Impendle Nature Reserve KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Protected Area Management Plan Prepared by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Protected Area Management Planning Unit Citation Impendle Nature Reserve: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (2012), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. 1 i AUTHORISATION This Protected Area Management Plan for Impendle Nature Reserve is recommended by the Nature Reserve Planning Committee (NRPC), a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Yoliswa Ndlovu General Manager: West Athol Marchant Regional Ecologist Barrie Barnes Senior Community Conservation Officer Steve McKean Resource Use Ecologist Mbuyiselo Gxashi Conservation Manager Dennis Mkhabela Acting Biodiversity Coordinator Andy Blackmore Acting Manager Land Use Planning Irene Hatton Acting Co-ordinator Protected Area Planning Magda Goosen Protected Area Management Planner ii TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHORISATION ....................................................................................................................... II TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. VI LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF MAPS .......................................................................................................................... IX PREFACE .................................................................................................................................. X EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... XI ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... XIII 1) BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the plan ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Structure of the plan .............................................................................................. 1 1.3 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4 1.4 The values of Impendle Nature Reserve ................................................................ 4 1.5 Planning approach ................................................................................................. 6 1.5.1 Adaptive management ....................................................................................... 6 1.5.2 Collaboration and transparency ......................................................................... 6 2) DESCRIPTION OF IMPENDLE NATURE RESERVE AND ITS CONTEXT ................................................ 8 2.1 Institutional and administrative framework for the management of Impendle Nature Reserve ................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 The legislative basis for the management of Impendle Nature Reserve ............... 8 2.2.1 Proclamation status of Impendle Nature Reserve ............................................. 8 2.2.2 Invasive species control in terms of the Biodiversity Act .................................. 9 2.3 The policy framework guiding the management of Impendle Nature Reserve ..... 9 2.4 The regional and local planning context of Impendle Nature Reserve ................ 11 2.4.1 The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy ............................................. 11 2.4.2 The Provincial Protected Area Expansion Plan ................................................. 11 2.4.3 EIA Regulations in terms of NEMA ................................................................... 12 2.4.4 Local government planning mechanisms .......................................................... 12 2.5 The history of Impendle Nature Reserve ............................................................. 13 2.5.1 Origins of the name of Impendle Nature Reserve ........................................... 13 2.5.2 History of conservation in Impendle Nature Reserve ...................................... 13 2.5.3 History of eco-cultural tourism in Impendle Nature Reserve .......................... 13 2.6 Ecological context of Impendle Nature Reserve .................................................. 14 2.6.1 Climate and weather ........................................................................................ 14 2.6.2 Topography ...................................................................................................... 14 2.6.3 Geology and soils .............................................................................................. 15 2.6.4 Geomorphology ................................................................................................ 17 2.6.5 Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 17 2.6.6 Vegetation ........................................................................................................ 17 2.6.7 Fire regime ....................................................................................................... 19 2.6.8 Invasive species ................................................................................................ 20 2.6.9 Mammalian fauna ............................................................................................ 20 2.6.10 Avifauna ........................................................................................................ 20 2.6.11 Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) ...................................................... 21 2.6.12 Invertebrates ................................................................................................. 21 2.7 Cultural context of Impendle Nature Reserve ...................................................... 21 2.8 Socio-economic context ....................................................................................... 23 vi 2.9 Operational management within Impendle Nature Reserve .............................. 25 2.9.1 Infrastructure ................................................................................................... 25 2.9.2 Staffing establishment ...................................................................................... 26 2.9.3 Funding levels at Impendle Nature Reserve .................................................... 26 2.9.4 Management effectiveness in Impendle Nature Reserve ............................... 26 2.10 Summary of management issues, challenges and opportunities ........................ 28 3) STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................................... 29 3.1 Impendle Nature Reserve vision .......................................................................... 29 3.2 Objectives and strategic outcomes ...................................................................... 29 4) ZONATION PLAN .............................................................................................................. 32 4.1 Zonation of Impendle Nature Reserve ................................................................. 32 4.2 Concept development guidelines ......................................................................... 32 5) ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE ............................................................................................. 37 6) OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ......................................................................... 38 6.1 Determination of priorities for strategic outcomes ............................................. 38 6.2 Legal compliance and law enforcement .............................................................. 39 6.3 Stakeholder engagement ..................................................................................... 39 6.4 Buffer zone protection and regional management ............................................. 42 6.4.1 Protected area expansion and buffer zone management ............................... 42 6.4.2 Local and regional planning.............................................................................. 42 6.5 Eco-cultural tourism development ....................................................................... 44 6.5.1 Tourism product development ........................................................................ 44 6.5.2 Environmental interpretation and education .................................................. 44 6.6 Conservation management ................................................................................. 47 6.6.1 Fire management ............................................................................................. 47 6.6.2 Invasive plant control ....................................................................................... 49 6.6.3 Soil erosion control .......................................................................................... 49 6.6.4 Alien animal control ......................................................................................... 52 6.6.5 Resource utilisation .......................................................................................... 52 6.6.6 Wildlife