Frieda River Limited Sepik Development Project Environmental Impact Statement Appendix 8b – Terrestrial Biodiversity Field Assessment in the May River and Upper Sepik River Catchments SDP-6-G-00-01-T-003-018 Terrestrial Biodiversity Field Assessment in the May River and Upper Sepik River Catchments Sepik Development Project (Infrastructure Corridor) August 2018 SDP-6-G-00-01-T-003-018 page i CONTRIBUTORS Wayne Takeuchi Wayne is a retired tropical forest research biologist from the Harvard University Herbaria and Arnold Arboretum. He is one of the leading floristicians in Papuasian botany and is widely known in professional circles for wide-ranging publications in vascular plant taxonomy and conservation. His 25-year career as a resident scientist in Papua New Guinea began in 1988 at the Wau Ecology Institute (subsequently transferring to the PNG National Herbarium in 1992) and included numerous affiliations as a research associate or consultant with academic institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate entities. Despite taking early retirement at age 57, botanical work has continued to the present on a selective basis. He has served as the lead botanist on at least 38 multidisciplinary surveys and has 97 peer-reviewed publications on the Malesian flora. Kyle Armstrong, Specialised Zoological Pty. Ltd – Mammals Dr Kyle Armstrong is a consultant Zoologist, trading as ‘Specialised Zoological’, providing a variety of services related to bats, primarily on acoustic identification of bat species from echolocation call recordings, design and implementation of targeted surveys and long term monitoring programmes for bats of conservation significance, and the provision of management advice on bats. He is also currently Adjunct Lecturer at The University of Adelaide, an Honorary Research Associate of the South Australian Museum, and had four years as President of the Australasian Bat Society, Inc. He completed his PhD on the Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat and Ghost Bat in northern Australia and maintains an active research and consultancy interest in both species. He has extensive field and research experience on bats in northern Australia (WA, NT, Qld), Papua New Guinea, island SE Asia (Timor- Leste, Wallacea), Cambodia and East Asia. He has authored around 50 scientific publications and book contributions, over 500 consultative reports, contributed to several authoritative mammal field guides in Australia and overseas, contributed to the Threatened species information for the Commonwealth (SPRAT), reviewed and updated the Australian Commonwealth's 'Survey guidelines for Australia's Threatened bats', helped develop protected mammal listings under new environmental law in Timor-Leste, and is a member of the IUCN's Bat Specialist Group (assessor and author for 147 bat species in Australasia). Enock Kale, Ecomate Management Limited – Mammals Enock has 14 years’ experience in ecology and biodiversity surveys. He is currently a Director and conservation biologist with Ecomate Management Limited. Enock is a highly experience field ecologist completing extensive biodiversity surveys in the Enga, East Sepik, Gulf, Southern Highlands, Western, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, and Simbu provinces for a range of organisations including the American Museum of Natural History, Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International and the Crater Mountain Biological Research Station. Enock has Master of Science from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor of Science from UPNG. Iain Woxvold, Research Associate at Museum Victoria, Birds Iain is an environmental consultant, ecologist and research ornithologist specialising in the diversity and conservation of fauna, flora and broad-scale environmental values in the Asia-Pacific region. He is a specialist in bird vocalisations of New Guinea and the Sundaic region and has reported and published on the diversity and conservation significance of bird communities in multiple Indonesian provinces. Dr Woxvold is experienced in the use of a wide range of survey techniques targeting rare, shy and elusive species, including mist netting, camera trapping, automated sound recording and calls analysis. He has worked as lead ornithologist on more than 40 biodiversity surveys in the Asia- Pacific region, and has performed broader biodiversity field assessments (vertebrates and vegetation) on numerous projects. He has worked extensively in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Australia on projects for the oil and gas industry, mineral resource companies, hydropower projects, infrastructure development, commercial agriculture and conservation NGOs. page ii Stephen Richards, Honorary Research Associate at the South Australian Museum – Herpetofauna and Odonates Stephen Richards is a research scientist and independent environmental consultant who specialises in biodiversity assessments and has more than 25 years’ experience working in Papua New Guinea and other tropical regions. During that time he has designed and led numerous multi-disciplinary biodiversity studies, participating in a total of more than 40 biodiversity surveys in remote areas of Papua New Guinea since 1991. With more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific publications Stephen is considered one of the world’s leading experts on the taxonomy, biogeography and conservation status of Melanesian herpetofauna (frogs and reptiles) and odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and is the Regional Chair for Melanesia of the IUCN’s Amphibian Specialist Group. He has worked extensively with PNG Non-Government Organisations, Universities, and the Government’s Environment Department to provide capacity building opportunities for local scientists through training programs and hands-on field experience. page iii CONTENTS Preface Chapter 1 Vegetation and flora Chapter 2 Mammals Chapter 3 Birds Chapter 4 Amphibians and reptiles Chapter 5 Odonata page iv page v PREFACE This document is an independent report to support the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sepik Development Project (the Project). Frieda River Limited (FRL) is assessing the feasibility of the Project in northwest Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Sepik Development Project is underpinned by the Frieda River Copper-Gold Project and supported by three separate but interdependent projects, which provide key infrastructure including hydroelectric power, an ocean port at Vanimo, airport at Green River, a 325 km road and transmission line. The Sepik Development Project consists of four interdependent projects: Frieda River Copper-Gold Project (FRCGP). Includes the open-pit, process plant, site accommodation camp and mine access roads. Frieda River Hydroelectric Project (FRHEP). Includes the integrated storage facility (ISF), hydroelectric power facility, Frieda River Port, FRHEP access road and quarries to support construction of the FRHEP. Hydroelectric power generation will peak at 400 MW once the reservoir has filled. Sepik Infrastructure Project (SIP). Including the Vanimo Ocean Port (an upgrade to the existing Port of Vanimo), Green River Airport and a public road from Vanimo to Hotmin. Sepik Power Grid Project (SPGP). A 370 km 275 kV Northern Transmission Line from the FRHEP to the Indonesian border via Vanimo. The Project is primarily located within the Sepik River catchment and comprises development of a copper-gold deposit in Sandaun Province, and supporting infrastructure and facilities in the Sandaun and East Sepik provinces. The Project is located in one of the least biologically explored parts of New Guinea. In recognition of the lack of biological data, the Project commissioned a series of terrestrial biodiversity surveys from 2009 to 2011, with the objective of gathering sufficient information for an impact assessment. The findings from these surveys forms a series of reports and packaged as Appendix 8a. Since the completion of the initial biodiversity surveys the configuration of the Project was changed. The most notable change was the inclusion of a new infrastructure corridor from Vanimo to the mine site, which includes an access road, concentrate pipeline, transmission line and other ancillary infrastructure. Consequently, Coffey commissioned five specialists (see contributors) to complete surveys of the infrastructure corridor and prepare a standalone report of their survey findings. The reports have been assembled into this document and appear as individual chapters in what is intended to be an integrated assessment. page vi page vii A BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTS IN THE SEPIK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR A REPORT SUBMITTED TO COFFEY SERVICES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD WAYNE TAKEUCHI April 10, 2018 1 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Project description ............................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Study objectives ............................................................................................................... 6 1.3. Historical exploration within the Infrastructure Corridor ................................................... 6 2 METHODS .............................................................................................................................. 7 2.1. Botanical inventory ........................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Forest typing ..............................................................................................................