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State of Biodiversity Report 2008 / 2009

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State of Biodiversity Report 2008 / 2009 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 (Produced June 2010) To provide qualita� ve and quan� ta� ve data that describe the status of biodiversity in the eThekwini Municipal Area. State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 Background In the 2003/2004 municipal fi nancial year, the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Box 1: What is Department (EPCPD) (then known as the Environmental Management Department) Biodiversity? The term biodiversity re- initiated regular State of Environment Reporting for the city of Durban. This was in line with fers to the variety of life the municipal 2002/03 - 2006/07 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) which established on Earth and includes all sustainable development as a core goal for local government in Durban. species, habitats and eco- systems that are found in any region. Biodiversity In 2008/2009, the decision was taken to realign the reporting process to refl ect the also includes the genetic biodiversity focus of the department, and as such State of Environment reporting was difference within and be- replaced with State of Biodiversity reporting. The intention of State of Biodiversity Reporting tween species. is to present qualitative and quantitative data which describe the status of biodiversity in the eThekwini Municipal area and to highlight key threats to this biodiversity. This is the eThekwini Municipality’s fi rst State of Biodiversity Indicators report. The main purpose of this report is to provide an introduction to the new reporting process and give an overview of the selected indicators. Table of Contents 1) PROFILE OF DURBAN ................................................................................ 2 2) THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................. 3 3) THE VALUE OF DURBAN’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ................. 4 4) IMPORTANCE OF STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORTING ............. 5 5) INDICATORS ◆ How much land has been transformed? ...................................... 8 ◆ Total area of D’MOSS ...................................................................... 10 ◆ Percentage of D’MOSS that is protected .................................. 12 ◆ Species abundance ........................................................................... 15 ◆ Threats to biodiversity ................................................................... 18 6) SUMMARY TABLE OF STATE OF BIODIVERSITY INDICATORS ... 24 7) CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 25 8) CONTRIBUTORS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................... 25 1 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 1. Profi le of Durban Durban is an African city located on the east coast of South Africa in the richness of mixed beliefs and traditions. This mix adds vibrancy and province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Durban’s landscape ranges from the depth to the experience of living, working and visiting the city; rural to the urbanized, and has a diverse society which faces a complex mix of social, economic, environmental and governance challenges. As • Durban has the largest and busiest port on Africa’s east coast – total such it must address the full range of global sustainable development exports equated to R51.3 billion and total imports to R67.7 billion challenges which means meeting the needs of an ever growing popula- in 2008; tion while maintaining environmental integrity. The eThekwini Municipal- ity is the local government body responsible for governing and managing • Manufacturing, tourism, fi nance and transport are the four largest Durban. economic sectors; The following key statistics describe Durban in 2008/2009: • Tourism is concentrated along the coast, with emerging eco- and • A municipal area of 2 297 km2 (229 700 ha) in size (1.4% of the cultural-tourism opportunities in the western areas; and province of KZN); • Durban’s Gross Value Added (GVA[1]), which amounted to R125.9 • A population of over 3 million (over one-third of the population billion in 2008, comprises 65.3% of the total GVA for KwaZulu-Natal of the entire province). Durban is ethnically diverse, with a cultural and 10.8% of the national economy. 1. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of all goods and services produced within the economy in a given period. Gross Value Added (GVA) is a measure of economic value and is used in the estimation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It measures the difference between the value of goods and services produced and the cost of raw materials and other inputs which are used in production. 2 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 2. The natural environment South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in the world[2], and Durban contains: Box 2: Durban as a biodiversity hotspot The term “biodiversity hotspot” was fi rst coined by • Three of the country’s eight terrestrial biomes; British environmentalist Norman Myers in 1988[3]. • Eight broad vegetation types; These are the Earth’s biologically richest and most • Over 2 000 plant species; endangered terrestrial regions. South Africa is the • 97 kilometres of coastline with a diversity of beach types and pro- third most biodiverse country in the world and ductive rocky shores; the only country with more than one biodiversity • 17 river catchments and 16 estuaries; hotspot. Durban is located in the middle of the • 4 000 kilometres of rivers; and Maputoland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot which lies • An open space system of approximately 74703 ha (2008/2009), along the east coast of southern Africa. The region representing almost one-third of Durban’s total municipal area. has been described as fl oristically, climatologically and geographically complex and the high degree of 2. The biodiversity of South Africa 2002: Indicators, trends and human impacts (2002). Endangered Wildlife Trust, Struik Publishers, Cape Town. endemism in the region is attributed to this com- plexity. 3. Myers, N. (1988). The Environmentalist 8 187-208. 3 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 3. The value of Durban’s natural environment To ensure the sustainability and resilience of Durban’s ecological and socio-economic natural assets, it is necessary to plan and manage these assets. The Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D’MOSS) incorporates areas of high biodiversity value linked together in a viable network of open spaces in the eThekwini Municipal area. The value of D’MOSS comes from the ecosystem goods and services that are provided by the biodiversity contained in the different habitat types included in the system (see Figure 1 on pages 6 and 7). The environmental services provided by Durban’s open space system are valued at approximately R4 billion per annum (2006), which makes the preservation of this re- source a key priority. Resilience: The ability to recover from a disturbance and still retain its ability to function. Sustainable development: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 4 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 4. Importance of State of Biodiversity repor� ng An effective State of Biodiversity reporting programme which tracks used as a key planning tool, contributing to the attainment of provincial trends over time is arguably one of the most valuable means of informing and national biodiversity targets. D’MOSS is mapped by the Biodiversity policy makers, the public and other stakeholders about the status of Planning Branch of the EPCPD in consultation with relevant experts. natural resources, and the sustainability of resource use patterns. The indicators that were chosen are based on their ability to provide The current report collates information relevant to the 2008/2009 information in a meaningful way to: municipal fi nancial year in line with the 2006 - 2011 Integrated Development Plan which stipulates the need to “ensure the long-term a) Assist policy makers in benchmarking biodiversity conservation efforts sustainability of the natural resource base” (Plan 1 Programme 3). in the urban context; and The indicators were chosen based on how meaningful they are in b) Evaluate progress in reducing the rate of biodiversity loss in urban characterising and monitoring biodiversity in Durban and the reliability ecosystems. of the available data. Most indicators are linked to D’MOSS which is 5 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 CULTURAL CLIMATE Providing DISTURBANCE REGULATION opportunities for REGULATION Control of temperatures aesthetic, educational, Control of large envi- e.g., wind reduction. spiritual & scientific ronmental fluctuations use. e.g., flood control. NUTRIENT CYCLING e.g., nitrogen fixation REFUGIA and transfer of WATER Habitats for resident nutrients through SUPPLY and migrant species e.g., food chains. SOIL FORMATION Storage of water estuaries as nurseries e.g., weathering of rock e.g., by rivers. for fish. by water. EROSION CONTROL Prevention of soil loss by vegetation cover. GENETIC RESOURCES Unique biological materials and products Figure 1: e.g., plant medicines. 6 State of Biodiversity Report 2008/2009 RECREATION e.g., eco-tourism, POLLINATION fishing, swimming. Movement of pollen e.g, by bees. RAW MATERIALS e.g., production of fuel, craft work and house building materials. WATER FOOD REGULATION PRODUCTION BIOLOGICAL Control of water flow Primary production of CONTROL e.g., capture and release food e.g., fish Predator control of prey GAS of water by vegetated and crops. species, rodent control REGULATION landscapes for urban and insect
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