People Making Biodiversity Work C.A.P.E
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SANBI Biodiversity Series 4 (2006) people making biodiversity work C.A.P.E. Table Mountain Fund Signatory Partners SANBI Biodiversity Series 4 Fynbos Fynmense: people making biodiversity work Ally Ashwell Trevor Sandwith Mandy Barnett Asiza Parker Fumanekile Wisani Pretoria 2006 SANBI Biodiversity Series The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) was established on 1 Sep- tember 2004 through the signing into force of the National Environmental Manage- ment: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) No. 10 of 2004 by President Thabo Mbeki. The Act expands the mandate of the former National Botanical Institute to include respon- sibilities relating to the full diversity of South Africa’s fauna and flora, and builds on the internationally respected programmes in conservation, research, education and visitor services developed by the National Botanical Institute and its predecessors over the past century. The vision of SANBI is to be the leading institution in biodiversity science in Africa, facilitating conservation, sustainable use of living resources, and human well-being. SANBI’s mission is to promote the sustainable use, conservation, appreciation and enjoyment of the exceptionally rich biodiversity of South Africa, for the benefit of all people. SANBI Biodiversity Series publishes occasional reports on projects, technologies, workshops, symposia and other activities initiated by or executed in partnership with SANBI. Design & layout: Sandra Turck Cover design: Sandra Turck How to cite this publication ASHWELL, A., SANDWITH, T., BARNETT, M., PARKER, A. & WISANI, F. 2006. Fynbos Fynmense: people making biodiversity work. SANBI Biodi- versity Series 4. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. ISBN 1-919976-29-9 © Published by: South African National Biodiversity Institute. Obtainable from: SANBI Bookshop, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 843-5000. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.sanbi.org. Printed by United Litho, 22 Eland Street, Koedoespoort, Pretoria, 0186 South Africa. Foreword ourteen years after the Rio Summit, South Africa is hosting The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly, with delegates addressing key environmental issues in one of the world’s “hot- Ftest” biodiversity hotspots, the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). The Cape region is the location of several WORLD BANK GROUP fascinating GEF-funded projects where biodiversity is being successfully integrated into social and eco- GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT nomic development. FACILITY PROGRAM South Africa has had an extraordinary political and development history. The change in government and democratization in 1994 led to a realization that biodi- versity conservation must be more inclusive and linked to socio-economic devel- opment. Programmes such as Working for Water have led the way in innovation, linking clearance of invasive alien species to ecosystem services, poverty allevia- tion and job creation. Development and conservation are often considered trade- offs, yet South Africa has demonstrated how biodiversity concerns can be main- streamed in development efforts. These successes can be attributed to four main factors: good scientific information and subsequent awareness raising; institution- al capacity and commitment; strategic cross-sectoral coordination and public-pri- vate partnerships; and entrepreneurship by the conservation community in seizing opportunities to demonstrate that good biodiversity management is good for the economy, good for local development, and good for business. Many of these attri- butes are present in biodiversity projects which South Africa has designed for GEF funding. The World Bank is proud to have been associated with the development of a rich and innovative GEF portfolio of projects in South Africa. The portfolio spans two, uniquely South African, biodiversity hotspots (Cape Floristic Region and Succu- lent Karoo) as well as exciting transboundary initiatives in the Maloti-Drakensebrg highlands linking South Africa and Lesotho. The Bank’s GEF portfolio has sup- ported the expansion of national parks and protected areas in the Cape Peninsula, Namaqualand, Addo and Baviaanskloof as well as creative off-reserve solutions and new partnerships with private and community landowners. South Africa has been a leader in integrating biodiversity in production landscapes, especially through partnerships under the Cape Action for People and the Environment pro- gram (C.A.P.E.) and the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Partnership (SKEP). The Criti- cal Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has supported conservation planning and engaged civil society in active partnerships for conservation in the production sec- tor, including private and community lands. A suite of GEF medium-sized projects have demonstrated good practice in conservation farming, conservation planning, and greater engagement of local communities in establishing community conser- vation areas. Many of the lessons from earlier projects are being scaled up and replicated under the current C.A.P.E. Biodiversity and Sustainable Development project, within the Cape Floral Kingdom. This volume, illustrates the results achieved on the ground of the ongoing part- nership of C.A.P.E. and will contribute to disseminating lessons learned from the C.A.P.E. programme to other bioregional programmes worldwide. The inspiring stories presented here provide examples of creative thinking in promoting biodi- versity conservation in the context of sustainable development. Many of the case studies have relevance to other countries and other sectors, demonstrating syner- gies between conservation and the fight against poverty, innovative solutions to shared needs, and opportunities to make biodiversity an indispensable part of ordinary people’s lives. Katherine Sierra Gobind Nankani Vice President, Sustainable Development Vice President, Africa Region The World Bank The World Bank CONTENTS 6 Chapter 1 Introducing C.A.P.E. 6 1.1 The Context of C.A.P.E. 8 1.2 What makes the Cape Floristic Region so special? 2 1.3 What is the C.A.P.E. programme? 23 1.4 The Cape Action Plan for the Environment 24 1.5 The components of the C.A.P.E. Programme 28 1.6 The purpose and structure of this book 32 Chapter 2 Unleashing the potential of protected areas 32 2.1 What’s the issue? 33 2.2 Consolidating the Table Mountain National Park 4 2.3 Lowland Conservation in the City of Cape Town 60 2.4 Lowland Conservation in the Nelson Mandela Metro 66 2.5 The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor 73 2.6 The Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve 79 2.7 The Gouritz Initiative 83 2.8 The Garden Route Initiative 89 2.9 The Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative 94 2.10 A tale of two biosphere reserves 04 Chapter 3 Managing watersheds wisely 04 3.1 Caring for rivers and wetlands 112 3.2 Dealing with alien invasive plants 24 Chapter 4 Enabling conservation stewardship 24 4.1 Conservation Stewardship–involving private land owners 35 4.2 Monitoring biodiversity – mobilising civil society action 43 4.3 Caring for the coastal and marine environment 52 Chapter 5 Building the biodiversity economy 52 5.1 Valuing the Cape Floristic Region 54 5.2 Making agriculture more sustainable 64 5.3 A focus on flowers 72 5.4 The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative 76 5.5 Towards sustainable tourism 86 Chapter 6 Supporting conservation education 86 6.1 A long tradition and a vibrant programme 92 6.2 The children of C.A.P.E. 96 6.3 Working with the educators 204 6.4 Youth development in CapeNature 208 Chapter 7 Strengthening institutions 208 7.1 An enabling policy context for C.A.P.E. 209 7.2 Establishing C.A.P.E. 211 7.3 A focus on C.A.P.E. Partners 25 7.4 First steps towards building capacity 22 7.5 Information management 226 7.6 Knowledge-networking 23 7.7 Finding funding 238 Chapter 8 Co-ordinating C.A.P.E. 238 8.1 The basis for co-ordination 242 8.2 Services of the CCU and other co-ordination mechanisms 246 8.3 Measuring progress 252 Chapter 9 Looking ahead 253 9.1 Conserving biodiversity in priority areas 254 9.2 Using resources sustainably 255 9.3 Strengthening institutions and governance 259 9.4 Concluding remarks Acknowledgements Appendices Appendix 1. Participants Appendix 2. Projects Appendix 3. Recommendations of the C.A.P.E. Partners’ Conference Message from the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism outh Africa launched the Cape Action for People and the Environment Programme (C.A.P.E.) in 2000 in response Snot only to its obligations to secure globally significant biodiversity for the international community, but driven by the opportunity that the rich resources of the region offer for social and economic development of our people. Underly- ing the programme is a desire to unlock the opportunities for economic develop- ment while ensuring much greater involvement and participation among local communities and other stakeholders in decision-making and in sharing the ben- efits of sustainable use of biodiversity. The C.A.P.E. Strategy set out the challenges. Government and non-governmental organisations at every level have stepped in to provide the appropriate enabling environment for rapid implementation. From the perspective of government, rapid steps were taken to develop the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act and the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act. Among other functions, these far-reaching laws provide the context for the development and publication of bioregional plans that empower programmes like C.A.P.E. and set the standards for the designation and management of protected areas that fully represent and maintain biodiversity across the regional landscape. These have been followed by the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment and the adoption of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. The most striking innovation however, is coming from the partners and commu- nities themselves who are contributing directly to conservation stewardship on private and communal lands, through industry best practices and innovations, such as the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative and through mobilising government, business and stakeholders to partner in ensuring that sustainable development is achieved at a local level.