The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has established an independent environmental monitoring committee (EMC) to oversee the environmental aspects of the construction of the N2 Wild Coast toll road.

The committee will act as a watchdog, monitor and auditor to ensure that the toll road complies with the specific conditions of the environmental authorisation and the requirements of the approved environmental management programme for the project. It will also ensure that the conditions of all other environmental permits issued for the project are met.

According to Sanral environmental manager Mpati Makoa, establishing the EMC, with an independent chairperson, was part of these conditions.
 
The committee comprises environmental subject matter experts, representatives from South African conservation and wildlife organisations, various government departments and/or State entities, local municipalities and from the traditional authorities of Mpondoland.
 
The committee will provide a forum for the discussion and resolution of environmental issues, promote participation of stakeholders in environmental monitoring and provide the opportunity to reach common understanding among interested groups about the nature, scope and results of monitoring.
 
“The route has been planned to reduce the impact on environmentally sensitive biomes and existing human communities and settlements,” stated Makoa.
 
These measures include a search and rescue process through which rare, endangered and endemic species and species of conservation value will be translocated to suitable nurseries, to assist with the rehabilitation of disturbed areas after construction and to re-establish an existing conservation area where applicable.
 
“The establishment of the environmental monitoring committee is another level of assurance for concerned groups or individuals that the environment of the Wild Coast is one of our key priorities,” concluded Makoa.