Terrestrial Ecology Assessment for the Proposed Tailings Storage Facility at Bakubung Platinum Mine
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TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY AT BAKUBUNG PLATINUM MINE Final Report - February 2021 Submitted to: Tania Oosthuizen Knight Piésold (Pty) Ltd 4 De la Rey Road, Rivonia, 2128 Gauteng South Africa Report Compiled By: Andrew Zinn (Pr.Sci.Nat.) Hawkhead Consulting 1 | Page Details of the Expertise of the Specialist Specialist Information Name Andrew Zinn Pr.Sci.Nat. - Ecological Science (400687/15) Designation Report Author – Terrestrial Ecologist Cell Phone Number +27 83 361 0373 Email Address [email protected] Qualifications M.Sc. Resource Conservation Biology B.Sc. Hons. Ecology and Conservation Biology B.Sc. Zoology and Grassland Science Declaration of Independence by Specialist I, Andrew Zinn, declare that I – Act as the independent specialist for the undertaking of a specialist section for the proposed Tailings Storage Facility at Bakubung Platinum Mine; Do not have and will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity, other than remuneration for work performed; Do not have, nor will have, a vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding; Have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; and Undertake to disclose, to the competent authority, any information that have or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document. 2 | Page Contents Details of the Expertise of the Specialist ................................................................................................ 2 Declaration of Independence by Specialist ............................................................................................. 2 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Location and Delimits of the Study Area ................................................................................ 6 1.2. Study Context and Terms of Reference .................................................................................. 6 2. Legislative Framework .................................................................................................................. 10 3. Study Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 10 3.1. Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 10 3.1.1. Vegetation Types and Flora Species ............................................................................. 10 3.1.2. Fauna Characterisation ................................................................................................. 10 3.2. Field Survey ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.3. Assessment of Biodiversity Value ......................................................................................... 11 3.3.1. Vegetation Community Sensitivity Analysis .................................................................. 11 3.3.2. Species of Conservation Concern .................................................................................. 11 1.1.1. Habitat Suitability Assessments .................................................................................... 11 1.1.1. Alien Invasive and Medicinal Flora Species................................................................... 12 4. Study Assumptions and Limitations .............................................................................................. 12 5. Baseline Ecological Characterisation of the Study Area ............................................................... 13 5.1. General Biophysical Environment ......................................................................................... 13 5.1.1. Savanna Biome .............................................................................................................. 13 5.1.2. Zeerust Thornveld (SVcb 3) ........................................................................................... 13 5.1.3. Marikana Thornveld (SVcb 6) ........................................................................................ 14 5.2. Conservation Context ........................................................................................................... 14 5.2.1. North West Biodiversity Sector Plan (2015) ................................................................. 14 5.2.2. Protected Areas............................................................................................................. 15 5.3. General Characteristics and Landscape Context .................................................................. 19 5.4. Vegetation Characteristics of the Study Area ....................................................................... 20 5.4.1. Secondary Vegetation ................................................................................................... 22 5.4.2. Marikana Thornveld ...................................................................................................... 25 5.4.3. Floristic Diversity ........................................................................................................... 26 5.5. Fauna Characteristics of the Study Area ............................................................................... 30 5.5.1. Mammals ...................................................................................................................... 30 5.5.2. Birds .............................................................................................................................. 33 3 | Page 5.5.3. Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians) ..................................................................... 37 5.6. Key Ecological Processes and Attributes ............................................................................... 38 5.6.1. Landscape Linkages and Corridors ................................................................................ 38 5.6.2. Key Ecological Processes and Drivers of Change .......................................................... 39 6. Impact Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 41 6.1. Impact Assessment Methodology......................................................................................... 41 6.1.1. Defining the Nature of the Impact ................................................................................ 41 6.1.2. Assessing Impact Significance ....................................................................................... 41 6.1.3. Mitigation and Residual Impacts................................................................................... 45 6.2. Identification and Assessment of Impacts ............................................................................ 45 6.2.1. Habitat Loss and Modification ...................................................................................... 45 6.2.2. Habitat Fragmentation .................................................................................................. 46 6.2.3. Establishment and Spread of Alien Invasive Species .................................................... 47 6.2.4. Soil Erosion and Sedimentation of Drainage Features ................................................. 47 6.2.5. Mortality and Disturbance of Fauna ............................................................................. 47 6.2.6. Loss and Disturbance of Species of Conservation Concern. ......................................... 48 6.3. Notes on Cumulative Impacts ............................................................................................... 50 7. Recommended Ecological Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 50 8. Summary and Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 52 9. References .................................................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A: Flora species identified in the study area during the 2021 field visit .............................. 57 Appendix B: Mammal species occurring and potentially occurring in the study area, based on literature. .............................................................................................................................................. 60 Appendix C: Bird species occurring and potentially occurring in the study area, based on SABAP 2 records and 2021 field trip. ................................................................................................................... 64 Appendix D: Reptiles and amphibian species occurring and potentially occurring in the study area, based on literature ................................................................................................................................ 75 List of Figures Figure 1: Frischgewaagd section of the Bakubung Platinum Mine, showing the layout of the proposed TSF in relation to other existing and planned mine infrastructure. ....................................................... 8 Figure 2: Regional location of Bakubung Platinum Mine and the study area. Existing and additional planned mine infrastructure are also shown. ........................................................................................