WEENEN NATURE RESERVE KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Protected Area Management Plan Developed: 2013 Prepared by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Protected Area Management Planning Unit and the Weenen Nature Reserve Planning Committee Citation Weenen Nature Reserve: Management Plan. Version 1.0 (2013), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. AUTHORISATION This Protected Area Management Plan for Weenen Nature Reserve is recommended by the Weenen Nature Reserve Planning Committee (NRPC), a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife D Mkhabela Acting General Manager West A Sigibudu Conservation Manager uThukela District R Zikhali Officer-in-Charge: Weenen Nature Reserve (outgoing) D Hiltunen Officer-in-Charge: Weenen Nature Reserve P Ngwenya District Ecologist NW S McKean Resource Use Ecologist J Z Mazibuko District Conservation Officer Estcourt Z Maseko Community Conservation Officer Magda Goosen Protected Area Management Planner WEENEN N AT U R E R E S ERVE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN ii TABLE OF CONTENT AUTHORISATION .................................................................................................................................................. II APPROVAL ......................................................................................................................................................... IV TABLE OF CONTENT ............................................................................................................................................. VI LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................................. VIII LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................ VIII LIST OF APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................... VIII 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 Weenen Nature Reserve ........................................................................................... 5 1.5 Planning approach .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Adaptive management ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.5.2 Collaboration and transparency ................................................................................................................. 7 2) DESCRIPTION OF WEENEN NATURE RESERVE AND ITS CONTEXT ........................................................................... 9 2.1 Institutional and administrative framework for the management of WNR ................................... 9 2.2 The legislative basis for the management of Weenen Nature Reserve .......................................... 9 2.2.1 Proclamation status of Weenen Nature Reserve ........................................................................................ 9 2.2.2 Invasive species control in terms of the Biodiversity Act .......................................................................... 10 2.3 The policy framework guiding the management of Weenen Nature Reserve .............................. 10 CORE VALUES ................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4 The regional and local planning context of Weenen Nature Reserve ........................................... 12 2.4.1 The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy ..................................................................................... 12 2.4.2 The Provincial Protected Area Expansion Plan ......................................................................................... 13 2.4.3 EIA Regulations in terms of NEMA ............................................................................................................ 13 2.5 The history of Weenen Nature Reserve ........................................................................................ 14 2.5.1 Origins of the name of Weenen Nature Reserve ...................................................................................... 14 2.5.2 History of conservation in Weenen Nature Reserve................................................................................. 14 2.5.3 History of eco-tourism in Weenen Nature Reserve .................................................................................. 15 2.6 Ecological context of Weenen Nature Reserve ............................................................................. 15 2.6.1 Climate and weather ................................................................................................................................ 15 2.6.2 Topography ............................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6.3 Geology and Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6.4 Geomorphology .............................................................................................................................. 17 2.6.5 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................................. 17 2.6.6 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................................ 17 2.6.7 Fire regime ................................................................................................................................................ 19 2.6.9 Mammalian fauna ..................................................................................................................................... 21 2.6.10 Avifauna ............................................................................................................................................... 24 2.6.11 Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) ............................................................................................. 24 2.6.12 Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................................ 25 2.6.13 Fish ....................................................................................................................................................... 25 2.7 Cultural context of Weenen Nature Reserve ................................................................................ 25 2.8 Socio-economic context ................................................................................................................ 27 2.9 Operational management within Weenen Nature Reserve ......................................................... 28 2.9.1 Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................ 28 2.9.2 Staffing establishment ............................................................................................................................. 28 2.9.3 Funding levels at Weenen Nature Reserve ............................................................................................... 29 2.9.4 Management effectiveness in Weenen Nature Reserve .......................................................................... 29 2.10 Summary of management issues, challenges and opportunities ................................................. 30 3) STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................ 33 3.1 Weenen Nature Reserve vision ..................................................................................................... 33 3.2 Objectives and strategic outcomes ............................................................................................... 33 4) ZONATION PLAN 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