Different Types of Natural and Cultural Attractions

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LEARNING UNIT 2: DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

Biomes

MGT These areas throughout the world are easily recognised because of the regional climate that interacts with the

DEFINITION different factors and substrates of an area.

These are the largest recognised communities on land. The specific names of biomes come from the climax species of vegetation that occurs in the region.

South Africa has 9 vegetation biomes http://bgis.sanbi.org/vegmap/biomes.asp viewed on 12 July 2015

Savannah Mixed grassland and trees and generally known as bushveld Biome eg. Protected areas within this biome: Kruger National-, Kglagadi Transfrontier -, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi – and Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park. Nama- Mainly scrubland and grass, with trees limited to Karoo watercourses. Due to overgrazing and easily eroded soil Biome surfaces, it is extending into the neighbouring Savannah. Examples are the Karoo - and Augrabies National Parks. Desert This is a true desert environment (Namib desert) with biome extremely harsh conditions. Only a small part occurs in South Africa (Richtersveld). The climate is summer rainfall but characterised by very dry conditions. Grassland Summer-rainfall area with heavy thunderstorms and hail, frost Biome in the winter. Trees are scarce. It contains a high percentage of indigenous plants, three mammal species (black wildebeest, blesbok and eland) that don’t occur outside this biome and a large variety of birds.

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Succulent Winter rainfall area with extremely dry and hot summers. For Karoo this reason, succulents are plentiful. One of the natural Biome wonders of South Africa is the annual blossoming of Namaqualand wild flowers (Mainly Asteraceae-family) The Richtersveld has typical quiver tree. Other parks: Tankwa- Karoo and Namaqua National Parks. Fynbos Winter rainfall-area, and fynbos vegetation similar to that of Biome Mediterranean regions. Fynbos is the name given to a group of evergreen plants with small, hard leaves. Made up of three groups of plants namely the proteas, the heathers (e.g. Erica family) and restios. Not very rich in bird and mammal life. . Forest The only significant ones are the Knysna and Tsitsikamma Biome forests. Animals included the endangered samango monkey, the bushbuck, the bushpig and the blue duiker. Thicket Subtropical thicket is a closed shrubland to low forest, Biome dominated by evergreen succulent trees, shrubs and vines.

Indian Covers the whole of the KwaZulu-Natal coast and the the ‘Wild Ocean coast’ (Eastern Cape. n summer the climate is very hot and Coastal humid, and winters are mild, with less rain and hardly any Belt Biome frost.

BIODIVERSITY / BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY • The variety of life on Earth.

• It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. Adapted from http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/ what_is_biodiversity/

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FACTS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY South Africa, as a biodiversity-rich country, is committed to the conservation and sustainable management of biological resources. Biodiversity-related multi-lateral agreements include: Convention on Biological Diversity Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Ramsar Convention Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Convention to Combat Desertification Convention on Migratory Species Nagoya Protocol

South Africa occupies only 2% of the world's surface area but is home to: - nearly 10% of the world's plants (approximately 24 000 species) - around 7% of the world's vertebrate species - and 5,5% of the world's known insect species (only about half of the latter have been described), In terms of the number of endemic species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, South Africa ranks as the fifth richest country in Africa and the 24th-richest in the world. Marine biological diversity is also high, over 11 000species are found in South African waters, which is about15% of global species, with more than 25% of these marine species (or 3 496 species) being endemic to South Africa. A high proportion are threatened, especially in river ecosystems (82%) and estuaries (77%).

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Table 1.1 Recorded species South Africa NB: These numbers are constantly being adjusted. Birds 900 Lizards 250 Terrestrial 243 Freshwater fish 220 mammals Marine 37 Butterflies Over 660 mammals Marine Fishes Over 2 00 Trees 1 500 Crocodiles 1 Flowering Plants 24 000 Snakes 130 Cycads 39 Terrapins Insects About - 80 000 Tortoise (land) 13 Turtles Amphibians 130 (Frogs)

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS These areas hold especially high numbers of endemic species,

yet their combined area of remaining habitat cover only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. Each hotspot faces extreme threats and has already lost at least 70 percent of its original natural vegetation. Over 50 percent of the world’s plant species and 42 percent of all terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to the 34 biodiversity hotspots. Adapted from http://www.cepf.net/resources/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx

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Three internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots are found in South Africa: the Cape Floral Kingdom (equivalent to the Fynbos Biome) Succulent Karoo Biome (shared with Namibia) – it is one of only two arid biodiversity hotspots in the world (the other being the Horn of Africa). Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Centre of Plant Endemism, which stretches from the Albany Centre in the Eastern Cape, through the Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism and KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern side of Swaziland and into southern Mozambique and Mpumalanga.

PROTECTED AREAS AND RESERVES IN SOUTH AFRICA By mid-2011, South Africa had 528 protected areas, of which 20 were marine (South African Yearbook 2012/13). NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL PARKS SAN Parks manages a system of parks which represents the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes and associated cultural heritage of the country. Of all the national parks, most have overnight tourist facilities, with an unrivalled variety of accommodation in arid, coastal, mountain and bushveld habitats. The Kruger National park is the flagship of the South African national parks. South African National Parks Emzemvelo KZN Wildlife (SANParks) Controls more than a 100 Nature 1. Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. Park Some of the most prominent are 2. Addo Elephant National Park the following: 3. Agulhas National Park St Lucia Wilderness (World 4. Augrabies Falls National Park heritage site) 5. Bontebok National Park uKhahlamba-Drakensberg 6. Camdeboo National Park Park

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7. Garden Route National Park Huluhluwe-Umfolosi 8. Golden Gate Highlands Mkuzi National Park Itala 9. Karoo National Park Oribi Gorge 10. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 11. Kruger National Park Other Provincial/Regional 12. Mapungubwe National Park Parks To mention a few: 13. Marakele National Park Pilanesberg 14. Mokala National Park Blyde River Canyon (previously Vaalbos) Wolkberg wilderness 15. Mountain Zebra National Park Baviaanspoort wilderness 16. Namaqua National Park area 17. Table Mountain National Park Ceder 18. Tankwa Karoo National Park 19. West Coast National Park

Honorary Officers (Rangers) Thirty years ago, the Natal Parks Board accepted the offer of the public (who were interested in conserving nature for future generations) to assist them. Today, Honorary Officer, as they have become known, still plays an important role in participating in Conservation in the province. They work over weekends or busy periods, providing skills and service, all of this without any remuneration.

TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS / ‘PEACE PARKS’

South Africa is in the process of establishing transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) in cooperation with its neighbouring countries. They are managed jointly for long-term sustainable use of natural resources although the areas are still separated by fences, or other barriers.

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TFCAs aim to facilitate and promote regional peace, cooperation and socio-economic development. It facilitates easy movement across international boundaries into adjoining conservation areas.

South Africa is involved in the following transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), also known as "peace parks": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_South_Africa#Transfron tier_conservation_areas Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: includes the Richtersveld in South Africa and the Fish RiverCanyon and Ai-Ais Hot Springs in Namibia. Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park: includes Kruger National Park and parks in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: includes the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park and Mabuasehube Game Reserve in Botswana. Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area: includes Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and Royal Natal National Park in South Africa, and Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho. Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area: Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa, Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, and Tuli Circle Safari Area in Zimbabwe. Nsubane Pongola Transfrontier Conservation Area: including Phongolo Nature Reserve in South Africa and various farms in Swaziland. Songimvelo-Malolotja Transfrontier Conservation Area: including Songimvelo Game Reserve in South Africa and Malolotja Nature Reserve in Swaziland. Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area: including Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa,

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Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique, and Usuthu Gorge Conservancy in Swaziland. The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, involving South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland, is planned to be formed from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Nsubane Pongola, Songimvelo-Malolotja and Usuthu-Tembe-Futi TFCAs.

Biosphere reserves

Protected terrestrial and coastal environments of International conservation importance, which is unique in combining both conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Community driven programmes assisted by government agencies Amendment Act, 2004 protects South Africa's biosphere reserves, which are generally formed around existing core conservation areas.

Kogelberg Reserve (Western Cape Province) Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (Western Cape Province) Waterberg Biosphere Reserve (Limpopo Province) Kruqer-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve (Limpopo Province and Mpumalanga) Cape Wine Lands Biosphere Reserve (Western Cape Province) Vhembe Region Biosphere (Limpopo Province) The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (Western Cape Province) The Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve (Gauteng/NW Province)

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World heritage sites

A World Heritage Site is an area that is deemed to have exceptional universal value: One of a kind in the world. A valuable cultural or natural place that must be protected because if it disappeared, there would be no such examples of it in the world. It is protected and preserved against threats of changing social and economic conditions and natural decay.

South Africa’s World Heritage Sites

Robben Island Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (Cradle of Humankind) iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously Greater St.Lucia) Maloti-Drakensberg Park (previously Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg) Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape The Cape Floral region protected areas Vredefort Dome (Vredefort Meteorite Impact Crater) Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape

RAMSAR Wetlands

These are declared in terms of the “Conservation on Wetlands of International Importance”, especially as waterfowl habitat. This was framed together in the city of RAMSAR in Iran, February 1971. This lead to the shorting of the name to the RAMSAR Convention.

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Barberspan Turtle Beaches & Coral reefs Blesbokspriut of Tongaland Nysvlei Ntsikeni Nature Reserve Makuleke Prince Edwards Islands (Sub- Verlorenvlei Nature Res Antartic) Seekoeivlei Wilderness lake Natal Drakensberg Park De Hoop Vlei Ndumo wetland De Mond State Forest Kosi Bay Langebaan Sibaya Verlorenvlei / WC St Lucia Orange River Mouth

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Established to protect our marine biodiversity, and to look after our marine and coastal resources Each has a management plan that regulates activities in it e.g. prohibiting species and daily bag limits. Government shares joint responsibility for South Africa's MPAs with SAN Parks and Ezemvelo KwaZulu- Natal Wildlife.

South Africa has 23 Marine Protected Areas

The following MPA’s are located in KwaZulu-Natal

1. Marine Protected Areas[edit] 2. Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area (KwaZulu-Natal) 3. Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 4. Bird Island Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape) 5. De Hoop Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 6. Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape) 7. Goukamma Marine Protected Area (Western Cape)

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8. Helderber Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 9. Hluleka Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape) 10. iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (KwaZulu-Natal) 11. Jutten Island Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 12. Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 13. Malgas Island Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 14. Marcus Island Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 15. Prince Edward Island Marine Protected Area (Southern) 16. Pondoland Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape) 17. Robberg Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 18. Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape) 19. Sixteen Mile Beach Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 20. Stilbaai Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 21. Table Mountain Marine Protected Area (Western Cape) 22. Trafalgar Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape) 23. Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (Eastern Cape)

NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS (NBGS)

SANBI (the South African National Biodiversity Institute) manages nine national botanical gardens (NBGs) in six of South Africa's nine provinces.

The largest garden is Kirstenbosch, situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. Others include the following:

Karoo Desert NBG in Worcester Harold Porter NBG in Betty's Bay Free State NBG in Bloemfontein KwaZulu-Natal NBG in Pietermaritzburg Lowveld NBG in Mbombela Walter Sisulu in Roodepoort Mogale City

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Pretoria NBG – houses the National Herbarium of South Africa, the largest in the southern hemisphere. Hantam NBG - located in the Northern Cape.

HERBARIUM

It is a collection of preserved plant specimens (usually dried, or kept in alcohol or other preservative) and associated data used for scientific study.

NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS (NBGS)

There are a number of zoological gardens in South Africa. Pretoria National Zoological Gardens is the only one with national status and is reckoned among the world’s top ten. It also includes an Aquarium and Reptile Park. It a leader in the breeding and researching of endangered species.

“The Big Five” The Small five The Big Six of The Big Three Birds Marine Lion Rhinoceros beetle Martial Eagle Southern Right Leopard Elephant shrew Whale Lappet-faced Cape Buffalo Ant Lion vulture Great White Elephant Buffalo weaver Shark Ground hornbill Rhino Leopoard Tortoise Bottlenose Kori Bustard Dolphin

Saddle-billed stork

Pel’s Fishing owl

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Legislation to protect our natural resources

Many of the attractions in South Africa comprise of natural resources. The sustainability of these natural attractions is based on the protection, maintenance, and appropriate development of those areas. This, in turn, requires proper management of all the interrelated elements of these attractions such as the natural habitat, the flora and the fauna.

Specific bodies have been established such as the South African National Parks and the National Botanical Institute for this purpose.

Legal measures include the following:

International conventions and policy documents (See biodiversity) The Constitution National legislation Provincial legislation Municipal by-laws

International conventions and policy documents

South Africa is party to more than 50 International Conventions directly or indirectly relating to the environment (Vrancken, 2002). Here follow some examples:

1972 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 1972 World Heritage Convention for the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1972 Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment 1980 World Conservation Strategy 1982 World Charter for Nature 1994 Policy and Strategy for Environment and Sustainable Development: Toward Equity-led Growth and Sustainable Development in Southern Africa (adopted by the SADC

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countries 1992 Agenda 21 adopted by 182 countries in Rio (plan to secure sustainable future of the planet) 1997 Kyoto Protocol (aimed at fighting global warming) 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity

NATIONAL LEGISLATION

Constitution

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, no 108 of 1996, contains an environmental right in its Bill of Rights (Chapter 2, section 24). The environmental right reads:

“Everyone has the right -

(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and

(b) to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that

(i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation;

(ii) promote conservation; and

(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development”

There are several other rights that are relevant to environmental governance in South Africa. These include the right of access to information needed for the exercise or protection of any rights and the right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair (Constitution of South Africa, 1996, section 32 and 33(1)).

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National Environmental Management Act no 107 of 1998 (NEMA)

The principles of Agenda 21 have been incorporated into South African law by the National Environmental Management Act, 1998: (NEMA). It provides an environmental conservation policy and coordinate environmental policies, plans, programmes and decisions of the relevant departments. NEMA also created the following institutions to assist with the above: - National Environmental Advisory Forum - Committee for Environmental Coordination MGT It includes, among others, the following principles: - The environment is held in public trust for the people. The beneficial use of environmental resources must serve the public interest and the environment must be protected as the people's common heritage. - Environmental management must place people and their needs at the forefront of its concern. - Development must be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. - Parties responsible for pollution, environmental damage etc. are responsible for the cost of restoration. NEMA replaced the provision of the ECA with regards to environmental conservation policy and institutions. ECA provides for the following: - Protection of the natural environment - declaration of an area as a protected natural environment (PNE) or special nature reserve. - The control of environmental pollution - prohibits littering on any land or water surface, street, road or site to which the public has access.

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- The control of activities that may have a detrimental effect on the environment. ECA empowers the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to identify activities that may be recreational, which, in his or her opinion, may have a substantial detrimental effect on the environment in general or in certain areas (e.g. driving with 4x4 vehicles on the beach).

The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57, 2003 (NEMPAA)

NEMPAA provides for the declaration and management of protected areas in South Africa. It replaced the National Parks Act (1976). E.g. National Parks.

The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act no 10 of 2004. (NEMBA) It provides for the … Management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity within the framework of NEMA. Protection of species and ecosystems that warrant national protection. Sustainable use of indigenous biological resources. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from bioprospecting involving indigenous biological resources. Establishment and functions of a South African National Biodiversity Institute and for matters connected therewith.

World Heritage Convention Act (WHCA) 1999 This provides for the incorporation of the World Heritage Convention into South African law.

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It creates a framework to ensure that the convention and the operational guidelines are effectively implemented in SA, subject to the constitution and the provisions of this act. The WHCA ensures the cultural and environmental protection and sustainable development of World Heritage Sites.

Other national legislation with regards to the environment includes the following: National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Zone Management Act Sea Birds and Seals Protection Act 1973 (SBSPA) Forest Act, 1984 (NFA) National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 Marine Living Resource Act, 1998 (MLRA) National Water Act, 1998 (NWA) National Heritage Resources Act 1999 (Cultural Heritage sites)

PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION Some of the provinces developed their own nature conservation legislation such as the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act, 1998, and the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Management Act, 1997. The regulations at provincial level are wide in scope and generally touch upon issues of conservation of wild animals, fish and flora and include the regulation of hunting and (non-commercial) fishing. Of interest to 4x4 enthusiasts is that there is a general prohibition on the use of vehicles on the seashore. Only national government can pass legislation regulating nature conservation issues in national parks – in other words, provincial legislation cannot be applied in national parks (http://www.krugertimes.com/krugernews/sanparks.htm)

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MUNICIPAL LAWS AND NATIONAL PARKS “Municipal bylaws are public regulatory laws which apply in a certain area. The main difference between a bylaw and a law passed by a national/federal or regional/state body is that a bylaw is made by a non- sovereign body, which derives its authority from another governing body, and can only be made on a limited range of matters. A local council or municipal government gets its power to pass laws through a law of the national or regional government which specifies what things the town or city may regulate through bylaws. It is therefore a form of delegated legislation”. (Adapted from http:// www.wikipedia.com viewed on 16 October 2010). http://www.krugertimes.com/krugernews/sanparks.htm 2011/02/05: “Municipal legislation applies to national parks, where appropriate and where it does not conflict with national legislation regulating national conservation. These include municipal rates and tax legislation, municipal building regulations relating to water and sanitation, waste, electricity reticulation and so on. Where a municipality is unable or unwilling to provide municipal services, Sanparks may, in agreement with the relevant municipality, provide these services in a national park”.