (1990) Fossil wood from Grillental, Namibia. Report 757 to Namdeb. BPI Palaeontology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Burger J.U., Mbangula I. Awases Z.N. & Jacob J. (2009) The evaluation of the Southern Resource Area at Elizabeth Bay. Report GE-EN-05. Docs # 87281.
Burke (1997) Environmental baseline study and implications for mining of pocket beaches in the Sperrgebiet, Namibia. Report for Namdeb, Oranjemund.
Burke, A. (1998) Open cast diamond mining of Proto Orange River deposits at Sendelingsdrif, Namibia - Environmental Impact Assessment for sampling and preliminary environmental impact assessment for mining. Report for Namdeb, Oranjemund.
Burke, A. (2003) Elizabeth Bay Mine Extension – Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Programme Report. Report for Namdeb, June 2003, Windhoek.
Burke, A. (2004) Juttadinteria albata - global red list assessment. Report for Namdeb Diamond Corporation, Oranjemund.
Burke, A. (2005). Endemic plants of the arid succulent karoo in Namibia – towards hypotheses for their evolution. Ecography 28(2): 171-180.
Burke, A. (2006) The Sperrgebiet - Managing its biodiversity. EnviroScience & Namibia Nature Foundation, Oranjemund & Windhoek.
Burke, A. (2014) Natural recovery of dwarf shrubs following topsoil and vegetation clearing on gravel and sand plains in the southern Namib Desert. Journal of Arid Environments 100-101: 18- 22.
Corbett, I. & Burrell, B. (2001) The earliest Pleistocene(?) Orange River fan-delta: and example of successful exploration delivery aided by applied Quaternary research in diamond placer sedimentology and palaeontology. Quarternary International 82: 63-73. DOCS#66700
Corvinus, G. 1983. The raised beaches of the west coast of South West Africa/Namibia: an interpretation of their archaeological and palaeontological data. C.H. Beck, Munich.
EnviroScience (2000) Baseline survey and preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment for diamond sampling programme of pocket beaches near Bogenfels, Diamond Area 1. Namdeb, Oranjemund.
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Frimmel H.E. (2008) Neoproterozoic Gariep orogen. In: Miller, R. McG (ed.) The geology of Namibia, Vol 2, Geological Survey of Namibia, Windhoek, pp. 14-1 to 14-39.
Jacob R.J., Bluck B.J. & Ward J.D. (1999) Tertiary-age diamondiferous fluvial deposits of the Lower Orange River valley, southwestern Africa. Econ. Geol. 94: 749-758.
Jacob R.J. (2005) The erosional and Cainozoic depositional history of the lower Orange River, southwestern Africa. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Glasgow, Scotland, (cited in Spaggiari 2011).
Jacob, J., J.D. Ward, B.J. Bluck, R.A. Scholz & H.E. Frimmel (2006) Some observations on diamondiferous bedrock gully trapsites on Late Cainozoic, marine-cut platforms of the Sperrgebiet, Namibia. Ore Geology Reviews 28: 493-506.
Levinson O. (1983) Diamonds in the desert. Kuiseb Verlag, Windhoek.
Marsh, J.S. (1976) The Luderitz Alkaline Province, South West Africa III: Pomona and Drachenberg Syanite Complexes. Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 79: 168-176 (cited in Miller 2008).
Miller, R. McG. (2008) Luderitz alkaline province. In: Miller, R. McG (ed.) The geology of Namibia, Vol 3, Geological Survey of Namibia, Windhoek, pp. 19-1 to 19-16.
Miller, R. McG. (2008) Namib group. In: Miller, R. McG (ed.) The geology of Namibia, Vol 3, Geological Survey of Namibia, Windhoek, pp. 25-1 to 25-66.
Nature Conservancy Council (1991) Earth science conseration in Great Britain – a strategy.
Pallet, J., Seely, M., Daneel, J., Williamson, G. & Ward, J. (1995) The Sperrgebiet - Namibia's least known wilderness. DRFN and Namdeb Windhoek.
Pickford M. & Senut B. (2000) Geology and palaeobiology of the Namib Desert. Mem. Geol. Surv. Namibia 18.
Pickford M. & Senut B. (2003) Palaeontology of the Orange River Valley, Namibia. Mem. Geol. Surv. Namibia 19.
Spaggiari, R.I., Bluck, B.J. & Ward, J.D. (2006) Characteristics of diamondiferous Plio- Pleistocene littoral deposits within the palaeo-Orange River mouth, Namibia. Ore Geology Reviews 28: 475-492.
Spaggiari, R.I. (2011) Sedimentology of Plio-Pleistocene gravel barrier deposits in the palaeo- Orange River Mouth, Namibia: Depositional history and diamond mineralisation. Ph D thesis, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
Schneider G. (2008) Treasures of the Diamond coast. MacMillan Namibia.
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Appendix 1. Currently recorded Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Namdeb’s licence areas.
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Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan 2020
Annex 4. Risk assessment
November 2020
104
Residual risk assessment
1. Questions to guide the risk assessment What are the risks to Namdeb as a result of poorly managed impacts on cultural heritage? What are the risks to cultural heritage as a result of Namdeb's actions? Risks are assessed with currently implemented mitigation measures incorporated. Risks outside Namdeb's control are listed separately.
2. Rating criteria legal reputation severity of risk to cultural heritage sum 3 high 7 to 9 2 medium 5 to 6 1 low 3 to 4
3. Risk categories Regulatory Loss of cultural heritage Rehabilitation, closure and aftercare Finance Reputation
4. Risks legal reputation severity of sum
Regulatory Removal of cultural heritage artefacts during all phases of mining 3 1 1 5 medium
Loss of cultural heritage Staff operating near cultural heritage sites is not adequately informed 1 2 1 4 low Souvenir-hunting by Namdeb staff and contractors 3 1 2 6 medium Not all potential localities of cultural heritage importance near Namdeb's operations are known. 1 1 1 3 low
Rehabilitation, closure and aftercare Inadvertent disturbance of cultural heritage sites during rehabilitation 3 1 1 5 medium Structures and sites of importance for documenting industrial history not agreed 1 3 3 7 high
Finance No budget to preserve Namdeb's cultural heritage sites 1 2 2 5 medium
Reputation Poorly executed or not implemented cultural heritage plans tarnish Namdeb's reputation 1 3 1 5 medium
ALL RISKS BELOW ARE NOW EXCLUDED, BASED ON THE WORKSHOP 14 July 2020
Risks outside Namdeb's control Capacity of regulators to assess compliance with regulations lacking 3 1 1 5 medium Not all localities of cultural heritage importance are known 1 2 2 3 medium Significance of all cultural heritage sites is not known 1 2 2 5 medium Natural detoriation of historic sites 1 1 2 4 low Cultural heritage sites are not protected after mining licences are relinquished 1 3 2 6 medium Others operating in Namdeb's licence areas (tour guides, government inspectors) damage cultural heritage sites due to ignorance 1 3 2 6 medium Management objectives
Residual risks Rating Management Link to strategic objectives Regulatory
Removal of cultural heritage artefacts during all phases of mining medium Obtain required cultural heritage permits when needed Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining
Loss of cultural heritage
Staff operating near cultural heritage sites is not adequately informed low Map all cultural heritage sites and place on mine plan Identify all potential cultural heritage assets Brief employees and contractors on cultural heritage sites during Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining inductions Demarcate cultural heritage sites near exploration and mining Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining operations in the field Conduct impact assessment on cultural heritage sites where Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining blasting is near sites of significance Implement chance find procedure Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining Ensure contractor compliance with cultural heritage protocols Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining (e.g. include in contract) Continuously update environmentally sensitive area map Identify all potential cultural heritage assets
Souvenir-hunting by Namdeb staff and contractors medium Follow existing management system for corrective action Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts
Not all potential localities of cultural heritage importance near Namdeb's operationslow Conduct baselines for cultural heritage in an area Identify all potential cultural heritage assets Follow EIA process for all new exploration and mining activities Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining and ensure cultural heritage is included in baselines and assessment Ensure adequately qualified practitioners undertake cultural Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining heritage assessments Ensure relevant government agencies are consulted during EIA Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining process Rehabilitaton, closure and aftercare
Inadvertent disturbance of cultural heritage sites during rehabilitation medium Ensure cultural heritage aspects are included during Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining rehabilitation, decommissioning and closure in the same way as during exploration and mining
Structures and sites of importance for documenting industrial history not agreed high Identify structures of industrial heritage importance and exclude Identify all potential cultural heritage assets from Namdeb's demolition programme Agree on structures to remain to showcase Namdeb's industrial Identify all potential cultural heritage assets history with future landholder Implement preservation of cultural heritage sites identified to Identify process and resources for the effective implemention of these measures demonstrate Namdeb's industrial history
Finance
No budget to preserve Namdeb's cultural heritage sites medium Develop budget for significant sites under the Debmarine-Namdeb Identify process and resources for the effective implemention of these measures Foundation medium Identify process and resources for the effective implemention of these measures Update budget for measures to protect cultural heritage regularly, including contingency for unforeseen circumstances
Reputation
Poorly executed or not implemented cultural heritage plans tarnish Namdeb's reputmedium Include implementation of CHMP in company and staff Identify process and resources for the effective implemention of these measures performance instruments Raise awareness of Environmental Management System at Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining Namdeb Liaise with MEFT and share non-confidential information to avoid "disconnect" between industrial heritage and MEFT cultural heritage project Identify all potential cultural heritage assets Management actions to retain, but not linked to a Namdeb-controllable risk
Risks outside Namdeb's control Rating Management
Capacity of regulators to assess compliance with regulations lacking medium Communicate CHMP to government and stakeholders Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining Participate and raise awareness of cultural heritage aspects at TKSNP committee meetings Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining
Not all localities of cultural heritage importance are known medium Support research related to identifying cultural heritage in Namdeb's licence areas Identify all potential cultural heritage assets
Significance of all cultural heritage sites is not known medium Identify significant cultural heritage sites and facilitate possible declaration as SSSI Identify all potential cultural heritage assets
Natural detoriation of historic sites low Identify process and resources for the effective Identify historic sites requiring maintenance implemention of these measures Undertake periodic inspection of selected known cultural heritage Identify all potential cultural heritage assets
Others operating in Namdeb's licence areas (tour guides, government inspectors) medium on cultural heritage during all phases of damage cultural heritage sites due to ignorance Make available and publicise information on cultural heritage sites mining Develop effective communication strategy for information on cultural heritage Avoid, minimise and manage adverse impacts on cultural heritage during all phases of mining
Management actions not Namdeb's responsibility Cultural heritage sites are not protected after mining licences are relinquished medium Initiate and facilitate formal protection of significant sites under the National Heritage Act which are within Namdeb's custodianship Continue to render logistical support to the shipwreck studies in SCM APPENDIX I
Environmental Management Plan
Management Plan
METEOROLOGICAL MASTS IN ORANJEMUND, NAMIBIA
NAMDEB
Submission date: 2021/05/06
Project number: 508965DOCS-#127712-v1-System_-_Management_plan_for_MET_masts_FINAL.docx, 2021/05/06 Revision Click or tap 1 here to enter text.
Document control record
Document prepared by: Zutari Namibia (Pty) Ltd Reg No 90/469 Unit 1 Mandela Offices, Cnr Nelson Mandela & Simon Bolivar Street, Klein Windhoek Namibia PO Box 5353, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
T +264 61 237 704 F +264 61 237 706 E [email protected]
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Document Control
Report title Meteorological Masts in Oranjemund, Namibia
Document code 12597 Project number 508965
Client Namdeb
Client contact Johan Rademan Client reference
Rev Date Revision details/status Author Reviewer Verifier Approver (if required) 0 2021/04/14 Draft Management Plan Wynand Reuben Reuben Loftus Heydenrych Heydenrych 1 2021/05/07 Draft Management Plan Wynand Reuben Reuben addressing client comments Loftus Heydenrych Heydenrych
Current revision
Approval
Author signature Approver signature
Name Wynand Loftus Name Reuben Heydenrych
Title Senior Consultant Title Environmental Practitioner
Project number: 508965 Management Plan, 2021/05/06 2
Meteorological Masts in Oranjemund, Namibia
PROPONENT Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd
CONTACT LIST
Southern Coastal Mines (Mining Area 1) 063 239 300
Oranjemund Police 063 232 400
Ambulance 063 238 043
Oranjemund Hospital 063 238 000
Oranjemund Fire Services 063 235 555
Environmental Health 081 155 5615
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and 063 230 038 Tourism
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Contents
1 OVERVIEW ...... 6 1.1 Purpose of this Management Plan ...... 6 1.2 Legal Requirements for a Management Plan ...... 6 1.3 Structure of the Management Plan ...... 6 1.4 Expertise of Environmental Assessment Practitioner ...... 7 1.5 Project Phasing ...... 7
2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...... 9 2.1 Project Description and Locality ...... 9 2.2 Development Components ...... 11
3 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ...... 11 3.1 Contractor ...... 11 3.2 Developer ...... 11 3.3 Site Engineer ...... 12 3.4 Environmental Officer ...... 12 3.4.1 Environmental Induction/Awareness Training ...... 13 3.4.2 Monitoring ...... 13 3.4.3 Environmental Auditing ...... 13 3.5 Working Area ...... 13
4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND MITIGATIONS ...... 15 4.1 Biodiversity Mitigation ...... 17 4.2 Heritage Mitigation...... 19
5 CONSTRUCTION PHASE MP ...... 20 5.1 Chance Find Procedure ...... 20 5.2 Demarcation of the Site ...... 20 5.3 Habitat resource protection ...... 21 5.4 Vegetation Clearance ...... 21 5.5 Erosion Control ...... 21 5.6 Material Handling, Use and Storage ...... 21 5.7 Hazardous Substances ...... 21 5.8 Dust Control ...... 22 5.9 Concrete Batching ...... 22 5.10 Personnel Conduct ...... 22 5.11 Emergency procedures ...... 22 5.12 Ablution facilities ...... 23 5.13 Traffic management...... 23 5.14 Non-Compliance and Penalties ...... 23
6 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PHASE MP ...... 24 6.1 Operations ...... 24 6.2 Maintenance ...... 24
7 DECOMMISSIONING PHASE MP ...... 24 7.1 Removal of infrastructure ...... 24
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Figures
FIGURE 1: LOCALITY MAP FOR THE POTENTIAL WIND FARM AND METEOROLOGICAL MAST SITES ...... 10 FIGURE 2: MAP OF KNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HERITAGE SENSITIVITIES IN THE STUDY AREA ...... 16
Tables
TABLE 1: DETAILS OF EAP ...... 7 TABLE 2: SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ASSESSED AND MITIGATION MEASURES FOR THE ORANJEMUND METEOROLOGICAL MASTS ...... 17
Abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning
EAP Environmental Assessment Practitioner ECC Environmental Clearance Certificate EO Environmental Officer MEFT Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism MP Management Plan MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet NCCA Namibia Civil Aviation Authority RE Resident Engineer SCM Southern Coastal Mines TKNP Tsau //Khaeb National Park (formerly known as the Sperrgebiet)
.
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1 OVERVIEW
This Chapter provides a general overview of this Management Plan and provides a summary of the purpose of this document and its structure. Relevant legislation pertaining to this document is also briefly discussed.
1.1 Purpose of this Management Plan
The purpose of this document is to provide environmental management practices and recommendations to ensure that the known and possible unknown impacts associated with the Oranjemund meteorological masts are avoided, managed, mitigated and kept to acceptable levels. The recommendations included herein are applicable to the following stages of the proposed development:
• Planning and design; • Pre-construction and construction; • Operation; and • Decommissioning
This Management Plan (MP) aims for alignment and optimisation of environmental management processes with conditions of authorisation that may arise. Any conditions of authorisation contained in the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) that contradict the recommendations made in this MP, supersedes the recommendations of this document. The MP must be updated to contain all conditions of authorisation contained in the ECC that are relevant to environmental management. A hard copy of the MP must be available in the site office during construction, operation and decommissioning and must be made available to officials upon request.
1.2 Legal Requirements for a Management Plan
Regulation 8 of the Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) Regulations (2012) under the Namibian Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007), requires that a Scoping Report should include a draft Management Plan [Section 8(j)].
The Management Plan must include:
(aa) information on any proposed management, mitigation, protection or remedial measures to be undertaken to address the effects on the environment that have been identified, including objectives in respect of the rehabilitation of the environment and closure
(bb) as far as is reasonably practicable, measures to rehabilitate the environment affected by the undertaking of the activity or specified activity to its natural or predetermined state or to a land use which conforms to the generally accepted principle of sustainable development; and
(cc) a description of the manner in which the applicant intends to modify, remedy, control or stop any action, activity or process that causes pollution or environmental degradation remedy the cause of pollution or degradation and migration of pollutants.
1.3 Structure of the Management Plan
As discussed above, the Management Plan addresses environmental management throughout the project life cycle, from planning and design through to construction, to operation and decommissioning. The Management Plan includes the following sections:
Chapter 1: Overview
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Chapter 2: Background information to the project Chapter 3: Environmental impacts assessed, and mitigation measures identified during the environmental process
Chapter 4: Roles and responsibilities of various parties.
Chapter 5: Construction MP based on identified impacts and mitigation measures from the Scoping Report
Chapter 6: Operational framework based on identified impacts and mitigation measures from the Scoping Report
Chapter 7: Decommissioning Framework providing guidance on key considerations to be considered during decommissioning/closure.
1.4 Expertise of Environmental Assessment Practitioner
The Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) means “a person designated by a proponent to manage the assessment process”. It is the role of the independent EAP to facilitate the project’s application for ECC on behalf of the Proponent, as required in terms of EIA Regulations (2012). Zutari has been appointed as the EAP for this project. Mr Reuben Heydenrych (details below) from Zutari managed the scoping process (i.e. was principle consultant) for this application and assume the roles of project leader, managing the EIA process, reviewing reports and signing off reports. He is supported by two of Zutari’s environmental staff members: Wynand Loftus and Andrea Siebritz. Refer to Appendix A of the scoping report for the full CVs of the environmental team.
Table 1: Details of EAP Company Zutari Namibia (Pty) Ltd EAP Reuben Heydenrych EAP Support Wynand Loftus and Andrea Siebritz Postal Address PO Box 74381, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa Riverwalk Office Park, 41 Matroosberg Road, Physical Address Ashlea Gardens, Extension 6, Pretoria Telephone Number +27 12 427-2136 / +27 83 450 0628 Email Address [email protected]
1.5 Project Phasing
The graphics below provide an indication of the phasing of the project.
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Planning and Design Phase
•This phase includes applications for amongst others environmental and town planning authorisations. The planning and design phase investigated the possible impact of the proposed development on the receiving environment and recommend mitigation measures. This phase would have been concluded once the contractor views this document.
Pre-Construction Phase
•The pre-construction phase includes activities such as appointment of an ECO, environmental induction training will be undertaken (conducted by the ECO), site demarcation, establishment of mobile site office and ablution facilities, demarcation of areas such as fuel storage and plant rescue (when applicable), Track and Waste management measures will be pub in place in accordance with Namdebs procedures. Specifications for the aforementioned activities are included in this MP.
Construction Phase
•The construction phase includes the casting of concrete bases and the erection of the Mast
Operational Phase
•The operational phase commences when the proposed development is being used for its intended purposes i.e. collecting wind resource data. •After the installation and commissioning, the responsibility for safe operation and asset management will be transferred to the operational team. •In some cases the manufacturer of specific components remains involved as part of a service agreement. A plan for systematic maintenance and function testing should be kept on location to show how components and systems should be tested and what should be observed during testing. Maintenance may be performed manually or automated. In case of manual maintenance, a higher level of safety precautions need to be observed.
Decommisioning Phase
•If the area of the meteorological masts are deemed unfavourable for a potential wind farm, then the meteorological masts will be dismantled.
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2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This Chapter provides a description of the proposed activity and outlines how environmental considerations have informed and been incorporated into the planning and design of the proposed development.
2.1 Project Description and Locality
The Applicant, Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd (hereafter ‘Namdeb’) plans to develop a wind farm to supply electricity to its operations near Oranjemund and potentially to export surplus power to the NamPower network. This would contribute to Namdeb’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint and provide additional capacity for growing mining demands, and possibly generate revenue through the export of energy. Three potential wind farm sites have been identified within Namdeb’s Mining Licence (ML) ML43 area (a.k.a. Mining Area 1) north of Oranjemund, with three sizing options being considered. In order to establish what option, or combination of options, will be most feasible for electricity generation, wind monitoring is required. Therefore, Namdeb proposes that three meteorological masts be developed to measure the wind resources available at the following sites:
Southern mast: latitude -28.4547°, longitude 16.3118° Central mast: latitude -28.2180°, longitude 16.0397° Northern mast: latitude -27.9454°, longitude 15.7141°
These masts will be located in the coastal area of the Karas region in southern Namibia, within the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park (TKNP) (see Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Locality map for the potential Wind Farm and meteorological mast sites
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2.2 Development Components
To locate, design and operate a wind farm as efficiently as possible, accurate data relating to meteorological data, including wind conditions that predominate at the site, are required. Specifically, ambient temperature, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction will be measured. Meteorological masts are typically tall lattice structures with measuring instrumentation installed at the top. Instruments include anemometers, wind vanes, temperature sensors, a rain gauge and a pressure sensor. In this case the masts are usually triangular in shape, 100m in height and held in place by cable stays to anchor the mast. The footprint at the base is a square / rectangular concrete foundation measuring a maximum of approximately 2m x 2m and 0.5m deep (note that this is indicative as a worst case and subject to the final mast selected). Each mast will also include a lightning protection device, an autonomous power system (solar panels), anti-climb and anti-vandalism protection. Aviation (obstacle) lighting shall be provided in compliance with the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations. The NCAA has formally indicated that it has no objection to the erection of the three 100m meteorological masts and that the three masts do not infringe the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces for the Oranjemund Airport. Typically meteorological masts are lifted into place section by section, after which the stays are tuned to ensure the mast is straight and the stays have the correct tension. The stays are anchored in concrete blocks with approximate dimensions of 1.2m to 1.5m in length, widths of 1.1m and a depth of 0.5m. Maintenance could involve annual inspections or ad hoc servicing of the equipment where necessary and adjustment of the stays if they become loose or if the mast begins to tilt. This is likely to involve a small team for a very short duration of time on the site. If feasible wind farm site/s are confirmed, these masts could remain for the duration of the wind farm or could be decommissioned. Decommissioning will be via dismantling and removal, and the materials reused or recycled, where possible.
3 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This chapter provides a description of the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved with the construction of the proposed development.
3.1 Contractor
The Contractor must ensure that all of its sub-contractors, employees, etc., are fully aware of the environmental issues detailed in this MP. The Contractor shall liaise closely with the Site Engineer (SE), and Environmental Officer (EO) and must ensure that the work on site are conducted in an environmentally sensitive (prevent actions that may cause environmental harm) manner and fully in accordance with the requirements of the MP, at all times. The contractor must ensure compliance of all site personnel/visitors to the MP and other conditions of approval where relevant.
3.2 Developer
The developer is the holder of the ECC and will be responsible for the following tasks, amongst others:
Ensure that the requirements as set out in this MP are adhered to and implemented; Allocate the responsibilities assigned to the EO to an independent suitably qualified individual prior to the start of construction activities on site; and
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Provide all principal contractors working on the project with a copy of this MP as part of tender contract documentation to allow the contractors to cost for its requirements within their respective construction contracts.
3.3 Site Engineer
The Resident Engineer (RE) is responsible for ensuring that the contract is carried out to completion on time, in budget and that each Contractor fulfils his obligations in terms of conditions contained in the ECC.
3.4 Environmental Officer
The Developer shall provide a suitably qualified EO to monitor the Contractor’s compliance in terms of this MP and the conditions contained in the ECC and address environmental site issues. The EO may be a project-specific appointee or, due to the security restrictions applicable to the TKNP, it may also be an existing Namdeb employee with suitable environmental competence. Under normal circumstances, an independent Environmental Control Officer (ECO) would have been required. However, due to the short-term nature of the construction of the masts and the strict requirements for security clearance, as well as the ready availability of suitable staff within Namdeb, it is recommended in this instance that Namdeb provides an environmental employee of its own to monitor the contractor. The designation is reserved for a suitably qualified (National Diploma / Degree in Natural Science or an equivalent qualification) environmental manager, with adequate environmental knowledge to understand and implement the MP. The duties of the EO include but are not limited to:
Liaison with the Developer, Project Manager or Engineer and MEFT; Update the MP to include relevant conditions of approval contained in the ECC; Conduct environmental induction training with the contractor prior to commencement of work; Undertake site inspections. The frequency of site inspections can be determined between the EO and SE. For the proposed meteorological masts, it is likely that four (4) EO inspections will be sufficient: 1) before construction during site demarcation; 2) during construction activities; 3) upon completion of construction; and 4) post-decommissioning;
Compilation of reports following each site inspection that must be submitted to the project team and ensure that action items are carried out;
Maintain a photographic record of environmental conditions on site; Monitoring all of the Contractor’s activities for compliance with the various environmental requirements contained in the MP and ECC;
Ensuring that the requisite remedial action is implemented in the event of non-conformance; Ensuring the proactive and effective implementation and management of environmental protection measures;
Ensuring that a register of public complaints is maintained by the Contractor and that any and all public comments or issues are appropriately reported and addressed;
Attend site meetings relating to construction of the meteorological masts; Recording and reporting of environmental incidents; Ensure effective implementation of Namdeb’s ISO 14001 environmental management system;
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Ensure effective implementation and adherence of Namdeb’s environmental policy and procedures;
Compile an environmental sensitive areas map for the study site; Compile site-specific induction training material; and Conduct a risk assessment on site prior to the start of construction.
3.4.1 Environmental Induction/Awareness Training The EO shall arrange with the Engineer and Contractor to conduct environmental induction training with personnel that must address the following, amongst others:
Explanation of the environmental process that preceded the ECC and why it was important to conduct the environmental process;
Explanation of the conditions of authorisation contained in the ECC Any sensitive environmental features located within and around the site; The reasons why mitigation measures are required and the benefits of implementing these measures;
The MP and its contents (e.g. no-go areas, animals, heritage sites, littering etc.); and The role of the EO. The induction will take place before the commencement of construction activities and before contractors enter the site.
3.4.2 Monitoring The EO will monitor the site prior to the commencement of construction (to record the baseline conditions) and during construction through site inspections. Monitoring prior to construction must include a full photographic record of all mast construction sites, nearby sensitive areas (e.g. archaeological sites and sensitive ecological features) within a 5km radius of the construction sites, planned constructions roads and points at 500m intervals along these proposed construction roads. Monitoring feedback must be included in the EO reports and discussed with the Engineer and Contractor. The EO must keep a photographic record for monitoring purposes. Erosion monitoring off- and on-site must be undertaken by the EO and timeously identify areas where erosion is starting to occur. The appropriate remedial actions must then be implemented.
3.4.3 Environmental Auditing An environmental audit must be undertaken following completion of the decommissioning phase and will be guided by the conditions of the ECC. A closure audit will also be undertaken following the completion of construction.
3.5 Working Area
For the purpose of this MP the Working Area is considered to be the land and any other place on, under, over, in or through which the works are to be executed or carried out, and any other land or place made available by the developer in connection with the works. The Working Area shall include at least (but
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not necessarily be limited to) the site office, the construction area, all access routes and any additional areas to which the RE permits access. The construction footprint must be kept to a minimum. The site needs to be clearly and appropriately demarcated and all no-go areas must be clearly identified with appropriate signage. The EO must brief the contractor staff regarding the requirements of no-go areas. All works must be kept within the footprint of the site. Areas disturbed outside of the site footprint must be rehabilitated through consultation with the EO.
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4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND MITIGATIONS
Environmental and heritage sensitivities in the study area referred to in the discussion of environmental impacts and mitigation measures are shown in Figure 2 below.
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Figure 2: Map of known environmental and heritage sensitivities in the study area
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4.1 Biodiversity Mitigation
The table below provides a summary of the impact assessment determined by the botanical and fauna specialist, together with the mitigation measures for each impact. The contractor must pay specific attention to these mitigation measures.
Table 2: Summary of environmental impacts assessed and mitigation measures for the Oranjemund meteorological masts
Pre-mitigation: Post-mitigation: Code Impact Proba- Signifi- Proba- Signifi- Duration Extent Magnitude Reversibility Duration Extent Magnitude Reversibility bility cance bility cance CONSTRUCTION PHASE Negligible Bird habitat Certain/ Minor- Certain/ Brief Limited Moderate Medium Brief Limited Negligible High - affected definite negative definite Negative Mitigation: Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); Constr. Avoid constructing meteorological masts <1.5km from the coast; 01 Attach bird flight diverters (BFD’s) to meteorological mast guy wires; Avoid disturbing birds, especially rare, threatened and endangered species, at breeding sites; Training to be provided for the identification of rare birds; Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. egg and bird collection); Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and Enforce a contractor code of conduct. Loss/ Very Minor- Very Negligible disturbance of Short term High High Likely Immediate Negligible High Likely Limited negative Limited - negative vertebrate fauna Mitigation: Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); Constr. Avoid constructing meteorological masts & access routes in vegetated dune hummocks; 02 Avoid constructing meteorological masts & access routes close to brown hyena den sites; Avoid disturbing any other vertebrates, especially rare, threatened and endangered species; Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. kill perceived dangerous spp. such as snakes and/or collect chameleons, etc); Rehabilitation of disturbed areas; and Enforce a contractor code of conduct. Constr. Certain/ Moderate- Certain/ Negligible Loss of flora Permanent Local Local Low Short term Very limited Very low High 03 definite Negative definite - negative
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Pre-mitigation: Post-mitigation: Code Impact Proba- Signifi- Proba- Signifi- Duration Extent Magnitude Reversibility Duration Extent Magnitude Reversibility bility cance bility cance Mitigation: Avoid sensitive habitats (informed by pre-construction walkdown); Avoid constructing meteorological Masts & access routes in the Othonna Dwarf Shrubland vegetation type (i.e. Chameis Bay area); Move meteorological masts & access routes slightly one-way-or-another – i.e. local site selection to favour flora – dependent on local flora to have the least impact on the flora at each site; Avoid all ‘poaching’ activities (e.g. collect for resale unique succulent species, etc); Rehabilitation of disturbed areas by ensuring seed collection, plant rescue and revegetation of disturbed areas; and Enforce a contractor code of conduct. OPERATIONAL PHASE Bird collisions with Internat Certain/ Major Short- Certain/ Moderate Permanent High Medium International Low High meteorological ional definite Negative term definite -Negative Mast guy wires Oper. 01 Mitigation: Attach bird flight diverters (BFD’s) to meteorological mast guy wires; Monitor bird mortalities; and Position masts >1.5km inland as planned Loss/ Very Negligible Negligible disturbance of Brief Low High Likely Immediate Very limited Negligible High Likely Limited - Negative - ngative vertebrate fauna Oper. 02 Mitigation: Monitor brown hyena activity closer to meteorological masts; and Enforce a Contractor code of conduct Medium Very Negligible- Negligible Loss of flora Very Low High Likely Immediate Very limited Very low High Likely term Limited Negative - ngative Oper. 03 Mitigation: Enforce a Contractor code of conduct; Limit footprint of vehicles movement and use same road tracks DECOMMISSIONING PHASE Almost Bird Habitat Certain/ Minor- Negligible Brief Limited Very Low High Immediate Very limited Negligible High Probable affected highly negative - ngative Decomm. Probable 01 Mitigations: Avoid sensitive habitats; by positioning the Mast >1.5km inland and Enforce a Contractor code of conduct. Loss/ Decomm. Very Negligible Negligible disturbance of Brief Negligible High Likely Immediate Very limited Negligible High Likely 02 limited - Negative - ngative vertebrate fauna
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Pre-mitigation: Post-mitigation: Code Impact Proba- Signifi- Proba- Signifi- Duration Extent Magnitude Reversibility Duration Extent Magnitude Reversibility bility cance bility cance Mitigations: Avoid sensitive habitats; and Enforce a Contractor code of conduct. Negligible Negligible Loss of flora Brief Limited Very Low High Likely Immediate Very limited Negligible High Likely - Negative - ngative Decomm. 03 Mitigations: Avoid sensitive habitats; and Enforce a Contractor code of conduct.
4.2 Heritage Mitigation
Keep the construction and access route footprints as small as possible Locate the construction and access route footprints where they will do the least damage Fence off the archaeological site On-site monitoring of the construction process for the occurrence of archaeological material Implement the Namdeb Chance Finds Procedure if anything should be found Adhere to the Namdeb Cultural Heritage Management Plan during construction
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5 CONSTRUCTION PHASE MP
The Construction MP aims to address mitigation measures pertaining to the construction phase. This section includes General Specification for the construction.
5.1 Chance Find Procedure
The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidance on the management of cultural heritage either buried or not identified during baseline and other specialist studies. Heritage artefacts may be discovered during the exploration and project implementation, especially in the course of construction or excavation. This procedure shall be used as a guideline in the event of a discovery within Namdeb’s mining license areas. A chance find is defined as a tangible cultural heritage artefact that is encountered unexpectedly during the proposed activities. Cultural heritage includes: 1. Tangible movable or immovable objects, property, sites, structures or groups of structures, having archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, cultural, artistic and religious values 2. Unique natural features or tangible objects that embody cultural values, such as sacred groves, rocks, lakes and waterfalls; and 3. Certain instances of intangible forms of culture that are proposed to be used for commercial purposes, such as cultural knowledge, innovations and practices of communities embodying traditional lifestyles. It includes cultural knowledge, innovation and cultural practices that incarnate culture and heritage of communities around the mine. The procedure includes: 1. When a member of staff or contractor discovers a suspected cultural heritage artefact, the activity will immediately cease, and the potential find will be reported to the Environmental Section. 2. The area will be cordoned off from any surrounding activities where applicable 3. The environmental section will conduct a preliminary investigation of the site and immediately communicate any necessary information to the National Heritage Council 4. Should the National Heritage Council recommend an in-depth study or excavation, the mine will contract a competent professional to assess the find and obtain the relevant permitting 5. Records shall be kept of the chance find made within the mine and the permit requirements shall be adhered to. The find will be mapped.
5.2 Demarcation of the Site
All works to be undertaken shall be within the boundary of the site. The working area shall be demarcated in an appropriate manner determined by the RE. No-go areas shall be appropriately demarcated, where applicable.
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5.3 Habitat resource protection
Any animal (mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, insect or fish) found to be trapped within the site or in distress as a result of the site activities shall be appropriately relocated to a suitable site under the guidance of the EO, relevant specialist (if required) or relevant authorities. Habitats and terrestrial environments shall not be unnecessarily disturbed or damaged, unless as indicated in the approved development design. Any unauthorised disturbance or damage to habitats by anyone involved in the project shall be subject to reinstatement or rehabilitation to the culprit’s cost.
5.4 Vegetation Clearance
Vegetation on the approved construction sites that does not interfere with the construction activities shall be left undisturbed. Damage shall not be caused to sensitive environmental features outside of the demarcated construction areas. Only plant rescue is permitted. No other vegetation clearing may take place. The plant rescue is to be kept within the working area footprint. Should plant rescue be required, rescued plants will be stored at an appropriate facility and will be transplanted back into their place or origin or as close as possible to it once the area is rehabilitated. The disposal of vegetation by burying or burning is prohibited.
5.5 Erosion Control
Erosion is not anticipated to occur at the site. However, all reasonable measures shall be taken to limit erosion:
Stabilisation of cleared areas to prevent and control erosion shall be pro-actively managed by the Contractor in accordance with Namdeb’s standards. A walk around will be conducted at the end of each shift to ensure no erosion has taken place outside of the working footprint.
5.6 Material Handling, Use and Storage
No stockpiling of material for the construction of the meteorological masts shall occur outside demarcated area. Imported material shall be free of litter, contaminants and / or exotic plant seed where it is reasonably possible to control.
5.7 Hazardous Substances
Hazardous wastes e.g. building material, shall be disposed in a mined-out pits specifically designated for this purpose by SCM. All hazardous waste materials must be carefully stored in accordance with the Southern Coastal Mines (SCM) procedures. No hazardous waste may be buried or burned under any circumstances. The contractor must ensure that the employees are informed on how to responsibly dispose of any containers containing hazardous substances. All major spills of any materials, chemicals, fuels or other potentially hazardous or pollutant substances must be cleaned immediately. The SCM spillage procedure must be strictly adhered to.
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Spill kits must be available on site. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) shall be readily available on site for all chemicals and hazardous substances housed or used on site. Where possible and available, MSDSs should additionally include information on ecological impacts and measures to minimise negative environmental impacts during accidental releases or escapes The Contractor must provide solid non-hazardous waste and litter shall be disposed into scavenger- and weatherproof bins (with a lid / cover) that are secured from blowing over. The bins must be placed at strategic locations and emptied at least weekly if not located in the site camp.
5.8 Dust Control
The Contractor shall take all reasonable measures to minimise the generation of dust as a result of construction activities to the satisfaction of the RE. The Contractor’s dust management planning should, as a minimum, take cognisance of the following: Measures to ensure that material loads are properly covered during transportation. Minimisation of the areas disturbed at any one time and protection of exposed soil against wind erosion, e.g. by dampening with water. Location and treatment of material stockpiles taking into consideration prevailing wind directions and dwellings as well as to prevent erosion and run off.
5.9 Concrete Batching
No concrete batching is anticipated on site. This project will have the pre-cast concrete bases delivered to the site.
5.10 Personnel Conduct
All staff members must wear the appropriate safety gear, utilize the appropriate safety equipment and adhere to the appropriate safety laws and standards. Personal are to carry identification on their persons. This must include their name and company of employ, with reference to the project. Similarly, such information should be displayed on vehicle dashboards/exteriors. No firearms or weapons of any description are to be allowed on site, unless required by security personnel. All staff are to make use of the facilities provided for them as opposed to ad-hoc alternatives (e.g. fires for cooking, use of the surrounding areas as a toilet). Unauthorised access inside No-Go areas is strictly prohibited. Smoking shall not be permitted in those areas where it is a fire hazard. Such areas shall include fuel storage and refuelling areas, vegetation stockpile areas and any other areas where the vegetation (e.g. fynbos) or other materials are susceptible to the start and rapid spread of fire.
5.11 Emergency procedures
The contractor shall determine appropriate procedures in the event of an emergency (e.g. medical emergencies, runaway fires, environmental incidents, site evacuation and staff assembly); First Aid Kits, fire extinguishers and fire-fighting equipment are to be strategically placed at the constriction camp. All staff are to be made aware of their locations and purposes and trained in their basic use.
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5.12 Ablution facilities
A sufficient number of toilets shall be provided for the site staff at a ratio of not less than 1 toilet per 15 people.
Chemical toilet facilities only shall be located within the contractor’s camp and at work areas remote from the camp.
No toilet facilities shall be located closer than 100 m to any water body Toilets shall be adequately secured to the ground to prevent them from toppling due to wind or any other cause.
Certificates of service/disposal by appropriate service providers or at appropriately licensed facilities shall be retained for submission to the EO.
Discharge of waste from toilets into the environment (e.g. burial of ablution waste from toilets) is strictly prohibited.
5.13 Traffic management
All drivers are to adhere to the track discipline procedure in place. SEO will be informed prior to any new road construction.
All drivers must carry their licenses on them and shall be carefully briefed on the appropriate driving practices when operating within the TKNP. Strictly no deviation from designated routes is allowed. Reasonable speeds shall be maintained on the access roads in order to prevent accidents, excessive noise and unnecessary dust. Speed limits shall be enforced, and where a speed limit is not specified then speed shall depend on the type of vehicle, status of the road and other traffic but speeds between 20 and 40km/h are typically regarded as acceptable. Predetermined detour routes are to be selected to reduce traffic disruptions to busy roads by abnormal loads, and such disruptions should be planned at off-peak times wherever possible. Safety risks associated with the movement of heavily laden, slow moving haulage vehicles shall be effectively managed. Entry/exit points onto public roads shall take cognisance of traffic safety. The use of signalmen shall be considered, where relevant (e.g. for access onto highly trafficked roads, for roads with poor site distance, or where visibility is impaired).
5.14 Non-Compliance and Penalties
Non-compliance with this MP must be monitored by the EO and reported on in the EO Reports. Any non-compliance must be reported to the competent authority. Penalties/fines must be issued at the discretion of the Engineer as per the penalties agreement between the Engineer and Contractor. The EO is to take up any non-compliance issues that may result in a fine/penalty with the Engineer.
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6 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PHASE MP
6.1 Operations
The operational specifications detailed in this section must be updated to include any conditions of authorisation contained in the ECC relating to the operational phase. All conditions of the ECC must be adhered to and measures to promote efficient use of services like water and electricity must be put in place as far as possible. Here we provide a general overview of the known operational requirements that has been identified during the environmental process and are also best practice environmental management recommendations during operation. The mitigation measures included in Section Error! Reference source not found. above are repeated here due their importance.
6.2 Maintenance
Suitable access arrangements to be made prior to the maintenance date. All vehicle movements must be restricted to designated operational access or service roads and gates. All maintenance work shall be undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner. Any areas disturbed during maintenance shall be reinstated such that any disturbed areas are properly reshaped, top soiled and if needed, seeded with indigenous grass seed. Maintenance and repairs involving earthworks or disturbance to the ground shall be implemented according to the relevant best practices cited in the specifications. Broken infrastructure must be disassembled and removed off-site as soon as reasonably possible after breakdown.
7 DECOMMISSIONING PHASE MP
It must be noted that only the areas that have unfavourable conditions and will not progress to the potential wind farm development will have the masts removed.
7.1 Removal of infrastructure
All decommissioning activities must be restricted to the development footprint as far as possible. A pre-site investigation shall be undertaken to identify any sensitive areas that should be avoided. Effective communication should be undertaken with landowners about the timing and location of decommissioning activities. Excavated holes or trenches are to be filled and reinstated.
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In diversity there is beauty
and there is strength.
MAYA ANGELOU
Document prepared by: Zutari Namibia (Pty) Ltd Reg No 90/469 Unit 1 Mandela Offices, Cnr Nelson Mandela & Simon Bolivar Street, Klein Windhoek Namibia PO Box 5353, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
T +264 61 237 704 F +264 61 237 706 E [email protected]
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