The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), Uhambiso Consult and WBHO Construction have partnered to undertake an “environmental experiment” at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) over the next 12 months.
The baseline study, funded by the Uhambiso/WBHO joint venture, entailed a natural restoration process and allowed for ecosynthesis, wherein naturally introduced species filled the niches in a disrupted environment.
The ecosynthesis experiment kicked off this month on a downgraded 500 m2 piece of virgin land adjacent to a construction site in Zone 2 of the Port Elizabeth-based IDZ.
The process was aimed at speeding up natural ecological restoration, allowing nature to more naturally take its course after implanting soilbanks of natural seed and decreasing the amount of degradation and disruption to a landscape.
“ … it deviates from the norm of hydroseeding or direct human intervention in the rehabilitation process,” said CDC safety, health and environmental project manager Johann Brink.
The team would also measure the rainfall and germination of the natural seed bank, as well as identify the emerging seedlings, while monitoring and recording the progress being made over the 12-month period.
“Basically, we want to see what Mother Nature gets up to, so we can measure how to manage environmental support in an industrial zone and analyse how, without human intervention, the ecosystem will regenerate itself,” said Brink.
WBHO Construction, which was currently building Chinese car and truck manufacturer First Automotive Works’ (FAW's) new plant adjacent to the project, aimed to use the results to outline rehabilitation on future projects.
“We are highly interested in this baseline study, as it could form the basis of future WBHO engagements with the environment on construction projects,” said WBHO construction site manager for FAW’s plant Arnie van Jaarsveld.
Ecosynthesis had been applied in Zone 10, a construction footprint in the sand dune area of the IDZ, as well as in Zone 5 – a historical degraded area of borrow pits, with positive but untested results.
The processes, which Brink said were successful in both cases, had not been properly monitored, measured and recorded for future reference and application.