VEGETATION ASSESSMENT of PTN 583/584 of LOT 387 ASSAGAY KRAAL 853
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VEGETATION ASSESSMENT OF PTN 583/584 of LOT 387 ASSAGAY KRAAL 853 AT 15/17 MANQOBA DRIVE, BOTHAS HILL BY JOHAN BODENSTEIN PrSciNat October 2019 Version 2 INDIFLORA CC 1 i. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Specialist: Indiflora cc Environmental Services Contact person: Johan Bodenstein Postal address: PO Box 30657, Mayville, Postal code: 4058 Cell: 0825770898 Telephone: 0312611265 Fax: 0867592840 E-mail: [email protected] Professional affiliation(s) (if any) PrSciNat, IAIAsa, GSSA I, Johannes Albert Bodenstein, declare that -- I act as the independent specialist in this application; do not have any vested interest (either business, financial, personal or other) other than remuneration for work performed; I will perform the work relating to the application in an objective manner, even if this results in views and findings that are not favourable to the applicant; I declare that there are no circumstances that may compromise my objectivity in performing such work; I have expertise in conducting the specialist report relevant to this application; I will comply with the Act, regulations and all other applicable legislation; I have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; I undertake to disclose to the applicant and the competent authority all material information in my possession; all the particulars furnished by me in this form are true and correct; and Signature of the specialist: Indiflora cc Environmental Services Name of company (if applicable): 22nd October 2019 Date: INDIFLORA CC 2 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A vegetation assessment was conducted on the property of Portion 583 and 584 of Lot 387 Assagay Kraal 853 to establish the present state of the natural vegetation. Desktop study of the Google EarthTM aerial photographs as well as the national, provincial and local databases provided background information on the natural vegetation of the study area. A walkover site inspection was held to record the species present and to determine the scale of transformation that had occurred due to land use practices and the infestation of alien invader species. The assessment considered the impacts the proposed platform development and extracted material removal will have on the remaining property and the natural vegetation. Biodiversity will be lost and the potential for alien invader infestation will be increased in an area that is already partly transformed by existing illegal mining by unknown third parties and trespassing taking place. Veld rehabilitation on undevelopable parts of the site will ensure there is no net loss. Biodiversity already lost to alien invader infestation can be recovered with plants rescued and active rehabilitation. INDIFLORA CC 3 ii CONTENTS i. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ..................................................................................................2 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................3 ii CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ...............................................................................................5 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND LOCALITY: .............................................................................5 1.2 SCOPE OF THE ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................................5 1.3 ASSUMPTIONS LIMITATIONS AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE................................................6 1.4 RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND ORDINANCES .......................................................................6 2. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................8 2.1 Assessment techniques and tools..............................................................................................8 3. SITE INFORMATION: ...............................................................................................................................9 3.1 SITE NAME: .......................................................................................................................................9 3.2 SITE ADDRESS: ...............................................................................................................................9 3.3 LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA: .............................................................................................9 3.4 TOPOGRAPHY: ............................................................................................................................. 11 3.5 GEOLOGY:...................................................................................................................................... 11 3.6 CLIMATE: ........................................................................................................................................ 11 3.7 VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION: ............................................................... 11 3.8 EXISTING LAND USE ................................................................................................................... 14 3.9 PROVINCIAL CONSERVATION PLANNING ........................................................................... 14 3.10 TERRESTRIAL THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS ...................................................................... 17 3.11 PROTECTED AREAS ................................................................................................................... 18 3.12 DURBAN METROPOLITAN OPEN SPACE SYSTEM (D’MOSS) ........................................ 18 4. THE PROPOSAL: .................................................................................................................................. 22 5. VEGETATION ASSESSMENT............................................................................................................. 24 5.1 VEGETATION IDENTIFIED ON SITE ......................................................................................... 24 A. NATIONALLY PROTECTED TREES ..................................................................................... 24 i. LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK GOVERNING IAP CONTROL ..................... 27 5.2 IMPACTS ON VEGETATION ....................................................................................................... 29 i. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 29 ii. IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................... 30 6. RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 35 6. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................ 36 7. REFERENCES: ...................................................................................................................................... 37 APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................................................... 38 APPENDIX B. PHOTOS .......................................................................................................................... 41 INDIFLORA CC 4 Vegetation Assessment of Ptn 583 and 584 of Lot 387 ASSAGAY KRAAL 853 at 15/17 Manqoba Drive, Bothas Hill 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND LOCALITY: Mr Dennis Werner, the land owner of Ptn 583 and 584 of Lot 387 Assagay Kraal 853 requested Johan Bodenstein of Indiflora cc Environmental Services to prepare a vegetation assessment of the property. The land owner purchased the land with the intention to develop an agricultural warehouse with associated access, paving and exclusive use area. The study focused on the description of the current vegetation integrity and impacts pertaining to the vegetation, as well as providing appropriate management recommendations to lower the significance of the impacts to floral communities. 1.2 SCOPE OF THE ASSESSMENT The scope of work for the vegetation assessment was required to conduct: • Initial desktop review and mapping based on the KwaZulu-Natal Conservation Plan and the conservation importance of the onsite vegetation based on this plan; • Contextualising the significance of natural areas within the project area and baseline environmental conditions; • Conduct a preliminary field survey in order to identify vegetation species and composition within the study area which will be impacted by the proposed project; • Assess and describe the condition of the vegetation units identified within the project area; • Identify species of conservation importance and the potential suitable habitat for these species; • Discuss permit requirements with regards to plant species of Conservation concern; • Identify important ecologically sensitive habitats and indicate the suitability of alternatives, with recommendations of a preferred alternative (if available); INDIFLORA CC 5 • Identify potential negative impacts on the vegetation composition and habitats that will arise from the project and assess the significance of these impacts; and • Provide recommended practical mitigation measures for the identified impacts in