Overberg DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY WETLAND REPORT | 2017
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OVERBERG DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY WETLAND REPORT | 2017 LOCAL ACTION FOR BIODIVERSITY (LAB): WETLANDS SOUTH AFRICA Biodiversity for Life South African National Biodiversity Institute FOREWORD The Overberg District Municipality (ODM) is firmly awareness and the integration of biodiversity committed to the global goal of sustainable considerations into municipal planning and decision development. In order to achieve this goal, the ODM making; and initiate projects and programmes for the Council adopted an Environmental Management Policy continuous protection of our wetlands. with the following vision that will guide environmental management in the years ahead to ensure: As Municipal Manager of Overberg District Municipality, ● A positive relationship between all spheres of I would like to thank the Executive Mayor, ALD Lincoln government as well as civil society in order to de Bruyn and his Mayoral Committee for providing promote a safe and healthy environment; political strategic direction and leadership, as well ● that environmental management and the as ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, principle of sustainability enjoys high priority in all the implementation agent of the LAB: Wetlands planning documents within the Municipality; and SA Programme, for enhancing the conservation ● that environmental quality will be improved in and management of wetlands in Overberg District terms of air, water, land and sea. Municipality. A special word of gratitude is extended to every stakeholder within the Overberg District The development of this Wetland Report strengthens Municipality, who constructively engages and assists and supports the Environmental Management Policy, in improving and safeguarding our wetlands Spatial Development Framework and Integrated Development Plan and highlights the important role that wetlands play in Overberg District Municipality. It further confirms the important contribution of our natural resources in developing resilient communities. As the effects of climate change become more evident it is clear that the prevailing status will no longer be sufficient to maintain the ecological integrity of resources in Overberg District Municipality. Overberg District Municipality actively works towards the developing and strengthening of long term partnerships to ensure a collective response to MR V M GIBBS-HALLS address environmental pressures. The municipality Environmental Specialist therefore supports the development of the Wetland Eden District Municipality Report in order to enhance the management and conservation of the Overberg wetlands; increase LAB WETLANDS REPORT SA: OVERBERG DISTICT MUNICIPALITY I 2016 1 ICLEI – LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY [email protected] +27 21 202 0381 www.africa.iclei.org www.twitter.com/ICLEIAfrica ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is the In order to strengthen the role cities and local leading global network of over 1,500 cities, towns and governments play in the pursuit of greater regions committed to building a sustainable future. sustainability through the collaborative design and By helping the ICLEI Network to become sustainable, implementation of integrated urban development low-carbon, ecomobile, resilient, biodiverse, resource- and effective biodiversity management, the ICLEI efficient, healthy and happy, with a green economy Cities Biodiversity Center (ICLEI CBC) was created in and smart infrastructure, we impact over 25% of the 2009. The ICLEI CBC is located in Cape Town, South global urban population. Africa, embedded in the Africa Regional Office of ICLEI. We offer cities a broad portfolio of supportive ICLEI Africa’s work is conducted by a dynamic and services through our dedicated team of passionate, passionate team of professionals that seek to work skilled and dynamic biodiversity and urban with cities to ensure a more sustainable future, with a development experts. specific focus on urban biodiversity matters. 2 2016 I LAB WETLANDS REPORT SA: OVERBERG DISTICT MUNICIPALITY ICLEI CITIES BIODIVERSITY CENTER LOCAL ACTION FOR BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME ICLEI CITIES B IODIVERSITY C ENTER [email protected] +27 21 202 0381 www.africa.iclei.org www.twitter.com/ICLEIAfrica L OCAL A CTION FOR B IODIVERSITY PROGRAMME The ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center aims to create BiodiverCities, which promote urban biodiversity for the The ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center aims to create buffers further biodiversity loss, improves the urban manyBiodiverCities, benefits they which offer, promote including urban human biodiversity well-being, for poverty standard alleviation, of living, habitat and conservation, provides local air opportunitiesand water quality,the many climate benefits change they adaptation offer, including and mitigation, human food well- provision,for global fortified education infrastructure and awareness. resilience, and happinessbeing, poverty of citizens. alleviation, habitat conservation, air and water quality, climate change adaptation and ICLEI’s Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) programme BiodiverCities are aware that ecosystem services contribute towards many essential municipal services, as well mitigation, food provision, fortified infrastructure is a unique global biodiversity programme run by asresilience, towards the and local happiness economy, of citizens.sustainability and social wellThe-being ICLEI of Citiestheir cities. 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Currently, LAB is working on ICLEIsustainability Cities Biodiversity and social Center. well-being The LAB ofProgram their cities.is aimed atwetland improving restoration and enhancing in South ecosystem Africa under management the Local at Btheiodiversity local level, in andcities is providesrecognized a globallycritical contribution as the leading resultsAction- drivenfor Biodiversity: local government Wetlands biodiversity South Africa initiative. (LAB Currently,towards LABachieving is working the onglobal wetland biodiversity restoration targets. in South It AfricaWetlands under SA) the project. Local Action for Biodiversity: Wetlands South Africa (LAB Wetlands SA) project. [email protected] +27 21 202 0381 WWW www.cbc.iclei.org www.twitter.com/ICLEICBC LAB WETLANDS REPORT SA: OVERBERG DISTICT MUNICIPALITY I 2016 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................1 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................6 List of Tables ..........................................................................................................................................................................6 List of Figures, Maps and Graphs ........................................................................................................................................7 Executive Summary ..............................................................................................................................................................8 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................................9 1 WhAT is A WETLAND? ......................................................................................................................................10 2 WhAT is BiODivERsiTy? ...................................................................................................................................12 3 WETLANDs AND BiODivERsiTy iN ThE OvERBERg DisTRicT MuNiciPALiTy ............................................13 3.1 Mapping wetlands in the Overberg District Municipality ........................................................................14 3.2 Key Wetlands in the Overberg District Municipality ................................................................................15 3.2.1 De Hoop Vlei (RAMSAR site) .............................................................................................................15 3.2.2 Heuningnes Estuary (RAMSAR site) .................................................................................................17 3.2.3 Bot-Kleinmond Estuarine System (Proposed RAMSAR site) ..........................................................18 3.2.4 Zoetendalsvlei...................................................................................................................................20 3.3 Key Flora and Fauna of the Overberg Wetlands .......................................................................................20 3.3.1 Flora ..................................................................................................................................................20