IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Adams, M.; Erasmus, M. | |
| Biodiversity baseline & impact assessment for the Greylingstad / Nthorwane WWTW and reticulation network BA | |
| 2018 Full Book | |
The completion of a study, in conjunction with the detailed results from the survey means that there is a high confidence in the information provided. The survey which was completed, and the corresponding studies resulted in good site coverage, within the proposed footprint area, assessing the major habitats and ecosystems, obtaining a general species (fauna and flora) overview and observing the major current impacts. It is clear from the regional ecological overview, as well as the baseline data collected to date that the project area is an assembly of different conditions and some that have been altered both historically and presently. Current impacts include secondary roads, agriculture and associated human activity, including: agricultural fields, dumping of rubble, livestock, litter and infringement by people and livestock into natural areas. Untreated sewerage is currently leaking from the existing WWTW directly in to the nearby stream. This needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. However, despite these impacts, the remaining natural habitats (mostly the northern (rocky ridge / CBA) and south-eastern portions of the project area) exhibit healthy ecological functionality, integrity and provide habitat for some threatened species. This diversity is indicative of the importance of these systems to collectively provide refugia, food and corridors for dispersal in and through the surrounding area. The proposed Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) and reticulation pipeline development is situated within, and near, to areas identified as Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs). Field surveys confirmed the ecological integrity of some portions of this CBA - especially the CBA east of Nthorwane and the rocky ridge. However, extensive human encroachment is evident across much of the proposed development area and these disturbed areas were generally given a lower sensitivity rating. |
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