SUNI RESOURCES S.A. GRAPHITE PROJECT, MONTEPUEZ, MOZAMBIQUE TERRESTRIAL FAUNAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Prepared for: SUNI RESOURCES S.A. Edificio Solar das Acacias, Avenida Julius Nyerere 4000, Loja 05, Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique Prepared by: COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MOZAMBIQUE LDA Avenida da Mozal, Porta 2334 Beluluane Celula D. Quarteirao 02, Matola Cidade, Maputo, Mozambique. With offices in South Africa, Mozambique and the United Kingdom www.cesnet.co.za SUNI RESOURCES S.A. GRAPHITE PROJECT, MONTEPUEZ, MOZAMBIQUE TERRESTRIAL FAUNAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Prepared for: SUNI RESOURCES S.A. Edificio Solar das Acacias, Avenida Julius Nyerere 4000, Loja 05, Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique Prepared by: COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MOZAMBIQUE LDA Avenida da Mozal, Porta 2334 Beluluane Celula D. Quarteirao 02, Matola Cidade, Maputo, Mozambique. With offices in South Africa, Mozambique and the United Kingdom www.cesnet.co.za Suni Resources Montepuez Graphite Mine Impact Assessment on Terrestrial Faunal NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY Suni Resources S.A. wishes to develop the Montepuez Project graphite mine located 60km north- west of the town of Montepuez, Mozambique. The project will consist of two graphite mine pits referred to as Elephant and Buffalo, two associated waste rock dumps (WRD), one tails dam (two alternative locations proposed), a processing plant, staff accommodation and either a water storage dam or a pipeline and turkey nest storage dam. This Faunal Impact Assessment complies with Mozambique legislation and applicable conventions and protocols Mozambique is signatory to. This assessment identified: Faunal species (Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds) and those Species of Conservation Concern (SCC). Habitats likely to be impacted on and their sensitivity. Impacts likely to occur as a result of the Montepuez Project. Mitigation measures to avoid, minimise/optimise and rehabilitate impacts. A wet season site survey was conducted from the 29 November – 6 December 2016. An initial drive through the study area was undertaken during the survey to establish habitat diversity and overall ecological state. Following this, five trap arrays (to capture small rodents alive) were erected and 6 camera traps were placed at different sites in the study area. The trap arrays were checked daily and the camera traps were checked once and moved to a different position. Active sampling was done early morning and late afternoon- evening. Eleven habitat types were identified across the study area, based on faunal requirements for shelter, breeding and feeding. These habitats are particular to vegetation (canopy cover, tree height & understory), presence of water and/or rock. Habitat types have, as far as possible, been aligned with the vegetation impact assessment for consistency. Habitats include: Tall Closed Forest Tall Open Undifferentiated Woodland Rocky outcrops (flat and boulders) Bamboo Thicket Dry river bed Palm Savanna Temporary streams and incidental pools Open Savanna/Dambos, Riparian Woodland Machambas Tall Open Miombo Woodland Faunal species likely to occur within the study area and those observed during the wet season site survey are summarised in the table below: Table 1: Summary of actual faunal species occurrence and those likely to occur. Faunal group # Species observed # SCC # Species likely to occur # SCC Reptiles 14 2 87 5 Amphibians 8 43 Mammals 19 149 4 Birds 168 17 396 69 Twenty one impacts were identified in total with six occurring during the construction phase, ten as a result of the operational phase, three from decommissioning and one cumulative impact (Table 2). Impacts associated with this development include the following: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 3 Suni Resources S.A, Montepeuz Project Suni Resources Montepuez Graphite Mine Impact Assessment on Terrestrial Faunal Loss of faunal biodiversity: The project area supports a large diversity of faunal species and habitats. The construction and operation of the mine and its associated infrastructure will result in a loss of biodiversity for all faunal groups through displacement, habitat fragmentation, and habitat loss caused by the project footprint and associated infrastructure. There is likely to be an increase in hunting pressures due to an increase in population numbers associated with job seekers. Increased levels of dust and noise, the spillage of hydrocarbons and other pollutants associated with construction and operational phase activities, will further impact numerous faunal species. Human/Wildlife Conflict: The influx of employees and job seekers into the project area is likely to increase the number of interactions between humans and dangerous faunal species. The interaction between wild animals and people can have a negative impact on people and their resources, as well as on wild animals and their habitats. The introduction of an artificial permanent water source: The introduction of an artificial permanent water source (a water supply dam) will have a significant ecological impact within the project area as well as the region. Surface water is a key determinant of the distribution of elephants (Loxodonta africana) and other water-dependent herbivores. The impacts that these ecosystem engineers could have on ecological integrity and function are potentially adverse. Conversely, the introduction of an artificial water source could also have significantly beneficial impacts on other faunal species and assemblages. However, through appropriate management measures and the implementation of mitigation measures, most of the impacts with a significance rating of high and moderate can be reduced to moderate and low with the exception of the impact on riparian vegetation. It is also recommended that the residual impacts associated with the mine are offset using the guidelines set out in the National Biodiversity Offset System: A Road Map for Mozambique (2016). Table 2: Impact assessment of the Montepuez Project on Faunal species Without With Impact Mitigation Mitigation No-Go Option Impact 1: Habitat loss and fragmentation Moderate- Moderate- Impact 2: Current land use impacts on faunal groups High- High- Construction Phase Impact 3a: Loss of amphibian diversity and SCC associated with the construction of the access roads, pump station, pit shells, processing Moderate- Moderate- plant, and waste storage areas. Impact 3b: Loss of amphibian diversity and SCC associated with the construction of the storage water dam, alternative pipeline and storage High- Moderate- dam, and TSF options. Impact 4: Loss of reptile diversity associated with the construction phase Moderate- Low- Impact 5a: Loss of bird diversity and SCC associated with the construction of the access roads, pump station, pit shells, processing Moderate- Low- plant, and waste storage areas. Impact 5b: Loss of bird diversity and SCC associated with the High- Moderate- construction of the water storage dam (and alternative) and TSF Impact 6: Loss of mammal diversity associated with the construction Moderate- Moderate- phase activities Operation Impact 7: Increase in abundance of elephants due to the introduction of Very High Very High - an artificial permanent water source - EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 4 Suni Resources S.A, Montepeuz Project Suni Resources Montepuez Graphite Mine Impact Assessment on Terrestrial Faunal Without With Impact Mitigation Mitigation Impact 8: Impact on Amphibian Diversity due to the introduction of an Moderate- Low- artificial permanent water source Impact 9: Impact on Reptile Diversity due to the introduction of an Low - Low + artificial permanent water source Impact 10: Impact on Bird Diversity due to the introduction of an artificial Low + Moderate+ permanent water source Impact 11: Impact on Mammal Diversity due to the introduction of an Low + Moderate+ artificial permanent water source Impact 12: Loss of Amphibian Diversity and SCC associated with the High- Moderate- operation of the mine. Impact 13: Loss of Reptile Diversity associated with the operation phase Moderate- Low- Impact 14: Loss of Bird Diversity and SCC associated with mining Moderate- Low- operations. Impact 15: Loss of Mammal Diversity associated with operation phase Moderate- Moderate- activities Impact 16: Increases in human and wildlife interactions associated with High- Moderate- the operation of the mine Impact 17: Introduction of Alien fauna Moderate- Low- Decommissioning Impact 18: Loss of faunal diversity associated with the decommissioning Moderate - Low- of project infrastructures Impact 19: Loss of faunal diversity associated with the decommissioning High - High + of permanent water bodies Cumulative Impact 20: Cumulative Loss of Faunal Diversity and SCC High- Moderate- EOH Coastal & Environmental Services 5 Suni Resources S.A, Montepeuz Project Suni Resources Montepuez Graphite Mine Impact Assessment on Terrestrial Faunal REVISIONS TRACKING TABLE This Report should be cited as follows: Coastal & Environmental Services, February 2017, Suni Resources S.A. Montepuez Graphite Project, Draft Faunal Impact Assessment Report, CES, Cape Town. Coastal and Environmental Services Report Title: Metals of Africa Montepuez Graphite Project, Draft Faunal Impact Assessment Report Version: Draft 1 Project Number: 168 Responsibility Name Author Ms Amber Jackson Author Mr Craig Sholto-Douglas Reviewer Dr Ted Avis Copyright This document contains intellectual property and propriety information that are protected by copyright in favour of EOH Coastal & Environmental Services