Phongolo Nature Reserve KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Integrated Management Plan: 2009-2013 Reviewed, compiled and edited by Duncan Heard and Andrew Whitley Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Based on the original Integrated Management Plan (2007 - 2012) Compiled by Ecotourism Afrika Trust Cover design by Di Martin Design Studio, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Citation Phongolo Nature Reserve: Integrated Management Plan: 2009–2013, Version 1.0. (2009). Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg, 83 pp. and 8 maps (4 x A4, 4 x A3). Phongolo Nature Reserve i - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 to 2013 (Version 1.0) - Phongolo Nature Reserve ii - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 to 2013 (Version 1.0) - Authorisation This Integrated Management Plan (2009- 2013) for Phongolo Nature Reserve is recommended by the Nature Reserve Planning Committee (NRPC), a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: Ezemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife, Zululand Region Sifiso Keswa General Manager (NRPC and Regional Operations Committee Chairperson) Rob Blok Biodiversity Conservation Co-ordinator, North Zululand Caiphus Khumalo Ecological Advice Co-ordinator Malcolm Thomson Conservation Manager, Phongolo Nature Reserve (Previous) Khulekani Nhleko Conservation Manager, Phongolo Nature Reserve Wayne Matthews Regional Ecologist, North Zululand Ernest Mlambo Community Conservation Officer, Phongolo Nature Reserve Catherine Hanekom Resource Use Ecologist, Zululand Des Archer District Conservation Manager, Zululand Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation EKZNW Co-ordinating Unit Roelie Kloppers Project Co-ordinator (Previous) Andrew Whitley GIS and Planning (Previous) External Key-Stakeholder Representatives (See Appendix 2) National Departments: Water Affairs and Forestry; and Land Affairs. Provincial Department: Works. Municipalities: uPhongolo Local; Jozini Local; Umkhanyakude District and Zululand District. Traditional Councils: Nyawo; Nsinde; and Gumbi. NGO: Isigqiki Somkhovu Private Sector: Pongola Game Reserve South; Shayamoya; Shayamanzi; and Makhathini Farmers ____________________________________________________________________________________ Recommended: TITLE NAME SIGNATURE and DATE Chairperson: EKZNW, Biodiversity Conservation Operations Management Committee Chief Executive Officer: EKZNW Chairperson: KZN Nature Conservation Board (Management Authority) Head of Department: Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development Chairperson: Portfolio Environment and Conservation Committee Approved: KwaZulu-Natal MEC: Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development Phongolo Nature Reserve iii - Integrated Management Plan: 2009 to 2013 (Version 1.0) - Table of Contents AUTHORISATION................................................................................................................................................................................................ III TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................................................................................................................ IV PREFACE.............................................................................................................................................................................................................VII PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS FRAMEWORK.............................................................................................VIII DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................................................................................................................................X ABBREVIATIONS ..............................................................................................................................................................................................XIII COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS FOR SPECIFIC STATUTES (LEGISLATION)...............................................................................XIV LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................................................................................XIV LIST OF APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................................................................................XIV LIST OF MAPS....................................................................................................................................................................................................XIV 1 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PHONGOLO NATURE RESERVE...................................................... 1 1.1 PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................................................................................ 1 2 ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK.......................................................................................... 2 2.1 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 PNR Management Authority...................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Separation of Authority Functions.............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 LEGISLATION GUIDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF PHONGOLO NATURE RESERVE. ............................................. 3 2.3 REGIONAL PLANNING CONTEXT AND PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................ 4 LEGAL PROTOCOLS:................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.4 DECLARATION STATUS OF PNR ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 LOCAL AGREEMENTS,MOUS,LEASES AND SERVITUDE ARRANGEMENTS ......................................................... 6 2.6 BROADENING CONSERVATION LAND USE MANAGEMENT IN AREAS SURROUNDING PNR.................................. 7 3 BACKGROUND................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF THE NATURE RESERVE.............................................................................................. 8 3.2 LOCATION AND EXTENT OF THE NATURE RESERVE.......................................................................................... 8 3.3 PREVIOUS LAND USE...................................................................................................................................... 8 3.4 CONSERVATION HISTORY OF THE NATURE RESERVE........................................................................................ 9 3.5 CLIMATE AND WEATHER .............................................................................................................................. 10 3.6 TOPOGRAPHY,GEOLOGY AND SOILS ............................................................................................................. 10 3.7 HYDROLOGY ................................................................................................................................................ 10 3.8 VEGETATION................................................................................................................................................ 11 3.9 ANIMALS...................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.9.1 Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................................... 12 3.9.2 Fish......................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.9.3 Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians)................................................................................................. 13 3.9.4 Avifauna (Birds)...................................................................................................................................... 13 3.9.5 Mammals ................................................................................................................................................ 13 3.10 CULTURAL HERITAGE................................................................................................................................... 14 3.11 SOCIO-CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE AREA ..................................................................................................... 14 3.12 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT ........................................................................................................................ 15 3.13 DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE...................................................................................................................... 15 3.13.1 Eco-cultural Tourism Infrastructure.................................................................................................... 15 3.13.2 Management Infrastructure................................................................................................................