Part 2 - Eskom

ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED 40MW OPEN CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER
PLANT IN THE AMERSFOORT AREA, MPUMALANGA
8.8. Biodiversity
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
The following impacts/issues were identified that could affect the biodiversity of the
study area adversely:
• Potential impacts on the local and regional biodiversity;
• Potential impacts on sensitive/pristine habitat types;
• Potential impacts on threatened/protected species and habitat;
• Potential impacts on surrounding habitat and species; and
• Potential impacts on fauna species.
Impacts of a cumulative nature include:
• Potential increase in habitat transformation (e.g. loss of habitat);
• Potential increase in habitat fragmentation (e.g. loss of migratory routes); and
• Potential increase in environmental degradation (e.g. loss of habitat quality).
Direct impacts, such as physical habitat destruction and modifications, are regarded
immediate, long-term and of high significance. These are the impacts that will be
addressed in this scoping assessment as well as the subsequent EIA studies, since
they are measurable and the immediate impact thereof can be determined to an
acceptable level of certainty.
However, more subtle impacts on biological components, such as effects of aerial
pollutants on flora and fauna species, increase in aerial borne dust, changes in local,
regional and global climate, effects of noise pollution on fauna species, effects of
electro- magnetic fields (EMF) on fauna species, acid rain and groundwater
deterioration are impacts that cannot be quantified to an acceptable level of certainty
and is mostly subjective in nature, as very little applicable literature is available.
However, these impacts are interrelated to abovementioned impacts.
8.8.1. Direct Impact - Potential Impacts on Local and Regional Biodiversity
The transformation of grassland habitat during the construction process will inevitably
result in the establishment of habitat types that are not considered representative of
the region. As a result of the severity of transformation, surrounding areas are
frequently invaded by species not normally associated with the region.
If left unmitigated, this risk will result in decreased habitat, increased competition and
lower numbers of endemic biota, the genetic pool of species might eventually be
influenced by the introduction of non-endemic species. Different faunal assemblages
have developed separate gene structures as a result of habitat selection and
geographical separation and the introduction of animals of the same species that
might be genetically dissimilar to the endemic species might lead to different genetic
selection structures, eventually affecting the genetic structure of current populations.
8.8.2. Direct Impact - Potential Impacts on Sensitive/Pristine Habitat Types
Large portions of the study area comprise natural grassland habitat that is regarded
moderately pristine, representing the Soweto Highveld Grassland. The conservation
E02.JNB.000308
ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
01
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08/10/2009