GREATER SOUTPANSBERG MOPANE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME DMR References: LP 30/5/1/2/2/10029 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10030 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10031 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10032 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10033 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10034 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10035 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10036 MR NOVEMBER 2013 GREATER SOUTPANSBERG MOPANE PROJECT SECTION 1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME REGULATION 50 PROJECT DETAILS Name of Project Greater Soutpansberg - Mopane Project DMR Reference Numbers LP 30/5/1/2/2/10029 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10030 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10031 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10032 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10033 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10034 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10035 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10036 MR Name of Applicant LP 30/5/1/2/2/10029 MR Regulus Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10030 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10031 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10032 MR Chapudi Coal (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10033 MR Coal of Africa Limited LP 30/5/1/2/2/10034 MR Coal of Africa Limited LP 30/5/1/2/2/10035 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10036 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd Responsible person Baldwin Khosa Designation Regulatory Affairs Manager Physical address The Campus, Gabba Building (2nd floor) 57 Sloane Street, Bryanston Postal Address PO Box 69517, Bryanston, 2021 Telephone 011 575 4363 Facsimile 086 562 1335 E-mail [email protected] i | P a g e Environmental Consultant Jacana Environmentals cc Responsible person Marietjie Eksteen Physical address 7 Landdros Mare Street, Polokwane Postal Address PO Box 31675, Superbia, 0759 Telephone (015) 291 4015 Facsimile (015) 291 5035 E-mail [email protected] Public Participation Consultant Naledi Development Restructured (Pty) Ltd Responsible person Lizinda Dickson Physical address 143 Zambezi Avenue, Sinoville Postal Address PO Box 13509, Sinoville, 0129 Telephone (012) 543 9093 Facsimile (012) 543 9619 E-mail [email protected] Impact specialist consultants Soils, land use and capability Gudani Consulting - EcoSoil Consortium Surface and Groundwater WSM Leshika Consulting (Pty) Ltd Biodiversity Phaki Phakanani Environmental Consultants Aquatic systems Scientific Aquatic Services Noise Gudani Consulting Air Quality Royal Haskoning DHV Heritage Resources Mbofho Consulting and Projects Socio-Economic Naledi Development Restructured (Pty) Ltd Macro-Economic Mosaka Economic Consultants cc ii | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENT 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE BASELINE ENVIRONMENT ................................................ 1 1.1 PROJECT LOCATION ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Surface Ownership ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1.2 COMMUNITIES ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3 Land Claimants / Traditional Authority ................................................................................................. 5 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... 11 1.2.1 Climatic Data ........................................................................................................................................ 11 1.2.1.1 Regional Climate .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.2.1.2 Temperature ........................................................................................................................................ 11 1.2.1.3 Winds ................................................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.1.4 Mean Annual Precipitation and Mean Monthly Rainfall ..................................................................... 16 1.2.1.5 Run-off and Evaporation ...................................................................................................................... 18 1.2.2 Soils ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 1.2.2.1 Parent Material .................................................................................................................................... 21 1.2.2.2 Land Types ........................................................................................................................................... 22 1.2.2.3 Soil Forms ............................................................................................................................................ 24 1.2.2.3.1 Red apedal soils .......................................................................................................................... 24 1.2.2.3.2 Yellow-brown apedal soils .......................................................................................................... 25 1.2.2.3.3 Neocutanic soils .......................................................................................................................... 25 1.2.2.3.4 Carbonate soils ........................................................................................................................... 25 1.2.2.3.5 Neocarbonate soils ..................................................................................................................... 25 1.2.2.3.6 Pedocutanic soils ........................................................................................................................ 25 1.2.2.3.7 Shallow rocky soils ...................................................................................................................... 26 1.2.2.3.8 Fernwood soils ........................................................................................................................... 26 1.2.3 Pre-Mining Land Capability .................................................................................................................. 28 1.2.4 Present Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 31 1.2.5 Biodiversity (Flora and Fauna) ............................................................................................................. 33 1.2.5.1 Flora ..................................................................................................................................................... 33 1.2.5.1.1 Biome ......................................................................................................................................... 33 1.2.5.1.2 Veld types ................................................................................................................................... 34 1.2.5.1.3 Vegetation communities and sensitivity mapping ..................................................................... 36 1.2.5.1.4 Protected and endemic flora ...................................................................................................... 38 1.2.5.1.5 Introduced or exotic/alien plants ............................................................................................... 40 1.2.5.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................... 43 1.2.5.2.1 Mammals .................................................................................................................................... 43 1.2.5.2.2 Avifauna ...................................................................................................................................... 43 1.2.5.2.3 Reptiles ....................................................................................................................................... 45 1.2.5.2.4 Amphibians ................................................................................................................................. 46 1.2.5.2.5 Invertebrates .............................................................................................................................. 47 1.2.5.2.6 Faunal sensitive areas ................................................................................................................ 52 1.2.5.3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes ................................................................................................ 53 1.2.5.3.1 National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA, 2011) .......................................................................... 53 1.2.5.3.2 Biodiversity Proxy ....................................................................................................................... 53 1.2.5.4 Ecosystem Services .............................................................................................................................. 53 iii | P a g e 1.2.6 Aquatic environment ........................................................................................................................... 57 1.2.6.1 Ecoregions ........................................................................................................................................... 57 1.2.6.2 Ecostatus 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