HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN The acid sands of marine origins and the Malmesbury shales of the Swartland meet at Hopefield. Here, the interplay of soil types and water permeability of these substrates as well as the climatic influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean leads to unique habitats and many seasonal wetlands. Thus, the area has many interesting endemic and threatened plant taxa and it is no surprise that Hopefield is now renowned for its annual flower show which is run by a passionate and knowledgeable group of local volunteers (Maree and Vromans 2010). AUGUST 2019 FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 1 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 Compiled by Charl du Plessis & Sean Ranger FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Porterville FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 2 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 AUTHORISATION The management authority assigned in terms of Section 38 (1) or (2) of the Act must, within 12 months of assignment submit a management plan of the Protected Area to the MEC for approval. Recommended and approved by the Municipal Manager, Saldanha Bay Municipality. Name Resolution Number Date Municipal Manager Saldanha Municipality ………………………. MEC Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Name Signature Date Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Mr Anton Bredell PROVINCIAL MINISTER FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 3 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 i) Copyright and Disclaimer Copyright in this information vests with FOOTPRINT Environmental Services (FES) and the unauthorised copying thereof or making of extracts thereof is illegal. Any representation, statement opinion, or advice expressed or implied in this document is made in good faith on the basis that FES, its agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negliglence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement or advice referred to above. Although the greatest care has been taken to ensure that all mapping data is up to date and spatially accurate, FES give no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, utility or completeness of this data. Users of the data in this report assume all responsibility and risk for use of the data. The User expressly acknowledges and agrees that use of the data and information contained in these pages is at the User's sole risk. The data and information contained in these pages are provided "as is" and no warranties are made that the data and information contained in these pages will meet your requirements, is complete or free from error. In no event shall FES be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, but not limited to, damages for loss of business profits, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of, or inability to use, the data and information contained in this report. FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 4 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 ii) Acknowledgements The Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM) expresses its thanks to all who participated in and who provided comment and input in the drafting and development of this management plan. The Hopefield Private Nature Reserve (HPNR) Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP) was prepared by Cedarberg Conservation Services (t/a FOOTPRINT Environmental Services). Our thanks in particular to Nazeema Duarte from the SBM for her support. FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 5 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 iii) Table of contents i) Copyright and disclaimer 4 ii) Acknowledgements 5 iii) Table of contents 6 iv) List of tables 12 v) List of figures 12 vi) List of attachments 12 vii) Abbreviations 12 SECTION 1 : INTRODUCTION 15 1.1 The purpose of the plan 15 1.2 Structure of the plan 15 1.3 Adaptive management 18 SECTION 2 : OVERVIEW OF THE HOPEFIELD PRIVATE 19 NATURE RESERVE 2.1 Cultural heritage resources and landscape grading 20 2.2 Biophysical description 20 2.2.1 Climate 22 2.2.2 Geology, topography and soils 22 2.3 Biodiversity 23 2.3.1 Mammal fauna 23 2.3.2 Vegetation 24 2.3.3 Avifauna 26 2.3.4 Herpetofauna 27 FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 6 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 2.3.5 Invertebrates 27 2.3.6 Fire regime 27 2.3.7 Alien Invasive Species 29 2.4 Socio-political Context 29 2.5 Local and Regional Planning Context 31 2.5.1 Regional Planning 31 2.5.2 Local Planning 32 SECTION 3 : LEGAL STATUS 36 3.1 Legal status 36 3.1.1 Name and legal designations 36 3.1.2 Contractual agreements 36 3.1.3 Location, extent and highest point 36 3.1.4 Municipal jurisdiction 37 SECTION 4 : POLICY FRAMEWORK 39 4.1 Financial 39 4.2 Biodiversity management 39 4.3 Safety and security 39 4.4 Resource use and community involvement 40 4.5 Cultural resource management 40 4.6 Neighbouring relationships 41 4.7 Baseline data, monitoring and research 41 4.8 Access 41 4.9 Administration support 42 FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 7 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 4.10 METT Assessments 42 4.11 Internal Rules 43 4.12 Environmental Education and Awareness 43 4.13 Infrastructure management and maintenance 43 SECTION 5: CONSULTATION 44 5.1 Stakeholder Engagement Process 44 5.2 Establishment of a Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC) 45 Effective participation in the Protected Area Advisory Committee 5.3 45 (PAAC) SECTION 6: PURPOSE and VISION 46 6.1 Key determining factors 46 6.1.1 Local connectivity 47 6.1.2 Vegetation 47 6.1.3 Other values 47 6.2 Management Intent 48 6.3 Purpose 48 6.4 Threats 49 6.5 Summary of management challenges 50 6.6 Vision 53 6.7 Goals and objectives 53 SECTION 7 – ZONING PLAN 62 Protected Area in the Context of Municipal Integrated 7.1 62 Development Planning 7.2 Protected Area Zonation 63 FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 8 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 7.3 Protected Area Zone of Influence 64 SECTION 8 – ACCESS AND FACILITIES 66 8.1 Public Access and Management 66 8.2 Flight corridors 66 8.3 Administrative and other facilities 66 8.3.1 Roads 67 8.3.2. Buildings 67 8.3.3 Fences 67 8.3.4 Signage 67 8.4 Commercial Activities 67 8.5 Servitudes 68 SECTION 9 – EXPANSION STRATEGY 69 SECTION 10 – CONCEPT DEVELOPENT PLAN 70 SECTION 11 – STRATEGIC PLAN 71 11.1 Programme: Indigenous vegetation management 71 11.1.1 Project: Plant species list 71 11.1.2 Research and other scientific papers 72 11.2 Programme: Rare, Endangered and Endemic Plant species 72 11.2.1 Project: Map the distribution 72 11.3 Programme: Alien invasive species management 73 10.3.1 Project: Implement available management plan 73 11.4 Programme: Fire Management 74 11.4.1 Membership to the Greater Cederberg Fire Protection 74 Association FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 9 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 11.4.2 Project : Firebreaks 75 11.4.3 Project: Fire prevention 75 11.5 Programme: Terrestrial Fauna Species 76 11.5.1 Project: Species list 76 11.5.2 Project: Re-introduction of game species 76 11.5.3 Project: Research and other scientific papers 76 11.5.4 Project: Prevent impacts on terrestrial and marine species 77 11. 6 Programme: Restoration Ecology 77 11.6.1 Project: Map all disturbed areas 77 11.6.2 Project: Rehabilitation 78 11.7 Program: Cultural historical, archaeological and palaeontological 79 heritage 11.7.1 Project: Map and evaluate assets 79 11.8 Program: Baseline data collection 79 11.8.1 Project: Develop and implement a baseline data collection plan 80 11.9 Program: Monitoring 80 11.9.1 Project: Develop and implement a monitoring plan 80 11.10 Program: Research 80 11.10.1. Project: Promote research opportunities 80 11.11. Program: Roads 81 11.11.1. Project: Road Maintenance 81 11.12 Program: Fences and law enforcement 81 11.12.1 Project: Improve current state of fence 81 11.12.2 Project: Law Enforcement 82 FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 10 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 11.13 Program: Development 83 11.13.1 Project: Development of facilities 83 11.13.2 Project: Development of the optimal staff organogram 83 11.13.3 Project: Staff development 83 SECTION 12 - COSTING PLAN 85 SECTION 13 - REFERENCES 87 FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 11 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 List of Tables Land and Resource use guidelines for Critical Biodiversity 34 1 Areas 2 Key deliverables, objectives and strategies 55 3 Zonation guidelines for HPNR 63 List of Figures 1 The Adaptive Management Cycle (CSIRO 2012) 18 2 Locality of Hopefield Private Nature Reserve 20 3 Geology and Topography 23 4 Vegetation Types 26 5 Hopefield Private Nature Reserve Critical Biodiversity Area. 33 6 Infrastructure 68 7 Fire break plan 74 iv) List of Attachments 1 PN 337 of the 7th May o1982 2 Proposed Terms of Reference for the PAAC 3 Stakeholder Engagement Process 4 Environmental Authorisation by DEA&DP 5 Forms to complete for Baseline data and Monitoring 6 Costing Plan FOOTPRINT Environmental Services Page 12 HOPEFIELD PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – AUGUST 2019 v) Abbreviations APO Annual Plan of Operation BSP Biodiversity Sector Plan CBA Critical Biodiversity Area CESA