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Botanical Assessment
of site for proposed Life Sciences
Building at the University of the
Western Cape, Bellville,
City of Cape Town
Report by Dr David J. McDonald
Bergwind Botanical Surveys & Tours CC.
14A Thomson Road, Claremont, 7708
Tel / Fax: 021-671-4056
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
1. Introduction
The botanical assessment covered in this report was commissioned by the University of the
Western Cape, Bellville (UWC). UWC proposes to develop a tract of land of 0.89 ha within
the University precinct for the purposes of constructing a new Life Sciences building. The
botanical evaluation of the site forms part of an environmental sensitivity assessment that is
necessary because the site is on deep sands that supports Sand Fynbos. This vegetation
type has been heavily impacted by development on the Cape Flats – where UWC is situated
– and elsewhere. This report examines the state of the site of the proposed development in
terms of its botanical attributes and the future of the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos in the
designated area in the light of the proposed development. The recommended guidelines for
specialist studies of this nature (Brownlie 2005, De Villiers et al. 2005) have been followed.
2. Terms of Reference
 To examine and record the vegetation of the proposed development site for a new
Life Sciences complex at UWC.
 To look for any sensitive habitats and rare or endangered plant species that
should be avoided or that may require ‘search and rescue’ interventions should
the development proceed on the proposed site and the habitat be unavoidably
impacted by the proposed development.
 To identify ‘no go’ zones and areas of opportunities and constraints from a
botanical perspective.
 To provide recommendations re mitigation for any negative impacts on the natural
vegetation at the site.
3. Study Area
3.1 Site description, location and history
The site under investigation is situated on the Cape Flats within the property of the
University of the Western Cape (Figures 1 & 2). It is currently an undeveloped portion of
land that has a ‘dog-leg’ shape. It is closely adjacent to Modderdam Road on its western
boundary whereas to the north it is bordered by a UWC parking area and to the east
prefabricated buildings and the precinct where the security dogs are housed. The
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
southern boundary is a fence that separates the site from another portion of vacant land
forming part of the Senate House area.
Figure 1. Location of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on the Cape Flats in relation to
Cape Town.
The Cape Flats Nature Reserve (CFNR) (Figure 2) is on the campus of the UWC but is
specifically set aside for the conservation of plant and faunal communities typical of the
sandy Cape Flats. It was officially proclaimed in 1977 under Section 12(4) of the Nature
Conservation Ordinance of 1974 and was declared a National Monument in 1978. It
serves for experimental and research work and environmental education (Low 1986).
This study is confined to the ‘dog’s leg’ area (Figure 2) that has been managed as part of
the CFNR but which is not formally part of the proclaimed CFNR as surveyed and
recognized by the UWC Planning Department. The ‘dog’s leg’ has been part of
discussions and memoranda concerning ‘land swaps’ between the CFNR and the ‘main
campus’ to consolidate the area available to the UWC authorities for development of
buildings on the UWC main campus. In 1988 it was extracted from the CFNR in a resurvey of the boundaries of the CFNR where the ‘dog’s leg and the northern portion of the
CFNR (where the School of Government is now situated and from there southeastwards
to the railway line) were ‘traded’ as part of a land swap for a triangular portion of
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
Figure 2. Aerial image GOOGLE (Image from Google-Earth 2006 ©)
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
land that has now been incorporated into the CFNR at the southwestern end of the ‘dog’s
leg’ portion, however, has been recognized as an important fragment of Cape Flats
habitat that augments the CFNR and its conservation purposes. In the period since the
inception of the CFNR and subsequent to the resurvey of the boundaries it has been
managed as part of the CFNR. Thus the evaluation of the vegetation and flora of the
‘dog’s leg’ is made in the context of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve as a whole for
comparative purposes but the focus is on the merits and demerits of the ‘dog’s leg’ itself
and how it will be impacted by any proposed development.
3.2 Geology and topography
The study area is almost flat and lies at an elevation of approximately 60 m a.m.s.l. The
substrate consists of deep, alkaline to acid sands of Recent and Tertiary origin. The area
would have consisted of a series of dunes and depressions but the southern boundary
was bulldozed to form a ‘berm’. An underground cable was also laid diagonally across the
site from a mid-point on the southern boundary north-westwards and a linear depression
was formed. These activities introduced some physical disturbance to the site and
changed its topography. The site is therefore slightly higher (by 1-1.5m) in the south and
is lower and flattens out to the north and west. A low depression is also found in the
narrow portion near the footbridge (Figure >>).
3.3 Climate
The Cape Flats is subject to a mediterranean-type climate with hot, dry summers and
cool, wet winters. The average rainfall is in excess of 500 mm per annum and mean
temperatures are 20.4 °C in mid-summer (January) and 11.8 °C in mid-winter (July). Mists
occur mainly in May and strong desiccating bergwinds can occur preceding the arrival of
cold fronts in winter. Frosts occur rarely in winter. The study site falls within this climatic
regime.
4. Evaluation Method
The ‘dog leg’ site was evaluated by walking around the site on the existing paths to obtain
an overall impression of the site. Then the area was traversed on foot during which time
the site was ‘searched’ for the species occurring there. A list of species was made and
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
notes were compiled on the vegetation and plant species at the site. This was compared
with existing records for the site while in the field. Co-ordinates were taken of random
points throughout the site using a GPS and notes made that were linked to these points in
order to build up a ‘picture’ of the vegetation (Figure 3). Particular attention was given to
the possibility of finding ‘red data’ species. Other site characteristics such as geology,
soil, disturbance and faunal activity were also recorded. Photographs were taken to
provide a record of the vegetation at the site.
Figure 3. Map of portion of UWC showing proximity of the site to Modderdam Road and the
sampling track logged by GPS while on the site, with waypoints denoted as UWC #.
Mapping of the vegetation of the ‘dog’s leg’ was also informed by two colour aerial
photographs taken of the CFNR in 1996 and 2001.
5. The Vegetation
5.1 The vegetation in context
The unabated demand for land for urban development has seen the unprecedented growth
of housing and industrial developments on the Cape Flats since the early 1980’s. In a
survey of conservation priority of the Cape Flats by McDowell (1990) stated,
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
‘The objective of the survey, as described within this report, has been to promote the
protection of that privately and / or publicly owned open space which still supports natural
plant cover within the study region. At present, the total area of remnant vegetation
enjoying formal conservation status is negligible.
On the other side of the coin, the survey recognizes the dire demand for land to be used to
meet the escalating demands of a rapidly burgeoning population for residential, industrial
and educational facilities. It is the actual siting of such development which is at issue. The
present study has demonstrated that large open areas still exist which have negligible
quality as natural ecosystems. Such areas should be earmarked for development – not
those sites containing highly valued natural assets.’
Significant further loss of natural habitat has occurred since the time of McDowell’s report
and with it many endemic plant species (Maze, Kätzschner & Myrdal 2002). Historically the
vegetation on the Cape Flats was mainly Sand Fynbos. The exceptions were areas where
limestone or calcareous dunes occurred, where the vegetation was more a thicket and was
referred to as Dune Thicket (Low & Rebelo 1996) or Cape Flats Fynbos – Thicket Mosaic
(Cowling et al. 1999; Cowling & Heijnis 2001). The national classification of the vegetation
of South Africa, recently published as maps, classifies the vegetation as Cape Flats Sand
Fynbos (FFd5) (Mucina, Rutherford & Powrie 2005). For practical interpretive reasons,
Helme et al. (2005) grouped the vegetation type found on the Cape Flats with other types
under the heading of ‘Lowland Fynbos Ecosystems’, incorporating Sand Fynbos and
Limestone Fynbos. Estimates as at 1996 were that 81% of the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
had been transformed (Rouget et al. 2004), however, due to substantial urban pressure it is
now believed that even more of this vegetation type has been lost with possibly more to
follow. It is thus a CRITICALLY ENGANGERED vegetation type (Rouget et al. 2004; Helme
et al. 2005). Every fragment of land on the Cape Flats that harbours natural vegetation is
thus important and should be seen as vital in the patchwork of conservation areas
necessary to ensure the continued survival of the vegetation types and the plant species
they contain.
5.2 The vegetation of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve (CFNR).
The vegetation and flora of the CFNR was described by Low (1986) where he identified two
veld types, Strandveld, a broad-leaved, sclerophyllous shrubland and alkaline Coastal
Fynbos, now known as Sand Fynbos. Details of the vegetation according to Low’s (1986)
description are given in Appendix 1. A map of the vegetation as described by Low is given
in Figure 4.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
Figure 4. Vegetation of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve (from Low 1986) showing the reserve prior
to the augmentation of the triangle at the southwestern end. The ‘dog’s leg’ portion is
highlighted by enclosure in a red line.
Portions of the two aerial photographs taken of the CFNR in 1996 and 2001 were extracted
to show the ‘dog’s leg’ section specifically (Figures 5 & 6). The 1996 photograph (Figure 5)
shows the vegetation 19 years after the reserve was proclaimed and 10 years after the
vegetation was mapped by Low (1986). The 2001 photograph (Figure 6) shows the
vegetation five years after 1996. The Google Earth ® image shown in Figure 7 shows the
vegetation presently (2006), five years after 2001. These images provide a useful record of
the changes that have occurred in the vegetation at the study site over the past 10 years.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
Figure 5. The ‘dog’s leg’ section of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve indicated by the red boundary line. Aerial photograph taken in 1996.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
Figure 6. The ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR, red boundary line as in 2001.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
Figure 7. Aerial photo of the ‘dog’s leg’ extracted from Google Earth ® showing the vegetation as in 2006.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
Low (1986) distinguished four vegetation units in the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR.
Thamnochortus erectus Veld occupied the largest area, to the southeast of the
footbridge and along the eastern to mid-central area of the western limb. Ehrharta
Grassland was found partly on the southern boundary and extending in a band from the
mid-central area to the western boundary. Closed and tall Coastal Fynbos (now called
Sand Fynbos) was found along the southern boundary and in the narrow section eastern
limb. Imperata cylindrica Grassland was to be found in the extreme northwestern corner.
The 1996 aerial photograph was not easily stratified but the vegetation as described by
Low (1986) could be distinguished although the Imperata cylindrica Grassland in the
extreme northwest corner had become overgrown with thicket vegetation by that time. The
state of the vegetation had not change much by 2001. The plant communities were mature
and the thickets dominated by Rhus species were encroaching more into the grassland
units.
In 2005 there was a fire that burnt the major part of the eastern limb of the ‘dog’s leg’
section up to the footbridge and a large part of the mid-central are up to the western
boundary at Modderdam Road. A portion from more-or-less the middle of the western limb
to the northern boundary was not burnt.
The presence of burnt and unburnt areas within the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the reserve
provided an opportunity for comparison of the vegetation in a post-fire ‘pioneer’ phase with
vegetation in a mature state. The drawback, however, was that the field work was
conducted in late October so most of the winter-flowering geophytes had already set seed
and were not readily identified.
5.2.1
Description of the vegetation at random positions within the ‘dog’s leg’
The following is a description of the vegetation at random positions (co-ordinates given)
within the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR based on field notes. These notes correspond to
the positions in Figure 3.
UWC 1: S 33° 55’ 52.2 E 18° 37’ 28.0
A large clump of Rhus lucida is found at the entrance gate from the parking area off
Access Way. Towards the security dog kennels to the east there is a lot of grass,
dominated by Ehrharta calycina, E. villosa and Bromus cf. diandrus. Thamnochortus
erectus also occurs here as does Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Aspalathus hirsutus,
Conicosia pugioniformis and Willdenowia teres. Hyobanche sanguinea was found
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
parasitizing other plants in this area. Invasive Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) is
found along the fence. Along the northern fence-line there is mainly a grassy layer but also
some low shrubs.
UWC2: S 33° 55’ 51.3” E 18° 37’ 30.0”
There is an extensive patch of the succulent sour fig Carpobrotus edulis at this position
and a stand of Senecio halimifolius in the area too. Lantana camara, an exotic invasive
species is encroaching in the thickets.
Avena fatua, exotic wild oats is growing amongst Ehrharta villosa in the northwest corner of
the site. The sedge Scirpus nodosus occurs here and there is a stand of Hellmuthia
membranacea. This indicates wet conditions, at least at some time of the year. On drier
areas the succulent Conicosia pugioniformis is found.
UWC 3: S 33° 55’50.2” E 18° 37’ 29.8”
Position of Dovyalis caffra (Kei Apple)– an indigenous species not native to this area,
found in the northwest corner of the site.
A break has been cleared all along the fence along Modderdam Road. Dodonaea
angustifolia (Sand Olive) is growing amongst Rhus spp. and other shrubs.
UWC 4: S 33° 55’ 50.9” E 18° 37’ 28.8”
A dense impenetrable thicket of Rhus laevigata covering an area of approximately 150m2.
UWC5: S 33° 55’ 51.5” E 18° 37’ 28.3”
A stand of Thamnochortus erectus extends from the Rhus laevigatus thicket (above) along
the Modderdam Road fence. Interspersed between the T. erectus is a stand of another
restio, Willdenowia teres.
UWC 6: S 33° 55’ 51.9” E 18° 37’ 27.3”
This position is at the junction of footpaths next to the Modderdam Road fence.
Willdenowiia teres forms a low cover here with Rhus laevigata forming a thicket behind.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
UWC 7: S 33° 55’ 52.3” E 18° 37’ 28.9”
Large Euclea racemosa ‘tree’ towards the northern boundary of the site.
UWC 8: S 33° 55’ 53.0” E 18° 37’ 27.6”
Amongst Thamnochortus erectus and Willdenowia teres old veld. There is a concentration
of Moraea fugax in this area with synchronous flowering happening in the afternoon
(23/10/2006).
UWC 9: S 33° 55’ 53.0” E 18 37’ 25.5”
Burnt area near a large clump of Rhus laevigata that was burnt in the fire, near
Modderdam Road fence.
UWC 10: S 33° 55’ 53.4” E 18° 37’ 24.9”
Another thicket of R. laevigata that was burnt in the fire; also close to Modderdam Road
fence.
UWC 11: S 33° 55’ 54.2” E 18° 37’ 23.8”
Burnt out Rhus lucida thicket in the southwest corner of the site. It is now a tangle of burnt
branches with lots of Senecio elegans pioneering in the open sandy areas. A few plants of
Hellmuthia membranacea and a tiny sedge cf. Scirpus antarcticus were also found in this
area.
UWC 12: S 33° 55’ 54.8” E 18° 37’ 24.0”
A stand of Rhus lucida, mostly burnt but some regenerating (resprouting at the base of
burnt shrubs). This area is very weedy with a number of plants of the exotic manatoka
(Myoporum tenuifolium) growing vigorously after the fire.
The fire was obviously very hot around the area of UWC 11 and UWC 12 because not very
many grasses have grown after the fire. The area is dominated by Senecio elegans.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
UWC 13: S 33° 55’ 56.0 E 18° 37’ 27.6”
This position is near the corner of the prefab building and fence in the low-lying area. The
vegetation is dominated by Ehrharta calycina and Imperata cylindrical with other species
such as Moraea fugax, Hellmuthia membranacea, Jamesbrittenia tomentosa, Senecio
elegans, cf. Scirpus antarcticus also present. At the side of the building are shrubs of
Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Metalasia muricata and Senecio halimifolius.
UWC 14: S 33° 55’ 57.3” E 18° 37’ 27.5”
In the ‘middle’ of the low-lying area on the eastern limb of the ‘dog’s leg’. The area is
dominated by Imperata cylindrica.
UWC 15: S 33° 55’ 56.2” E 18° 37’ 25.1”
On southern boundary next to field near Senate House. There is extensive dune mole-rat
activity in this area. The dominant grass on the ridge is Ehrharta calycina. The exotic
annual grasses such as Bromus cf. diandrus and Avena fatua were in seed and drying off
at the time of sampling. Jamesbrittenia tomentosa also occurs in patches.
Along the fence is a group of shrubs including Olea exasperata, Cotoneaster sp., Reseda
sp., Chrysanthemoides monlilfera, Rhus laevigata, Schinus molle and Rhus crenata.
UWC 16: 33° 55’ 58.1 E 18° 37’27.3
Located in a sandy patch with Imperata cylindrica on the ridge in the southeast corner near
the footpath. A large clump of Thamnochortus erectus is found in the southeast corner of
the eastern limb.
UWC 17: S 33° 55’ 58.7 E 18° 37’ 28.1
This location is close to the “footbridge” fence and escaped the fire in 2005. Plants that
occur in the area are Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Ehrharta calycina, Reseda sp.,
Asparagus capensis, Rhus laevigata, Senecio halimifolia, Willidenowia teres and
Pentaschistis cf. pallida.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
UWC 18: S 33° 55’ 57.8” E 18° 37’ 28.0
This position is in the low-lying ‘vlei’ area west of the footbridge. It was burnt in the 2005
fire and it was remarkable that no Bromus spp. were present in this area. The species
recorded there are:
Imperata cylindrica – dominant
Hellmuthia membranacea – co-dominant
Senecio halimifolius
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Ehrharta calycina
Pelargonium capitatum
Metalasia muricata
Acacia saligna (seedlings)
Pentaschistis cf. pallida
Conicosia pugioniformis
Senecio elegans
UWC 19: S 33° 55 55.8 E 18° 37 26.7
This position is in the ‘middle’ of the site where it was burnt. Rhus laevigata is resprouting.
The dominant grass is Ehrharta calycina which is 1 – 1.2 m tall.
UWC 20: S 33° 55’ 55.1 E 18° 37 25.9
At this position there are some large patches of the succulent Conicosia pugioniformis
together with the grass Vulpia myuros. The geophyte Ferraria crispa was also recorded
here.
5.2.2 General summary description of the vegetation
The area towards the north of the site, adjacent to the students’ parking area was not burnt
in 2005. Some of the shrubs e.g. Euclea racemosa and Rhus sp. Are in excess of 3 m tall.
The vegetation is dense and old (mature) and well developed and the thickets of shrubs
are interspersed with stand of Thamnochortus erectus and Willdenowia teres. Parasitic
plants like root parasite Hyobanche sanguinea are found under the shrubs.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
The area to the south and southeast was burnt in the 2005 fire and now the shrubs such as
Rhus spp. and Senecio halimifolius are resprouting. Some Thamnochortus erectus is also
regenerating wheras some large tussocks are completely burnt off. Some forbs such as
Capnophyllum africanum as well as some dwarf shrubs like Aspalathus hirsuta are also
regenerating. Grasses, particularly Ehrharta calycina are dominant with various sedges
e.g. Ficinia spp. are also resprouting and contributing to the graminoid mix.
In the low-lying ‘vlei’ area of the eastern limb the community is dominated by the grass
Imperata cylindrica and the sedge Hellmuthia membranacea. Ehrharta spp. contribute little
here. Bromus spp. dominate in some places, particularly where the soil is more alkaline
and disturbed by mole-rat activity.
The time of year when the recording of the vegetation was conducted was not optimal. The
best time would have been in winter to spring when most species, including geophytes,
would have been evident. A single ‘sampling’ is also not ideal to build a ‘picture’ of the flora
and vegetation of a given area, in this case the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR. Therefore
the CFNR checklist, compiled over many years (L.Raitt pers. comm.) (Appendix 1) is relied
upon to provide information not available from the field survey. Where species had not
been previously recorded for the ‘dog’s leg’ they were added to the exiting list.
Attention was given particularly to locating rare and threatened species such as
Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron. This species was not found and no other rare
species were found on the ‘dog’s leg’.
5.2.3 Soils and vegetation
Since Low’s (1986) description of the vegetation of the CFNR work has been carried out on
the soils that has confirmed that they are calcareous (Unpublished data L. Raitt).
Indications are that towards the southwest the dunes and depressions are alkaline (pH 8.4)
but with a reduction in alkalinity towards the northern end of the CFNR (pH 7.9 – 8.0). This
same gradient is seen in the ‘dog’s leg’ where the southern part is alkaline (ph 8.4 – 8.7)
whereas the northern part is distinctly acid (ph 6.1 – 6.8). This means that the northern part
of the ‘dog’s leg’, in terms of soils (acid sand), is a habitat not found elsewhere in the
CFNR. This contradicts earlier assumptions that all the sandy soils of the CFNR are
calcareous.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
5.2.4 Alien invasive plant species in the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR
The sandy soils of the Cape Flats are prone to invasion by exotic plant species if they are
disturbed. The southern part of the ‘dog’s leg’ section was disturbed in the past by
bulldozing and leveling. Further disturbance on the site occurred when an 11 kV electricity
cable was laid in a trench approximately diagonally across it. These disturbances together
with the continual disturbance of the soil by dune mole-rats has encouraged the invasion of
bromes or predikantsluis (Bromus spp.) and wild oats (Avena fatua), particularly where the
sandy soil is alkaline. Vulpia myuros (rat’s tail fescue) is another introduced grass species
that is weedy and is encouraged by disturbance.
Apart from the woody alien invasive Acacia spp. and Myoporum tenuifolia that are regularly
monitored and controlled in the reserve, there are also climbers, forbs and herbs that were
recorded namely, Lantana camara, considered one of the world’s worst weeds, Oenothera
sp. (evening primrose), Vicia villosa (vetch), Echium plantagineum (Patterson’s curse or
vipers’ bugloss), Sonchus cf. oleraceus (sowthistle), Taraxacum officinale (common
dandelion) and Reseda cf. lutea (Dyer’s rocket).
6. General Assessment and Recommendations
The natural vegetation of the Cape Flats is under siege. There is very little left and what is
left is critically endangered (Maze, Kätzschner & Myrdal, 2002). Thus it is vitally important to
look at each parcel of land where such vegetation occurs or may have historically occurred.
The prospect therefore of a change in land use of the ‘dog’s leg’ portion of the CFNR is of
serious concern from a botanical point of view. Construction of a building on this site will
completely destroy the remnants of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos that occur there. There is little
that could be done to mitigate such an impact since the ecological integrity of the site would
be so changed as to make it ecologically unsustainable. This site is essentially irreplaceable
and will be a significant loss to conservation of this veld type and to achieving the national
target of conserving 30% of this veld type (Rouget et al. 2004)
The vegetation of the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR should be seen in its entirety as a
group of plant communities functioning in ecological balance and not just a collection of
individual plant species. This is important when considering the presence or absence of rare
or endangered species. Such species are only as safe as the security of the habitat in which
they occur and which they share with other companion species.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
The vegetation of the ‘dog’s leg’ section of the CFNR has been described as Cape Flats
Sand Fynbos and no rare or unexpected species were recorded in this survey. Some
special species such as Ferraria crispa and Moraea fugax and no doubt some other
geophytes were recorded, that although not rare should not be ignored.
The question therefore is whether any of the plant communities found on the ‘dog’s leg’ are
not found in the main Cape Flats Nature Reserve? From the information available, it
appears that this is not the case and that similar if not the same communities are found
within the main reserve. The only element found on the ‘dog’s leg’ is the more acid sandy
soil towards the northern end of the ‘dog’s leg but even in that area no unusually different
vegetation was found than occurs elsewhere. There are thus no areas that are considered
as ‘no go’ zones from a botanical perspective and no areas that should be set aside from
the development proposal. No obvious constraints can be placed on the development as
proposed.
Should the development of the site with a Life Sciences Building proceed it is recommended
that there should be ample opportunity offered to the staff of the Department of Biodiversity
and Conservation Biology at UWC to identify locations and to collect plants in a ‘search and
rescue’ operation that can then be transferred from the ‘dog’s leg’ to suitable sites in the
main CFNR or maintained in ex situ collections.
6. References
Brownlie, S. 2005. Guideline for involving biodiversity specialists in EIA processes: Edition
1. CSIR Report No. ENV-S-C 2005-053 C. Provincial Government of the Western
Cape: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
CFNR website: http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/eeru/cfnr/cfnr.htm
Cowling, R. & Heijnis, C. 2001. The identification of Broad Habitat Units as biodiversity
entities for systematic conservation planning in the Cape Floristic Region. South Africa
Journal of Botany 67: 15 – 38.
Helme, N. Holmes, P. & Rebelo, A.G. 2005, Lowland Fynbos Ecosystems, In: C.C. de
Villiers et al. 2005. Fynbos Forum Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental
Assessment in the Western Cape. Fynbos Forum, Cape Town.
University of the Western Cape: Botanical Assessment of site for New Life Sciences Building
De Villiers, C.C. Driver, A. Clark, B. Euston-Brown, D.I.W. Day, E.G. Job, N. Helme, N.A.
Holmes, P. M. Brownlie, S. and Rebelo, A. G. 2005. Fynbos Forum Ecosystem
Guidelines for Environmental Assessment in the Western Cape. Fynbos Forum, Cape
Town 94pp.
Low, A.B. 1986. Cape Flats Nature Reserve, University of the Western Cape. Pamphlet
published by the University of the Western Cape.
Low, A.B. & Rebelo, A.G. (Eds) 1996. Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.
Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, Pretoria.
Maze, K. Kätzschner, T. & Myrdal, B. 2002. In, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Development,
Ed. S.M. Pierce, R.M. Cowling, T. Sandwith & K MacKinnon. Biodiversity Series, World
Bank Environment Department.
Mucina, L., Rutherford, M.C., & Powrie, L.W. (Eds.). 2005. Vegetation map of South Africa,
Lesotho, and Swaziland 1:1 000 000 scale sheet maps. South African National
Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. ISBN 1-919976-22-1.
Rouget, M., Reyers, B., Jonas, Z., Desmet, P., Driver, A., Maze, K., Egoh, B. & Cowling,
R.M. 2004. South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Technical
Report.
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