This protocol provides the criteria for the specialist assessment and reporting of impacts on agricultural resources for activities requiring environmental authorisation, for onshore wind and/or solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation facilities where the electricity output is 20 megawatts or more. This protocol replaces the requirements of Appendix 6 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations5.

The assessment and reporting requirements of this protocol are associated with a level of environmental sensitivity identified by the national web based environmental screening tool (screening tool) for agricultural resources, which is based on the land capability evaluation values as provided by the Department responsible for agriculture6.

The screening tool can be accessed at: https://screening.environment.gov.za/screeningtool

______________________________________

5 The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, as promulgated in terms of Section 24(5) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998).

6 Refer to the land capability metadata sheet available on the national web based environmental screening tool.