Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a Biodiversity Impact Assessment?

A biodiversity impact assessment is a process used to identify and evaluate the potential impacts of any project or activity on the diversity of life in a specific area. Activities can include mining, wind farms, housing developments, road construction, agriculture, and so on. Every activity impacts plant and animal species, as well as the habitats they depend on, in its own unique way. The goal of a biodiversity impact assessment is to determine all potential impacts, and then to avoid, minimize, and mitigate negative impacts. Promoting biodiversity conservation is the goal. Biodiversity impact assessments are particularly important for projects that could potentially disrupt ecosystems.

What is a Plant Species Impact Assessment?

Similar to a biodiversity impact assessment, a plant species impact assessment is a more specific type of biodiversity impact assessment that focuses solely on the potential impacts of a project or activity on the plant life in a particular area.

 

In summary, a plant species impact assessment aims to:

 

• Identify plant species: This involves surveying the project area to identify all the plant species present, including common and rare species.
• Record the presence of sensitive species: Particular attention is paid to Species of Conservation Concern (SCC) — plants that are threatened, endangered, or have a limited distribution. These species are most vulnerable to negative impacts.
• Evaluate potential impacts: The assessment considers how the activities of a project might affect plant life. This could include habitat loss, fragmentation, changes in water availability, or introduction of invasive plant species.
• Develop mitigation strategies: The goal is to minimize harm to plant species. This might involve things like project redesign to avoid sensitive areas, salvaging and relocating plants, or creating habitat restoration plans.

Plant species impact assessments are often required as part of a larger Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for projects that could have a significant impact on natural areas.  They are also used independently for smaller scale projects.

How do I identify threatened or protected plant species on my property?

You can go to the Red List of South African Plants website to see the national status of any of our indigenous plant species. However, note that these lists do not always include all synonyms — i.e., older names that are no longer used — and it can sometimes be a bit tricky to find the information you’re looking for.

 

Protected plant species are a bit more difficult since they can be listed either under provincial or national regulations. Another complication is that these lists often include genus- and family-level protection status. So, unless you know all the species or genera, then it can take quite some time to figure out whether or not your plant is protected! And don’t forget those annoying synonyms, since many of these lists are quite old and can have very outdated names.

 

If you are unsure of whether species on your property are protected plant species or Species of Conservation Concern, then contact us today! We’ll easily help you with this.

1. What type of botanical survey do I need?

It all depends on the scope and locality of your project. If you plan to perform activities — for example, clearing vegetation for agriculture, mining, housing, etc. — within a listed threatened ecosystem, or where sensitive species occur, then by law you will require a full Terrestrial Biodiversity Impact Assessment or Plant Species Impact Assessment. If you are unsure of what is required, then don’t hesitate to contact us.

What is the best time of year to conduct a botanical survey?

It all depends on when the majority of species will be flowering, but is usually between October and April in summer-rainfall areas, and between August and October in winter-rainfall areas. However, even during these times some species might not flower. This is just the nature of things, since some species characteristically flower outside of the “optimal” season for surveying.

How much does a botanical survey cost?

It depends on a couple of things, but usually includes the size of the area to be surveyed, the complexity of the terrain, whether or not threatened species must be geo-recorded, and the amount of reporting that is required. Costs can range anywhere from R6 000 for small projects to R50 000 or more for very large projects.

What qualifications do I need to conduct a botanical survey?

For starters, you must be a professional botanist with formal training (for example, a university degree). Then, in South Africa it is a legal requirement to be registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, or SACNASP for short, if you plan on consulting as a professional botanist.

What is the purpose of the Online Screening Tool?

Simply put, the National Web based Environmental Screening Tool is a geographically based web-enabled application. It allows someone wanting to submit an application for environmental authorisation (or "EA" for short) to screen their proposed site for any environmental sensitivity.

 

It’s firstly a valuable tool used by environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs) and biodiversity specialists alike. But more than that, it’s a legal requirement for any applicant seeking environmental authorisation to include the report generated by the screening tool. That is, the screening report must be included in ANY application for environmental authorisation.

 

The Online Screening Tool provides details of environmental sensitivities according to specified environmental themes (for example, animal theme, plant species theme, agricultural theme, etc.). It also provides an indication of what specialist studies will be required for a target area, and what protocols may apply.

 

However, the screening tool does not provide details of the listed activities that apply to a proposed development. That is, it does not give any info on which listed activities are triggered by a proposed application. Instead, EAPs are legally required to screen a proposed development/activity for EIA requirements. As such, the online screening tool does not negate the need for an EAP to interrogate the Listing Notices.

What is a Biodiversity Offset?

Simply put, a biodiversity offset is an area used to compensate for environmental damage caused by developments. Biodiversity offsets are essentially conservation actions designed to compensate for residual impacts on ecosystems and species, and which secure and conserve remaining habitats.

 

Biodiversity offsetting is the last step in the so-called “mitigation hierarchy”, which follows this order: avoid/prevent --> minimize --> rehabilitate --> offset. Thus, avoidance is the best option, followed by minimizing and/or rehabilitating impacts. Offsetting only occurs if impacts remain even after all other options have been exhausted.

 

The aim is to achieve zero net loss or preferably, a net gain of biodiversity. That is, by offsetting, or “setting aside”, a piece of land with equivalent biodiversity as that which will be impacted, mitigation is achieved. This buffers against the biodiversity losses incurred. Specific offset ratios are used depending on ecosystem threat status. For example, a 1:4 ratio means 4 hectares (or whichever other unit of area) of land should be set aside for every 1 hectare impacted.

 

Unfortunately, this is not always easy to achieve in practice.

 

Firstly, the offset area should be contiguous. In other words, numerous isolated patches (or “islands”) do not effectively mitigate impacts due to fragmentation effects. Instead, the goal is to have one intact offset area. Obviously, when a specific habitat/vegetation/plant community type stretches across landowner boundaries, it tremendously complicates finding a suitable offset area since all landowners must agree to offsetting (should that be the case, of course). Moreover, for some critically endangered ecosystems, there simply isn’t enough remaining to make offsetting viable.

 

Habitat equivalence is another issue: it’s not preferable to “trade in” one type for another. Instead, the same habitat or vegetation type — so-called “like for like” or “in kind” — should be used as the one to be destroyed. Monetary compensation might be acceptable in certain instances, which can then be used for other conservation purposes; however, this never truly compensates for the losses incurred, especially if threatened species or ecosystems are destroyed.

 

Finally, the offset area must be monitored and managed carefully so that it too does not degrade over time, which would defeat the purpose of having it in the first place.

 

In the end, biodiversity offsetting is only one tool for mitigating biodiversity loss and environmental damage, and should always be the last resort.

How can I identify a plant I found?

Some plants are easy to identify, some are very difficult. Ideally, you should have flowers and/or fruits, in addition to leaves, general habit, etc., to make an accurate identification.

There are many resources you can use for plant identification. Briefly, these include:

 

• Field guides: These can be national or local. Try and get field guide for your specific area.
• Apps: There are many plant identification apps, paid or free, each with its own pros and cons. They are often very useful, but are usually somewhat biased toward more generally occurring species. In a country like South Africa, which has an enormous amount of unique plant species, it can often be difficult to get a correct identification from an app.
• Online resources: This includes sites such as iNaturalist (which you can also download as a mobile app). It is a great resource and many people participate in helping with identifications, including processionals and citizen scientists.
• Herbaria: a herbarium (singular) is like a plant library and serves as a repository for plant specimens that have been collected over the years by many people. Some herbaria have hundreds of thousands of specimens. You can take your plant to a herbarium and ask  the staff for assistance in identification (note that you might need to make an appointment first).

And then of course, you can always just ask an expert botanist!

How do I know if a plant is indigenous or exotic?

Generally speaking, it’s not too difficult to find out. The Red List of South African Plants website captures the majority of plant species you’ll find in nature (it excludes the vast majority of cultivated species though). So, if you cannot find your species on the website, then chances are it’s not indigenous. However, it’s not always as straightforward as this. Synonyms (older plant names) can complicate matters since their information is not always included in the Red List data. Also, what constitutes a “indigenous” species can mean different things to different people. Ideally, it should be defined based on a species’ natural range of occurrence. Thus, a King Protea (Protea cynaroides) would technically be exotic in, for example, the Free State, since it does not occur there naturally (it only occurs naturally within fynbos habitats in the Western- and Easter Cape). Many people use political boundaries to define whether a species is indigenous or exotic. This is not biologically accurate, but is, however, necessary since regulations and law are enacted within political boundaries. So, there is no way of getting away from that definition.

How do I know if a plant is invasive?

The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10, 2004, Vol. 467, No. 26436), or NEMBA for short, has a list of invasive species. Note that it is illegal to perform so-called "restricted activities" on any listed invasive species

Just note that a species can be in the process of becoming invasive even if it is not yet listed as such. So, if you suspect that a plant is becoming a problem in your area, report it to the local authorities.

What are the regulations for removing invasive plant species?

The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10, 2004, Vol. 467, No. 26436): Alien and Invasive Species Regulations defines the categories (1a, 1b, 2, and 3) in which invasive species are listed. The categories dictate the actions to be taken when confronted with a listed invasive species — for example, compulsory removal vs. allowing a species to remain — but does not specify how species should be removed. That is, various methods exists in which to control and remove invasive species, including mechanical, chemical, and biological control. Which method is used ultimately depends on the species: a method that works great for one species might not work for another.

What is the best way to remove an invasive plant?

It all depends on the species. That’s why it’s very important to implement the correct method. In fact, you can actually worsen the problem by doing it incorrectly. Sadly, this happens more often than not when willing, but uninformed, land owners want to remove problem plants and end up having greater problems. So, it’s best to seek expert advice whenever you want to get rid of any specific plant species, whether invasive or not.

Are some plants poisonous?

Yes! Some are highly poisonous! NEVER ever eat any fruit or other parts of any plant if you don’t know what it is. The famous Greek philosopher Socrates, who lived round about 399 BC, was forced to commit suicide by drinking poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), a plant species that belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae). In fact, death through hemlock poisoning was a common punishment for ancient Greek prisoners. This just goes to show how dangerous some plants can be. South Africa is no stranger to poisonous plants, and various cultures even use poisonous plants in some of their rituals (note: we don’t endorse this). A fascinating read on this topic is “Poisonous Plants of South Africa” by Ben-Erik Wyk.

So, be careful whenever handling unknown plant species; wear gloves and eye protection for your safety. Better yet, leave it to the experts. Remember: ALWAYS consult with an expert if you are unsure of whether a plant is poisonous or not.

How can I help with protecting threatened species and ecosystems?

That’s a great question! We all need to do our part in conserving and caring for biodiversity. There are many things you can do, but here are just a few to get you started:

 

1. Consider joining a local plant enthusiast group, for example the include Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) and the Botanical Society of South Africa. Many of these groups regularly go on excursions to explore their surrounding biodiversity, as well as monitor sensitive species and record any threats. Although many of their volunteers are citizen scientists, they often have exceptional knowledge of their local biodiversity. This is a great way to learn from young and old alike! Plus, you have the added benefit of getting some exercises!
2. Consider joining iNaturalist and posting any photos you have of biodiversity. iNaturalist is a great platform for recording biodiversity with many, many contributors. Although the majority of users are citizen scientists, some are actual botanical experts and scientists (as well as experts in all other areas, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, insects... even fungi!). Some of these experts have many decades of experience and are more than willing to help out. Just a note when posting photos: you should ideally get an accurate locality for where you observed the species, and also try and get a couple of good photos of the species, for example some close-ups, some habitat shots, and any other interesting features.
3. Consider joining a local hacking group. Similar to the previous, these groups also often go on excursions into their local surroundings, but they instead specifically focus on removing invasive alien plants. Not only will you get hands on experience with identifying and removing problem plants, you will actually benefit the local environment, as well as the regulatory authorities, by removing these pesky plants! Some of these hacking groups are even involved in the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded environments.