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Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report

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Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report ` Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report Report Prepared by: Engineering Advice & Services (Pty) Ltd EAS Project Number: 1470 20 October 2017 Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report Prepared for: Imizi Housing Utility (NPO) 7 Upper Dickens Road, Central, Port Elizabeth, 6001 Tel:(041) 508 5800 Fax: (041) 373 1838 Prepared by: Engineering Advice & Services (Pty) Ltd 73 Heugh Road, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, 6013 Tel: +27 (0) 41 581 2421 Fax: +27 (0) 86 683 9899 EAS Project Number: 1470 20 October 2017 This Report has been prepared by Engineering Advice and Services, with all reasonable skill, care and diligence within the terms of the contract with the client, incorporating our standard terms and conditions of business and taking into account the resources devoted to it by agreement with the client. EAS disclaims any responsibility to the client and others in respect of any matters outside of the scope of the above. This report is exclusive to the client and the described project. EAS accepts no responsibility of whatsoever nature to third parties to whom this Report, or any part thereof, is made known. Any such persons or parties rely on the report at their own risk. Compiled by: Name Company Email Mr Jamie Pote (Ecology) Engineering Advice & Services [email protected] Mr Daniel Schroeder (GIS) Engineering Advice & Services [email protected] EAS Ref: F:\1400-1499\1470\Environmental\Reports\Biophysical Reports\1470 Fairwest EAR 14082017.docx Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report 20 October 2017 Table of Contents 1 Introduction & Background ..................................................................................................................1 1.1 Methodology and Approach ..........................................................................................................1 1.2 Proposed Approach........................................................................................................................1 1.3 Legislation Framework ..................................................................................................................1 1.4 Systematic Planning Frameworks .................................................................................................3 1.4.1 Vegetation of Southern Africa ...............................................................................................1 1.4.2 Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan (ECBCP) ......................................................1 1.4.3 Nelson Mandela Bay Bioregional Plan .................................................................................1 1.5 Implications of Systematic Planning frameworks .........................................................................2 1.6 Systematic Planning Maps ............................................................................................................3 2 Description of the Terrestrial Environment ..........................................................................................9 2.1 Site Locality ..................................................................................................................................9 2.2 Summary of Terrestrial Environment ............................................................................................9 2.3 Ecological Processes ...................................................................................................................10 2.4 On-site vegetation and Sensitivity ............................................................................................... 11 2.5 Flora ............................................................................................................................................12 2.5.1 Species of Special Concern .................................................................................................12 2.5.2 Alien Invasive species .........................................................................................................13 2.6 Fauna ...........................................................................................................................................14 2.6.1 Permit Requirements ...........................................................................................................15 2.7 Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................15 2.8 List of Site Maps .........................................................................................................................15 3 Impact Assessment .............................................................................................................................17 3.1 Assessment of the significance of the potential impacts .............................................................17 3.1.1 Criteria of assigning significance to potential impacts ........................................................17 3.1.2 Significance Rating .............................................................................................................17 3.2 Identification of potential impacts ...............................................................................................18 3.2.1 Possible impacts on biodiversity during construction and operations .................................18 3.2.2 Summary of actions, activities, or processes that have sufficiently significant impacts to require mitigation ...............................................................................................................................18 3.2.3 Potential cumulative impacts ...............................................................................................18 4 Mitigation and Management ...............................................................................................................20 4.1 Vegetation and Flora Clearing and Relocation Plan ....................................................................20 5 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................20 6 References ..........................................................................................................................................21 7 Appendix B: Site Photographic Record ..............................................................................................23 List of Figures Figure 1: Map indicating locality of the site within NMB. .............................................................................3 Figure 2: Rivers and Wetlands. ......................................................................................................................3 Figure 3: Vegetation units and status, as per Nelson Mandela Bay Bioregional Conservation Plan. ............3 Figure 4: Critical Biodiversity Areas, as per Nelson Mandela Bay Bioregional Conservation Plan. ...............3 i Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report 20 October 2017 Figure 5: Aerial Map. .....................................................................................................................................3 Figure 6: Critical Biodiversity Areas and corridors ...................................................................................... 10 Figure 7: Vegetation (NMB Bioregional Plan) ............................................................................................. 10 Figure 8: Critical Biodiversity Areas and corridors. ..................................................................................... 10 Figure 9: Mapped Vegetation and Sensitivity ............................................................................................. 15 List of Tables Table 1: Summary of Biodiversity features. ...................................................................................................1 Table 2: Flora Species of Special Concern known to occur in the vicinity of the site ................................. 13 Table 3: Alien Invasive plants and common weeds present and respective NEMBA classifications. ......... 14 Table 4: Summary indicating significance of potential impacts (SB = Significance BEFORE Mitigation; SA = Significance AFTER Mitigation) ................................................................................................................. 19 ii Fairwest Village: Ecological Assessment Report 20 October 2017 Abbreviations CARA Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 CBA Critical Biodiversity Area DEDEAT Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism DEMC Desired Ecological Management Class DWS Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation DWAF Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (former department name) EA Environmental Authorisation ECO Environmental Control Officer EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIR Environmental Impact Report EMC Ecological Management Class EMP Environmental Management Plan EMPr Environmental Management Programme report ER Environmental Representative ESS Ecosystem Services IAP’s Interested and Affected Parties IEM Integrated Environmental Management LM Local Municipality masl meters above sea level NBA National Biodiversity Assessment NEMA National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 NFA National Forests Act NEMBA National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 NFA National Forest Act 84 of 1998 PEMC Present Ecological Management Class PES Present Ecological State PNCO Provincial Nature and Environment Conservation Ordinance (No.
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