An Evaluation of the Vegetation and Herpetofauna for the Proposed Road D for the Development on the Farm De Deur 539 IQ, Gauteng Province
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An evaluation of the vegetation and herpetofauna for the proposed Road D for the development on the farm De Deur 539 IQ, Gauteng Province April 2010 April 2010 Doornkuil Road D APRIL 2010 An evaluation of the vegetation and herpetofauna for the proposed Road D for the development on the farm De Deur 539 IQ, Gauteng Province Commissioned by The MSA Group Contributors: Part 1 – Vegetation and Flora: GJ Bredenkamp DSc PrSciNat Part 2 – Herpetofauna JCP van Wyk MSc PrSciNat EcoAgent CC PO Box 23355 Monument Park 0181 Tel 012 4602525 Fax 012 460 2525 Cell 082 5767046 April 2010 e Doornkuil Road D APRIL 2010 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 5 PART 1: VEGETATION AND FLORA ....................................................................... 6 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ...................................................................... 6 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 7 1. ASSIGNMENT ...................................................................................................... 7 2. RATIONALE .......................................................................................................... 8 3. STUDY AREA ....................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Location ........................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Vegetation Types ........................................................................................... 10 4. METHODS .......................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Vegetation and Flora...................................................................................... 11 4.2 Conservation Priority...................................................................................... 12 4.3 Sensitivity ...................................................................................................... 13 4.4 Species Richness .......................................................................................... 13 5. RESULTS: VEGETATION AND FLORA .............................................................. 14 5.1 Vegetation Classification ................................................................................ 14 5.2 Description of the Plant Communities ............................................................ 15 Vegetation structure ...................................................................................... 19 5.3 Species of Conservation Concern .................................................................. 20 6. IMPACT ASSESSMENT: IMPACTS ON VEGETATION ...................................... 21 6.1 Methods ......................................................................................................... 21 6.2 Results .......................................................................................................... 23 6.3 Discussion ..................................................................................................... 23 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: VEGETATION STUDY ............. 25 ABRIDGED CURRICULUM VITAE: GEORGE JOHANNES BREDENKAMP .......... 27 D: PART 2 HERPETOFAUNA ................................................................................. 32 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE .................................................................... 32 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 33 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE HABITAT STUDY ........................................................... 33 3. SCOPE OF STUDY ............................................................................................. 33 4. STUDY AREA ..................................................................................................... 34 5. METHODS .......................................................................................................... 37 5.1 Fauna Survey ................................................................................................ 37 5.2 Field Surveys ................................................................................................. 37 Doornkuil Road D APRIL 2010 3 5.3 Desktop Surveys ............................................................................................ 37 5.4 Specific Requirements ................................................................................... 39 5. RESULTS ........................................................................................................... 39 Herpetofauna Habitat Assessment ...................................................................... 39 6. IMPACT ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................... 47 7. RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES ..................................................... 47 8. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................. 47 9. LITERATURE SOURCES ................................................................................... 48 ABRIDGED CURRIVULUM VITAE VAN WYK, JACOBUS CASPARUS PETRUS (JACO) .................................................................................................................... 50 APPENDIX: GENERAL GDARD MITIGATION MEASURES ................................... 53 bruary 2010 Doornkuil Road D APRIL 2010 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY General A new road (named Road D) over a distance of approximately 650 m from the R551 (Rose Road) to Timber Rd, provide access to a new (Savanna) residential development, that is planned for a site on Doornkuil. This report addresses the vegetation and Herpetology and potential ecological impact of the new road. Vegetation Two plant communities were identified along the alignment, disturbed grassland and a patch of Acacia karroo . The terrestrial vegetation is not sensitive and the new road can be supported. Herpetofauna The proposed site for the development of Road D is quite small, but there is a chance that striped harlequin snake may occur on the site. The striped harlequin snake has not been recorded on this quarter-degree square but there are moribund termitaria on the study site, where this species are most likely to be found. It is very difficult to confirm whether this cryptic snake is present on the study site, but it is quite unlikely. Doornkuil Road D APRIL 2010 5 PART 1: VEGETATION AND FLORA AN EVALUATION OF THE VEGETATION FOR THE PROPOSED ROAD D FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE FARM DE DEUR 539 IQ, GAUTENG PROVINCE GJ BREDENKAMP DSc PrSciNat DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE I, George Johannes Bredenkamp, Id 4602105019086, declare that I: • Am the owner of Eco-Agent CC, CK 95/37116/23 • Act as an independent specialist consultant in the field of ecology, vegetation science and botany • Am assigned as specialist consultant by The MSA Group for the proposed project “An evaluation of the vegetation for the proposed road D for the development On the farm De Deur 539 IQ Gauteng province ” described in this report • I Do not have or will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity other than remuneration for work performed • Have or will not have any vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding • Have no and will not engage in conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity • Undertake to disclose to the client and the competent authority any material information that have or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority required in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2006 • Will provide the client and competent authority with access to all information at my disposal, regarding this project, whether favourable or not. GJ Bredenkamp Doornkuil Road D APRIL 2010 6 SUMMARY Two plant communities were identified along the alignment. Disturbed or transformed grassland occurs along most of the entire length of the proposed road, except in the central eastern portion where a patch of Acacia karroo occurs. The terrestrial vegetation is not sensitive and the new road can be supported. 1. ASSIGNMENT EcoAgent CC Ecology and Biodiversity Consultants was appointed by The MSA Group to undertake an independent assessment of the vegetation and flora, and the herpetofauna of the site. In accordance with The Natural Scientific Professions Act (Act 27 of 2003) only a person registered with the Council may practice in a consulting capacity, and according to the minimum requirement of GDARD (GDARD 2009) only persons qualified and as a wetland, mammal, bird and vegetation specialist may conduct the relevant studies for impact assessments in Gauteng. Prof GJ Bredenkamp of EcoAgent CC undertook an independent assessment of the vegetation and flora that would be affected by the proposed Road B for the development on the farm Doornkuil 369IQ. A field survey was conducted on the 10th of April 2010. This assignment is in accordance with the EIA Regulations (No. R. 385, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 21 April 2006) emanating from Part 5 of the National Environmental Management Act 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998). The assignment is interpreted as follows: Compile a study on • Vegetation with special emphasis on the possible presence red data species on the alignment of Road D In order to compile the vegetation and flora study,