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Integrated Management Plan for Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve

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Integrated Management Plan for Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WITZANDS AQUIFER NATURE RESERVE Owner: City of Cape Town Prepared by: Charline Mc Kie, Area Manager, Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve, Atlantis Date: August 2010 - 1 - TABLE OF CONTENTS PART SECTION AND SUBSECTIONS PAGE NUMBER NUMBER PART A • Introduction 8 • Description of landholdings and ownership 11 Part 1 – General description property (title deed information), landscape Description context, physical and biological environment, and socio-political context • Purpose, Vision / Mission, Significance / Value 22 • Administrative and Legal Framework for the Management 26 Authority – Administration Framework/Structure focused on Management Authority, – Legal/policy framework, – linkages to IDPs & SDFs, – Procedures for public participation with I&APs • Protected Area Policy Framework & guiding management 33 principles – Management Objectives – Threats analysis Part 2 – Quantitative Biodiversity goals Management – Protected Area management policy framework policy – Details of any Biodiversity Management Plan framework – CBNRM – Invasive species control strategy (meet requirements of S.76 of NEM:BA) – Development of local management capacity & knowledge exchange – Strategic Research and Monitoring – Zonation plan (including permissible and non-permissible activities) • Development Plan 58 • Costing Plan – Business Plan with costing, budgets, etc 58 – Development of economic activities • Monitoring & Auditing – controls and performance criteria Part 3 – Audit procedure (Monitor with indicators) Monitoring 59 – Annual Reporting & Auditing – 5-year review – Biodiversity monitoring Part 4 • Appendices – maps, species lists, supporting docs. 63 Appendices PART B • Programme of Implementation Part 5 – Management Programmes - Annual Plans of Operation Management – Annual Management Schedule Schedule – Annual Audit Procedure - 2 - LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS APO – Annual Plan of Operations ASF – Atlantis Sand Fynbos BIONET – City‟s Biodiversity Network C.A.P.E. - Cape Action for People and the Environment CARA – Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 CBD – Central Business District CBNRM – Community Based Natural Resource Management CBO – Community Based Organisation CCT – City of Cape Town CDF – Conservation Development Framework CDS – City‟s Development Strategy CFDS – Cape Flats Dune Strandveld CFR – Cape Floristic Region CR - Critically Endangered CSIR – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CWAC – Coordinated Waterbird Counts EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMS – Environmental Management System 1996 Report EN – Endangered ESKOM – Electricity Supply Commission of South Africa ESRI – Environmental Systems Research Institute FF – Fynbos Forum GN – Government Notice GIS – Geographic Information System IAPS – Invasive Alien Plant Species IAS – Invasive Alien Species ICUN – International Union for Conservation of Nature IDP - City‟s Integrated Development Plan IMEP - City‟s Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy IRMP - Integrated Reserve Management Plan LAB – Local Action for Biodiversity LBIP – Local Biodiversity Implementation Plan LBSAP - Local Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan MEC – Minister of Executive Council METT – Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool MOU – Memorandum of Understanding - 3 - MPA – Marine Protected Area NEMA – South African National Environmental Management Act, 1991 NEM:BA – South African National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation PAR – Protected Area Review pH - Phenyl RPC – Reserve Planning Committee SAAQIS – South African Air Quality Information System SANBI – South African National Biodiversity Institute SLA – Service Level Agreements TOR – Terms of Reference WANR - Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve WfW1 – Working for Water WfW2 - Working for Wetlands WWF – World Wildlife Fund - 4 - GLOSSARY OF TERMS Alien species A species, plant or animal which has been introduced, not native to a country or area. Aquatic Relating to water; living in or near water. Aquifer A wet underground layer of water bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated material from which groundwater can be extracted. Archaeological Relating to the study of Archaeology, of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence. Baseline (surveys/data collection) A point of reference or standard by which things are measured or compared. Biodiversity The variety of life forms within an ecosystem - it can be a measure of the health of an ecosystem (organisms living in a particular area, functioning as a unit). Cenozoic Time span of 65 Million years ago to the Present in terms of Geology. Critically Endangered The highest risk category assigned by the ICUN Red List for wild species, meaning that a species‟ numbers have decreased or will decrease by 80% within three generations. Ecotone A transition area between two adjacent but different patches of landscape; transitional zone between two communities containing characteristic species of each. Effluent The outflowing of water from a water body or sewage system. - 5 - Endangered A population of species which is at risk of becoming extinct in the wild because of low numbers or threatened by the changes in the environment or predation. Endemic/endemism A plant or animal that is only found in a particular location, due to factors such as isolation, or response to soil or climatic conditions. Environmental Impact Assessment An assessment of the possible positive and negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects. Fixed Point photography A method using photographs to monitor vegetation changes over time. Floral Kingdom There are six floral kingdoms globally of which one is the Cape floral kingdom in South Africa which is the smallest and richest in plant varieties. Geology The study of the origin, history and structure of the earth. Geomorphology The study of landforms and the processes that shape them. Hectare A unit of area equal to 10 000m square metres. Herbarium A collection of preserved plant species to be used as a reference. Hydrogeological The occurrence, distribution and effect of ground water. Hydrological The study of properties, distribution and effects of water on the surface, in soil, underlying rocks and the atmosphere. - 6 - Indigenous (plants and animals) Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. Metrological The science that deals with the atmosphere, weather and weather conditions. Monitoring (ecological) To actively observe a system for any changes which may occur over time using a measuring device. Nocturnal Related to being active at night and sleeping during the day. Non-perennial River A river that dries out during the drier months and flows during periods of rain. Paleontological The study of forms of life existing in prehistoric times such as fossils. pH The measure of acidity and alkalinity of a substance. Pioneer species A species that is first to establish itself in an area where nothing is growing. Recharge The action by which water is added to the aquifer, either naturally by percolation, from the groundwater surface or artificially by pumping water to the sides of the recharge area. Topography The study of the Earth‟s surface, shape and features. Wellfield An area comprising a series of boreholes including manholes, wellpoints and pumps for the abstraction of water as part of the Atlantis Water Scheme‟s water supply system. - 7 - PART A PART 1 - DESCRIPTION 1. Introduction The strategic management planning process (which results in the development of an Integrated Reserve Management Plan), for the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve (WANR begins with the definition of the vision followed by the purpose for the reserve. This purpose is then supported by Desired States for the Reserve. The Reserve objectives contribute to realising the purpose and Desired States. For each Desired State a number of management objectives are identified. These management objectives are then made operational through the identification of Outputs. Objectives for each Desired State are prioritized for the five-year time horizon of the plan. Time frames, deliverables, performance indicators and targets are then allocated for each objective, or a group of linked outputs contributing to the Desired State. 1.1 Aim of the Integrated Reserve Management Plan The aim of the Integrated Reserve Management Plan (IRMP) is to ensure that the WANR has clearly defined objectives and activities to direct the protection and sustainable use of its natural, scenic and heritage resources over a five year time period. The IRMP thus provides the medium- term operational framework for the prioritized allocation of resources and capacity in the management, use and development of the Reserve. The IRMP intends to add value and continuity by clearly stating management objectives, scheduling action and providing guidelines on the management approach. The context of the Reserve planning process for the WANR are: (i) City‟s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) (Anon 2010); (ii) City‟s Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP) (Anon 20031); (iii) Biodiversity Strategy (Anon 20032) and Local Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (LBSAP) (Anon 20091); and (iv) Bioregional context (Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E.)). The major elements of the IRMP are: this document (overall strategy, vision and context); the detailed subsidiary plans (as required) and
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