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APPENDIX E Terrestrial Ecology Baseline Report

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APPENDIX E Terrestrial Ecology Baseline Report Malingunde ESIA HUDSON ECOLOGY PTY LTD Reg. No. 2014/268110/07 P.O. Box 19287 Noordbrug 2522 South Africa 280 Beyers Naude Ave, Potchefstroom, 2531 Tel +27 (0) 18 2945448 Mobile +27 (0)82 344 2758 http://www.hudsonecology.co.Za February 2019 REPORT ON TERRESTRIAL BASELINE ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED SOVEREIGN METALS MALINGUNDE FLAKE GRAPHITE PROJECT NEAR LILONGWE, MALAWI Report Number: 2017/033/01/03 Submitted to: Sovereign Metals Limited Level 9 BGC Centre 28 The Esplanade PERTH WA 6000 DISTRIBUTION: 1 Copy – Sovereign Metals Limited 1 Copy – Hudson Ecology Pty Ltd Library 1 Copy – ProJect Folder Director: Adrian Hudson M.Sc Pr.Sci.Nat MALINGUNDE FLAKE GRAPHITE PROJECT Report Number: 2017/033/01/03 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY BASELINE REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . Introduction Hudson Ecology Pty Ltd was appointed by Sovereign Metals Limited (“Sovereign” or “Sovereign Metals”) to conduct a terrestrial ecology assessment for the proposed Malingunde Project (“the Project” or “Project”). The Malingunde Project will involve the extraction of the flake graphite deposit near the settlement of Malingunde, south west of Lilongwe in Malawi. In order to reach the objectives of the Project, the scope of work included the following: An extensive literature review in order to determine the expected bioregions, vegetation types and terrestrial fauna and flora associated with the study area; Terms of Reference A field survey, conducted during the latter part of the wet season (April 2017), just before the advent of the wet season (October 2017), and in February 2018 in order to determine: • The local study area, i.e. the area to be affected by the proposed Project (including the Project footprint and surrounding areas likely to be impacted by the Project); • The current ecological status of the receiving environment, with reference to terrestrial ecological systems, associated with the study area; • The species of flora and fauna extant within the study area; and • The presence or absence of species of conservation importance within the study area, or habitats or areas of conservation importance, likely to be affected by the proposed Project. Compilation of a report detailing the findings of the study. This report includes but is not limited to: • Survey methods used; • Analytical methods used; • General description of baseline environmental conditions; • Identifications of key potential risks and issues; and • Recommendations for further work. Flora Based on physiognomy, moisture regime, rockiness, slope and soil properties, four main communities were recognised, namely: • Dambo Grassland Vegetation Community; • Mixed Riparian Vegetation Community; • Forest Vegetation Community; and • Cultivated Lands. Species diversity in the regional and local study areas can be considered as moderate. Both species richness and abundance being considerably lower during the October 2017 and February 2018 surveys when compared with the April 2017 surveys, and species recorded was a subset of those recorded in the April 2017 surveys. As part of the surveys 114 species were recorded during the April 2017 survey, 81 during the October 2017 survey and 98 during the February 2018 survey. These differences can be attributed to the fact that the October 2017 surveys were conducted before the advent of the annual rains and during the February 2017 many of the annual species were as yet unidentifiable. One hundred and fourteen (114) plant species were recorded in the Project area representing 29 families. Tree species and shrub species accounted for 31 species (27%) and 18 species (16%) of the total number of species, respectively, while forbs accounted for 27 species (24%) of the total number of species recorded. Grass species accounted for 27% of the total number of species recorded with 31 species. With only 7 species (6%) of the total number of species, cyperoid plants made up the lowest percentage of the total number of species. Four species of conservation significance was recorded, namely Burkea africana, Afzelia quanzensis, Pterocarpus angolensis and Terminalia sericea in the riparian forest and the forest fragments. Of species of conservation significance that could potentially occur in the area, one species is currently listed as Least Concern, two species are listed as Near threatened, two species are listed as Vulnerable while one species is listed as Critically endangered.. Fauna As expected, reptile species diversity for the area was relatively low, with only 12 species being recorded during the April and October 2017 surveys. None of the reptile species recorded are restricted in number or distribution, and none of the species are regarded as protected species by Malawi Legislation nor listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data list of Threatened Species. February 2019 i MALINGUNDE FLAKE GRAPHITE PROJECT Report Number: 2017/033/01/03 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY BASELINE REPORT Only five species of anurans were recorded during the field surveys. None of the species recorded are classified as being restricted in abundance or distribution, although Malawi does host a number of endemic species. Fifty-seven (57) species of avifauna were recorded during the field surveys. None of the species recorded during the April 2017 survey are restricted in range or abundance, and none of the species recorded are currently listed on the IUCN Red Data list. Only twenty eight (28) species of avifauna were recorded during the October 2017 and February 2018 field surveys, although none of these species are classified as species of conservation importance. Species of conservation significance A total of sixty seven (67) animal species are currently considered as species of conservation importance. Of these species: • Reptile species constitute 10 of the species of concern (Table 27), of which two are listed as just Red Data list species, six are listed as endemics and two are listed as both Red Data list species and endemic species; • Anuran species (frogs and toads) constitute nine of the species of concern (Table 27), of which seven are listed as just Red Data list species, two are listed as endemics and three are listed as both Red Data list species and endemic species; • Avifauna species constitute 32 of the species of concern (Table 28), of which 32 are listed as just Red Data list species, none are listed as endemics and none are listed as both Red Data list species and endemic species; and • Mammal species constitute 16 of the species of concern (Table 27), of which 15 are listed as just Red Data list species, none are listed as just endemics and one is listed as both Red Data list species and endemic species. Of the ten reptile species of concern: • One is listed as critically endangered, 3 are listed as endangered and 8 are listed as endemic; and • Nine species have a low probability of occurrence in the study area and one has a high probability of occurrence. Of the nine amphibian (anuran) species of concern: • Three are listed as vulnerable, 1 is listed as near threatened, 3 are listed as data deficient and 5 are listed as endemic; and • Eight species have a low probability of occurrence in the study area and one has a high probability of occurrence. Of the thirty two avian species of concern: • Three are listed as critically endangered, 7 are listed as endangered, 6 are listed as vulnerable, and 15 are listed as near threatened and 1 is listed as Data deficient. No avian species are listed as endemic; and • Twelve species have a low probability of occurrence in the study area, 2 have a moderate probability of occurrence and 18 have a high probability of occurrence. Of the sixteen mammal species of concern: • One is listed as critically endangered, 2 are listed as endangered, 4 are listed as vulnerable, 4 are listed as near threatened and 5 are listed as Data deficient. One species is listed as endemic; and • Eleven species have a low probability of occurrence in the study area, 2 have a moderate probability of occurrence and 3 have a high probability of occurrence. Ecological integrity and conservation importance The ecological integrity of the vegetation communities were assessed and the results show the following ecological integrity for each of the vegetation communities: • Dambo Grassland Vegetation Community – Low to moderate ecological integrity; • Mixed Riparian Vegetation Community – High ecological integrity; • Forest Vegetation Community – Moderate ecological integrity; and • Cultivated Lands – Low ecological integrity. The conservation importance of the vegetation communities were assessed and the results are as follows: • Dambo Grassland Vegetation Community – Low to moderate conservation importance; • Mixed Riparian Vegetation Community – High conservation importance; • Forest Vegetation Community – Moderate conservation importance; and • Cultivated Lands – Low conservation importance. The majority of the study area shows significant signs of degradation. The natural woodland structure and species diversity can be observed at reserves such as the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, approximately 20km to the west of the study area. The destruction of the natural vegetation in the area has subsequently led to greatly reduced flora and fauna diversity in the area with the exclusion of many species that would otherwise be expected. Furthermore, the removal of natural vegetation has created niche gaps for colonisation by exotic invasive species. Small islands of natural vegetation do still occur within the study area, these mainly take the form of patches of natural woodland or and the largely natural vegetation is the riparian forest surrounding the Kamuzu Dam. Other than the completely February 2019 ii MALINGUNDE FLAKE GRAPHITE PROJECT Report Number: 2017/033/01/03 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY BASELINE REPORT transformed dambos (wetlands) within the local study area, there are two arms of a highly impacted, but not completely transformed, dambo to the north of the local study area. Generally, due to existing impacts, the impacts foreseen by the mine are going to be far reduced in comparison with a similar operation in a more natural area.
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