South Africa Conference & Workshop
Protea Hotel, Wonderes, Illovo, Johannesburg 28 - 30 Janurary 2010
Presenter Biographies
GREER HAWLEY
CURRICULUM VITAE
Dr Greer Leigh Hawley
Date of birth: 30 May 1978
QUALIFICATIONS
BSc (University of Cape Town)
BSc (Botany Hons) (University of Cape Town),
PhD (Rhodes)
ASSOCIATIONS
South African Association of Microbiology
International Association for Impact Assessment
South African Association of Botany
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
| 1998 | Botanical consultant: University of Cape Town Laboratory assistant: University of Cape Town |
| 1999 | Undergraduate Tutor: University of Cape Town |
| 2000- 2001 | Temporary administrative position: Robert Half International, London Assistant Office Manager: Warwick House, London Office administration: West London Magistrates Court, London |
| 2002 | Laboratory Assistant: Amphigro |
| 2002- 2007 | Undergraduate Tutor: Botany and Microbiology, Rhodes University |
| 2006- 2007 | Laboratory researcher: Abalone Probiotic isolation and testing, Rhodes University |
| 2007 | Laboratory assistant and product quality control: Mycoroot (pty) Ltd, Grahamstown |
| 2007- 2009 | Senior Environmental Consultant - Coastal & Environmental Services |
Carried out numerous Environmental Impact Assessments
Produced a number of Ecological Specialist studies
Provided input, report writing and management of Spatial Development Frameworks
Provided input and carried out report writing of Feasibility studies in the Wild Coast
RESEARCH INTERESTS
In the last 10 years, Dr Greer Hawley has been involved in a number of diverse activities. The core academic focus has however, been directed in the field of taxonomy both in the plant and fungal kingdom. The theory of taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis has been applied to further knowledge of species identification and understanding of biodiversity in South Africa. Greer’s research ranges from studying fresh and marine algae, estuarine diatoms, Restio species classification in the fynbos vegetation and fungal species identification and ecology in Pinus plantation in Mpumalanga. Greer’s Microbiological study of Ectomycorrhizal fungi have also contributed towards an understanding of soil ecology and “below ground” networks, including plant pathogens, saprotrophic micro-organisms and mutual symbioses (arbuscular mycorrhiza and nitrogen-fixing bacteria) that provide a living medium for all plant life.
POST GRADUATE STUDENT SUPERVISION
2005 – 2007: 3 Honours students in the Mycology Unit, Rhodes University
2006: MSc student in the Mycology Unit, Rhodes University.
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Hawley GL and Dames JF. 2004. Mycorrhizal status of indigenous tree species in a forest biome of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 100, 633-637.
Hawley GL and Dames JF. (2008). Ectomycorrhizas in association with Pinus in South Africa. South African Journal of Science.
RECENT EIA’s AND RELEVANT STUDIES
Specialist studies
Sensitive Ecology Assessment: Mncwasa Water Scheme
Vegetation Rehabilitation Plan: Peregrine Dunes Golf Estate
Ecological Impact Assessment: Peregrine Dunes Golf Estate
Vegetation Assessment: Atterbury Development
Wild Coast Forest Survey: (current) DWAF/EC Parks initiative
Biodiversity and Ecological Impact Assessment, Sierra Leone, Addax Biofuels
Land use Impact Assessment, Sierra Leone, Addax Biofuels
Carbon Stock Impact Assessment, Sierra Leone, Addax Biofuels
Feasibility studies
Nkanya Lodge Feasibility Study: Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) initiative
Basic Impact Assessments
Waterfall Country Estate: Port Elizabeth
Nkanya Lodge: Nkanya
Schafli Road Retirement village: Great Kei LM
Environmental Control Officer
Mpekweni Beach Resort expansion and construction of Waste water treatment works
Full Scoping and EIA
Buffalo City R72 re-alignment: Sleeper site
Wild Coast Abalone expansion and processing plant
Mpekweni Beach Resort Waste Water Treatment Works
All Saints Hospital Waste Water Treatment Works (current)
Summerpride Residential Village
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTATION
Topic
Biofuels: the role of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and associated challenges.
Brief Description
The field of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is a process which identifies issues and impacts, assesses the significance of impacts using criteria, provides recommendations for mitigation and provides an objective opinion on the whether the remaining environmental impact of a project is acceptable. How the EISA is carried out is guided by International and national guidelines to be elaborated in the presentation.
The advent of Biofuel and Biofuel production has resulted in a number of challenges facing the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) field as it is associated with and number of highly complex and dynamic issues such as society and communities, land-use change, carbon stocks, sustainability, food security and overall life cycle assessment.
Coastal & Environmental Services (CES) have undergone a number of ESIA’s with particular respect to Biofuel production from food and non-food crops. As such, CES have had the opportunity to research some of the major issues and challenges facing ESIA in association with Biofuel agriculture and ethanol production and will report on some of these.
During the ESIA process of a case-study Biofuel project, two new specialist studies were identified as important elements of the impact assessment, namely a Carbon Stock Impact Assessment and a Life-cycle Impact Assessment. This presentation reports on the challenges and potential ways forward in terms of the assessment and scales of significance which need to be considered for future impact assessments.
REFERENCES
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007): Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ and Hanson CE, (Eds) Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 976pp.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2006) Eggleston HS., Buendia L, Miwa K, Ngara T and Tanabe K (eds) 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Volume 1-5), Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Published by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2003) Penman J, Gytarsky M, Hiraishi T, Krug T, Kruger D, Pipatti R, Buendia L, Miwa K, Ngara T, Tanabe K and Wagner F (eds) (2003) Good Practice Guidelines for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry. Published by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan.
- National Environment Management: Air Quality Act (39 of 2004)
- Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. Official Journal of the European Union L140, pp 16-62.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Earth Summit (1992): Kyoto Protocol
RELATED PROJECTS AND SUCCESS STORIES
Involvement in Similar Projects
- EIA for Jatropha Biofuel project in Zambia.
- EIA for Sugarcane Biofuel project in Mozambique.
- EIA for Sugarcane Biofuel project in Sierra Leone with particular reference to Carbon Stock and Life Cycle Impact Assessment.
Other related endeavours in South Africa in the renewable energy sector.
- EIAs for wind farms in South Africa.
- Renewable energy policies and strategies in the Eastern Cape.
- Clean development Mechanism projects: carbon credits (biogas, gasification and reduction of fossil fuel utilisation, renewable energy).
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for transport and public sectors.