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Environmental Audit 2014

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Environmental Audit 2014 ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT 2014 Large Brown Afrikaner Gladiolus liliaceus In October 2002 an Environmental Impact Study and Good Farming Practices evaluation was completed by Mr. Van Der Merwe (Extension Officer – Koukamma Sub-District) Department of Agriculture (VDM, 2002). This modest foundational document has served its purpose. Point 7 of this document suggested an Environmental Training Programme for 2 or 3 of your farm personnel (May or June) on a yearly basis. The objective would be to enlighten their thoughts and empower them to transfer their newly acquired skills to their fellow farm workers. The Kritzinger Family and the Deciduous Fruit Farming enterprise “Tulpieskraal’ has a proud long standing record of caring for both the community and environment. Since 2004 Language of the Wilderness Foundation Trust (LOWFT) has enjoyed the privilege of your support and generosity within this context and has served as the farms Environmental and Sustainable Development focus point. The result of this arrangement has highlighted the significance of the farm Tulpieskraal and its surrounds, within the context of very special and important biodiversity. Tulpieskraal recognises the need for a more holistic and co- operative regional approach towards our environment and needs to adapt and design a more sustainable approach. The context of Tulpieskraal is significant, straddling the protected areas Formosa Forest Reserve and the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve. These formidable mountain wilderness areas set in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot (See Map 1 overleaf). Goggia hewitti (Hewitt's Leaf Toed Gecko) TULPIESKRAAL Langkloof Catchment MAP 1 The regional context of Tulpieskraal becomes very apparent, where the obvious strategic opportunity exists towards creating a bridge of corridors linking the two mountain ranges Tsitsikamma and Kouga (south to north). The environmental significance of this cannot be overstated – essentially creating a protected area from the ocean into the desert of the Klein-karoo, a traverse of 8 biomes, a veritable ‘garden of Eden’. This large mountain catchment region (Kouga, Baviaanskloof and Groot rivers) services all the local water needs agricultural and household. The Gamtoos catchment has one large impoundment in the form of the Kouga Dam and this services 60%+ of the Nelson Mandela Metropoles water requirements via pipeline. TKNP/FFR BMR 750mm 650mm 250mm 1000mm 550mm <200mm Langkloof Klein Karoo Kouga Baviaanskloof OCEAN Tsitsikamma KR BR GR The Gamtoos quaternary catchment is fed by three main arteries, the Kouga River (KR), the Baviaanskloof River (BR) and the Groot River (GR). The diagram above illustrates this clearly while highlighting the Protected Area footprint (Tsitsikamma National Park TNP, Formosa Forest Reserve FFR and Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve BMR). Furthermore showing the steep rainfall gradient from 1000mm p/a South facing slopes of the Tsitsikamma Mountains to <200mm p/a within the semi-desert regions of the Klein Karoo. Most importantly the highlighted upper Langkloof Catchment which drains the north slopes of the Tsitsikammas from Vyekraal in the west to the Heights in the east and the southern slopes of the Kouga mountains from De Hoop near Uniondale in the west to Riverside north of Kareedouw to the east, is noted. It ought be abundantly clear that the majority of water that ends up in the Kouga dam (>60%) comes from the Langkloof. It is this crucial resource that drives the ecosystems both Natural and Agricultural throughout the region. The importance of the Langkloof and its role regarding the sustainable management of the Greater Baviaanskloof region is poorly recognised and understood. Tulpieskraal Farms will endeavour where possible to conserve the wildlife and landscape of the farm by implementing the following: Adhering to the farm's Integrated Environment Management PIan (IEMP). Monitoring and documenting all bird, animal and plant life that occurs on the property. Monitoring introduced antelope specifically our Blesbok - Damaliscus pygaras phillipsi towards a sustainable end. We are removing alien vegetation in conjunction with the government's Work for Water project. Firebreaks have been upgraded and improved on the farm. Erosion, continuous efforts are being made to repair flood damage. The policy statement is to be reviewed annually. Sunrise on Tulpieskraal – Hoekop and Peak Formosa WE THE MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES OF TULPIESKRAAL FARMS ARE AWARE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT AS CUSTODIANS OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE BIODIVERSITY IN AND AROUND OUR ORCHARDS AND TO THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES SUCH AS SOIL, WATER AND ENERGY. FURTHER ENSURE RESPONSIBLE HANDLING OF WASTE AND MINIMISING THE RISK OF POLLUTION OF THE ENVIROMENT. THESE ACTIYITIES SHOULD ENHANCE PRODUCTION AND PRODUCT CONFIDENCE. TOWARDS THESE ENDS; WE PLAN OUR PRODUCTION ACTTVITIES TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT ON SENSITIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND SUPPORT THE ENHANCEMENT OF BIODIVERSITY BY REMOVING ALIEN PLANTS AND LEAVING MARGINAL LANDS UNDISTURBED. * REGULARLY AND THOROUGHLY REMOVE WASTE FROM IN AND AROUND THE WORK PLACE AS TO MAINTAIN AESTHETICALLY SOUND SURROUNDINGS; * ENDEAVOUR TO R-E-USE ORGANIC MATTER BY APPLYING ALL COMPOSTABLE WASTE AS SOIL SUPPLEMENTS; *IDENTIFY TIIE RISK AREAS FOR POLLUTION BY AGRO.CHEMICALS, PETRO-CHEMICALS AND NOISE AND AVOID CONTAMINATION OF THE ENVIROMENT WITH THESE PRODUCTS; * IMPLEMENT IPM; * ADHERE TO WORKER HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE REGULATIONS. POLICY GUIDELINES INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT Maintain natural mountain and unworked veld for indigenous Flora and Fauna. Marginal ground must be left unused. Avoid soil erosion by erecting run off ditches and contours and planting dam walls with grass. Protect objects of archaeological, historical or cultural value Use only designated roads or tracks. Assess impact of any new development on environment. Implement IPM and use to determine chemical spray program. Ensure that fertilising is done correctly in accordance with farms fertilising protocol. Co-operate with neighbors. Remove alien vegetation - ongoing and with WFW. Firewood can only be cut in designated areas i.e. cleared alien vegetation in Schoemans Hoek. No hunting shall take place except for problem animals within the laws of South African Legislation. Cape Sugarbird Locality: Tulpieskraal Farms is located on the eastern outskirts of Joubertina, just across the Waboomsriver. This portion of the Langkloof falls within the boundaries of the Eastern Cape Province. The original property Tulpieskraal farm is split by the R62 main tar road with 2/3rds thereof lying on the Northern (Kouga) side. The administrative hub of the farm lies South of the road and extends to the foot of the first sandstone ridge just beyond. The recent acquisition of the farm Diepkloof lies +- 2 kilometres due South of Tulpieskraal, upstream in the Joubertina River. Topography: The properties are watered by two prominent perennial tributaries of the Wabooms River – Krakeel River and Joubertina Rivers. Both of these tributaries drain the Northern slopes of the Tsitsikamma Mountains with an average rainfall of around 700mm pa. The Krakeel River flows from west to east and the Joubertina River from south to north and form a confluence just below the packing shed/administrative hub of the farm forming the Wabooms River. The Wabooms River flows in a North Easterly direction into the Kouga River. Beyond the foothills of the Tsitsikamma in a northerly direction three sandstone ridges or intermediary hills – with corresponding shallow valleys summarises the topography. A sharply deteriorating rainfall gradient is applicable with the lower altitude sandstone ridges attracting less precipitation on the southern slopes. The northern slope aridity is exacerbated with clear distinction between vegetation. Typical North Facing view into Kouga Geology and Soils: The study area geology consists of sediments of the Cape Supergroup which were deposited between 300 and 450 million years ago at the end of the Ordovician and beginning of the Carboniferous periods of the earths history (Deacon et al, 1992). The sedimentary rocks of the area were made up out of water carried silt and sand that was deposited on the floors of inland seas, rivers and lakes that once covered the south-western part of the country. These sediments accumulated in what was known as the Cape Basin and today consists of layers of sandstone, mudstone and shale. The sandstones of the Peninsula Formation accumulated to a depth of more than 3000 metres, and through folding and mountain building due to the earths crust movements, these thick layers of sandstone were pushed up to form the mountains of the Western and Eastern Cape as we know them today. A. Peninsula Formation of the Table Mountain Subgroup: Cape Supergroup The rocks of this formation consist largely of whitish weathering quartzitic sandstone. The mountains along the southern edge and central ridges of the study area consists of sandstones of the Peninsula Formation. B. Cedarberg Formation of the Table Mountain Subgroup: Cape Supergroup These shale's generally give rise to better quality soils typical of the valleys in between the east west trending sandstone ranges and ridges of the area. The lowland areas and soils of the valley floors and alluvium are derived from these rocks. C. African Land Surface or Enon Conglomerate Elements of these relatively recent deposits (tertiary sub-era formed 60 million years ago) occur sporadically throughout
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