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Hartebeest Wind Energy Facility Prepared for: Juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd. Hartebeest Wind Energy Facility Avifaunal Specialist Impact Assessment Scoping Report Scoping Report August 2016 www.bioinsight.co.za EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This scoping report aims to provide a preliminary evaluation of the potential interactions between birds and the proposed Hartebeest Wind Energy Facility, situated about 4 km to the south east of Moorreesburg in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The project considers a layout with 40 turbines. The land main use is for cereal plantation, combined with some sheep and cattle grazing. Therefore, the natural habitats are highly transformed. Some tree stands appear scattered throughout the study area. Some hills covered with natural vegetation add some steep slopes to the otherwise gently undulated landscape. The highest altitudes are reached in a series of hills running in a northwest to southeast direction traversing the study area. Up to 225 bird species can potentially occur within the Hartebeest WEF area and its immediate surrounds, based on the data sources consulted. Out of those, seventeen species are of special conservation concern including five “Endangered”, seven “Vulnerable” and five “Near-threatened” species (Taylor, PeacocK & Wanless 2015). From the list of potentially occurring species, 50 species were selected as sensitive (i.e. focal) species for the impact assessment process in Hartebeest WEF due to their conservation status, regional endemicity and sensitivity to wind development impacts. A preliminary site visit confirmed the occurrence of twenty-eight sensitive species. Ten of these species are especially sensitive due to an unfavourable conservation status, i.e.: Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius), Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila Verreauxii), Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus), BlacK Harrier (Circus maurus), Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) and Ludwig's Bustard (Neotis ludwigii). Therefore, these risK behaviours must be further evaluated informed by a pre- construction bird monitoring programme. The proposed Hartebeest Wind Energy Facility may have potential negative impacts on the local bird community through: disturbance of birds and habitat destruction during construction and maintenance of the facility and associated infrastructure; displacement and/or exclusion of birds from the area; collision of birds with turbine blades during operation; and collision and electrocution of birds on associated electrical infrastructure. Impacts associated to habitat destruction and disturbance/exclusion effects are expected to be of low significance. Impacts caused by wind turbines operation and power line presence (i.e. fatalities) are expected at this stage to be of medium significance, mainly due to characteristics of the impact and consequences at the population level. Nonetheless more information must be gathered in order to provide an impact assessment with a higher degree of certainty. The analysis of the sensitivity of the affected farm portions has determined that the general proposed area is of medium sensitivity regarding bird community, following the principle of the precautionary approach, with some specific features of high sensitivity and therefore no turbines are recommended to be placed in these high sensitivity areas. It is important to note that this assessment was made based solely in a single visit to the site and therefore a full bird pre-construction monitoring programme must be implemented, following the Best practice guidelines for avian monitoring and impact mitigation at proposed wind energy development sites in southern Africa, and the information gathered should supply a solid bacKground for a more detailed impact assessment. Proposed Hartebeest wind energy facility – Avifaunal Impact Assessment Scoping Report 2/ 66 TECHNICAL TEAM The technical team responsible for the avian impact scoping study is presented in the table below. Technician Qualifications Role on project Craig Campbell BSc degree in Conservation Ecology Field surveys MSc in Management and Conservation of Natural Resources Ricardo Branca Report compilation BSc in Biology MSc in Ecology and Environmental management Joana Marques Report compilation BSc in Environmental Biology Phd in Environmental studies Field surveys BSc Honours degree in Biological Sciences Ricardo Ramalho Technical coordination Registered Professional Natural Scientist and supervision Zoological Sciences (400028/14) Report compiled in August 2016 – Revision 03 as of 06th September 2016. CITATION Recommended citation when using this report as a reference: Bioinsight (2016). Hartebeest Wind Energy Facility – Scoping Avifaunal Impact Scoping Desktop Study. August 2016. COPYRIGHT This report was compiled for Juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd by Bioinsight (Pty) Ltd, who are the authors of this final document. The contents of this report, namely the methodologies and analysis, was developed by Bioinsight and are their intellectual property. These should not be reproduced or used by third parties without written consent. Proposed Hartebeest wind energy facility – Avifaunal Impact Assessment Scoping Report 3/ 66 SPECIALIST DECLARATION Professional registration The Natural Scientific Professions Act of 2003 aims to “Provide for the establishment of the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and for the registration of professional, candidate and certified natural scientists; and to provide for matters connected therewith.” “Only a registered person may practice in a consulting capacity” – Natural Scientific Professions Act of 2003 (20(1)-page 14) Specialist Investigator: Ricardo Ramalho (Pri.Sci.Nat) Qualification: Phd in Environmental Sciences – University of Évora (Portugal) BSc Honours Degree in Biological Sciences – Univ. of Coimbra (Portugal) Affiliation: South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions Registration number: 400028/14 Fields of Expertise: Zoological Science Registration: Professional Member Declaration of Independence Bioinsight (Pty) Ltd and the Specialist Investigator declare that: • We act as independent specialists for this project. • We consider ourselves bound by the rules and ethics of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. • We do not have any personal or financial interest in the project except for financial compensation for specialist investigations completed in a professional capacity as specified by the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2006. • We will not be affected by the outcome of the environmental process, of which this report forms part of. • We do not have any influence over the decisions made by the governing authorities. • We do not object to or endorse the proposed developments, but aim to present facts and our best scientific and professional opinion with regard to the impacts of the development. • We undertaKe to disclose to the relevant authorities any information that has or may have the potential to influence its decision or the objectivity of any report, plan, or document required in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2006. Proposed Hartebeest wind energy facility – Avifaunal Impact Assessment Scoping Report 4/ 66 • Should we consider ourselves to be in conflict with any of the above declarations, we shall formally submit a Notice of Withdrawal to all relevant parties and formally register as an Interested and Affected Party. Professional experience Ricardo Ramalho has been involved in environmental impact assessment and ecological monitoring for more than 10 years. He has experience with bird and bat bird interactions with renewable projects, namely energy infrastructure for more than 6 years. during this period he has being involved in impact assessments and ecological monitoring for more than 60 projects, more than 35 of which involved onshore wind energy generation in South Africa. A full Curriculum Vitae can be supplied on request. Terms and Liabilities • This report is based on a short term investigation using the available information and data related to the site to be affected. • The Precautionary Principle has been applied throughout this investigation. • Additional information may become Known or available during a later stage of the process for which no allowance could have been made at the time of this report. • The Specialist Investigator reserves the right to amend this report, recommendations and conclusions at any stage should additional information become available. • Information, recommendations and conclusions in this report cannot be applied to any other area without proper investigation. • This report, in its entirety or any portion thereof, may not be altered in any manner or form or for any purpose without the specific and written consent of the Specialist Investigator as specified above. • Acceptance of this report, in any physical or digital form, serves to confirm acKnowledgment of these terms and liabilities. Signed on the 26th August 2016 by Ricardo Manuel Oliveira Ramalho in his capacity as Specialist Investigator. Proposed Hartebeest wind energy facility – Avifaunal Impact Assessment Scoping Report 5/ 66 INDEX PAGE 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1. Summary of the EIA process ....................................................................................................................
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