TRANSPORT & URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT Jacques Küyler Biodiversity Area Coordinator Tel: 021 444 0454 Email: [email protected] BLAAUWBERG NATURE RESERVE QUARTERLY REPORT 1 APRIL – 30 JUNE 2018 Photograph: Paul Naylor Table of Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES .............................................................................................................................................. 2 3. CONSERVATION PLANNING ............................................................................................................................................. 3 4. FLORA .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 5. FAUNA ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 6. SOIL ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 7. WATER ................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 8. FIRE ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 9. PEOPLE, TOURISM & EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................................... 9 10. STAFF MATTERS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 11. LAW ENFORCEMENT ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 12. INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Blaauwberg Nature Reserve | Blaauwberg-natuurreservaat | ULondolozo lweNdalo Blaauwberg City of Cape Town Quarterly Report - 1 April to 30 June 2018 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Mr Anton Bredell, under section 23(1)(a)(i) of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, (Act 57 of 2003), declared Blaauwberg Nature Reserve in the Provincial Gazette 7837 on Friday, 20 October 2017. The provincially-owned portions of the reserve were proclaimed as Blaauwberg Provincial Nature Reserve by means of P.N. 06/2007 dated 2 March 2007. The City of Cape Town manages both its’ own and the provincially-owned land as a single entity called Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. Vision of the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve: To conserve, protect and enhance the unique diversity of natural, historical and cultural resources of this area for the sustainable enjoyment and development of present and future generations through education. Mission of the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve: Through judicious land acquisition and the development of economically viable conservation and education-related facilities and activities, we aim to secure the protection of the entire area and ensure its long-term sustainability based on sound ecological and cultural values. 2. HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES Green Coast is the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa’s (WESSA) newest eco-label, awarded to coastal sites in South Africa where a sensitive species, habitat or cultural heritage site is being sustainably managed, leading to increased tourism along our coastline. To achieve Green Coast status, locations have to comply with a set of site-specific requirements and inspection criteria. The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve coast has been approved by WESSA as the first Green Coast site in the Western Cape. The City of Cape Town (CCT) will be responsible for upholding the criteria and collaborating with the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area (FoBCA) who will provide specific support with the collection and monitoring of baseline ecological info. As the collaborating interest group, CCT and FoBCA are proud to be working with WESSA, the National Operator of the Green Coast programme in South Africa, to implement this process. For further information on this subject read more on http://wessa.org.za/what-we-do/ecotourism/green-coast/. Blaauwberg Nature Reserve coast has been approved by WESSA as the first Green Coast site in the Western Cape (Photograph: Paul Naylor). 2 Blaauwberg Nature Reserve | Blaauwberg-natuurreservaat | ULondolozo lweNdalo Blaauwberg City of Cape Town Quarterly Report - 1 April to 30 June 2018 The Biodiversity Agreement between the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board and the City of Cape Town for the City owned land on Atlantic Beach was signed during this quarter. The Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, City of Cape Town and Atlantic Beach Management (Pty) Ltd, as lessee of the City owned land, recognised the conservation value on this property and signed this co- management agreement in order to protect the biodiversity. The protected area will be known as the Atlantic Beach Conservation Area and managed in perpetuity in favour of biodiversity conservation. Atlantic Beach Conservation Area (Photograph: Atlantic Beach Estate) Caracal (Caracal caracal) occupancy and their influence on domestic cats have been a pressing issue on Atlantic Beach Estate for a couple of years with concern from some parties regarding the loss of pets. The Atlantic Beach Estate (ABE) was specifically planned as a housing development within a nature conservation area and golf estate. This is clear from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which granted environmental approval to the development based on the natural features and connectivity to the neighbouring Blaauwberg Nature Reserve (BBNR). The concepts defined in the EIA are also detailed in the Operational Environmental Management Programme (OEMP) for the Atlantic Beach Golf Course prepared by Ecosense. The natural environment was always intended to be a key feature in the ABE and this was carried through the environmental and planning processes and decisions. The ABE shares a very long common boundary with the BBNR and provides a much needed ecological link via Melkbos Conservation Area to Koeberg Nature Reserve and the Dassenberg Coastal Catchment Partnership to the north. ABE consists of two principal components; the Residential Estate that is privately owned and managed by the Atlantic Beach Home Owners Association (ABHOA), and the Golf Course and fynbos conservation areas that are a separate, private venture on land leased from, and still owned by, the City of Cape Town. The fynbos conservation areas are managed as part of a contractual Biodiversity Agreement signed between CapeNature and the landowner in favour of biodiversity conservation. The management of key faunal species within the conservation areas is of key importance. This must be done in conjunction with CapeNature as the custodians of biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape Province and being responsible for its conservation enforces the Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1974 (Ordinance 19 of 1974) as amended. Any manipulation of faunal species must be done in accordance with the Ordinance 19 of 1974; especially when hunting and/or translocation/transportation of wild animals is to be considered as one of the management options. Some interventions regarding management of fauna took place recently and this included camera trapping surveys within the open space at the ABE. One caracal was photographed whereas several domestic cats were recorded, which may suggest a high proportion of domestic cats roaming freely within the ABE. Furthermore, it is important to note that the translocation of a nuisance Caracal if so defined is not a pragmatic, ethical or biodiversity conservation-orientated solution. 3 Blaauwberg Nature Reserve | Blaauwberg-natuurreservaat | ULondolozo lweNdalo Blaauwberg City of Cape Town Quarterly Report - 1 April to 30 June 2018 The recent survey done focusing on domestic cats in the estate, suggests that the majority of the residents agree that domestic cats should be confined to their owner’s properties. We believe this approach if properly implemented could significantly reduce the threat to domestic cats from caracals, cars and all other factors. It would also be good for the natural open spaces as various research results indicate that domestic cats do predate on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds on a regular basis. The Atlantic Beach Home Owners Association (ABHOA) published their views on Facebook and in the estate weekly newsletters, https://www.facebook.com/atlanticbeachestateofficial. The Environmental Management Department is not in favour of removing and/or excluding caracal from the natural open spaces of the ABE. It supports the current stance taken by the ABHOA and are committed to working closely with all other parties to ensure that the natural