MOPANI DISTRICT BIOREGIONAL PLAN Final Complied by: Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) October 2016 Preface This is the first bioregional plan for the Mopani District and, therefore, does not replace any existing bioregional plan. The Mopani District Municipality (MDM) falls within the Limpopo Province of South Africa; and is comprised of the Greater Tzaneen, Greater Letaba, Greater Giyani, Ba-Phalaborwa and Maruleng Local Municipalities. The bioregional plan for the MDM 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 Mopani 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 Mopani District. This bioregional plan was developed in 2015 / 2016 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 version 2 (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 included as Appendix 2. Resolutions were agreed upon with key stakeholders, specifically the Local and District Municipalities in response to potential threats to biodiversity conservation within the District. Key stakeholders accepted the Draft Mopani District Bioregional Plan as proposed and presented. Mopani District Bioregional Plan i Acknowledgements Sections of the Mopani District Bioregional Plan are extracted directly or adapted from the draft bioregional plan for the Waterberg District Municipality, which was produced by Dr Philip Desmet, Ms Deborah Vromans, Dr Stephen Holness and Mr Andrew Skowno of ECOSOL GIS. 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 Mopani District Municipality is based on the provincial product developed in the Limpopo Conservation Plan version 2 (Desmet et al., 2013). Acknowledgements are extended to all the stakeholders within the Mopani District who contributed to the alignment of this bioregional plan with the spatial plans, programmes and policies applicable to the Mopani District Municipality. Special thanks are extended to the following persons: Karen Steenkamp (LEDET) Errol Moeng (LEDET) M A Monoko (LEDET) Ntshaveni Mudau (Mopani District) Marisa Coetzee (SANParks) Eddie Riddell (SANParks) Steve Collins (USAID RESILIM Projects) Stephen Holness (USAID RESILIM Projects) Philip Desmet (Ecosol) Marie-Tinka Uys (Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve) Tammy Smith (SANBI) Sagwata Manyike (SANBI) Mopani District Bioregional Plan ii Contents Preface ............................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... ii Contents ....................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables................................................................................................................................ v List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. vi List of Appendices ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. vi Executive Summary................................................................................................................ viii PART 1: INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and objectives ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Need for a bioregional plan .......................................................................................... 2 1.3 Intended users and uses .............................................................................................. 3 1.3.1 Mandatory users ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Recommended Users .............................................................................................. 4 1.4 Underlying Biodiversity Plan and limitations .......................................................... 5 1.5 Physical context ............................................................................................................... 6 PART 2: BIODIVERSITY PROFILE .......................................................................................... 9 2.1 Physical environment ..................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Natural environment ...................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Significance of biodiversity ................................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Terrestrial ecosystems ......................................................................................... 10 2.2.2.1 Threatened ecosystems ............................................................................... 10 2.2.2.2 Level of endemism ........................................................................................ 10 2.2.2.3 Protection level ............................................................................................... 11 2.2.2.4 Important terrestrial features .................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Aquatic ecosystems .............................................................................................. 12 2.2.3.1 Freshwater features ...................................................................................... 12 2.2.3.2 Threatened ecosystems ............................................................................... 13 2.2.3.3 Protection level ............................................................................................... 13 2.2.4 Important ecological processes......................................................................... 13 2.3 Man-made environment .............................................................................................. 14 2.3.1 Land cover ............................................................................................................... 14 2.3.2 Mining and mining rights .................................................................................... 15 Mopani District Bioregional Plan iii 2.3.3 Cultural historic features ..................................................................................... 15 2.3.4 Land claims ............................................................................................................. 15 2.3.5 Water use and supply .......................................................................................... 15 2.4 Planning environment .................................................................................................. 16 2.4.1 Protected Areas planning .................................................................................... 16 2.4.1.1 Protected Areas .............................................................................................. 16 2.4.1.2 Conservation areas ....................................................................................... 16 2.4.1.3 Kruger National Park Integrated Land Use zones .................................17 2.4.1.4 Foot and Mouth Disease control zones .....................................................17 2.4.1.5 Protected Area Expansion Strategy ...........................................................17 2.4.1.6 GEF Protected Areas Project ....................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Multi sectoral planning ......................................................................................... 18 2.4.2.1 Environmental Management Framework ................................................ 18 2.4.2.2 Integrated Development Plans .................................................................. 19 2.4.2.3 Spatial Development Frameworks ...........................................................