Annex 3A AERIAL VIEW PLAN Plan showing a plot land situate at Bois Sec, in the District of Savanne, of the original extent of +DPò belonging to "LIGNECALISTE PROPERTY COMPANY LIMITED" as evidenced by Title Deed transcribed in volume TV 8272 no.23 Scale 1:12,500 Date: December 2011 Annex 3B CONTOUR/TOPOGRAPHICAL PLAN Annex 3C FLORA & FAUNAL SURVEY REPORT Report on Terrestrial Flora and Fauna at Proposed Golf Course Site at Bois Sec Introduction The proposed Avalon Golf Course site is roughly in the shape of a parallelogram under extensive sugarcane ( Saccharum sp. ) plantation with six feeders (5 named and one unnamed) and two rivers flowing South- easterly along its longer sides. Feeder Cresson and Feeder Edmond flow almost along two thirds of the site before joining to form Riviere Gros Ruisseau. Feeder Augustin which starts half way in the East of the site flows South –easterly to join Riviere Gros Ruisseau just before the latter flows outside the site at its South eastern boundary with St Aubin Sugar Estate. Two tributaries, Feeder Rivet and an unnamed Feeder flow along about a quarter of the site before joining to form Riviere Ruisseau Marron which winds down and out of the site with three to four loops flowing inside and out along the Eastern edge of the site. Feeder Enterrement starts in the middle of the last southern quarter of the site and flows more or less straight out of its eastern boundary with St Aubin Sugar Estate. The escarpments of the feeders and the Rivers vary from smooth slopes, steep slopes to almost vertical slopes and the vegetation consists predominantly of almost the same type of introduced species but with Ravenale ( Ravenala madacascariensis ) as the most dominant species, (see Fig. 1 & 2 ) below, with isolated native plant species thriving amongst the introduced species. Fig. Dominance of Jamrosa and Ravenale Fig. B. D’oiseau, Privet, Jamrosa with Ravenale dominant 1 Methodology In view of the layout of the site we drove along the main vehicular tracks within the site and walked along the secondary tracks, the latter being eroded and muddy at places, present along the feeders and rivers and noted all the plants and animals encountered. We started our survey of the terrestrial plants and animals where each of the feeders/ rivers enter the site at its north- western boundary and followed them right till they join the main river and/or flow out of the site at its southern or eastern boundary of the site. Flora The plants recorded during the survey have been grouped in three categories namely Introduced Flowering Plants, Native Flowering Plants and the Pteridophytes. Introduced Flowering Plants Some forty introduced plant species have been recorded along the feeders and rivers within the proposed site. Feeder Cresson holds the highest with some 30 species. Feeder/Riviere Ruisseau Marron and Feeder Edmond hold the second highest with 26 species each. Feeder Enterrement and Feeder Augustin contain 20 species each while 18 species have been listed from Feeder Rivet . A complete list of the introduced plant species recorded is at the Annexes. The most common exotic plant species recorded from the Feeders and Rivers are the Ravenale ( Ravenala madagascariensis ), Bois d’oiseau ( Litsea glutinosa ), Yatis ( Litsea monopetal ), Goyave de Chine ( Psidium cattleianum ), Jamrosa ( P. jambos ), Privet ( Ligustrum robustum ), Piquant lulu ( Rubus alceifolius ), Tea plant ( Camelia sinensis ), Vieille Fille ( Lantana camara ), Songe ( Colocasia esculenta ), Chevrefeuille ( Lonicera japonica ), Herbe d’argent ( Ischaemum aristatum ), Herbe tourterelle ( Wikstroemia indica ), Clidemia hirta , Ossaea marginata, Ardesia crenata, Latanier de Chine ( Livistona chinensis), Lingue ( Paederia foetida ) and Longouze a fleurs blanches ( Hedychium coronarium ). However Clidemia hirta , Ossaea marginata, Goyave de Chine ( Psidium cattleianum ), Jamrosa ( P. jambos ), Herbe tourterelle ( Wikstroemia indica ) and Latanier de Chine ( Livistona chinensis ) are absent from Feeder Rivet while Longouze a fleurs blanches ( Hedychium coronarium ) and Herbe d’argent ( Ischaemum aristatum ) have not been recorded from Feeder/Riviere Ruisseau Marron and Tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ) was not seen along Feeders Edmond and Enterrement. Native Flowering Plants Some forty seven native flowering plant species have been recorded along the following six feeders / rivers. Feeder/ Riviere Ruisseau Marron with thirty two carries the highest number. Feeder Cresson holds 26 species, followed by Riviere Gros Ruisseau with 25 species, Feeder Augustin with 14 specie, Feeder Enterrement with 10 species and Feeder Edmond with 9 species. No native plant has been recorded along Feeder Rivet. ( See complete list of the plants recorded at Annexes I to VII ). 2 The native plants have generally been recorded at the edge of the tracks or slightly inside where the competition with introduced species for light and space is not that acute, for example Liane cacapoule (Mussaenda arcuate ), Bois banana ( Gaertnera psychotrioides), bois manioc a grandes feuilles ( Erythrospermum monticolum ) etc (See fig. 3,4&5 below) . Isolated native trees have been seen thriving amongst dense exotic vegetation because their canopy is higher than that of the introduced plant species (see Fig.6 below ). Fig.3- Liane cacapoule (Mussaenda arcuata ) Fig.4-Bois banana ( Gaertnera psychotriodes ) Fig.5-Bois manioc a grandes feuilles Fig.6- Bois de Natte dominating the Jamrosa canopy The Figuier sauvage ( Ficus mauritiana ) and the Palmiste rouge ( Acanthophoenix rubra ) (See Fig. 7 on next page ) are present in the six watercourses and the latter represents a very high population density in Mauritius. The Bois balai ( Grangeria borbonica ), Bois maigre ( Nuxia verticillata ),the endemic Bois canne ( warneckea trinervis ) and ( Pandanus eydouxia ) (See Fig.8 on next page) and the liane cacapoule ( Mussaenda arcuta ) have been recorded in five of the feeders/rivers. 3 Fig.7-Palmiste rouge ( Acanthophoenix rubra ) Fig.8- ( Pandanus eydouxia ) Pteridophytes – Ferns Fifteen native species and three introduced species of fern have been recorded along the seven water courses. Only two species of fern the native ( Nephrolepis cordifolia ) and the introduced ( Cyathea cooperi ) from Australia were present along Feeder Rivet, while the other feeders/rivers hold between 8 to 13 species of fern, the most conspicuous ones being the tree ferns, the Fandia ( Cyathea sp. ) (See Fig. 9 below ). Three of the five tree ferns are endemic to Mauritius. (See list of plants at Annexes) Fig. 9 – Fern Trees and Palmiste blanc 4 Fauna A few landbird species, mainly the introduced Indian mynah (martin) ( Acridotheres tristis), the Sparrow (moineau) (Passer domesticus), the Red –whiskered bulbul (conde) ( Pycnonotus jocusus), the Madagascar Fody (Foudia madagascariensis) and the Partridge ( Francolinus sp) were seen during the survey. Assessment The major portion of the proposed site is under one crop, the sugarcane ( Saccharum sp.) however the different feeders and rivers harbour a diverse vegetation on their banks. In terms of number more flowering native plant species have been recorded along the banks than the introduced plant species, however the latter overpower the former in terms of density. Out of the some forty seven native flowering plants recorded at the proposed site only eighteen are endemic to Mauritius while the others are shared with Reunion island or the Mascarenes or Madagascar and Africa. The endemic plants recorded are not classified as rare or endangered; but they are important in terms of endemism and are rated quite high in terms of plant diversity value. However the endemic plants together with the other natives which are present mostly as isolated individuals are under constant pressure of the introduced invasive plant species which have encroached the River Reserves. All the birds encountered are common exotics. The animal diversity in terms of conservation value is therefore rated as insignificant to low. Conclusion From the observations it can safely be concluded that the project is not going to have any negative impact on the biodiversity and habitats as it is going to be carried out mainly where the sugarcane fields are, that is in an area which has been heavily disturbed by human activities. The vegetation along the feeders and rivers would generally remain untouched. But the highly noxious invasive plants could be controlled along the river banks especially where the slopes are smooth and replaced by the attractive flower bearing native species. The project would help improve the habitat. This would attract more animal diversity, especially birds and butterflies. The landscaping would simultaneously be embellished. Recommendations At present the native plant diversity is being choked by the introduced invasive species. Some management will be required to prevent the disappearance of the native plants along the river reserves and this would be done by replacing the introduced invasive species by among others the endemic shrubs having showy flowers like the Liane cacapoule (Mussaenda arcuate ), Bois banana ( Gaertnera psychotrioides), Bois bouquet banana ( Ochna mauritiana ) and other endemics trees present. This exercise will be restricted along smooth slopes of feeders 5 and rivers and in conformity with the Forests and Reserves Act 1983, while the steep and almost vertical escarpment of rivers would not be tampered with. Initially endemic seedlings to be used for replacing