Nkandla Forest Complex: Nkandla Forest Reserve Dhlabe Nature Reserve Edodweni Nature Reserve Mndunduzeli Nature Reserve Mome Nature Reserve Sibudeni Nature Reserve Vungwini Nature Reserve KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Protected Area Management Plan Prepared by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Protected Area Management Planning Unit and Nkandla Forest Complex Planning Committee Citation: Nkandla Forest Complex: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (August 2015), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. Cover Photo Credits: Dr Hugh Chittenden, Sharon Louw, Shing Shan Lu. AUTHORISATION This Protected Area Management Plan for Nkandla Forest Complex is recommended by the Nkandla Forest Complex Planning Committee (NRPC), a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Ken Morty General Manager: East Roy Jones Conservation Manager: Ilembe, uThungulu & uMkhanyakhude Districts & PA’s Elliakim Zungu Officer in Charge: Nkandla Forest Complex Sharon Louw District Ecologist: Ilembe & uThungulu Cyril Buthelezi Community Conservation Officer (CCO): Ilembe & uThungulu Edward Khanyile District Conservation Officer (DCO): Eshowe Magda Goosen Protected Area Management Planner Shiven Rambarath Protected Area Management Junior Planner NKANDLA FOREST COMPL EX i PROTECTED AREA MANAG E M E N T P L A N TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHORISATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I APPROVAL ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III TABLE OF CONTENTS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V AMENDMENTS PAGE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII PREFACE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X ABBREVIATIONS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XII 1. BACKGROUND ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.2. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.3. INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 1.4. THE VALUES OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 1.5. PLANNING APPROACH ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 1.5.1. Protecting and managing park ecosystems ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 1.5.2. Ecosystem-based management ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 1.5.3. Adaptive management ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 1.5.4. Collaboration and transparency ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 2. DESCRIPTION OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX AND ITS CONTEXT -------------------------------------------------------------- 12 2.1. INSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX --------- 12 2.2. THE LEGISLATIVE BASIS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX ----------------------------------------- 12 2.2.1. Proclamation status of the Nkandla Forest Complex -------------------------------------------------------- 12 2.2.2. Public Trust Doctrine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 2.2.3. Invasive species control in terms of the Biodiversity Act ---------------------------------------------------- 13 2.3. THE POLICY FRAMEWORK GUIDING THE MANAGEMENT OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX --------------------------------- 13 2.4. THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL PLANNING CONTEXT OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX ----------------------------------------- 15 2.4.1. The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 2.4.2. The Provincial Protected Area Expansion Plan ----------------------------------------------------------------- 15 2.4.3. EIA Regulations in terms of NEMA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 2.5. THE HISTORY OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.5.1. Origins of the name of Nkandla Forest Complex -------------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.5.2. History of conservation in Nkandla Forest Complex ---------------------------------------------------------- 16 2.6. ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX -------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 2.6.1. Climate and weather ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 2.6.2. Topography ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 2.6.3. Geology and soils ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 2.6.4. Hydrology ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 2.6.5. Vegetation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 2.6.6. Fire regime -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 2.6.7. Invasive species -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 2.6.8. Mammalian fauna ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 2.6.9. Avifauna ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 2.6.10. Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) -------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 2.6.11. Invertebrates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 2.7. CULTURAL CONTEXT OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 2.8. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 2.9. OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT WITHIN NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX ------------------------------------------------------- 35 2.9.1. Infrastructure ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 2.9.2. Staffing establishment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 2.9.3. Funding levels at Nkandla Forest Complex --------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 2.9.4. Management effectiveness in Nkandla Forest Complex ---------------------------------------------------- 38 2.10. SUMMARY OF MANAGEMENT ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ------------------------------------------------- 39 3. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 3.1. NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX VISION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 3.2. OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIC OUTCOMES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 4. ZONATION PLAN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 NKANDLA FOREST COMPL EX v PROTECTED AREA MANAG E M E N T P L A N 4.1. ZONATION OF NKANDLA FOREST COMPLEX --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 4.2. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 5. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 6. OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 51 6.1. DETERMINATION OF PRIORITIES FOR STRATEGIC OUTCOMES --------------------------------------------------------------- 51 6.2. LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52 6.3. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52 6.3.1. Land Claims ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52 6.4. BUFFER ZONE PROTECTION AND REGIONAL MANAGEMENT ----------------------------------------------------------------- 55 6.4.1. Protected area expansion and buffer zone management --------------------------------------------------