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Section 21 deals with the Use of Water Section 21 (a-k) describes activities defined as a water use under the act. These activities may only be undertaken subject to the application for, and issue of, a water use licence.

Implications for the Slang River low-level crossing: o Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent the pollution of water courses. o Riparian zones must be protected. o Construction within a water course or within 500 metres of a wetland will require a Water Use licence under section 21 (c) & (i) issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

2.4 National Forest Act (No.84 of 1998)

Any area that has vegetation which is characterised by a closed and contiguous canopy and under storey plant establishment is defined as a ‗forest‘ and as a result falls under the authority of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF): Forestry sector. A clause in Chapter 3, Part 1 covers:

Prohibition on destruction of trees in natural forests. Section 7 (1) No person may cut, disturb, damage or destroy any indigenous living tree in, or remove or receive any such tree from, a natural forest except in terms of (a) A licence issued under subsection (4) or section 23.

Effect of setting aside protected areas Section 10 (1) No person may cut, disturb, damage or destroy any forest produce in, or remove or receive any forest produce from, a protected area, except— a) in terms of the rules made for the proper management of the area in terms of section 11(2)(b); b) in the course of the management of the protected area by the responsible organ of State or person; c) in terms of a right of servitude: d) in terms of the authority of a licence granted under section 7(4) or 23; e) in terms of an exemption under section 7(1)(b) or 24(6); or f) in the case of a protected area on land outside a State forest, with the consent of the registered owner or by reason of another right which allows the person concerned to do so, subject to the prohibition in section 7(1).

Implications for the Slang River low-level crossing: o No forest or trees that form part of a forest or forest association may be damaged or destroyed without a permit. o Development that comes within 50 metres of forest must be closely monitored during the construction phase. o No forest species were identified in the immediate area.

2.5 Species of Conservation Concern (SCC)

 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004)

The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004), (NEMBA) aims to establish national norms and standards for the management of biodiversity across all sectors and by different management authorities.

Chapter 4, Part 2 of the Biodiversity Act provides for listing of species as threatened or protected. If a species is listed as threatened, it must be further classified as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. The Act defines these classes as follows:

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Table 2.1: NEMBA classes and explanations Any indigenous species facing an extremely high risk of Critically endangered species extinction in the wild in the immediate future. Any indigenous species facing a high risk of extinction in the Endangered species wild in the near future, although it is not a critically endangered species. Any indigenous species facing an extremely high risk of Vulnerable species extinction in the wild in the medium-term future; although it is not a critically endangered species or an endangered species. Any species which is of such high conservation value or national importance that it requires national protection‖. Species listed in Protected species this category will include, among others, species listed in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Implications for the Slang River low-level crossing:  Any species identified during this site survey that are listed by this act will require permits prior to removal and prior to commencement of construction.

 Endangered and Protected Flora in the 1974 Provincial Nature Conservation Ordinance (PNCO):

The Provincial Nature Conservation Ordinance (PNCO) protects the endangered and protected flora outside of protected areas. Species classified as Schedule 3 are endangered species. Species classified as schedule 4 are protected species. A permit is required for the removal or destruction of species on the PNCO list.

 1976 List of Protected Trees (Government Gazette No. 9542 Schedule A) in the 1998 National Forest Act (NFA):

No person may cut, disturb, damage or destroy any protected tree or possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree or any forest product derived from a protected tree, unless a permit has been acquired.

 South African Red Data List

The South African Red List of South African plants use the internationally recognised IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria to measure a species risk of extinction (Table 2.2). Since the Red List of South African plants are used widely for conservation practices throughout , this list has been modified to identify species that are at low risk of extinction but of high conservation importance.

Table 2.2: South African Red Data List Categories (SANBI, 2013) A species is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. Species should be classified as Extinct only once EXTINCT (EX) exhaustive surveys throughout the species' known range have failed to record an individual. A species is Extinct in the Wild when it is known to survive only in EXTINCT IN THE WILD (EW) cultivation or as a naturalized population (or populations) well outside the past range. A species is Regionally Extinct when it is extinct within the region REGIONALLY EXTINCT (RE) assessed (in this case South Africa), but wild populations can still be found in areas outside the region. Possibly Extinct is a special tag associated with the category Critically CRITICALLY ENDANGERED, Endangered, indicating species that are highly likely to be extinct, but POSSIBLY EXTINCT (CR PE) the exhaustive surveys required for classifying the species as Extinct

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has not yet been completed. A small chance remains that such species may still be rediscovered. A species is Critically Endangered when the best available evidence CRITICALLY ENDANGERED indicates that it meets at least one of the five IUCN criteria for Critically (CR) Endangered, indicating that the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction. A species is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates ENDANGERED (EN) that it meets at least one of the five IUCN criteria for Endangered, indicating that the species is facing a very high risk of extinction. A species is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates VULNERABLE (VU) that it meets at least one of the five IUCN criteria for Vulnerable, indicating that the species is facing a high risk of extinction. A species is Near Threatened when available evidence indicates that it NEAR THREATENED (NT) nearly meets any of the IUCN criteria for Vulnerable, and is therefore likely to become at risk of extinction in the near future. A species is Critically Rare when it is known to occur at a single site, but is not exposed to any direct or plausible potential threat and does CRITICALLY RARE not otherwise qualify for a category of threat according to one of the five IUCN criteria. A species is Rare when it meets at least one of four South African criteria for rarity, but is not exposed to any direct or plausible potential RARE threat and does not qualify for a category of threat according to one of the five IUCN criteria. A species is Declining when it does not meet or nearly meet any of the five IUCN criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, RARE DECLINING Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened, but there are threatening processes causing a continuing decline of the species. A species is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the IUCN criteria and does not qualify for any of the above categories. LEAST CONCERN Species classified as Least Concern are considered at low risk of extinction. Widespread and abundant species are typically classified in this category. A species is DDD when there is inadequate information to make an DATA DEFICIENT – assessment of its risk of extinction, but the species is well defined. INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION Listing of species in this category indicates that more information is (DDD) required and that future research could show that a threatened classification is appropriate. A species is DDT when taxonomic problems hinder the distribution DATA DEFICIENT – range and habitat from being well defined, so that an assessment of TAXONOMICALLY risk of extinction is not possible. PROBLEMATIC (DDT)

A species is Not Evaluated when it has not been evaluated against the criteria. The national Red List of South African plants is a comprehensive assessment of all South African indigenous plants, and therefore all species are assessed and given a national Red List status. However, some species included in Plants of southern Africa: NOT EVALUATED (NE) an online checklist, are species that do not qualify for national listing because they are naturalized exotics, hybrids (natural or cultivated), or synonyms. These species are given the status Not Evaluated and the reasons why they have not been assessed are included in the assessment justification.

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3.1 Climate

The Eastern Cape has a complex climate. There are wide variations in temperature, rainfall and wind patterns, mainly as a result of movements of air masses, altitude, mountain orientation and the proximity of the Indian Ocean. The area is subject to strong winds from the west and west- south-west (41% combined frequency) all year round, and east (15%) from October through to March. These winds occur mainly throughout the day and may generate a significant amount of fugitive dust. Diurnal variations in the wind regime occur which are due to the influence of land-sea breeze circulation on the airflow of the region.

The closest town to the proposed crossing, with weather data is Oyster Bay. The climate in Oyster Bay is mild, and generally warm and temperate. Rainfall is abundant throughout the year (approximately 760 mm annually). Summers are warm (highest maximum temperature of 27°C) and winters cool (lowest minimum temperature of 8°C) with a relatively narrow annual temperature range. The average annual temperature in Oyster Bay is 16.7 °C. The variation in temperatures throughout the year is approximately 5.8 °C (http://en.climate- data.org/location/189667/).

3.2 Geology and Soils (Source: www.geoscience.org.za, AGIS 2015)

The geology of the proposed project falls within the Cape Supergroup and is comprised of the Bokkelveld and Table Mountain groups and in the Ceres and Nardouw Subgroups respectively (Figure 3.1.).

The Cape Supergroup constitutes the major part of the . This is a belt of deformed rocks that runs approximately west-east across the southern most parts South Africa, from the , through Grahamstown, entering the sea to the east, near the mouth of the Fish River (east of Kleinmond) (Buttner et al, 2015).

The Bokkelveld Group consists of dark-grey shales with intervening sandstone units. This group contains a large variety of invertebrate fossils and is subdivided into a lower Ceres Subgroup, characterised by marine invertebrate fossils and lateral continuity of its six formations, and an upper Traka Subgroup consisting of three formations in the Eastern Cape. The project area falls within the Ceres Subgroup. This subgroup consists of alternating dark grey mudrock, lithozones and dark, very fine grained muddy sandstone. The Table Mountain Group is carved out of rocks of the Cape Supergroup. This Group mainly comprises of six formations and is predominantly a medium-grained arenaceous succession. The uppermost three formations together constitute the Nardouw Subgroup.

Soils of the project area are classified as wetland soils, greyish and sandy in texture with poor drainage (AGIS, 2015).

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Figure 3.1: Map indicating the geology of the proposed

3.3 Topography

The Eastern Cape Province contains a wide variety of landscapes, from the stark Karoo (the semi- desert region of the central interior) to mountain ranges and gentle hills rolling down to the sea. The mountainous area on the northern border forms part of the Great Escarpment. Another part of the escarpment lies just north of Bhisho, Somerset East and Graaff-Reinet. In the south of the province the Cape Folded Mountains start between East London and Port Elizabeth and continue westward into the Western Cape. Like KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape is characterised by a large number of short, deeply incised rivers flowing parallel to each other. The topography of the NMBM area can be described as a combination of flat, seaward sloping coastal plains averaging 75 m above mean sea level to high, mountain terrains in the north-western parts (Arcus GIBB, 2011).

The topography of the project area is dominated by plains with open low hills and ridges. The Slang River crosses the project area in a north to south direction where it flows towards the ocean.

3.4 Socio-economic aspects and Current land use

The major economic drivers in the region include agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, accounting for 12.3% of employment within the Kouga Local Municipality (WSDP, 2007; National Water Resource Strategy, 2004). Tourism and agricultural are the main primary sectors, with tourism accounting for 35.76% of the overall economy. Water resource requirements are significant in both the tourism and agricultural sectors. According to the National Water Resource Strategy (2004), the Tsitsikamma sub-area water requirements include approximately 11million m3/a for irrigation usage, 5million m3/a for urban usage, 5million m3/a for afforestation and 1million m3/a for rural usage. Water bodies are furthermore of importance in the tourism sector with regard to aesthetics as water bodies, such as rivers, lagoons, wetlands and the ocean, are main tourist

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 14 Slang River low-level crossing Slang River low-level crossing Ecological Impact Assessment – January 2016 attractions in the area. These water systems additionally support recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing activities.

The project area is currently zoned as Agricultural land and is not irrigated (AGIS, 2015). Dominant agricultural activities include small scale farming (Dairy farms) and medium cultivation. The agricultural practices predominantly undertaken in the area include irrigation of arable crops, dairy farming, sheep or mohair farming and cattle grazing. National Landover spatial tools also indicate that the surrounding area is classified as Thicket and Bushland (Figure 3.2) which was not confirmed during the site visit as the entire area has been transformed by Agriculture and very limited if any indigenous or intact vegetation exist (Plate 3.1). The irrigated cropland and the grazing pastures contribute significantly to the demand for water and thus to ground and surface water abstractions.

Figure 3.2: Landcover classification of the proposed project area in relation to the surrounding area.

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Plate 3.1: Current land use of the proposed project area dominated by Dairy Farming.

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The study site and surrounding areas were described using a two-phased approach. A desktop study of the site was undertaken, with reference to the current biodiversity and spatial plans and programmes, followed by a site visit which was conducted in order to further determine the present ecological state (PES) of the aquatic environment and to obtain photographic evidence.

The desktop assessment made reference to published literature on the ecology of the area and various relevant programmes and plans, including:  The Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan (ECBCP) (2007).  The National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas Programme (2011).  South African National Biodiversity Institute, vegetation classification (Mucina and Rutherford, 2006)  Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Protection (STEP) Programme (2006)

4.1 Aquatic Environment

4.1.1 Water Management Area (WMA)

There are nine (9) water management areas (WMAs) established and defined within the Government Notice No. 35517 of 27 July 2012, according to the National Water Act (NWA), 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) and supported by the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (No. 107 of 1998). The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS) is the implementation strategy for the National Water Act and further provides the framework, policies, objectives, guidelines, procedures and institutional arrangements for water resource management in South Africa. The NWRS emphases the need to protect, conserve, efficiently manage and control these water resources to ensure appropriate usage and development. Following the reduction of WMAs from nineteen (19) to (9) in July 2012, the NWRS have begun the process to establish catchment management agencies for these nine (9) WMAs, each responsible for developing and implementing a catchment management strategy for their jurisdiction.

The study area falls within the Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma WMA, which incorporates two former Water Management Areas, namely WMA 12 - Mzimvubu to Kei (referred to as the eastern half of the new WMA) and WMA 15 – Fish to Tsitsikamma (referred to as the western half of the new WMA). The Slang River falls within the Tsitsikamma sub-area of the former Fish to Tsitsikamma (WMA). There are three conservation areas of importance within the WMA, namely the Addo Elephant National Park, the Mountain Zebra National Park and the Alexandria Dune Field. The open Great Fish River estuary is additionally of ecological importance.

The western half of the Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma WMA is supported by the large transfer of water from the Upper Orange WMS into the catchments of the Fish and Sundays Rivers due to the natural high salinity of these water areas. This transfer equates to almost ten times the local surface water yield within these sub-areas and thus requires the implementation of efficient water resource management. Approximately 96% of the water usage within these sub-areas is as a result of irrigation, which is thus essentially sourced from the Orange River. These sub-areas experience large distribution losses due to the unlined irrigation canals that contribute to large volumes of irrigation return flow reaching the main streams and further deteriorating water quality in these water systems. Additionally, there is evidence of localised over-exploitation of groundwater water resources in the area due to extensive utilisation in supply towns and rural areas.

The natural mean annual runoff (MAR) of the sub-area (former WMA-15) is 544mm while the ecological Reserve is 107million m3/a. The available yields in the Tsitsikamma sub-area, based on the yields of 2000, comprises of 41million m3/a of surface water and 6million m3/a of ground water. These measurements allow for impacts on yield of the Reserve, river losses, alien vegetation, rain- fed sugar cane and urban runoff. The usable return flow of the area is 1 million m3/a on irrigation and 1 million m3/a for urban uses. The total local yield is 49 million m3/a, which is relatively low in comparison to the Sundays and Gamtoos sub-areas.

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The total local water requirements for the year 2000 were 22 million m3/a, with a transfer balance of 0 meaning the transfers in and out of the sub-area were balanced with the water requirements. It is estimated that there will be no potential for development of water resources for the Tsitsikamma sub-area in the year 2025. The base scenario reconciliation of water requirements and water availability indicate that the local yield is estimated at 52 million m3/a, while the local requirements and the outward transfers are predicted to be 24 million m3/a and 22 million m3/a, respectively, leaving a balance of 6 million m3/a. The high scenario indicated a local yield of 52 million m3/a, local requirements of 27 million m3/a and outward transfers of 22 million m3/a, leaving a balance of 3 million m3/a (National Water Resource Strategy, 2004).

The fundamental water resources management strategies for the Fish to Tsitsikamma WMA are therefore to:  Efficiently use transferred water and proper management of water quality;  Achieve improved irrigation efficiencies and maximise the benefits; and  Ensure sufficient future water supplies to the Port Elizabeth area.

It is essential to implement water resource management strategies, promote conservation and ensure restoration relating to any water body, including the Slang River and Estuary regardless of the size of these systems.

4.1.2 Background to the Slang River within the project area

There are four main rivers in the Kouga Local Municipality, namely the Kromme, Seekoei, Kabeljouws and Gamtoos. The Kromme River, the Gamtoos River and ground water aquifers are the main sources of water supply in the area. There are various wetland areas that are of extreme sensitivity to disturbances such as agricultural or development activities. These wetlands characterise high species diversity and support natural water purification and flood retention.

The Slang River is approximately 4km long flowing from Humandorp to Slangbaai, where the river mouth meets the Indian Ocean (Figure 4.1). The Slang River falls within the Fish to Tsitsikamma Water Management Area, which is then divided into six sub-areas. The Slang River is located in the Tsitsikamma sub-area and, more specifically, within the K80F quaternary catchment (Figure 4.2). The K80F catchment receives approximately 769 mm of rainfall per annum, with higher rainfall in the spring and autumn months. The mean annual runoff (MAR) of the catchment area is approximately 62mm (WSDP, 2007).

The catchment area comprises of an inter-granular aquifer with medium yields and a relatively high recharge rate. According to the Reconciliation Strategy for Oyster Bay (2007) the groundwater availability of the quaternary catchment is 2.756million m3/a, although much of this groundwater is abstracted for uses by agricultural or urban activities. The catchment is characterised by underlying Table Mountain Group outcrops lying parallel to the coast, encompassing layers of quartzitic sandstone and shale of Skurweberg, Goudini, Cedarberg and Penisula formations. The undulating terrain comprises quaternary deposits and Nanaga aeolianite, a solid rock formed by marine deposits (National Water Resource Strategy, 2004; Umvoto Africa, 2011; WSDP, 2007).

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4.1.3 The Slang Estuary

The Slang Estuary, one of approximately 256 functioning estuaries in South Africa, is classified by Bornman (2013) and Cooper et al. (2000) as a small, temporarily open/closed system (TOCE), or otherwise an intermittently open estuary (IOE), with a warm to temperate biogeography.

Cooper et al. (2000) describes the Slang Estuary to have poor species richness, limited ichthyofauna diversity, relatively low accounts of species assemblages and low abundance of species relative to other estuaries in South Africa. Bornman (2013), on the contrary, refers to the high diversity and biomass of estuarine specific fauna and flora of the Slang Estuary, relative to its size.

The Slang Estuary is mostly perched and only becomes tidal after a relatively significant flood, after which the sand builds up at the river mouth over the course of a few days and the estuary is once again perched. The dynamics of the mouth are vital in controlling the ecological dynamics of estuaries. The mouth status (open or closed) is reliant on the water balance and the river inflow. During dry conditions, the estuary is unlikely to reach the sea, however during high levels of rainfall and freshwater runoff, the water levels rise. The estuary may be dominated by river conditions during breaching when flow rates exceed mean annual runoff (MAR). Conversely, once freshwater inflows decline below that of MAR, the estuarine open phase can occur with tidal exchanges and seawater inflows.

Bornman (2013) highlights the significant reduction of the freshwater flow to the Slang Estuary due to illegal impoundments and abstractions from the estuary catchment. It was noted that the estuary did not reach the sea for more than two years during a dry climatic cycle, having substantial impacts on its ecosystem functioning. A reduction in the base flow and the river inflow that is required to continuously erode the encroaching dunes and wash the sand into the sea may result in the dunes advancing towards recreational areas. In the event of flooding, this poses major risks to safety and potentially causes damage to infrastructure.

Further concerns for the estuary include the degradation caused by large-scale infestation of alien vegetation and the low water quality evident. The poor water quality may be due to a number of reasons, including untreated wastewater from agricultural activities causing eutrophication of the river and estuary, over-abstraction of water from the system and the lack of freshwater flowing into the estuary. The Slang Estuary is described to have poor ecological status and is barely functional. Despite this the estuary still has a high diversity and biomass of estuarine specific fauna and flora relative to its size and thus remains an important system. Based on this Bornman (2013) thus indicated that it is of importance to conserve and restore the estuary to rehabilitate the ecosystem.

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Figure 4.1: Map indicating the location of the project area including the identification of sensitive environments (Source: Africoast Engineers)

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Figure 4.2: Map indicating the location of the project area in the relevant Water Management Area (Source: Africoast Engineers)

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services Slang R21iver low-level crossing Slang River low-level crossing Ecological Impact Assessment – January 2016 4.2 Terrestrial and Riparian environment

The project area falls within the Biome. The Fynbos Biome takes its name from the dominant vegetation in the region – fynbos (Mucina and Rutherford, 2006). This biome consists of three quite different, naturally fragmented vegetation types (fynbos, renosterveld and strandveld) that occur in the summer and winter rainfall areas. Fynbos comprises of species that are typically small-leaved, evergreen shrubs and that rely on fire for regeneration. This Biome is endemic to South Africa and occupies most of the Cape Fold Belt, the adjacent lowlands between mountains and the Atlantic Ocean in the west and south as well as between the mountains and the Indian Ocean in the south.

4.2.1 SANBI Vegetation Map

Mucina and Rutherford (2006) developed the National Vegetation map as part of a South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) funded project: ―It was compiled to provide floristically based vegetation units of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland at a greater level of detail than had been available before.‖ The map was developed using a wealth of data from several contributors and has allowed for the best national vegetation map to date, the last being that of Acocks developed over 50 years ago. The National Vegetation map informs finer scale bioregional plans such as STEP. This Vegmap project had two main aims:

 ―to determine the variation in and units of southern African vegetation based on the analysis and synthesis of data from vegetation studies throughout the region, and  to compile a vegetation map. The aim of the map was to accurately reflect the distribution and variation on the vegetation and indicate the relationship of the vegetation with the environment. For this reason the collective expertise of vegetation scientists from universities and state departments were harnessed to make this project as comprehensive as possible.‖

The map and accompanying book describes each vegetation type in detail, along with the most important species including endemic species and those that are biogeographically important. This is the most comprehensive data for vegetation types in South Africa. The Slang River Crossing is located within the Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos (Figure 4.3) which is a medium dense, tall proteoid shrubland over a dense moderately tall, ericoid-leaved shrubland – mainly proteoid, restoid and ericoid fynbos, with fynbos thicket in wetter areas. Characteristic vegetation include endemic taxa such as Aspalathus teres subsp. thodei, Erica trachysantha, Erica zitzikammensis, Felicia tsitsikamae and Helichrysum outeniquense. Distribution of Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos within the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces are limited to the Tsitsikamma Mountains from Uniondale to Cape St Francis, north of the and south of Langkloof. The conservation status of this vegetation type is classified as ‗Vulnerable‘ and is listed as ‗poorly protected‘. The conservation target (percent of area) as set by the NSBA is 22%. At present about 40% has been statutorily conserved in the proposed National Park (including Tsitsikamma and Soetkraal). Approximately 33% of Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos has been transformed by cultivation and pine plantations.

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Figure 4.3: National Vegetation Map illustrating the vegetation type found within the project area.

4.2.2 Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Programme (STEP)

The Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) Project aims to identify priority areas that would ensure the long-term conservation of the subtropical thicket biome and to ensure that the conservation of this biome is considered in the policies and practices of the private and public sector that are responsible for land-use planning and the management of natural resources in the region (Pierce et al. 2005). STEP looked specifically at the thicket biome and has provided a finer scale map of the project area than the Mucina and Rutherford map explaining why the two vegetation maps look slightly different.

According to STEP, only Humansdorp Grassy Fynbos (classified as Least Threatened) occurs in the project area (Figure 4.5). This vegetation type is grassy throughout and grows mainly on stony soils. Proteas (Protea neriifolia) are rare but conebushes (Leucadendron salignum) and ericas (Erica glandulosa) are common.

According to STEP, Least Threatened ecosystems (previously called ―Currently Not Vulnerable‖) are ecosystems which cover most of their original extent and which are mostly intact, healthy and functioning. Depending on other factors such as connectivity with surrounding vegetation, Least Threatened land can withstand some loss of natural area through disturbance or development. From a Spatial planning (forward planning – Spatial Development Frameworks (SDF)) point of view, for Least Threatened vegetation, STEP presents two restrictions and gives examples of opportunities. These spatial planning restrictions are as follows:

1) Proposed disturbance or developments should preferably take place on portions which have already undergone disturbance or impacts rather than on portions that are undisturbed. 2) In general, Least Threatened land can withstand some loss of/disturbance to natural areas through human activities and developments.

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 23 Slang River low-level crossing Slang River low-level crossing Ecological Impact Assessment – January 2016 Depending on constraints (such as avoidance of spoiling scenery or wilderness, or infra-structure limitations), Least Threatened land can withstand some loss of, or disturbance to, natural areas. Within the constraints, this class may be suitable for a wide range of activities (e.g. extensive urban development, cultivation, tourist accommodation, ecotourism, game faming). Proposed disturbance or developments should preferably take place on portions which have already undergone disturbance or impacts rather than on portions that are undisturbed or unspoilt by impacts.

It should be noted that even though the area is considered to be Least Threatened in its entirety by STEP, the site has been isolated by various forms of development and agricultural practices. Thus the area is isolated due to fragmentation and limited opportunities for connectivity exist. In addition to this, the area has been heavily impacted on by anthopogenic activities, such as the building of dams, clearing and agricultural activities which has resulted in an increase in alien invasive species to the extent virtually the entire project area and immediate surrounding area is transformed and dominated by alien species such as Acacia saligna. The riparian area is dominated by Phragmites australis (Common reed) and Prionium serratum (Palmiet).

Figure 4.4: Regional Vegetation Map illustrating the vegetation type found within the project area as classified by STEP (2006).

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Figure 4.5: Transformed areas as classified by STEP (2006).

4.2.3 Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan (ECBCP)

The ECBCP is a first attempt at detailed, low-level conservation mapping for land-use planning purposes. Specifically, the aims of the Plan were to map critical biodiversity areas through a systematic conservation planning process. The current biodiversity plan includes the mapping of priority aquatic features, land-use pressures, and critical biodiversity areas and develops guidelines for land and resource-use planning and decision-making.

The main outputs of the ECBCP are ―critical biodiversity areas‖ or CBAs, which are allocated the following management categories:

1. CBA 1 = Maintain in a natural state 2. CBA 2 = Maintain in a near-natural state

The ECBCP maps CBAs based on extensive biological data and input from key stakeholders. The ECBCP, although mapped at a finer scale than the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (Driver et al., 2005) is still, for the large part, inaccurate and ―coarse‖. Therefore it is imperative that the status of the environment, for any proposed development MUST first be verified before the management recommendations associated with the ECBCP are considered (Berliner and Desmet, 2007). It is also important to note that in absence of any other biodiversity plan, ECBCP has not yet been adopted by the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEAT) as a strategic biodiversity plan for the Eastern Cape.

In terms of aquatic CBAs, the K80F catchment is not categorised as a CBA 1 or CBA 2 area. The ECBCP map (Figure 4.6 and Figure 4.7) for the project area shows that the project area is categorised as a Functional Landscape and BLMC 4. The site is in an area that is classified into a BLMC 4 category (Transformed landscape – Cultivated Land). This implies that the site should be managed for sustainable development. The recommended land uses as outlined by the ECBCP (2007) include game farming, communal livestock, dry land cropping, irrigated cropping, dairy

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 25 Slang River low-level crossing Slang River low-level crossing Ecological Impact Assessment – January 2016 farming, timber, settlements and conservation. The landuse of the project area will not change and will remain rural. The ECBCP (2007) also recommends that any proposed development near wetlands (rivers, marshes and vleis) should be carefully assessed to prevent further damage to them. Open space areas need to be created where SCC, that have little chance of recovery, occurs. Rehabilitation should occur in such a manner that connectivity between open space areas are improved.

Figure 4.6: Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) as classified by ECBCP (2007).

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 26 Slang River low-level crossing Klipdrifrivier

F732/25 F732/14 F735/5

Slang River F732/21low-level crossing Ecological Impact Assessment – January 2016 F737/0 F732/17 F732/5 F733/4 F732/11 F740/0 Terrestrial Biodiversity F738/3 Land Management Classes F733/10 BLMC1: maintain natural state F732/13 F732/12BLMC2: maintain near naturalF732/23 state BLMC3: functional landscapes BLMC4: towns & settlements Proposed low- level crossing F735/12 BLMC4: cultivated land BLMC4: plantation/woodlots F733/5 KLIPDRIFRIVIER Inland water F735/10 Degraded

Slangrivier F732/15 F735/11 THYSPUNTTHYSPUNT NATURALNATURAL HERITAGEHERITAGE SITESITE F733/6 F732/3 F732/16 F735/9 F732/7 F734/1

OesterbaaiOesterbaai F734/0 F735/17 STATESTATE LANDLAND SLANGRIVIER F1111111/0

F736/9 F736/8 F727/5 Figure 4.7: BLMC Land management classes as classified by ECBCP (2007).

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 27 Slang River low-level crossing