Camdeboo National Park

PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

October 2006

AUTHORISATION

This management plan is hereby internally accepted and authorised as the legal requirement for managing Camdeboo National Park as stated in the Protected Areas Act.

______Date: ______Paul Daphne Executive Director Parks, SANParks

______Date: ______Sydney Soundy Chief Operating Officer SANParks

______Date: ______Dr David Mabunda Chief Executive, SANParks

Recommended to SANParks Board

______Date: ______Ms Cheryl Carolus Chairperson, SANParks Board

Recommended to Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

______Date: ______Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk Minister: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)

CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006)

Executive Summary

SANParks has developed a Biodiversity Custodianship Framework to plan, integrate, implement and review the biodiversity conservation, tourism and constituency building components that make up its core business, whilst ensuring continual learning and compliance with DEAT norms and standards. The Camdeboo National Park (Camdeboo NP) was proclaimed on the 29th of October 2005, having formerly existed as the Karoo Nature Reserve since 1976. Apart from its scenic beauty, the geographical context of Camdeboo NP, practically surrounding the town of Graaff-Reinet, is perhaps its most outstanding feature. This relationship between a protected area with already popular tourist attractions, and a growing population on its borders, places Camdeboo NP in a unique position in the network of protected areas in the Eastern Cape. Camdeboo NP thus has the potential to significantly contribute to the socio-economic upliftment of a large local community.

Camdeboo NP has a semi-arid climate, and forms part of the Great Escarpment. Camdeboo NP’s diverse landscape in relation to altitude, aspect and soil type has led to the development of three distinct physiognomic classes of vegetation, i.e. Shrubland, Succulent Thicket and Dwarf Shrubland. It contains 43 species of mammal including a population of Cape Mountain Zebra, a herd of valuable disease free buffalo and an abundant population of about 1200 kudu. Camdeboo NP also contains rock formations of approximately 230 million years old that are rich in the fossils of the two main groups of early Karoo reptiles. Camdeboo NP’s desired state is a park that has been consolidated through park expansion and reducing inappropriate land use, to allow for natural processes and patterns representative of the full biodiversity spectrum associated with the Karoo area. Camdeboo NP’s socio-political desired state is a park that provides development and tourism opportunities to local communities and other stakeholders, but nevertheless informed and constrained by its biodiversity values.

Programmes to achieve Camdeboo NP’s desired state fall within four categories, i.e. Biodiversity and heritage conservation, Constituency building, Sustainable tourism and Effective park management: i) Biodiversity and heritage conservation Park expansion seeks to unify the current Camdeboo and Mountain Zebra National Parks into a mega reserve of 330 000 ha. Expansion in the 2006-10 management cycle will be primarily focused on the logical alignment of the boundary into a more manageable ecological unit. In this regard it is planned to acquire a total of 6600 ha for an estimated total of R8.2 m. Further expansion would be via identified acquisition and contractual inclusion of private land into a mosaic of public-private land. Camdeboo NP does not have a lower level plan for resource use at this time, but will be developed to ensure the sustainable use of wild biotic and abiotic resources to improve the quality of life of people who live in the Graaff- Reinet district, according to their needs, but subject to the resource use policy and biodiversity values of SANParks and the desired state for Camdeboo NP. In order to fully comply with all management requirements for cultural heritage resources in the park a number of initiatives have been planned and will be implemented within the next five years. The main feature of the herbivory programme is the departure from the use of stocking rates to determine the size of herbivore populations in Camdeboo NP. Rather,Thresholds of Potential Concern that explicitly measure the biodiversity changes brought about by herbivores will be used to make decisions about the removal of herbivores for ecological reasons. In addition to the rehabilitation of areas that have been degraded by years of mismanagement during the commonage era, a rehabilitation programme incorporates removal of alien biota. Reintroduction of game aims to restore Camdeboo NP’s historical wildlife diversity, although it is currently too limited in size and inadequately fenced with respect to the containment of any larger predators. Currently rare species in Camdeboo NP are not afforded any special conservation measures. Candidate species will have to be put through the SANParks prioritisation framework for species of special concern, and those that

Ref.16/1/5/1/5/5/1 CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) emerge as category 1 or 2 species must have their own TPCs set and monitoring programmes. Although Camdeboo NP's neighbours currently do not have a significant problem with damage causing animals, these will be addressed by the management committee on an ad hoc basis. Camdeboo NP does not currently have a Fire Programme, as fire is not a significant driver in Karoo ecosystems. In those parts of the landscape that contain sufficient fuel to burn, Camdeboo NP will allow lightning fires to take their course, in recognition of the role of fire as an ecosystem driver, and within the constraints posed by risks to human life and infrastructure. ii) Sustainable tourism Camdeboo NP has a park zoning plan that divides the park into areas of different use, to guide and co-ordinate conservation, tourism and visitor experience initiatives. Although no accommodation or restaurant are currently available in Camdeboo NP, a high level objective is to ensure that any future tourism developments, particularly accommodation, will remain sensitive to competition with the surrounding community. Various tourism products are planned for Camdeboo NP. ii) Building co-operation A Stakeholder relationship management programme aims to contribute meaningfully to the quality of life of the local community by linking the management of Camdeboo NP with the social and economic activities of the Graaff-Reinet community in ways that both develop and maintain healthy mutual trust and interdependence. The aim of the park's environmental education programme is to stimulate sensitivity towards the natural environment by promoting an understanding of the interdependence of all living organisms and their relationship to their environment. A socio-economic development programme aims is to contribute to the economic, social and physical well being of the community living around the park. The programme aims to create a local and regional profile for Camdeboo NP, appreciating that it has an important role to play in the local economy by creating employment opportunities and developing sound economic relationships with those living on its borders. iii) Effective park management Interim environmental management standards that will be adhered to include those for waste management, pollution control, visitor impacts, building sites and aspects including offroad driving by visitors. An infrastructure development programme has a phased approach to the development of visitor infrastructure, and aims to provide a balanced range of facilities and opportunities for both local community and foreign tourists, that are compatible with the Park sensitivity analysis and zonation. The compilation of Camdeboo NP’s safety and security, and financial sustainability plans are is still in progress. Corporate support for Camdeboo NP includes an increase in staff capacity (e.g. a dedicated research technician) to carry out the monitoring that is essential for the successful implementation of the biophysical programmes to achieve the desired state. The AIDS/HIV programme for Camdeboo NP forms part of a broader SANParks initiative. Camdeboo NP will make use of the comprehensive Risk Management Framework provided on a corporate level by SANParks, incorporating corporate risk management policy, procedures and methodology. Finally, the communications programme for Camdeboo NP follows the Corporate Communications policy.

The essential feature of the adaptive management system employed by SANParks for its biodiversity custiodanship is the iterative way in which it will enable continual improvement in the management of each park through annual and five-year review cycles. The SANParks review process employs the Balanced Scorecard system manage the performance of its management actions. The Balanced Scorecard integrates SANParks’ and park-specific objectives across all levels of its staff through explicit linkages with individual performance areas.

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Table of contents

1. BACKGROUND TO AND FORMULATION OF PARK DESIRED STATE...... 1 1.1 The fundamental decision-making environment...... 1 1.1.1. Vision and Mission for Camdeboo NP ...... 2 1.1.2. Context ...... 2 Location and Boundaries...... 2 History ...... 3 Social, economic and political context...... 4 Physical environment and land use ...... 4 i) Climate ...... 4 ii) Geology, geomorphology and soils ...... 4 iii) Topography...... 5 iv) Hydrology...... 5 v) Surrounding landuse...... 5 Biological environment...... 5 i) Vegetation...... 5 ii) Fauna ...... 6 iii) Paleo history...... 6 1.1.3 Values and Operating Principles...... 7 1.2 Vital attributes underpinning the value proposition of Camdeboo NP...... 8 1.3 Setting the details of the desired state for Camdeboo NP...... 9 1.3.1 An objectives hierarchy for Camdeboo NP...... 9 1.3.2. Thresholds of concern and other exact conservation targets ...... 9 1.3.3 Conservation Development Framework (CDF)...... 10 2. PROGRAMMES TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STATE ...... 12 2.1 Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation ...... 12 2.1.1 Park Expansion Programme...... 12 2.1.2 Sustainable and Natural Resource Use Programme...... 13 2.1.3 Cultural Resource Programme...... 13 2.1.4 River, Wetland and Groundwater Programme...... 14 2.1.5 Herbivory Programme (including water provision) ...... 15 2.1.6 Rehabilitation Programme...... 15 2.1.7 Reintroduction Programme ...... 16 2.1.8 Damage Causing Animal Programme...... 16 2.1.9 Species of Special Concern Programme...... 17 2.1.10 Fire Programme...... 17 2.2 Sustainable Tourism...... 18 2.2.1 Park zoning plan ...... 18 2.2.2 Tourism Programme...... 19 2.2.3 Other programmes under Sustainable Tourism...... 20 2.3 Building co-operation...... 20 2.3.1 Stakeholder Relationship Management Programme ...... 20 2.3.2 Environmental Education and Interpretation Programme ...... 21 2.3.3 Local Socio-economic Development Programme ...... 21 2.4 Effective Park Management...... 21 2.4.1 Environmental Management Programme...... 22 2.4.2 Infrastructure Development Programme...... 23 2.4.3 Safety and Security Programme ...... 23 2.4.4 Financial Sustainability Programme ...... 24

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2.4.5 Other programmes under Effective Park Management...... 24 2.5 Corporate Support ...... 25 2.5.1 Research Support...... 25 2.5.2 HIV/AIDS Programme...... 25 2.5.3. Other programmes under Corporate Support...... 25 3. ADAPTIVE AND INTEGRATIVE STRATEGIES TO SUSTAIN THE DESIRED STATE...... 25 3.1 Key prioritization, integration and sequencing issues ...... 25 3.2 Steps to Operationalisation...... 26 3.3. Key ongoing adaptive management and evaluation interventions ...... 26 4. REFERENCES ...... 29

List of acronyms and abbreviations used

DEAT – Department of Enviromental Affairs & Tourism EPWP – Expanded Public Works Programme SANParks – South African National Parks Camdeboo NP – Camdeboo National Park SANF – South African Nature Foundation TPC – Threshold of Potential Concern HR – Human Resources V-STEEP – The values (social, technological, economic, ecological and political), used to understand, with stakeholders, the social, economic and ecological context of the system to be managed, and the principles/values that guide management. These are used to develop a broadly acceptable vision of the future.

Glossary of selected words

Balanced Scorecard – the performance management tool used by SANParks to ensure feedback and effective implementation of various management objectives Objectives hierarchy – the objectives for a park, with the most important, high level objectives at the top, cascading down to objectives at finer levels of detail, and eventually to operational actions at the lowest level desired state- the overall conditions of the park (across the full V-STEEP range) that stakeholders desire Vision – a word “picture” of the future, or what the stakeholders see as the future for the park Mission – an articulation of the Vision that describes why the park exists, and its overall philosophy on how to achieve its desired state Vital attributes – unique or special characteristics of the park, the determinants of which management should strive to protect, and the threats towards which management should strive to minimise

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1. BACKGROUND TO AND FORMULATION OF PARK DESIRED STATE

SANParks has developed a Biodiversity Custodianship Framework (Rogers 2003) to plan, integrate, implement and review the biodiversity conservation, tourism and constituency building components that make up its core business, whilst ensuring continual learning and compliance with DEAT norms and standards (Cowan 2006; see Coordinated Policy Framework document). The essential feature of the system is the iterative way in which it will enable continual improvement in the management of each park through annual and five-year review cycles. The first step in developing/revising a management plan is to develop the desired state of the park, which guides park management in its daily operations. The desired state is drafted every five years with the involvement of representative stakeholders, and forms a bridge between the long term Policy and Vision for the Park, and the medium term (five year) priorities and resources available to attain that vision.

The management plan for Camdeboo National Park (Camdeboo NP) has been formulated using this Biodiversitiy Custodianship Framework and adaptive planning process. The adaptive planning process involves setting the fundamental decision-making environment, understanding the V-STEEP system to be managed, and prioritising objectives for each park. Having only been proclaimed in October 2005, Camdeboo NP is in the development phase of the protected area life cycle.

The desired state for Camdeboo NP comprises a Vision and Mission reflecting the high-level essence of what Camdeboo NP is aspiring towards, and a hierarchy of objectives translating these broad values into strategic, auditable management outcomes. This section of the plan details the setting of Camdeboo NP’s desired state, focusing on the determinants and threats to its vital attributes, and translating the maintenance of these determinants and overcoming of these threats from broad objectives into specific and auditable management actions.

Thereafter, specific programmes to achieve the desired state for Camdeboo NP are detailed. These programmes are the core components of protected area management, and for SANParks comprise biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, building co-operation and effective park management. Finally, the plan outlines how the various Camdeboo NP park objectives will be prioritized, integrated and operationalised, and which feedback mechanisms will be used to ensure compliance, auditability and maximum learning, as part of the adaptive management cycle.

1.1 The fundamental decision-making environment

As with all SANParks, the objectives and management of Camdeboo NP must be aligned with SANParks’ Vision and Mission:

Vision National parks will be the pride and joy of all South Africans and of the world.

Mission To develop and manage a system of national parks that represents the biodiversity, landscapes, and associated heritage assets of South Africa for the sustainable use and benefit of all.

While adhering to the SANParks vision and mission, the three pillars of the decision-making environment are the park-specific mission statement, the context of/for the managed system (at local, regional, national and international levels and at ecological, socio-economic, political and legal levels), and thirdly, the values and operating principles. While a park’s vision is a concise statement describing its core business and philosophy of management, a

Ref.16/1/5/1/5/5/1 1 CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) statement of the operating principles describes the core values of the organisation. SANParks Biodiversity and corporate values have been set but they may need to be supplemented by operating principles that meet specific needs of an individual National Park.

1.1.1. Vision and Mission for Camdeboo NP

The development of the Vision for Camdeboo NP took place during stakeholder workshops, in which the importance of conserving the unique biodiversity and landscape elements of the area was recognised. These workshops include several carried out while the park was still a provincial nature reserve (Karoo Nature Reserve). The vision also reflects Camdeboo NP’s commitment to provide socio-economic development and regional tourism opportunties to its stakeholders.

The resulting Vision for Camdeboo NP is: Conserving our Karoo heritage, providing opportunities to our people

In order to achieve this Vision, Camdeboo NP’s Mission is: “To develop and consolidate the Camdeboo NP to effectively conserve the unique biodiversity, cultural heritage and landscapes of the area, thereby also providing socio- economic development and regional tourism opportunities for local communities and other stakeholders in the region”

The Vision and Mission for Camdeboo NP ensure that while the park’s management objectives and strategies (detailed further down in this management plan) conform to SANParks broad-level objectives, the specific high level objectives of the Camdeboo NP can ultimately be traced back to its stakeholders’ values.

1.1.2. Context

Together with the corporate, park-specific and societal values and Vision, the social, technological, ecological, economic and political facts tha define the circumstances relevant to Camdeboo NP provide the context for its decision-making environment. Ecologically Camdeboo NP is not unique in the network of Eastern Cape protected areas. The ratio between the predominating mountain veld and plains Karoo veld is unrepresentative of the Karoo biome, and much of the park biota are also conserved adequately in other protected areas. The park does contain conservation worthy biological features, but in a regional context the socio-economic importance of the park perhaps outweighs its biological significance.

Location and Boundaries Situated in the Eastern Cape Province, about 250km north of Port Elizabeth, the Camdeboo National Park (Camdeboo NP), virtually surrounds the historic town of Graaff-Reinet. This town, often referred to as the “Gem of the Karoo” lies at the junction of the R63 to Murraysburg; N9 to Middelburg; R75 to Port Elizabeth and R57 to Aberdeen, effectively divided by the R57 into an Eastern Section of 7900ha and a Western Section of 6,600ha. The attached map shows the location of Camdeboo NP (Figure 1).

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Figure 1 - Location and extent of the Camdeboo National Park.

History The area in which Camdeboo NP is now situated was settled by a powerful Inqua tribe in the mid-1600's. The Inqua grazed vast herds of cattle and fat-tailed sheep on the apron veld from the Camdeboo river near Aberdeen across the Sundays river to the Agter- Bruintjieshoogte near Somerset-East. The first white farmers settled the Camdeboo Plains and Sneeuberg in 1770 introducing merino sheep and angora goats as well as foreign plants (Coetzee 1990). Although the first landdrost of Graaff-Reinet was appointed in 1785, the area was already settled by trekboers well before this date. Early accounts of the district make note of the fact that large numbers of Khoikhoi people were settled here but they are not discussed in any of the early ‘white’ histories of the district. Furthermore, the area to the north of Graaff-Reinet (Sneeuberg) is known to have been a refuge of Bushman groups who periodically raided trekboer farms for livestock.

The area around the Valley of Desolation was proclaimed a scenic National Monument in 1935 and in September 1974, Dr Anton Rupert of the S.A. Nature Foundation, suggested the idea of a Karoo Nature Park with the Valley as its core. A campaign was launched to raise funds, whereby schoolchildren could buy a symbolic piece of the proposed park. The contributions of 300 000 schoolchildren from all over the country made possible the funding of a 2698 ha Karoo Nature Reserve, Stretching west of town towards the Valley. This nature reserve was officially handed over to the Cape Administrator, Dr L.A.P.A. Munnik, by Dr. Anton Rupert on 24 August 1976. The park was slowly stocked with indigenous game and patrolled by nature conservation officers. The Karoo Nature Reserve was thus officially established in 1976, following a campaign initiated by the Southern African Nature Foundation (SANF) to improve the conservation of the Karoo Biome. The area was proclaimed a provincial nature reserve in terms of the provisions of the Nature Conservation

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Ordinance no 19 of 1974. During 1993 the S A N F purchased the Graaff-Reinet Golf Course in a move to consolidate the KNR and provide facilities for field ranger training. Legal Title to the land constituting the Karoo Nature Reserve was finally transferred from the Camdeboo Municipality to the WWF in 2003 after being in abeyance for some 27 years! Some time after this, legal title of the land was again transferred to SANParks and the Camdeboo National Park was proclaimed on the 29th of October 2005.

Social, economic and political context Apart from its scenic beauty, the geographical context of Camdeboo NP, practically surrounding the town of Graaff-Reinet, is perhaps its most outstanding feature. This relationship between a protected area and a growing population of currently 44317 (2001 figures from Camdeboo municipal area) people on its borders, places Camdeboo NP in a unique position in the network of protected areas in the Eastern Cape. The park offers many opportunities and challenges, and much can be learnt from a concerted strategy to integrate the park, the town and the surrounding rural communities into an economically vibrant and environmentally responsible entity.

Due to its unique location and its already popular tourist attractions, Camdeboo NP has the potential to significantly contribute to the socio-economic upliftment of a large local community, perhaps more so than other protected areas in the region. In addition, Camdeboo NP offers unique opportunities for integrating nature conservation, as a form of land use, with the needs and aspirations of a rural town and its people. In this sense it is an ideal setting to assess the value of a variety of community oriented approaches to conservation, and is well positioned to offer research opportunities in the field of resource economics.

Physical environment and land use i) Climate The general description is of a semi-arid climate, with 32% of the average annual total of 336mm of rain falling during the hottest months of the year (February – April). Fog occurs frequently over the high lying areas, predominantly from February to April, and contributes to moisture availability in these areas. Frost is usually experienced from April to September, and snow is a scattered winter feature of the high lying plateaux. Maximum air temperatures during summer may exceed 43º C, with winter minima falling below -3º C. Although there is no evidence for a progressive desiccation at Graaff-Reinet, oscillatory variations in the rainfall are apparent. ii) Geology, geomorphology and soils The Camdeboo NP forms part of the southern portion of the Karoo Mountain Complex which is in turn, part of the Great Escarpment. The mountains within the National Park contain dolerites which have been forced through the older Karoo sedimentary rocks. These dolerite intrusions affect the adjacent mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, creating metamorphic rocks such as lidianite from the mudstone. Subsequent erosion of the weaknesses in the dolerite has resulted in the characteristic landscape of buttes and mesas. The rock terraces, mesas, buttes and needles are characteristic profiles of arid landscapes. The geological system consists of very thick layers of near horizontal strata of sedimentary rocks. The largest part of the pediment is covered with alluvium, wash, gravel, sands, mud and wash stone of recent origin, with characteristic superficial calcrete. These tertiary to quaternary deposits are an important feature influencing the vegetation of the Karoo Biome, as they represent the growth medium for many dwarf shrubs in the region. The soils are generally calcareous duplex forms of a secondary nature, having been deposited as alluvium on the impermeable sandstone. These duplex soils are subject to sheet and gully erosion, which is aggravated by a reduction in vegetation cover.

Ref.16/1/5/1/5/5/1 4 CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) iii) Topography The greater part of the Park is situated between 740 and 1 480 meters above sea level on the foothills of the Sneeuberg range, while only a small section of the adjacent low-lying plains are included within the boundary. Gradients may vary to very steep where the landscape is deeply bisected by numerous kloofs or level ‘vlaktes’ of sedimentary origin. iv) Hydrology The Camdeboo NP is situated on the edge of the Great Escarpment and is part of the Sneeuberg Mountain Complex which is drained, in the National Park, by the Sundays, Gats, Melk, Camdeboo, Pienaars and Erasmuskloof Rivers. These rivers are generally seasonal and often only persist as consistent riverbed pools fed by fountains. The greater amount of runoff is via these seasonal rivers and streams and occurs during the sporadic and strong thunderstorms of Spring and late Summer. The rivers of the Sneeuberg Mountain Complex drain towards the Nqweba Dam in the central National Park area and as a result of poor grazing and hydrology management during the decades preceding 1990 the dam is almost completely silted up and has only about 60% of its original storage capacity. v) Surrounding landuse

Camdeboo NP shares a common boundary of 64.3 km with twelve farms ranging in size from 250 to 11 111 ha (average size 3 456 ha). In addition to this the park is a neighbour to the Municipality both externally, with 15.5 km, and internally with 18.5 km of common boundary. All of the park neighbours, including the municipal authorities, have a positive attitude with respect to the park as a neighbour, with five who view the park as beneficial to their own interests and one, though positive, is critical of its management. The surrounding landuse is typical of the eastern Karoo where the production of livestock is the main concern. Virtually all of the park neighbours run merino sheep which they support with cattle, angoras or boergoats. Two of the park neighbours have a substantial interest in game farming. Farming with ostriches in the area is taking off especially with deregulation in the industry and the establishment of an ostrich/game abattoir in Graaff-Reinet. The Graaff-Reinet Municipality constitutes the most significant park neighbour in terms of shared boundary length and impact on the park. Five separate land areas border the park and landuse varies externally from hired grazing (sheep, cattle and boergoats) to underground water resource utilisation, building sand mining in the Sundays River, brickmaking and an airfield, while internal borders lie adjacent to residential/industrial and 'vacant' land.

Camdeboo NP experiences a few problems originating from adjacent land use patterns. These include irregular invasion by stock from neighbouring farms as well as town animals such as boergoats and marauding dogs. Poor waste management practices within the town result in pollution of the Sundays River (albeit not within the park boundary) while littering constitutes a serious problem, especially in those areas of the park directly adjacent to residential areas. With the park enclosing a community of some 35 000 people there is an appreciable level of undesirable activity within the boundaries. This includes most significantly poaching with the use of dogs, snares or traps; illegal wood collecting by individuals as well as commercial concerns where both dead wood and live trees are removed, and theft, including the removal of material from fences. Breaking and entering and subsequent theft, as well as vandalism of a diverse nature throughout the park, are risks that have to be taken into account in all management ventures.

Biological environment i) Vegetation The Karoo is generally arid sub-desert country – plant composition is thus generally variable and is primarily influenced by the variation in rainfall, with autumn and spring rains favouring the growth of karroid plants or karoo bushes, while mid to late summer rains favour grass, taller shrubs and trees. While the system is highly resilient, and recovers rapidly from drought, floods, insect outbreaks and overgrazing, the veld in the Park is still in a transitional state owing to the prolonged effects of previous veld mismanagement. Overgrazing of the

Ref.16/1/5/1/5/5/1 5 CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) more palatable grasses and karoo bushes in the past has resulted in their gradual replacement by unpalatable species, dwarf shrubs and poor ground cover. This in turn promotes soil erosion as the cover by such dwarf shrubs is much less effective in preventing surface water run-off than is a mixed cover of karroid plants.

The diverse landscape of the Park in relation to altitude, aspect and soil type has led to the development of three distinct physiognomic classes of vegetation, namely Shrubland, Succulent Thicket and Dwarf Shrubland. The Shrub land is located on the sandstone dominated uplands above 1 300 meters in elevation and displays a gradient from the moist condition in which the shrubs are separated by grassland, to a dry condition in which the inter-clump cover is dominated by dwarf shrubs. The Succulent thicket is a distinctive unit, dominated by shrubs and succulents of sub-tropical affinity. The Dwarf Shrubland is restricted to the bottomlands, where the alkaline alluvial soils are encountered. The Dwarf Shrublands may be grassy, succulent or degraded, depending on the nature of the near surface substrate, the frequency of precipitation and the recent land-use history (Palmer, 1989). To date 336 plant species have been collected, among which 71 families of flowering plants are represented. The most important of these are the daisies (55 species), the grasses (36 species), the lilies (25 species) and the Crassula’s (16 species). A checklist of the plants recorded in the Camdeboo National Park is available from the office of the Park Manager. ii) Fauna Camdeboo NP has 43 species of mammal including a population of Cape Mountain Zebra, a herd of valuable disease free buffalo and an abundant population of about 1200 kudu. Plains game species such as springbok, blesbuck and wildebeest populations are limited in size owing to the inadequate extent of their habitat. Thirteen carnivore species are included in the checklist of the mammals recorded in the Park.

The vertebrate fauna recorded in the Camdeboo NP includes a diversity of at least 225 birds with an interesting ecotonal mix including species typical of both the Great Karoo and Eastern Region avifauna. The herpetofauna has been well documented and includes five frog, five tortoise, 19 lizard and 10 snake species. Ten fish species including two aliens of sustenance angling value (carp and barbel) are present in the Park. Invertebrate fauna is largely unrecorded, although the biotic influences of brown locust outbreaks as well as the cyclical eruptions of the Karoo caterpillar and harvester termite on the vegetation, are characteristic features of this ecosystem. Checklists of the Mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as well as fish species recorded to date within the park, are available from the Park Manager. iii) Paleo history The uniqueness of the Karoo Basin lies partly in the fact that its 50-million-year fossil record, covering a period from 240 to 190 million years ago, is largely unbroken. The intricate evolutionary pathways followed by different animal groups through time can thus be more closely traced than in other fossil-bearing systems of rock strata. The Camdeboo NP is characterised by sedimentary rocks of the Beaufort Series. These rocks, approximately 230 million years old, are rich in the fossils of the two main groups of early Karoo reptiles: The Pareiasaurs were large bulky herbivores of primitive descent while the mammal-like reptiles (Therapsida) are well represented by Dicynodonts, which gave rise to the modern mammals (Cluver, 1978).

Exposed along the slopes of the karoo koppies and in the sides of river channels are the fossilized bones of reptiles. These animals lived in the prehistoric Karoo marshlands and in many cases their bones or skeletons were washed into lakes or pools and rapidly covered in mud. The fossils on display in the Reinet Museum in Graaff-Reinet are from an extensive collection made over an 18-year period from localities in the Graaff-Reinet district by Mr Alex T Bremmer.

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1.1.3 Values and Operating Principles

Our values are the principles we use to propose and evaluate between alternative options and decisions. SANParks has adopted eleven corporate values, which serve as guiding principles around which all employee behaviour and actions are governed and shaped. These corporate values include: • We shall demonstrate leadership in all we do • We shall embrace, and be guided by environmental ethics in all we do • We shall promote transformation within, and outside of the organisation • We shall strive for scientific and service excellence at all times • We shall act with professionalism at all times • We shall adopt, and encourage initiative and innovation by all • We shall treat all our stakeholders with equity and justice • We shall exercise discipline at all times • We shall show respect to all • We shall act with honesty and integrity • We shall strive for transparency and open communication at all times

Camdeboo NP takes its biodiversity values from the headline SANParks biodiversity values: • We adopt a complex systems view of the world while striving to ensure the natural functioning and long term persistence of the ecosystems under our care. • We aim at persistent achievement of biodiversity representivity and complementarity to promote resilience and ensure ecosystem integrity. • We can intervene in ecosystems responsibly and sustainably, but we focus management on complementing natural processes under a "minimum interference" philosophy. • We accept with humility the mandate of custodianship of biodiversity for future generations while recognising that both natural and social systems change over time.

Although SANParks corporate and biodiversity values have been set, they need to be supplemented in Camdeboo NP by operating principles that meet the speciific needs of Camdeboo NP’s maintenance phase and focus on upliftment of the surrounding communities. The operating principles below reflect the values of individuals in the Camdeboo NP stakeholder group, including SANParks and Camdeboo NP management: • The principles of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) including assessment of the full range of impacts eg. social, cultural, economic, ecological etc. will be applied to all issues of management and development significance. In general, ecological concerns should outweigh economic or other interests but we will consider the wider picture. • A commitment to ‘environmentally friendly’ developments, with effective attention being given to ‘green technology’, aesthetics, judicious energy consumption and sensitive waste disposal. • The management of the park must show a serious commitment to recycling of waste materials wherever possible. Well developed sites must provide for waste separation in respect of recyclable materials. • All waste material of whatever nature, whether of tourist or management origin, must be removed from the park to the town landfill or, in the case of toxic wastes such as chemicals or batteries must be disposed of in a sensitive and responsible manner • Recreational experiences based on a combination of educational and spiritual refreshment that engenders awareness, sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the environment and its inhabitants

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• The park must comply in full with all Provincial and National legislation including that pertaining to Environmental and Biodiversity Conservation as well as Labour and Occupational Health. In addition management will have to comply with any International Treaties or Conventions of relevance to which SA is a signatory • Management will subscribe to continual improvement of the management system and regular review of environmental objectives. All levels of personnel must be familiar with relevant Operational Instructions and understand the Management System Manual. • Conservation of biodiversity components should follow the principle of “minimum interference” wherever possible. • Park management should be sensitive to its neighbours in all its endeavours and management decisions

1.2 Vital attributes underpinning the value proposition of Camdeboo NP

Listing the vital attributes of a park is an important step in the objective setting process as it identifies the fundamental purpose(s) of conservation management for a particular park. The following vital attributes have been identified as making Camdeboo NP unique, or at least very special in its class. Each attribute is accompanied by important factors determining or threatening the attribute. Using this information helps management to achieve the desired state by formulating park objectives that focus on maintaining the determinants of, and on overcoming the constraints and threats to, these vital attributes.In addition, in this way the management plan is customized in its fullest local extent, without detracting from some of its more generic SANParks functions. The vital attributes of Camdeboo NP, as recognised by its stakeholders, can be summarised as follows: • The Valley of Desolation • The existence of four vegetation biomes • Extensive wetland biodiversity (Nqweba dam) • A substantial large herbivore compliment • A resilient ecosystem, but with a high proportion of degraded land • Cyclic eruptions of brown locust, harvester termite, karoo caterpillar • Historic town (fourth oldest settlement, through colonial and prehistoric eras) that surrounds park • More beds for tourists than any other park • Proximity of homes to park/wilderness experience • Archaeological site • More national monuments than any other town in SA • Well-managed in past

These vital attributes are largely determined by the low rainfall, high degree of variation in elevation, aspect and slope in Camdeboo NP, and its complex geological structure, as well as the existence of Nqweba Dam within the park. While historical mismanagement has led to the disproportionate amount of degraded land in Camdeboo NP, responsible wildlfe monitoring and management has resulted in the current wide spectrum of large herbivores. The cyclic eruptions of insects are determined by particular circumstances of rainfall, temperature and humidty.

The major threats to Camdeboo NP can be summarised as: • Climate change and alien vegetation • Herbivore pressure on vegetation due to their inability to follow historical migration routes • Illegal/uncontrolled resource use • Lack of resources • Lack of integration with other institutions

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• Lack of control over law enforcement • Unplanned development right next to park, e.g. waste site, pollution • Inappropriate infrastructures (e.g. shooting range) • Non-involvement of communities (lack of successes) • Lack of knowledge of dangerous animals by rural people

1.3 Setting the details of the desired state for Camdeboo NP

SANParks’ biodiversity custodianship framework guides park management in setting up a management plan, implementation thereof, and the review of the plan (see Coordinated Policy Framework document). The essential feature of the system is the iterative way in which it will enable continual improvement in the management of each park though annual and five-year review cycles. The first step in developing/revising a management plan is to develop the desired state of the park, which guides park management in its daily operations. The desired state is drafted every five years with the involvement of representative stakeholders, and forms a bridge between the long term Policy and Vision for the Park, and the medium term (five year) priorities and resources available to attain that vision.

Camdeboo NP’s desired state is a park that has been consolidated through park expansion and reducing inappropriate land use, to allow for natural processes and patterns representative of the full biodiversity spectrum associated with the Karoo area. Camdeboo NP’s socio-political desired state is a park that provides development and tourism opportunities to local communities and other stakeholders, but nevertheless informed and constrained by its biodiversity values.

In order that the current and future extent of the Park is protected and managed effectively, the desired state is decomposed into a hierarchy of component objectives of increasing focus, rigour and achievability. The final level represents acceptable, achievable and measurable objectives.

1.3.1 An objectives hierarchy for Camdeboo NP

In order that the current and future extent of the Park is protected and managed effectively, the desired state is decomposed into a hierarchy of component objectives of increasing focus, rigour and achievability. The final level represents acceptable, achievable and measurable objectives, linked to a performance management tool known as the Balanced Scorecard.

In order for Camdeboo NP to move towards realising its jointly agreed upon Vision, five high level objectives have been identified, and are cascaded down to finer and finer levels of detail, ending with specific operational or management strategies. Figure 2 represents the highest level objectives in Camdeboo NP’s objectives hierarchy, which form the basis for prioritisation of management issues, and are explicitly derived from the park’s Mission and Vision. The full hierarchy of objectives can be obtained from park management upon request. The high level objectives focus on consolidating and developing Camdeboo NP in order to conserve the full spectrum of biodiversity and cultural heritage assets of the area. In addition, a fourth high level objective is in place to ensure that Camdeboo NP’s commitment to providing regional tourism and local socio-economic development is fulfilled. The fifth objective is an enabling objective that ensures that makes the attainment of the other objectives possible through best practise management of Camdeboo NP’s human resources.

1.3.2. Thresholds of concern and other exact conservation targets

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In the adaptive management of ongoing change in ecological systems, thresholds of concern are the upper and/or lower limits of flux allowed, explicitly specifying the boundaries of the desired state of the park. If monitoring or predictive modelling indicate exceedances beyond these limits, then mandatory management options of the adaptive cycle are prompted. Considering the biophysical objectives stated above, the following TPCs are provisionally listed for Camdeboo NP, but require development in consultation with scientific experts: • Extensive changes in the proportional representation of the four vegetation biomes in Camdeboo NP (this could potentially be brought about by climate change or overutilisation of vegetation by herbivores) • Reduction in wetland biodiversity (this is contingent upon the recreational and other use of Nqweba Dam) • Reduction in groundwater quality and/or quality • Loss of ecosystem resilience (this is a higher level indicator of ecosystem health, which could potentially supercede the other TPCs) • Reduction of/inappropriate herbivore compliment and associated levels of herbivory (this contributes to rangeland degradation and so should be crosslinked with vegetation TPCs) • Increase in cyclical eruptions of insects (this could be used as an indicator of climatic change)

These provisional TPCs will form part of particular programmes (below) to achieve the desired state, and will require explicit monitoring to assess the potential exceedance of each TPC. This has critical capacity and funding implications for the future budgeting and resource requirements of the park. It is therefore crucial to note at this point that the adaptive management cycle cannot be successfully implemented without the necessary capacity for monitoring. In addition, research should be solicited in conjunction with the monitoring to increase our understanding of the ecological processes in Camdeboo NP. Research, too, should be explicitly linked to the issues in Camdeboo NP’s objective hierarchy.

The above TPCs constitute the range believed to be necessary initially. If other issues arise (e.g. the need for certain rare biota TPCs) these can be set from generic principles.

1.3.3 Conservation Development Framework (CDF)

A full CDF will be developed for Karoo NP within the first iteration of this plan in 5 years’ time. However, a practical zonation for Karoo NP (Figure 3) has been undertaken and may be used to guide development of the park.

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Figure 2 – High level objectives in an objectives hierarchy for Camdeboo NP

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2. PROGRAMMES TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STATE

This section deals with the specific, but often crosslinked, programmes that address the park objectives and lead to management actions on the ground. Together they represent the park’s best attempt to achieve the desired state. Each subsection is a summary of the particular programme, invariably supported by a detailed description called a low-level plan, not included in this plan, but available for scrutiny upon request. All of these programmes are subservient to, and guided by, SANParks corporate level policies that translate SANParks values into operating principles (see SANParks Coordinated Policy Framework document).

The various programmes are detailed under the five “real-world” activity groupings as reflected in the SANParks biodiversity custodianship framework, namely Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation, Sustainable Tourism, Building Co-operation, Effective Park Management, and Corporate Support.

2.1 Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation

2.1.1 Park Expansion Programme

Although not situated within an identified priority habitat by the South African national conservation assessment (Driver et al. 2005) or regional Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) project (Cowling et al. 2003), the expansion of Camdeboo National Park (Camdeboo NP) remains important for SANParks in its attempt to establish a large protected area representative of the Thicket – Nama-Karoo - Riparian Biome interface landscape. The STEP project did however identify the park as an important component of the Sundays River conservation network pathway (Cowling et al. 2003). In addition, the limited plains habitat (which characterises the atmosphere of the Karoo and supports large game herds) is divided by rugged topography as well as the town and its support network of fenced roadways. The resultant isolated small patches of plains habitat, between which little movement of animals takes place, are not capable of supporting viable herds of plains game.

The expansion programme is in full congruence with SANParks accepted biodiversity values and follows the SANParks land acquisition framework. The expansion of the park impinges upon numerous national Acts, some of which requiring particular attention to their potential social impacts, especially on the agricultural labour sector. Conservation development plans for the park (Holness et al. 2003) provided a progressive expansion vision for the park. In the context of park expansion, the desired state of Camdeboo NP includes: • Consolidation of a ecologically viable park encapsulating the altitudinal variation with its associated habitat types and wildlife species characteristic of the Thicket -Nama-Karoo – Riparian interface characteristic of the Great Escarpment’s Sneeuberge – Tandjiesberge Mountain chain to the lowland plains of the Sundays River catchment; • Provision of habitat diversity in the face of expected climatic change; • Provision of an eco-tourism opportunity as an economic engine for the Graaff Reinet region; • Provision of a model for public-private park cooperative arrangements as part of the expansion process.

The greater park would seek to unify the current Camdeboo and Mountain Zebra National Parks into a mega reserve of 330 000 ha. This would include seven vegetation types (Table 1), with only the Tarkastad Montane Grassland new to both parks. In addition the expanded park would collectively include representation by Thicket (22 %), Grassland (49 %), Nama-Karoo (21 %) and Wetland (8%) biomes (Driver et al. 2005). Although largely identified as least threatened, largely

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) because of the rather limited transformation, the vegetation types in question range from hardly to poorly protected, thus requiring conservation attention. Hence, the mega-park will play an important role in the long-term preservation of biodiversity associated primarily with the Grassland Biome vegetation types. Expansion in the 2006-10 management cycle will be primarily focused on the logical alignment of the boundary into a more manageable ecological unit. In this regard it is planned to acquire a total of 6600 ha for an estimated total of R8.2 m. Further expansion would be via identified acquisition and contractual inclusion of private land into a mosaic of public-private land.

2.1.2 Sustainable and Natural Resource Use Programme

The Camdeboo NP does not have a lower level plan for resource use at this time. The program might be defined as the sustainable use of wild biotic and abiotic resources to improve the quality of life of people who live in the Graaff-Reinet district, according to their needs, but subject to the resource use policy and biodiversity values of SANParks and the desired state for the Camdeboo NP.

Current resource use in the Park includes a section of the Nqweba dam shoreline where fishermen are allowed to catch species alien to the district under a permit, with specified conditions. Similarly the Park also includes an area, which we are in the process of phasing out, where the collection of wood is controlled by the sale of permits. These areas are indicated on the Parks Resource Use overlay. In the past we have permitted the collection of prickly fruit on a seasonal basis. The use of alien species in the Park such as carp and barbel for angling, prickly pear fruit and tamarisk wood for domestic fuel use will need to be considered in relation to the use of indigenous resources. The plan should further seek to detail how issues around illegal activity related to resource use eg. setting snares while collecting wood will be addressed.

The responsibility for planning the program will be shared between management staff, people and conservation staff and the local community. Care will be taken to maintain and promote synergy between the various units which share responsibility. Monitoring will focus on the status of utilizable resources and the quality of life of the people, to determine whether the goals of the program have been achieved. Research will concentrate on sustainable yields of various resources, the needs of the community and the demand for resources.

2.1.3 Cultural Resource Programme

The purpose of this programme is to manage and sustain the significance, authenticity and integrity of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage resources for which Camdeboo NP is responsible. Camdeboo NP has a rich cultural history and associated resources. Specific goals of this programme include: • to establish and maintain a cultural resource database or library of all research reports and planning documents about the cultural resources; • to solicit research into the particular cultural resources of various interest groups living in and around the park needs to be undertaken; • To prevent the destruction or restoration of cultural resources and the collection or removal of cultural material from the park; • To enhance visitor enjoyment through the maintenance of cultural resources, including clearing the bush around sites and improving access roads. • To bring these sites to the attention of visitors through brochures and interpretive displays. • To monitor the impact of increased visitor flow at the sites needs to be monitored;

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• To consult with local historical societies, community interest groups, to take responsibility for the sites; • To involve the assistance of professional bodies such as the National Monuments Council for preservation of the sites; • To provide interpretation of sites to visitors; • To market the cultural heritage sites of the park

Although research and documentation of the areas’ cultural history and values was done by several researchers in the past; a dedicated and comprehensive archaeological survey and assessment of both the tangible and intangible cultural resources of the park and surrounding areas still needs to be conducted. In order to fully comply with all management requirements for cultural heritage resources in the park a number of initiatives have been planned and will be implemented within the next five years. SANParks legal obligations and management principles regarding cultural heritage resources are included in the Cultural Heritage Corporate Policy Statement.

2.1.4 River, Wetland and Groundwater Programme

Camdeboo NP incorporates the Nqweba Dam (1000ha) which is fed by the Sundays / Gats River, Pienaars River, Broederstroom and Oubersloot. This impoundment is owned by the Camdeboo Municipality and provides the water supply for the town of Graaff-Reinet. No monitoring of the water quality or level of this dam is carried out by the Park but this is carried out by the Camdeboo Municipality. The Camdeboo Municipality reserved the recreation rights on the dam in the deed of sale of the Municipal commonage to the WWF. During the period of management of the protected area as the Karoo Nature Reserve administered by the province, these rights were delegated to the park for the management or control of all recreation(boating, fishing etc) on the dam. While the Camdeboo NP have continued with this arrangement we have yet to engage with the municipality on this issue. No so-called ‘natural flow’ from this dam is maintained although there is a small volume of seepage. This seepage where it flows through the town, sometimes with added runoff from thundershowers in summer, is heavily polluted by leacheate from the town refuse dumps and frequent spillages from the sewerage pipelines which are overloaded and block often. The Park extracts water from 12 boreholes for either human or wildlife consumption. Eight of these holes are pumped by windmills and four utilize solar powered pumps. Negative impacts on the water table which affect the Park relate to a Municipal borehole field adjacent to the Park which is thought to be connected to extensive die-off of Acacia forests in the Park’s Game Viewing Area (GVA). A SAPS shooting range, inside the Park was recently upgraded at a cost of R47million and now encompasses 9ha of permanently irrigated lawns, requiring extensive irrigation that has led to the total desiccation of a windmill that supplies the requirements for wildlife in the area. Four natural fountains are maintained in the Park and in addition to a number of small earth wall impoundments provide for the water requirements of animals. The park’s objective is to maintain and manage these resources on a sustainable basis in order to provide for the requirements for wildlife and established tourist facilities in the Park. While the Park has little control over the quality of these resources, management should endeavour to keep an eye on this aspect and where problems are identified, to take any action deemed appropriate with respect to the NEMA. All water resources of the park will be defined and provided with spatial data in order to add this information as a layer to the park GIS. Strategic goals for this programme must be made explicit in the next 5- year management cycle.

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2.1.5 Herbivory Programme (including water provision)

A number of herbivore species are found in Camdeboo NP, including buffalo, eland, kudu, gemsbok, red hartebeest, black wildebeest, blesbok, springbok, mountain reedbuck, steenbok, duiker, Cape mountain zebra and ostrich. In line with SANParks corporate policy on herbivore management, this program is defined as the management of the process of herbivory. It is crosslinked to issues of reintroduction or removal of alien/extralimital species, which are dealt with in the Reintroduction and Rehabilitation programmes, and therefore does not cover any other special measures to conserve breeding populations of the species indigenous to the National Park area. The main feature of the herbivory programme is the departure from the use of stocking rates to determine the size of herbivore populations in Camdeboo NP. Rather, TPCs that explicitly measure the biodiversity changes brought about by herbivores will be used to make decisions about the removal of herbivores for ecological reasons (see Corporate Herbivore Management Framework in Coordinated Policy Framework document). A high priority for Camdeboo NP is therefore to develop a herbivory monitoring programme, in consultation with SANParks and other scientists, which adequately addresses the practicalities of the local context of Camdeboo NP. Once again, capacity for monitoring is crucial for the successful implementation of this non-equilibrium approach to herbivore management. The herbivore management plan is based on our current understanding of the spatially and temporally variable nature of Karoo ecosystems, as well as the resilience of the system. Inextricably linked to herbivore management is the provision of artificial water, which is one of the few options available to manipulate large herbivores in semi-arid environments. While a water provision policy linked to herbivore management must still be developed for Camdeboo NP, the general principle is that the minimum of artificial water should be made available, and none should be far from areas where water would have been expected to occur naturally. For those artificial waterpoints that remain, largely to enhance tourist game viewing, they should be controllable and opened and closed to avoid over utilization of certain areas due the presence of water alone. These waterpoints should be specifically monitored for vegetation and soil degradation.

2.1.6 Rehabilitation Programme

The scope of this programme includes the removal of alien biota and extralimital animals, as well as the rehabilitation of degraded land. The alien biota component of the programme defines the eradication and control of invasive alien plants, primarily Opuntia spp, as well as other invasive plants or weeds which occur in localities where they are undesirable or compromise the desired state of Camdeboo NP. The implementation of this programme will rest on National Park management staff with scientific guidance when required. Methods and planning will have to proceed on a project basis. Research should address the distribution and density of invasive plants while monitoring will focus on the cost per unit effort of control procedures. Specific attention will also be paid to the rehabilitation of areas that have been degraded by years of mismanagement during the commonage era, which has led to accelerated erosion, decrease in palatable species, increase in woody elements and desiccation of the soils. The Extended Public Works Program (EPWP) will be used to fund efforts in this direction.

The management of the soils of each zone will vary according to the zone's objectives. The plan promotes minimum intervention as well as evaluation of actions through monitoring. The state of the soil will be maintained and improved as far as possible. Natural soil movement, as part of an ongoing, natural geomorphological process will be distinguished from accelerated soil erosion which is man-induced. Only the latter will be actively managed. The rationale is that the condition of the soil is the difference between permanent and temporary change in the Karoo. Minimum intervention is necessary to avoid non-essential actions and expenses, while a

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) goal-directed approach will ensure that the goals of each zone are upheld. Implementation will be through well-planned projects by National Park management staff.

Camdeboo NP is subject to invasions by alien or extralimital animal species due to its neighbouring landuse. Alien animals include fallow deer, red lechwe, impala, waterbuck and nyala from neighbouring properties. In line with SANParks and NEMBA policy, any alien or extralimital animal species found in Camdeboo NP will be removed.

2.1.7 Reintroduction Programme

The purpose of this program would be to restore the historical wildlife diversity within the National Park area, subject to certain constraints. Reintroduction of wildlife to Camdeboo NP is currently impossible due to the inadequate condition of boundary fences to contain most species. The following summary statement is intended to guide any interim planning in this regard. Only those species which historically occurred within the National Park area, which conform to SANParks corporate guidelines for reintroduction, and which pose no threat to human life or property should be considered for reestablishment at this stage. All introductions should be fully motivated in accordance with SANParks policy and approved by senior management in consultation with scientific opinion. Numbers, sex-ratio and age structure of the introduction nucleus are important considerations in relation to the behaviour of some species. In considering the re-introduction of a species it should be borne in mind that habitat is subject to change whether due to management practises or a shift in climate. Under such circumstances historical occurrence is of little relevance and the amount of suitable available habitat should be determined with respect to the support of a numerically viable population. Consideration must be given to those components of the system, whether faunal or floral, which have disappeared or are no longer present in the system. Such components may have had a limiting or competitive influence with the species proposed for introduction and in their absence, an introduced population may behave in similar fashion to alien species and rapidly overpopulate and damage the veld. It is therefore best when introducing a species to use stocks from the nearest available source - these animals will be most likely to survive and breed well. Great care should be taken not to allow the mixing of animals belonging to different sub-species. Genetic considerations of using stocks from the nearest available source are nationally regulated.

2.1.8 Damage Causing Animal Programme

The issue of problem animals is recognised as an important factor in community relations. Camdeboo NP's neighbours currently do not have a significant problem in this regard, however the situation will be monitored and problems addressed by the management committee on an ad hoc basis. Camdeboo NP does not currently have a plan in place to manage animals which may cause damage on adjacent farmland in the event of a breakout. This is due to the fact that no mega-herbivores or large predators have yet been reintroduced. Although some so-called ‘Problem Animals’ are found in the Park, they are not currently controlled by management - rather the species in question (Black-backed Jackal and Caracal) are seen as assets that add value to the ecosystem from an efficient function as well as tourism point of view. We accept that the divergence of objectives between ourselves and our neighbours will bring us into conflict with the farming community. The situation therefore has to be managed by the maintenance of good fencing to prevent the movement of Problem Animals across boundaries and perhaps the control of populations where this can be shown to be warranted. Park management should thus focus on minimizing the emigration of Problem Animals from the Park and limit as far as possible the damage caused to the livestock of neighbours while at the same time ensuring that where damage does occur, our neighbours evaluate this in terms of their direct benefits that arise from

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) the Park as well as the degree to which the community benefits as a whole. A database or incident register of all complaints will be maintained as a method of monitoring the problem. Standard Operating Procedures for dealing with incidents, including legal aspects, are dealt with at corporate level.

2.1.9 Species of Special Concern Programme

SANParks’ biodiversity values stipulate that, except in crucial instances for the survival of globally critically endangered species, management for system integrity and biodiversity must take precedence over species management. However, SANParks will strive to prevent extinction, within National Parks, of species on the IUCN’s global critically endangered or endangered lists, and will work with other conservation initiatives to secure and strengthen the future of such species over their historic distribution ranges. Within this context, a realistic prioritization framework has been developed to aid in decision-making regarding which species to allocate resources for sensibly. No specific rare species program currently exists for the Park not-with-standing the occurrence of a Cape Mountain Zebra (CMZ) population and significant numbers of the Elephants Foot, Diascoria elephantipes within the boundaries of the Park. In fact a formal assessment of the Park checklists has yet to be conducted in order to determine the diversity of rare species that may have been recorded. Candidate species will have to be put through the SANParks prioritisation framework for species of special concern, and those that emerge as category 1 or 2 species must have their own TPCs set and monitoring programmes. Currently rare species are not afforded any special considerations or conservation measures – they are monitored within the context of broader monitoring programs for plants and animals.

2.1.10 Fire Programme

Camdeboo NP does not currently have a Fire Programme, as fire is not a significant driver in Karoo ecosystems. In those parts of the landscape that contain sufficient fuel to burn, Camdeboo NP will allow lightning fires to take their course, in recognition of the role of fire as an ecosystem driver, and within the contraints posed by risks to human life and infrastructure. Management would therefore view fire (in respect of the higher altitude grassland communities) as a natural and necessary component of the ecosystem and may use fire as a management tool if considered appropriate. No regular control burning of the veld is applicable to the management of Camdeboo NP plant communities. Fire Control equipment will be maintained in a permanent state of readiness and resources of the Camdeboo Municipality may also be used to combat fires which are deemed undesirable or a threat to natural resources or infrastructure of the Park. All fires will be mapped using a GPS for display in Arcview and basic data logged in order to enable later spatial analysis.

2.1.11 Other programmes under Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation

Camdeboo NP is inadequately fenced with respect to the containment of any larger predators. Owing to the limited size of Camdeboo NP, and future bio-regional initiative to consolidate the Camdeboo NP with MZNP, the boundaries have yet to be finalized and fencing of the Park to a standard required to contain these animals will take many years. A programme for the management of predators is therefore not required at this stage and will be considered at some more appropriate date in the future, and will be subservient to the corporate policy on carnivore reintroductions currently being developed.

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2.2 Sustainable Tourism

2.2.1 Park zoning plan

The primary objective of a park zoning plan is to establish a coherent spatial framework in and around a park to guide and co-ordinate conservation, tourism and visitor experience initiatives. A zoning plan plays an important role in minimizing conflicts between different users of a park by separating potentially conflicting activities such as game viewing and day-visitor picnic areas whilst ensuring that activities which do not conflict with the park’s values and objectives (especially the conservation of the protected area’s natural systems and its biodiversity) can continue in appropriate areas. The zoning of Camdeboo NP was based on an analysis and mapping of the sensitivity and value of a park’s biophysical, heritage and scenic resources; an assessment of the regional context; an assessment of the park’s current and planned infrastructure and tourist products; and an assessment of the expansion plan for the park and its implication for use zoning. The use zoning plan for Camdeboo NP is shown in Figure 3. Full details of the use zone definitions, the zoning process, the Park Interface Zones (detailing park interaction with adjacent areas) and the underlying landscape analyses are included in the Camdeboo National Park Zoning Document which is available on request.

Remote Zone: This is an area retaining an intrinsically wild appearance and character, or capable of being restored to such, and which is undeveloped and roadless. There are no permanent improvements or any form of human habitation in this zone. It provides outstanding opportunities for solitude with awe inspiring natural characteristics. If present at all, sight and sound of human habitation and activities are barely discernable and at far distance. Access is strictly controlled and on foot. In Camdeboo NP, remote areas have been designated in the mountain areas in the east of the park, as these areas have high environmental sensitivity and value as well as reasonable (in the context of the park) wilderness characteristics. It is anticipated that as the park expands eastwards, more Remote areas will be incorporated. Primitive Zone: The prime characteristic of this zone is the experience of wilderness qualities, with the accent on controlled access. Access is controlled in terms of numbers, frequency and size of groups. The zone has limited access roads (mostly 4x4) and trails where access is controlled. The zone can accommodate small-scale self-catering accommodation facilities such a bush-camp. Human activities and development outside of the park may be visible from this zone. In Camdeboo NP, primitive areas have been designated to buffer remote areas and to protect most of the remaining sensitive areas (such as the remaining mountain areas and high priority vegetation types) from high levels of tourism activity. Primitive areas were also designated to allow management access into the remote mountain areas in the east, as well as to accommodate the existing overnight trail hut. In areas where remote zones border on the park boundary, a 100m wide primitive zone was designated to allow park management access to fences. Quiet Zone: This zone is characterized by unaccompanied non-motorized access without specific access control and permits. Larger numbers of visitors are allowed than in the Primitive zone and contact between visitors is frequent. In Camdeboo NP, a Quiet zone was designated to allow visitors access on foot to the Valley of Desolation trails. Low Intensity Leisure Zone: The underlying characteristic of this zone is motorized self-drive access with basic facilities. Although this zone can accommodate small self-catering rest camps, this are not anticipated in the current Camdeboo NP area. Facilities along roads are limited to basic self-catering picnic sites with toilet facilities. In Camdeboo NP, Low Intensity Leisure areas were designated on the northern plains (including the current game viewing area), the existing tarred access road to the Valley of Desolation, the community access areas west of Graaff- Reinet, and in the low altitude areas in the south west (around the environmental education

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) facility). Low intensity leisure zones (apart from the existing Valley of Desolation access road) almost entirely avoid areas with high landscape sensitivity and value.

Special management overlays which designate specific areas of the park that require special management interventions (e.g. areas requiring rehabilitation) were identified. Three areas were designated: Rehabilitation Area: The areas with high concentrations of alien woody vegetation around Nqweba dam were identified as requiring rehabilitation. Shore Angling Resource Use Area: Areas along the south shore of the Nqweba Dam are used for shore angling. The entire dam area is used for boat-based angling. Wood Resource Use Area: An area north-east of the Nqweba Dam (jointly run with the local authority) is used for community wood gathering.

The current park use zonation is based on the same biodiversity and landscape analyses undertaken for a Conservation Development Framework (CDF); however certain elements underlying a CDF such as a full tourism market analysis and detailed investigation of development nodes are not yet fully incorporated into this park use zonation. A CDF will be developed for Camdeboo NP once the park approaches its planned final extent. In the interim, as the park is rapidly expanding, it is anticipated that the zoning will need to be updated regularly.

Figure 3 – Camdeboo NP zonation map

2.2.2 Tourism Programme

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A major tourism attraction that is offered by Camdeboo National Park is the Valley of Desolation, which is a national monument and offers visitors breathtaking views of pilot dolerite columns, the plains of the Great Karoo, a unique view of the historic town of Graaff-Reinet and a variety of Karoo mountain flora and fauna. There are a number of picnic sites along the road in the Valley as well as hiking and walking trails in the area. The mountain drive recreation zone lies adjacent to the Sundays River on the western periphery of Graaff-Reinet and provides picnic areas, walking trails, hiking trails, cycling and bird watching activities. The most used hiking trails and walks are the Valley Nature walk, Eerstefontein day walk and Driekoppe Trail. The latter is also an overnight trail which can accommodate ten people for two nights.

The park offers game viewing opportunities, and the game viewing area is situated opposite of the Valley with a variety of game such as buffalo, eland, kudu, wildebeest and gemsbok, to mention a few. This is also birders’ haven due to its location adjacent to the Van Rynevelds Pass Dam and wetlands in the vicinity of the dam. Ganna Lapa is a recreation facility which can be used for small functions and braais. There are also a number of trails and walks due to the diverse vegetation and topography of the area which is well suited to the interest of hikers. The only other form of accommodation in the park is the Camdeboo environmental education centre which can accommodate groups of up to 40 children. This facility has a well-equipped kitchen, small conference room and swimming pool.

Camdeboo NP currently has no accommodation or restaurant facilities, and any future development plans in this regard will remain sensitive to minimising competition with existing facilities in Graaf-Reinet. Although Camdeboo NP currently offers no formal activities, day walks, fishing, game viewing and an overnight trail can be undertaken in the park. Potential tourism products that may be offered in the future in Camdeboo NP include a wilderness (bush) camp, game drives and night drives as well as routes that follow the ox wagon trails of the Voortrekkers through the mountains to Mountain Zebra National Park, further development of the Gideon Scheepers historical trail, and a concessionaire-operated convenience stop-over at the new office building. In addition, the development of a Khoi cultural tourism product, and the development of a new entrance gate to the reserve via the proposed new headquarters/offices at current golf club house are currently being considered.

2.2.3 Other programmes under Sustainable Tourism

Since Camdeboo NP is still in the development phase of the protected area life cycle, marketing and commercial development programmes must still be developed. This will be a priority for Camdeboo NP during the next 5-year management cycle, and both must comply with Camdeboo’s Conservation Development Framework (CDF).

2.3 Building co-operation

2.3.1 Stakeholder Relationship Management Programme

This programme aims to contribute meaningfully to the quality of life of the local community by linking the management of the Camdeboo National Park with the social and economic activities of the Graaff-Reinet community in ways that both develop and maintain healthy mutual trust and interdependence. The plan aims to create a local and regional profile for the park. The policy is to sincerely co-operate and collaborate with the local population and all associated organizations on a wide variety of matters provided that any benefits derived from the park is sustainable. The rationale for the program is that the successful management of the Camdeboo NP ultimately depends on the co-operation and support of the local people, who may validly lay claim to more

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) attention than the public at large. Building positive working relationships that promote mutual trust and understanding is a priority of every staff member associated with the Camdeboo NP.

2.3.2 Environmental Education and Interpretation Programme

The aim of the park's environmental education programme is to stimulate sensitivity towards the natural environment by promoting an understanding of the interdependence of all living organisms and their relationship to their environment. This education is a life long process of experiences and observations that promotes awareness’s amongst people of their dependence upon the environment and that appropriate lifestyles are necessary to ensure a healthy environment. This programme will encourage members of the local community to acquire the necessary knowledge and understanding of ecological principles and processes that would allow them to make informed choices and decisions about environmental issues. Based on the park and the Environmental Education Centre-orientated programmes, this education process will expose groups to the environment and its processes. The Camdeboo Environmental Education Centre is viewed as a National Park asset that should be used for the development of local human potential, using the environment as a learning tool. Practically this translates into using the centre, its facilities and the surrounding natural environment to develop in the youth, a variety of skills that will better equip them to deal with the challenges of life. The plan is to create environmentally based, cross cultural youth leadership courses to develop self awareness and experience that will be of benefit in future real-life situations. In addition the development of such outdoor activity programs, involving the local youth, will go a long way to meet currently limited recreational opportunities. The centre will also be used for other Human Resources Development programmes which are in line with the vision and goals of the Camdeboo National Park. In terms of its utilisation the centre must reflect an appropriate balance between various user groups, mainly form the local community.

2.3.3 Local Socio-economic Development Programme

The purpose of this programme is to contribute to the economic, social and physical well being of the community living around the park. The programme aims to create a local and regional profile for Camdeboo NP, appreciating that Camdeboo NP has an important role to play in the local economy by creating employment opportunities and developing sound economic relationships with those living on its borders. The aim is to initiate projects which encourage communities to make use of available resources. This will create employment and generate income, thus promoting a self-sustaining and stable socio base out of which a healthy community with a healthy relationship to the environment will emerge. In addition, this programme aims to promote shared responsibility for the protection and sustainable use of the surrounding environment amongst the people of Graaff-Reinet. It is hoped that this programme will promote the concept of the community being part of an integrated system comprising people, their needs, and their relationship with the environment, by emphasizing the importance of equal distribution of and access to the natural resources. Wherever possible, joint projects with other organizations should be initiated in pursuit of the vision and goals of the Camdeboo National Park. This action must be spearheaded by the PM and PAC officer.

2.4 Effective Park Management

Effective park management involves enabling the achievement of the desired state in the three core areas above.

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2.4.1 Environmental Management Programme

Having an environmental management system will assist park management with the achievement of their environmental management responsibility regarding ongoing operational environmental impacts. The EMS provides a mechanism for environmental management throughout all areas and departments at park level and focuses on covering environmental aspects at an operational level which a park can control and manage directly. The outcome of this standard must be integrated with the national park management framework to ensure an integrated approach. The following objectives will be achieved by implementing this plan:

• continual improvement of environmental management; • compliance to environmental law and • show casing environmental responsibility.

The following interim environmental management standards will be adhered to at all times: WASTE MANAGEMENT: No tips or rubbish dumps are to be developed anywhere within the Park – all waste material, of whatever nature, whether of tourist or management origin must be separated for recyclable materials and the residue must be removed to the local town dump. POLLUTION CONTROL: All toxic waste such as chemicals and batteries must be removed from the Park and disposed of in a sensitive and responsible manner. Herbicide containers will not be cleaned and used for other purposes but returned to the suppliers. Old oil drained from machines will be stored in a drum for later recycling. VISITOR IMPACTS: Impacts of this nature that require particular attention include littering at picnic sites and the development of undesirable pathways at the Valley of Desolation. All tourist sites should be provided with baboon-proof bins while hikers are not allowed to bury any rubbish and must remove what they carry into the Park. BUILDING SITES: The practise of using rubble from demolished structures for erosion control or roadworks will be disallowed. An EMP will be put in place before work on any building site is initiated and this will include a final cleanup clause. OTHER ASPECTS: Driving off the roads in the veld by visitors, contractors or staff is disallowed, other than under the supervision or instruction of the Park Manager and only where this is unavoidable or warranted by circumstances such as culling or capture.

Camdeboo NP does not have an environmental management system at this stage but it is envisaged that such a system would be developed and implemented in 2007. This system will focus on the following requirements: a. Environmental aspects: The park identifies the environmental aspects which the facility controls and over which it may be expected to have an influence, and determines which of those aspects are considered significant. b. Legal and other requirements: The park identifies, access and communicate legal and other requirements that are applicable to the park. c. Environmental Objectives and Targets: The park develops objectives and targets for each significant environmental aspect. Objectives and targets are developed considering significant environmental aspects, technological options and financial, operational and business plans, and the views of interested parties. d. Environmental Management Programs: The park establishes environmental management programs (EMPs) as a means for achieving objectives and targets. These programs define the principal actions to be taken, those responsible for undertaking those actions and the scheduled times for their implementation.

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e. Training, Awareness and Competence: The park identifies, plans, monitors and records training needs for personnel whose work may create a significant impact upon the environment. f. Operational Control: The park is responsible for identifying operations and activities associated with significant environmental aspects that require operational controls in procedures, work practices or environmental management programs. g. Emergency Preparedness and Response: The park identifies potential for and respond to accidents and emergency situations, and for preventing and mitigating the environmental impacts that may be associated with them.

2.4.2 Infrastructure Development Programme

This programme details the development and maintenance of facilities for the use of both tourists and members of the local community, who visit Camdeboo NP, as well as the facilities required by SANParks staff, for the purpose of effective management of the Park. Current tourism infrastructure (roads, picnic sites etc.) as well as management/support infrastructure including offices, fences, stores and bulk services are described, and their condition or status detailed. A maintenance plan for the next five year period is proposed. The programme addresses a number of strategic considerations including the guiding principles or constraints that need to be taken into account with respect to all developments within the Camdeboo NP. A phased approach to the development of visitor infrastructure aims to provide a balanced range of facilities and opportunities for both local community and foreign tourists that are compatible with the Park sensitivity analysis and zonation. Additionally, this plan seeks to provide and maintain the minimum of facilities required for cost effective management in a manner compatible with the Camdeboo NP conservation development framework and desired state for the Park.

Future development of the Park details the major upgrade of the old golf course clubhouse to serve as a new gateway to the Park and office complex as well as the upgrade of the Camdeboo Education Center where maintenance has been neglected for many of years. A number of new developments are proposed in order to provide a balanced range of facilities and opportunities for both local community and foreign tourists while promoting visitor experiences which take into account established business interests in the town and district. The requirements of management with respect to access to the Park estate and ensuring the integrity of the Parks boundaries are also provided for. Finally the programme details the rehabilitation and decommissioning requirements of the Camdeboo NP with respect to unwanted infrastructures in the Park that are related to past agricultural use of the area. Although the acquisition of additional property to expand the Park is difficult to plan for, a budget for all of the above- mentioned infrastructural requirements is provided. Maps showing the location of all current as well as proposed infrastructures can be found in the associated lower level plan, available upon request from the park manager. The development of infrastructure in the park must be explicitly aligned with the strategic goals of the tourism and other programmes in the next 5-year cycle.

2.4.3 Safety and Security Programme

With the relatively recent proclamation (November 2005) of Camdeboo NP, the lower level plan for safety and security is somewhat rudimentary. This plan will be consolidated in the intervening planning period by reference to existing plans for other parks and by drafting additional expertise. The existing plan consists of two separate sections: Section A details the strategic level planning to provide for the occupational safety and security of visitors to, and staff involved in the management of Camdeboo NP. Section B deals with operational planning directed at the protection of the natural resources of the Park or the maintenance of the ecological and physical

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) integrity of the Protected Area. While Camdeboo NP has a low level of risk with respect to visitor safety, the security of natural resources presents many and varied challenges. The location of the Park, which encloses the largely historically disadvantaged population of Graaff-Reinet with its high rate of unemployment, presents unique opportunities for integrating nature conservation, as a form of land use, with the needs and aspirations of a rural town and its people. Illegal activity such as poaching (snares, dogs and high powered rifles), illegal wood-cutting and theft of materials and vandalism, are problems faced by management on a daily basis. The vision of Camdeboo NP describes an expanded protected area where amongst other things tourism will provide socio-economic development opportunities and contribute significantly to the district economy. In order to realize this vision it is essential that the Camdeboo NP is perceived by visitors to be a safe and secure destination. The S&S plan details the implementation of an effective program that leads to respect for, and ensures the integrity of, the Park boundary, while guiding the effective detection and efficient control of all forms of illegal activity within the Park.

2.4.4 Financial Sustainability Programme

Table 1 provides an estimation of the costs involved in striving towards the desired state for Camdeboo NP over the next 5-year period through all of the objectives and associated programmes detailed in this management plan. It is significant to note that a shortage of currently allocated funds leaves Camdeboo NP with a significant shortfall particularly in 2008 and 2009. An important omission that requires urgent attention is an estimated costing for liability and risk. Corporate support (i.e. not included in Camdeboo NP’s budget) will be required in the form of a technician and operating budget to undertake the monitoring necessary to evaluate TPCs and feedback as part of the adaptive management process. No cost estimates have yet been included for the adaptive management components of non-biophysical aspects of the plan.

Table 1 – Estimated costs (in Rands) of reaching the desired state for Camdeboo NP

Cost 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 To acquire Phase 1(ha) R 1,600,000.00 R 1,600,000.00 R 1,600,000.00 R 1,600,000.00 R 1,600,000.00 Total Development costs R 7,803,568.50 R 17,870,368.50 R 6,333,080.38 R 63,888.00 R 70,276.80 Annual operational costs R 3,521,000.00 R 3,732,260.00 R 3,956,195.60 R 4,193,567.34 R 4,445,181.38 R Total costs 12,924,568.50 R 23,202,628.50 R 11,889,275.98 R 5,857,455.34 R 6,115,458.18 allocated funds: Poverty relief -DEAT R 5,846,000.00 SANParks operational funds R 3,467,000.00 R 3,675,020.00 R 3,895,521.20 R 4,129,252.47 R 4,377,007.62 Total source of funds R 9,313,000.00 R 3,675,020.00 R 3,895,521.20 R 4,129,252.47 R 4,377,007.62 Shortfall R 3,611,568.50 R 19,527,608.50 R 7,993,754.78 R 1,728,202.86 R 1,738,450.56

2.4.5 Other programmes under Effective Park Management

Although Camdeboo NP does not yet have a fully fledged Staff Capacity Building Programme, initiatives such as Individual Development Plans are in existence and staff training requirements have been budgeted for.

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2.5 Corporate Support

2.5.1 Research Support

Research support required from corporate level is based on the necessity for increased staff capacity (e.g. a dedicated research technician) to carry out the monitoring that is essential for the successful implementation of the biophysical programmes to achieve the desired state. The costing implications for this are included in the corporate section of the Financial Sustainability Programme.

2.5.2 HIV/AIDS Programme

The purpose of the HIV & AIDS program is to enable SANParks maintain a healthy and productive workforce within a viable and sustainable organization. The SANParks HIV/AIDS Programme is available in the corporate policy framework. An AIDS/HIV programme for Camdeboo NP has been developed by the employee assistance program (EAP) and HIV/AIDS committee for the park. A co-ordinator for the Camdeboo programme has been elected, various awareness talks have been given to staff, and a prevalance test has been conducted. In addition, “know your status” campaigns and the benefits thereof are currently being carried out. National Aids Day is recognised in Camdeboo and local patients in the area will be taken on an outing to the park on this day.

2.5.3. Other programmes under Corporate Support

Camdeboo NP enjoys corporate guidance (see SANParks website for Co-ordinated Policy Framework) for several other programmes that will develop park-specific initiatives within the next 5 year management cycle. These programmes include Risk Management and Communications.

3. ADAPTIVE AND INTEGRATIVE STRATEGIES TO SUSTAIN THE DESIRED STATE

Section 1 has dealt with the desired state for Camdeboo NP, and Section 2 with all the specific programmes which are believed necessary to achieve that state. However, the desired state cannot be effectively maintained without explicit attention being given to prioritization, integration, operationalisation, and above all, reflection and adaptation according to the principles in the biodiversity custodianship framework.

3.1 Key prioritization, integration and sequencing issues

High level objectives needed to achieve Camdeboo NP’s jointly agreed upon Mission have been identified and are priorities for the next 5-year management cycle. By means of an objectives hierarchy, these high level objectives have been broken down into finer level objectives and, finally, operational iniatives to attain these objectives. In this way decision-making even at the operational level can be traced all the way back to the core values of stakeholders, upon which they have been based. It is important to note that since Camdeboo NP is still in the development phase, having only been proclaimed as a National Park in October 2005, several of its programmes required to reach its desired state still require development. A high priority for Camdeboo NP in the next 5-year cycle will therefore be the development and implementation of these programmes. Although a high level objective for Camdeboo NP is to consolidate and develop the park, particularly in order to achieve a more ratio more representative of Karoo

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CNP Park Management Plan Version 1 (31 October 2006) grassland:plains habitat, there is limited provision for this in the current budget and implementation during the next 5-year phase would have to be on an opportunistic basis. An important issue in Camdeboo NP in terms of the amount of law enforcement required, is the currently high level of illegal activities in the park. Addressing this issue will require serious thought during the next 5-year management cycle. One of the most critical management issues that should be addressed in Camdeboo NP to reach its desired state is implementation of the herbivory programme to reduce the pressure on already degraded veld. Coupled with this is the requirement to develop and implement a monitoring programme to determine at what point management intervention would be required in future, and continuation of annual game population monitoring that can be linked to the associated vegetation changes. Associated high priorities for Camdeboo NP are providing adequate fencing to allow for reintroduction of additional faunal species, and the rehabilitation of its degraded landscapes, scarred by mismanagement in the past. This includes control of alien invasives, erosion and removal of unwanted structures, and at present is dependent on funding from the EPWP. Brown locust outbreaks are an issue that also require urgent attention, both in terms of policy and response. The Environmental Education Centre at Camdeboo NP is currently in daily use and it is therefore a high priorty to ensure its appropriate focus, particularly given the high level objective to provide opportunities to local communities. Development of infrastructure is an immediate requirement owing to serious deficiencies in this area that have a negative impact on conservation and tourism. The Environmental Management Programme needs to be implemented as soon as possible to ensure responsible management that is compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Similarly, risk management and formal communications structures need to be put in place as a matter of urgency, and implemented by the park manager on an ongoing basis.

3.2 Steps to Operationalisation

The formulation an objectives hierarchy for Camdeboo NP assisted in prioritising management actions and goals for the park. The next step is for park management to use this guidance to draw up a detailed plan of action down to annual operational level, and wherever necessary, down to the level of tasks and duties of individual staff members. The park manager must be satisfied that the desired state for Camdeboo NP is adequately and appropriately served by all of this. A further cross-check is contained in the Balanced Scorecard system used by SANParks to measure its performance. Camdeboo NP’s own Balanced Scorecard, as well as those of individual staff members, is in alignment with SANParks corporate-level Balanced Scorecard objectives, thereby supporting effective implementation of objectives across all levels of the organisation. In addition, Camdeboo NP’s broad costing for the next 5-year cycle outlines existing, as well as projected budgets and costs to achieve the desired state. It is important not to underestimate the required costs of implementing this management plan because of historical financial limitations, but to be realistic about the funds required to carry out the operations necessary to achieve the jointly agreed upon desired state under new paradigms, and using adaptive management that requires feedbacks not previously budgeted for. The fact that this plan’s budget is higher than in previous years is a direct consequence of this planning exercise having made explicit the objectives, and associated operations, necessary to achieve this jointly agreed upon desired state.

3.3. Key ongoing adaptive management and evaluation interventions

• Feedback that the management action as decided upon and specified, is carried out as such:- This responsibility lies with line-function management, and will be reported on via SANParks regional reporting structures to the Executive Director: Parks. Park-specific

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and individual Balanced Scorecards provide an explicit mechanism to ensure that this feedback takes place. In addition, the Protected Area Management Assessment (PARMA) evaluates the effectiveness of protected area management in ranger sections.

• Feedback whenever a TPC specifying the endpoints of any of our biodiversity objectives is violated, or is credibly predicted to be violated in the future:- This requires that a disciplined monitoring programme be in place, that the custodian of the particular programme (post/person specified in low-level TPC plans for each theme in Camdeboo NP) duly report the exceedance to a competent (preferably formally constituted) joint science-management forum, which includes the Park Manager or his duly appointed delegate. This must lead to a management response. There is currently no such science- management forum in Camdeboo NP, and establishing one is therefore a crucial step in the park’s adaptive management cycle over the next 5 years. Moreover, the suite of biophysical TPCs suggested for Camdeboo NP require explicit formulation and quantification. Wide experience shows it is far better to have roughly defined preliminary TPCs for these themes (and improve these later, something which then tends to happen automatically) than to wait years for perfect ones to be developed.

• Feedback that the predicted outcome (of management resulting from the above exceedance) of an intervention is achieved, or what materialized instead in its place:- This is usually directly measurable by checking whether the same TPC returned to within its acceptable limits after management action was taken. In Camdeboo NP this should be done by at least quarterly meetings of the science-management forum to be formed. The best possible adaptive decision must then be taken in light of this evaluation. Examples of outcomes that are likely to be of particular learning value in Camdeboo NP are the results of various rehabilitation techniques, relating to erosion as well as reversing formerly overutlized areas. Additional feedbacks that are required, but for which no formal TPCs exist, relate mainly to human/social realted issues such as attitudes of local communities towards the park and the benefits it provides, results of HIV/AIDS prevelance tests, levels of anxiety of neighbours related to damage causing animals, and consequences of communication failures.

• Feedback to SANParks Head Office of the overall performance of Camdeboo NP relative to its stated objectives:- This will be done via an annual State of Biodiversity report and other incidental reporting for Camdeboo NP. It is likely that Camdeboo NP may, for several key themes, take many years to progress towards the desired state (e.g. park expansion, reintroduction), and that several issues may remain outside thresholds for many years, or may even require fine-tuning as our knowledge of the system increases or societal values change. It is important in these cases to track progress by achievement of intermediate steps towards the desired state, or to document the reasons for any changes in the mechanisms of achieving the desired state.

• Feedback as to whether organizational or societal acceptance of the consequence of an intervention is still, as agreed on previously, acceptable:- This is a longer-term adaptive evaluation, and if expectations are roughly met, can be dealt with at the time of the 5- yearly public meeting held to review the management plan. If, however, significant unintended consequences materialized that have shorter-term impacts, it will be the responsibility of the science-management forum above, to sense this, reflect on it, and make an appropriate recommendation to the Park Manager. The areas in which this is likely to occur in Camdeboo NP are the minimum interference philosophy with regards to herbivore management, or its corollary, culling of game should this become necessary to

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prevent the exceedance of vegetation TPCs. In addition, damage causing animals are likely to remain a point of contention, regardless of previous agreements.

• Feedback as to whether the monitoring programme and list of TPCs is manageable/achievable and effective:- This is the responsibility of the scientific custodians involved, but overall (the programme taken as a whole) the responsibility of the science-management forum above. It is broadly challenged each 5 yearly cycle. The explicit use of adaptive management, using TPCs to make management decisions, and evaluating the state of Camdeboo NP along a trajectory of change away from its desired state by means of a monitoring programme, will be a new endeavour for Camdeboo NP. There may thus initially be feelings that the task is overwhelming, and these should be countered by referring to the objectives hierarchy for prioritisation of the various initiatives and strategies required. Manageable, achievable and effective monitoring and feedback will require complete buy-in and co-operation of the joint science-management forum, and careful consideration of the choice of a small and realistic list of TPCs that indicate the condition of essential ecosystem processes as far as possible.

• Feedback as to whether objectives need adjustment in the longer-term:- This is dealt with effectively at the 5-yearly review step. However, in the case of perceived “emergencies” the Park Manager is constrained within the limits of agreement. In Camdeboo NP, the most likely issues that may stir debate over the longer term are the park expansion programme, reintroduction of large predators, should this ever become a possibility, as well as the park’s policy on leaving lightning fires to burn. Although it is currently regarded as being a different niche market, perceived competition for tourism revenue, particularly bednights, may become an issue once Camdeboo NP offers accommodation in the planned bushcamp. However, these issues should make use of the objectives hierarchy, which flows directly from the jointly agreed upon Vision and Mission for Camdeboo NP, as guidance during conflict resolution.

• Feedback as to, or at least latent preparation for, surprises:- By definition these cannot be predicted. It will however, be an explicit obligation of the Park Manager to take responsibility to stimulate contingency and risk management assessments. From an ecosystem perspective, such surprises ars best dealt with by generating scenarios. Camdeboo NP’s joint science-management should aim to conduct at least one structured scenario planning session per 5-year cycle. In Camdeboo NP, appropriate scenarios are likely to include the consequences of expanding herbivore populations and the possibility of reintroducing large carnivores once fencing is adequate. The current unacceptably high level of illegal activity in the park also requires scenario planning.

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4. REFERENCES

Cluver, M.A. 1987. Fossil Reptiles of the South African Karoo. South AfricanMuseum, Cape Town. Coetzee. K.C. 1990. Karoo Nature Reserve Management Plan. Unpublished Report: CPA Chief Directorate: Nature and Environmental Conservation Cowan, G. 2006. Management Plan Framework: Guidance for the Development of Management Plans in Terms of the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003). Dept. Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria.) Cowling RM, AT Lombard, M Rouget, GIH Kerley, T Wolf, R Sims-Castley, A Knight, JHJ Vlok, SM Pierce, AF Boshoff & SL Wilson. 2003. A conservation assessment for the Subtropical Thicket Biome. Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit report No. 43, University of Port Elizabeth. Driver A, K Maze, M Rouget, AT Lombard, J Nel, JK Turpie, RM Cowling, P Desmet, P Goodman, J Harris, Z Jonas, B Reyers, K Sink, & T Strauss. 2005. National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Priorities for biodiversity in South Africa. Strelitzia 17. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Kerley, G. (Workshop Convenor) 2005. Turning the Karoo Nature Reserve into a flagship conservation area. Report to the board of the Eastern Cape Parks Board. 2005

Palmer, A.R. 1989. The vegetation of the Karoo Nature Reserve, Cape Province. 1. A phytosociological reconnaissance. S. Afr.J. Bot.,1989,55(2): 215-230

Rogers, K. 2003. A Biodiversity Custodianship Framework for SANParks. Unpublished document, SANParks, Pretoria.

South African National Parks would like to thank everybody who participated and had input in the formulation of this document, notably Angela Gaylard, Peter Burdett assisted by Andre Spies, Dianne Rossouw, Stephen Holness, Lucius Moolman, Mike Knight

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