Herpetological Study for Feronia, Boteka Oil Palm Plantation High Conservation Value Assessment Project Number: CDC2950 Prepared for: Feronia PHC March 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Digby Wells and Associates (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (Subsidiary of Digby Wells & Associates (Pty) Ltd). Co. Reg. No. 2010/008577/07. Fern Isle, Section 10, 359 Pretoria Ave Randburg Private Bag X10046, Randburg, 2125, South Africa Tel: +27 11 789 9495, Fax: +27 11 789 9498, [email protected], www.digbywells.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Directors: AR Wilke, DJ Otto, GB Beringer, LF Koeslag, AJ Reynolds (Chairman) (British)*, J Leaver*, GE Trusler (C.E.O) *Non-Executive _______________________________________________________________________________________ This document has been prepared by Digby Wells Environmental. Report Type: High Conservation Value Assessment Herpetological Study for Feronia, Boteka Oil Palm Project Name: Plantation Project Code: CDC2950 Name Responsibility Signature Date Caitlin O’Connor Report Writer March 2015 Phil Patton Pr.Sci.Nat. Report Review April 2015 Brett Coutts Report Reviewer May 2015 (Cand.Sci. Nat) This report is provided solely for the purposes set out in it and may not, in whole or in part, be used for any other purpose without Digby Wells Environmental prior written consent. Digby Wells Environmental i High Conservation Value Assessment Herpetological Study for Feronia, Boteka Oil Palm Plantation CDC2950 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most important countries in Africa for biodiversity conservation. It has the highest number of species for almost all groups of organisms with the exception of plants in which it is second to South Africa. Reptiles and particularly amphibians have high species richness and endemism in the DRC, This is largely due to the varied and diverse habitat types which exist within the country. Information is scarce regarding possible endemics and geographic variations. Habitat loss is the most significant environmental driver threatening biodiversity. Extensive deforestation has not only resulted in the large-scale loss of forest cover, but has also caused the fragmentation of the existing remaining habitat into numerous isolated patches. The impacts of oil palm plantation agriculture on biodiversity have proven severe, leading to increased human–wildlife conflict, homogenization of structurally and species diverse ecosystems, and destruction of habitat for globally threatened species. Two hundred and eighty (280) species of reptiles are expected to occur within the DRC. The information supporting the species is not largely available and it is regarded to be poorly understood. A total of 224 species of amphibians, 6 families, 39 genera, are expected to occur within the DRC. Forty eight (48) of these amphibian species are endemic to the DRC. It appears that the majority of the amphibian species occur in the rainforest and almost all the endemics are confined to it. The Boteka Feronia Oil Palm Plantation lies in the Northern DRC, within the province of Equator. The area lies within the Central Congolian Lowland Forest. The vegetation consists of rainforest vegetation, which straddles the Congo River and its tributaries. This habitat type is regarded to be Vulnerable. Boteka Oil Palm Plantation is located on the Southern Bank of the Momboyo River, a tributary of the Ruki River. The project area covers approximately 13542 hectares. The findings of the study present the Boteka Concession to be moderate to high in species richness and habitat provision. Natural, Secondary forest (especially with streams), Swamp Forest and Riverine Forest Habitats are regarded to have the highest ecological sensitivity due to the moderate to high in species richness and habitat provision. These areas are all regarded to be important to conserve for herpetological species. Digby Wells Environmental ii High Conservation Value Assessment Herpetological Study for Feronia, Boteka Oil Palm Plantation CDC2950 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 2 Site ....................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Geography ......................................................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Climate ............................................................................................................... 5 3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Baseline assessment ................................................................................................ 5 3.2 Field Survey .............................................................................................................. 5 4 Findings ................................................................................................................................ 7 4.1 Desktop .................................................................................................................... 7 4.1.1 Reptiles .............................................................................................................. 7 4.1.2 Amphibians ...................................................................................................... 10 4.2 Field Survey ............................................................................................................ 12 4.2.1 Reptile field survey findings .............................................................................. 12 4.2.2 Amphibians ...................................................................................................... 13 4.3 Habitat Types ......................................................................................................... 14 4.3.1 Natural Forest Habitat ...................................................................................... 14 4.3.2 Secondary forest habitat ................................................................................... 16 4.3.3 Swamp Forest Habitat ...................................................................................... 16 4.3.4 Riverine Forest and Open Water ...................................................................... 17 4.3.5 Plantation with termite mound habitat ............................................................... 19 4.3.6 Village .............................................................................................................. 20 5 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 21 6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 22 7 References ......................................................................................................................... 23 7.1 Field Guides ........................................................................................................... 24 Digby Wells Environmental iii High Conservation Value Assessment Herpetological Study for Feronia, Boteka Oil Palm Plantation CDC2950 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Regional setting of Boteka Oil Palm Concession, Democratic Republic of Congo .. 3 Figure 2: Boteka Oil Palm Concession, Democratic Republic of Congo ................................ 4 Figure 3: Boteka Oil Palm Concession, Democratic Republic of Congo ................................ 6 Figure 4: A: Graceful Chameleon (Chameleo gracilis) is arboreal, but is also often observed on the ground, in villages and along paths (IUCN, 2015) B: Forest Hinge-back Tortoise (Kinixys erosa) inhabits the lowland evergreen forest, marshy areas, and forest galleries growing along rivers and streams, where it is locally threatened by clearance of forest for cultivation and hunting pressure (Luise L and Diagne T, 2015) ............................................. 8 Figure 5: Expected Reptile SSC, Boteka; A. and B: Critically Endangered Slender-snouted Crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) which is likely to occur within the Boteka Concession (IUCN, 2015) ....................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 6: Endemic Species A: Christy's tree frog (Leptopelis christyi), B: Congo Banana Frog (Afrixalus equatorialis) (DD) C: (Leptopelis calcaratus) D: Marbled Running Frog (Kassina maculosa) ........................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 7: Reptile species identified during the field survey at Boteka Oil Palm Plantation, Feronia, DRC; A: Black-necked Tree Agama (Agama cyanogaster) B. Tropical House Gekko (Hemidactylus mabouia) C: Snake species ......................................................................... 13 Figure 8: Amphibian Species Identified During the Field Survey of the Boteka Concession.1. African common toad (Amietophrynus regularis), African Gutteral Toad (Amietophrynus gutturalis) ............................................................................................................................ 13 Figure 9: Natural Forest Habitat within Boteka Concession A: Closed canopy