BOTANICAL REPORT CULTIVATION OF VIRGIN SOIL ON RONDO, FARM 756 PORTION 1, WORCESTER

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1 BOTANICAL REPORT CULTIVATION OF VIRGIN SOIL ON RONDO, FARM 756 PORTION 1, WORCESTER Date: 22 April 2010 Compiled by: Johlene Krige Botanical/Ecological Specialist Boland Environmental Consultants CC PO Box 250, Worcester, 6849 Tel / Fax work@bolandenviro.co.za 1. INTRODUCTION This report provides additional botanical input to the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed cultivation of 40 ha of virgin soil on Rondo, Farm 756/1, Worcester. A site visit was conducted by BolandEnvro specialist on 20 April This report should be read in conjunction with the baseline assessment by officials from CapeNature who visited the site on the 11 th of March 2009, regarding the initial Basic Assessment application for the transformation or removal on indigenous vegetation. CapeNature had no objections to the application and required no additional faunal or botanical surveys to support the application (Appendix A). It should be noted that the Applicant withdrew the initial Application regarding the Basic Assessment, and is now Applying for the required Scoping and EIA instead, since the area intended for cultivation is 40 ha (Activity 2 of GN R387), and thus exceeding the 20 ha limit for transformation of indigenous vegetation requiring Basic Assessment (Activity 12 of GN R386). Although CapeNature had no objections to the proposed development, and the activities related to the subject land are exactly the same (regardless of the change from Basic Assessment to Scoping and EIA), this report provides further Botanical input in order to help inform decisions regarding the proposed development. 2. SITE DESCRIPTION The proposed site, considered for cultivation, comprises 40 ha and forms part of a 55 ha portion of Farm 756/1, herein referred to as the subject land. This portion is intended for subdivision from the remainder of Farm 756/1 (approximately 500 ha) and subsequent selling by the owner, Mr van Niekerk. The proposed 40 ha intended for cultivation currently comprise natural vegetation and the surrounding land use is predominantly agriculture (Figure 1 and 3). The immediate surroundings include natural vegetation, existing vineyards, an area established by olive trees, a farmstead and Subdivisional Road 1375 which forms the northern border of the subject land. BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 1

2 Figure 1. The proposed Portion A of Rondo, Farm 756 /1, Worcester and the area intended for clearing of natural vegetation (red). Imagery dated 7 August 2005 (sourced from Google Earth). 3. ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS This report does not include a detailed analysis of the species diversity on site. The investigation merely provides input in terms of the broad ecological characteristics of the site and its surroundings. Although the site visit was conducted in the dry season, the possibility of rare or endangered species being destroyed is low, since the natural vegetation adjacent to the site comprise the same plant communities. CapeNature confirmed that no Red Data Book species are on site and no further faunal or botanical assessments are required. 4. THE VEGETATION 4.1 Regional Context According to the SANBI mapping tool (2010), the vegetation of the subject land, intended for selling by Mr van Niekerk, originally comprised Robertson Karoo, which is considered least threatened and to a lesser extent also Breede Alluvium Renosterveld, considered an endangered vegetation type (Figure 2). These two vegetation types originally comprised the predominant vegetation of the region, while other vegetation types, in close proximity of the subject land includes Breede Sand Fynbos, Breede Quartzite Fynbos and Breede Shale Renosterveld. Site visits, confirmed the vegetation that is currently present on the subject land as Robertson Karoo only (least threatened). The subject land is bordered by an extensive area of the same natural vegetation to the south and south-west, with an additional large area of natural vegetation west of the bordering vineyards. A natural corridor of indigenous vegetation is therefore maintained (Figure 1 and 3). The limited area identified in Figure 2 as Breede Alluvium Renosterveld, which should be located on the north-eastern periphery of the subject land, falls within an area already transformed. The principal area of the Breede Alluvium Renosterveld patch identified by the South African Vegetation Map (Mucina & Rutherford 2006), comprise the adjacent land, opposite the road (Subdivisional Road 1375) to the north of the subject land i.e. the area in the vicinity of the Breede River (Figure 2). This area is predominantly transformed by agriculture (Figure 3 and 4). BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 2

3 Figure 2. Extract from the South African Vegetation Map (Mucina & Rutherford 2006) indicating the vegetation types of the area and the location of the Subject Land (55 ha) (red polygon) of which 40 ha is intended for cultivation. Figure 3. The 55 Ha portion A of Farm 756/1, showing natural corridors. Google Image dated August 2005 BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 3

4 Figure 4. Extract from the Fine Scale Plan 2009: Breede River / Winelands Municipality Critical Biodiversity Areas Map showing critical biodiversity areas (cba), other ecological support areas (oesa), no natural remaining areas and untransformed areas. The location of the subject land (55 ha) (red polygon) of which 40 ha is intended for cultivation is also shown. Figure 4 represent aquatic and terrestrial sites identified as Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) through the systematic assessment conducted by the C.A.P.E. Fine-Scale Biodiversity Planning (FSP) project. These are areas of critical biodiversity value and represent the sites required to meet biodiversity pattern targets and ecological process objectives. It is recommended that natural land should be maintained and degraded areas rehabilitated. Figure 4 also indicates that a small portion of the subject land overlaps with the edge of a terrestrial CBA to the east of the subject land. This CBA is classified as mixed land cover significant wetland cluster. Additionally, there is an area classified as other ecological support areas (OESA) to the east, where ecological processes should be maintained, that overlaps with the southeastern corner of the subject land. From this map, the above mentioned CBA forms a link between two OESAs, one overlapping the subject land and another further east. 4.2 Vegetation on site The vegetation on site comprise Robertson Karoo and is considered to be least threatened by the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, as confirmed by officials from CapeNature. The vegetation has been grazed in the past and has a moderate species diversity, with clear signs of soil erosion. No Red Date Book species were found. Site visits confirmed the OESA to be located within a small tributary (none-seasonal stream) that originates from the upper portions of the subject land and remainder of Farm 756/1 following a downward route, east of the subject land. This tributary is evident as an eroded gully (Figure 5) and is located outside the eastern border of the subject land (Figure 6). BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 4

5 The area intended for cultivation of virgin soil extends from the transformed area bordering the road on the north of the subject land upwards, in a southerly direction, to comprise an area of 40 ha (Mr van Niekerk pers.com.) (Figure 1). This area comprise the lower and flattest portion of the subject land and excludes any tributaries on Farm 756/1. The ecological processes associated with the small tributary (identified as an OESA) will therefore be maintained and the CBA adjacent to the subject land will also be excluded from the activities. Figure 5. The eroded none-seasonal tributary to the east of the subject land, looking northwards. Subject land N Figure 6. The approximate path of the non-seasonal tributary (blue dashed line) and CBA identified as a small hill (green dashed line) adjacent to the eastern border (black dashed line) of the subject land. BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 5

6 4.3 Conservation Value From a purely botanical perspective the site has low conservation value. The proposed site consists of indigenous vegetation that is considered least threatened. No Red Data Book species were found. The site has been grazed in the past and erosion is evident on site. The area is excluded from any CBAs, it is located amongst vineyards and a natural vegetation corridor will be maintained adjacent to the vineyards to the west of the site. 5. IDENTIFICATION OF IMPACTS The cultivation of the proposed 40 ha site will cause permanent loss of the vegetation and natural habitat on site. Potential impacts identified are: Loss of indigenous plant species Loss of vegetation type Loss of habitat Loss of ecological processes 5.1. Loss of indigenous plant species Natural species diversity on the site is moderate and no rare or endangered species were encountered during the survey. The site is bordered by an extensive area of natural vegetation in good condition, with the same representation of the species found on the subject land. Table1. Impact: loss of indigenous plant species Significance Nature Extent Duration Intensity Probability Status Confidence Without With Loss of Long indigenous Site term plant Medium High Negative Medium Medium Low Mitigation Activities associated with the agricultural development should be done in a sensitive fashion to limit the disturbance to as small a footprint as possible. Possible would be to ensure that the development is limited to the proposed site. Existing tracks should be used to access the site to prevent further damage to adjacent natural vegetation. Rocks and vegetation debris should not be dumped on adjacent natural vegetation. Dust levels should be kept to a minimum to avoid smothering of sensitive areas by windblown sediments. 5.2 Loss of vegetation type: Robertson Karoo Robertson Karoo is found over an extensive area in the Breede River Valley. It is also extensively found adjacent and in the immediate surroundings to the proposed site. This localised loss of vegetation type BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 6

7 due to the proposed development will have a very small overall effect and will in no other way endanger the future of this vegetation type. Table2. Impact: loss of Robertson Karoo Significance Nature Extent Duration Intensity Probability Status Confidence Without With Loss of Long vegetation Local term type Medium Definite Negative High Low Low Mitigation Activities associated with the agricultural development should be done in a sensitive fashion to limit the disturbance to as small a footprint as possible. Prevent unnecessary vehicular movement on natural veld. 5.3 Loss of habitat The cultivation of and development of the proposed site will lead to a small amount of loss of the habitat but it will be localised and fauna and other organisms that use the area will have other similar habitat still available to them. Natural vegetation (in good condition), comprising the same habitat is extensively maintained adjacent to the proposed site. The effect of the loss will therefore be limited. Table 3. Impact: loss of habitat Nature Extent Duration Intensity Probability Status Confidence Significance Without With Loss of habitat Site Long term Medium High Negative High Low Low Mitigation Any fauna (reptiles) encountered during the clearing of land should be left unharmed and relocated to adjacent natural vegetation. 5.4 Loss of ecological processes Despite the loss of a localised area of Robertson Karoo, it is unlikely that this will have a significant direct effect on ecological processes such as pollination in the remaining vegetation. Ecological processes will still be able to take place over extensive areas and ecological connectivity will be maintained as the proposed development will not lead to vegetation fragments. It is however important to maintain ecological processes within the area identified as an other ecological support area (OESA). BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 7

8 Table 4. Impact: loss of ecological processes Significance Nature Extent Duration Intensity Probability Status Confidence Without With Loss of Long ecological Site term processes Medium High Negative High Medium Low Mitigation Ecological processes should be maintained within the tributary adjacent to the proposed site. The land clearing should be restricted to the lower portion of the subject land, to exclude the origin of the nonseasonal tributary in the south-eastern corner of the site. Disturbance of adjacent vegetation should be restricted, especially in the area of the CBA. 5.5 Cumulative Impacts Cumulative impacts of the proposed cultivation of 40 ha on the proposed Portion A of Farm 756/1 will result in the loss of an area of Robertson Karoo and the habitat it provides. Since this vegetation type is widespread and least threatened and surrounded by the same vegetation, which is in better condition to that on the proposed site, the cumulative effect of this loss on a regional and national scale is negligible. Any development within the adjacent CBA should be prevented in order to meet biodiversity pattern targets and ecological process within valley bottom wetlands. 6. CONCLUSIONS The proposed development will have a Medium to Low negative botanical/ecological impact (local scale) prior to. Essential measures are outlined which should reduce the overall post impacts to Low negative. The most important is to restrict the development to the proposed area intended for cultivation. The small non-seasonal tributary should be left undisrupted and the adjacent CBA should be left in tact. Rocks and debris compiled by the clearing of land should be removed from site. Dust levels should be kept to a minimum. Any animals found on site during the land clearing should be relocated to adjacent habitat. Post, the development is recommended in terms of a botanical/ecological perspective. BolandEnviro CC 2010 All rights reserved 8