CAPRICORN DISTRICT BIOREGIONAL PLAN Draft for Comment Complied by: Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) April 2018 The purpose of this draft bioregional plan document is to provide the reader with the look and feel of the layout and content of the final bioregional plan document. As such, much of the district specific information is not final or has not been gathered yet. The purpose of the stakeholder engagement process is to achieve this. This document is based on the Waterberg, Mopani and Vhembe District bioregional plans, so where we do not have the final content for this document we give representative examples of the final text from these other bioregional plans. Where this is done, the text is highlighted in RED. We encourage the reader to critically apraise this document and to provide the authors with written feedback on where the document can be improved. We can be contacted at the following email addresses: Bryony van Niekerk - [email protected] Philip Desmet - [email protected] Your valued consideration is greatly appreciated. Preface This is the first bioregional plan for the Capricorn District Municipality and, therefore, does not replace any existing bioregional plan. The Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) falls within the Limpopo Province of South Africa and is comprised of Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Molemole and Polokwane Local Municipalities. The bioregional plan for the CDM covers the extent of the district municipal boundaries. The bioregional plan serves as the primary biodiversity informant to a range of planning and land-use authorisation processes, although it is important to recognise that the bioregional plan does not replace any planning and decision-making processes and does not grant, limit or remove land-use rights. NuLeaf Planning and Environmental (Pty) Ltd compiled the Capricorn District Bioregional Plan with support from the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), South African National Parks (SANParks) and various stakeholders within the Capricorn District. This bioregional plan was developed in 2018 and is based on data sets and information available at that time. The Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) forming part of the Limpopo Conservation Plan V2, 2013 (LCPv2) were discussed in terms of physical aspects and various planning instruments and informants. Additional detail is provided in Appendix 1: Supplementary Information. During this process, real and potential threats and non-alignment between the LCPv2 and the assessed aspects, as well as, the various instruments and informants were identified. A detailed description of the alignment process is contained in the Process and Consultation Report. Resolutions were agreed upon with key stakeholders, specifically the Local and District Municipalities in response to potential threats to biodiversity conservation within the District. Capricorn District Bioregional Plan Draft for Comment i Acknowledgements Sections of the Capricorn District Bioregional Plan are extracted directly or adapted from the bioregional plans for the Vhembe, Mopani and Waterberg District Municipalities. These sections pertain specifically to the purpose, objectives, users, monitoring and review of bioregional plans. The Guideline Regarding the Determination of Bioregions and the Preparation and Publication of Bioregional Plans (DEAT, 2009) was also used extensively to guide the report structure and content. The Map of Critical Biodiversity Areas for the Capricorn District Municipality is based on the provincial product developed in the Limpopo Conservation Plan V2 (Desmet et al., 2013). Acknowledgements are extended to all the stakeholders within the Capricorn District Municipality who contributed to the alignment of this bioregional plan with the spatial plans, programmes and policies applicable to the Capricorn District Municipality. Special thanks are extended to the following persons: Karen Steenkamp (LEDET) Errol Moeng (LEDET) Grace Matseba (SALGA) Theo van Rooyen (Capricorn District Municipality) Arnot Ravele (Capricorn District Municipality) Capricorn District Bioregional Plan Draft for Comment ii Contents Preface .......................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... ii Contents ...................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................... v List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ v Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... vii PART 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose and objectives ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Need for a bioregional plan .................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Intended users and uses ........................................................................................................ 2 1.3.1 Mandatory users ............................................................................................................. 2 1.3.2 Recommended Users ...................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Underlying Biodiversity Plan and limitations ............................................................................... 4 1.5 Physical context ................................................................................................................... 4 PART 2: BIODIVERSITY PROFILE ..................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Physical environment ............................................................................................................ 8 2.2 Natural environment ............................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1 Significance of biodiversity .............................................................................................. 8 2.2.2 Terrestrial ecosystems .................................................................................................... 9 2.2.2.1 Threatened ecosystems ............................................................................................. 9 2.2.2.3 Protection level ....................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2.4 Important terrestrial features ...................................................................................... 10 2.2.3 Aquatic ecosystems .......................................................................................................11 2.2.3.1 Freshwater features ..................................................................................................11 2.2.4 Important ecological processes ...................................................................................... 12 2.3 Man-made environment ....................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Land cover ................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Mining Activity and Mineral Deposits .............................................................................. 12 2.3.3 Cultural historic features ............................................................................................... 13 2.3.4 Land claims ................................................................................................................. 13 2.4 Planning environment ......................................................................................................... 13 2.4.1 Protected Areas planning .............................................................................................. 13 Capricorn District Bioregional Plan Draft for Comment iii 2.4.1.1 Protected Areas ...................................................................................................... 13 2.4.1.2 Conservation areas ................................................................................................. 14 2.4.1.3 Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) Integrated Development Plan 14 2.4.1.4 Protected Area Expansion Strategy............................................................................. 14 2.4.2 Multi sectoral planning .................................................................................................