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Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
Amanda Fritz-Whyte PHS Consulting Environmental, Heritage, Eco-Tourism and Land-Use cell: 082 327 2100 landline: 028 312 1734 PO Box 1752, Hermanus, 7200
Follow up spring botanical survey of proposed chicken farm development sites
at portion 18 of Farm 238, Stormsvlei
10 November 2018
Dear Amanda
Fynbos Ecoscapes cc undertook a specialist botanical assessment to assist in the
decision making process for the proposed development and extensions of the chicken
rearing plant on portion 18 of Farm 238 Stormsvlei, Western Cape (Privett 2018).
The field work component of this survey was undertaken during January 2018.
Owing to the time of year, the majority of potential annual and geophyte species were
not visible or unidentifiable. The field work component of a previous botanical
survey of the site, undertaken by Amida Johns (Johns 2011), was also carried out
during summer. It is therefore possible that some spring flowering species were
missed during both these surveys. As a result, Fynbos Ecoscapes cc was
commissioned to undertake a spring survey as part of the environmental decision
making process for this project, and visited the site in October 2018, The sites for the
proposed development footprints were re-examined in order to determine whether
there was any conservation worthy species missed during the two previous field
surveys of the property.
Each development footprint was examined individually and is reported on below.
Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
Figure 1. The preferred site development plan including expansion of existing infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure relating to the chicken rearing facility on Farm 238/18, Stormsvlei.
Results of the spring survey
1. Extension to existing rearing house The proposed extension area of the existing rearing house is sited within old ploughed agricultural lands. Species recorded include Searsia pallens, Dodonea angustifolia, Athanasia trifurcata, Cynodon dactylon, Lampranthus sp., Metalasia acuta, Elytropappus rhinocerotis, Oedera squarrosa, Cliffortia ruscifolia, Pelargonium sp., Themeda triandra. and Ischyrolepis capensis. The only additional species recorded during the late spring survey was Ornithogalum dubium (yellow chinkerinchee) on the edges of the proposed extension area. It is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the Red list of South African plants.
Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
Plate 1. Ornithogalum dubium on outskirts of site 1
2. Extension to existing rearing house This site is situated in old ploughed agricultural lands with approximately 20% open ground and a covering of weedy pioneer species. Species recorded on the site during the previous survey included Athanasia trifurcata, Cliffortia ruscifolia, Elytropappus rhinocerotis, Dodonea angustifolia and Cynodon dactylon. No new spring flowering species were recorded during this survey and the site has low botanical and low conservation value.
3. Extension of existing rearing house The area for the proposed extension of this rearing facility is already disturbed and falls within old agricultural lands. Species recorded during the original survey were Searsia pallens, Lampranthus sp., Elytropappus rhinocerotis and Dodonea angustifolia. The only additional species recorded during the spring survey was Dianthus thunbergii (White pink, plate 2). It is classified as being of Least Concern on the Red list of South African plants.
Plate 2. Dianthus thunbergii at site 3.
Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
This proposed extension area has low botanical value and low conservation value.
4. Extension of existing double laying pen The existing authorised laying pen area has been cleared. The area for the additional laying pen has low conservation and low botanical value.
5. Extension of existing double laying pen The area for biosecurity and turning of trucks has been cleared. The proposed extension area has low conservation, and low botanical value.
6. Already authorised site in the south east of the farm This site is situated in old agricultural lands. It has approximately 80% cover of kweek (Cynodon dactylon) and other grasses. No additional species were recorded during the spring survey. It has low botanical value and low conservation value.
7. Already authorised site in north eastern corner This is a new site that will be situated in an area that was previously impacted by agricultural activities. The vegetation on the site is dominated by kweek (Cynodon dactylon) which covers approximately 80% of the site. Other species recorded include Helichrysum petiolare, Cliffortia ruscifolia, Ficinia sp. and Searsia pallens. The only additional species recorded during the spring survey within the proposed development footprint was Cyanella hyacinthoides. This species is classified as being of Least Concern on the Red list of South African plants. The site has low botanical value and low conservation value.
Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
Plate 3. Cyanella hyacinthoides at site 7.
8. New site in south western corner This site for a proposed new rearing facility is located in old agricultural lands dominated by kweek (Cynodon dactylon) and Klaaslouwbos (Athanasia trifurcata), with a total combined coverage of approximately 80%. Other species recorded during the initial survey include Elytropappus rhinocerotis (renosterbos), Searsia pallens, Dodonea angustifolia, Aspalathus sp. and Chrysocoma ciliata. During the spring survey Cyanella hyacinthoides, and dried flowers of what appears to be Disa bracteata(least concern) and Ornithogalum canadense (least concern) were recorded on this site. Search and rescue during the winter should be carried out on this site to relocate these geophyte species to a conservation area on the property. The site has medium conservation value.
Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
Plate 4. cf. Ornithogalum canadense and cf. Disa bracteata on site 8.
9. New site in north eastern corner This site is situated within a heavily disturbed area of old ploughed agricultural lands. The only additional species recorded during the spring survey was Cyanella hyacinthoides. The site has low botanical value and low conservation value.
10. New rearing site on eastern boundary The proposed area for site 10 (which has been shifted away from the natural vegetation on the eastern edge of the site) is characterised by old lands that has low biodiversity value. The only geophyte recorded during the spring survey on this site was Cyanella hyacinthoides (least concern). The new proposed site for the rearing facility 10 has low botanical and low conservation value.
11. New Farm shed This site has already been partially cleared of vegetation and therefore has low botanical value and low conservation value.
Conclusion and recommendations
Witkrans Farm, Flower Valley, PO Box 148, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)28 388 0782 Fax: +27 (0)28 384 8100 Cell: +27 (0)82 411 1008
Overall the spring survey revealed little additional botanical significance over the
previous summer surveys on the site. As previously described in both Johns (2011)
and Privett (2018), the vast majority of the area proposed for the chicken farm
expansion on portion 18 of Farm 238 Stormsvlei has been ploughed and farmed in
the past. As a result the majority of species recorded in the proposed expansion
areas are common, pioneer species typical of old agricultural lands and geophyte
occurrence and diversity is low. It is however suggested that a search and rescue
operation be undertaken during late winter/early spring prior to clearing of the sites.
This is especially the case for site 8 where a number of geophytes were recorded,
some of which could not be properly identified as they had passed their peak
flowering season. It is suggested that a search and rescue operation be carried out
by a qualified horticulturalist during the winter, prior to further clearing of the
vegetation for the expansion project.
SDJ Privett
Owner Fynbos Ecoscapes cc
References
Johns A 2011. Botanical assessment of portion 18 Farm 238 Stormsvlei. PHS
Consulting report.
Privett S D J 2018. Botanical assessment of portion 18, Farm 238, Stormsvlei,
Western Cape. Fynbos Ecoscapes unpublished report.
