SEKHUKHUNE BIOREGIONAL PLAN Draft for discussion JUNE 2018 Agenda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SEKHUKHUNE BIOREGIONAL PLAN Draft for discussion

JUNE 2018

Agenda

• 1. Purpose of the meeting
• 2. What is Biodiversity?
• 3. What is a Bioregional Plan?
• 4. Why is a Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan needed?
• 5. Who will use the Bioregional Plan?
• 6. What is the Bioregional Plan based on?
• 7. Why is Sekhukhune Bioregion so important?
• 8. Methodology
• 9. What threats exist?
• 10. How can we manage threats?
• 11. Resolutions
• 12. Way Forward
• 13. Close & Snacks

Purpose of the meeting

• To communicate the need and significance of the Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan
• To workshop potential land use conflicts and threats, and to resolve these with the

relevant stakeholders

• To ensure that all stakeholders know how to apply the Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan

and make use of the available information

• To communicate the way forward for the Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan

What is Biodiversity?

• Made up of the words ‘biological diversity’ and refers to the variety of all life forms, including

the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, as well as the ecosystems in which they are a part

• Maintaining biodiversity is important for ensuring that life on earth can continue for all species,

including humans

• Maintaining biodiversity helps to maintain critical ecological services, such as cleaning water,

filtering air, reducing C02, preventing erosion, ensuring food production and supporting medical research

• It is also the basis for leisure, recreation and tourism, and the associated income potential for all
• f these
• Different species are adapted to thrive in different habitats. Some of the ecosystems that exist in

these different habitats are highly specialised, or unique. Others are very rare, or in danger of being completely destroyed by human activity. These important ecosystems must be more actively protected

• Where there are a significant number of intact and important ecosystems in an area

(characterised also by landforms, vegetation and human culture), a Bioregion may be declared by the MEC or Minister. The Sekhukhune District is such a bioregion.

What is a Bioregional Plan?

• A Bioregional Plan is part of a series of legislated tools identified as part of NEM:BA to aid

conservation and management of SA’s biodiversity

• Its purpose is to facilitate safeguarding of priority biodiversity areas outside of the Protected Area

Network

• The aim is to provide a map of biodiversity priority areas with accompanying guidelines to inform

land use planning, assessments, authorisations and resource management within the Bioregion

• A Bioregional Plan is the biodiversity sector’s input into various multi-sectorial planning and

authorisation processes such as EMF’s, SDF’s, SEA’s, and EIA’s

• The plan provides a spatial representation of critical biodiversity areas (CBA’s) and ecological support

areas (ESA’s) within the Sekhukhune District and aligns with existing IDP’s, SDF’s sector plans, EMF’s as well as with various regional plans and programmes

• Therefore, it is a convenient, one-stop shop for users, encompassing all important biodiversity related

considerations for land use planning, assessments, authorisations and resource management

Methodology

Why is a Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan needed?

A bioregional plan for the Sekhukhune District is warranted based on the following:

• Biodiversity value
• Range of diverse ecosystems including savanna, grasslands, indigenous forests, mountain

escarpments and wetlands

• Home to Protected Areas and Nature Reserves and the Sekhukhune Centre of Endemism
• Almost half of the district is covered by endemic / near endemic vegetation
• Ten ecosystems are listed as threatened
• Two important bird areas are present
• Pressures on biodiversity
• Agriculture expansion, human settlement expansion and new mining developments are main

pressures

• Mining and mining rights areas
• Protection of biodiversity
• Small areas earmarked for PA expansion, however, this cannot be the leading conservation

mechanism

• SDF’s will therefore be most important role players for conservation of biodiversity in the district
• Important ecological processes
• Ecosystem services and ecological infrastructure (water, carbon sinking, oxygen release, reducing

flood risk)

• Hydrological processes (overgrazing, mining, industry)
• Climate change mitigation (reforestation)
• Climate change adaptation (corridors, refugia, flood mitigation)

Who will use the Bioregional Plan?

• Mandatory users:
• Local and District Municipalities preparing IDP’s & SDF’s
• Organ of State preparing and EIP or EMF
• Environmental decision makers in terms of NEMA authorisations
• Recommended users:
• Government departments and agencies whose decisions and actions impact
• n biodiversity and the natural environment, but whose core business and

expertise is not biodiversity conservation.

• Working for Water, Working for Wetlands, Land Care and other programmes

that deal with maintaining and restoring natural resources

• Environmental consultants undertaking SEA’s, EIA’s etc
• Conservation NGO’s
• Land owners wishing to use their land for biodiversity conservation

What is the Bioregional Plan based on?

• Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan is based on the Limpopo Conservation Plan version 2

(LEDET 2013)

• Inputs included vegetation types, wetland and rivers and the distribution and habitat of

threatened species

• Biodiversity targets have been set indicating how much of each feature is required to

ensure persistence in the future

Why is the Sekhukhune Bioregion so important?

• Sekhukhune District has 23 different vegetation types
• 10 of these are classified as Threatened
• 4 are Endangered
• 6 are Vulnerable
• 4 are classified as endemic and 2 as near-endemic (26% of the District)
• 90% are under-protected
• Vulnerable Springbokvlakte Thornveld is not protected, Endangered Tzaneen Sour Lowveld

and the Vulnerable Rand Highveld Grassland and Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld are poorly protected

• K2C Biosphere Reserve covers a small portion of the District in the north
• Sekhukhune Centre of Endemism contains more than 2200 indigenous species of vascular plants,

making it an area of exceptionally high biodiversity that is globally recognized

• Schuinsdraai priority area has been identified as a key urgent priority area owing to the fact that

under 50% natural land cover remains, cultivation levels as well as, human impacts are an issue. Drakensberg-Strydompoortberge is considered a very high value focus region, while Steenkampsberge-Sekhukhune scored high values for biodiversity and CBA features.

The current systematic biodiversity plan for the province is the Limpopo Conservation Plan (version 2), 2013. One of the outputs of the LCPv2 is a map of Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs). These are classified into different categories based on biodiversity characteristics, spatial configuration and requirement for meeting targets for both biodiversity pattern and ecological processes

• PA’s include formal protected areas under NEM:PAA (National Parks, Nature Reserves, Special Nature Reserves &

Protected Environments)

• CBA’s include irreplaceable and optimal sites required to meet biodiversity targets. Mostly natural & near natural but

also degraded areas and even areas modified by agriculture (CBA 2).

• CBA 1 = No alternative sites
• CBA 2 = Alternatives may be available
• ESA’s include areas important for maintaining and supporting ecological processes & CBA’s. Natural, near natural,

degraded or even no natural remaining habitat

• ESA 1 = support for CBA’s & ecological processes
• ESA 2 = support for ecological processes
• ONA’s include natural and intact areas, but are not required to meet targets (CBA’s) or support processes (ESA’s)
• NNR’s include areas with no significant direct biodiversity value. No natural habitat or degraded areas not required as

ESA’s

Critical Biodiversity Areas

Guidelines

CBA 1

• Irreplaceable sites
• Maintain in natural state; no biodiversity loss
• Rehabilitate degraded areas
• Formally conserve where possible
• Avoid intensification of land use
• Conservation, game, urban open space, ecotourism, strictly controlled livestock permitted
• No urban land uses, intensive farming, arable agriculture, smallholdings, mining

CBA 2

• Optimal sites but alternative sites may be available
• Maintain in natural state with no biodiversity loss
• Maintain current agricultural activities
• Avoid conversion of agriculture to more intensive land uses
• Minimise impact on threatened species
• Agriculture (current), animal production, game, ecotourism permitted
• No urban land uses, intensification of current agricultural practises, mining

ESA 1

• Support for CBA’s & maintaining ecological processes
• Maintain ecosystem connectivity and functionality
• Limit loss of biodiversity pattern
• Avoid impacts on ecological processes
• Avoid intensitification of land use
• Avoid fragmentation of natural landscape
• Conservation, game, ecotourism, extensive livestock, urban open space, rural residential, small

holdings, resorts permitted

• No urban land uses, intensive farming, arable agriculture, mining

ESA 2

• Important fo maintaining ecological processes
• Maintain current land use and avoid intensification
• Conservation, game, ecotourism, extensive livestock, urban open space, rural residential, small

holdings, resorts permitted

• No intensification of land uses afftecing ecological function

• Protected Areas cover 2.0% of the district
• CBA 1 covers 31.0%
• CBA 2 covers 19.7%
• ESA 1 covers 20.4%
• ESA 2 covers 15.7%
• Other natural areas cover 5.5%
• No natural habitat remaining covers 5.6%

What threats exist?

Spatial Development Frameworks The overlay of local municipality SDFs with the CBA and ESA areas within the District was undertaken in terms of simplified SDF zones as follows:

• Transformed, including towns, settlements, strategic development areas, mining and brick works.
• Altered, including extensive agriculture, grazing, crop farming, cultivated land, subsistence agriculture

and land with arable capability.

• Natural and near-natural, including Protected Areas, conservancies. Eco-tourism areas and wildlife

areas.

• The areas shaded in red indicate non-alignments between CBA areas and transformed land uses. These

transformed land uses represent a loss of CBAs, and a threat to the biodiversity targets set for the Province.

• CBA1 areas are incompatible with urban land uses, intensive farming arable agriculture, smallholdings

and mining.

• CBA2 areas are incompatible with urban land uses, intensification of current agricultural practises and

mining. Non-alignments were noted in the following areas:

• Within Ephraim Mogale no conflicts have been identified within CBAs.
• With Elias Motsoaledi a mining belt is located in the far east.
• Within Makhuduthamaga, mineral deposits are located in the south west, future development areas

are located along the R579 in the centre of the LM.

• The SDF’s for Fetakgomo and Greater Tubatse could not be sourced.

• The areas shaded in yellow indicate non-alignments between CBA areas and altered land uses. These altered

land uses represent a potential threat to the CBA areas and to the biodiversity target set for the Province, depending on the exact nature of the land use.

• CBA1 areas are incompatible with urban land uses, intensive farming arable agriculture, smallholdings and

mining.

• CBA2 areas are incompatible with urban land uses, intensification of current agricultural practises an mining.

In this respect, potential non-alignments were noted in the following areas:

• Within Ephraim Mogale significant areas near the centre and to the north along the LM border corresponding

to general and crop farming zones.

• Within Elias Motsoaledi scattered areas in the east, south and west corresponding to high potential

agricultural zones.

• Within Makhuduthamaga, significant areas in the west corresponding to strategic development areas: areas of

possible agricultural development.

• The SDF’s for Fetakgomo and Greater Tubatse could not be sourced.
• The areas shaded in magenta indicate non-alignments between ESA1 areas and transformed land uses. These

transformed land uses represent a threat to ESA1s, which support the CBAs and maintain ecological processes.

• ESA1 areas are incompatible with urban land uses, intensive farming, arable agriculture and mining.

In this respect, potential non-alignments were noted in the following areas:

• Within Ephraim Mogale no non-alignments exist.
• Within Elias Motsoaledi no non-alignments exist.
• Within Makhuduthamaga, in mineral deposit areas in the south.
• The SDF’s for Fetakgomo and Greater Tubatse could not be sourced.

• The areas shaded in pink indicate non-alignments between ESA1 areas and altered land
• uses. These altered land uses represent a potential threat to ESA1s which support the CBAs

and which maintain ecological processes.

• ESA1 areas are incompatible with urban land uses, intensive farming, arable agriculture and

mining. In this respect, potential non-alignments were noted in the following areas:

• Within Ephraim Mogale scattered areas within the LM in strategic development areas: areas
• f possible agricultural development.
• Within Elias Motsoaledi in the south corresponding to high potential agriculture.
• Within Makhuduthamaga, scattered areas in the west and east in strategic development

areas: areas of possible agricultural development.

• The SDF’s for Fetakgomo and Greater Tubatse could not be sourced.

Tubatse Special Economic Zone

• LEDA proposes to develop the Tubatse SEZ in Burgersfort which involves phases 1 and 2

development and phase 1 is situated on Portion 10 and 29 of the Farm Spitskop 330 KT. The facilities and related infrastructure of the Tubatse SEZ aims to include heavy industrial activities (platinum smelter, base-metal refinery, hydrogen fuel cells, catalytic convertors, iron and steel furnaces, vanadium plant and ferro-chrome plant etc.), medium industrial activities, light industrial activities, logistic hub, intermodal terminal, waste-water treatment works, and other relate activities such as clusters, road networks, pipelines (LEDA, 2017).

• The Tubatse SEZ is located in the eastern area of the District just south of Steelpoort.

Clear non-alignments exist between this SEZ and the LCPv2. The SEZ predominately

• verlaps with CBAs and small areas of ESAs.
• Additionally, the Tubatse SEZ is located in the Sekhukhune Centre of Endemism, an

ecological corridor, as well as, a threatened ecosystem.

Land cover The red areas indicate conflicts between CBA zones and transformed land uses (settlements, towns):

• Non-alignment areas were scattered throughout the District but were mainly concentrated near the centre
• f the District extending north around the edges of settlements.
• These potential non-alignments represent a 1,92% loss of CBA1 areas (irreplaceable sites) and CBA2 areas

(optimal sites) within the District. The yellow areas indicate conflicts between CBA zones and altered land uses i.e. degraded land, agriculture, and forestry:

• Non-alignment areas were scattered throughout the District concentrated around the edges of settlements.

The areas also coincide with agricultural dryland fields and gullies.

• The above potential non-alignments constitute a further threat to 4,33% of CBA1 areas (irreplaceable sites),

and CBA2 areas (optimal sites) within the District. The magenta areas indicate conflicts between ESA 1 areas and transformed land uses:

• Non-alignment areas are scattered throughout the District but are predominately located in the northern

parts and were evident in the vicinity of settlements.

• These potential non-alignments represent a threat to 1,46% of ESA1 areas.

The areas shaded in pink indicate non-alignments between ESA1 areas and altered land uses:

• Non-alignment areas are scattered throughout the District and were evident in the vicinity of settlements.
• These potential non-alignments represent a threat to 3,11% of ESA1 areas

Mining Clear conflicts exist between mining and mining rights and CBA’s. These include:

• Active mines are concentrated in the north located within the platinum mine belt.

Many mines overlie CBAs and ESAs, an ecological corridor and areas identified for Protected Area Expansion. All of these areas are also located within endemic and near-endemic vegetation.

• Platinum mines and mineral rights/options run along a belt extending from Potslake

NR in the north to De Hoop Dam in the south east. This area is known as the Dilokong Corridor which encompasses the R37 and R555. These mineral rights/options overlie CBAs and ESAs, an ecological corridor and areas identified for Protected Area Expansion. All of these areas are also located within endemic and near-endemic vegetation.

• It should be noted that this area lies within the Sekhukhune Centre of Endemism

and covers threatened ecosystems classified as Vulnerable which are also poorly protected.

How do we manage threats?

Protected Areas:

• Exclude active mines from PA’s. Offset if possible.
• Verify designation of PNR’s and conservation areas
• Prioritise conservation areas and PNR’s for designation as PA’s
• Revise SDF zones to align with PA’s

CBA’s:

• Verify nature and extent of land use transformation
• Verify loss of biodiversity targets (if any)
• Revise SDF land uses to align with CBA’s
• Revise mining rights areas to exclude CBA’s

ESA’s:

• Verify nature and extent of land use transformation
• Verify loss of support areas and ecological process
• Revise SDF land uses to align with ESA1’s
• Revise mining rights areas to exclude ESA1’s

General:

• Capacitate local, district and provincial authorities to enforce the Sekhukhune BP
• Enforce EIA requirements and institute penalties if required
• Enforce WULA requirements and institute penalties if required
• Enforce planning controls to prevent incompatible land use
• Monitor threat areas for spread of incompatible land use
• Monitor land use trends in all areas
• Follow Land Use Guideline for Decision making

Resolutions

• The non-alignment areas of the Sekhukhune District Bioregional Plan with the local municipal IDPs and

SDFs will be workshopped with the local authorities who make themselves available for participation in this process. Resolutions will then be agreed upon and included in the final document.

• The Critical Biodiversity Area and Ecological Support Area map for the Sekhukhune District may be

reviewed in order to align with the Local Municipality SDFs.

• In terms of mining, it is acknowledged that there is little to be done in terms of existing mining operations

beyond ensuring the decommissioning, closure and rehabilitation is undertaken properly.

• Where possible, alternative sites for meeting biodiversity targets may be identified as CBAs and ESAs.

Cognisance should also be taken with regard to the expansion of existing mines and the granting of new mining rights and permits, and even prospecting rights located within CBAs. This is especially relevant for areas housing endemic and endangered vegetation types.

• Mining and prospecting applications in the District must be critically interrogated in terms of risk to

biodiversity targets, endemism, water security, ecological processes, ecosystem corridors and connectivity and development sustainability. Appropriate offsets must be recommended where necessary.

• Of note is that, although DMR issues the mining right applications, the municipality can still deny the land

use application for the mine.

Additional Measures

• Data collation and management (GIS based database to track loss of biodiversity) to inform day to day decision making:
• Rezoning applications
• Environmental Authorisations
• Granted prospecting rights
• Land claims
• Effective biodiversity management
• Invasive alien management (fire, water, light, space)
• Biodiversity management plans (for protected areas and other important areas eg. Centres of Endemism)
• Protected Area Expansion (state-owned properties within CBA’s, LPAES zones, Stewardship Programmes)
• Biodiversity offsets (ideally in CBA’s)
• River health (DWA, Forestry, WfW, Local Government, Agriculture)
• Priority areas for rehabilitation (reserves, secure areas, wetlands, invaded areas)
• Building a biodiversity economy (promoting activity that uses biodiversity in a sustainable way)
• Ecotourism (conservation and development planning)
• Wildlife economy (game farming, hunting, trophy hunting)
• Skills development and training (new skillset demand)
• Natural resource use (sustainable harvesting outside CBA)
• EPWP (WfW, WfWe, WoF, LandCare)
• Awareness raising
• Communication, education and public awareness to support biodiversity conservation initiatives
• Biodiversity Communications Strategy

Monitoring and Review

Roles and Responsibilities:

• District Municipality (SDM)
• lead implementing agency for Sekhukhune BP
• Establish a biannual/ annual monitoring and reporting programme
• Compile annual audit report
• Co-ordination Committee (LEDET, SDM, LM’s)
• n-going evaluation of the use of the Bioregional Plan in land-use planning and decision-making
• Recommendation to review and revise the Bioregional Plan
• Local Municipalities (various planning depts)
• Representation on the Coordination Committee.
• Revision of SDF’s in response to the Bioregional Plan
• Gathering of data on the performance indicators
• Feeding data to the SDM and the Co-ordination Committee for use as key indicators for the monitoring

effectiveness of the Bioregional Plan

• LEDET
• Reviewing and updating the C-plan
• Monitoring, review and updating of BP
• Representation on the Coordination Committee.

• The Sekhukhune District Municipality is the primary implementing agent of the

Sekhukhune Bioregional Plan, while LEDET is the agency responsible for the update of the Sekhukhune District Bioregional Plan as required

• Reviewing and updating the Limpopo Conservation Plan is the responsibility of LEDET
• A biannual or annual monitoring and reporting programme should be established

immediately on the gazetting of the Bioregional Plan.

• A Coordination Committee (or an equivalent structure) is convened with representation

from the Sekhukhune District Municipality, associated local municipalities and the LEDET

• Performance indicators will be used to evaluate the implementation of the Bioregional

Plan

• The Bioregional Plan must be reviewed and updated (where necessary) at least every

five years

• The Bioregional Plan should be updated as and when necessary

Way forward

• Finalisation of the draft and submission to SANBI for review
• Approval by SANBI and submission to the Minister / MEC for gazetting

Close & Snacks