Management Plan

Bulwer complex incorporating: Indhloveni Nature Reserve Ingelabantwana Nature Reserve Marutswa Nature Reserve Marwaqa Nature Reserve Xotsheyake Nature Reserve Erfs 179, 180 and 181 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Protected Area Management Plan Prepared by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Protected Area Management Planning Unit Citation Bulwer complex: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (2012), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. 0 Photographs courtesy of: Hugh Chittenden (Narina Trogon) Michael Cowell (Forest background) Ria Fokkens i AUTHORISATION This Protected Area Management Plan for the Bulwer complex incorporating: Indhloveni Nature Reserve (NR), Ingelabantwana NR, Marutswa NR, Marwaqa NR, Xotsheyaka NR and Erfs 179, 180 and 181 is recommended by the Nature Reserve Planning Committee (NRPC), a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Yoliswa Ndlovu General Manager: West Athol Marchant Regional Ecologist Barrie Barnes Senior Community Conservation Mbuyiselo Gxashi Conservation Manager Dennis Mkhabela Acting Biodiversity Conservation Co-ordinator Steve McKean Resource Use Ecologist Andy Blackmore Acting Manager Land Use Planning Irene Hatton Acting Co-ordinator Protected Area Planning Magda Goosen Protected Area Management Planner ii v TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHORISATION ....................................................................................................................... II TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. VI LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF MAPS .......................................................................................................................... IX PREFACE .................................................................................................................................. X EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... XI ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... XIII 1) BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the plan ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Structure of the plan .............................................................................................. 1 1.3 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3 1.4 The values of the Bulwer complex ......................................................................... 4 1.5 Planning approach ................................................................................................. 6 1.5.1 Adaptive management ....................................................................................... 6 1.5.2 Collaboration and transparency ......................................................................... 7 2) DESCRIPTION OF THE BULWER COMPLEX AND ITS CONTEXT ........................................................ 8 2.1 Institutional and administrative framework for the management of the Bulwer complex ............................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 The legislative basis for the management of the Bulwer reserves ........................ 8 2.2.1 Proclamation status of the Bulwer reserves ...................................................... 9 2.2.2 Invasive species control in terms of the Biodiversity Act .................................. 9 2.3 The policy framework guiding the management of the Bulwer complex ............. 9 CORE VALUES ........................................................................................................................ 10 2.4 The regional and local planning context of the Bulwer complex ........................ 11 2.4.1 The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy ............................................. 11 2.4.2 The Provincial Protected Area Expansion Plan ................................................. 11 2.4.3 EIA Regulations in terms of NEMA ................................................................... 12 2.5 The history of the Bulwer complex ...................................................................... 12 2.5.1 Origins of the name of the Bulwer complex .................................................... 12 2.5.2 History of conservation in the Bulwer complex ............................................... 12 2.5.3 History of eco-cultural tourism in the Bulwer complex ................................... 13 2.6 Ecological context of the Bulwer complex ........................................................... 13 2.6.1 Climate and weather ........................................................................................ 13 2.6.2 Topography ...................................................................................................... 13 2.6.3 Geology and soils .............................................................................................. 14 2.6.4 Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 14 2.6.5 Vegetation ........................................................................................................ 14 2.6.6 Fire regime ....................................................................................................... 15 2.6.7 Invasive species ................................................................................................ 15 2.6.8 Mammalian fauna ............................................................................................ 16 2.6.9 Avifauna ............................................................................................................ 16 2.6.10 Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) ...................................................... 16 2.6.11 Invertebrates ................................................................................................. 16 2.7 Cultural context of the Bulwer complex .............................................................. 17 2.8 Socio-economic context ....................................................................................... 17 2.9 Operational management within the Bulwer complex ....................................... 18 vi 2.9.1 Infrastructure ................................................................................................... 18 2.9.2 Staffing establishment ...................................................................................... 18 2.9.3 Funding levels of the Bulwer complex ............................................................. 18 2.9.4 Management effectiveness of the Bulwer complex ........................................ 19 2.10 Summary of management issues, challenges and opportunities ........................ 19 3) STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................................... 22 3.1 Joint vision of the Bulwer forest complex and erfs .............................................. 22 3.2 Objectives and strategic outcomes ...................................................................... 22 4) ZONATION PLAN .............................................................................................................. 25 4.1 Zonation of the Bulwer complex .......................................................................... 25 4.2 Concept development guidelines ......................................................................... 25 5) ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE ............................................................................................. 30 6) OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ......................................................................... 31 6.1 Determination of priorities for strategic outcomes ............................................. 31 6.2 Legal compliance and law enforcement .............................................................. 32 6.3 Stakeholder Engagement .................................................................................... 32 6.4 Buffer zone protection and regional management ............................................. 35 6.4.1 Protected area expansion and buffer zone management ............................... 35 6.4.2 Local and regional planning.............................................................................. 35 6.5 Eco-cultural tourism development ....................................................................... 37 6.5.1 Tourism product development ........................................................................ 37 6.5.2 Environmental interpretation and education .................................................. 37 6.6 Conservation management ................................................................................. 40 6.6.1 Fire management ............................................................................................. 40 6.6.2 Invasive plant control ....................................................................................... 42 6.6.3 Soil erosion

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