Limpopo Conservation Plan v2 Technical Report (EDET/2216/2012) SEPTEMBER 2013 Report Title: Limpopo Conservation Plan v.2: Technical Report Date: 28 September 2013 Version: Final v2 Authors & contact details: ECOSOL GIS: 21 Neapolis, Pier Street, South End, Port Elizabeth, 6001 1. Dr Phillip Desmet: ([email protected]) 2. Dr. Stephen Holness ([email protected]) 3. Mr. Andrew Skowno ([email protected]) Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET), Sub-Directorate: Conservation Planning & Assessment, Directorate: Biodiversity Management, Private Bag X 9484, Polokwane, 0700 4. Dr. Vincent Egan ([email protected]) Client: Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET) Principle funding agent: Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET) Citation: Desmet, P. G., Holness, S., Skowno, A. & Egan, V.T. (2013) Limpopo Conservation Plan v.2: Technical Report. Contract Number EDET/2216/2012. Report for Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET) by ECOSOL GIS. ______________________________ View of the Polokwane Plateau from Makapansgat Mountains (photograph: Philip Desmet) Summary The primary objective of this project was to produce a revised There are also 5 listed threated, non-vegetation type ecosystems in conservation plan for Limpopo Province that conformed to the Limpopo, namely: Malmani Karstlands, Sekhukune Mountainlands, Bioregional Planning guidelines published by SANBI in 2009. Sekhukune Norite Bushveld, Blouberg Forest and Mapungubwe Forest. Together these ecosystems make up just over 1% of the province This document describes how the Limpopo Conservation Plan version 2 (LCPv2), and its two primary products - the map of Critical Biodiversity The protected areas gap analysis which assesses protection levels of the Areas and associated land-use guidelines – were developed. habitats in the province indicates that an additional area equivalent to 85% of the current protected area network (~ 11619km2) needs to be The existing Limpopo Conservation Plan (LCPv1) was completely added to the protected area estate in order to achieve the biodiversity revised by developing and executing a quantitative systematic spatial targets. How to achieve this objective is the subject of the provincial biodiversity planning methodology that: addresses the deficiencies of the protected area expansion strategy current provincial plan; takes into account the most up-to-date spatial data and institutional and expert knowledge; aligns the methods and The systematic conservation planning process resulted in 40% of the terminology of the plan with the national guidelines for the development province being identified as Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA1 22% and of bioregional plans; takes into account existing spatial biodiversity CBA2 18%). Ecological Support Areas cover a further 22% of the planning products; and, involves skills transfer through working with province, of which 16% are intact natural areas (ESA1) and 7% are LEDET staff on the development of the CBA map and GAP assessment. degraded or areas with no natural remaining which are nevertheless required as they potentially retain some value for supporting ecological The land cover and protected area data gathered shows that over three processes (ESA2). quarters of Limpopo is in a natural or near natural state (85%), with urbanisation (2.6%) and agriculture (11.4%) covering 15% of the The Critical Biodiversity map links to the land-use guidelines tables province. Formal protected areas cover just over 11% of Limpopo. which are based on a combination of products from Mpumalanga, KNZ, and Gauteng provinces. These guidelines and recommendations are There are 56 vegetation types in Limpopo. Of these, 24 (42%) are endemic aimed at informing strategic decision making and facilitating to the province. According to NEMBA 2009, 7 of the 56 vegetation types biodiversity conservation in priority areas outside the protected area found in Limpopo are threatened; 1 of these is considered critically network. endangered (Woodbush Granite Grassland) and 6 are considered vulnerable (Springbokvlakte Thornveld, Rand Highveld Grassland, Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland, Lowveld Riverine Forest, Tzaneen sour Bushveld and Legogote Sour Bushveld). This represents 8.7% of the Limpopo Province. On the basis of the provincial focus of this assessment we motivate for Tzaneen Sour Bushveld to be considered endangered (from Vulnerable), and for Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld to be considered vulnerable (from least threatened). Limpopo Conservation Plan v.2 Technical Report 2013 1 Table of Contents SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 1 ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION ................................... 36 BUFFERS AROUND PAS ......................................................................................................... 41 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. 2 NEW LEAST COST PATHWAY CORRIDOR NETWORK DEVELOPED. ................................. 42 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... 3 EXPERT PATHWAYS ............................................................................................................... 42 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 4 MARXAN ANALYSIS APPROACH ........................................................................................... 44 PURPOSE OF THE CONSERVATION PLAN .............................................................................. 4 MAP OF CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS ...................................................... 48 LIMITATIONS OF THE CONSERVATION PLAN ....................................................................... 4 TARGET ACHIEVEMENT IN CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS .......................................... 48 PROJECT PRODUCTS ................................................................................................................. 5 LAND-USE GUIDELINES ........................................................................................ 51 INPUT DATA ............................................................................................................... 6 CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREA MAP CATEGORIES LAND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES LAND COVER .............................................................................................................................. 6 ................................................................................................................................................... 52 PROTECTED AREAS .................................................................................................................. 6 RECOMMENDED LAND-USE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES .............................................. 55 EXISTING SPATIAL PLANNING PRODUCTS ........................................................................... 7 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 62 TERRESTRIAL HABITATS ......................................................................................................... 7 OTHER BIODIVERSITY AND CONTEXT DATA ....................................................................... 8 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 63 ECOSYSTEM STATUS ............................................................................................. 13 APPENDIX 1: TARGETS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL THREAT STATUS .................................................................................................................... 13 BIODIVERSITY FEATURES ................................................................................... 64 ECOSYSTEM STATUS PROVINCIAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ............. 13 APPENDIX 2: PROTECTED AREAS IN LIMPOPO ............................................ 69 ADDITIONAL NON-VEGETATION LISTED THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS .......................... 13 APPENDIX 3: DATA DICTIONARY ..................................................................... 71 PROTECTED AREA NETWORK GAP ANALYSIS ............................................. 17 PROTECTION LEVELS ............................................................................................................ 17 GAP ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 17 CONSERVATION PLANNING APPROACH ........................................................ 22 BIOREGIONAL PLAN REQUIREMENTS OF A SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLAN ......... 22 IS THE LIMPOPO CONSERVATION PLAN V2 A SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLAN AND DOES IT MEET THE GUIDELINE REQUIREMENTS? ............................................................. 22 PLANNING UNITS ................................................................................................................... 24 COST SURFACE ....................................................................................................................... 27 TARGETS .................................................................................................................................. 29 BIODIVERSITY FEATURES ....................................................................................................