ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR): ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA PROJECT TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA TITLE OF THE REPORT: ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA. Compiled by : Proponent: Ritta Khiba Planning Consultants Farm House Bed and Breakfast and Restaurant P.O. Box 22543 Windhoek 1012 Virgo Street Doradopark (T&F)+26461225062|+264 88614935 (C) +26481 2505559 / 0815788154 (E) rkhiba@Outjo Municipalityail.com Environmental Assessment Practitioners Team : - Ritta Khiba PREPARED FOR: Office of the Environmental Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Tourism SUBMIT COMMENTS AND QUERIES TO: 1012 Virgo Street, Dorado Park, Windhoek Tel: +264 61 225062 | Fax: +264 61 213158/088614935 Cell: +264 81 2505559 | Email: rkhiba@Outjo Municipalityail.com ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR): ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA Contents 1. CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. PROJECT LOCATION ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL & LAYOUT ................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2. SERVICES.............................................................................................................................................. 3 1.4. OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY ................................................................................................................... 3 1.5. TERMS OF REFERENCE ......................................................................................................................... 4 2. CHAPTER TWO: POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ..................................................... 5 2.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 5 3. CHAPTER THREE: RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................... 13 3.1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.2. CLIMATE ............................................................................................................................................ 13 3.3. FAUNA ............................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4. FLORA .................................................................................................................................................. 15 3.5. GEOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................... 16 3.6. HYDROLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 16 4. CHAPTER FOUR: PUBLIC CONSULTATION............................................................................................. 17 4.1. PUBLIC CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................... 17 5. CHAPTER FIVE: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS .................................................... 18 5.1. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................ 18 5.2. IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 19 5.3. IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................... 21 5.4. RISK ANALYSIS........................................................................................................................................ 28 6. APPENDIX A: REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 29 List of Tables Figure 1: Portion 150 of the remainder of Outjo Townlands No. 193 proposed for lodge establishment. 2 Figure 2: Current land cover (shrubs, grasses, trees) 15 Figure 3: Site Notices on the project development were posted on site 18 List of Figures Table 1: Applying Policies, legal and Administrative regulations 6 Table 2: Details on public notifications of the EIA study 18 Table 3: Impact Screening Criteria 19 Table 4: Impact Rating Criteria 20 Table 5: Environmental impact Assessment Matrix 21 ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR): ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA Definitions TERMS DEFINITION BID Background Information Document EAP Environmental Assessment Practitioner ECC Environmental Clearance Certificate ECO Environmental Control Officer EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESR Environmental Scoping Report EMP Environmental Management Plan GHG Greenhouse Gasses HTPC Harmonic Town Planning Consultants ISO International Organization for Standardization I&APs Interested and Affected Parties MET: DEA Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s Directorate of Environmental Affairs NHC National Heritage Council NEMA Namibia Environmental Management Act PRP Pit Rehabilitation Plan ToR Terms of Reference UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR): ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA 1. CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND 1.1. INTRODUCTION Farmhouse B&B and Restaurant herein referred to as the “proponent” are prospective owners of portions of portion 150 on the remainder of the farm Outjo townlands Nᵒ. 193.In this respect, the proponent has been granted permission by Outjo town council of portion 150 (measuring 5000 m2) for use as a lodge and restaurant facility. However, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2012 under the Environmental Management Act Nᵒ.7 of 2007 requires that prior to the operation of a lodge facility; an Environmental Clearance Certificate is required. In this respect, Ritta Khiba Planning and Environmental Consultants has been appointed to undertake an Environmental Assessment and to apply for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET: Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the construction and operation of a lodge facility on portion 150 of the farm Outjo Townlands Nᵒ. 193. It is thus therefore, that this document forms part of the application to the DEA’s office for an Environmental Clearance certificate for the proposed development, according to the guidelines and statutes of the Environmental Management Act Nᵒ.7 of 2007 and the environmental impacts regulations (GN 30 in GG 4878 of 6 February 2012). 1.2. PROJECT LOCATION Portion A (now Portion 150) of the Farm Townlands of Outjo Nᵒ. 193 is located to the North East and South West of the Outjo Township along the B1 and C39 Road leading to the intersections of Khorixas-Okaukuejo/Kamanjab). (Fig 1) gives an Arial view of the project site below: 1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR): ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA Figure 1: Portion 150 of the remainder of Outjo Townlands Nᵒ. 193 proposed for lodge establishment. 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT (ESR): ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LODGE ESTABLISHMENT ON PORTION 150 ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM OUTJO TOWNLANDS NO. 193, OUTJO IN KUNENE REGION, NAMIBIA 1.3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1.3.1. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL & LAYOUT The proponent intends to foster development in Outjo by construction and operation of a lodge facility. The proposed scope of activities for the site will include: - Overnight accommodation units - Restaurant and bar area - Establish electricity supply to the portion - Connect a sewer and water reticulation system to service the portion. 1.3.2. SERVICES Accessibility: The site is accessible through a street branching from the C39 road. Topography,