Event Details

IAIAsa Mpumalanga Branch

ONLINE WEBINAR


Planning and Biodiversity considerations for Renewable Energy Projects in MPU


The Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency (MTPA) comments on the impact of development projects on biodiversity in Mpumalanga. The MTPA is experiencing a recent influx of renewable energy applications, with 24 new applications since January 2022. The MTPA assesses the sensitivity of development applications against the Mpumalanga Biodiversity Sector Plan (MBSP), however wind farms pose a new challenge. Bird and bat species are most at risk of collisions with wind turbines. Wind farms will result in the continuous loss of individual birds due to collisions, which may be reduced with mitigation, but sensitivity of wind farms need to be assessed in terms of meta-population dynamics, with the need for avoiding wind farms in "source" areas, while favouring their location in "sink" areas. Besides the MBSP, local municipalities also have spatial planning tools that need to be considered in renewable applications, such as municipal bylaws, Spatial Development Frameworks and Land Use Schemes.

Agenda

10:00 - 10:10
Welcome & Introductions
10:10 - 10:40
Refreshing knowledge of the MPU Biodiversity Sector Plan
10:40 - 11:00
Q & A
11:00 - 11:30
Biodiversity considerations for Renewable Energy Projects in MPU
11:30 - 11:50
Questions & Answers
11:50 - 12:20
Renewable Energy applications and the role of SDFs, LUS, and bylaws, in the decision-making process
12:20 - 12:55
Q & A and Discussion
12:55 - 13:00
Closing remarks and Announcements

Speakers

  • Dr Mervyn Lotter (Control Scientist: Biodiversity Planning at Mpumalanga Tourism & Park Agency (MTPA))

    Dr Mervyn Lotter

    Control Scientist: Biodiversity Planning at Mpumalanga Tourism & Park Agency (MTPA)

    Mervyn joined the Transvaal Provincial Administration in 1994 as a botanist working on the conservation of threatened plants. This organisation later became known as the Mpumalanga Tourism & Park Agency. He contributed towards two noteworthy publications: Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park (2002); and the Trees and shrubs of Mozambique (2018). Mervyn now heads up the MTPA’s Biodiversity Planning and GIS unit where he has developed two systematic conservation plans for Mpumalanga. He is a JuniperGIS authorised Master Instructor. He holds a PhD (botany) from the University of the Witwatersrand and has contributed to several peer reviewed articles on the subject matter of botany, taxonomy, and systematic biodiversity planning. Mervyn is also an Honorary Researcher appointed in the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand.

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  • NB

    Ninette Barnard

    Environmental Manager at Africoal Plant Hire

    IAIAsa Mpumalanga Branch Committee

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  • Greg Beyers (President 2023/2024 at IAIAsa)

    Greg Beyers

    President 2023/2024 at IAIAsa

  • Marius Loock (Chief Town and Regional Planner : Directorate: Spatial Planning of COGTA - Mpumalanga)

    Marius Loock

    Chief Town and Regional Planner : Directorate: Spatial Planning of COGTA - Mpumalanga

    Marius holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Town and Regional Planning from the University of Notrh-West and has 20 years’ experience (9 years in private sector) in town and regional planning. He has joined the Mpumalanga Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in 2012 as Chief Town and Regional Planner and currently heads the Directorate: Spatial Planning.

    The core purpose of his unit is to assist local government to align and implement their spatial planning tools (Spatial Development Frameworks, Land Use Schemes, municipal by-laws) in accordance to the provisions of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).

    He has developed 8 municipal SDFs, 2 Land Use Schemes, assisted with the review of 16 municipal SDFs, the drafting of 17 Municipal Spatial Planning and Land Use Management By-Laws and spearheaded the compilation of the Provincial Spatial Development Framework (PSDF).

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  • Lutendo Ndou (Principal Consultant at Matavha Environmental Pty Ltd)

    Lutendo Ndou

    Principal Consultant at Matavha Environmental Pty Ltd

    IAIAsa Mpumalanga Branch Chair

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