The Mount Currie Nature Reserve (MCNR) consists of 1750 hectares located 5km north of the town of Kokstad in the KwaZulu‐Natal province of South Africa. The Mount Currie peak within the reserve is seen as an iconic landmark in the Greater Kokstad Area. The reserve is situated within the municipal boundaries of the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality which forms part of the Sisonke District Municipality. The larger component of the reserve is leased from the Greater Kokstad Municipality and waters from the Crystal Dam within MCNR forms an important component of the water provision by the Sisonke District Municipality to the town of Kokstad.

The reserve is an important component of the conservation estate of KZN and contributes significantly to the biodiversity conservation of the region through the protection of a variety of threatened or protected species, habitats and vegetation types. Important vegetation types such as the endemic East Griqualand Grassland and Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland, of which only a small percentage is currently protected, are conserved in the Mount Currie Nature Reserve. The area is an Important Bird Area (IBA) contributing to the conservation of various species [Mount Currie Nature Reserve IBA (Sa084)]. The candidate Penny Park stewardship site lies approximately 3 kilometres east of Mount Currie Nature Reserve (MCNR).

The reserve is situated close to the R617 and R56, the main route from the province of KwaZulu- Natal to the Eastern Cape, and is an important stopover for many people on this route. The D623 provincial road borders the reserve on the western side and a tributary of the Umzimtlava River meanders through the valley floor and into Crystal Dam.

The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (No.57 of 2003) requires that Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife compile and implement Protected Area Management Plans in all of the protected areas under its jurisdiction. In preparing these plans it is important that participatory processes, involving local communities and other stakeholders are implemented in an effort to ensure that all key issues are considered and incorporated into the management plan.

This public participation report provides the background to the process followed in developing the management plan for Mount Currie Nature Reserve. It reflects the inputs and involvement of stakeholders in developing the plan and provides a summary of the key issues that have emerged from this process. This document will form a supporting document to the management plan, providing some of the details and context of how the plan was formulated.

1.1 The context of stakeholder consultation

In terms of Section 39(3) of the Protected Areas Act, consultation is required with municipalities, other organs of state, local communities and other affected parties, which have an interest in the area, when compiling a management plan for a protected area. Furthermore, the input and support of key stakeholders is considered vitally important in the management of protected areas and in the implementation of many of the actions set out in their management plans. For this reason a comprehensive public participation process has been undertaken in preparing the management plan for Mount Currie Nature Reserve.

1.2 Approach and objectives of the consultation process

The approach to consultation in preparing the management plan for Mount Currie Nature Reserve has been to target communities in the area around the reserve together with municipalities, relevant government authorities and other key stakeholders. The process has been targeted at key

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representatives of stakeholder groups in an effort to enable meaningful input in the development of the management plan. The objectives of the public consultation process have been to:

 Ensure that the communities around the reserve are aware of its importance and the conservation imperatives that formed the basis for its proclamation.  Discuss and agree on the values of Mount Currie Nature Reserve in order to come to a common understanding of why it is important and should be protected.  Canvas aspirations, issues, concerns and conflicts associated with the reserve that must be resolved through the management plan.  Provide additional information that is required by individual stakeholders and to request input and pertinent information that may aid the process and the management of the reserve from stakeholders.

The list of participants who have been consulted and who have attended meetings as part of the public consultation process is attached in Appendix A.

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1.3 Consultation process

The public stakeholder consultation commenced in January 2013 when the stakeholder workshop was advertised in the Illanga, Isoleswe, Mercury and the Witness on 15 January 2013 as well as in the Kokstad Observer. See Appendix B for the minutes of the stakeholder meeting, Appendix C for scanned copies of the adverts, Appendix D for the Background document and Appendix F for scanned copies of the attendance registers. The stakeholder workshop took place at the Kokstad Water Sports Club on 29 January 2013. Prior to the stakeholder workshop a background information document was made available to stakeholders on the Ezemvelo website and was also mailed to stakeholders on request.

Groups that were invited included district and local municipalities, neighbours, neighbouring communities and non-governmental conservation organisations. See Appendix B for the attendance register and minutes of the meeting. A separate meeting was also held with a representative from the Sisonke District Municipality on the 19 March 2013 and the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality on 13 March 2013.

The draft protected area management plan was made available to public review for a period of three weeks. The draft plan was advertised in the llanga, Isoleswe and the Witness on 27 February 2013. All stakeholders who attended the stakeholder workshop were informed either through e- mail, telephonically or through verbal messages to the various communities by the Officer in Charge.

Hard copies of the documents were made available at the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality, Kokstad library, Kokstad Museum, Kokstad Chamber of Commerce and at the Mount Currie Nature Reserve.

Closing dates for comments was 21 March 2013 and the document was available for review for three weeks. Due to the fact that no comments were received the Park Planning Committee did not meet.

This process and the overall process for the development of the protected area management plan are summarised in Table 1.1 below.

Table 1.1 Summary of the protected area management plan development process

Date Activity

15 January 2013 Adverts for stakeholder workshop in Ilanga, Isoleswe, Mercury and the Witness

January 2013 Advert for stakeholder workshop in the Kokstad Observer

29 January 2013 Stakeholder workshop

13 March 2013 Presentation to Greater Kokstad Local Municipality

19 March 2013 Presentation to Sisonke District Municipality

February 2013 Draft protected area management plan for public comment

27 February 2013 Public comment invited

March 2013 Consideration of public comment

25 March 2013 Submit final document to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife committees for approval

Submission of final protected area management plan and supporting documentation to MEC for approval

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2) KEY FINDINGS OF THE STAKEHOLDER CONSULTA TION PROCESS

During the stakeholder workshop it was clear that stakeholders have an expectation that the tourism standard should be raised and that additional sustainable eco-tourism products be developed. There was also an issue with general security in the area that has to be addressed. Stakeholders was also concerned with the unsustainable and illegal use of natural resources in the area.

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3) COMMENTS RECEIVED DURING REVIEW OF THE D RAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN

None received.

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REFERENCES Mount Currie Nature Reserve: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (2013), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg.

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APPENDIX A LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVITE D TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PREPARATION OF THE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MOUNT CURRIE NATURE RESERVE

NAME ORGANISATION CONTACT

Jacobus Marais Greater Kokstad Local Municipality [email protected]

C Rossouw AMAFA amafa@[email protected]

[email protected]

B Corcoran WWF [email protected]

Birdlife Sisonke Birdlifesisonke @futurenet.co.za

G Farley Wildlands Trust [email protected]

WESSA KZN [email protected]

L Zonde Sisonke District Municipality [email protected]

Nicholas Theron Birdlife SA [email protected]

Representation from the Griqua Communi ty Delivered by hand

The advert was made available in various public venues in and around Kostad.

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APPENDIX B MINUTES OF THE STAKEHOLDER MEETING

MINUTES FROM THE MOUNT CURRIE NATURE RESERVE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING HELD AT THE KOKSTAD WATER SPORTS CLUB ON TUESDAY 29 JANUARY 2013 AT 09H00

1. OPENING AND WELCOME

PAM Planner Mrs M Goosen opened the workshop and welcomed all those present.

Attendance as per Attendance Register.

2. INTRODUCTIONS

All those attending then introduced themselves.

3. WHY PAMP’S

The following reasons were given for producing Management Plans

 Compliance with the national environmental management protected areas act (no 57 of 2003)  Strategic tool for management of Mount Currie Nature Reserve  Motivations for budgets and indicators that the budget is spent correctly  Build accountability into the management of Mount Currie Nature Reserve  Ensure protection of Mount Currie’s values and the purpose for which it was established are protected.

4. THE PROCESS

Mrs Goosen then explained the whole process of the management plan.

5. THE PLAN

A basic outline of a Management Plan was given.

6. INTRODUCTION TO MOUNT CURRIE

All those attending the workshop knew the Mount Currie Nature Reserve well and therefore no introduction was required.

7. VALUES

The following values we listed by the Stakeholders :

Adam Kok Monument Graves protected Griqua heritage Unpopulated area Settlement free buffer Recreational value Tourist destination

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Water provision and wetland Habitat for various species

NATURAL The following natural values were listed by EKZNW :  Unique natural beauty and an untransformed landscape  Mount Currie Peak – iconic landmark in GKA  IBA  Habitat to threatened, protected and important mammal species (Oribi, Aardvark, Vaal Rhebok, Cape Clawless and Spotted Necked Otters, Baboon and Brown Hyena  Refuge for medicinal muthi plants that has been depleted outside PA (eg Alepidea, Bowiea, Eucomis and Boophane)  Contributes to protection of Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland Eastern Griqualand Grassland and Protea Woodland  The reserve has important geomorphological and hydrological features such as Scree Slopes, Nount Currie Peak, Crystal Spring, Soil Movement Areas and Wetlands  Provides an altitudinal gradient of approx. 800m (altitudinal variance, climate change mitigation and diversity of species)  An important component of water provision to Kokstad

CULTURAL The following Cultural Values were listed by EKZNW :  Griqua heritage and grave sites  Nature based recreational opportunities  Spiritual and religious importance (waterfall and mountain)  Adam Kok Memorial site  Boys Scout War Monument  Environmental education and awareness opportunities  Job creation opportunities

8. VISION

Improved security Tourist attraction Raising the bar as far as the tourism activities are concerned

 Biodiversity conservation component  Provide benefits to stakeholders (economic ecological spiritual benefits  It’s about the park and the people  Fully resourced

9. MANAGEMENT ISSUES

The following Management Issues were identified by the Stakeholders :

 Controlled access to the road D623  Fence along the road needs to be looked at pending the expansion of the park to include the commonage to prevent poaching and cable theft and stock theft  Snow tourists will be controlled and make recovery of the vehicles easier

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 An explanation needs to be drafted to cover concerns  Allow free movement of animals across the district road  Neighbours are supportive of this control point  It will just control access not deny access  State of internal roads needs to be looked at and improved  Better tourism facilities: Facilities needs to be upgraded and other potential tourism activities investigated  Environmental/learning/educational centre  Educational service to the schools  Pamphlets and brochures needs to be updated  Public awareness needs to be improved  No info office in the centre of town to market the area or Mount Currie  Interpretation centre required for the school children to visit  Maintenance of water supply – closer liaison with Sisonke Municipality  Kokstad gets about 99% of its water from the river and the balance from the dam  Crystal springs flows into the dam  Develop a communication mechanism between Ezemvelo, the stakeholders and the municipality  Negotiate better arrangement for sewage removal with Sisonke  Develop a stakeholders liaison committee (all parties) with Ezemvelo to make substantial progress on concerns expressed  There is a local tourism group who are very erratic – this needs to be a cohesive unit with a definite goal  Mount Currie could well be the catalyst that will get this back on track  Local apathy if there is a view that nothing is wrong  No confidence expressed in the municipality  Make more picnic available for families to visit the area  More ablution blocks  Apply creative thinking with funding – like project funding  Make the community more water wise – it could minimise the excessive use of the water – running taps in the town and burst pipes in the town  What is the quality of the water in Kokstad? Needs to be tested – no chlorine residue and what it is the ecoli level  Broader issues get taken from the liaison committee to the municipality to get better results  How can we get our point across to the Municipality is a positive way  Extension 7 just has many problems with roads electricity water etc – infrastructure  Emphasise what the economic value is by having the reserve supplying water  Emphasise the cost of carting the sewage out of the reserve  There will be interaction between the reserve and the communities with controlling the monkey and baboon populations and other animals outside the reserve  Farmers commended the reserve on its fire management  There needs to be very active interaction with muthi users with regards to plants and animals  Law enforcement needs to be involved in the process  A way forward needs to be discussed and a plan made to cover this and the hunting issue

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Ezemvelo had listed the following :

 Increased pressure in terms of developments. Adjacent land-use and water-use planning do not always take into account the long term objectives of the reserve  There is limited ad hoc education and awareness – no signage or interpretation available to visitors  Relevant research needs to be identified and prioritised (need to do a Bio Blitz survey to increase understanding of the reserve’s biodiversity and ID research needs.  Staff establishment below optimal level for effective management of the reserve  Monitoring priorities for the reserve includes blesbok, oribi and bearded vulture and these programmes need to be fully implemented  Upgrade and expand picnic and camp sites and minimise conflict – different user groups  PA expansion opportunities  Nature based tourism opportunities  Cultural asset management  Upgrade waste management (recycling system)  Access D623 collaborate and implement access control  Communication system requires upgrade  Regional management – input in IDP  Potential future animal introduction : cost implication – fencing etc  Human/animal conflict  State of the road to the Adam Kok memorial site  Fire management : firebreaks and controlled fires  Invasive plant control  Signage: directional and interpretive linked to nature based tourism opportunities

11. CLOSURE

There being nothing further to be discussed, Mrs Goosen thanked all those present and advised that they would be contacted once the draft was ready. It was agreed that copies would be sent to the Chamber of Commerce, the Public Library and to Pat Lowry at the Mount Currie Nature Reserve.

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 11h15

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APPENDIX C SCANS OF ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN

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APPENDIX D BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT CIRCULATED PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP

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APPENDIX E COPIES OF STANDARD I NVITATIONS SENT TO KNOWN STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER W ORKSHOP

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APPENDIX F SCANNED COPIES OF AT TENDANCE REGISTER MOUNT CURRIE NATURE RE SERVE STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP

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