Terrestrial Biodiversity Compliance Statement Erven 46 and 47, Azalea, Clifton, Western Cape, South Africa PREPARED FOR: CHAND Environmental Consultants DATED: 21 July 2020 PREPARED BY: NCC Environmental Services M · 021 702 2884 E · [email protected] T · +27 21 702 2884 26 Bell Close, Westlake Business Park F · +27 86 555 0693 Westlake 7945, Cape Town NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd | Reg No: 2007/023691/07 | VAT No. 4450208915 REAL GROWTH FOR PEOPLE, PLANET AND BUSINESS www.ncc-group.co.za DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION BY THE SPECIALIST I, Sean Altern, as the appointed Specialist hereby declare/affirm the correctness of the information provided or to be provided as part of the application, and that I: • In terms of the general requirement to be independent: other than fair remuneration for work performed in terms of this application, have no business, financial, personal or other interest in the development proposal or application and that there are no circumstances that may compromise my objectivity; or am not independent, but another specialist (the ‘Review Specialist’) that meets the general requirements set out in Regulation 13 has been appointed to review my work (Note: a declaration by the review specialist must be submitted); • in terms of the remainder of the general requirements for a specialist, have throughout this EIA process OPS_004_v002 met all of the requirements; • have disclosed to the applicant, the EAP, the Review EAP (if applicable), the Department and I&APs all material information that has or may have the potential to influence the decision of the Department or the objectivity of any report, plan or document prepared or to be prepared as part of the application; and • am aware that a false declaration is an offence in terms of Regulation 48 of the EIA Regulations, 2014 (as amended). Sean Altern - Consultant NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd 21 July 2020 NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd Erven 46 and 47, Azalea, Clifton – Jul 2020 Page 2 of 42 Reg No: 2007/023691/07 VERIFICATION STATEMENT This communication serves to verify that the Proposed Development report compiled by Sean Altern has been reviewed and I have verified the contents thereof. Declaration of independence: I, Nico-Ronaldo Retief Pr. Sci. Nat. with reg. no. 005636 declare that I: • am committed to biodiversity conservation, but concomitantly recognize the need for economic development. Whereas I appreciate the opportunity to also learn through the processes of constructive criticism and debate, I reserve the right to form and hold my own opinions and therefore will not willingly submit to the interests of other parties or change my statements to appease them. • abide by the Code of Ethics of the S.A. Council of Natural Scientific Professions. • am contracted as specialist consultant to review the contents of this report. • have no financial interest in the proposed development. • have or will not have any vested or conflicting interests in the proposed development. • undertake to disclose to NCC, the applicant and authority any material information that have or OPS_004_v002 may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority required in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 as amended. Nico-Ronaldo Retief Pr.Sci.Nat. NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd 21 July 2020 NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd Erven 46 and 47, Azalea, Clifton – Jul 2020 Page 3 of 42 Reg No: 2007/023691/07 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Terrestrial Biodiversity Compliance Statement is conducted in terms of Government Notice No. 648 published in draft Government Gazette 45421 on 10 May 2020 which outlines the protocol for the assessment and reporting of environmental impacts on terrestrial biodiversity. Requirements for the assessment and reporting of impacts of development on terrestrial biodiversity are set out in Table 2 of GN No.648 which correlate to the sensitivity ratings contained in the national web based environmental screening tool https://screening.environment.gov.za/screeningtool. This report serves to motivate the approvals required to enable the construction of flats on the consolidation of Erven 46 and 47 Clifton and confirms the Terrestrial Biodiversity to be of ‘Low’ sensitivity, being in contrast to the web based screening tool result. This ‘Low’ sensitivity ascription is evidenced through the site assessment and observation of the level of negative habitat transformation, site fragmentation and associated species absence and presence as detailed in the following Terrestrial Biodiversity Compliance Statement. OPS_004_v002 NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd Erven 46 and 47, Azalea, Clifton – Jul 2020 Page 4 of 42 Reg No: 2007/023691/07 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.1 Structure of the Report ........................................................................................................................6 2 TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY COMPLIANCE STATEMENT ................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Initial Screening ................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3 Biodiversity Baseline .......................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Site Inspection ................................................................................................................................... 13 2.5 Site Sensitivity Factors ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.6 Assumptions and Limitations ............................................................................................................ 17 2.7 Likely Impact of Development ........................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Construction Phase ............................................................................................................................ 18 3.2 Operation Phase ................................................................................................................................ 19 3.3 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................................................................... 20 OPS_004_v002 5 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................... 21 6 AUTHORS ........................................................................................................................ 21 6.1 Curriculum Vitae - Sean Altern .......................................................................................................... 22 6.2 Curriculum Vitae - Nico-Ronaldo Retief ............................................................................................ 32 NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd Erven 46 and 47, Azalea, Clifton – Jul 2020 Page 5 of 42 Reg No: 2007/023691/07 1.1 Structure of the Report Appendix 6 of GN 706 of 13 July 2018 provides the requirements for specialist reports undertaken as part of the environmental authorisation process. In line with this Table 1 below provides an overview of Appendix 6 together with information on how these requirements have been met. Table 1: Specialist Report Requirements. Requirement from Appendix 6 of GN 326 of 7 April 2017 Fulfilment (a) Details of- Refer to Section 4 (i) the specialist who prepared the report; and (ii) the expertise of that specialist to compile a specialist report including a curriculum vitae (b) Declaration that the specialist is independent in a form as Refer to Pages 2 and 3 may be specified by the competent authority (c) Indication of the scope of, and the purpose for which, the Refer to Executive report was prepared Summary Page 4 (c A) An indication of the quality and age of base data used for field Work conducted the specialist report 2020, Botanical Report OPS_004_v002 utilised conducted 2017, GIS Biodiversity Spatial Planning Layers from 2018. ADU data accessed 07 July 2020. (c B) A description of existing impacts on the site, cumulative Existing negative impacts impacts of the proposed development and levels of acceptable include: change. Removal of fire as a vegetation driver through fragmentation and surrounding urbanisation. Invasion of exotic species (Pinus radiata) causing unnatural shading (change in micro climatic conditions) and soil moisture, nutrient depletion followed by erosion. Litter and NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd Erven 46 and 47, Azalea, Clifton – Jul 2020 Page 6 of 42 Reg No: 2007/023691/07 dumping. Pollinator minimisation through habitat fragmentation reducing in depletion of seedbank and species diversity. (d) the Duration, date and season of the site investigation and Refer to Section 2.4 the relevance of the season to the outcome of the assessment (e) Description of the methodology adopted in preparing the Refer to Section 2.4 and report or carrying out the specialised process inclusive of 2.5 equipment and modelling used. (f) details of an assessment of the specific identified sensitivity of Refer to Section 2.5. the site related to the proposed activity or activities and its There are no site associated structures and infrastructure inclusive of a site plan alternatives and the identifying