BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020

Biodiversity Management Branch Environmental Management Department Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate CONTEXT 3

• Most biodiverse city in the world (United Nations, Thomas Elmqvist)

• The Protected Area network helps make our city sustainable and resilient, through the ecosystem services provided by nature.

• People need biodiversity, not only for survival as we rely on essential ecosystem services, but also for recreation, stress reduction, general health and well-being, employment, income-generating opportunities and education.

• Cape Town’s natural beauty and biodiversity are part of what makes this city a unique and desirable place to live and work. 4Cape Town’s Biodiversity Network 2019 Cape Town in context

• 1 of 35 global biodiversity hotspots

• 21 vegetation types in Cape Town • 10 Critically Endangered national vegetation types • 7 vegetation types endemic to Cape Town (3 CR)

• Over 3 000 plant species • 6th of ’s plants in <0,1% of the surface area

• 190 plant species locally endemic to Cape Town

• Of 660 Red List plant taxa, 405 threatened with extinction • Already lost 49 plant species; 14 plants globally extinct

• Rich small mammal, frog, reptile, insect & invertebrate faunas THREATS Cape6 Town’s Biodiversity Network 2019 Historical vegetation types vs. current (2018) extent Veg7 stats 2020 Vegetation statistics

Historic Historic 2018 2018 National National # National Vegetation Type extent in extent in remaining in remaining in Threat Conservation CCT protection level SA (km2)* CCT (km2) CCT (km2) CCT % Status* Target* 1 Atlantis Sand 689 251 147 58.7 EN 30 Poorly protected 2 524 96 59 61.5 EN 30 Moderately protected 3 Dune Strandveld 399 407 189 46.4 EN 24 Moderately protected 4 577 540 59 11.0 CR 30 Poorly protected 5 Cape Seashore Vegetation$ 220 VU 20 6 Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos 84 53 29 55.7 VU 30 Well protected 7 Elgin Shale Fynbos 279 8 3 39.4 CR 30 Well protected 8 Hangklip Sand Fynbos 89 33 18 55.5 CR 30 Well protected 9 Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos 914 95 92 96.6 CR 30 Well protected 10 Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos 36 39 3 7.0 CR 30 Hardly protected 11 92 92 40 42.9 CR 30 Well protected 12 Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos 219 219 210 95.9 CR 30 Well protected 13 Peninsula Shale Fynbos 13 13 6 6.0 VU 30 Well protected 14 Peninsula Shale 25 24 3 11.6 CR 26 Poorly protected 15 Southern Afrotemperate Forest 775 3 3 99.4 LC 22 Well protected 16 Southern Coastal Forest 185 LC 21 17 Swartland Alluvium Fynbos 477 24 3 11.2 EN 30 Not protected 18 Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld 63 17 0.5 3.2 EN 26 Not protected 19 Swartland Granite Renosterveld 951 70 18 25.7 EN 26 Poorly protected 20 Swartland Shale Renosterveld 4964 457 34 7.5 CR 26 Poorly protected 21 Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld 101 11 1 13.6 CR 26 Hardly protected 22 Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation 134 3 3 99.7 LC 30 Well protected

* NBA 2018 Terrestrial Threat Status data. Other data from Cape Town Biodiversity Report 2018 $ Previously combined with Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Southern Coastal Forest not included as very limited extent in CT; thus not mapped and not included in vegetation type number Bold means endemic to CCT Threat Status changes in green = lower than CCT data, red = higher than CCT data 8 Threats to our Biodiversity

600

500

400

300

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Historic extent in CCT (km2) 2018 remaining in CCT (km2)

38% remains of historical vegetation extent; red stars endemic vegetation types 9 Threats to our Biodiversity

4% 7%

29%

30%

30%

Cemetery Illegal land invasion Mining Mixed development Residential development Core Flora Sites – 1999-2020 (loss due to agriculture was not included as it was negligible) Metro SE Strandveld lost between 2013 – 2019 (does not include 2020 land invasions) Land invasion 11 Lockdown activities

• Red Zone Nature Reserves: (Slangetjiebos), NR (Rivergate), Macassar NR (Monwabisi), Upper Steenbras (Grabouw), Symphony Way NR & Driftsands • Seven days turn around • 5 weeks: over 55000 structures demolished, over 7000 land lost • 105 land invasions • 104 protests • 46 injured City Staff • 32 damaged vehicles • 82 arrests • Other City facilities are also targeted: halls and sportfields • SAPS pulled out at the beginning of the mass ULO 12 Land Invasion Procedures

Prevention (Proactive) Post unlawful land occupation (Reactive) • Early warning indicators critical • BMB to report invasion to CCT call • Fencing/barriers centre • Signage • Complete Report Checklist Land • Rapid response capacity Invasion • Court interdicts • ALIU to lay trespassing charges • Counter-spoliation • War Room and ALIU to liaise with police • Communication strategy • Video and drone footages (Quemic) • Appointment of community liaison officers • Photographs • Risk assessment • Where relationship exists, negotiation with occupiers and leadership • Reaction Time is critical • Reaction time is critical for PIE Act or • Identifying and liaise with land owners eviction • Cross-boundary cooperation • Static security Land Invasion

Hotspot areas - South:- Slangetjiebos (23 shacks), Wolfgat, Macassar North:- Diep River – Rivergate (47 structures); Atlantis 30% of Driftsands lost – managed by CapeNature

Comments / important points 1) MOU – CapeNature/SANParks – MOU re conservation land invasion

2) Biodiversity/EMD Is very organised with surveillance and reporting BUT other line departments who own land not coming to the party;

3) Priority list for land invasion – “public pressure”

4) Need political support (local and provincial) as well as national support – lockdown 2 regulations restrictive

5) City needs to investigate causes of land invasion and make plans to mitigate going forward PROACTIVE PROJECTS Conservation Land Banks

Metro South East Conservation Land Bank Numerous CCT projects in process where Human Settlements need to move forward on unselected (degraded or fragmented) sites. These projects can potentially be facilitated by the use of a conservation land bank. Some land of high quality strandveld has already been proactively secured and housing development projects identified that need offsets. Project to offset strandveld loss on publicly-owned sites only (Not for wetland offsets) – report submitted

Atlantis Land Bank Key biodiversity properties outside the urban edge (and within the landscape conservation initiative, the DCCP) are proactively purchased and conserved to mitigate the loss of biodiversity remnants within the urban edge and industrial area of Atlantis, thereby facilitating new investment opportunities in the area.

Conservation land banking involves strategic biodiversity offsetting projects that are at such an advanced stage of implementation. This facilitates development in vegetation that is fragmented and/or degraded. The Atlantis Land Bank and Metro Southeast Strandveld CIP are landmark, precedent setting projects on a national scale. Dassenberg Coastal Catchment Partnership Benefits: biodiversity, climate corridor, economic development, jobs, skills, community involvement, recreation, tourism, research

• Land acquired: 19 properties purchased (total 1045 ha).

• Facilitated development of 104 ha (11 developments).

• Numerous recreational and environmental education opportunities associated with this feature. Securing Upper Steenbras Catchment – report to Council

Upper Steenbras catchment is not protected or managed; securing catchment critical to water security for Cape Town ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 Job Creation • 1 691 Job Opportunities (target 1000); (2018/2019 = 3 318) • 233.12 FTEs (target (214); (2018/2019 = 461.24) • 52 234.6 Person Days (2018/2019 =106 127) Before and after photos of clearing water hyacinth in Other department/national EPWP stats facilitated by BMB 487 Job Opportunities 13 037 Person Days Ward allocation and 5 other lines departments (Human Settlements, Urban Management, Water and Sanitation (Water and Solid Waste), Parks and Recreation. All together BMB facilitated over 2 000 job opportunities Skills Development Of the 23 vacancies in the BMB, 14 were filled by EPWP/skills development candidates or previous EPWP/ skills development. Environmental Education, Awareness and Volunteers 22 149 learners 41 188 person days of education (2018/2019 = 47 464) With other events – Over 41 686 (2018/2019 = 67 000) individuals attended education people, events, exhibitions, formal or awareness activities on and off the reserves

Volunteers and sponsored programmes – Volunteers – 318 individuals (approximate value = R378 000) Sponsored programmes – 213 individuals (approximate value = R5.7 M) Visitors

The City’s nature reserves received over 300 000 visitors (2018/2019 =378 000 recorded mostly through its manned access points and events (majority of reserves are open access so this figure is an under estimate). Through paid gates and events an income of R3.5 M (Planned R2.9 M – same income as last year but only 3/4 of the year received visitors as a result of lockdown in the 4th quarter).

The gate remained the most visited entry gate on the City’s reserve, with 109 576 visitors and some 35 546 vehicles entering this point. Highlights - 8th Annual World Conference on ecological restoration (SER)

On the 24th September 2019, Biodiversity Management organised and hosted two of the three field trips linked to the SER. Make a Difference Day which also formed part of the SER Conference and delegates were afforded the opportunity to physically contribute towards restoration efforts by controlling invasive plants in Blaauwberg Conservation area and revegetating the banks of the Black River. Highlight - Invasive Species

The Unit was nominated 1st runner up for the Best Project category at the City Awards Ceremony for 2019. The Invasive Species Unit received this award for the second year consecutively. In addition to this, The Kader Asmal Programme and the Skill Development Programme was highlighted throughout the nomination.

The EDRR project responded to the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer infestation in professionally, and was Cape Town of only a few municipalities with a implementation strategy. Highlights – Nature Reserves

Capital Infrastructure:- Multipurpose Centres: Construction started at ; Harmony Flats and Bracken planning initiated

65.21% of the BioNet secured (target 65% by 2022 - IDP

Jan 2019 fire Ecological burns at , in Steenbras , Blaauwberg (plus brush piles) and Joostenbergkloof 25 Highlights - major restoration activities; climate change adaptation

Tygerberg NR: 9 kg of seed was smoke and heat treated and broadcast into ten plots

Blaauwberg NR Cape Flats Sand Fynbos research and restoration: 70kg were treated and broadcast in 47 circular plots (5 m radius). Klein Dassenberg topsoil project: 496 truckloads (4 398 m³)of topsoil were transported from Atlantis Cemetery and spread at Protea odorata seedlings Klein Dassenberg. at Joostenbergskloof Highlights – relocation of dispersing hippo from False Bay Nature Reserve to Mossel Bay Game Reserve 27 Highlight - City Nature Challenge

City State/Province/Region Country Total Observations Total Species Total Observers

Cape Town South Africa 34147 3263 1029

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Texas USA 33506 2962 1253

San Francisco California USA 31450 2975 2496

Washington Metropolitan District of USA 27853 2456 1531 Area Columbia/Virginia/Maryland /West Virginia Tygerberg NR: 9 kg of seed was smoke and heat treated and broadcast into ten plots

Houston Texas USA 27624 3359 1265 Challenges – crime; security; water quality issues

Water hyacinth in Lagoon – Worked with Catchment Management to clear with their machines

Blue green algae presence in Rietvlei, TBNR – impact on recreation Challenges: illegal activities / protests Lockdown Welcome back – 17 July 2020

Impact of lockdown 1) Minor Climate change benefits 2) No huge benefits to biodiversity/species but faunal species movement and feeding patterns could have changed (eg. they took advantage of areas not disturbed by people and dogs) 3) Residents observed biodiversity in gardens and close to home 3) Disaster for natural areas which need income from tourism 4) Disaster in relation to land invasion (economy struggling) 5) Lockdown shown huge interest in the City’s reserves; showing us the benefit our areas bring to Cape Town (recreation, tourism, economy Protected Area Advisory Committees

• Nine PAACs are in operation:- Witzands Blaauwberg Table Bay Tygerberg Durbanville/Bracken Helderberg / Steenbras Wolfgat False Bay Zandvlei

• PAACs meet quarterly

• PAACs chairs meet occasionally – last meeting held 13 August 2020 via zoom and was very successful, attended by 6 chairs; hoping to meet more regularly going forward Thank You

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