Passerina Paludosa - critically endangered
This endangered species occurs only on Cape Flats wetlands, and the toll road will run right through two known populations. There isn't much of this plant's habitat left. What makes this particular population so important is the fact that it is the most western population of passerina palludosa. In times of climate change such as we are experiencing with global warming it is the populations on the extremities that are most likely to survive - which makes this population critical to the survival of the species.
This picture was taken in a place that will be in the middle of the proposed road. It is mentioned in the Environmental Impact assessment and the proposed mitigation is to keep the road as far to the north as possible. Unfortunately, this will still cover the spot where the plants are now.
This population also shows evidence that a grysbok is living in that area - it has browse marks on lower branches. Proposals to move thickets and vegetation will most likely flush these shy nocturnal buck and runs the risk of killing them. In any event the road will destroy this buck's habitat.
You can use the photo on the left as a computer desktop wallpaper by downloading it from this page.
Bufo Pantheris - critically endangered
The Western Leopard Toad is a unique species that occurs only in the Zandvlei area and NOWHERE ELSE. It forages on the dry land near wetlands, and needs to be near water for breeding. Also known as the "August Frog" because it's mating calls in August sound like somebody snoring - these toads are frequently found in the gardens of the residents of the Marina da Gama and Norfolk Park. Those residents in the know are careful to avoid harming them - to the point where they drive down Lake road very slowly at night to avoid accidentally running them over.
The Toll Road will effectively halve the toad's feeding area (this will effectively halve the population). In addition, the road users will not be taking care to avoid the toads and road deaths may well extinguish this creature.
The toad on the left was photographed in our house one night after it hopped into our bedroom looking for insects to eat.
Kedestes lenis - endangered
This butterfly develops from larva on Imperata arundinacea. It is not known which plants the butterfly pollinates (we could be removing a vital link in a symbiotic relationship).
Even if the developers re-establish the butterfly population after the road is built - butterflies will fly where they will and road deaths on car windscreens will ultimately extinguish it and the plants it has a symbiotic relationship with.
The road developer's environmentalists suggest that this species is not threatened by the road because there is another population of them in an area not affected by the road. They propose re-establishing K. lenis in the area after the road is built, but admit they do not know whether this will work. In other words, they are prepared to halve the known population of a rare and endangered species in order to get their consulting fees.
The picture at left was taken in the area due to be covered by road. I do not know what species of butterfly this is.
Satyrium Carneum - ground orchid and friends
This ground orchid flowers in spring. If you are not there when it flowers, you would never know that it exists. In the background of this picture is a pelargonium, and a myriad of other species that flower at other times. You really had to be there and go down on your hands and knees to see the huge diversityof plants in that tiny spot.
This is just one of thousands of such spots all along the proposed toll road. The environmental impact consultants have not been on their hands and knees - they haven't even been there 4 times (once for each season). In fact, some of them have never been to the affected areas (they do desk studies and hypothesise about the survival of species likely to be found in such areas).
Nobody knows exactly what the impact of the road will be. Nobody even knows all the species in its path. How dare they suggest that they know enough to 'mitigate' the effects of the road?
The picture on the left was taken in the Zandvlei Nature Reserve, an area that will be severely degraded due to the road. According to the Nature Conservation Officer in the area, the Nature Reserve will become non-viable if the road goes ahead.
Environmental Education - for previously disadvantaged children
After school, these children walk from their crowded, busy, and garden-less homes to the Zandvlei Nature Reserve to learn about conservation, nature and things like the natural cycle of water. As they leave their suburb behind, they enter a two-hundred metre wide natural area just before they enter the reserve. A place to leave the turmoil and stress of their surroundings behind as they prepare for class.
The open area is the road reserve, and will soon be a 6-lane highway. This highway will be about 70m from the classroom shown on the left. Education about Nature will become more theory than practice - over the din of a highway.
The environmental consultants have proposed a mitigation measure for these children - a footbridge over the 6-lane highway. Now they can have the best of both worlds - experience of living next to a highway in the inner city while they learn the theory about conservation and nature. One consultant suggests that the verges of the highway would make a good open-air classroom (I kid you not, read it here).
The picture on the left was taken during an afternoon stroll through the Zandvlei Nature Reserve. The children are learning about the water cycle.