Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department Development Planning, Environment and Management Unit P.O. Box 680, Durban 4000, South Africa +27 31 311 7875 www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/development-planning-and-management/epcpd DURBAN: STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2013/2014 Biodiversity is the term used to describe the variety of life on Earth and all natural processes. This includes ecosystem, genetic and cultural diversity, and the connections between these and all species, including humans. Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by healthy biodiversity to all living things. There is growing recognition of the value of ecosystem services to human well-being in terms of health, social, cultural and economic needs. Read more about ecosystem services on pages 6 and 7 of this report. We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity. E. O. Wilson Table of Contents Key statistics describing Durban in 2013/2014 6 Ecosystems services 7 Durban’s natural environment 8 Indicators 9 State of • Total area of D’MOSS 9 Biodiversity • Percentage of D’MOSS protected 9 reporting • Percentage of D’MOSS managed 11 The intention of State of Biodiversity reporting is to present qualitative • Species abundance 12 and quantitative data which describe • Threats to Durban’s biodiversity 15 the status of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Durban, to highlight key • Responses to threats 20 threats to this biodiversity and to Acknowledgements 27 record actions aimed at protecting and managing biodiversity. These reports are Please note that the key statistics for the 2013/2014 produced annually and this is the eThekwini State of Biodiversity report can be found in the Municipality’s sixth State of Biodiversity A3 fold-out at the back of this report. report. This report collates data relevant to the 2013/2014 municipal financial year[1] and focuses on some of the work done Written and compiled by: Natasha Govender, Specialist Ecologist, Biodiversity Planning, Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department. by the Durban Botanic Gardens. Reviewed by: Richard Boon, Manager, Biodiversity Planning, Environmental FOOTNOTE 1: A municipal year starts Planning and Climate Protection Department. on 1 July and ends on 30 June. Copyright: eThekwini Municipality, 2014. Biodiversity Report 2013/2014 | 3 Africa’s oldest surviving Botanic Gardens2 The Durban Botanic Gardens (DBG) was established as early as 1849 when Durban was still a small village composed of a few sandy tracks and thatched cottages. The original location of the DBG was the south bank of the Umgeni River and was later moved to the lower slopes of the Berea forest because of the river’s hippo and crocodile populations. At the time, this area was still isolated from the main village of Durban and was largely a wilderness area that was still often visited by a roaming lion. The DBG originally served as a botanic station for the trial of agricultural crops and today has evolved into a space that focuses on core areas of biodiversity, education, heritage, research, horticultural excellence and green innovation. The Gardens covers an area of approximately 15 ha and contains both indigenous and exotic species’ collections including a number of significant and threatened plant collections, e.g. cycads, palms, bromeliads and orchids. In addition, the garden plays host to about 80 heritage trees, the majority of which are over 100 years old. This report will focus in on some of the interesting and exciting work undertaken by the Durban Botanic Gardens. For more information please visit: www.durbanbotanicgardens.org.za Learners exploring the Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis) at the Durban Botanic Gardens. FOOTNOTE 2: Adapted from The Durban Botanic Gardens Trust (2013). “Africa’s Oldest Surviving Botanic Gardens.” 4 | Biodiversity Report 2013/2014 eThekwini Parks Department promotes biodiversity and human well-being What counts in life is not Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated on the 18th July with in the younger generation the mere fact that we have the message for all humankind to act in “building a global movement an appreciation for food lived. It is what difference for good.” To this end, eThekwini Parks Recreation and Culture gardening. Following the Department (PLCD) launched a food gardening programme on this Mandela Day programme, we have made to the day at the LIV Village in Durban, a non-profit organisation that aims the Durban Botanic Gardens lives of others that will to rescue orphaned and vulnerable children, restore lives, and raise Education Section stationed leaders. a researcher at the Village determine the significance While South Africa is considered as being a ‘food secure’ to explore the hypothesis of the life we lead. country, many estimates suggest that high unemployment rates, that permaculture food inadequate social welfare systems and the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS gardening promotes a better Nelson Mandela contributes to the approximately 43% of households that currently appreciation for biodiversity experience food poverty. With the predicted changes in rainfall and and proper nutrition. temperature patterns due to climate change, food insecurity is a Interestingly, it was found that children of LIV Village started to serious concern for all South Africans. create their own food gardens unprompted by officials or researchers, On Mandela Day 2013, officials from the PLCD constructed a positive sign of the sustainability of the culture of food gardening. more than seventeen food gardens at the LIV Village to promote the Empowering people to grow their own food in their own gardens could important link between biodiversity and human well-being, and to instil satisfy a household’s nutritional and economic needs. Biodiversity Report 2013/2014 | 5 1. Profile of Durban Table 1: Key statistics describing Durban in 2013/2014[3] Municipal area 2297 km2 (1.4 % of KZN) ulation eg r Population 3, 55 million e t a Population growth (2012 – 2013) 0.9 % m e.g. Control i l of temperatures Percentage of people in poverty 38.7 % C and wind reduction. ation Rate of urbanisation 92 % ul eg r r Total exports R 60.2 billion e t Control of water a flow, e.g. capture Total imports R 127.4 billion W and release of water gulatio by vegetated ontrol re n c Manufacturing, tourism, e landscapes for al Largest sectors c c finance and transport n urban use. i a g b o l r Control of [4] e.g. Flood o GVA R 195.3 billion u i t pests, e.g. spiders control, B s i controlling D drought GDP[4] R 217.7 billion mosquito recovery. n latio populations. Electricity backlog 290 393 consumer units gu e r s Water backlog 71 494 consumer units a Control of G the chemical composition of Housing backlog 404 192 units ro ont l the atmosphere. c n io s FOOTNOTE 3: Denny Thaver, Global Insight/Economic Development o & Investment Promotion Unit/Procurement & Infrastructure: r Storage of Development Engineering, eThekwini Municipality. E soil within an ecosystem FOOTNOTE 4: The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of all goods e.g. wetlands. and services produced within the economy in a given period. Gross Value Added (GVA) is the value of all goods and services produced in an area or sector of an economy and is used in the estimation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 6 | Biodiversity Report 2013/2014 The ecosystem services provided by Durban’s 2. Ecosystem Services provided by Durban’s Natural Environment natural environment was valued at ~R4 billion per annum (2006), excluding the tourism industry. uction ycling d t c ro n p e i r d t o u Capture, storage o N F e.g. Fish, and processing crops and of nutrients, fruit. e.g. nitrogen pply ion tment su at ea fixation. r n r e li t t l e a o t e.g. Removal and P s a breakdown of excess W Movement of Supply and nutrients in wetlands, pollen by certain W storage of water, detoxification of ources species (e.g. bees) ation e.g. by rivers. es to enable plant air pollution by m r r c vegetation. fo i reproduction. t l i e o n Unique biological S e materials and e.g. Weathering G products, e.g. of rock by water. plant and animal ials l a ter medicines. ra gi a tu fu l e m u C R w a e.g. Fuel, Aesthetic Habitat for R craft work educational, resident or migrant and building spiritual and ion populations, e.g. materials. scientific use. at nurseries re c for fish. e R e.g. Eco-tourism, sports, fishing and swimming. Biodiversity Report 2013/2014 | 7 CREW profiles a Critically Endangered parasitic plant found on Durban coast[5] 3. The natural environment South Africans are passionate about nature South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in the and its diversity and scattered amongst world[6], and Durban contains: our vast rainbow nation are hundreds Three of the country’s eight terrestrial biomes, of individuals who care deeply about • conserving our unique diversity of plant namely savanna, forest and grassland; species. These individuals have been united • Eight broad nationally recognised vegetation types. in their efforts to conserve plants through These include: Eastern Valley Bushveld, KwaZulu- the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Natal Coastal Belt, KwaZulu-Natal Hinterland Wildflowers (CREW) programme, which Thornveld, KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld, involves volunteers who monitor and help to Ngongoni Veld, Scarp Forest, Northern Coastal conserve plants threatened with extinction. An example of one such species is Forest and, Mangroves; Hyobanche fulleri (commonly known as • Over 2 200 plant species, ~ 520 species of birds, cat nails), a striking parasitic plant growing 37 species of amphibians, 69 species of reptiles, up to 13 cm high with pale to bright pink ~ 80 terrestrial mammal species, and 25 flowers.