Terrestrial Biodiversity Specialist Study: Fauna and Flora Basic Assessment for the Proposed Development of the Komas Wind Energy Facility and associated infrastructure near Kleinsee, Northern Cape Province: BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Report prepared for: Report prepared by: CSIR – Environmental Management Services Simon Todd P O Box 320 23 De Villiers Road Stellenbosch Kommetjie 7600 7975 First Draft March 2020 Revised November 2020 Page | i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Genesis ENERTRAG Komas (Pty) Ltd is proposing the development of the Komas Wind Energy Facility (WEF) 25 km south east of Kleinsee in the Northern Cape Province. It is anticipated that the Komas WEF will have a maximum output capacity of 300 MW from a maximum of 50 turbines. The development falls within the Springbok Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ) and as such a Basic Assessment process is required for authorisation of the development. CSIR is conducting the required Basic Assessment and has appointed 3Foxes Biodiversity Solutions to provide a Terrestrial Biodiversity (Fauna and Flora) specialist study as part of the BA process. The purpose of the study is to describe and detail the ecological features of the proposed site; provide an assessment of the ecological sensitivity of the site; identify and assess the likely impacts associated with the proposed development of the Komas WEF and to identify mitigation measures to avoid and/or reduce negative impacts on terrestrial ecology. The vegetation of the Komas site consists of relatively homogenous Namaqualand Strandveld. The low-lying area in the west of the site, consisting of short strandveld on calcareous soils is considered to represent the most sensitive part of the site from an ecological perspective and is not considered suitable for development. There are also some areas of mobile dunes and rocky outcrops which should also be avoided as far as possible. The abundance of Species of Conservation Concern (SCC) across the site is however relatively low and a significant impact on features or SCC is unlikely. In terms of fauna, there are relatively few SCC that are likely to be present at the site. This is in part at least due to the low range of habitats present at the site, most notably the general lack of rocky outcrops. The major impact on fauna would be direct habitat loss of approximately 90 ha as well as some low-level operation phase disturbance resulting from maintenance activities and turbine noise. There are no local populations of fauna within the site that are likely to be compromised by the development as the total footprint is relatively low in proportion to the overall extent of the site and there are still extensive areas within and adjacent to the site that would not be affected. The southern half of the site falls within a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA 2) as well as a Northern Cape Protected Area Expansion Strategy (NC-PAES) Focus Area, which raises some concern regarding the potential impact of the development on ecological processes and options for future conservation expansion in the area. The field assessment suggests that the site is not likely to be of high significance for broad-scale ecological processes and as the site is already almost surrounded by other approved WEFs, it is not likely to be viewed as a current priority for formal conservation expansion. In addition, it has few features or SCC, its irreplaceability value is likely to be low. Given that the overall footprint of the wind farm represents less than 2-5% of the landscape, the development is considered to be broadly compatible with the aims of Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) provided that impacts such as erosion can be properly mitigated. The development footprint within the CBA 2 is 31 ha which represents less than 2% of the area of CBA within the Komas study area only and significantly less of the whole affected CBA. The parts of the CSIR - Komas WEF Terrestrial Ecology BA Study Page | ii site that fall within the NC-PAES Focus Area do not contain any species or habitats that are not widely available in adjacent areas. A separate offset study indicates that an offset is not considered necessary for development of the site and the on-site mitigation and avoidance measures that have been recommended are considered sufficient to reduce the impacts of the development on the CBA and NC-PAES Focus Area to an acceptable level. Ecological Impact Statement: The Komas Wind Farm site is considered to represent a broadly suitable environment for wind farm development. There are no specific long-term impacts likely to be associated with the wind farm that cannot be reduced to an acceptable level through mitigation and avoidance. Although the development will impact on areas classified as ESAs, CBAs and NC-PAES focus areas, the value of the site is not considered exceptional and the location and context of the site, suggest that these impacts are likely to be acceptable and would not significantly restrict future conservation expansion in the greater Namaqualand area. As there are no high residual impacts or fatal flaws associated with the development, it can be supported from a terrestrial ecology perspective. It is therefore the reasoned opinion of the specialist that the proposed Komas Wind Farm should be authorised, subject to the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures. CSIR - Komas WEF Terrestrial Ecology BA Study Page | iii Short CV/Summary of Expertise – Simon Todd Simon Todd is Director and principal scientist at 3Foxes Biodiversity Solutions and has over 20 years of experience in biodiversity measurement, management and assessment. He has provided specialist ecological input on more than 200 different developments distributed widely across the country, but with a focus on the three Cape provinces. This includes input on the Wind and Solar SEA (REDZ) as well as the Eskom Grid Infrastructure (EGI) SEA and Karoo Shale Gas SEA. He is on the National Vegetation Map Committee as representative of the Nama and Succulent Karoo Biomes. Simon Todd is a recognised ecological expert and is a past chairman and deputy chair of the Arid-Zone Ecology Forum. He is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (No. 400425/11). Skills & Primary Competencies • Research & description of ecological patterns & processes in Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, Thicket, Arid Grassland, Fynbos and Savannah Ecosystems. • Ecological Impacts of land use on biodiversity. • Vegetation surveys & degradation assessment & mapping. • Long-term vegetation monitoring. • Faunal surveys & assessment. • GIS & remote sensing. Tertiary Education: • 1992-1994 – BSc (Botany & Zoology), University of Cape Town • 1995 – BSc Hons, Cum Laude (Zoology) University of Natal • 1996-1997- MSc, Cum Laude (Conservation Biology) University of Cape Town Employment History • 2009 – Present – Sole Proprietor of Simon Todd Consulting, providing specialist ecological services for development and research. • 2007 Present – Senior Scientist (Associate) – Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Botany, University of Cape Town. • 2004-2007 – Senior Scientist (Contract) – Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Botany, University of Cape Town. CSIR - Komas WEF Terrestrial Ecology BA Study Page | iv • 2000-2004 – Specialist Scientist (Contract ) - South African National Biodiversity Institute. • 1997 – 1999 – Research Scientist (Contract) – South African National Biodiversity Institute. A selection of recent work is as follows: Strategic Environmental Assessments Co-Author. Chapter 7 - Biodiversity & Ecosystems - Shale Gas SEA. CSIR 2016. Co-Author. Chapter 1 Scenarios and Activities – Shale Gas SEA. CSIR 2016. Co-Author – Ecological Chapter – Wind and Solar SEA. CSIR 2014. Co-Author – Ecological Chapter – Eskom Grid Infrastructure SEA. CSIR 2015. Contributor – Ecological & Conservation components to SKA SEA. CSIR 2017. Recent Specialist Ecological Studies in the Vicinity of the Current Site • Fauna and Flora Specialist Study for the proposed Kap Vley Wind Farm, near Kleinsee. CSIR, 2018. • Fauna and Flora Specialist Study for the proposed Namas Wind Farm, near Kleinsee. Savannah Environmental, 2019. • Fauna and Flora Specialist Study for the proposed Zonnequa Wind Farm, near Kleinsee. Savannah Environmental, 2019. • Fauna Specialist Study for the proposed Eskom Kleinsee 300MW WEF. Savannah Environmental 2012. • Fauna and Flora Specialist Study for the Project Blue Wind and Solar Energy Facility, Near Kleinsee. Savannah Environmental 2012. • Fauna and Flora for the G7 Richtersveld Wind Farm. Environmental Resources Management 2011. • Preconstruction Walk-Through of the Juno-Gromis 400kV Power Line. Nsovo Environmental 2016. • Specialist Faunal Assessment of the West Coast Resources Mine Expansion. Myezo Environmental. 2016. • Fauna and Flora specialist Scoping & EIA Study for the Tormin Mineral Sands Inland and Coastal Mining expansion. SRK. 2016. CSIR - Komas WEF Terrestrial Ecology BA Study Page | v SPECIALIST DECLARATION I, Simon Todd, as the appointed independent specialist, in terms of the 2014 EIA Regulations, hereby declare that I: . I act as the independent specialist in this application; . I 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; . regard the information contained in this report as it relates to my specialist input/study to be true and correct, and do not have and will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of