ROHILL BUSINESS ESTATE Faunal Assessment SEF Reference No. 505821 Prepared for: GCS Water & Environmental Consultants 4a Old Main Road Judges Walk Kloof 3610 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Tel. No.: +27 (31) 764-7130 Fax. No.: +27 (31) 764-7140 Prepared by: Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty ) Ltd P.O. Box 74785 Lynnwood Ridge 0040 Tel. No.: (012) 349-1307 Fax. No.: (012) 349-1229 E-mail: [email protected] April 2014 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ COPYRIGHT WARNING Copyright in all text and other matter, including the manner of presentation, is the exclusive property of the author. It is a criminal offence to reproduce and/or use, without written consent, any matter, technical procedure and/or technique contained in this document. Criminal and civil proceedings will be taken as a matter of strict routine against any person and/or institution infringing the copyright of the author and/or proprietors. Rohill Business Estate: Faunal Assessment 505821 Compiled by: Authorised by: Robyn Phillips Pr. Sci. Nat. Byron Gran t Pr. Sci. Nat. Faunal Specialist Project Manager / Senior Natural Scientist SACNASP Reg. No. 400401/12 SACNASP: Reg. No. 400275/08 _________________ Date: 22/05/2014 Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd ii Rohill Business Estate: Faunal Assessment 505821 Declaration of Independence I, Robyn Phillips , in my capacity as a specialist consultant, hereby declare that I – • Act as an independent consultant; • Do not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity, other than remuneration for the work performed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998); • Have and will not have vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding; • Have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; • Undertake to disclose, to the competent authority, any material information that has or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998); • Will provide the competent authority with access to all information at my disposal regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the applicant or not; • As a registered member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, will undertake my profession in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the Council, as well as any other societies to which I am a member; • Based on information provided to me by the project proponent and in addition to information obtained during the course of this study, have presented the results and conclusion within the associated document to the best of my professional ability; • Reserve the right to modify aspects pertaining to the present investigation should additional information become available through ongoing research and/or further work in this field; and • Undertake to have my work peer reviewed on a regular basis by a competent specialist in the field of study for which I am registered. 29 May 2014 ________________________________ _____________________________ Robyn Phillips Pr. Sci. Nat. Date Faunal Specialist SACNASP Reg. No. 400401/12 Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd iii Rohill Business Estate: Faunal Assessment 505821 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd (SEF) was appointed by GCS (Pty) Ltd on behalf of JT Ross Properties (Pty) Ltd to conduct a faunal assessment of the area proposed for the development of the Rohill Business Estate. The total area of the site is 59.61ha with approximately 36ha proposed to become levelled platforms and subdivided into light industrial, general business and warehousing while the remainder of the site will comprise road servitudes and open space for conservation. The study site was located within the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome and within the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt vegetation type which occurs only in KwaZulu-Natal from Mtunzini in the north to Margate in the south. KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt is classified as an Endangered vegetation type and is listed as an Endangered ecosystem in terms of Section 52 of NEM:BA with less than 21 000ha of natural vegetation remaining. Any development that involves loss of natural habitat in a listed Critically Endangered or Endangered ecosystem is likely to require at least a basic assessment in terms of the EIA regulations. According to EKZNW, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt is currently listed as Critically Endangered in KwaZulu-Natal and more than 88% of this vegetation type is transformed. According to the KZNSCP, the entire study site falls within “Critical Biodiversity Area 1 Mandatory” which implies that the area represents the only locality for which the conservation targets for one or more of the biodiversity features contained within can be achieved. The distribution of the biodiversity features is not always applicable to the entire extent of the CBA and is often confined to a specific niche habitat e.g. a forest or wetland reflected as a portion of the CBA in question. In such cases, development could be considered if special mitigation measures are put in place to safeguard the feature(s) and if the nature of the development is sympathetic to the conservation objectives. Due to the proportion of modified habitat on the site as well as the level of disturbance in the surrounding landscape, it is unlikely that the study site in its entirety will contribute to meeting any conservation target. However, due to the proximity of the site to the type locality of Hyperolius pickersgilli (Pickersgill’s Reed Frog), the presence of this species cannot be ruled out. It is recommended that a specialist amphibian assessment be conducted on the site, especially during the peak activity period of Hyperolius pickersgilli , i.e. September to February, to confirm whether or not this species of conservation concern occurs on the site. Furthermore, suitable habitat for Bradypodion melanocephalum (KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon) existed in the reed beds and riparian vegetation in and around the central drainage line on site and it is recommended that a specialist herpetological survey be conducted on site to confirm the presence or absence of this species on the site. While no faunal species of conservation concern were identified in the study area during the field survey, suitable habitat for bird, mammal and reptile species of conservation concern was observed. Faunal habitat in the study area consisted of a central drainage line with associated wetland and riparian habitat as well as areas where secondary scrubby vegetation had established on old cane fields. Although disturbed a forest patch located outside the north-eastern corner of the site provided valuable feeding and breeding habitat as well as shelter for roosting and nesting for many bird species including raptors. Birds Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd iv Rohill Business Estate: Faunal Assessment 505821 utilising the section of wetland adjacent to the patch of disturbed forest were observed using the arboreal vegetation for cover. This patch of forest was considered to be of high sensitivity to the proposed development as it offered a refuge for fauna within the urban- industrial, suburban landscape as well as being a remnant patch of a Critically Endangered vegetation type. The central drainage line with its associated wetland and riparian habitat was considered medium-high sensitivity as high avifaunal activity was observed and the habitat was considered an important corridor for movement of fauna. Although cut off from the main river network by road construction and industrial platforms, the riparian habitat provides an island where fauna (mostly aerial taxa such as birds, bats, and flying insects) can use as they “island hop” through the fragmented urban-industrial landscape. Faunal species of conservation concern may also be supported by this area. According to the current site layout plan, the proposed construction activities will encroach on the central drainage line and 30m buffer in many places. The proposed construction activities will destroy natural faunal habitat and will have an overall disturbance effect on the central drainage line and the small patch of forest adjacent to the site. The proposed development will result in the pollution of these areas containing natural habitat as well as lead to the introduction and spread of domesticated and/or alien fauna, if mitigation measures are not strictly adhered to. A Water Use Licence Application may need to be submitted to the Department of Water Affairs in term of Section 21 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) should the proposed development encroach in to the riparian area. To avoid an incremental degradation of the surrounding natural areas, it is essential that the proposed open space system incorporate as much of the central drainage line and its protective 30m buffer as possible, and the 100m buffer on the east side be rehabilitated in such a way that it creates a habitat corridor for movement for fauna to other patches of natural habitat in the area. Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd v Rohill Business Estate: Faunal Assessment 505821 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................................