Barberton Nature Reserve: Phase 3, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa Integrated Management Plan: 2012-2017 Facilitated and edited by Craig Gebhardt and Dereck Milburn V&L Landscape Architects Citation Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), 2012. Integrated Management Plan: Barberton Nature Reserve: Phase 3: Mountainlands, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa . MTPA, Nelspruit). TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................ I DEFINITIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... III ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................................................... VI ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR STATUTES (ACTS) ........................................................................................................ VII LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................. VII 1 VISION, MISSION, MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND CONSERVATION TARGETS .................................................. 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 VISION .................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 PHASE 3: SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES .................................................................................... 1 1.4 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 2 1.5 DEFINING RESERVE BOUNDARIES, DISCREPANCY BETWEEN FENCELINES AND PROCLAIMED PROTECTED AREA .................................................................................................................................. 4 2 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 HISTORY OF UTILISATION ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 GEOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 PHYSIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 TOPOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................................ 7 2.5 HYDROLOGY ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2.6 PEDOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 8 2.7 ARCHAEOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 8 2.8 CLIMATE ................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.9 WEATHER DATA RECORDINGS ............................................................................................................... 9 2.10 FLORA .................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.10.1 Vegetation types/veldtypes ......................................................................................................... 10 2.10.2 Plant communities ....................................................................................................................... 10 2.10.3 Plant species list ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.11 FAUNA ................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.11.1 Mammal list ................................................................................................................................. 12 2.11.2 Game ............................................................................................................................................ 12 2.11.3 Predators and Scavengers............................................................................................................ 13 2.11.4 Red Data/priority game species ................................................................................................... 13 2.11.5 Small mammals ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.11.6 Birds/Avifauna ............................................................................................................................. 13 2.11.7 Reptiles ......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.11.8 Amphibians .................................................................................................................................. 14 2.11.9 Fish and other Aquatic fauna ....................................................................................................... 14 2.11.10 Invertebrates ................................................................................................................................ 14 3 POLICY FRAMEWORK & GUIDING PRINCIPLES: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ....................................................... 14 3.1 FINANCIAL & HUMAN RESOURCES ...................................................................................................... 14 3.1.1 Management of Financial Resources ........................................................................................... 14 3.1.2 Management of Human Resources ............................................................................................. 15 3.2 SAFETY AND SECURITY ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................. 16 3.3.1 Fire Management ........................................................................................................................ 17 i 3.3.2 Alien and Invasive Species ............................................................................................................ 18 3.3.3 Catchment Management ............................................................................................................. 19 3.3.4 Soil Erosion and Control ............................................................................................................... 19 3.3.5 Wildlife Management .................................................................................................................. 20 3.3.6 Vegetation Management ............................................................................................................. 21 3.3.7 Control over Illegal Activities and Use of Natural Resources ....................................................... 21 3.3.8 Land Expansion and Incorporation .............................................................................................. 22 3.4 CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 22 3.5 VIEWSHED PROTECTION ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.6 BUFFER AREAS ..................................................................................................................................... 23 4 POLICY FRAMEWORK & GUIDING PRINCIPLES: UTILISATION MANAGEMENT .................................................... 25 4.1 COMMERCIALISATION ......................................................................................................................... 25 4.2 TOURISM MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.1 Marketing .................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.2 Linkages with other tourism initiatives ........................................................................................ 27 4.2.3 Tourism Support Infrastructure ................................................................................................... 27 4.2.4 Operational Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 28 4.2.5 Environmental Management ....................................................................................................... 28 4.2.6 Tourism Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 29 4.3 NATURAL RESOURCE