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This Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Draft EIAR) has been compiled based on the impact assessment undertaken as part of the Scoping and EIA Process for the proposed Sani Pass Road Upgrade. The Scoping and EIA Process was undertaken in compliance and accordance with the NEMA and associated EIA Regulations of July 2006 (Government Notice No. R385 to 387).

The Department of Transport (DOT) proposes to continue with the upgrading of the existing Sani Pass Road (P318), which transects the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (UDP WHS) near Himeville, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This is the second phase of a twophase project. Phase 1 has been granted environmental authorisation and construction has commenced. The second phase, for which this EIA is being conducted, extends from km 14 at the old Good Hope Trading Post, which is also the eastern boundary of the UDP WHS, to km 33, the summit of the Sani Pass at the Lesotho Border post, a total distance of 19kms.

In order to undertake the proposed upgrade, DOT is required to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and compile an EMP in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (Act 107 of 1998). Arcus GIBB (Pty), an independent company has been appointed to conduct the EIA for the Upgrading of the Sani Pass Road.

This environmental authorisation process commences with an Environmental Scoping Phase (hereafter referred to as the ‘Scoping Phase’). Following submission of the Final Scoping Report (FSR) (this document) and associated Plan of Study for the Impact Assessment Phase, to and approval by the DEAT, the Impact Assessment Phase will be completed. A prescribed Public Participation Process runs concurrently with the Scoping and Impact Assessment Phases.

Official information sheet on the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage Site, as published by the UNEP-WCMC (United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre) on behalf of UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization).

It is easy to forget about the significance and uniqueness of the natural and cultural heritage we have in the Drakensberg. This document contains some interesting facts and details about the history, fauna and flora of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.

An MSc thesis by Nicholas Mulder presenting an interesting analysis of snowfall in the Maloti-Drakenberg based on satellite images from 1989-2004.

Abstract:

Snow occurs in the High Drakensberg of southern Africa approximately eight times per annum.

Snow cover is frequently captured by Landsat satellite imagery, which provide data for the monitoring of snow cover in other regions of the world. Together with a digital elevation model, repetitive snow cover data are used to analyse the distribution of snow cover in the High Drakensberg study area.

The effect that the regional and local topography, latitude, and climatic conditions have on the spatial distribution of snow and the function that temperature, wind, altitude, aspect and slope gradient play in the preservation of snow cover are examined. The results of the spatial study allow for the identification of sites that support the accumulation of snow. Specific active and relict geomorphological features were surveyed and correlated spatially to the contemporary snow cover. Among such features are linear debris ridges on south-facing valley slopes in the High Drakensberg. These appeared similar to glacial features found elsewhere in the world and are thus significant in a long-standing and highly conjectured debate over the validity of possible plateau, cirque and niche glaciation in the region.

Late-lying snow cover favours gently sloping south- and southeast-facing aspects at altitudes from 3000 m ASL to just below the highest peaks in the region near 3450 m ASL, above which higher insolation levels on the flat mountain summits provides unfavourable conditions. Snow cover immediately adjacent to the Drakensberg escarpment ablates quickly whilst snow cover at high altitudes in the Lesotho interior experiences better preservation conditions. Latitude has no obvious impact on the distribution of snow cover due to the dominant role of topography in the High Drakensberg other than a limiting of snowfall to regions south of 29°S in late spring. Various synoptic conditions produce snowfall in the region, with cold fronts associated with midlatitude cyclones producing the majority of snow cover.

A strong correlation exists between the spatial distribution of snow cover and specific geomorphological features. Observed linear debris ridges are located on slopes that experience frequent contemporary snow cover, lending credence for a glacial origin of the ridges during a period of colder environmental conditions.

Note: file size is 188MB.

This map represents the current land use within the Maloti Drakesnberg Transfrontier Project area.

This map shows the 1:50 000 topographic sheet coverage of the present Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project boundary.

This map shows the Land Cover types around the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Pprjetc Biodiversity Planning Domain.

The "Leave No Trace" leaflet for hikers, as published by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, applicable for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.