Modern Mining February 2024

species, for example, may leave insuf ficient space for a commercially viable application. “It is therefore increasingly important for buyers to conduct thorough envi ronmental due diligence studies before land is purchased for development, which saves them time and money,” said Gardiner. “For consulting engineers, we need that expertise in-house or as part of our network of contracted special ists who can competently answer the critical questions on those species and ecosystems.” In terms of South Africa’s regulatory landscape, CBAs are irreplaceable areas where there are threatened species or ecosystems that need to be kept in their natural or ‘near natural’ state. A related category is that of Ecological Support Areas, which are supporting zones

Field work The current scale at which CBAs are mapped may still be fairly coarse in some regions of SA, so he stressed that desktop studies were insufficient to determine whether projects could be considered in these areas. “In our experience, on-site field work is necessary to identify exactly where threatened or endangered species are to be found within a CBA,” he said. “CBAs often include areas that are less sensitive, and where development could be possible – but it does require detailed on-the-ground studies by a qualified person to establish this.” It is also valuable for the specialist to have expe rience as an EAP, he said, as they then understand what the project EAP requires and what man agement recommendations can be reasonably implemented. Gardiner added that, in addition to EIAs with their demanding biodiversity elements, SRK Consulting has also applied its ecological and botanical skill set to efforts to control alien plants. The company has been involved in alien invasive management plans around the country, helping to create conducive con ditions for optimising biodiversity. 

whose ecological value lies in helping to prevent degradation of CBAs and formal Protected Areas. CBA zoning Weatherall-Thomas highlighted that South Africa is a signatory to a range of international biodiversity pro tocols that bind government to certain conservation targets. This means that CBAs should be taken into consideration as seriously as any zoning regulations. “It also deserves re-emphasising that any vegeta tion that has not been disturbed for more than 10 years is considered indigenous – and therefore trig gers an EIA,” he explained. “If an area is over 300 m2 then a CBA is likely to require a terrestrial biodiver sity assessment.” He noted that enforcement might vary between provinces, but there is a strong focus in provinces like the Eastern Cape and Western Cape – and parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape – where biodiversity levels are particularly high. While it is mainly national and provincial departments that implement these regulations, CBAs have also been incorporated into Spatial Development Frameworks for municipalities – who also have an important role to play in preserving biodiversity.

The impact on natural vegetation in Critical Biodiversity Areas heightens regulatory concerns, leading to a surge in demand for specialists.

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