ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE DRAKENSTEIN MUNICIPAL AREA Report J-649D-13 February 2015 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Document Title and Version: Environmental Management Framework for the Drakenstein Municipal Area Client: Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning Reference Number: Report J-649D-13 Authority Reference: Project Team: Morris Environmental & Groundwater Alliances (MEGA) DeVilliers Brownlie Associates Chand Environmental Elzette Henshilwood – Planning and GIS Lize Malan – Planning and Heritage Consultant EnAct International Acknowledgements: Western Cape Government – Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning Date: February 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Background and Introduction .....................................................................................1 1.1 Environmental Management Frameworks – An Overview .............................................................. 3 1.1.1 What is the legal standing of an EMF? ............................................................................................. 4 1.1.2 What is the purpose of an EMF?....................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3 What must the EMF contain? ............................................................................................................ 8 1.1.4 What is the relationship between the EMF, IDP and SDF? ......................................................... 9 1.2 Structure of the EMF............................................................................................................................ 11 1.3 Comments on information sources and gaps ................................................................................... 12 1.3.1 Documents and reports .................................................................................................................... 12 1.3.2 Specialist research .............................................................................................................................. 12 1.3.3 Spatial (GIS) information ................................................................................................................. 13 1.3.4 Public participation ............................................................................................................................ 13 1.3.5 Information gaps and shortcomings ............................................................................................... 14 PART ONE – Current Situation ............................................................................................15 2 Environmental attributes ............................................................................................16 2.1 Biodiversity resources ........................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.1 Threatened ecosystems ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.1.3 Protected areas ................................................................................................................................... 22 2.1.4 Known and Likely Critical Biodiversity Areas ............................................................................... 24 2.1.5 Special habitats ................................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Important areas for the delivery of ecosystem services ................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Ecological corridors ........................................................................................................................... 26 2.3 Water Resources and River Systems ................................................................................................... 29 2.3.1 Availability of water resources ......................................................................................................... 29 2.3.2 Water quality in river systems........................................................................................................... 33 2.3.3 Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas ............................................................................................. 34 2.4 Agricultural Resources .......................................................................................................................... 41 2.4.1 Irrigated Lands ................................................................................................................................... 43 2.4.2 Dry-land farming ................................................................................................................................ 43 2.5 Cultural and scenic resources .............................................................................................................. 45 3 Socio-economic conditions ......................................................................................54 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 54 3.2 Poverty and employment levels ........................................................................................................... 54 3.3 Local economic development programmes/projects ...................................................................... 55 3.4 Urbanisation, housing and infrastructure .......................................................................................... 57 3.5 Community facilities ............................................................................................................................. 60 3.6 Public tourism and recreational opportunities /facilities ................................................................ 60 PART TWO – Strategic Analysis ..........................................................................................63 4 Strategy informants .....................................................................................................64 4.1 National Policy ....................................................................................................................................... 64 4.2 Outcome 10 – Programme of Action ................................................................................................ 66 4.3 Sector-specific policies and strategies ................................................................................................. 66 4.3.1 Climate change ................................................................................................................................... 66 4.3.2 Greening the economy ...................................................................................................................... 67 4.3.3 Natural resources ............................................................................................................................... 67 4.4 Provincial policy .................................................................................................................................... 68 4.5 Municipal policies and plans – IDP and SDF ................................................................................... 70 4.5.1 Other municipal policies and studies .............................................................................................. 71 5 Priorities, pressures, trends, opportunities and constraints .....................................73 5.1 What are the key issues and trends regarding environment and development? .......................... 73 5.1.1 Issues and trends related to the economy ...................................................................................... 73 5.1.2 Issues and trends related to social infrastructure and development ........................................... 73 5.1.3 Issues and trends related to the natural environment ................................................................... 74 5.2 What key values and concerns were expressed by stakeholders? ................................................... 76 5.3 What resources were seen as being important by stakeholders? .................................................... 77 5.3.1 Concerns raised by stakeholders ...................................................................................................... 77 5.4 What are the key opportunities and constraints? .............................................................................. 78 6 EMF Vision and strategic objectives .........................................................................83 6.1 Stakeholder values ................................................................................................................................. 83 6.2 EMF vision and strategic objectives ................................................................................................... 84 PART THREE – Strategic Environmental Management Plan.............................................85 7 Overview of SEMP .......................................................................................................86 7.1 Purpose of the SEMP 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