HLATHIKHULU FOREST RESERVE Protected Area Management Plan
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HLATHIKHULU FOREST RESERVE Protected Area Management Plan Prepared by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Protected Area Management Planning Unit & Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve Planning Committee Developed 2016 Citation: Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (2016), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. PREFACE Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has adopted an overarching protected area management strategy that focus on developing, together with stakeholders - a Protected Area Management Plan for Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve. This management plan is the primary and overarching management document and sets out the desired state for Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve and the objectives to achieve this desired state. It forms the framework within which the protected area will be managed and developed towards the achievement of its management objectives, derived in collaboration with the protected area’s stakeholders during November 2016 and January 2017. The protected area management planning process has been designed to meet the statutory requirements of the National Environmental Management Protected Area Act No. 57 of 2003 and other relevant legislation. It further requires participation from the protected area’s stakeholders, the general public and specialists during the various stages of the development and implementation of the plan. An annual review process of the management plan and its subsidiary plans will ensure an active adaptive management planning approach. A long-term business approach has also been introduced that ensures that the protected area’s management objectives are operationalised and reflected through an Annual Plan of Operation. A Financial Plan will, at the same time, actively pursue additional and improved funding and income towards the achievement of the protected area’s objectives. Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, as the appointed Management Authority for Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve, hereby commits itself to the implementation of this plan. Dr. D Mabunda Acting Chief Executive Officer Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve: Protected Area Management Plan 2016 i AUTHORISATION The Protected Area Management Plan for Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve is recommended by the Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve Planning Committee, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE F Myburgh Park Manager Phongolo Nature Reserve R Penn-Sawers Manager Northern Protected Areas R v d. Westhuizen Acting District Ecologist: Zululand M Goosen Protected Area Management Planner A Blackmore Manager Integrated Environmental Management and Protected Area Management Planning Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve: Protected Area Management Plan 2016 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I AUTHORISATION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II APPROVAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI ABBREVIATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII 1 INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1 Purpose of the plan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.2 Structure of the plan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.3 The legislative basis for the management of protected areas ------------------------------------------------------- 3 1.4 Institutional framework for the management of protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal ------------------------ 3 1.5 The policy framework guiding the management of protected areas ---------------------------------------------- 3 1.6 Planning approach ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 1.6.1 Public Trust Doctrine------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.6.2 Ecosystem-based Management ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.6.3 Adaptive Management ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 1.6.4 Collaboration and Transparency ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 2 DESCRIPTION OF HLATHIKHULU FOREST RESERVE AND ITS CONTEXT ---------------------- 7 2.1 Background to Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2.2 The values of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 2.3 The purpose of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 2.4 The regional and local planning context of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve --------------------------------------- 10 2.4.1 Protected Area Expansion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 2.5 Cultural context of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 2.6 The history of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 2.6.1 History of Conservation in Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve--------------------------------------------------------- 10 2.6.2 History of Tourism in Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve --------------------------------------------------------------- 10 2.7 Socio-economic context------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 2.8 Ecological context of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve --------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 2.8.1 Climate and Weather ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 2.8.2 Topography ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 2.8.3 Geology and Soils --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 2.8.4 Hydrology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 2.8.5 Vegetation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 2.8.6 Fire Regime ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.8.7 Invasive Species ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.8.8 Mammalian Fauna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.8.9 Avifauna --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.8.10 Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.8.11 Invertebrates --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.9 Operational management context of Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve ----------------------------------------------- 16 Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve: Protected Area Management Plan 2016 iii 2.9.1 Infrastructure -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.9.2 Staffing Establishment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 2.9.3 Funding Levels at Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve -------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 2.9.4 Management Effectiveness in Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve ---------------------------------------------------- 17 2.9.5 Risk assessment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 2.10 Summary of management issues – StrenGths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) ----- 18 3 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK --------------------------------------------------------- 19 3.1 Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve vision ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 3.2 Objectives and strategic outcomes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 3.3 Conservation development Framework --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 3.3.1 ZONATION PLAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 3.4 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 4 OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ---------------------------------------------------- 28 4.1 Determination of priorities for strategic outcomes ------------------------------------------------------------------ 28 4.2 Legal compliance and law enforcement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 4.3