UBUBOOMMBBOO MOMOUUNNTTAAININ NNAATTUURREE RREESSEERVERVE MMAANNAGAGEEMMEENNTT PPLLANAN 22000099 -- 20201313 Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Nalal, South Africa Integrated Management Plan 2009-2013 Reviewed and edited by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Management Planning Unit Based on the Draft Integrated Management Plan (2008 – 2013) by David Totman and Associates Citation Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. 2009. Integrated Management Plan: Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve, South Africa. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. 82pp. and 6 maps (5 x A4 and 1 x A3) Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve i - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 - 2013. (Version 1.0) Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve i - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 - 2013. (Version 1.0) Authorisation The Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve Integrated Management Plan (IMP) was compiled and recommended by the Technical Task Team, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of stakeholder representatives, and included: Traditional Authorities Kwantsinde / Myeni Traditional Authority NGOs Space for Elephants Interested and Affected Parties iSiMangaliso Wetland Park Authority Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife D. Archer District Conservation Manager - North Zululand R. Blok Biodiversity Conservation Coordinator North Zululand H. de Bruyn District Conservation Manager - Mkhuze W. Matthews Regional Ecologist North Zululand E. Mlambo Community Conservationist M. Thomson Conservation Manager Phongolo Government Departments and Municipalities uMkhanyakhude District Municipality Recommended: TITLE NAME SIGNATURE AND DATE Chairperson: Regional Operations Committee Chairperson: EKZNW, Biodiversity Conservation Operations Management Committee Chief Executive Officer: EKZNW Chairperson: KZN Nature Conservation Board Head of Department: KZN Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development Approved: TITLE NAME SIGNATURE AND DATE KwaZulu-Natal MEC: Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve ii - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 - 2013. (Version 1.0) Circulate to: TITLE NAME SIGNATURE AND DATE Chairperson: Portfolio Environment & Conservation Committee Review Date: 2013 Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve iii - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 - 2013. (Version 1.0) Table of Contents Authorisation........................................................................................................................................................ii Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................iv List of Maps........................................................................................................................................................vii List of Figures.....................................................................................................................................................vii List of Tables......................................................................................................................................................vii Preface..............................................................................................................................................................viii Executive Summary and Purpose of Plan........................................................................................................ix Protected Area Management Planning Process Framework for Protected Areas..........................................x 1 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UBOMBO MOUNTAIN NATURE RESERVE ......1 1.1 Purpose....................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Significance..............................................................................................................................1 2 ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .........................................................4 2.1 Institutional Arrangements.......................................................................................................4 2.1.1 Land Claims and Co-management.........................................................................................4 2.2 Legislation Guiding the Administration of the Reserve..........................................................4 2.3 Regional Planning Context and Principles.............................................................................6 2.4 Proclamation Status of the Reserve.......................................................................................6 2.5 Local Agreements, Servitude Arrangements and MOU’s.....................................................6 2.6 Extending Conservation Land Use Management in Areas Surrounding UMNR.................7 3 BACKGROUND....................................................................................................8 3.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................................8 3.2 Location and Extent of the Reserve........................................................................................8 3.3 History of Conservation............................................................................................................8 3.4 Description................................................................................................................................8 3.4.1 Climate and Weather................................................................................................................8 3.4.2 Topography, Geology and Soils..............................................................................................8 3.4.3 Hydrology...............................................................................................................................11 3.4.4 Flora.......................................................................................................................................11 3.4.4.1 Priority Species......................................................................................................................12 3.4.5 Fauna......................................................................................................................................14 3.4.6 Invertebrates..........................................................................................................................14 3.4.7 Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians)............................................................................14 3.4.8 Fish.........................................................................................................................................14 3.4.9 Avifauna (Birds).....................................................................................................................14 3.4.10 Mammals................................................................................................................................15 3.4.11 Cultural Heritage....................................................................................................................15 3.4.12 Socio-Cultural History of the Area........................................................................................15 3.4.13 Socio Economic Context.......................................................................................................16 3.4.14 Eco-Tourism Opportunities....................................................................................................16 3.4.15 Developed Infrastructure.......................................................................................................16 3.4.15.1 Eco-Cultural Tourism Infrastructure.....................................................................................16 3.4.15.2 Management Infrastructure...................................................................................................16 3.4.15.3 Bulk Infrastructure..................................................................................................................17 3.4.15.4 Conservation Infrastructure...................................................................................................17 3.4.15.5 Water Supply Infrastructure..................................................................................................17 3.4.15.6 Infrastructure Maintained by other Organisations...............................................................17 Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve iv - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 - 2013. (Version 1.0) 4 VISION, MISSION, MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND CONSERVATION TARGETS .....18 4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................18 4.2 Vision......................................................................................................................................19 4.3 Mission...................................................................................................................................19 4.4 Protected Area Objectives....................................................................................................19 4.5 Management Targets............................................................................................................20 5 ZONATION ........................................................................................................23 6 POLICY FRAMEWORK AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES