PROPOSED KABA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Baseline Terrestrial Ecology Study & Sensitivity Assessment JULY 2018 Prepared for: Peter Velcich NuLeaf Planning and Environmental PostNet Suite 168 Private Bag X 844 Silverton 0127 Prepared by: Warren McCleland ECOREX Consulting Ecologists CC Postnet Suite 192 Private Bag X2 Raslouw 0109 KABA LODGE ECOLOGY STUDY & SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT (ECOREX) JULY 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................ 3 ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 5 TERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 5 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ....................................................................................................... 6 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 7 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE ..................................................................................................................... 8 3. STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................................... 9 4. METHODS ............................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 FLORA......................................................................................................................................................... 11 4.2 FAUNA ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 4.3 SENSITIVITY AND IMPORTANCE ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................... 12 5. ASSUMPTIONS, LIMITATIONS & KNOWLEDGE GAPS .................................................................. 13 5.1 Seasonality ........................................................................................................................................... 13 5.2 Overlooked Species ............................................................................................................................ 13 5.3 Vegetation Clearing............................................................................................................................. 13 6. BIODIVERSITY BASELINE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................ 15 6.1 FLORA......................................................................................................................................................... 15 6.1.1 Regional Context .............................................................................................................................. 15 6.1.2 Local Vegetation Communities ...................................................................................................... 18 6.1.3 Conservation-Important Flora ........................................................................................................ 22 6.2 TERRESTRIAL FAUNA ................................................................................................................................. 24 6.2.1 Mammals ........................................................................................................................................... 24 6.2.2 Birds ................................................................................................................................................... 25 6.2.3 Reptiles & Frogs ............................................................................................................................... 28 7. SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................ 30 8. KEY POTENTIAL IMPACTS .................................................................................................................. 32 9. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 33 10. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 34 11. APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................................... 36 APPENDIX 1. CHECKLIST OF FLORA RECORDED DURING FIELDWORK ............................................................ 36 APPENDIX 2. PLANT SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN OCCURRING IN GENERAL VICINITY OF THE STUDY AREA ................................................................................................................................................................. 41 APPENDIX 3. CHECKLIST OF MAMMALS AND BIRDS RECORDED DURING FIELDWORK ..................................... 45 APPENDIX 4. FAUNA OF CONSERVATION CONCERN OCCURRING WITHIN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................................................................... 51 APPENDIX 5. CURRICULUM VITAE OF DUNCAN MCKENZIE ............................................................................. 54 APPENDIX 6. SPECIALISTS DECLARATION ....................................................................................................... 55 2 ECOREX Consulting Ecologists CC Postnet Suite #192, Private Bag X2 Raslouw 0109 (083) 231-5632 [email protected] KABA LODGE ECOLOGY STUDY & SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT (ECOREX) JULY 2018 List of Tables Table 1. Sensitivity Driver Scores.................................................................................................................... 12 Table 2. Overall Sensitivity and Importance Scores ..................................................................................... 12 Table 3. Sensitivity Assessment of Vegetation Communities and Relevant Infrastructure .................... 30 List of Figures Figure 1. Location of Study Area ..................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2. Map showing the Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan Assessment for the study area ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 3. Photographs of Coastal Dune Forest in the study area .............................................................. 19 Figure 4. Photographs of Dry Evergreen Thicket .......................................................................................... 20 Figure 5. Photographs of Degraded Open Woodland .................................................................................. 21 Figure 6. Vegetation communities within the study area ............................................................................. 23 Figure 7. Sensitivity Values for the vegetation communities within the study area ................................. 31 3 ECOREX Consulting Ecologists CC Postnet Suite #192, Private Bag X2 Raslouw 0109 (083) 231-5632 [email protected] KABA LODGE ECOLOGY STUDY & SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT (ECOREX) JULY 2018 EIA REGULATIONS SPECIALISTS REPORT CHECKLIST (1) A specialist report prepared in terms of the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations must contain- (a) details of- (i) the specialist who prepared the report; and page 07 (ii) the expertise of that specialist to compile a specialist report including a curriculum vitae; page 54 (b) a declaration that the specialist is independent in a form as may be specified by the competent authority; page 55 (c) an indication of the scope of, and the purpose for which, the report was prepared; page 07 (d) the date and season of the site investigation and the relevance of the season to the outcome of the assessment; page 11 (e) a description of the methodology adopted in preparing the report or carrying out the specialised process; page 11 (f) the specific identified sensitivity of the site related to the activity and its associated structures and infrastructure; page 30 (g) an identification of any areas to be avoided, including buffers; page 33 (h) a map superimposing the activity including the associated structures and infrastructure on the environmental page 31 sensitivities of the site including areas to be avoided, including buffers; (i) a description of any assumptions made and any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge; page 13 (j) a description of the findings and potential implications of such findings on the impact of the proposed activity, page 30 including identified alternatives on the environment; (k) any mitigation measures for inclusion in the EMPr; page 33 (l) any conditions for inclusion in the environmental authorisation; page 33 (m) any monitoring requirements for inclusion in the EMPr or environmental authorisation; page 33 (n) a reasoned opinion- (i) as to whether the proposed activity or