Karkloof Nature Reserve KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Protected Area Management Plan Prepared by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Protected Area Management Planning Unit with support from Dr Richard Lechmere-Oertel (Biodiversity Planning & Management) Citation Karkloof Nature Reserve: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (2011), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. Photos for cover page courtesy of Kevin McCann and Di Martin. AUTHORISATION This Protected Area Management Plan for Karkloof Nature Reserve is recommended by the Karkloof Nature Reserve Co-Management Committee, consisting of three members each from the Karkloof Landowners Association and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife according to the Co-Management Agreement and the Nature Reserve Planning Committee: Karkloof Landowners Association Thomas Hancock Thomas Hancock Children’s Family Trust Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Andy Blackmore Acting manager land use Planning Magda Goosen Protected Area Management Planner Irene Hatton Acting Coordinator Protected Area Management Planning Bill Howells Biodiversity Conservation Co-ordinator East uKhahlamba Athol Marchant Regional Ecologist East uKhahlamba Philemon Mahlaba District Conservation Officer Ann van Eyssen Ecotourism Coordinator West KARKLOOF N AT U RE RESERVE I PRO T EC T ED A REA MA N AG EMEN T PLA N KARKLOOF N AT U RE RESERVE II PRO T EC T ED A REA MA N AG EMEN T PLA N KARKLOOF N AT U RE RESERVE IV PRO T EC T ED A REA MA N AG EMEN T PLA N TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHORISATION .............................................................................................................................................. I TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ V PREFACE ...................................................................................................................................................... VIII ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. IX 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................. X 1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ x 1.2. Management issues, challenges and opportunities at Karkloof nature reserve .................... x 1.3. Managing the issues, challenges and opportunities at karkloof nature reserve ................... xi 2. BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................... 1 2.1. Purpose of the plan ................................................................................................................. 1 2.2. Structure of the plan ............................................................................................................... 1 2.3. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.4. The values of Karkloof Nature Reserve ................................................................................... 3 2.5. Planning approach .................................................................................................................. 5 3. DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT OF KARKLOOF NATURE RESERVE .......................................................................... 7 3.1. Institutional and administrative framework ........................................................................... 7 3.2. The legislative basis for the management of KNR ................................................................ 10 VISION ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 MISSION STATEMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 11 STRATEGIC GOALS .......................................................................................................................................... 11 CORE VALUES ............................................................................................................................................... 11 3.3. The regional and local planning context of KNR ................................................................... 12 3.4. Ecological context of Karkloof Nature Reserve ..................................................................... 14 3.5. Current management within Karkloof Nature Reserve ........................................................ 24 3.6. Summary of management issues and challenges ................................................................. 26 4. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................... 28 4.1. KNR vision ............................................................................................................................. 28 4.2. Objectives and strategic outcomes ....................................................................................... 28 5. ZONATION PLAN ................................................................................................................................... 31 5.1. Karkloof Nature Reserve Zonation system............................................................................ 31 5.2. Concept development guidelines .......................................................................................... 32 6. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................... 36 7. OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................... 37 7.1. Determination of priorities for strategic outcomes .............................................................. 37 7.4. Buffer zone protection and management ............................................................................ 43 7.5. Eco-cultural tourism development ........................................................................................ 45 7.6. Conservation management .................................................................................................. 48 7.7. Operational management .................................................................................................... 61 8. MONITORING AND REPORTING ................................................................................................................ 65 8.1. Annual monitoring ................................................................................................................ 65 8.2. Biodiversity monitoring ........................................................................................................ 67 8.3. Annual protected area management plan implementation review ..................................... 67 9. ANNUAL PLAN OF OPERATION ................................................................................................................. 69 9.1. Implementation of the protected area management plan ................................................... 69 9.2. Resposnsibilities in implementing the protected area management plan ........................... 70 9.3. Resource requirements ......................................................................................................... 70 KARKLOOF N AT U RE RESERVE V PRO T EC T ED A REA MA N AG EMEN T PLA N 9.4. Projects ................................................................................................................................. 71 9.5. Annual financial plan ............................................................................................................ 71 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................. 82 KARKLOOF N AT U RE RESERVE VI PRO T EC T ED A REA MA N AG EMEN T PLA N LIST OF TABLES: Table 3.1 The conservation significance of Karkloof Nature Reserve for each vegetation type Table 3.2 A comparison of budget and staff between Karkloof Nature reserve and similar sized reserves Table 4.1 Objectives and strategic outcomes for Karkloof Nature Reserve Table 7.1 Framework for legal compliance and law enforcement Table 7.2 Framework for stakeholder engagement Table 7.3 Framework for buffer protection and regional management Table 7.4 Framework for eco-cultural tourism Table 7.5 Block burn plan for Karkloof Nature Reserve Table 7.6 Fire breaks system for Karkloof Nature Reserve Table 7.7 Framework for fire management Table 7.8 Framework for invasive plant control and soil erosion Table 7.9 Framework for alien animal control and resource utilisation Table 7.10 Framework for wildlife management Table 7.11 Framework for financial and human resources Table 7.12 Framework for facilities and infrastructure Table 8.1 Annual surveillance and monitoring schedule for Karkloof Nature Reserve Table 9.1 Karkloof Nature Reserve Budget List of Figures: Figure 2.1 Structure of the Management Plan Figure 2.2 Regional location of Karkloof Nature Reserve Figure 2.3 The adaptive management cycle Figure 3.1 The land parcels comprising Karkloof Nature Reserve Figure 3.2 Location