BIODIVERSITY STUDY Springbokwasser: New Gate And
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Potgieter Consultancy CC Environmental Services BIODIVERSITY STUDY Springbokwasser: New gate and park management station Prepared for: SLR and The Ministry of Environment and Tourism August 2020 Henriette Potgieter MSc (Env Sciences), BSc Honours, BSc, BA e [email protected] +264 81 312-1606 Potgieter Consultancy CC Environmental Services Biodiversity study: Springbokwasser - new gate and park PROJECT management station CLIENT SLR DOCUMENT NAME Report DOCUMENT # 1 DATE 14 August 2020 Henriette Potgieter Potgieter Consultancy CC AUTHOR PO Box 11867 Klein Windhoek Potgieter Consultancy CC Environmental Services Disclaimer This document was prepared by Potgieter Consultancy CC with all reasonable skill, care and diligence, utilising resources devoted to the project by agreement with the client. Information contained herein is based on the interpretation of data collected and data provided by the client, accepted in good faith as being accurate and valid. No warranties or guarantees are expressed or should be inferred by any third parties. This report may not be relied upon by other parties without written consent from Potgieter Consultancy CC. Potgieter Consultancy CC disclaims any responsibility to the client and others regarding any matters outside the agreed terms of reference. Declaration of independence Potgieter Consultancy CC is an independent third-party body with no connection (monetary or otherwise) to the proponent for whom we are performing this study. We are also independent of any other economic operator having an interest in the business of the proponent and of any competitors of the proponent. Potgieter Consultancy CC declares that no conflict of interest exists in the execution of the terms of reference of this project and is committed to impartiality and confidentiality. Expertise of practitioner Henriette Potgieter has an M.Sc in Environmental Sciences from the Northwest University in South Africa and is a member of EAPAN. She has been a practitioner in Namibia since 2015. Her fields of specialisation are biodiversity (baseline studies of vertebrates and plants, as well as biodiversity impact assessments) and tourism (environmental strategy and management). Potgieter Consultancy CC Environmental Services Table of contents 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................6 1.1 BACKGROUND..........................................................................................................................................6 1.2 TERMS OF REFERENCE................................................................................................................................6 1.3 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS .................................................................................................................6 1.4 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................................................7 1.4.1 Literature sources ...........................................................................................................................7 1.4.2 Site visit...........................................................................................................................................7 1.4.3 Habitat categorisation....................................................................................................................7 1.5 STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................................7 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................................................9 2 DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT..........................................................................................................11 2.1 LANDSCAPE DESCRIPTION .........................................................................................................................11 2.2 HABITAT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................................11 2.2.1 Rocky outcrops..............................................................................................................................12 2.2.2 Gravel plain...................................................................................................................................13 2.2.3 Springbok River .............................................................................................................................15 2.2.4 Drainage lines ...............................................................................................................................18 2.3 SPECIES ................................................................................................................................................19 2.3.1 Mammals......................................................................................................................................19 2.3.2 Birds ..............................................................................................................................................20 2.3.3 Reptiles .........................................................................................................................................20 2.3.4 Amphibians ...................................................................................................................................21 2.3.5 Plants ............................................................................................................................................21 3 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...........................................................................................................................23 3.1 METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................................................................23 3.1.1 Key biodiversity elements .............................................................................................................23 3.1.2 Sources of risk ...............................................................................................................................23 3.1.3 Significance...................................................................................................................................23 IMPACT 1. DESTRUCTION OF ORGANISMS AND THEIR HABITATS......................................................................................24 IMPACT 2. DISTURBANCE OF ANIMALS AND INTERFERENCE WITH THEIR BEHAVIOUR ...........................................................25 IMPACT 3. LIGHT POLLUTION...................................................................................................................................25 IMPACT 4. CONTAMINATION OF SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ...........................................................................................26 IMPACT 5. IMPACTS LINKED TO OPERATIONAL PHASE....................................................................................................28 4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................29 5 BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................................................30 Potgieter Consultancy CC Environmental Services Table of figures Figure 1. Study area for this report, outlined in light blue........................................................8 Figure 2. Area for avifauna data search, outlined in white. Study area: light blue rectangle...9 Figure 3. Map showing proposed positions of water and waste water plants and release points. ........................................................................................................................................9 Figure 4. Proposed layout of the development.......................................................................10 Figure 5. Habitat types in the study area.................................................................................12 Figure 6. Rocky hills northwest of the proposed station.........................................................13 Figure 7. Invertebrate burrows on the gravel plain.................................................................14 Figure 8. Gravel plain at project site. The river is visible in background as thin green line....14 Figure 9. Rhino tracks going into the river bed from the gravel plain.....................................15 Figure 10. A vegetated area in the Springbok River. ...............................................................16 Figure 11. View west along the river bed. ...............................................................................16 Figure 12. View east along the river bed. ................................................................................17 Figure 13. Spring with permanent open water. ......................................................................17 Figure 14. Animal path at the spring. ......................................................................................18 Figure 15. Welwitschia mirabilis in the drainage east of the project site. (The GPS is for scale.) .......................................................................................................................................19 Figure 16. Looking northwest