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GARDEN ROUTE NATIONAL PARK: THE TSITSIKAMMA SECTION STATE OF KNOWLEDGE Contributors: N. Hanekom1, R.M. Randall1, D. Bower, A. Riley2 and N. Kruger1 1 SANParks Scientific Services, Garden Route (Rondevlei Office), PO Box 176, Sedgefield, 6573 2 Knysna National Lakes Area, P.O. Box 314, Knysna, 6570 Most recent update: 30 August 2010 Disclaimer This report has been produced by SANParks to summarise information available on a specific conservation area. Production of the report, in either hard copy or electronic format, does not signify that: . the referenced information necessarily reflect the views and policies of SANParks; . the referenced information is either correct or accurate; . SANParks retains copies of the referenced documents; . SANParks will provide second parties with copies of the referenced documents. This standpoint has the premise that (i) reproduction of copywrite material is illegal, (ii) copying of unpublished reports and data produced by an external scientist without the author’s permission is unethical, and (iii) dissemination of unreviewed data or draft documentation is potentially misleading and hence illogical. This report should be cited as: Hanekom N., Randall R.M., Bower, D., Riley, A. & Kruger, N. 2009. Garden Route National Park: The Tsitsikamma Section – State of Knowledge. South African National Parks. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................3 2. ACCOUNT OF AREA..........................................................................................................3 2.1 Location ..................................................................................................................3 2.2 Proclamations .........................................................................................................3 2.3 Size........................................................................................................................ 4 2.4 Boundaries..............................................................................................................4 2.5 Controlling Authority................................................................................................4 2.6 Legislation...............................................................................................................5 3. ABIOTIC CHARACTERISTICS ...........................................................................................6 3.1 Geology ..................................................................................................................6 3.2 Physiography ..........................................................................................................6 3.3 Physics ...................................................................................................................7 3.4 Chemistry................................................................................................................8 4. BIOTIC CHARACTERISTICS..............................................................................................8 4.1 Flora .......................................................................................................................8 4.2 Fauna ...................................................................................................................10 4.3 Other life forms .....................................................................................................17 5. HISTORY...........................................................................................................................17 5.1 Archaeology..........................................................................................................17 5.2 Paleontology .........................................................................................................18 5.3 Historical aspects..................................................................................................18 6. MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................18 6.1. Management of vegetation....................................................................................18 6.2 Management of animals........................................................................................19 6.3 Resource utilization...............................................................................................20 6.4 Pathogens and diseases.......................................................................................21 6.5 Fire Control...........................................................................................................21 6.6 Environmental modification ...................................................................................21 6.7 Zonation................................................................................................................21 6.8 Park expansion .....................................................................................................22 6.9 Social ecology (people and tourism aspect) ..........................................................22 7. REFERENCES / BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................23 8. APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................42 8.1 Species list – Marine algae (Seaweeds)................................................................42 8.2 Species list – Vascular plants................................................................................46 8.3. Species list - Marine invertebrates ........................................................................59 8.4 Species list – Marine fish ......................................................................................62 8.5 Species list – Amphibians .....................................................................................69 8.6 Species list – Reptiles...........................................................................................70 8.7 Species list – Birds................................................................................................71 8.8 Species list – Mammals ........................................................................................76 9. SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION ...................................................................78 10. MAPS ................................................................................................................................78 10.1 Map of the Tsitsikamma Section ...........................................................................78 10.2 Map of Geology.....................................................................................................78 10.3 Map of Hydrology..................................................................................................78 10.4 Map of Soils and Landtypes..................................................................................78 10.5 Map of Vegetation.................................................................................................78 2 1. INTRODUCTION The Tsitsikamma Section of this report is synonymous with the old Tsitsikamma National Park, which now forms part of the much larger Garden Route National Park, and it excludes indigenous forest and fynbos areas previously controlled by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. This reserve has a complex history. In December 1964 the Tsitsikamma Coastal and Forest National Parks were proclaimed. The Forest Park was deproclaimed in 1989, and the name of the Coastal Park was later shortened to Tsitsikamma National Park. Other major changes included the extension of the seaward boundary, the acquisition of the De Vasselot Nature Reserve and the lease of Soetkraal. In the late 1990s this park was some 64 000 ha in extent and included both a terrestrial and a marine component. It is the oldest marine national park in Africa (Robinson & De Graaff 1994), conserving seven percent of the rocky shoreline of the Agulhas Biogeographical Region, as well as large populations of recreationally and commercially exploited reef fish (Buxton 1987), which are vulnerable to exploitation (Buxton & Smale 1989; Roberts & Polunin 1991; Halpern 2003). The Tsitsikamma Section is also well known for its Afromontane Forest (29 km²), hiking- and underwater trails, as well as its scenic vistas. During the mid 2000’s more than 170 000 people visited the rest camp annually. The Protected Areas Consulting Services (1996) considered this area worthy of the IUCN category II (National Parks) status. 2. ACCOUNT OF AREA 2.1 Location The Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) is situated on Cape coast, where it straddles the boundary between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. The centre of this section is approximately 80 km west of Humansdorp and 50 km east of Plettenberg Bay (Chief Director of Surveys and Mapping 1991, Director-General of Surveys 1979). The section consists of five different sectors, namely: (i) The section corresponding to the original Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park (TCNP), which stretches some 60 km along the coast between Groot River (east) (24o 12'E, near Oubosstrand) and Groot River (west) (23o 34'E, in Nature's Valley), and in this document it will be referred to as the TCNP (ii) The De Vasselot section, which abuts the western boundary of the TCNP at Groot River