Water resource management

The river guardians of Groot Marico Bridget Corrigan

Landowners and community members are shared by , Zimbabwe and province’s ecosystems are under taking a stand for the conservation of the Mozambique. The headwaters of the severe pressure, while 11 of the 61 west flowing Molopo River, a tribu- vegetation types and 14 of the 18 Groot Marico River, one of the last remaining tary of the Orange River, also forms river types in the province have been free-flowing rivers in the country. part of the WMA. Moreover, the area classified as threatened in terms of Article by Petro Kotzé. boasts a number of unique features, their ecosystem status. including the Cradle of Humankind, This state of affairs has not gone he Crocodile (West)-Marico Pilanesberg Nature Reserve and unnoticed. Following their relatively is one of the most developed dolomitic eye system at the source of recent entry into the arena of fresh- and economically active the Molopo, Molemane and Marico water conservation, the Endangered waterT management areas (WMA) in rivers. Wildlife Trust (EWT) has launched . Mostly located in the Intensive development for eco- the Crocodile-Marico Catchment North West Province, parts of it fall nomic purposes has come with a Conservation Project, funded in in the northern regions of Gauteng hefty price tag. Approximately 30% part by the Elizabeth Wakeman and the south-western corner of the of the North West province has been Henderson Charitable Trust and, province, and include the transformed to other non-natural more recently, Rand Merchant Bank. urban areas of northern Johannes- land uses and it is rapidly approach- Activities are guided by the National burg, Midrand and Tshwane. This ing a critical threshold in its state Freshwater Ecosystem Priorities WMA is the single largest contribu- of biodiversity (60% natural habitat Areas (NFEPA) project, which identi- tor to our national wealth (25% of the remaining). The major driver of this fies a national network of freshwater gross domestic product). change has been agriculture (73%), ecosystems that should be priority The Crocodile and Marico rivers while urban expansion (24%) and conservation areas. are the two main rivers in this WMA, mining (3%) contribute further. The EWT pilot project is taking which at their confluence form the At the current rate of habitat loss, place together with the local Marico that flows eastwards there will be no natural habitat left Catchment Conservation Associa- to the Indian Ocean. The latter, in the province in 60 years’ time. It tion (MCCA), a group of community again, is an international river that is is estimated that about 40% of the members and landowners situated

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their property declared as Protected Environments or Nature Reserves and to sign Biodiversity Steward- ship Agreements. “As the principal stakeholders, the community must ultimately take ownership of their catchment,” says Bridget Corrigan, Healthy Rivers Project Executant of the Source to Sea Programme at EWT. Conservation from the ground

iodiversity Stewardship rec- Bognises landowners or users as custodians of their land, includ- ing the biodiversity and natural resources. It entails voluntary, legal Bridget Corrigan agreements which promote the wise use and management of these A tufa waterfall on a private farm located in around the headwaters of the last system are located here. resources and the services it provides; the area surrounding the remaining free-flowing river in the If the programme is successful, in other words, sustainable use of headwaters of the Groot semi-arid north-western region of it can be applied to other areas in their properties. These sites can then Marico River is one of contribute to the protected areas and the area’s many special the country, the Groot Marico. the WMA to improve the province’s biodiversity targets that need to be features. It is formed The area has rural characteristics significantly under-representative when water runs over and comprises limited dryland Protected Areas (PA) network, under met by provincial departments. dolomite rock, absorbs farming, vegetable production and which only 2,84% of the province was An initiative of the national calcium and deposits grazing and much of the unique classified in 2008. department of Environmental Affairs rock formations quicker in partnership with key conserva- than it erodes the dolomitic eyes characterising the The initiative calls for land-­ tion organisations, the Biodiversity surrounding rock. unique biodiversity of the Marico owners in the specific FEPA to have

Threatened Rivers Map of South Africa

nly 22% of South Africa’s river length Ohas been identified as FEPAs. By treating less than a quarter of our rivers as priority areas and ensuring they are minimally used, South Africa will be able to conserve natural examples of its diverse freshwater ecosystems while contributing to sustainable develop- ment of water resources in the country. Throughout South Africa, freshwater ecosys- tems are under severe pressure with more than 80% of our rivers being threatened. Where rivers fall within protected areas, they often form the boundary of that area, and not the focus, which is usually terrestrial. Nature reserves or conservation agreements only protect 7% of the total river length in South Africa (not including privately owned areas) and about one third of South Africa’s main riv- ers define the boundaries of protected areas rather than occur within them, and therefore cannot be considered sufficiently protected. Source: SANBI Biodiversity GIS, 2007

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Conservation Areas, Biodiversity Corrigan says that the Biodiversity The Biosphere Reserve Agreements, Protected Environ- Stewardship site will then be secure, ments or Nature Reserves (listed and a management plan can be put in Biosphere Reserve is a repre- from lowest to highest protection place. Elements that can be built into Asentative ecological area with offered). Conservation Area status, such a plan include the rehabilitation three mutually reinforcing functions: for example is suitable for any land, of degraded sites and riparian zones conservation, sustainable develop- requires no defined period of com- and the removal of alien vegetation. ment and logistic support for scientific mitment and entails few land-use Once the area has been pro- research and education. Collectively, limitations. At the other end of the claimed, development in the all biosphere reserves form a world spectrum, Nature Reserve status is relatively pristine headwaters of the network linked by exchanges of expe- suitable for priority areas adjacent to Groot Marico would be severely rience and knowledge. They are part statutory reserves and which contain limited. Indeed, it was the prospect of of a UNESCO Scientific Programme, critically important species, habitats mining activity in the Marico area in and self-contained sites. Landowners 2010 that spurred community mem- governed by a “soft” law, the Statutory have to commit for a minimum of 30 bers into action, and saw the forma- Framework for Biosphere Reserves, years while no further development tion of the MCCA. Due to massive adopted by the UNESCO General or land-use rights will be allowed. community opposition, African Conference and which all countries are Owners retain the title, and access Nickel retracted most of their pros- committed to apply. and resident rights are unrestricted pecting rights applications in respect In the case of a perceived problem, (see table). In return, owners could to certain minerals (nickel ore, like plans to construct a mine within receive (depending on the provincial copper, cobalt, chrome, ore, platinum the site, the Biosphere Reserve status agreement) sustainable assistance group metals and gold) on farms on should be used as a platform for with biodiversity services and other and around Groot Marico. dialogue to arrive at an optimal solu- benefits. “We believe that a healthy envi- “The aim,” says Daan van der ronment makes for happy people,” tion. Examples in South Africa include The Groot Marico is Merwe, MCCA chairperson, “is to says van der Merwe. He adds that the Cape West-Coast-, Kogelberg-, the last remaining make your land available for conser- the area is very special, not only Waterberg- and Kruger to Canyon- free-flowing river in the vation while still being able to use it.” from a biodiversity point of view semi-arid north-western Biosphere Reserves. He adds that in the Marico area reac- but also because it is still relatively regions of the country. Source: www.unesco.org tion from landowners has, in general, been positive. About 80 landowners have become members of the MCCA Stewardship South Africa (BSSA) and have pledged their land as part programme was originally pioneered of the initiative, covering an area of in the Western Cape by the Botani- approximately 25 000 ha in the Groot cal Society of South Africa and Cape Marico district. A provisional agree- Nature, but has since found its way ment has also been reached between to KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the MCCA and the local kgosi’s to the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the include the 350 000 ha of communal Northern Cape. land in the application. An applica- There are a range of stewardship tion to have the properties declared options, all of which are voluntary as either Protected Environments or and can be tailored to the specific Nature Reserves has been handed needs of the landowners. The higher in to the MEC of the North-West categories offer more incentives Department of Economic Develop- (benefits) and support by the relevant ment, Environment, Conserva- department but they also offer more tion and Tourism (NWDEDECT). restrictions and require greater com- “Ideally you want this entire FEPA mitments from the landowners. In declared a Nature Reserve, but it will essence, says Corrigan, you have to depend on the willingness of the understand what people need from landowners and the balance between their land. If they need, for example, conservation and economic needs,” to have a large area for cattle grazing says Corrigan. you would rather go for a more flex- The draft proposal must still ible option. be made available for public com-

Properties can be secured through ment, after which it will be gazetted. Bridget Corrigan

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communities dependent on it. the development of fish sanctuaries “There isn’t another way to do it,” and the development of sustainable says property owner and part-time use options with the relevant stake- olive farmer, Danie Steyn, “at the holders to ensure long-term protec- end of the day the responsibility rests tion of the system. with the landowner.” Steyn, whose “At the moment,” says Corrigan, property is located downstream of “there is no formal Biodiversity Marico town tells that they are expe- Stewardship Programme in the riencing “many” problems with water North West Province.” She adds quality. “It used to always be clean that, although it will not prevent the and we could swim and drink from proclamation of Nature Reserves

Giela Jonker it, but today things are different,” or Protected Areas, having a formal he says. Even though the headwater Stewardship Unit in the North West Above: The project undeveloped and the head-water is of the river is still clean, the water would streamline future applications will also focus on still pure. Peter Phefo, traditional downstream for the town is polluted in the province and would assist the the conservation of councillor agrees that what makes by, among others, sewage. province to reach their Protected endangered aquatic species, such as the Marico the river special is that it is so clean. Areas Expansion targets for 2013. Barb (Barbus motebensis) Many of the Koffiekraal community What lies ahead? It is thus hoped that a major and it is envisaged that members, where Phefo stays, rely on outcome of the project is the estab- the protected areas will using water directly from the river. he expected outcomes of the lishment of a formal house for the serve as fish sanctuaries. “We need to proclaim it a protected Tproject include the protection stewardship programme with a Below: The Crocodile area to sustain the people of the area,” of river segments in Biodiversity clear understanding of the roles and (West) and Marico WMA he says. He adds that the river, that Stewardship agreements with a responsibilities of all relevant people. and the area’s Freshwater used to be known as Madikwena, joint management plan in place, the It is envisaged that NWDEDECT will Ecosystem Priorities or the ‘Mother of Crocodiles’, also re­establishment and protection of champion the development of the Areas. has significant cultural value for the various red data fish species though Biodiversity Stewardship concept in

WMA 3 CROCODILE(WEST) AND MARICO

Legend

Town Lower Crocodile Sub-quaternary catchment Water Management Area Sub-Water Management Area River Wetland

River FEPA & associated sub-quaternary catchment Wetland or Estuary FEPA Wetland Cluster Fish Support Area & associated sub-quaternary catchment Fish Sanctuary: critically endangered & endangered Apies/Pienaars Fish Sanctuary: other threatened Marico Phase 2 FEPA & associated sub-quaternary catchment Upstream Management Area

Elands

Upper Molopo

Upper Crocodile

Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area maps for Water Management Areas - 17 -

NFEPA Atlas 5.3_20111025_FINAL.indd 23 25/10/2011 17:25:25

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the North West, using the National Land use in the Marico Standards developed through Bio- system. diversity Stewardship South Africa (BSSA). This will be done in collabo- ration with the North West Parks and Tourism Board and MCCA. The declaration of the protected areas at the headwaters of the Groot Marico River will also serve as the foundation for the establishment of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (see sidebar) and, if successful, the Biodi- versity Stewardship initiative can be applied in other areas. Two sites have already been earmarked. These are the Sondagsrivier/Vaalwaterspruit FEPA in Limpopo province (situated at the northeast border of the Croco­ dile-Marico WMA) and the Hex River/Sterkstroom FEPA in Gauteng. “In these areas we would try and establish or support land-owners associations first, and then take it from there,” says Corrigan. “We will never be done,” she adds. The EWT will always be providing support to the Marico Protected areas and the communities as they need it as it will remain one of our key sites. The EWT will, however, aim to empower the landowners, as main stakeholders of the area, to carry the main responsi-

bility for the conservation of the natu- Zithole Consulting ral area that they are dependent on. 

Stewardship options Option Level 1: Conservation Area Level 2: Biodiversity Level 3: Protected Environment Level 4: Nature Reserves Agreements Which option • Any natural land is suitable • Suitable for any conserva- • Large landscapes requiring some • Priority areas adjacent to statutory reserves applies to your • If rare or endangered tion-worthy land form of conservation management, or sufficiently large to be self-contained land? habitats, rather progress to • Not excluding small and but unsuitable to restrict other ecosystems higher level of conservation isolated fragments forms of land use. • Containing critically important species, security • Buffers to statutory PAs habitats Legal status / • Flexible option with • Minimum period of 5 - 10 • Legal declaration under the PA act • Minimum of 30 years to in perpetuity duration no defined period of years suggested, but • The duration is not prescribed commitment may be in perpetuity if so requested Possible land • Very few, but the area • Land must be managed • No limitation on activities other • No further development or land use rights use limitations needs to maintain its in a way that will support than those listed in the gazetting • Access and resident rights unrestricted natural character natural processes notice • Owners retain title Benefits to the • Advice and support through • Specific agreements for • Specific agreements for fire, alien, • Sustainable assistance with habitat landowners basic extension services fire, alien, plant and animal plant and animal management management • Assistance with manage- management • Advanced extension services (e.g. • Recognition and marketing exposure ment plans and farm maps • Advanced extension alien clearing planning) • Lobbying on your behalf for incentives e.g. services (e.g. alien clearing rates exemptions planning) Source: Information as supplied by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Other provinces may differ.

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