The Garden Route Sector Plan Western Cape - bgis-sanbi

The Garden Route
Biodiversity
Sector Plan 2010
for the George, Knysna and Bitou Municipalities
D.C. Vromans, K.S Maree, S. Holness, N. Job and A.E. Brown

iodiversity is all of nature
The Garden Route
Biodiversity Sector Plan
for the George, Knysna and Bitou Municipalities
2010
Supporting land-use planning and decision-making
in Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas
for sustainable development
ISBN 978-0-9869776-1-9
promoting sustainable development

Handbook Compiled by
The handbook information was prepared by the Garden Route Initiative (SANParks) and the C.A.P.E. Fine-Scale Biodiversity Planning Project
(CapeNature). Both projects were funded by the Global Environmental Facility through the Cape Action for People and the Environment
(C.A.P.E) programme.
For Further Information
The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) maps used to prepare the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map, plus electronic versions of this
handbook, wall map, mapbook and technical reports, are available on DVD. Copies of the DVD can be obtained from (1) SANParks: Garden
Route Cluster (Planning and Implementation) – (044) 302 5600; or (2) South African National Biodiversity Institute: Biodiversity GIS Unit - (021)
799 8698, email BGIShelp@sanbi.org or alternatively, download the handbook, maps and technical reports from www.bgis.sanbi.org.
Acknowledgements
This handbook has been based on the municipal biodiversity booklets compiled by Nancy Job and Amanda Driver for the Putting Biodiversity
Plans to Work Project (2006). The booklet was modified to align with the contents of a bioregional plan in terms of Chapter 3 of the National
Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 10 of 2004. Other literature sources were also consulted (as referenced).
We gratefully acknowledge the following people for their essential advice and support, namely: Kate Snaddon, Jeanne Nel, Mandy Cadman,
Susie Brownlie, Marek Mentz Kedzieja, Willem Smit, Tania de Wahl, Neil Lambrecht, Yakeen Atwaru, Ed Hill, Ludolph Gherika, Greg McCulloch,
Jonathan Mabula, Jan Smit, Hannes Muller and Dawie de Villiers. Credit must also be given to all the other provincial and local government
officials with whom the author liaised with, too numerous to list. A special thanks goes to Johan Baard (flora), Ian Russel (aquatic ecosystems),
Nick Hanekom (coastal and marine ecosystems), Armin Seydack (forest ecosystems), Susan Swain (stewardship) and Tineke Kraaij (fynbos
ecosystems). We also recognize the indispensable role of the journalistic editor and proof-reader.
Specific recognition must be given to Andrew Brown, the Garden Route Initiative (GRI) Project Coordinator, for his invaluable support and
guidance throughout the life of the GRI Programme.
Disclaimer
The map associated with this handbook is not guaranteed to be free from error or omission. Consequently, the authors and designers hold no
responsibility for any inaccuracies or financial loss. The map together with the guidelines serves as the primary biodiversity informant for landuse
planning and decision-making, and does not claim to address other land-use or town and regional planning policy.
Citation
Vromans, D.C., Maree, K.S., Holness, S. and Job, N. and Brown, A.E. 2010. The Garden Route Biodiversity Sector Plan for the George, Knysna and
Bitou Municipalities. Supporting land-use planning and decision-making in Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas for sustainable
development. Garden Route Initiative. South African National Parks. Knysna.
Technical Editors and Contributors
Amanda Driver, Samantha Ralsten, Jeffrey Manuel, Mellisa Naiker, Charl De Villiers, Donovan Kirkwood and Lucinda Cedras.
CBA Map Compiled by
Holness, S.D., Bradshaw, P. and Brown, A.E. 2010. Critical Biodiversity Areas of the Garden Route. Conservation Planning Report. Garden Route
Initiative. South African National Parks. Knysna..
Design and Layout by Davidson Design Solutions..
Andrew Brown

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Each section of the handbook has been colour coded for your convenience (according to the Table of Contents below).
ACRONYMS vi
PREFACE vii
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 What is the purpose of a Biodiversity Sector Plan (BSP)? 1
1.2 What is biodiversity? 2
1.3 What are Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) and Ecological Support Areas (ESA)? 3
1.4 What is a Biodiversity Sector Plan? 3
1.5 Intended users and uses of a Biodiversity Sector Plan 4
1.6 What the Biodiversity Sector Plan can and cannot do 4
1.7 Biodiversity, the economy and poverty alleviation 5
1.8 Biodiversity and climate change 7
SECTION 2: BIODIVERSITY PROFILE FOR THE GARDEN ROUTE 9
2.1 Why is the Garden Route’s biodiversity so important? 9
2.2 Natural Wonders of the Garden Route 10
2.3 Terrestrial (Land) Ecosystems 11
2.4 Aquatic (Water) Ecosystems 13
2.4.1 Wetlands 13
2.4.2 Rivers 15
2.4.3 Catchments 16
2.5 Coastal and Marine Ecosystems 17
2.6 Special habitats and Species of Special Concern 19
2.7 Ecological Process Areas 22
2.8 Protected Areas and Conservation Areas 23
2.9 Land Cover in the Garden Route : Levels of Transformation and Degradation 24
SECTION 3: THE CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS (CBA) MAP 27
3.1 What is a Critical Biodiversity Areas Map? 27
3.2 How was the Critical Biodiversity Area Map produced? 27
3.3 Definitions of the categories on the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map 27
3.4 The Garden Route Critical Biodiversity Areas Map 28
3.5 Areas covered by the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map 28
3.6 Criteria used to map categories on the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map 30
3.7 Quantitative values (hectares/percentage) of the categories on the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map 31
SECTION 4: LAND-USE GUIDELINES 33
4.1 Desired Management Objectives 33
4.2 Recommended biodiversity-compatible land-use guidelines matrix 34
4.3 Descriptions of land-use activities 36
4.4 Guidelines for the sound management of land and water resources 40
SECTION 5: HOW AND WHEN TO USE THE BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN IN LAND-USE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING 43
5.1 Reactive land-use decision-making: EIAs, planning and agricultural applications 43
5.1.1 Steps to follow when using the CBA Map 44
5.2 Proactive land-use planning: Spatial Development Frameworks (SDF) and Environmental Management Frameworks (EMF) 46
5.3 Multi-sectoral planning: Integrated Development Plans (IDP) 47
5.3.1 The Environmental Sector Plan of the IDP 50
5.3.1.1 Municipal Coastal Management Programmes 50
5.3.1.2 State of the Environment Reporting 50
5.3.1.3 An Environmental Management Plan for municipal-owned land 50
5.3.1.4 Municipal Invasive Alien Species Control Plan 50
5.3.1.5 Area Wide Planning 50
5.3.1.6 Using financial measures to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development 50
5.3.1.7 Protecting biodiversity through stewardship 51
5.3.1.8 Co-operative management measures for protecting biodiversity 51
5.3.1.9 Protecting biodiversity and supporting Local Economic Development (LED) 51
SECTION 6: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 53
SECTION 7: AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP PROTECT AND MANAGE BIODIVERSITY 55
Glossary 56
References 61
Appendix A: Summary biodiversity statistics for the Garden Route vegetation types. 62
Note: Superscript g denotes that a particular term is defined or further explained in the glossary.
v

Acronyms
BGIS Biodiversity Geographical Information Systems
BSP Biodiversity Sector Plan
C.A.P.E. Cape Action for People and the Environment
CBA Critical Biodiversity Area
CFR Cape Floristic Region
CR Critically Endangered
CREW Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildlife
DAFF Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
DEADP Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
DoA Department of Agriculture (as part of the DAFF)
DWEA Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
DPLG Department of Provincial and Local Government
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EMF Environmental Management Framework
EMP Environmental Management Plan
ESA Ecological Support Area
FF Fynbos Forum
FSP Fine-Scale Planning
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GIS Geographical Information Systems
GR Garden Route
IDP Integrated Development Plan
LED Local Economic Development
LM Local Municipality
LUMS Land Use Management System
LUPO Land-use Planning Ordinance (1985)
MPA Marine Protected Area
NEMA National Environmental Management Act
NEMBA National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act
NEMPAA National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act
NNAR No Natural Areas Remaining
NPAES National Protected Area Expansion Strategy
NGO Non-governmental organisations
NSBA National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment
NWA National Water Act
ONAs Other Natural Areas
PSDF Provincial Spatial Development Framework
RLUP&M Rural Land-Use Planning and Management Guidelines
SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute
SANParks South African National Parks
SDF Spatial Development Framework
SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment
SoER State of Environment Report
SPC Spatial Planning Categories
STEP Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning Project
WMA Water Management Area

Preface
This handbook was prepared to accompany and further explain the Garden Route Critical Biodiversity Areas
(CBA) Map for the George, Knysna and Bitou municipalities (Section 3 pg 27). The CBA Map seeks to support
municipalities and other sectors in multi-sectoral planning proceduresg to ensure sustainable development
through the protection of biodiversity (i.e. nature) and its ecosystem services (e.g. water, food, clean air, firewood,
grazing lands etc).
The CBA Map divides the landscape into five categories: Protected Areas, Critical Biodiversity Areas, Ecological
Support Areas, Other Natural Areas and No Natural Areas Remaining. The first three mentioned categories
represent the biodiversity priority areas which should be maintained in a natural to near natural state. The last
two mentioned categories are not considered biodiversity priority areas, and can be targeted for sustainable
development.
Biodiversity-compatible land-use guidelines are provided for the biodiversity priority areas and a set of land and
water resource use management guidelines for Critical Biodiversity Areas, Ecological Support Areas and Other
Natural Areas (Section 4 pg 33). The network of CBA reflected on the CBA Map represents the most efficient
(least land hungry) pattern that attempts to avoid conflict with other land-uses, and which is required to meet
national biodiversity thresholdsg .
The Garden Route Critical Biodiversity Areas Map
The CBA Map and guidelines are central components of the Biodiversity Sector Plang (BSP), which represents the
biodiversity informant for various multi-sectoral planning procedures. The BSP also comprises this handbook, the
various maps used to prepare the CBA Map (e.g. vegetation map, land cover map), a wall map, a mapbook and
technical reports (see Section 1.4 pg 3).
The BSP is intended to support land-use planning and decision-makingg for sustainable development. It will
help inform the planning and management tools that municipalities are required to develop, such as Integrated
Development Plans (IDPs) and Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), including Environmental Management
Frameworks (EMFs), environmental assessments and land-use decisions.
Numerous environmental and planning laws require municipalities to consider the environment and protect
biodiversity in planning and decision-making, in support of sustainable development. Critical Biodiversity
Areas and Ecological Support Areas should inform decision-making by all spheres of government, especially
municipalities, as required by National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 10 of 2004. The
CBA Map provides a newly available reference for land-use decisions at a more accurate and detailed scale for
informed decision-making, as required by the National Environment Management Act (NEMA) 107 of 1998. It
therefore supersedes all other biodiversity maps, namely the NSBA, CAPE and STEP. Furthermore, the BSP serves
as the framework for the compilation of a bioregional plang in terms of Chapter 3 of the NEMBA for the Garden
Route region.
This handbook aims to provide a common point of reference for municipal officials, environmental and planning
professionals, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP), the Departments
of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA), the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), various
other government and non-government agencies, landowners, developers, estate agents and the general public.
Note: The term, bioregional plan g , should be understood in terms of Chapter 3 of the National
Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 10 of 2004 and not in relation to the provincial
Bioregional Planning Manual for the Western Cape (Moss, 2003). Both promote the principles of bioregional
planning which encourage the protection of our biodiversity, thereby promoting sustainable development.
Refer to the Table of Contents for easy access to those sections of the Handbook most useful to you.
vii

Andrew Brown
Peet Joubert

Introduction
1
Andrew Brown
National policy is underpinned by the principle of sustainable development g which aims to ensure that
all development serves both present and future generations. Key to achieving this is the safeguarding of
critical natural services such as clean and adequate water supplies, nutritious veld for grazing livestock, and
stable healthy soils which are resilient to flood damage and erosion. It follows then, that the prerequisite
for sustainability is the safeguarding of biodiversity g (i.e. the variety of local plants and animals and the
natural processes that sustain them).
Spatial planning and land-use management decisions must, by law, take into account the biodiversity
of an area. To enable this, scientists have researched the Garden Route’s biodiversity to determine the
spatial arrangement of plants, animals, rivers, wetlands and their interactions and functioning. Based on
this information, areas have been categorised and prioritised according to their biodiversity value and
requirement for safeguarding.
In summary, in order to ensure sustainable development, scientists have identified priority areas requiring
special safeguarding. They have also identified areas of lesser biodiversity importance, as well as those
sites which have insignificant biodiversity remaining after intensive development, e.g. housing, plantation
forestry or ploughing for the cultivation of agricultural crops.
1.1 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN?
The Biodiversity Sector Plan provides a synthesis of prioritised information to planners and land-use
managers, enabling the integration of biodiversity into land-use planning and decision-making g (LUPDM).
It identifies those sites that are critical for conserving biodiversity and in this way, facilitates the integration
of biodiversity into decision-making (i.e. mainstreaming g biodiversity). Mainstreaming is crucial to
overcoming the “conservation versus development” mindset, and for ensuring sustainable development
(National Biodiversity Framework, 2009).
The overall aim is to minimise the loss of natural habitat in Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) and prevent
the degradation of Ecological Support Areas (ESA), while encouraging sustainable development in other
natural areas. The broad objective is to ensure appropriate land-use for the best possible sustainable
benefits and to promote integrated management g of natural resources. The CBA Map should be the
common reference of biodiversity priority areas for supporting municipalities and other sectors in multisectoral
planning procedures g at a more accurate and detailed scale.
The way in which the components of
biodiversity are spatially arranged is
referred to as biodiversity pattern
(below) while the series of actions and
interactions are termed ecological
processes (left).
1

1.2 WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
In brief, biodiversity g is a relatively new, technical term for nature.
It encompasses the diversity of all living things - plants, animals,
insects, micro-organisms etc., and also the series of actions and
interactions that sustains these living components and enables their
persistence over time.
The way in which the components of biodiversity are spatially
arranged is referred to as biodiversity pattern while the series
of actions and interactions are termed ecological processes.
Biodiversity pattern can be expressed as different vegetation types
(such as forest, grassland, shrubland) or habitats (the natural home of
a living organism such as a wetland) or specific features (populations
of rare plants which grow in a specific area and nowhere else).
Process and pattern are interdependent - with processes dependent
on the health and integrity of the component biodiversity, while
pattern is essentially maintained by processes.
Ecological processes are those actions and interactions which
enable natural systems to function and run as healthy, working
systems. An example of an ecological process is nutrient recycling
whereby a plant grows by absorbing elements from the air and
nutrients from the soil, and after its death, these enhanced products
are released into the soil. The spin-off of the process is improved soil
fertility and carbon storage g (which increases our resilience to global
climate change). Both spin-offs benefit humans and are known as
ecosystem services g (see below).
Evolutionary processes are those series of actions which enable
new species to evolve in response to changing conditions over
extended time periods. The maintenance and functioning of healthy
natural systems is determined by a variety of factors which are
termed ecological drivers e.g. rainfall, temperature, fire, herbivory etc.
Keurbooms River corridor which is critical
for maintaining ecological processes.
Biodiversity is maintained by ecological processes at the micro-scale
(such as in pollination, nutrient cycling via microbial action) through
to the mega-scale (natural events e.g. fire, flood; migration of species
along river valleys or coastal areas, quality and quantity of water
feeding rivers and estuaries; marine sand movement, the seasonal
mountain-to-coast migration of birds that pollinate plants).
An ecosystem g is a natural system which comprises all living
organisms (plants, animals etc) in a particular area including its
physical environment (water, air, soil etc) functioning together as a
unit. A mountain ecosystem, for example, is very different to a beach
ecosystem because they are comprised of different plants, animals
and climates. Ecosystems can operate at any scale from very small
(e.g. a small pond) to an extensive landscape (an entire mountain
water catchment g area).
Ecosystems deliver a number of ecosystem services, most of which
we simply take for granted. For example, healthy ecosystems provide
us with water to drink, foodstuffs, woodfuel, medicines, clean air
and safeguard us against flooding. See Sections 2.3 – 2.5 for a list
of the ecosystem services offered by the various ecosystems e.g.
vegetation, rivers etc.
Since we are totally dependent on natural systems for food
and water, it is essential that land-use decisions are guided by
biodiversity considerations and the maintenance of healthy
functioning ecosystems, now and in the future. This is the
essence of sustainable development.
Andrew Brown

1.3 WHAT ARE CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS
(CBA) AND ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT AREAS
(ESA)?
Critical Biodiversity Areas g (CBA) are terrestrial (land) and aquatic
(water) areas which must be safeguarded in their natural or nearnatural
state as they are critical for conserving biodiversity and
maintaining ecosystem functioning. These areas include: (a) natural
areas identified as requiring safeguarding in order to meet national
biodiversity thresholds 1 ; (b) areas required to ensure the continued
existence and functioning of species g and ecosystems g , including the
delivery of ecosystem services g ; and/or (c) important locations for
biodiversity features or rare species.
Ecological Support Areas g (ESA) are supporting zones or
areas which must be safeguarded as they are needed to prevent
degradation of Critical Biodiversity Areas and formal Protected Areas g .
Although biodiversity pattern and process are interdependent,
there are situations where even though pattern is disrupted, certain
processes are able to continue functioning. Riparian zones and
wetlands in areas of intensive agriculture or plantations may still
play an important role in maintaining water quality in rivers that
flow through these areas. In Protected Areas and Critical Biodiversity
Areas, both pattern and process need to be protected against
degradation, whereas in Ecological Support Areas, the protection of
ecological processes is required.
1.4 WHAT IS A BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN?
A Biodiversity Sector Plan (BSP) provides a way forward in reconciling
the conflict between development and the maintenance of natural
systems. It provides biodiversity information needed for land-use
planning and decision-making and other multi-sectoral planning
processes (see Section 1.5 below).
1. Primary products: This Biodiversity Sector Plan Handbook, the
CBA Wall Map, the CBA Mapbook and GISg maps.
2. Associated products:a legislative user guide, the Fynbos Forum
Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Impacts Assessment in
the Western Cape (de Villiers et al., 2005)g; the C.A.P.E Fine-Scale
Planning (FSP) Aquatic Ecosystem Guidelines (Job et al., 2008),
the Garden Route Vegetation Report (Vlok and Euston-Brown,
2008) and the Garden Route Conservation Planning Report
(Holness et al. 2010).
The GIS (Geographical Information Systemsg ) maps include:
• Primary data: the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map (includes all
CBA Map categories: Protected Areas, Critical Biodiversity Areas,
Ecological Support Areas, Other Natural Areas and No Natural
Areas Remaining), the Desired Management Objectives and the
recommended Spatial Planning Categoryg (as per the Provincial
SDF). A CBA Lookup Table is provided which indicates the key
criteria that determined whether a site is a CBA or ESA. Refer to
the technical report (Holness et al., 2010) for further details on
the CBA Lookup Table.
• Associated data: Vegetation types, land cover (transformation
shapefile); and an alien plant map.
The Garden Route Biodiversity Sector Plan data are provided on DVD
and is available from SANParks Garden Route Cluster on (044) 302
5600, the BGIS Unit on (021) 799 8738 or downloadable from their
website www.bgis.sanbi.org (South Africa’s biodiversity portal).
1 Threshold - the target area which must be safeguarded in order for the component plants and animals to exist and for ecosystems to continue
functioning (e.g. pollination, migration of animals). The thresholds for various types of habitats have been set nationally within the National Spatial
Biodiversity Assessment planning process.
3

1.5 INTENDED USERS AND USES OF A
BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN
The Biodiversity Sector Plan is essential to all sectors involved in landuse
planning and decision-making, as well as other multi-sectoral
planning procedures (See Figure 1.1). It provides a common point
of reference for municipal officials, planning and environmental
professionals, National and Provincial Environmental Departments,
National and Provincial Agricultural Departments, including
Water Affairs, Forestry, Fisheries, Mineral Resources, Energy, Rural
Development and Land Reform, Local Government, Housing, Public
Works, Catchment Management Agencies; and all organs of state
preparing guidelines in terms of section 74 of the Environmental
Impact Assessment regulations 2 . Programmes such as Working
for Water, Working for Wetlands, LandCare, CoastCare; private
landowners, estate agents, developers, the general public and
conservation NGOs will also benefit from consulting the BSP.
The BSP should be used by ALL sectors whose policies and decisionmaking
affects land-use.
Restricting
Figure 1.1: Intended users and uses of the Biodiversity Sector Plan (adapted from Job and Driver, 2006).
1.6 WHAT THE BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN
CAN AND CANNOT DO
SANBI and other research institutes
DEA&DP
Supplements to the
NEMA EIA regulations,
developing EMFs, PSDF
and guidelines; input
into land-use
applications and
assessing
municipal SDFs
National & provincial authorities require data to set policy & guide decision-making
CAPE NATURE
e.g. Environmental Depts, MCM, DP&LG etc. (All sectors whose policies and decision-making impacts land-use)
BSP
and natural resource management
Specialists
• The Biodiversity Sector Plan can:Serve as the primary source
of information on biodiversity for land and water resource
use decision-making and forward planning processes, such
as municipal Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs),
Environmental Management Frameworks (EMFs) and
Integrated Development Plans (IDPs);
• Provide more accurate and detailed information and therefore
replaces broad-scale biodiversity plans, e.g. NSBA, STEP and
CAPE;
• Provide the spatial framework and policy recommendations for
the drafting of a bioregional plang by identifying priority areas
for conservation action and the establishment of protected
areas, required in terms of Chapter 3 of the NEMBA;
• Identify a network of Critical Biodiversity Areas whose
safeguarding is required to meet national biodiversity
thresholdsg ;
• Provide regional biodiversity priorities thereby creating a
strategic framework for sustainable development; and
Water
Affairs
Water Resources
planning,
protection, input
into CMA
strategies
2 Provincial and national guidelines that are issued in relation to environmentally sensitive areas, environmental impacts, activities or processes contemplated
in the EIA regulations.

• Assist municipalities to comply with environmental and
planning legislation that promotes the protection and
management of biodiversity, acting as the spatial framework
and policy for sustainable development set by international
and national environmental and planning legislation and
policy.
The CBA Map provides the information needed for three broad
categories of day-to-day land and water resource use decisions:
1) Reactive decision-making, such as environmental impact
assessment (EIA), agricultural land-use decisions, water-use
licensing and other development control decisions through
the Land-use Planning Ordinance (LUPO) or other land-use
legislation; 2) Proactive forward planning, such as Integrated
Development Plans (IDPs), Spatial Development Frameworks
(SDFs) and Zoning Schemes; and 3) Proactive conservation,
such as stewardship, land acquisition and clearing of invasive
alien plants.
Every effort has been made to produce a useful and accurate map.
However, it is important to be aware that:
• The CBA Map does not replace on-site assessments for
land-use applications. Therefore, the CBA Map must be used in
conjunction with a site visit to inform site level decisions.
• The Biodiversity Sector Plan simply provides information on
biodiversity (i.e. provides only one information layer of the
many layers required in land-use planning); and must be
used in conjunction with other land-use or town and regional
planning application procedures.
• The Biodiversity Sector Plan is the forerunner to any future
bioregional plang in terms of Chapter 3 of the NEMBA. It must
undergo further legal, administrative and public consultation
procedures in order to qualify as a formally published
bioregional plang .
1.7 BIODIVERSITY, THE ECONOMY AND
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
All social and economic sectors are entirely dependent on
biodiversity because it delivers ecosystem services g , which
are vital for our survival. These services include a regular supply
of clean water, flood control, prevention of erosion, insect
pollination (vital for the fruit industry), carbon storage g (to
counteract climate change) and clean air.
The Garden Route’s biodiversity contributes significantly to the
province’s economic growth and development through the
provision of services such as food, fuel, fibre, and medicines. It is
the basis for our nature-based tourism, sustainable harvesting
and film industries, and a location for traditional and modern
rituals and ceremonies. Biodiversity is also the mainstay of our
agricultural economy, providing services such as grazing for
livestock and insect pollination for food crops. Every aspect of
our livelihoods depends on these services (see Sections 2.3 – 2.5
for a list of services offered by the various ecosystems e.g. rivers,
vegetation etc).
The fruit industry in the Cape is entirely dependent on bees for its crop
production. Outside of the fruiting season, as much as 80% of bee
colonies survive on nectar and pollen provided by the natural veld.
Safeguarding natural bee habitat is critical to the success of the fruit
industry which employs significant numbers of people in rural areas.
The loss of biodiversity through disturbance or development has
impacts on ecosystem functioning and reduces the delivery of
ecosystem services; and as a result economic growth. For example,
the destruction of vegetation leads to erosion, and heavy silt loads
which then necessitate increased municipal spending on chemicals
used for water treatment. Water becomes more costly to supply,
reducing finances for other service delivery. Furthermore, after the
removal of plant cover, heavy rainfall results in flooding, and homes
and roads are washed away, with the rural poor often being the
most severely affected. The loss of natural veld can impact on nearby
agricultural crops as a reduction in insect pollinators leads to smaller
harvests, with fewer jobs leading to greater poverty.
Despite great progress, scientists do not know enough to predict
the full impacts of human activities on natural systems. However, it
is known that natural systems can bear increasing burdens without
revealing any decline in their own functioning before they reach a
critical point, after which they then collapse. Future generations
will face significant ecological, economic, social and cultural
costs if we do not acknowledge that human well-being is
dependent on protecting biodiversity.
In South Africa, the total value of ecosystems is conservatively
estimated at R27 billion per annum. This estimate includes the
production of biological resources as well as the final consumption of
ecosystem services. The calculated value of biodiversity-dependent
industries in the greater Cape region amounts to approximately R9,4
billion. In 2000 it was estimated that the pollinating services of bees
to the fruit industry and for honey production amounted to R594
million, while in 2003, bird-watching tourism generated R16 million.
5

Biodiversity should be viewed as the cornerstone of sustainable development. Both
natural and social capital provides the input for economic capital. The ability of nature
to manage the waste generated by economic activity (e.g. pollution) has a major effect
on the overall competitiveness and success of our economy as a whole. If we fail to
recognize the challenge of separating economic growth and poverty eradication from
rising levels of natural resource-use and waste per capita, we will undermine the preconditions
needed to boost growth and eradicate poverty. The situation of continuing
inequality, accompanied by a deteriorating resource base, makes it imperative for us to
go beyond thinking in terms of trade-offs and the simplicity of the ‘triple bottom line’ 3 .
We must acknowledge that there are non-negotiable ecological thresholds that
must sustain our natural capital; and that we must employ the precautionary
principle g in this approach (National Framework for Sustainable Development,
2008).
Safeguarding biodiversity includes activities such as removing invasive
alien plants from natural areas. Such initiatives not only provide
employment and training opportunities, but It is estimated that alien
clearance in the Cape could ‘earn’ about R700 million per year through
enhanced cut-flower production for the wildflower industry, improved
water supply through enhanced runoff and increased tourism.
Our rich biodiversity provides for nature-based community initiatives
that support poverty alleviation by creating jobs in industries such
as eco-tourism, wild cut-flowers and honeybush tea, professional
nature guiding, and bee farming. Some of these initiatives are good
examples of collaborative programmes involving a range of national
agencies that include municipalities at the local level e.g. SANParks
‘People and Conservation’ (see Section 5.3.1.9 pg 51).
In South Africa, the total
value of ecosystems is
conservatively estimated
at R27 billion per annum.
This estimate includes the
production of biological
resources as well as the
final consumption of
ecosystem services.
Application of the CBA Map and guidelines ensures that we
maintain nature’s valuable ecosystems services for sustainable
economic and social development.
3 Triple bottom line: Also referred to as the 3 pillars of sustainability, namely ecological integrity, social justice and economic efficiency, where economic
capital is dependent on natural and social capital.
Hilton Herd

1.8 BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change 4 is one of the biggest challenges facing humankind.
Even if we achieve significant reductions in emissions of greenhouse
gases, global climate change is inevitable. It poses significant threats
to the basic provisions of life: water, health, food production and the
environment, with the poorest communities likely to be the hardest
hit. The ‘business as usual’ approach to climate change will cost as
much as between 5 and 20% of global Gross Domestic Product every
year.
Climatologists predict a 50% reduction in rain-fed agricultural yield
in some African countries by the 2020s (Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, 2007).
Scientific predictions of future climate change suggest that the
Western Cape could experience more drought periods. Coupled with
increased evaporation and temperatures, this will negatively impact
water supply. Regional predictions suggest a drying trend from
west to east, with a weakening of winter rainfall, possibly slightly
more summer rainfall (mainly in the eastern regions associated with
the mountains), a shift to more irregular rainfall of possibly greater
intensity, and rising temperatures everywhere. It is likely that the
greatest impacts will be on water supply. Economic growth in most
of the Western Cape Province is already limited by water shortages
(Midgley, 2005). A study by Hewitson and Crane (2006) suggests
decreased winter rainfall in the Western Cape with increased summer
rainfall in the interior and eastern part of South Africa.
Climate change highlights the importance of protecting our water
resources from over-abstraction, degradation and the spread
of invasive alien plants (which use more water than indigenous
plants). The Critical Biodiversity Areas map identifies the mountain
catchment g areas that are critical in this regard as they are the
primary source of our water supply. For example; a fynbos mountain
catchment can lose up to 68% of its water yield due to a dense cover
of invasive alien shrubs or trees. In the face of climate change we
cannot afford these losses.
By protecting biodiversity we protect
ourselves against climate change.
The increase in temperatures anticipated with climate change may
result in increased fire frequencies. Invasive alien plants are often
highly flammable and with their large volumes, are likely to fuel
more frequent fires. The combination of more frequent and more
intense fires will have a devastating impact on the region. To avert
this, an integrated alien and fire management plan is essential to
ensure both the removal of invasive alien plants as well as controlled
burns (see Section 5.3.1.4 and 8). These interventions will result in
an increased water supply, optimum regeneration of our veld, and a
reduction in erosion and sediment deposition during times of severe
rain.
The Garden Route is especially vulnerable to two of climate change’s
most severe impacts, i.e. sea level rise and freshwater flooding. To
prevent flooding of vulnerable coastal properties such as those
between Mossel Bay and Nature’s Valley, natural defenses in the form
of primary dune systems and estuarine mudflats must be protected
from further conversion through urban development or agricultural
practices. Ensuring that development is setback from the coast and
from freshwater systems enhances the economic and ecological
functioning of marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and improves
our resilience to climate change impacts (Roets and Duffell-Canham,
2009).
To ensure resilience against the impacts of climate change, landscape
corridors need to be kept intact to function as ecological process areas.
These corridors enable the migration of plants, animals and birds and
hence to persist despite changing climatic conditions. Examples of
corridors are river valleys extending from inland mountains to the sea,
along parts of the escarpment (the step where the inland plateau drops
to the coastal plain) and also along the coast.
Application of the CBA Map and guidelines should be one of
the primary adaptation mechanisms used by local authorities
to deal effectively with climate change.
With climate change taking affect
building within the 1:100 year floodline or
even higher is no longer an option.
Photo: Sarah Fox
4 A climate change strategy and action plan for the Western Cape’ has been developed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development
Planning, Western Cape (DEADP, 2007); and in preparation is the report ‘A guideline for incorporating climate change adaptation and mitigation measures
in Environmental and Spatial Development Planning and the development and environmental authorisation processes’.
Sarah Fox
7

At the local level, one of the most effective ways to mitigate
against climate change is to safeguard Critical Biodiversity Areas
and Ecological Support Areas. As a strategy against the impacts of
climate change, the CBA Map has identified a network of important
biodiversity areas linking the inland mountains to the coast, as well
as along the coast. Accompanying guidelines assist in integrating
climate change into land-use planning and decision-making. Crucial
management guidelines include:
• maintaining intact riparian (river bank) vegetation to avoid
flooding and to protect water resources;
• restricting building to above the 1:100 year flood-line or higher
where necessary;
• establishing a coastal set back line (i.e. a set distance inland
from the coast) to avoid flooding;
• protecting major landscape corridorsg with biodiversitycompatible
land-uses to allow for species migration
(persistence) and carbon storage;
• protecting water resources;
• appropriate fire management to reduce fire damage and
maintain biodiversity;
• removal of alien invasive plants to yield more water and reduce
fire damage; and
• restoring and maintaining biodiversity for carbon storageg to reduce the impacts of rising temperatures due to global
warming.
These guidelines also assist with Disaster Management, using
preventative rather than costly reactive measures.
Decision-makers and planners can reduce the effects of global
climate change by integrating the CBA Map and guidelines into
land-use planning and decision-making, and by adhering to wise
management guidelines.
All organs of state are obliged to consider biodiversity in their decision-making and to make use of the
most up to date information (National Environment Management Act (NEMA) 107 of 1998). Furthermore, all
spheres of government and all organs of state must co-operate with, consult and support one another.
The Biodiversity Sector Plan, comprising the CBA Map and guidelines, provides a framework for the compilation
of a bioregional plan g in terms of Chapter 3 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act
(NEMBA) 10 of 2004 and, in so doing, supports the National Biodiversity Framework (2009).
Andrew Brown

Biodiversity Profile
for the Garden Route
2
2.1 WHY IS THE GARDEN ROUTE’S BIODIVERSITY SO IMPORTANT?
The Garden Route falls within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), which is recognised as one of three
internationally acclaimed biodiversity hotspots 5 in South Africa. Biodiversity hotspots are areas of high
species diversity, and which are also under serious threat. The CFR, which extends from Nieuwoudtville
south to Cape Town and then eastwards to Grahamstown, comprises about 9000 plant species, of which
over 6000 are endemic g to the region, meaning that they are found nowhere else in the world. Along with
its plant diversity, the CFR is also rich in animal species (more than 560 vertebrates) in both terrestrial and
aquatic environments, and is home to extraordinarily high numbers of invertebrates (insects, etc). Over half
of the 44 frog species recorded in the CFR are endemic g . There are 142 indigenous reptile species, 27 of
which are endemic. Two species of tortoise occur almost exclusively within the region. The majority of its
freshwater fish are endemic, not only to South Africa, but to the CFR. It is also a priority area for species of
endemic birds.
The Garden Route domain contains numerous endemic plant species, such as the heath, Erica outeniquae,
and the grass, Pentameris uniflora, located in the Outeniqua Subalpine Fynbos within the George
Municipality. The orchid, Disa procera, is a local endemic of the Hoogekraal Sandplain Fynbos, whilst the
grass, Pentaschistis barbata ssp. orientalis, and the orchid, Satyrium princeps, are local rarities in the Garden
Route. The Brenton-Blue Butterfly occurs exclusively in the coastal fynbos at Brenton-on-Sea, while the
Knysna Spiny Reed Frog is endemic to the Knysna area.
The forests of the Garden Route are of national importance. This is because very few forests occur in South
Africa. They also represent the most extensive system of tall, natural forests in South Africa, and have a
high diversity of plant species per unit area (DWAF, 2007). Known as the Southern Cape Forests, they are
extraordinarily rich in plant species. In fact, South African temperate forests are between 3 and 7 times
richer in tree species than other temperate forested areas in the Southern Hemisphere, even though they
occupy a relatively small area. Although they are climatically classified as warm temperate forests, they
function more like tropical forests, which may explain their relatively high diversity. True forest animals,
such as the vulnerable and nationally protected 6 blue duiker, and even leopard, still occur within the forest.
However, in the surrounding fynbos shrublands, most of the larger animals have been displaced. Other red
data 7 or protected species are also found in the forests, such as the Crowned Eagle and the Honey Badger.
The local endemic heath, Erica canaliculata, grows in moist sites along the forest edge. See Appendix A for
a full list of vegetation types in the Garden Route.
The Garden Route contains some of South Africa’s most important estuaries, such as the Knysna Estuary,
which is ranked number 1 in terms of its conservation value (Turpie et al, 2002). It contains the second
largest salt marsh area in the country. It is also home to the Wilderness Lakes (Rondevlei, Langvlei, Island
Lake and the Serpentine), which form an area listed as a Ramsar Site of international importance and
Swartvlei, which is ranked number 6 in the country.
5 There are 34 global biodiversity hotspots. For more information see www.biodiversityhotspots.org.
6 In terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act – Critically Endangered, Endangered,
Vulnerable Protected Species List.
7 Red data species are species that have been classified according to their risk of extinction in the near future. See
glossary.
9
The Outeniqua
Mountain Range
showing the
Outeniqua Subalpine
Fynbos (Critically
Endangered) and the
Outeniqua Montane
Forest (Endangered)
located in the
George Municipality
(Photos: Jan Vlok).

2.2 NATURAL WONDERS OF THE GARDEN ROUTE
George Knysna Bitou
Wilderness Lakes – are globally important
and classified as a Ramsar site because of
the abundance of water birds.
Ruitersberg Ericaceous Fynbos – occurs
in the Outeniqua mountains and is vital in
ensuring good quality water and reliable
stream flow.
Outeniqua Mountains – this range forms
a natural scenic backdrop to the town of
George, and serves as a landscape corridor
which increases resilience against climate
change.
Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) – an
Endangered and endemic buck that
inhabits thick scrub and bush, as well as
fynbos.
Martial Eagle (Polematus bellicosus) - the
largest eagle in Africa with a preference
for uninhabited stretches of thicket and
open plains. It is nationally protected and
is Vulnerable.
Ruitersberg Ericaceous Fynbos occurs in the Outeniqua
mountains is vital in ensuring good quality water and reliable
stream flow.
Photo: Jan Vlok
The Knysna Estuary – ranked number one in
South Africa for its conservation importance. Its
biodiversity is rich, accounting for 43% of South
Africa’s estuarine plant and animal species
(Allanson, 2000).
Knysna Forest - high diversity of tree and shrub
species, providing habitat which supports true
forest animals, such as the nationally protected
and Vulnerable leopard.
Groenvlei-Swartvlei mouth dunes – These
include the Groenvlei Dunefields, east of
Swartvlei mouth. This dune area is an area of
high conservation value (Clark and Lombard,
2007).
Caracal (Felis caracal) – Lives in a wide range
of habitats, but easily displaced by urban and
agricultural development.
Knysna Seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) – is
an Endangered fish species endemic to South
Africa, with the smallest geographical range
of any seahorse. It lives in the Knysna Estuary,
Swartvlei, Keurbooms and Klein Brak.
Salt River – in an ecologically healthy
and natural state. It’s ecological and
importance sensitivity rating is Very
High, requiring a high level of protection
(Gouritz State of River Report, 2007).
Roodefontein Grassy Fynbos – This is a
Critically Endangered Fynbos vegetation
type that grows only in the Bitou
Municipality, and nowhere else.
Bitou Corridor (includes the Bitou and
Keurbooms Rivers) – is vital in maintaining
ecological processes, which in turn,
increases resilience against climate
change.
Pansy shell (Echinodiscus bisperforatus) – is
a nationally protected marine species and
its shape is used as a symbol for the Bitou
Municipality.
Leopard (Panthera pardus) – a Vulnerable
and nationally protected big cat,
inhabiting forest and rocky mountainous
areas.

2.3 TERRESTRIAL (LAND) ECOSYSTEMS
As described earlier in section 1.2, ecosystemsg comprise living
organisms and their relationships and interactions, as well as their
non-living environment (e.g. soils). Furthermore, ecosystems can
operate at different scales from a small wetland to a large mountain
ecosystem. Terrestrial ecosystems include living organisms and the
substrate or land on which they occur. A useful way of categorising
them is according to vegetation type (e.g. forest, grassland,
shrubland) and then further classifying them according to their
specific habitat, for example the Outeniqua Plateau Forest or the
Wilderness Forest-Thicket in the Garden Route.
The vegetation map for the Garden Route shows the historical and
current extent of the indigenous vegetation types in the region
mapped at a scale of 1:50 000 (see Figure 2.1 and 2.2 below). An
associated publication with full vegetation type descriptions is
available8 . Appendix A (pg 62) provides a list of all the vegetation
types in the Garden Route domain, including other biodiversity
data, e.g. land cover (such as natural, degradedg , plantation, urban),
ecosystem statusg .
Protecting vegetation types also protects other biodiversity features,
such as mammals, birds, insects and other organisms that are
associated with specific vegetation types. By protecting the habitat,
we therefore protect the range of species that occur there.
11
The single biggest cause of biodiversity loss in South Africa, and the
Garden Route, is loss of natural habitat e.g. by urban development,
agriculture and plantation forestry. Infestation by invasive alien
species is a second major cause. Other land-uses such as grazing
of natural veld and harvesting of wild plants can be sustainable if
managed appropriately so that biodiversity 9 is not compromised.
As natural habitat is lost, ecosystem functioning becomes
increasingly compromised. This can eventually lead to collapse, with
the consequent loss of ecosystem servicesg . In most cases, ecosystem
service delivery is irreplaceable or too expensive to substitute. For
example, it is simply not feasible to build man-made structures that
can deliver the clean and reliable water supplies provided by healthy,
fynbos-covered mountain catchments.
Even small, degraded or patches of natural habitat invaded by alien
plants may play an important role in the ecological functioning of
the broader landscape or support the last remaining population of a
particular species, and should nevertheless, be regarded as being of
importance for biodiversity.
Until specialists have assessed ALL the remaining natural habitat in
the municipality; and the municipality has built a database of sitespecific
information, all terrestrial ecosystems in the municipality
should be approached in terms of the guidelines offered in Section
4 and 5.
Figure 2.1a Historical extent of vegetation types within the Garden Route prior to urban and agricultural development versus
2.1b Current extent of vegetation within the Garden Route, subsequent to urban, plantation forestry and agricultural development.
8 Vlok, J.H.J., Euston-Brown D.I.W. and Wolf, T. 2008. A vegetation map for the Garden Route Initiative. Unpublished 1:50 000 maps and report supported by
CAPE FSP task team.
9 See the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s conservation farming website www.nbi.ac.za/consfarm/cfindex.htm
a
b

Key vegetation types of the Garden Route region
Included in Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) are all those vegetation
types classified as Critically Endangered 10 , as well as the best and
most efficient areas to meet the thresholds for other vegetation
types (e.g. a Least Threatened vegetation type will be classified as a
CBA if it is located in a landscape corridor).
All the vegetation types that are dependent on the presence of
either fresh or brackish surface water are important in terms of their
conservation value. For example, the Keurbooms River and Perennial
Streams which only occur in Knysna Municipality, the Moordkuils
Perennial Stream, which is confined to the George Municipality and
the Tsitsikamma River and Floodplain which is restricted to the Bitou
Municipality. Both Tsitsikamma Ericaceous Fynbos and Ruitersberg
Ericaceous Fynbos are considered priority vegetation types as they
fulfil an important water catchment function and are the source of
most of the perennial streams. The latter vegetation type occurs only
in the George Municipality, while the former type is found in all
three municipalities. The Coastal Forests are also highly significant
in terms of biodiversity. Examples include the Tsitsikamma Dune
Forest which grows only in the Bitou Municipality, the Groenvlei
Coastal Forest near Sedgefield in the Knysna Municipality and
the Wolwedans Thicket-Forest which is limited to the George
Municipality. In all, 15 vegetation types are classified as Critically
Endangered, some of which are mentioned above. See Appendix A
(pg 62) for the full listing of vegetation types and associated data.
For the VEGETATION MAP, see the Garden Route CBA Mapbook
and GIS maps.
Terrestrial ecosystems are protected by various pieces of
legislation, such as:
• The Listed Activities in terms of the National
Environmental Management Act (NEMA) 107 of 1998
protects the removal of indigenous vegetation depending
on certain criteria.
• The National Forest Act (NFA) 84 of 1998 protects certain
tree species and national forest types (including Southern
Cape Afrotemperate Forests which are located in the
Garden Route),
• The NEMBA protects certain plants species and threatened
ecosystems, known as Listed Threatened Ecosystems. The
SA vegetation types (Mucina et al., 2006), which are Listed
and located in the Garden Route include Cape Lowland
Alluvial Vegetation (George and Bitou LM), Eastern Coastal
Shale Band Vegetation (Bitou LM), Garden Route Granite
Fynbos (George and Knysna LM), Garden Route Shale
Fynbos (George to Bitou LM), Groot Brak Dune Strandveld
(George LM along the coast), Knysna Sand Fynbos (Knysna
LM), Langkloof Shale Renosterveld (George to Bitou LM)
and the Western Cape Milkwood Forests (George and
Knysna LM).
The Western Cape Nature Conservation Laws Amendment Act
protects certain flora and fauna.
Terrestrial ecosystem services - What our natural habitat does
for us
Human survival is entirely dependent on the delivery of ecosystem
services. The maintenance of these ecosystems and their supporting
‘ecological infrastructure’ is a key socio-economic imperative.
Degradation or destruction of the natural environment can lead to
high socio-economic costs.
Although this is not an exhaustive list, the following services are
delivered by terrestrial ecosystems:
• Buffers against natural hazards such as fire and floods
• Regulation of water supply
• Forage for grazing livestock and wild animals
• Provision of food, fibre, medicinal and cosmetic plants
• Provision of cleaner air
• Improved resilience against climate change by storage (aboveand
below-ground) of excess carbon released as carbon
dioxide through burning fossil fuels i.e. carbon storage
• Support of the horticultural and wildflower industries
• Provision of natural spaces for recreation and tourism
• Contribution to natural and cultural heritage
The sustainable use and management of the natural environment is
vital, not only for the sake of biodiversity, but for social and economic
survival. Ill-considered development resulting in the destruction of
natural landscapes will reduce the tourism potential of an area. Instead,
wise and well-informed land-use planning and management will
enhance the region’s capacity for tourism.
Bird-watching tourism
in the Cape Floristic Region generated
R16 million p.a. in 2003
10 Classified in terms of the Garden Route Fine-Scale Systematic Biodiversity Plan (Holness, 2010), the technical term for the CBA Map and analysis process
which produced the CBA Map. The systematic biodiversity plan is based on the national equivalent ecosystem status. See glossary and technical report
(Holness, 2010).
Peet Joubert

2.4 AQUATIC (WATER) ECOSYSTEMS
An aquatic ecosystem (natural water features) comprises the living
organisms and the non-living components in the surrounding
water system. Aquatic ecosystems described here include wetlands
(or vleis), estuaries, lagoons, lakes and rivers. They are grouped
together in this section to emphasize that they are usually interrelated
systems and activities which impact on one part will have
consequences elsewhere. For example, whatever happens in the
upper reaches of a river in the mountains will impact the lower
reaches of the river where the estuary links with the sea. See Section
2.4.3 on catchments (pg 16).
South Africa is a water-scarce country, and our aquatic ecosystems
are under severe pressure as a result of many competing demands
on our limited water resources. All indications are that South Africa
will reach its limits of potentially accessible water supplies between
2020 and 2030. It is crucial that efficient water use is encouraged, for
example through demand control g , recycling, re-use and rainwater
harvesting.
2.4.1 WETLANDS
Wetlands, commonly known as vleis, occur where water covers
the soil permanently or periodically, at or near the surface. These
waterlogged soils determine the types of organisms which can grow
in this habitat, such as specially adapted plants, termed hydrophytes.
Wetlands are found in many forms, including peat bogs or mountain
seeps or alongside stream banks, or as salt marshes associated with
estuaries.
More than half of South Africa’s wetlands have already been
destroyed (for example by urban expansion or cultivation), with
severe consequences for water quality, consistency of water supply
and flood control. Significant economic costs are incurred where
there are inadequate buffers, resulting in flooding. High expenditure
is required for controlling invasive weed species, mosquitoes,
sedimentation, eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) and the
rehabilitation of degraded areas.
All wetlands and estuaries in the Garden Route are Critical
Biodiversity Areas. The CBA Map shows those wetlands that
have been mapped in the Garden Route, but note that not
all wetlands have been mapped. Therefore, the presence
and extent of a wetland on a site should be confirmed by a
specialist.
13
Estuaries are also a type of wetland. According to the National
Wetland Inventory Classification System, estuaries are defined as “…
partially enclosed ecosystems that are permanently or periodically
connected to the ocean, which are influenced by tidal fluctuations
and within which ocean water is at least occasionally diluted by fresh
water derived from surface or subsurface land drainage.”
Estuaries occur where river water and seawater mix in the lower
sections of a river causing the pH, salinity, and water level to vary
depending on the river and the ocean that feeds the estuary. They
can concentrate materials such as pollutants and sediments. They are
impacted by activities far upstream, such as abstraction, and as far as
the mountains where their rivers originate. They are also affected by
activities out at sea.
Key wetlands/estuaries of the Garden Route region
The large estuarine lake systems in this region are the result of
ancient sedimentation processes along the coastal areas (primarily
associated with ancient quaternary sedimentary deposits). The lake
systems are found in depressions or low lying valleys where the
water table is exposed, or where these low lying areas have been
back-flooded by the sea, as in the case of estuaries
The Garden Route Lakes Systems, which span both the George and
Knysna municipal areas, are made up of:
1. Touw System (Touw River and Estuary, Island Lake, Langvlei,
Rondevlei and connecting channels);
2. Swartvlei System (Swartvlei Lake, Karatara Lake and Swartvlei
Estuary); and
3. Knysna Estuary.
The Salt River, which
is situated in the Bitou
Municipality, is in an
ecologically healthy
and natural state.
It’s ecological and
importance sensitivity
rating is Very High,
requiring a high level
of protection.
Photo: Andrew Brown

The key estuaries in the George Municipality include the Wilderness
Lakes Area, which comprises the Langvlei, Island Lake and Rondevlei
connected to each other by small shallow channels, as well as the
Touw Estuary. They receive freshwater from the Touw and Duiwe
Rivers, including underground seepage and sea water via the Touw
Estuary. The Wilderness Estuary is connected to Langvlei by the
Serpentine River. Lagoons, running from west to east, include the
Rooi River located at Outeniqua Beach near Glentana, the Maalgate,
Gwaing, Skaapkop, Meul at Ballots Bay and Kaaimans Lagoon, just
east of the Touw Estuary in Wilderness.
Important estuaries in the Knysna Municipality include the Knysna
and Goukamma Estuary, and the Swartvlei Lake in Sedgefield. The
largest estuary on South Africa’s south coast is the Knysna Estuary,
which is highly diverse and accounts for 43% of South Africa’s
estuarine plant and animal species (Allanson, 2000). The Swartvlei
Lake is the deepest of the estuaries and is often stratified into
different densities owing to tidal water exchange and river inflow. It
is one of the few clear water systems in South Africa with high plant
diversity.
Both estuaries are home to the rare Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus
capensis), which is listed in the IUCN Red Data Book as Endangered,
and which is endemic to South Africa. Groenvlei is another unique
system representing the only closed drainage basin (endorheic) with
water levels approximately 3m above sea-level. It is a freshwater
coastal lake, lying to the east of Sedgefield, and separated from the
ocean and entirely dependent on groundwater. It contains some
relic estuarine species, such as the estuarine roundherring. The
Knysna Estuary is ranked number 1 in South Africa in terms of its
conservation value, while the Swartvlei Lake is ranked number 6
(Turpie et al, 2002). A key wetland, Vankerelsvlei, is extremely unusual
in having an Aspargnum (peat-forming) wetland that is in good
condition.
The Bitou Municipality contains the large Keurbooms River Estuary
located to the east of the town of Plettenberg Bay. It is separated
from the sea by a coastal barrier, which has a tidal inlet linking it
to the sea. It is an important nursery area for fish, is home to the
Knysna Seahorse, and is ranked number 16 in South Africa in terms
of conservation importance. The Bitou Estuary, which feeds into the
Keurbooms, has a unique mixture of plant and animal species, and
no alien fish species. The Brak and Salt River Mouth enter the Indian
Ocean to the west of Nature’s Valley, where the Groot River (west)
estuary is periodically open to the sea. The Groot River has important
saltmarsh beds, two red data fish species and is a relatively diverse
and pristineg system. Two Lagoons, the Helpmekaar and Kliprivier,
are located just east of the Groot River.
Wetlands are protected by various pieces of legislation, such
as:
• The National Water Act (NWA) 107 of 1998, which stipulates
that reserve determination studies need to be undertaken
to identify the ecological reserveg requirements of a
wetland
• The NEMA in terms of principle (r) and the listed activities
(Section 24).; and
• The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) 43
of 1983; in which no activities are allowed within the flood
area or within 10 meters horizontally outside the flood
area.
The Wilderness Lakes (Rondevlei, Langvlei, Island Lake and the
Serpentine), a portion of the Touw System, is a listed Ramsarg
Site due to the high abundance of water birds. The Knysna
Protected Environment and the Wilderness National Park form
part of the Garden Route National Park, under the National
Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA) 57
of 2003.
Garden Route Estuaries and Wetlands are all classified as Critical
Biodiversity Areas, as they are important hydrological process areas, many
of which have been degraded or transformed.
Estuaries are located at the mouth of rivers where they enter the sea,
whilst wetlands are found from the mountains to the coast
(Photographers: Andrew Brown and Hilton Herd).
The economic value of the Knysna Estuary
is estimated at R2.8 to 3.4 billion per annum.

Ecosystem Services – What our wetlands do for us
Wetlands, together with an associated buffer of natural vegetation,
perform a number of valuable functions, especially in relation to
- water quality (filtering and purifying water, trapping sediment,
protecting shorelines and controlling erosion [which minimises
excessive sedimentation downstream], recharging aquifers), water
quantity (reducing peak floods and storing flood waters, supporting
stream base flow during the dry season, groundwater discharge/
recharge), and wildlife habitat (providing habitat for amphibians,
birds, fish and mammals for all or portions of their life cycles).
It is clear that development in wetlands and within floodlines have
contributed to flood damage in the Garden Route. Recently, massive
damage to property occurred in Wilderness, Sedgefield, along the
Knysna Estuary and the Keurbooms Estuary. Agricultural and other
human activities in the river catchments have led to pollution
events in the Swartvlei and Wilderness Lakes systems. The Knysna
Estuary, for example, is impacted by sewage pollution, and upstream
developments of the Keurbooms have led to a reduction in flood
events, resulting in saltwater intrusion and sedimentation.
For the WETLANDS (VLEIS) and ESTUARIES, see the Garden Route
CBA Mapbook.
The rand value of a natural flood control service,
such as a vegetation buffer around a wetland, is equal to the
cost of repairing flood damages or the costs of rehabilitating a
wetland.
2.4.2 RIVERS
The natural water resources along the Outeniqua Coastal Area
(Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay) are under enormous pressure
owing to development and the spread of water-thirsty alien plants.
Frequent water shortages are experienced during peak holiday
season. Along the Outeniqua coast climate change predictions
suggest generally slightly reduced rainfall 11 , with increased rainfall
variability, fewer but more intense rainfall events and increased
temperatures and evaporation are predicted. These effects could
Figure 2.2: Key rivers in the George, Knysna and Bitou municipalities.
work together to increase flooding, but could also reduce low flow
in rivers (Eden SoER, 2008 and Midgley, 2005). Intense rainfall events
and increased run-off may reduce groundwater recharge and water
availability for human use (Gouritz State of Rivers Report, 2007).
Predictions suggest that South Africa’s water supplies will reach
their limits between 2020 and 2030. Encouraging efficient
water use is therefore crucial, for example through demand
control, recycling, re-use and rainwater harvesting. Compliance
with the water use guidelines associated with the CBA Map will
ensure the protection of our water resources.
The well-being of a river ecosystem is largely dependent on the
health of the adjacent natural vegetation or “riparian habitat”.
This vegetation filters pollutants, helps maintain natural water
temperatures, contributes organic matter (‘food’) in support of
aquatic life (fish, insects etc), and acts as a buffer to adjacent landuse.
The roots of the riparian plants also reduce the effects of floods,
by binding river banks and thus preventing erosion. Furthermore,
bank storage is increased by slowing run off during floods. For these
reasons, it is essential that new land-use, development or activity
should be separated from a river by a buffer area. See Guidelines
Section 4 (pg 33). An example of inadequate buffer areas due to
infilling and encroachment into flood plains of small seasonal rivers
areas is demonstrated at Glentana near George, where a beach
restaurant has been washed away twice in five years (Roets and
Duffel-Canham, 2009).
See Section 2.6 (pg 19) regarding important fish species living in
the rivers of the Garden Route.
Key Rivers of the Garden Route region
Key rivers in the George Municipality include the Maalgate,
Gwaing, Skaapkop and Kaaimans rivers, which arise in the Outeniqua
Mountains. The Maalgate and Gwaing Rivers arise east of George, and
flow across the narrow coastal plain, reaching the sea at the coastal
towns of Gwano Bay and Herolds Bay, respectively. The Gwaing
and Skaapkops are both urban rivers, running through George and
11 Alternatively, there may be an increase in rainfall in the eastern end of the Western Province, most strongly associated with mountainous areas (Eden SoER,
2007 and Midgley et al., 2005).
15

Pacaltsdorp, respectively. The Kaaimans River enters the sea just
west of Wilderness. In physical terms it is still in good condition and
is home to important fish species, although infestations of invasive
alien plants in adjacent areas need to be cleared. The Touw River
originates in the Outeniqua mountains where it is well protected.
It flows into the Wilderness Estuary and as a key catchment for this
system, should be protected. Flowing into the Swartvlei are the Diep
and Wolwe Rivers, which should be safeguarded as they play a key
role in the hydrology of this water body.
Rivers in the Knysna Municipality include the Höekraal, Karatara,
Goukamma, Homtini and Knysna. The Höekraal and Karatara Rivers
drain into the Swartvlei Lake, an important wetland. These two rivers
are critical to maintaining the ecological functioning of this system.
The lower reaches of the Goukamma flow through the Goukamma
Nature Reserve, entering the sea to the west of Buffelsbaai, while
the Knysna River enters the Knysna Estuary. The upper reaches of
the Goukamma and Homtini are relatively healthy, and those of
the Knysna River have extensive beds of the endemic reed Palmiet
(Prionium serratum) as well as important invertebrates (insects, etc).
The Brackenhill River, a tributary of the Noetsie River, is important as a
habitat for the Cape Gallaxius (Galaxia zebratus), a key fish species.
In the Bitou Municipality, the Bitou and Keurbooms Rivers join the
Keurbooms Estuary east of Plettenberg Bay, the Salt River reaches
the sea near Nature’s Valley and the Bloukrans flows through the
Tsitsikamma National Park. The Salt River is home to freshwater
invertebrate species which have not yet been given scientific names.
The Upper Palmiet River, which flows into the Keurbooms River,
is another vital system, as it contains the Endangered fish known
as the Slender Redfin Minnow (Pseudobarbas tenuis). It is the only
locality where this fish does not co-occur with alien fish species. The
Groot River, entering the ocean at Nature’s Valley, is also a key river
because, in physical terms, it is relatively pristine and is home to two
Near Threatened and endemic fish species, namely the Eastern Cape
Redfin (Pseudobarbas afer) and the Cape Kurper (Sandelia capensis).
The Bos River, which runs in an east-west direction across the
municipality, supports all three fish species.
Rivers in the Garden Route are included in the Breede and Gouritz
Water Management Area (WMA g ). See Figure 2.2 above.
Rivers are protected by various pieces of legislation, such
as:
• The NWA lists certain rivers, protecting them from
ad hoc abstraction and other activities which require
that a potential user acquires a license from DWEA
(General Authorisations in terms of Section 39 of the
NWA). Further to the Act, reserve determination studies
must be undertaken to identify the ecological reserve 12
requirements of a river.
• Certain Listed Activities in terms of the NEMA protects all
rivers.
Riverine ecosystem services – What our rivers do for us
Rivers are central to human welfare and economic development.
They provide water for agricultural, industrial and domestic use, flood
attenuation and regulation; food and medicinal plants; transport
and/or purification of biodegradable wastes; tourism, recreational
and cultural use and enhanced property values.
For the RIVERS, see the Garden Route CBA Mapbook.
2.4.3 CATCHMENTS
A catchment is the area (a geographical region) where water from
rain (or snow) becomes concentrated and drains downhill into a river
or lake. The term includes all land surface, streams, rivers, and lakes
between the source and where the water enters the ocean. It follows,
therefore, for the management of an aquatic ecosystem, the entire
catchment must be managed as the management unit. Catchments
may include entire mountain ranges of major river systems and are
essential for maintaining key hydrological (river) processes, involving
both surface and ground water.
The extent and condition of natural vegetation in a catchment,
especially wetlands, has a direct impact on the health of a river.
Activities in the higher catchments and also in the upper river
reaches (e.g. water abstraction, agriculture, plantation forestry and
alien vegetation) negatively affect areas lower in the catchments, as
well as those areas downstream. Where catchments have lost natural
plant cover and where rivers have been straightened or cut off from
adjacent wetlands, the impacts are far-reaching. Flood flows are
intensified, the natural ability of the floodplain to absorb flood water
is reduced, erosion is increased and downstream areas experience
increased sedimentation. This emphasises the importance of sound
management of river catchments in ensuring water flows. A good
cover of intact pristine fynbos on high mountain slopes which
receive the highest rainfall will ensure the delivery of reliable water
supplies.
The safeguarding of aquatic ecosystems depends on co-operation
and collaboration at the local level between landowners and those
agencies whose decisions and actions impact directly on these
ecosystems, including SANParks, CapeNature, the Agricultural
and Forestry Departments of DAFF, Department of Water and
Environmental Affairs, and Catchment Management Agencies.
The rivers of the George, Knysna and Bitou Municipalities rise in the
Outeniqua Mountains, a steeply rising mountain range lying inland
of the relatively narrow coastal plain. About 100 km in length, the
range lies roughly parallel to the coast, located in line with Mossel
Bay and ending at the Keurbooms River Valley, at Plettenberg Bay. All
the catchments within the Garden Route fall within the Breede and
Gouritz River Water Management Area (WMA). See Figure 2.2 above.
12 The Reserve consists of 2 parts, namely the basic human needs reserve and the ecological reserve. The ecological reserve refers to that portion of
streamflow which must remain in rivers to ensure the sustainable healthy functioning of aquatic ecosystems (i.e. the river and its associated wetlands
and estuaries). Implementation to ensure the reserve will have a significant impact on the potential yields of existing and future water schemes. Current
provisional assessments indicate, as a national average, about 20% of the total river flow is required as an ecological reserve to maintain a healthy
biophysical environment (PSDF, 2005). However, preliminary estimates for systems in the Garden Route region are somewhat higher. DWEA (Water Affairs)
must determine the Reserve for all rivers in South Africa, according to the NWA.

Key Catchments of the Garden Route region
This section describes river catchments that deliver water supplies,
which place pressure on aquatic ecosystems, as well as those that
are of significant importance for biodiversity.
All towns and settlements in the George Municipality, including
George, Herolds Bay and Wilderness, are supplied by the Garden
Route Dam on the Swart River; and a weir on the Touw River.
The George Dam is also on the Swart River. In the George region,
croplands are irrigated by numerous farm dams (DWAF, 2007).
Some of the key catchments that have biodiversity importance
include the Kaaimans, Touw and the Diep and Wolwe River
catchments, as they flow into key estuary systems, namely the
Kaaimans Lagoon, Wilderness Lakes and Swartvlei.
There are currently five water supply schemes in the Knysna
municipal area that supply Knysna, Brenton-on-Sea, Belvedere,
Buffels Bay, Sedgefield, Karatara and Rheenendale. The raw water
sources are weirs on the Knysna and Gouna Rivers, the Glebe Dam,
the Akkerkloof off-channel storage Dam, the Bigai Springs and the
Belvedere Boreholes. The water supply to Sedgefield is drawn from
a run-of-river off-take, located immediately upstream of the town
on the Karatara River, while Rheenendal is supplied by a scheme
on the Homtini River, a tributary of the Goukamma River. Buffels
Bay draws from an offtake about 13 km inland from the mouth of
the Goukamma River and Karatara is supplied from the Karatara
River. Farm dams are scattered in the western and central parts of
the municipality, but are not as numerous as those in the George
Municipality (DWAF, 2007). There is a proposal to upgrade the water
supply to Sedgefield by abstracting water from the Hoekraal River,
whereas desalinization is occurring at the beach by pumping water
from the sea.
Key catchments of biodiversity importance include, for example
the Knysna catchment (including Gouna) that has a diversity of
habitats (big pools, vleis etc), which is very rare. The Goukamma/
Homtini upper catchment is in a fairly healthy condition, having
some pristine forest gorges and few impacts on its headwaters.
The water supply of the Bitou Municipality is derived from the
Keurbooms and Piesangs River. Supplementary groundwater
resources at Kranshoek along the coast and Kwanokuthula along
the N2 are available when required. The ecological condition of the
Keurbooms River (and Bitou where it feeds into the lower reaches
of the Keurbooms) has been negatively impacted by agricultural
practices, urban development, alien plants and fish, as well as water
abstraction.
Key catchments of biodiversity importance include the Groot River
catchment (including Nature’s Valley) as it is a relatively pristine and
diverse system. It serves an important function, acting as a corridor
for ecological processes. Another is the Salt River catchment, which
is also reasonably pristine. The upper Keurbooms River catchment is
particularly important as it feeds the rest of the Keurbooms system,
which is home to the Endangered and endemic Knysna Seahorse
(Hippocampus capensis).
2.5 COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
17
The coast of the Garden Route is characterised by a rocky shoreline
interspersed with bays, sandy beaches, dunes, rivers, estuaries and
lakes. It experiences strong wave action owing to its exposure to
the south-westerly ocean swells. A relatively shallow bank extends
almost 250 km out to sea, known as the Agulhas Bank. As part
of the continental shelf, this bank is of key biological importance,
influenced by warm water plumes from the Agulhas current, as
well as cold, nutrient-rich ‘bottom’ water upwelling in places. As a
consequence, sea temperatures and productivity on the Agulhas
Bank are intermediate between those of the west and east coast
marine systems. It is the centre of the South African fishing industry.
The area supports a variety of marine mammals, seabirds, deep water
and open ocean fish, as well as shellfish.
Key coastal and marine habitats of the Garden Route region
Well-located, Marine Protected Areas can play a substantial role
in ensuring sustainable use of marine resources. They serve in
protecting habitats, breeding stocks and nursery grounds which in
turn, assist in replenishing fish resources in adjacent, exploited areas.
Key priority areas or special habitats for extension of the existing
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are proposed to provide better
protection of inter-tidal habitats, areas of high reef fish abundance,
coastal dunes, and subtidal geology types.
Key priority coastal and marine areas or special habitats that fall
within the Garden Route domain (from west to east) include:
1. The Kaaimans River Mouth, to the west of Wilderness (George
Municipality).
2. The area from Wilderness, just west of the Touws River mouth
through to Platbank, just east of Sedgefield. This area includes
the dune area of the Groenvlei-Swartvlei mouth, which
could be incorporated with the westward extension of the
Goukamma Nature Reserve, a formal Protected Area (spans
both the George and Knysna municipal areas).
3. The area extending from just east of Buffels Bay to Brenton-on-
Sea (Knysna Municipality).
4. A marine extension of the Knysna Heads (Knysna Municipality).
5. The area from Noetsie to Toegroeiberg, east of Kranshoek
(Knysna and Bitou Municipalities).
6. The marine extension of the Piesangs River Mouth at
Plettenberg Bay (Bitou Municipality).
7. The marine extension of the mouth of the Keurbooms Estuary
(Bitou Municipality).
8. The area extending from east of Keurboomstrand to the
western boundary of the Tsitsikamma National Park (Bitou
Municipality).

Coastal and marine ecosystem services – what our coastal and
marine ecosystems do for us
These ecosystems deliver a range of services, including sources
of food, opportunities for fishing (subsistence, recreational and
commercial); resources for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic
industries (e.g. algae/seaweed), and for mining (sand and heavy
minerals), as well as scenic beauty for the recreational and tourism
industry.
Human activities that currently impact on coastal and marine
ecosystems in the Garden Route
These include insensitive development or over-development of
the coastline, over-exploitation of resources (e.g. recreational and
commercial fishing), pollution (both non-point and point source),
and sand mining. These activities can result in the depletion of
resources and destroy natural scenery which impacts on tourism.
The Coastal and Marine Environment is protected by:
• the Marine Living Resources Act,
• the Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Area Extension
regulations,
• the National Environmental Management Act; and
• the Integrated Coastal Management Act.
The three last-mentioned, list certain activities that are
prohibited in the coastal zone and which require authorization.
Coastal dunes help prevent the erosion of our beaches by supplying
sand and; in so doing protect the coastal zone. Dunes naturally move
but due to stabilization by coastal development and alien plants (e.g.
rooikrans), the erosion or ‘disappearance’ of our beaches is taking
place. Beach erosion threatens the stability of natural ecosystems
and coastal development e.g. along St Francis Bay. With global
warming and the ensuing rise in sea level, it is likely that beach
erosion will intensify. This has significant financial repercussions as
society attempts to protect coastal development against rising sea
levels and storm damage.
Coastal and marine resources
within the CFR generated R1323 million p.a. in 2003
The Garden Route Initiative, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), has compiled an Integrated Management Plan for the
Garden Route marine and coastal environment, extending from the Kaaimans River in the west to the Groot River at the eastern boundary
of the Tsitsikamma National Park. The plan aims to ensure appropriate management and protection of the coastal and marine environment.

Hilton Herd
2.6 SPECIAL HABITATS AND SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN
Special habitats include areas that are rare within the region, or which support important species, ecosystems or ecological processes. They
include those Listed Threatened Ecosystems in terms of the NEMBA. Species of Special Concern refers to red data species, some of which are
listed within the NEMBA Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS); and known locations where these species occur.
Special biodiversity features were identified via expert workshops and from data collected by the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildlife
(CREW). Some of the Special habitats and key Species of Special Concern of the Garden Route region are presented in Table 2.1 and 2.2 below.
Table 2.1: A selection of Special Habitats within the Garden Route
Priority Special
Habitats
Riverine Saltmarsh
Ericaceous Fynbos
Forests
Aquatic dependent
habitats
Groenvlei-Swartvlei
mouth dunes
Kaaimans River
Keurbooms River and
Estuary
Goukamma River
Wilderness Lakes Area
and Swartvlei
Knysna Western Heads
Description and location in the Garden Route
This is an important habitat for estuarine species living in the Knysna Estuary (Knysna Municipality), Keurbooms
Estuary (Bitou Municipality) and the Groot River Estuary (Bitou Municipality).
This habitat grows on the steep upper mountain slopes and serves an important water catchment function. It is
the source of most perennial streams. It is found in all three municipalities.
The forests are very rich in plant species and are highly conservation worthy. They are protected by the National
Forest Act occurring throughout all 3 municipalities.
These habitats depend on the presence of either fresh or brackish surface water, associated with aquatic
ecosystems and occur within all 3 municipalities.
This dune area includes the Groenvlei Dune Field, a rare and ancient dune field (parabolic) located east of the
Swartvlei Estuary at Sedgefield (Knysna Municipality).
The lower reaches of the Kaaimans support the Near Threatened and endemic fish Eastern Cape Redfin
(Pseudobarbus afer), and is home to one of five populations classed as belonging to the group (lineage) of redfins
associated with forest (George Municipality).
This system supports several important fish species, e.g. Eastern Cape Redfin (Pseudobarbus afer). The river and
estuary is also home to several red data bird species, for example the Blue Crane (Anthropooedes paradisea), and
the Half Collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata) (Bitou Municipality).
This large river system provides habitat for a population of Eastern Cape Redfin (Pseudobarbus afer), one of only
four known populations; and Cape Kurper (Sandelia capensis), which belongs to a distinct group (or lineage)
associated with forest (Bitou Municipality).
They are considered to be some of the most productive coastal lakes and estuaries in South Africa (George and
Knysna Municipality).
This area is home to several rare plant and butterfly species, and is home to an unusual vegetation type related
to its unique geology (Knysna Municipality).
Refer to Section 2.5 (pg 17) for priority Special habitats within the marine environment. Numerous Special habitats have been identified for
specific Species of Special Concern (plant, animal, bird, fish, etc.) of which a few have been tabled below.
19

Table 2.2: A selection of key Species of Special Concern within the Garden Route region
Species name Red data book status, habitat description and location in the Garden Route
Plants Of the many red data species, the following are Critically Endangered
Disa newdigateae
Disa procera
Gladiolus fourcadei
Pentaschistis barbata
orientalis
Protea cynaroides (small
leaved variant)
A Critically Endangered orchid which is thought to be endemic to Knysna Enon Fynbos in the Knysna
municipal area only (even though this vegetation type also extends into the Bitou Municipality).
A Critically Endangered orchid which is locally endemic to Hoogekraal Sandplain Fynbos in the Knysna
municipal area only (even though this vegetation type extends into all three municipalities).
A Critically Endangered plant located in Renosterveld (transitional Fynbos), extending from George to
Humansdorp.
A Critically Endangered grass species which is locally endemic to Hoogekraal Sandplain Fynbos in the
Knysna municipal area only (even though this vegetation type extends into all three municipalities).
A Critically Endangered protea variant that is extremely rare and which occurs in both Hoogekraal
Sandplain Fynbos (located in all three municipalities) and Roodefontein Grassy Fynbos (located in the Bitou
Municipality), although the plant’s range extends from George to Port Elizabeth.
Animals The following animals are found in various Special Habitats across the different municipalities
Blue duiker (Philantombo
monticola)
Grysbok (Raphicerus
melanotis)
Honey badger or Ratel
(Mellivora capensis)
Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Birds
African Marsh Harrier (Circus
ranivorus)
Blue Crane (Anthropooedes
paradisea)
Lesser Kestrel (Falco
naumanni)
Martial Eagle (Polematus
bellicosus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco
peregrinus)
Amphibians
Knysna Spiny Reed Frog
(Afrixalus knysnae)
Reptiles
Blue-spotted Girdled Lizard
(Cordylus coeruleopunctatus)
Knysna Dwarf Chameleon
(Bradypodion damaranum)
Occurs in dense coastal bush, thicket and forest habitats. Its status is Vulnerable.
This buck lives in thick scrub and bush, including fynbos, and is often found in close proximity to coastal
towns. It is Endangered and endemic to South Africa. The Grysbok can be subject to local extinctions as
habitat is destroyed.
This animal is Near Threatened and protected in terms of the NEMBA. It is uncommon throughout its range,
which includes a variety of habitats but excludes forest and moist mountain areas.
A large, wild cat that is tolerant of a wide range of habitats, usually with forest or broken rocky country. Its
status is Vulnerable.
An indigenous species of high conservation value, it is protected by the NEMBA in terms of the Protected
Species List. It inhabits marshland, flooded grassland and adjacent areas.
South Africa’s national bird favours grasslands and other upland habitats. They will nest where shallow
wetlands are available. Its status is Endangered.
Usually a colonial breeder, this kestrel is found in the vicinity of towns. It forages in grasslands, steppe-like
habitats and non-intensive cultivated areas. Its status is Vulnerable.
The largest eagle in Africa prefers uninhabited stretches of thicket and open plains. Its status is Vulnerable.
It lives mostly along mountain ranges, coastlines and river valleys. Its status is Vulnerable.
An Endangered and endemic frog species that occurs in shallow wetlands densely
vegetated, with foliage (leaves) above the water level.
This lizard is endemic to the Garden Route, and is located
in the George and Bitou municipalities.
The endemic Knysna Dwarf Chameleon is a forest reptile that occurs
in the wet, coastal temperate forests of the Garden Route.

Species name Red data book status, habitat description and location in the Garden Route
Insects - Butterflies
Brenton Blue (Orachrysops
niobe)
Brenton Copper (Aloeides
thyra orientis)
Brenton Opal (Chrysoritis
thysbe mithras)
Knysna Skolly (Thestor
brachycerus)
Fish
Cape Gallaxius (Galaxias
zebratus)
Cape Kurper (Sandelia
capensis)
Eastern Cape Redfin
(Pseudobarbus afer)
Knysna Seahorse
(Hippocampus capensi)
Slender Redfin (Pseudobarbus
tenui)
Disa procera
A Critically Endangered butterfly found only at Brenton-on-Sea (Knysna) within the Brenton Blue Butterfly
Reserve.
The Brenton Copper is a red listed butterfly which is found only on the Brenton peninsula, Knysna. Its status
is Vulnerable.
The Brenton Opal Butterfly is found only on the Brenton peninsular (Knysna) and is red listed as Endangered.
A Critically Endangered butterfly confined to the Eastern Knysna Heads.
This fish is Near Threatened and endemic to South Africa, occurring in a few George and Knysna municipal
rivers.
Near Threatened and endemic to South Africa, this fish occurs in several rivers from George to the Bitou
Municipality.
This forest fish species is found in a number of rivers in the Garden Route. Its status is Near Threatened and it
is endemic to South Africa.
This seahorse has been recorded from the Knysna, Swartvlei, and Keurbooms Estuaries. Its status is
Endangered.
An Endangered fish, endemic to South Africa, which is located in few rivers, largely within the Bitou
Municipality.
Leopard
Seahorse
Tinneke Kraaij
All the Species of Special Concern contribute to the biodiversity
of the Garden Route and should be targeted for conservation. The most efficient manner in
which to conserve a species is it to ensure that its habitat is protected.
Martial Eagle
Lucas Galuzi
Frank Lane
Grysbok
21
Peet Joubert
Nigel Dennis

2.7 ECOLOGICAL PROCESS AREAS 14
As described earlier in Section 1.2 (pg 2), biodiversity
encompasses not only all living things, but also the series of actions
and interactions that sustain them, termed ecological processes g
(e.g. pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, fire in fynbos
ecosystems). The physical “spaces” where these actions and
interactions take place are known as ecological process areas.
In the case of evolutionary processes, these seem far removed
from our everyday lives. We perhaps forget that new species are
evolving all the time. With impending climate change, it is even
more important that those areas where species generate are
safeguarded. For example, in areas where different soil types meet,
this juxtaposition enables certain plant species to become adapted
to different soils, and new plant species are able to generate.
These processes are not obvious to everybody, but scientists are able
to identify and locate critical examples which are often associated
with landscape features. Amongst the largest ecological process
areas are landscape corridors comprising large tracts of natural
habitat, such as major river systems or mountain ranges. They serve
as landscape-scale “highways”, allowing plant and animal species to
migrate along them in response to any changes in climate. These
highways run along river courses from the high inland mountains,
across the lower coastal plain and to the coast, or else along
mountain ranges and the coastal area in an east-west gradient.
Smaller ecological process areas include, for example the natural
buffer area of an isolated wetland.
A landscape corridor may cover a variety of habitats such as pristine
fynbos vegetation, or disturbed and/or degraded habitats or special
habitats or even the alternate narrow strips of natural vegetation
14 See also CapeNature Fact Sheet: Biodiversity in an agricultural landscape.
growing between cultivated crops such as honeybush (tea). If
such degraded, disturbed or agricultural lands are identified as
components of a landscape corridor, no further hardening of the
surface should be allowed as this poses threats to the functioning of
the corridor.
The objective of sustainability is to ensure the persistence of critical
ecological processes along a number of gradients and for these to
interlink where possible. For example, a river corridor following the
gradient from inland mountains to the sea serves to link areas of
different soil types, as well as coastal corridors spanning an east-west
gradient. Such a network of corridors provides the best design in
enabling biodiversity migrations.
These landscape corridors, which often extend beyond local
municipal and provincial boundaries, also serve to protect the
source of rivers to ensure water yield from mountain catchments
and support rare or threatened species. They deliver invaluable
ecosystem services that are too costly or impossible to produce
artificially, functioning at scales impossible for humans to replicate.
In the face of escalating water needs and global climate change, it
is vital that landscape corridors are safeguarded against the loss of
intact habitat and that the natural landscape is not fragmented into
disconnected portions.
Key Landscape Corridors in the Garden Route region
Landscape corridors in the Garden Route are interlinked with
formal Protected Areas that are managed by SANParks, CapeNature,
or the Department of Forestry, many of which are located in the
mountainous areas. These key landscapes corridors are either CBA or
ESA (see Figure 2.3 below).
The Wilderness National Park situated in the George
Municipality. Photo: Andrew Brown

Figure 2.3: Key landscape corridors (ecological process areas) in the George, Knysna and Bitou municipalities that are designated as Critical
Biodiversity Areas or Ecological Support Areas.
a. Coastal corridor
The Garden Route’s coastal corridor is a band (a minimum of 1 km
wide outside of urban areas) which broadly accommodates the
coastal zone and dynamic/mobile ecosystems, as well as intact
coastal vegetation where it occurs. It incorporates shifting sand
dunes, river mouths, estuaries, lagoons and is important in enabling
the persistence of ecological and evolutionary processes. It was
identified in the Western Cape Spatial Development Framework
(2005) and spans municipal boundaries.
b. River corridors
Rivers and their associated riparian or riverbank habitats provide
the core for many large-scale (landscape level) ecological corridors,
linking the coastline to inland mountains, as well as upland to
lowland habitats. The river corridors are along the major perennial
rivers in the Garden Route, as represented in Figure 2.3 below.
c. Upland-lowland Corridor
An upland-lowland corridor links upland and lowland habitats
outside of the river corridors. Only one such corridor occurs within
the Garden Route and it is located near the border of the Knysna
and Bitou municipalities, running from Noetsie River to Harkeville,
just east of Kranshoek. It encompasses numerous small perennial
and non-perennial rivers and streams, a formal protected area and
forestry plantations, while linking the coastal area to the Outeniqua
Mountain Range.
Ecosystem services – what our Landscape Corridors do for us
Ecological or landscape corridors provide valuable ecosystem
services that are often impossible or very costly to replicate or offset.
They support the long-term persistence of plant and animal species
and their ecological processes (e.g. fire, pollination, seed dispersal)
and enable migration of species which is of increasing importance
with the threat of global climate change.
Landscape corridors, including mountain catchments, absorb rainfall
over immense areas, and act as vast sponges storing the water and
then releasing it slowly through the dry season. In this way, corridors
serve to protect the source of rivers and ensure water yield from
23
mountain catchments. The quality and quantity of water supplies
are maintained, providing for human consumption and ensuring the
survival of downstream estuaries, wetlands (vleis) and streams, which
in turn deliver other ecosystem services.
Corridors contribute to the protection and preservation of Critical
Biodiversity Areas, or support rare or threatened species. Their scenic
value contributes significantly towards tourism and recreation, and
provides a region’s ‘sense of place’.
Developing within frontal dune systems or within close proximity to
the high water mark of the sea can have significant negative impacts
for society. Sand bank erosion is a major problem requiring costly
measures to prevent property damage. This is especially important
given the predicted sea level rise as climate change takes effect.
To locate the landscape corridors, see the Garden Route CBA
Mapbook, wall map and GIS maps.
2.8 PROTECTED AREAS AND CONSERVATION
AREAS
Protected Areas are the core areas in the network of ecological areas
and are vital in supporting ecological sustainability and enhancing
resilience to climate change. Protected Areas within the Garden
Route can be divided into two main categories, namely protected
areas and conservation areas.
Protected Areas are areas of land or sea that are formally protected
by law and managed mainly for biodiversity conservation. Protected
Areas which are recognised in the National Environmental
Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003) (NEMPAA)
are considered formal Protected Areas in the National Protected
Areas Expansion Strategy. The Protected Areas Act distinguishes
between several categories of Protected Areas, namely Special
Nature Reserves, National Parks, Nature Reserves, and Protected
Environments. It also recognises World Heritage Sites declared in
terms of the World Heritage Convention Act 49 of 1999; marine
protected areas (MPAs) in terms of the Marine Living Resources
Act (18 of 1998) and/or the NEMPAA; specially protected Forest
Areas declared in terms of the National Forests Act 84 of 1998; and

Table 2.3: Coverage (hectares and percentage) of Protected Areas in the George, Knysna and Bitou Local Municipalities (LM).
MUNICIPALITY
CATEGORY
Protected Areas
Total ha
Approximate size of municipality in
ha
Total Protected Areas
(% of municipality)
Mountain Catchment Areas declared in terms of the Mountain
Catchment Areas Act 63 of 1970. Note that these can include
privately-owned areas if they have been formally declared as
National Parks, Nature Reserves or Protected Environments under
NEMPAA. Formal Protected Areas allow for long term security of
tenure and are gazetted in terms of the NEMPAA.
Formal Protected Areas that occur within the Garden Route include
National Parks (managed by the national conservation agency,
SANParks); Provincial Nature Reserves (managed by the provincial
It is important to note that the existing Protected Areas and
Conservation Aeas do not protect or conserve examples of all
the different ecosystem types which occur in the Garden Route
i.e. not all types are represented. However, the network of CBA
and ESA presented on the CBA Map (pg 28) does include
a representative sample of all ecosystem types. They should
be proactively targeted for formal protection or management
via other mechanisms e.g. conservation areas, zoning. Once
verified on the ground, these biodiversity priority areas need
to be coupled to an implementation strategy developed in
collaboration with the key stakeholders (e.g. municipalities,
conservation agencies, DWEA etc) in the area. Stakeholders
should also be urged to develop a catchment planning
approach for their implementation strategy. See section 5.3.1.7
and 5.3.1.8 (pg 51).
conservation agency, CapeNature); Forest Nature Reserves
(managed by the Department of Forestry) and Local Authority
Nature Reserves (managed by a municipality). Those situated along
the coast and within the marine waters include the Goukamma
and Robberg MPAs in the Western Cape, whilst the Tsitsikamma
MPA overlaps both the Western and Eastern Cape. SANParks intends
proclaiming the Garden Route domain as a World Heritage Site in
terms of the World Heritage Convention Act.
Conservation Areas are those areas of land not formally protected
by law, but informally protected by the current owners and
users, and managed at least partly for biodiversity conservation.
Conservation Areas are therefore not considered as formal Protected
Areas as they are not gazetted in terms of the NEMPAA and do
not allow for long-term security of tenure. They could include
areas covered by Biodiversity Agreements in terms of the National
GEORGE MUNICIPALITY KNYSNA MUNICIPALITY BITOU MUNICIPALITY
24 630.4 31 999.2 49 779.7
10 6873.3 10 5931.7 99 104.2
22.8% 29.5% 50.0%
Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004), nondeclared
Private Nature Reserves and conservancies. The last
mentioned are agreements for co-operation among neighbouring
landowners, and require no legal long-term commitment from the
landowners.
Refer to Table 2.3 above for the sizes (in hectares) of Protected Areas
located in the Garden Route municipalities.
For the PROTECTED AREAS MAP, both FORMAL Protected Areas,
and MARINE Protected Areas, see the Garden Route CBA Mapbook,
CBA wall map and GIS maps.
2.9 LAND COVER IN THE GARDEN ROUTE:
LEVELS OF TRANSFORMATION AND
DEGRADATION
In this document, the term land cover describes the level of change
or transformation of natural ecosystems, which can range from
natural land, to degraded and overgrazed areas, to areas which
have been irreversibly transformed (e.g. urban development). Thus,
land cover has implications for the maintenance and persistence of
biodiversity.
These measures of land cover, together with the national biodiversity
thresholds g , were used by biodiversity (conservation) planners to
identify the categories on the CBA Map, namely CBA, ESA, Other
Natural Areas and No Natural Areas Remaining (NNAR). For example,
Critical Biodiversity Areas were identified based on the extent of an
existing ecosystem (e.g. a particular vegetation type) relative to its
original extent, prior to modern human activities. NNAR on the other
hand, are transformed areas e.g. agriculture, urban development.
Land cover areas for the Garden Route were mapped at a scale of
1:10 000, and infestations of invasive alien plants was mapped at 1:15
000. Refer to Figure 2.4 and Table 2.4 for broad land cover categories
in the Garden Route.

Table 2.4: Summarized land cover categories for the Garden Route (Refer to Appendix A for further biodiversity statistics) showing levels of
transformation and degradation
Land cover category
George Knysna Bitou
ha % ha % ha %
1) Natural 36051.0 33.7 48063.4 45.4 64191.7 64.8
2) Degraded g (e.g. alien infestation, overgrazed) 25506.5 23.9 16289.4 15.4 16237.0 16.4
3) Transformed g 52904.2 49.5 44293.9 41.8 22139.2 22.3
• intensive agriculture 24507.1 22.9 8236.9 7.8 8060.3 8.1
• plantations 15129.2 14.2 30176.3 28.5 8695.1 8.8
• urban and infrastructure (includes dams) 5631.1 5.3 3140.9 3.0 1850.1 1.9
(Note: The transformed category includes heavy alien transformation as these areas are not required for meeting national biodiversity
thresholds).
The dominant land or water use activities in the Garden Route that cause transformation (damage/destruction) or degradation (deterioration)
of the natural environment are listed below:
Terrestrial ecosystems (on land) Aquatic ecosystems (associated with water)
urbanization water abstraction and modification of water flow (e.g. dams, hard surfaces)
intensive agriculture (cultivation and dairy farming)
development within the 1 in 20 year floodline (e.g. housing, sand-mining,
cultivation)
plantation forestry development and infilling (particularly in urban areas or expanding urban areas)
sand mining cultivation of wetland areas
groundwater abstraction groundwater abstraction
invasion by alien plant species invasion by alien plant species
inappropriate fire management invasion by alien fish species
over-harvesting waste water discharge or effluent of poor quality
over-grazing eutrophication as a result of fertilizer runoff from cultivated lands
species loss through climate change (caused by air
pollution)
artificial breaching of estuary mouths
•species loss through climate change (caused by air pollution)
Figure 2.4: Broad land cover within the Garden Route
For the A3 LAND COVER MAP, see the Garden Route CBA Mapbook; and GIS maps.
25

All human life is entirely dependent on the natural
resources and services delivered by ecosystems.
These are not infinite, meaning that there are
ecological limits to development.

The Critical Biodiversity Areas Map
3
3.1 WHAT IS A CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS (CBA) MAP?
A CBA Map is a fine-scale systematic biodiversity plan g that delineates on a map Critical Biodiversity Areas
and Ecological Support Areas. These areas require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence of
biodiversity, its ecological processes (e.g. animal migration, fire, pollination) and its ecosystem services e.g.
water supply. The map also delineates formal Protected Areas, Other Natural Areas and No Natural Areas
Remaining (See Section 3.2 below). The CBA Map is the central component of the Biodiversity Sector Plan.
The broad objective of the CBA Map is to ensure appropriate land-use and planning for the best possible
long-term benefits, to prevent cumulative impacts and to promote integrated management of natural
resources.
The CBA Map aims to guide sustainable development by providing a synthesis of biodiversity information
to decision makers. It serves as the common reference for all multi-sectoral planning procedures g , advising
which areas can be lost to development, and which areas of critical biodiversity value; and their supporting
zones should be protected against impacts.
3.2 HOW WAS THE CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS (CBA) MAP
PRODUCED?
Production of the CBA Map involved assessing the condition of the region’s biodiversity, and the
development of a long-term strategy to safeguard biodiversity i.e. by guiding development away
from those areas where biodiversity is endangered to the point of extinction, encouraging the wise
use of natural resources, and promoting sustainable land-use.
The Garden Route Critical Biodiversity Areas Map was produced through a systematic biodiversity
planning process conducted at a fine-scale 15 (1:10 000) 16 . This methodology is compatible with the
guidelines for publishing bioregional plans in terms of Chapter 3 of the NEMBA 17 . See Section 3.5 (pg
28) for the areas covered by the CBA Map.
Systematic biodiversity (conservation) planning g identifies those areas which are most in need of
conservation (i.e. safeguarding) in order to meet national biodiversity thresholds g . The aim of this
planning approach is to assist land-use management in ensuring sustainable development, which is
especially important in the face of climate change. It is a scientifically defensible plan that prioritises
actions by setting quantitative thresholds for biodiversity features (e.g. vegetation types). It aims
to identify for safeguarding a representative sample of biodiversity pattern g, including species and
habitats, as well as areas for ecological and evolutionary processes g that maintain biodiversity.
The network of areas on the CBA Map is designed to be spatially efficient (i.e. to meet biodiversity
thresholds g on the least amount of land possible) and aims to avoid conflict with other land-uses,
where feasible. Refer to the technical report (Holness, et al., 2010) for further detail.
3.3 DEFINITIONS OF THE CATEGORIES ON THE CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY
AREAS MAP
Protected Areas (PAs)
These are terrestrial, aquatic (water) and/or marine areas that are formally protected in terms of the
National Environment Management: Protected Areas Act (57 of 2003) and/or Marine Living Resources Act
(107 of 1998).
Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA)
The CBA Map indicates areas of land as well as aquatic (water) features which must to be safeguarded in
their natural to near-natural state if biodiversity is to persist and ecosystems are to continue functioning.
Land in this category is referred to as a Critical Biodiversity Area. CBA incorporate: (i) areas that need to be
safeguarded in order to meet national biodiversity thresholds g ;(ii) areas required to ensure the continued
15 Fine-scale biodiversity plans are more accurate maps prepared at a scale of 1:3 000 – 1:50 000.
16 The technical term for the CBA Map is the Garden Route Fine-Scale Systematic Biodiversity Plan (Holness, 2010).
17 Refer ‘Guideline regarding the Determination of Bioregions and the Preparation and Publication of Bioregional Plans
Government Gazette No 32006 (No. # 291) March, 2009. See glossary for further explanation of a Bioregional Plan.
27

existence and functioning of species g and ecosystems g , including the
delivery of ecosystem services g ; and/or (iii) important locations for
biodiversity features or rare species.
Ecological Support Areas (ESA)
Ecological Support Areas (ESA) are supporting zones required to
prevent the degradation of Critical Biodiversity Areas and Protected
Areas. An ESA may be an ecological process area that connects
and therefore sustains Critical Biodiversity Areas or a terrestrial
feature. Although many ESA consist of natural veld, there are areas
of land (partially or wholly transformed or degraded) that have
been classified as ESA even though they are no longer in a natural
state. Although these areas are heavily degraded or transformed,
they still play an important role in supporting ecological processes.
This is particularly the case with riparian areas, some key catchment
areas and key pieces of corridors (especially the coastal corridor).
No further intensification of land-use activities should be permitted
and they should be prioritized for rehabilitation, where possible. ESA
also include many areas that would have been identified as Critical
Biodiversity Areas but have been subject to significant degradation
or even transformation. These areas retain importance for supporting
ecological processes.
Other Natural Areas (ONAs)
Those areas of natural vegetation identified on the map as Other
Natural Areas are areas that are not currently required to meet
biodiversity thresholds or support important ecological processes.
It is important to note that in the future, if there is loss of Critical
Biodiversity Areas or Ecological Support Areas, such areas may
eventually be reclassified as Critical Biodiversity Areas. Therefore, in all
decision-making, the precautionary principle needs to be applied.
No Natural Areas Remaining (NNAR)
The CBA Map identifies areas that have been irreversibly transformed
through development (e.g. urban development, plantation,
agriculture), contain no natural areas and are not required as
Ecological Support Areas. These areas are referred to as No Natural
Areas Remaining. NNAR also include areas that have been utilized
in the past (e.g. farmed, mined) and are currently unused or are
heavily infested with alien plants. They no longer contribute to the
biodiversity of the area and are favoured areas for development.
3.4 THE GARDEN ROUTE CRITICAL
BIODIVERSITY AREAS MAP
Refer to Figure 3.1 below for the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map for
the George, Knysna and Bitou municipalities and Table 3.2 for the
criteria used to define the CBA Map categories.
Sustainable development depends on where and how development
occurs. The CBA Map assists with identifying appropriate areas
for development within the Garden Route from a biodiversity
perspective. It provides the biodiversity information for a credible
IDP and SDF. Section 5 (pg 43) demonstrates how the map can
be used in land-use planning and decision-making, whilst Section
6 (pg 53) provides answers to ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ when
interpreting the CBA Map.
Refer to Appendix A (pg 62) for additional biodiversity statistics,
including to the GR CBA Mapbook and GIS maps for all the other
mapped ecosystem types or biodiversity features.
3.5 AREAS COVERED BY THE CRITICAL
BIODIVERSITY AREAS MAP
The CBA Map covers the George, Knysna, and Bitou municipal areas
in the Western Cape. It encompasses the entire catchment areas
of the rivers that drain south from the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma
Mountains. See Figure 3.1 below.
Figure 3.1: The Garden Route CBA Map which identifies a network of CBA and ESA that need to be safeguarded.

Important Note: The Garden Route CBA Map is aligned to the three municipal boundaries for ease of implementation and to allow
for the publication of a bioregional plan in terms of Chapter 3 of the NEMBA.
The Garden Route CBA Map was ‘extracted’ from the Garden Route Fine-Scale Systematic Biodiversity Plan (Holness et al, 2010), the
technical term for the CBA Map. The biophysical planning domain of the Garden Route Fine-Scale Systematic Biodiversity Plan (or
CBA Map) covers, for the most part, the region of South Africa known as the Garden Route. More specifically, it covers the George,
Knysna, and Bitou municipal areas, and beyond their northern boundaries, up to the N9 and R62 roads in the Western Cape. It
also includes the southern regions of the Koukamma and Kouga Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. In this way, the entire
catchment areas of the rivers that drain south from the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains are encompassed, including the
Kouga and Suuranys Mountains, Baviaanskloof and parts of the Elands Mountains to the east.
Critical Biodiversity Area Maps that lie adjacent to the Garden Route CBA Map are; to the west the Mossel Bay Municipality CBA
Map and to the north the Little Karoo CBA Map, which overlays the Eden DM, Kannaland and Oudtshoorn Municipalities. The
Baviaanskloof CBA Map covers the northern parts of the Koukamma and Kouga Municipalities.
Noetzie Proteoid Fynbos is a unit of the Proteoid Quartz Grassy
Fynbos. It occurs within the coastal corridor of the Knysna and
George Municipalities. Some of the geophytes, such as Pterygodium
newdigateae, are threatened species.
29

3.6 CRITERIA USED TO MAP THE CATEGORIES ON THE CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS MAP
Criteria defining the CBA Map categories are presented in Table 3.1 below. For more detail, refer to the Garden Route Conservation Planning
Report (Holness, et al., 2010).
Table 3.1: Criteria used to define the CBA Map categories
CBA MAP
CATEGORY
Protected Areas
Critical
Biodiversity
Areas
Ecological
Support Areas
Other Natural
Areas
No Natural Areas
Remaining
Formal Protected Areas
Source Reference: Holness et al., 2010
CRITERIA DEFINING THE CATEGORY
a) Terrestrial
• Nature Reserves and National Parks (protected by the National Environment Management: Protected Areas Act
57 of 2003).
• Forest Nature Reserves (declared in terms of the National Forest Act 84 of 1998).
• Ramsar Sites (protected by the Ramsar Convention).
• Mountain Catchment Areas (declared in terms of the Mountain Catchment Area Act 63 of 1970).
• World Heritage Sites (declared in terms of the World Heritage Convention Act 49 of 1999).
b) Marine
• Marine Protected Areas (protected by the National Environment Management: Protected Areas Act (57 of 2003)
or Marine Living Resources Act (107 of 1998).
Any terrestrial, freshwater aquatic or marine area required to meet biodiversity pattern and/or process
thresholds
a) Any area that is required for meeting biodiversity pattern thresholds, namely:
• Remaining areas of Critically Endangered habitat types.
• Special habitats (areas required to protect special species and habitats).
• Listed Threatened Ecosystems in terms of the National Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004).
• Remaining areas protected by the National Forest Act (84 of 1998).
b) Any area that is required for meeting ecological process thresholds including:
• Ecological or landscape corridors (comprising upland-lowland, river, coastal and sand-movement corridors)
c) Hydrological process areas (estuaries, wetlands, important catchment areas).
d) All ‘best design’ sites (largest, most intact, least disturbed, connected and/or adjacent) in terms of meeting
pattern and process thresholds. ‘Best design’ refers to an identified network of natural sites that meet pattern
and process thresholds in all vegetation types in a spatially efficient and ecologically robust way, and aim to
avoid conflict with other activities (e.g. economic activity) where it is possible to achieve biodiversity thresholds
elsewhere.
Supporting zone required to prevent degradation of Critical Biodiversity Areas and Protected Areas.
a) Areas required to prevent degradation of Critical Biodiversity Areas and formal Protected Areas.
b) Remaining catchment and other process areas (river, fire, etc) that are required to prevent degradation of Critical
Biodiversity Areas and formal Protected Areas.
c) Areas that are already transformed or degraded g , but which are currently or potentially still important for
supporting ecological processes e.g. transformed or alien plant infested areas that have transformed or
degraded the natural buffer area of a wetland or river. These areas are a focus for rehabilitation, and the
intensification of land-use should be avoided.
Natural areas not included in the above categories.
These areas include cultivated areas (intensive agriculture), afforested areas (plantation forestry), farmland (areas that
have been farmed in the past), mined areas (currently or in the past), urban areas, infrastructure, dams and areas
under coastal development.

3.7 QUANTITATIVE VALUES (HECTARES/PERCENTAGE) OF THE CATEGORIES ON THE CRITICAL
BIODIVERSITY AREAS MAP
The quantitative values (hectares and percentage) of Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas are represented in Table 3.2
below. These values represent the amount of land in existing Protected Areas as well as those areas, namely CBA and ESA, which should be
protected through appropriate mechanisms. These mechanisms could include formal Protected Areas in terms of NEMPAA, appropriate zoning
(in terms of the Land-use Planning Ordinance) and other Conservation Areas (see Section 2.8 pg 23 and 5.3.1.7 pg 51).
Table 3.2: A summary of quantitative values for each mapped category (hectares and percentage)
MUNICIPALITY
CATEGORY ON THE CBA MAP
GEORGE KNYSNA BITOU
ha % ha % ha %
Protected Areas 24318.8 22.8 31271.4 29.5 49570.6 50.0
Critical Biodiversity Areas 15383.2 14.4 22701.8 21.4 18876.2 19.1
Ecological Support Areas 23074.9 21.6 11962.8 11.3 11575.6 11.7
Other Natural Areas 311.6 0.29 727.8 0.69 209.1 0.21
No Natural Areas Remaining 43784.8 41.0 39220.6 37.0 18844.1 19.0
TOTAL AREA 106 873.3 100 105 931.7 100 99 104.2 100
Ruitersberg Mesic Proteiod Fynbos is an
Endangered vegetation type that grows
in the George Municipality only
Photo: Jan Vlok
31

A key priority coastal and marine area stretches from
Noetsie to Toegroeiberg, east of Kranshoek, located in the
Knysna and Bitou Municipalities.
Photo: Jan Vlok

Land-Use Guidelines
4
This section provides land-use guidelines for land-use planning and decision-making, and guidelines for
the sound management of land and water resource use i.e. land-use management guidelines. All the
guidelines are informed by the Desired Management Objective for the different categories on the CBA
Map as well as the relative impact of a land-use activity on biodiversity.
The aim of the guidelines is the effective management of biodiversity as required in terms of Section
41(a) of the Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004), the National Environment Management Act (89 of 1998) and the
Integrated Coastal Management Act (24 of 2009).
These guidelines were derived from the biodiversity sector and identify activities which are
biodiversity-compatible. As such, they consider information from only one sector in the multisectoral
process of spatial planning and land-use management. For further land-use policy
recommendations applicable to areas outside of the urban edge, refer to the Western Cape
Provincial SDF and the associated Rural Land-Use Planning and Management Guidelines (in prep.).
4.1 DESIRED MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES
The Desired Management Objective for a parcel of land or aquatic ecosystem refers to the ecological
state or condition in which it should be maintained (or managed). Different categories require specific
management objectives according to their biodiversity priority. In broad terms, the biodiversity priority
areas need to be managed in a healthy and functioning condition while the heavily impacted or
transformed areas can be further developed.
The Desired Management Objective provides the broad direction for appropriate land or water resource
use activities and management guidelines (see Table 4.2 and 4.3, including Section 4.4 below). Only land
or water resource use activities that are compatible with maintaining the Desired Management Objective
should be encouraged. Refer to Table 4.1 below for Desired Management Objectives.
Table 4.1: Desired Management Objectives for the CBA Map categories.
CBA MAP
CATEGORY
DESIRED
MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVE
Formal
Protected
Areas
Critical
Biodiversity
Areas
Maintain natural land.
Rehabilitate degraded to
natural or near natural
and manage for no further
degradation.
Ecological
Support
Areas
Maintain
ecological
processes
Other
Natural Areas
Sustainable
Management
within general
rural land-use
principles
33
No Natural
Areas
Remaining
Sustainable
Management
within general
rural land-use
principles.
Favoured
areas for
development.
The Desired Management Objective refers to the management of both biodiversity pattern and/or
ecological process (see Section 1.2 pg 2). In formal Protected Areas and Critical Biodiversity Areas, it is
important to maintain biodiversity pattern and ecological processes, while in Ecological Support Areas the
emphasis is on safeguarding ecological processes only.
Terrestrial and aquatic resources are interdependent, with one affecting the other. For example, to
ensure the healthy functioning of rivers, wetlands and estuaries, it is essential to protect mountain
catchment areas where the water originates, and to safeguard riverside vegetation as the plants
prevent soil erosion, sedimentation and water pollution.

4.2 RECOMMENDED BIODIVERSITY-COMPATIBLE LAND-USE GUIDELINES MATRIX
For the biodiversity priority areas, namely formal Protected Areas, Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas, the guidelines have
been informed by:
1. the Desired Management Objective (described above in Table 4.1); and
2. the likely impact of land and water resource use activities on biodiversity (i.e. the choice of development should be guided by the
potential impact on the receiving environment).
In Other Natural Areas and No Natural Areas Remaining no guidelines are offered, and decisions regarding development should take all sectors
into consideration. If the proposed development lies beyond the urban edge, guidance should be obtained from the provincial Rural Land-
Use Planning and Management Guidelines (in prep). All development should strive to be sustainable.
Refer to Table 4.2 below for the biodiversity compatible land-use guidelines recommended by the biodiversity sector.
Andrew Brown
The purpose of the guidelines is to encourage development which avoids or has minimal biodiversity impacts, especially in
Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas. In general, land-uses that result in irreversible loss of natural habitat
(such as cultivation, afforestation, urban development, mining) have the highest impact on biodiversity; and are considered
biodiversity-incompatible land-use activities. Land-uses that allow for natural habitat to remain intact (such as appropriately
managed grazing by either livestock or game or sustainable harvesting of natural products from the wild), have the lowest
impact on biodiversity; and are therefore considered biodiversity-compatible land-use activities.

Table 4.2: Recommended biodiversity-compatible land-use guidelines matrix
KEY: Biodiversity sector land-use recommendations
• Yes = Encouraged;
• No = Discouraged;
• Restricted = Land-use possible under strict controls in order to avoid impacts on biodiversity.
CBA MAP CATEGORY
DESIRED MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVE
PSDF SPATIAL PLANNING
CATEGORY
LAND-USE ACTIVITY
1) CONSERVATION
Refer to Table 4.3 (pg 36) for the land-use activity descriptions as per pre-defined Town and Regional planning terms
Formal Protected
Areas
Maintain natural
land. Rehabilitate
degraded to natural
or near natural and
manage for no
further degradation.
Critical
Biodiversity Areas
Maintain natural
land. Rehabilitate
degraded to natural
or near natural and
manage for no
further degradation.
Ecological
Support
Areas
Maintain
ecological
processes
Core 1 Core 1 Core 2
LAND-USE
GOVERNED BY
THE NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT:
PROTECTED AREAS
ACT (NEMPAA)
AND A
PROTECTED
AREA
MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Yes Yes
2a) AGRICULTURE -HIGH IMPACT :
Intensive Agriculture
(includes forestry plantation and space
extensive agricultural enterprises)
No No
2b) AGRICULTURE - LOW IMPACT:
Extensive Agriculture
Restricted Yes
3) HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION
4a) RURAL HOUSING:
Restricted Restricted
Low Density Rural Housing (Consolidation
of rural erven for conservation)
Restricted Restricted
4b) RURAL HOUSING:
On-Farm Workers Settlement
5a) TOURIST and RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES - LOW IMPACT: Lecture rooms,
restrooms, restaurants, gift shops and
outdoor recreation
5b) TOURIST and RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES - HIGH IMPACT: Golf , polo, and
housing eco-estates
6a) RURAL BUSINESS:
Place Bound
6b) RURAL BUSINESS:
Non Place Bound
No Restricted
Restricted Restricted
No No
Restricted Restricted
No No
7) RURAL INDUSTRY No No
8) SMALL HOLDINGS No No
9) COMMUNITY FACILITIES and
INSTITUTIONS
No No
10) INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATIONS Restricted Restricted
11a) SETTLEMENT:
Existing Settlements (Urban Expansion)
No No
11b) SETTLEMENT:
New Settlements
No No
Other Natural
Areas
Sustainable
Management
within general
rural land-use
principles
Buffer 1 or 2
at the discretion
of Town and
Regional
Planners
35
No Natural Areas
Remaining
Sustainable
Management
within general rural
land-use principles.
Favoured areas for
development.
Intensive
Agriculture and
Settlement
REFER TO THE PROVINCIAL RURAL
LAND-USE PLANNING AND
MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES18 FOR GUIDANCE IN IDENTIFYING
APPROPRIATE LAND-USE ACTIVITIES
ALWAYS MANAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT WHEN CONSIDERING
LAND and WATER RESOURCE USE
APPLICATIONS IN NATURAL AREAS
IMPORTANT NOTE: These land-use guidelines serve as the primary biodiversity informant to land-use planning and decision-making,
and cannot grant or take away existing land-use rights.
18 Available@ http://www.capegateway.gov.za

4.3 DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND-USE ACTIVITIES
Table 4.3: Land-use activity descriptions adopted from the provincial Rural Land-Use Planning and Management Guidelines (Draft, 2009), including
additional biodiversity-related conditions/controls.
1. Conservation
2. Agriculture
This is a land-use activity where conservation is the major objective. Subject to stringent controls the following biodiversitycompatible
land-use activities (i.e. those of very low impact) may be accommodated in Critical Biodiversity Areas:
1a) Conservation management activities such as the clearing of invasive alien species, research and environmental education.
1b) Low intensity eco-tourism activities such as recreation and tourism (e.g. hiking trails, bird and game watching, and visitor
overnight accommodation) with limited access points.
1c) Sustainable consumptive activities: Harvesting of natural resources (e.g. wild flowers for medicinal, culinary or commercial use).
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• These land-uses are limited to very low transformation levels for infrastructure development. Unless existing infrastructure already
exists, this should be used. Alternatively transformed areas should be utilized.
• Environmental Management Plans are required to ensure appropriate protection of the receiving environment e.g. harvesting
volumes, periods etc.
• Green technology and architectural design principles have been adopted.
• The entire property or a part thereof (depending on the land-use activity above) is under some form of conservation agreement
or mechanism. These mechanisms would include formal Protected Areas in terms of NEMPAA, appropriate zoning (in terms of the
Land Use Planning Ordinance) and other Conservation Areas, such as stewardship agreements or conservancies.
2a) Intensive agriculture, including:
• All areas of High Potential and Unique Agricultural Land, together with areas of lower agricultural potential where particular
agricultural practices may themselves contribute to the character of the environment, the agricultural working landscape or the
local economy
• Forestry or Timber Plantations (Timber Production)
Includes: all timber plantations, mainly Pinus, Eucalyptus and Acacia plant species;
Assumes the following conditions/controls: monoculture of alien timber species with heavy impact on hydrology and soil
erosion and introduction and spread of a variety of the most aggressive alien invasive plants.
• Irrigated Crop Cultivation
Includes: all irrigated crops (vegetables) and irrigated tree crops (orchards);
Assumes the following conditions/controls: intensive production activity with high nutrient and agro-chemical inputs and often
two crops per year (but even just ploughing, with no chemicals etc., results in irreversible loss of natural habitat).
• Dryland Crop Cultivation -
Includes: all tillage cultivation of non-irrigated crops, mostly single-season annuals, but including perennial and orchard-type tree
crops if cultivated with an indigenous grass layer;
Assumes the following conditions/controls: crop production methods that conserve water and protect against soil erosion;
limited and responsible use of fertilisers, pesticides and other agrochemicals and genetically modified organisms.
Space extensive agricultural enterprises (e.g. intensive feed-lots, poultry battery houses) -
Includes: all intensive animal production systems, that are dependent primarily on imported foodstuffs and confinement; includes
dairy farming and all areas in production support for dairy, including pastures, fodder and grain crops, much of which is usually
irrigated;
Assumes the following conditions/controls: To be located in close proximity to regional routes (including rail) to facilitate
product and requisite (e.g. feed) movement and supply
2b) Extensive agriculture, including extensive livestock or game farming
Includes: livestock or game production and related tourism activities on extensive land portions of natural land cover. Could
include private game reserves, sustainable commercial hunting along with other consumptive and non-consumptive use of
natural resources. Private game reserves to be officially protected through various mechanisms (e.g. NEMPAA or other conservation
agreements), with strict limits on the level of development considered acceptable for lodge and other accommodation
infrastructure.
Assumes the following conditions/controls: application of minimum size criteria for economic sustainability as are applied to
rangeland livestock farming; strictly limited development for revenue generating purposes such as intensified tourism or sectional
ownership. Stringent management conditions applied, such as –
• Faunal specialist to undertake carrying capacity study for game reserves/production.
• Ensure riparian and wetland buffer areas are protected.
• Strict adherence to stocking rates for extensive agriculture.
• For game reserves, indigenous species only to be stocked
• Environmental Management Plan, including fire management measures, if necessary.
• These land-uses are limited to very low transformation levels for infrastructure development.
• Location of infrastructure, either within disturbed/transformed areas or in existing buildings, where possible.

3. Holiday Accommodation
4. Rural Housing
Provides tourist/holiday accommodation in rural areas.
Includes:
• B&B establishment, backpackers accommodation, guesthouse, boutique hotel, lodge;
• Resort;
• Camping Sites; and
• Farm rental units
Assumes the following conditions/controls: All forms of holiday accommodation are encouraged within existing structures or
on existing disturbed or transformed areas and within close proximity to existing infrastructure (e.g. roads and electricity). Although
encouraged for resort developments too, this is not always possible given the unique nature of the setting required, which will most
likely be place-bound. Most holiday accommodation should be provided in or adjacent to existing towns and rural settlements, although
it can be accommodated in the rural landscape. However, the form and scale of facilities should be aligned with the character, quality
and environmental sensitivity of the rural landscape. Certain norms (e.g. number of guesthouses or B&B per farm) must be applied, as per
the Rural Land-Use Planning and Management Guidelines.
These land-use activities are restricted to small footprints and will be subject to the Western Cape Rural Land-Use Planning and
Management Guidelines, which restricts the number of new structures etc., within the larger landscape and encourages densification to
reduce cumulative impacts. Resort developments are subject to a density norm or formulae and the resort units are restricted to 120m²
footprints in terms of these guidelines.
4a) Low density rural housing (consolidation of rural erven for conservation)
This land use facilitates residential development rights outside the urban edge, is of a low density and occurs on extensive pieces of
land thereby increasing the size of the conservation area or land under conservation, i.e. consolidation of the conservation estate or
area in hectares that is conserved through various mechanisms (e.g. NEMPAA or other conservation agreements), within the province.
The following density norms, in addition to other land-use factors, environmental constraints and strategic context, including the
desirability to consolidate erven, shall be used to establish the maximum number of units permitted on land units outside the urban
edge, namely:
• Divide the total extent in hectares of the to-be-consolidated cadastral units by 1 000 and multiply the answer by the number of cadastral
units to be consolidated. Refer to the Rural Land-Use Planning and Management Guidelines (in prep.), if this calculation yields a number
of dwelling units that is less than or equal to, or less than one-third more than, the total number of individual cadastral units to be
consolidated.
Includes: development for ‘lifestyle’ or investment-type recreational ownership such as share-block schemes, multi-ownership
reserves, but only for extensive land portions with limited development (NB: excludes golf estates or residential eco-estates).
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• Maintenance of a large measure of natural land cover and biodiversity-friendly management; the development footprint should
be extremely limited in relation to the property size.
• Individual footprints to be limited to 250m² with maximum permissible floor space of 120m².
• Clustered layout, sensitively placed to limit the transformation impact, development within already transformed or disturbed areas
or use of existing buildings or built on timber piers (this will also ensure corridor linkages throughout the cadastral area).
• Sustainable water supply (within the allocated Reserve of the water resource).
• Use of off-grid services (solar power, rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, urine diversion/environmentally friendly toilet
facilities) and built from local recyclable materials.
• No formal gardening.
• Development outside of ecologically sensitive areas e.g. river-beds and their riparian zones, wetlands and their natural buffers,
flood-lines.
• Areas not developed are under some form of agreement or mechanism. These mechanisms would include formal Protected Areas
in terms of NEMPAA, appropriate zoning (in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance) and other Conservation Areas, such as
stewardship agreements or conservancies.
4b) “On-Farm” Settlement of Farm Workers
Includes: This land-use includes residences for farm workers and retirees “on-farm” i.e. where housing is available to farm workers
who currently live on the farm and will be living there in future, either due to personal preference (e.g. their tenure rights, rural
surroundings, place for retirement etc.) or because circumstances require it (e.g. working hours etc.).
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• Fragmentationg of agricultural landscape and land for agricultural purposes is not being threatened by the “urbanization” of rural
areas.
• Where possible, clustering of units in distinct housing precincts located in visually unobtrusive locations and existing footprints,
but enjoying convenient access to the rural access network.
37

5. Tourist and Recreational Facilities
6. Rural Business
7. Rural Industry
Includes a broad range of rural tourist and recreational facilities in support of sustainable rural tourism, rural businesses and
communities, as well as to provide for the rural recreational and leisure needs of urban dwellers, namely:
5a) Low impact facilities
Lecture rooms, restrooms, restaurants, gift shops
Outdoor recreation (e.g. 4x4 trails and hiking trails)
Non-place bound tourist and recreational activities and facilities (e.g. water parks, paint ball); and
5b) High impact facilities
Golf Courses, Golf Estates, Polo Fields and Polo Estates (with or without residential component)
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• Non-place bound tourist and recreational activities and facilities located in or peripheral to existing rural settlements
• Rural tourist and recreational activities and facilities to be linked to a natural setting or feature.
• Location of infrastructure either within disturbed/transformed areas and existing buildings, where possible.
• Restricting large-scale recreational developments including a residential component to a location in the “urban fringe”, allowing for
their longer term inclusion inside the urban edge.
• Development outside of ecologically sensitive areas e.g. river-beds and their riparian zones, wetlands and their natural buffers,
flood-lines.
• High impact facilities outside of priority ecological or landscape corridors i.e. CBA and ESA.
This land-use broadens tourist and visitor demand and strengthens rural and settlement economies. It includes Rural
businesses ranging from a curio-shop in a National Park to a conference venue on a game farm, namely:
6a) Place-bound business -
Farm stall and farm shop
Restaurant/tavern
Venue facility (e.g. conference/ wedding)
AND
6b) Non-place-bound business e.g. agricultural co-operative, filling station/petro-port, tourist retail outlet, plant nursery, hotel/motel,
tourism office, commercial kennel.
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• Farm stall restricted to selling products produced and processed on the farm to the general public, located either in the
farmstead precinct or abutting a tourist route, if present.
• Restaurant, tavern and venue facility located within the farmstead precinct.
• Non-place-bound business located in and peripheral to rural settlements, outside of environmentally sensitive areas i.e. CBA and
ESA.
• Location of infrastructure either within disturbed/transformed areas and existing buildings, where possible
This land-use accommodates a range of industry types serving rural areas, and includes:
7(a) Non-place-bound rural industry, for example:
Manufacturing agricultural requisites such as pallet making, bottle labeling;
Processing of regionally sourced product such as fruit cannery, meat processing plant, abattoir;
Transport contractors, dairy depots, builder’s yards; and
Processing rural sourced materials (e.g. pottery manufacturing from kaolin).
7(b) Extractive industry which is place-bound given that it depends on the location of the mineral resource i.e. quarrying and mining;
including secondary beneficiation (e.g. cement block manufacturing plants, concrete batch plants, pre-mix asphalt plants). Includes
all strip and opencast mining excavations or quarrying (sand mining); plus the visual, physical and chemical impacts of these
activities, particularly on ground water reserves; all mine waste and refuse dumps, urban waste sites and landfill sites for whatever
purposes.
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• All non-place-bound industry (i.e. rural industry and service trades) to be located in and peripheral to rural settlements outside of
environmentally sensitive areas e.g. CBA and ESA.
• Extractive industry to be located at the mineral source within the rural area, and informed by environmental considerations and
post mining rehabilitation.

8. Smallholdings
9. Community facilities
and institutions
10. Infrastructure installations
11. Settlement
This land-use accommodates smaller agricultural properties which may be used for agriculture, but may also be occupied as
places of residence by people who seek a rural lifestyle, and usually includes agriculture, dwelling house, home occupation.
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• New smallholding developments for rural lifestyles to be restricted to inside the medium to long term urban edge.
• Bona-fide small-scale agricultural properties (e.g. agricultural allotments) should be located outside the urban edge within areas of
intensive agriculture (existing or potential).
• Minimum smallholding unit size: 8 000 m².
• Compilation of a Management Plan for new and existing smallholding areas.
This land-use provides facilities in support of rural community socio-economic development and well-being; including:
• schools, places of assembly, churches;
• primary and secondary health care;
• institutions requiring extensive land or isolated location (e.g. infectious disease recovery facility); and
• institutions requiring an agricultural production location, servicing such production (e.g. agricultural research stations and
agricultural schools).
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• Facilities located within existing towns and rural settlements; in close proximity to a settlement or located on a regional route,
outside of environmentally sensitive areas e.g. flood-lines, river and wetland buffers and Special Habitats.
• In the absence of public land, establish facilities “on-farm”, utilizing existing farm structures or existing footprints.
• Location of facilities to target disturbed areas and areas of low agricultural potential in order to avoid fragmentation of super-blocks.
This land-use accommodates infrastructure installations serving both the urban and rural areas where such installations include:
• Wastewater treatment works, airports, water extraction purification plants, safety and security (e.g. police) stations, irrigation
infrastructure, roads, power lines, railways and pipelines;
• Nuclear power stations, wind farms or other alternative energy technologies requiring large areas of undeveloped land; and
• All substantial impoundments, reservoirs or dams and weirs, with associated pipelines, canals, access roads and bulk water transfer
schemes).
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• Installations to be located on transformed, disturbed or low-value agricultural land, where possible.
• A shared location and/or facility (e.g. police and clinic in a community service centre).
• Infrastructure installations requiring a location outside the urban edge is restricted to extensive agricultural areas peripheral to
settlements in close proximity to regional routes to facilitate access and restrict fragmentation of the agricultural landscape.
• Installations in intensive agricultural areas are restricted to essential services (e.g. irrigation infrastructure, safety and security).
• Energy generating developments (i.e. nuclear power, wind farms, etc) are associated with large areas of land left undeveloped thereby
maintaining low transformation levels relative to the property size.
• Avoidance of sensitive areas such as floodlines, river and wetland buffers and Special Habitats.
• All water-use developments should be subject to the Ecological Reserve in terms of the National Water Act.
This category includes all human settlements, consisting of the following two sub-categories:
11.a) Existing settlements (and urban expansion), which include:
Metropolitan areas, cities, larger towns, small towns, villages and hamlets.
It comprises all physical, residential, educational, recreational elements (e.g. sports facilities, fields, parks), cemeteries, industrial and
business development, including associated infrastructure etc., which are commonly known as urban land-use activities (or the built
environment). Existing settlements are frequently under significant pressure to expand due to in-migration and population increases,
which require the provision of housing and services etc., therefore causing urban expansion.
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• The control of urban expansion through the delineation of an urban edge to prevent urban sprawl.
• The delineation process is guided by the provincial urban edge guideline document and informed by a fine-scale biodiversity plan or
map, for example: a Critical Biodiversity Areas Map is used to delineate a boundary of the urban edge.
• The promotion of compact urban settlements, whilst maintaining an open space system (where possible) that is informed by a finescale
biodiversity plan or map.
11.b) New settlements include areas that will -
Service geographically isolated farming areas (i.e. agri-village);
Service rural resource exploitation (e.g. mines) and significant infrastructural developments (e.g. power plants); or
Proclaim the urban component of existing Act 9 and church settlements.
Assumes the following conditions/controls:
• New settlements located in the rural area when necessitated by unique circumstances (e.g. servicing of isolated large infrastructural
projects outside the servicing sphere of existing settlements) or in order to proclaim the urban component of existing rural church,
forestry or conservation settlements (i.e. Transformation of Certain Rural Areas).
39

4.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE SOUND MANAGEMENT OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES
The land and water resource use management guidelines in the boxes 1- 3 below can be used by all parties involved in land-use planning
and decision-making e.g. provincial and local government (as part of the municipal LUMS), landowners, Interested and Affected Parties and
developers etc.
The guidelines must be read in conjunction with -
1. The Fynbos Forum (FF) Ecosystem Guidelines (de Villiers et al., 2005); and
2. The C.A.P.E Fine-Scale Planning (FSP) Aquatic Ecosystem Guidelines (Job et al., 2008).
Both documents provide additional management guidelines for specific ecosystem type(s) verified on a property (e.g. freshwater,
lowland fynbos etc) and are available from the BGIS Unit at www.bgis.sanbi.org or (021) 799 8738.
Nigel Dennis
Noetzie Thicket-Fynbos is a Vulnerable vegetation type growing in
the Knysna and Bitou Municipalities along the coastal corridor.

BOX 1: MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR AREAS CLASSIFIED AS CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS (CBA)
• Minimise loss of any natural habitat.
• Minimise further fragmentation of habitat.
• If degraded or disturbed lands are identified as components of a landscape corridor, no further hardening of the surface should be allowed as
this poses threats to the functioning of the corridor.
• Prioritise as prime candidates for biodiversity offset receiving areas g .
• Implement management programmes to maintain natural ecological processes; e.g. fire management in fynbos vegetation types.
• Implement regular environmental monitoring and reporting of biodiversity and/or change of land-use to prevent unauthorized development
or degradation by neglect or ignorance.To be carried out by DEADP, Department of Water Affairs (of DWEA), and the Department of
Agriculture (of DAFF).
• Prioritise as prime areas for conservation projects or activities and alien clearance programmes etc. by LandCare, Working for Water, Working
for Wetlands, Working for the Coast, (CoastCare) and NGOs.
• Implement restoration or rehabilitation programmes in degraded or disturbed sites i.e. an integrated alien management plan.
• Compile Environmental Management Plans, where possible, to include, e.g. alien plant control, fire management etc.
• Prioritise for incorporation into the protected areas network, and for stewardship agreements. See Section 5.3.1.7 (pg 51).
• Prioritize for rates rebates by Municipalities (in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004).
• Use CBA boundaries to demarcate urban edges to limit lateral expansion of urban development along landscape corridors.
• Incorporate CBA into Urban Open Space Systems.
• All the management conditions/controls provided in Table 4.3 (pg 36) that correlate to the recommended land-uses (Table 4.2 pg 35)
in CBA should be adhered to. These should be further supported by the Western Cape Provincial Rural Land-Use Planning and Management
Guidelines.
• Any loss in CBA should be recorded, preferably in GIS format, to encourage monitoring of the CBA Map.
GUIDANCE TO ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN LAND-USE CHANGE APPLICATIONS IN CBA
(and as part of municipal LUMS)
• Land-use activities that are not compatible with a CBA should not be approved or applied for (see Table 4.2 pg 35), unless an adequate
biodiversity offset receiving area is identified.
• Land-use activities that will result in major loss in natural habitat are incompatible with the Desired Management Objectives of a CBA (Table
4.1 pg 33).
• Subdivision of land likely to result in natural areas or more intensive use of CBA should be discouraged.
• Where developments are unavoidable in a CBA, some form of conservation agreement or mechanism should be adopted in the
undeveloped areas e.g. formal Protected Area status in terms of NEMPAA, appropriate zoning (in terms of LUPO) and other conservation areas,
such as stewardship agreements or conservancies. See Section 2.8 (pg 23). Appropriate biodiversity offset receiving areas must also be
identified to compensate for the CBA loss.
• Specialist Ecologist to conduct the environmental assessment, or in consultation with CapeNature, the Department of Water Affairs (where
aquatic features are present), the Department of Forestry (where forests are present) and/or SANParks.
SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
• Do not permit development within at least 30m of the delineated wetland/estuary boundary or riparian edge, the 5m contour around
estuaries or within the 1:100 year floodline (or higher where increased flooding has occurred), whichever is the more restrictive. This reduces
the incidence or severity of natural hazards.
• The “buffer” may need to be wider than 30m. This should be determined on a case-by-case basis by a specialist ecologist in consultation with
the Department of Water Affairs and CapeNature (and SANPArks) to reflect site-specific factors. The approach for determining buffer width
should consider the current condition of the aquatic ecosystem and existing and proposed buffer, as well as the functioning of the system in
the broader landscape, plus an assessment of the impacts to the ecosystem of the existing and proposed adjacent land-use.
• Maintain water quantity, quality and flow regimes as close to natural as possible (desired Eco-status19 or Ecological Management Class of A:
Natural or B: Largely Natural) e.g. water quantity component of Ecological Reserve of > 80% of Mean Annual Runoff (MAR).
• Large-scale groundwater abstraction should be avoided.
• Areas that are degraded or disturbed should be rehabilitated through programmes such as Working for Water, Working for Wetlands, Working
for the Coast (CoastCare); and a systematic alien vegetation (and where possible fish) eradication programme implemented to improve
biodiversity and water supply, especially upstream areas of estuaries and wetlands.
• Ensure implementation of the CBA Map and guidelines through Catchment Management Agencies.
Consult the FF Ecosystem Guidelines (de Villiers et al., 2005) and the C.A.P.E. FSP Aquatic Ecosystem Guidelines (Job et al., 2008); for detailed
management guidelines for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems identified on the property (Refer to Appendix A for summary data on the
Garden Route vegetation types).
19 Eco-status: The overall ecological status of an aquatic resource in which it should be managed as determined by the Reserve in terms of the NWA e.g. Ecostatus
A requires that a river be managed in its natural state with no impacts. It indicates the level of protection a river should receive.
41

BOX 2: MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR AREAS CLASSIFIED AS ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT AREAS (ESA)
• Further loss of habitat within ecological process areas should be minimized i.e. avoid further urban and intensive agriculture in
landscape corridors.
• Fragmentation of habitat should be avoided within ecological process areas.
• Natural linkages should be maintained and encouraged between ecosystems, e.g. rivers to associated wetlands.
• Maintain ESA to ensure that ecological processes remain intact e.g. hydrological [river] processes and riparian areas, fire processes,
vegetation boundaries which reflect soil interfaces or upland-lowland interfaces etc.), especially within landscape corridors.
• ESA should be a focus for rehabilitation, where possible e.g. alien clearing through an integrated alien management plan.
• If degraded, disturbed or agricultural lands are identified as components of a landscape corridor, no further hardening of the surface
should be allowed as this poses threats to the functioning of the corridor.
• No intensification of land-use should be allowed in these areas.
• In fynbos and fire-prone thicket systems appropriate fire regimes should be maintained.
• All the management conditions/controls provided in Table 4.3 (pg 36) relating to the recommended land-uses (Table 4.2 pg
35) in ESA should be adhered to. These should be further supported by the Western Cape Provincial Rural Land-Use Planning and
Management Guidelines.
• Any loss in ESA should be recorded, preferably in GIS format, to encourage monitoring of the CBA Map.
SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
• To protect river integrity a minimum buffer of 32m, including all riparian habitat, around rivers in ESA should be maintained. Where
possible, the 1:100 year flood line should be used (or higher in areas that have experienced increased flooding). This reduces the
incidence or severity of natural hazards.
• Do not permit infilling, excavation, drainage, hardened surfaces (including buildings and asphalt), intensive agriculture or any new
developments within a wetland and its associated buffer of natural vegetation (i.e. wetland marginal habitat).
• In ESA around estuaries it is recommended that no new development be permitted within 500m from the high water mark, the 5m
contour or the 1:100 year floodline.
• Maintain water quantity, quality and flow regimes as close to natural as possible (desired Eco-statusg or Ecological Management Class
of A: Natural or B: Largely Natural) e.g. water quantity component of Ecological Reserve of > 80% of Mean Annual Runoff (MAR).
• Large-scale groundwater abstraction should be avoided.
• Areas that are degraded or disturbed should be rehabilitated through programmes such as Working for Water, Working for Wetlands;
and a systematic alien vegetation (and where possible fish) eradication programme implemented to improve biodiversity and water
supply, especially upstream areas of estuaries and wetlands.
• Ensure implementation of the CBA Map and guidelines through Catchment Management Associations.
Consult the FF Ecosystem Guidelines (de Villiers et al., 2005) and the C.A.P.E. FSP Aquatic Ecosystem Guidelines (Job et al., 2008); for
detailed management guidelines for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems identified on the property (Refer to Appendix A for summary
data on the Garden Route vegetation types).
BOX 3: MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR AREAS CLASSIFIED AS OTHER NATURAL AREAS (ONAs)
These are areas that have not been flagged as having critical biodiversity importance. However, it is possible that they contain important
biodiversity features which are worthy of safeguarding, but which were not identified in the CBA Map, e.g. a previously unidentified rare
species on the site.
• Developments should attempt to avoid fragmentation of natural habitat.
• Developments must still meet the NEMA principles and EIA requirements, including all other planning procedures (e.g. town and
regional planning, water use licensing, agricultural subdivisions and cultivation).
Proposals should follow all relevant guidelines to minimize the impact of the proposed development. There are a host of guidelines offered
by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning available on the website www.capegateway.gov.za.
Any loss in ONA should be recorded, preferably in GIS format, to encourage monitoring of the CBA Map.
Consult the Fynbos Forum Ecosystem Guidelines (de Villiers et al., 2005) for detailed management guidelines with regards to terrestrial
ecosystems identified on the property (Refer to Appendix A for summary data on the Garden Route vegetation types).

How And When To Use the Biodiversity Sector Plan
in Land-Use Planning and Decision-Making
5
The Biodiversity Sector Plan (BSP) is intended to support land-use planning and decision-making in areas
identified as biodiversity priorities (i.e. CBA and ESA); and to help inform the planning and management
tools that municipalities are required to develop. This section therefore gives guidance on how and when
to use the BSP (most importantly the CBA Map, GIS layers and land-use guidelines) within the field of landuse
planning and decision-making.
By applying the recommendations provided in the BSP, sustainable development will be promoted. This
will be achieved through the effective protection and management of biodiversity in the Garden Route,
as required in Section 41(a) of the Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004) and in terms of the National Environment
Management Act (89 of 1998) and the Integrated Coastal Management Act (24 of 2009).
5.1 REACTIVE LAND-USE DECISION-MAKING
A wide range of authorities can benefit from consulting the Biodiversity Sector Plan:
• Municipalities (LUPO applications, EIAs);
• National and provincial Environmental Departments (EIAs, LUPO applications);
• National and provincial Agricultural Departments when i) assessing land-use applications in terms of
LUPO, the NEMA (EIAs) and the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act; or ii) in processing applications
for the cultivation of virgin land20 in terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act;
• Department of Mineral Resources to inform mining applications;
• Water Affairs (of DWEA) in processing water use licenses and commenting on EIAs that affect water
resources; and
• Forestry (of DAFF) in processing land or resource use applications affecting indigenous forests.
Municipalities play a specific role in ensuring that appropriate environmental authorisations are in place
and that correct procedures are followed before they allow any change in land-use. It is the obligation of a
municipality to:
• issue an approval only once other required authorisations are in place (e.g. EIA, DWEA licensing), or
• make it explicit that work can begin only once other authorisations are in place.
In most situations, a full investigation into biodiversity importance is triggered only when a “listed activity”
in terms of NEMA is proposed 21 . However, if the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map indicates that a proposed
activity is located within a Critical Biodiversity Area, Ecological Support Area, Other Natural Area or natural
habitat (not indicated on the CBA Map) then further investigation is needed before any decision is made
regarding a land-use change. The CBA Map indicates potential constraints to development on a site and
provides an early warning signal that an in-depth biodiversity assessment may be required.
The Biodiversity Sector Plan, comprising the CBA Map and guidelines, provides a summary of the best
available biodiversity information for use in the decision-making process. However, it is important to note
that while the CBA Map can assist with a desk-top assessment of the site at a local and strategic level, it
should not, under any circumstances, replace a site assessment by a relevant biodiversity specialist (Step 3
below).
If a site is located within a CBA or ESA a specialist assessment of the biodiversity is essential.
A full set of guidelines to assist with planning and decision-making has been prepared by the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) and is available at www.capegateway.gov.
za/deadp. The Biodiversity Sector Plan should, however, be used to support the approaches outlined in
the DEADP guideline documents when making land-use decisions.
20 Virgin land is considered virgin if it has not been cultivated in the past or within the last 10 years.
21 Environmental impact assessment may be prescribed by national legislation or may be required by the Municipal
Council where it is of the opinion that a proposed land-use or activity is likely to have a significant impact on the
environment. The Western Cape Provincial Zoning Scheme Model By-law creates the mechanism and procedure
whereby the Municipal Council may require and manage an environment impact assessment not provided for in
other legislation.
43

A detailed guide to pre-application biodiversity assessments is
given in the Fynbos Forum Ecosystem Guidelines (de Villiers et
al., 2005), which can be accessed via the BGIS website (http://
bgis.sanbi.org). Note that the CBA Map represents the most
accurate and up to date information, i.e. it supersedes the
NSBA, STEP and CAPE.
When processing an application or considering a proposed
development, follow the 4 steps below to interpret the Garden Route
Critical Biodiversity Areas Map.
5.1.1 STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN USING THE CBA MAP
Below are the steps to follow when using the CBA Map to inform
decisions regarding land-use applications. They are aimed at decisionmakers
and developers/applicants, together with environmental
assessment practitioners and/or town planning professionals.
STEP 1: ASSESS THE INFORMATION ON THE CBA MAP AND ITS
ASSOCIATED MAPS (I.E. THE BSP INFORMATION)
Refer to the CBA Map, Garden Route CBA Mapbook and GIS data to
determine:
(a) The biodiversity category of the property i.e. does the proposed
development fall within a Protected Area, Critical Biodiversity
Area, Ecological Support Area, Other Natural Area or No Natural
Areas Remaining?
(b) The Desired Management Objective of the property (Table 4.1
pg 33).
(c) The biodiversity features on the property e.g. wetland,
ecological process area, vegetation type; ecosystem types (e.g.
Fynbos, Freshwater or Coastal), Species of Special Concern and
ecosystem status.
(d) The land cover category of the property i.e. does the proposed
development fall within Natural, Degraded or Transformed?
(e) The Spatial Planning Category (SPC) of the property i.e. Core
1, Core 2 and Buffer 1 or 2 (Go to Table 5.1 pg 47 or the GIS
data).
• Refer to the CBA Lookup Table (provided as part of the GIS data)
for criteria that determined whether a site is a CBA or ESA.
STEP 2: ASSESS OTHER AVAILABLE INFORMATION (I.E. NOT THE
BSP INFORMATION)
Consult other available information to gain an overview of the
biodiversity of the area, the ecological condition of the site and other
related policy recommendations.
(a) Refer to the Provincial Spatial Development Framework,
the Western Cape Coastal Zone Policy Document (where
applicable) and the Rural Land-Use Planning and Management
Guidelines (in preparation22 ) for the SPC’s overarching set of
principles, policy objectives and recommendations as set out
by these documents (available from www.capegateway.co.za/
deadp).
22 Available @ http://www.capegateway.gov.za
(b) Other information could include the most recent site
photographs, technical reports and other documents,
information on red data book species locations or phone
conversations, etc.
(c) Make use of up-to-date orthophotos and aerial photos of the
area to assess the presence of natural vegetation on site or the
level of impacts/transformation (REMEMBER: outdated aerial
photographs will misrepresent the condition of the site).
(d) The Land-use Decision Support Tool on the BGIS website
(http://bgis.sanbi.org) can be used to determine property
specific details, and includes aerial photography via google
earth.
It is very important that information on the CBA Map is verified by
making use of other supporting data, especially if it is more up to date or
more accurate.
STEP 3: SITE VISIT
The next essential step should be a site assessment to verify the CBA
Map information.
(a) Verify that the CBA Map and GIS data used to develop the CBA
Map (i.e. vegetation type, land cover category, presence of
aquatic features, special habitats etc) are spatially correct i.e.
• does the property fall within a CBA, ESA, ONA and/or NNAR?
• does the property fall within a Natural, Degraded or
Transformed land cover category?
Note when verifying the land cover category: Numerous
degraded (e.g. alien invaded) and transformed areas (e.g.
agricultural land) are categorized as ESA. This is because they
are currently or potentially still important for supporting
ecological processes (e.g. floodplains and riparian areas,
buffers around wetlands and lakes, or key linkages for animal
movement). In this case the land cover category will match
site conditions. Some degraded sites have been categorized
as CBA due to their importance as ecological process areas.
In such instances the land cover category will also match
site conditions. However, no known transformed site was
categorized as a CBA during mapping. This would only be the
case if the land cover has changed subsequent to mapping or
if it was incorrectly mapped. In such instances the land cover
category will not match site conditions. See queries 6.1 and 6.2
(pg 53).
Refer to Frequently Asked Questions when verifying the information
on these maps (Section 6 pg 53).
(b) Verify whether the proposed land-use change (or
development) requires an EIA in terms of the NEMA regulations
or whether it falls within a CBA and/or ESA?

(i) Where an EIA is required:
The site assessment should be conducted by a specialist consultant; and a CapeNature, Department of Water Affairs (if an aquatic
feature is present), Department of Forestry (if forest is present) and a SANParks official (where possible).
• Refer to available supporting tools for assessing a site -
(i) Recommended Terms of Reference for the Consideration of Biodiversity in Environmental Assessment available at www.
botanicalsociety.org.za (select: conservation unit, then CU downloads); and
(ii) DEADP’s Guideline for Involving Biodiversity Specialists (www.capegateway.gov.za).
• Both publications promote the early consideration of potentially significant impacts and assist in improving specialist input
into EIAs.
As a minimum the specialist consultant should:
1. Produce an Ecological Sensitivity Map that delineates:
(a) vegetation type(s) on site of varying sensitivity i.e. whether it is a CBA, ESA or ONA etc., and the ecosystem status (Refer
Appendix A pg 62);
(b) disturbance of the vegetation type(s) and levels of disturbance on site i.e. pristine (high sensitivity), moderately degraded
(moderate sensitivity) or highly degraded (low sensitivity); stating the degree of intactness, including the identification of
alien invasive species;
(c) potential for rehabilitation/restoration;
(d) presence of or likelihood of presence of species of special concerng and/or special habitats; and
(e) ecological process areas which delineates either the presence of a mapped CBA or ESA corridor (ecological process area
or landscape corridor – see section 2.7, Figure 2.1) or the potential for small scale corridors on site e.g. along a stream,
drainage lines, or processes e.g. wetland and its buffer.
2. Verify the CBA Map category i.e. CBA, ESA, ONA etc. The degree of intactness of the vegetation is an important indicator of
whether the site is situated within a CBA or not. In addition, the GIS data (refer to the CBA Lookup Table) provides the criteria
determining the category of the site under investigation.
Note: Where the site has been categorized as a CBA or ESA, the specialist consultant must interrogate all the underlying information of
the CBA Map (e.g. land cover, landscape corridors, ecosystem status, species of special concern etc) to verify why the property has been
cateogorized as a CBA or ESA. This is particularly the case for degradedg sites. In such instances, the specialist must clearly identify why the
site is a CBA or ESA even though it is degraded e.g. because it is located in a landscape corridor, is Critically Endangered or contains rare
species etc. The specialist must therefore evaluate the site in terms of its contribution to meeting the underlying biodiversity objectives
identified within the CBA Map.
3. Identify whether there are any biodiversity features that have not been mapped (e.g. rare species, wetlands, natural areas that
were not properly identified) and that would/should have been classified as a CBA or ESA.
4. Correlate the ecosystem types on site with the FF Ecosystem Guidelines (de Villiers et al, 2005) and the C.A.P.E FSP Aquatic
Ecosystem Guidelines (Job et al, 2008), where possible.
5. Provide the above in shapefile format, including the proposed development area in hectares (extent of transformation per
cadastral unit).
The Endangered Afrixalus knysnae or Knysna Spiny
Reed Frog (Photo: Miguel Vences)
45

(ii) Where an EIA is not required; but the property falls within a
CBA and/or ESA:
This could happen where an EIA is not triggered in terms
of the NEMA listed activities, but a land-use application
is contemplated in terms of: (a) Planning legislation (e.g.
LUPO) i.e. zoning change, subdivision; (b) the Subdivision of
Agricultural Land Act (i.e. agricultural subdivision); or (c) CARA
(i.e. ploughing permit).
The site assessment should be conducted by a CapeNature,
Department of Water Affairs (if an aquatic feature is present),
Department of Forestry (if forest is present), Department of
Agriculture (where agricultural applications are being made)
and a SANParks official (where possible).
As a minimum the various officials can make use of the
biodiversity information to produce an environmentally friendly
layout or development.
The relevant legislation i.e. LUPO, CARA, Subdivision of
Agricultural Land Act will need to be complied with.
CapeNature’s Land-use Advisory Unit is a commenting
authority and should be consulted if impacts to CBA and ESA
could occur. The unit can assist with Terms of Reference for
a specialist study and the desirability of a proposed change
in land-use. Phone the branch in George on (044) 802 5300.
The South African National Parks (Garden Route Cluster)
should also be contacted for comment and advice on landuse
applications that impact CBA and ESA. Phone the Knysna
Branch on (044) 302 5600 (Planning and Implementation).
STEP 4: FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OFFERED IN SECTION 4
(a) Consult the land-use recommendations provided in Table 4.2
(pg 35). The accompanying CBA Map (hard copy and GIS)
also presents the land-use recommendations.
Note: If the proposed land-use activity is not listed in this
table, or if the proposed development description differs
from that specified in Table 4.3 (pg 36), then assess
whether the proposed land-use activity is compatible with
the Desired Management Objective in Table 4.1 (pg 33).
(b) Consult the land and water use management guidelines
provided in Section 4.4 (pg 40).
Steps 1- 4 can serve as a Screening Phase to identify potential
fatal flaws to a proposed development prior to proceeding
with a land-use change application e.g. EIA or LUPO etc; or can
provide early biodiversity input into the project concept or
design phase.
For example: if ground truthing g of the actual site verifies that
the property is located within a CBA, then, according to the
recommended land-use guidelines (Table 4.2 pg 35), only
low impact biodiversity-compatible land-use activities should
be encouraged. If the proposed development is in conflict with
the recommended land-use, then this would represent a fatal
flaw.
5.2 LAND-USE PLANNING: SPATIAL
DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS (SDF)
AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORKS (EMF)
The SDF is a legally binding spatial framework that promotes
sustainable environmental, economic and social development in
a municipality. Municipalities are obliged to develop maps termed
Spatial Development Frameworks 23 (SDFs) which indicate desired
patterns of land-use and provide strategic guidance in the location
and nature of development and conservation. The SDF map is
also accompanied by the SDF report. The SDF map is the spatial
depiction of an Integrated Development Plan (IDP); and should
be interpreted as the tool which integrates all sector plans. Such a
plan and framework must ensure sustainability (Section 26 of the
Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000). Refer to Figure 5.1 (pg 48) and
Table 5.2 (pg 49) demonstrating the alignment of the IDP and SDF
processes.
According to the Western Cape Provincial Spatial Development
Framework 24 , local SDFs should divide the entire municipal landscape
into a set of Spatial Planning Categories (SPCs) “to reflect a vision of
how the area should develop spatially, so as to ensure sustainability”.
The PSDF also provides policies, management objectives and
guidance for appropriate land-use within each SPC, further
developed through the Rural Land-Use Planning and Management
Guidelines (DEADP, 2009).
From a biodiversity perspective, SPCs indicate areas where limitations
to land-use need to be applied in order to protect biodiversity. The
two SPCs relevant to biodiversity conservation and the CBA Map are
those referred to as “Core” and “Buffer”. The “Core” includes areas that
are currently protected as well as areas that need protection because
they are important areas for biodiversity i.e. CBA and ESA. Using
the SPCs as set out in the PSDF will ensure consistency across the
province (refer to Table 5.1 below).
23 Section 26 of the MSA stipulates: An integrated development Plan must reflect - (e) a spatial development framework which must include the provision of
basic guidelines for a land-use management system for the municipality.
24 Available from www.capegateway.gov.za or DEADP Branches.

Table 5.1: Categories on the CBA Map and the corresponding Western Cape PSDF Spatial Planning Categories “Core and Buffer”. The classification of
Other Natural Areas into the SPCs Buffer 1 or Buffer 2 is at the discretion of Town and Regional Planners.
CBA Map
Category →
PSDF SPC “Core
and Buffer” →
Formal Protected
Areas
Critical Biodiversity
Areas (terrestrial/
Aquatic)
The CBA Map and guidelines provide crucial information which assist
in the development of an SDF, namely:
• Strategic Environmental Assessment26 (SEA): According to
legislation27 , SDFs should include an SEA and must be aligned
with those of neighbouring municipalities. A municipal SEA
identifies areas where particular development types can occur
and “red-flags” or cautions against development in sensitive
areas. The CBA Map provides more accurate spatial information
and policy guidelines for incorporation into an SEA map.
• Urban Edge Demarcationg : The SDF must delineate urban
edges around existing urban nodes to protect the rural
environment from urban sprawl and to encourage efficient
settlement patterns. The CBA Map should be used to delineate
the urban edge.
• Zoning Schemesg identify areas where development
should not take place, “to protect the special natural and
environmental characteristics of an area…and to promote
sustainable development”. Furthermore, their ‘implementation
has to be consistent with, and give effect to, the SDF’ (adapted
from the Western Cape Provincial Zoning Scheme Model
By-Law, 2004). Section 4(1) and 36(2) of LUPO requires the
conservation and preservation of the natural environment.
When zoning schemes are revised or where rezoning or
subdivision applications are being processed, a CBA Map
should be consulted in order to avoid environmentally sensitive
areas.
• Environmental Management Frameworksg (EMF) designate
areas on a map where development can or cannot occur
without an authorization, thereby streamlining the process
of authorising development. EMFs also provide management
priorities. The CBA Map can inform both these aspects.
• Urban Open Space Systems provide ecosystem services at
the local level e.g. clean air, fresh water, wastewater purification,
flood protection and recreational space. The CBA Map assists in
identifying certain areas that provide ecosystem services within
urban settlements.
• Policy guidelines: The land and water resource use guidelines
(Section 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4) provide key policy recommendations
for input into an SDF Land Use Management System.
Ecological Support
Areas
CORE 1 CORE 1 CORE 2
Other Natural
Areas
BUFFER 1
or BUFFER 2
47
No Natural Areas
Remaining
INTENSIVE
AGRICULTURE 25 or
SETTLEMENT
The CBA Map and guidelines can be used to guide the location
and nature of development and conservation, whilst aligning
with adjacent municipal SDFs. These products also promote
the establishment of ‘Sustainable Human Settlements’ g by
encouraging nodal development and protecting ecosystem
services. Refer to the GIS map for the recommended Spatial
Planning Category map provided on the DVD.
5.3 MULTI-SECTORAL PLANNING: INTEGRATED
DEVELOPMENT PLANS (IDP)
The Biodiversity Sector Plan should be used in various multisectoral
planning procedures to promote sustainable development,
especially at the municipal level. It forms the basis of a bioregional
plan g (in terms of the NEMBA) which, once gazetted, must be used to
inform all multi-sectoral planning.
The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) reflects multi-sectoral
planning at the municipal level. It must comply with the
‘Environmental Right’ of the Constitution (Section 24) and the
NEMA principles (Section 2). In order to ensure environmental
sustainability 28 , it usually includes an Environmental Sector Plan (or
Integrated Environmental Management Programme).
Part of the Environmental Sector Plan (see Section 5.3.1 below) can
comprise a range of environmental management tools to promote
sustainability and compliance with various pieces of legislation. The
Biodiversity Sector Plan (or published Bioregional Plan) should be
used as the input from the biodiversity sector into the Environmental
Sector Plan (Figure 5.1).
25 The proposed PSDF category which includes areas that are currently under cultivation, have been cultivated in the last 10 years or represent areas that have
agricultural potential.
26 DEAT has published (1) A Guideline Document - Strategic Environmental Assessment in South Africa (2000); and (2) Strategic Environmental Assessment
Guideline - Integrated Environmental Guideline Series 4 (2007).
27 Local Government: Municipal Planning and Performance Management Regulations 21 (published in terms of section 120 of the Municipal Systems Act).
28 Refer to ‘The Western Cape: IDP Environmental Toolkit Handbook: Making the IDP Sustainable’ and ‘A Pathway to sustainability: Local Agenda 21’ Prepared by
the Environmental Evaluation Unit (University of Cape Town) for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN
[Based on a systematic finescale
biodiversity plan]
BIOREGIONAL PLAN
in terms of the NEMBA
MULTI-SECTORAL PLANNING
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN
[ALL PHASES]
and
SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
[LAND USE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM and
ZONING SCHEMES]
Figure 5.1: How the Biodiversity Sector Plan can be used in municipal planning. The SDF is the tool that integrates all sector plans in the IDP
process.
The Biodiversity Sector Plan provides a CBA Map and guidelines for
use in developing the IDP through the SDF. The SDF (see section
5.2 above) indicates the location of identified projects during the
‘projects phase’ of the IDP, thereby integrating the two processes (see
Table 5.2 below), including the various sector plans (e.g. transport,
water). The CBA and ESA should be the spatial focus of biodiversity
conservation projects identified in the projects phase. See Section
5.3.1.9 (pg 51).
THE IDPs ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR PLAN
Integrating CBAs and ESAs into environmental projects or programmes for
integrated development planning
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK
INTEGRATED COASTAL
MANAGEMENT PLAN
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT
STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORTS
LAND AND WATER USE
APPLICATIONS
IDENTIFYING CBAs and ESAs FOR -
Stewardship, Rates exemptions
andother biodiversity projects for
LED; including municipal
environmental management
plans, urban open space systems,
urban edge demarcation, alien
clearing, agriculture sector plans,
cooperative governance
For additional information on managing for environmental
sustainability at the municipal level, refer to Section 4 of the
Putting Biodiversity Plans to Work Booklets (Job and Driver,
2006) and the STEP Handbook (Pierce and Mader, 2006).
Contact the BGIS Unit: 021 799 8738 or bgishelp@sanbi.org.
The STEP handbook can be downloaded from http://bgis.sanbi.
org/STEP/project.asp.

Table 5.2: A guide to incorporating the Garden Route Biodiversity Sector Plan into integrated development planning (IDP) and spatial development
frameworks (SDF); as adapted from the STEP Handbook (Pierce and Mader, 2006):
IDP Phases Basic elements in developing the SDF
Phase 1: Analysis
Gather all information.
Analyse information for -
i) trends; and
ii) issues that can be shown on a map.
Identify needs, including normalisation after
apartheid, transport etc.
Report for public comment.
Phase 2: Strategy
Identify vision, mission, objectives,
strategies for dealing with needs, problems
and issues, such as Local Economic
Development (LED), poverty alleviation, the
natural environment, possible projects.
Reports for public comment.
Phase 3: Projects
Identify priorities, refine projects. Prioritise
projects and finances, which together
influence the SDF. Assess environmental
impacts of projects.
Phase 4: Integration
5-yr financial plan and programmes
for capital investment, integrated LED,
environment (including biodiversity),
poverty alleviation, gender equity etc.
Draft IDP report for public comment.
Phase 5: Approval
Final IDP report approved based on the
Critical Biodiversity Areas Map and other
BSP information.
Biodiversity importance of land (or category
on the CBA Map), current land-use, agriculture,
the built environment, infrastructure, transport
routes, watersheds, geology etc., heritage sites,
State of Environment Reporting, Strategic
Environmental Assessment.
i) trends (e.g. the direction in which the town is
growing, land suitable for development);
ii) issues (e.g. a need for housing, schools or a
clinic in a certain area; protecting ecosystem
services).
Critical Biodiversity Areas Map indicates:
Priority areas for conservation, opportunities
and constraints on developments.
Report(s) for public comment.
Critical Biodiversity Areas Map indicates
areas where restoration projects or other
biodiversity related projects for poverty
alleviation can take place e.g. SANParks People
and Conservation, Working for Water etc.
Draft report and map based on the Critical
Biodiversity Areas Map with overlying
infrastructure and land-uses, sites for integrated
projects (e.g. large scale housing development,
poverty alleviation projects e.g. restoration),
open spaces, urban edge, development nodes,
corridors, cemeteries, waste sites, social and
emergency services.
Draft SDF report and map for public comment.
Final SDF report and map approved based
on the Critical Biodiversity Areas Map and
other BSP information.
49
Use of the Garden Route Biodiversity
Sector Plan (CBA Map and guidelines)
Planners and decision-makers use the
Garden Route Biodiversity Sector
Plan (Critical Biodiversity Areas Map
and guidelines) to identify which
areas to develop and which to leave
undeveloped and conserved.
Plan which areas to develop and which
to leave undeveloped and conserved.
Identify areas for restoration projects, or
other biodiversity related projects.
Provincial officials, NGOs and public to
ensure that the Biodiversity Sector
Plan is upheld.
Councillors, municipal officials, provincial
officials, NGOs and public to ensure that
the Biodiversity Sector Plan is upheld.
* The IDP and SDF should therefore be integrated both from a time-line and content perspective, as indicated in the table above

5.3.1 THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR PLAN OF THE IDP
The Biodiversity Sector Plan is only one component of the
Environmental Sector Plan which covers a range of environmental
management issues e.g. control of wastewater discharge, air
pollution.
The Environmental Sector Plan of the IDP comprises projects or
programmes that aim at achieving environmental sustainability.
These can be mechanisms or tools for ensuring the protection of
CBA and ESA. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of all potential
environmental projects.
5.3.1.1 MUNICIPAL COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES
In terms of the Integrated Coastal Management Act, No 24 of 2009,
each coastal municipality must secure public access to coastal public
property, compile a municipal coastal management programme29 (which may form part of their adopted IDP and SDF) and may
establish a Coastal Zoning Scheme. The CBA Map defines the 1
km coastal protection zone, assists with informing municipal SDFs
and zoning schemes; and, as a consequence, municipal coastal
management programmes. It also identifies formal Protected Areas
and can assist with identifying coastal access land.
5.3.1.2 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORTING
A key mechanism in monitoring the state of biodiversity in a
municipality is a State of Environment Report (SOER). The SOER
uses indicators to monitor improvement or deterioration of
environmental conditions, and provides recommendations for areas
of concern. The Biodiversity Sector Plan can be used to inform the
SOER as it provides information on the extent of CBA and ESA (see
Table 3.2 pg 31). Municipalities are therefore encouraged to record
the conservation or loss of CBA and ESA.
Loss of natural habitat within each mapped category could be
recorded by the municipality at the time of processing each
development application, allowing for the evaluation of future
applications. Applicants could provide the final approved
development area (ha) as a GIS shapefileg (map) for inclusion into
the municipal Land-use Management System. This will assist in the
monitoring of the CBA Map.
Other indicators30 could include:
• protection levels of CBA and ESA (how many hectares / what
percentage are formally protected);
• how effectively are CBA and ESA protected in the municipal
zoning scheme (i.e. what portion of CBA and ESA are
appropriately zoned);
• the extent (in hectares) of invasive alien plant species clearing;
and
• the number or proportion of threatened or extinct species, and
threatened ecosystems listed by NEMBA.
The biodiversity indicators identified in a published bioregional
plan must be used in municipal SOERs.
5.3.1.3 AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR
MUNICIPAL-OWNED LAND
The management of natural resources is a cross-cutting exercise,
requiring the collaboration of a range of agencies and departments
(e.g. SANParks, CapeNature, DWEA, DoA). These agencies should
provide assistance to municipalities in developing management
plans for all municipal-owned land that include CBA and ESA. In
addition, projects with biodiversity benefits (e.g. invasive alien plant
clearing, eco-tourism, sustainable medicinal harvesting) can be
identified and implemented as part of IDP and LED processes (see
section 5.3.1.9 below). Refer to Section 7 for agencies that can help
protect and manage biodiversity (pg 55).
5.3.1.4 A MUNICIPAL INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES CONTROL PLAN
Infestations of invasive alien plants pose serious threats to municipal
infrastructure and functioning, as well as to biodiversity. Their
massive fuel loads often lead to uncontrollable fires, and they reduce
water supply and spoil scenery, impacting negatively on tourism and
agricultural potential. Municipalities are responsible for preparing
an invasive species control plan for municipal-owned land as part of
their IDP and for controlling listed invasive species on municipal land
(in terms of NEMBA Sections 76(2) and 73(2) respectively). They are
encouraged to form partnerships with agencies involved in clearing
invasive species, such as SANParks, DWEA, CapeNature and DoA.
5.3.1.5 AREA WIDE PLANNING
The Biodiversity Sector Plan can be used as the biodiversity informant
to Area Wide Plans (AWPs). AWPs map existing farm lands, potential
agricultural expansion areas and important natural areas to identify
possible conflict areas and to ensure biodiversity is protected for
sustainable agricultural development. Although the LandCare Area
Wide Planning process is a DoA process, municipalities which have
a strong agricultural economy could request AWPs as part of their
agricultural sector plans.
5.3.1.6 USING FINANCIAL MEASURES TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY
AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Opportunities to promote the protection of biodiversity are
presented by the Municipal Property Rates Act31 (6 of 2004). In
terms of Chapter 2, the council of a municipality must adopt a
policy consistent with the Act on the levying of rates on rateable
property in the municipality (Section 3). In the case of private land
that includes CBA and ESA, municipalities can encourage sound
management of biodiversity by applying the following:
• Rates Exemption: this may be applied on land where there is a
conservation management plan, a contractual agreement and
title deed restrictions (i.e. not a formal protected area in terms
of the Protected Areas Act, which is subject to ‘rates exclusions’).
• Rates Rebate: where there is a conservation management
plan, the rebate agreement is short-term (e.g. 5 years) and
is at least on a par with the agricultural rebate extended to
landowners in some areas.
29 To be compiled within 4 years of the establishment of the Act.
30 Refer National DEAT Guidelines: National Core Set of Environmental Indicators for state of environment reporting in South Africa (CSIR, 2001).
31 See also Botha, M., 2004. Environmental analysis of the Property Rates Act (Act no. 6 of 2004). Botanical Society Conservation Unit. See Section 7 pg 55 of
this handbook for contact details.

• Rates Re-evaluation: where the valuation system reflects a
reduction in property value (for rates purposes) if the land is
managed for conservation. The municipality can approach a
landowner with a proposal of environmental servitude and
re-evaluation. If the land owner agrees, a notarial deed is drawn
up, and upon signature, the municipality can revalue the land.
• Not reducing land value (and therefore rates) where land is
infested with invasive alien species; nor increasing rates where
land contains CBA and ESA.
CBA and ESA should be used to inform biodiversity rates
exemptions, rebates and re-evaluations, including the
valuation of land. They should be accurately delineated by
municipalities (in consultation with conservation agencies) to
prevent indiscriminate applications for rebates or exemptions.
The Revenue Laws Amendment Act (60 of 2008) sets out
income tax deductions for landowners who preserve
biodiversity on their land. Policy changes are underway that
are intended to allow landowners to receive income tax rebates
for conservation management costs (and even capital costs
for long term agreements); if they have signed a Biodiversity
Agreement, are part of a Protected Environment or are
included within a Contractual Nature Reserve or National Park.
5.3.1.7 PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH STEWARDSHIP
The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act
(NEMPA) 57 of 2003 provides for any land, including private,
communal or municipal land, to be declared a formal Protected
Area, and allows for co-management of such a Protected Area by
the landowner(s) or any suitable person or organisation. Stewardship
Programmes (e.g. CapeNature) work with private landowners and
municipalities to secure CBA and ESA as formal Protected Areas,
namely Contract Nature Reserves, National Parks or Protected
Environments; or through other suitable stewardship options.
Significant benefits and incentives are available to landowners of
formal Protected Areas. Municipalities should facilitate stewardship
in CBA and ESA through rates exclusions etc., (see Section 5.3.1.6
above).
All formal Protected Areas are eligible for rates exclusions in terms
of the Municipal Property Rates Act (6 of 2004). The National
Biodiversity Framework promotes the establishment and
strengthening of provincial stewardship programmes and identifies
local authorities as one of the lead agents. CBA and ESA are an
important focus for stewardship programmes.
5.3.1.8 CO-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY
51
• Catchment Management Agencies (CMA): The delegation
of water resource management and protection from central
government to catchment level is being achieved through the
establishment of CMA 32 . These agencies comprise all relevant
water users. The Biodiversity Sector Plan is the precursor to a
bioregional plan and should therefore be incorporated into
the work of CMA, as indicated by the National Biodiversity
Framework (2009).
• Fire Protection Associations (FPA): FPA are voluntary
associations that may be formed by landowners to prevent,
predict, manage and extinguish veldfires under the National
Veld and Forest Fire Act (101 of 1998). Municipalities are obliged
to be members and should encourage landowners to join their
local FPA. The Department of Forestry assists with developing
area-specific Fire Action Plans. The Biodiversity Sector Plan can
be used to inform Fire Action Plans (visit www.firewisesa.org.za).
• Co-operative Governance: Conservation agencies such as
CapeNature, SANParks and provincial authorities (DWEA, DoA
and DEADP), together with municipalities, should investigate
possible structures for this purpose. Such cooperative
management measures are promoted by the National
Biodiversity Framework (Section 4.2.6); and the NEMA Principle
which states that there must be intergovernmental coordination
and organization of policies, legislation and actions
relating to the environment. The CBA Map and guidelines serve
as the common reference point for cooperative governance
in relation to biodiversity and sustainable development.
See Section 7 ‘Agencies that can help protect and manage
biodiversity’ below (pg 55).
5.3.1.9 PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (LED)
Biodiversity-compatible LED includes a range of activities which
should be focused in CBA and ESA, such as alien clearing, wetland
rehabilitation, community-based tourism projects, craft markets
based on sustainable harvesting, wildflower harvesting, bee farming,
natural products sector (medicinal herbs, aromatherapy oils etc),
the protection of eco-tourism assets and protected areas. The
Biodiversity Sector Plan also provides a mechanism for streamlining
land-use decision-making outside of CBA and ESA, thereby
contributing to ASGISA 33 whilst ensuring that economic growth does
not compromise our natural capital (see Section 1.7 pg 5).
The craft sector in the Western Cape generates over R100 million
annually, while providing employment to 18 000-28 000 people.
32 Refer to the Guidelines for the development of Catchment Management Strategies http://www.dwaf.gov.za/
33 The ‘Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa’ is a national initiative supported by key groups in the economy that aim to halve
unemployment and poverty by 2014 by achieving 6% growth per year by 2010.

There are programmes that assist with protecting biodiversity, while
creating jobs, and are implemented by various government agencies.
Some of these are:
• People and Conservation (SANParks)
• People and Parks (Environmental Affairs Department of DWEA)
• LandCare (Agricultural Department of DAFF)
• Working for Water (Water Affairs Department of DWEA,
SANParks)
• Working for Fire (Forestry Department of DAFF)
• Working for Wetlands (Water Affairs Department of DWEA and
SANBI)
• Working for the Coast (Water Affairs Department of DWEA).
Most of these programmes fall within the Expanded Public Works
Programme led by the Department of Public Works (visit www.epwp.
gov.za). Municipalities, with the assistance of other agencies, could
encourage the development of small scale community projects
that provide benefits for poor rural and urban communities and the
environment. Further details on biodiversity and job creation can be
obtained from the STEP Handbook (Pierce and Mader, 2006).
1
The BSP assists municipalities in complying with environmental
and planning legislation, which promote the protection and
management of biodiversity for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(See the Legislative User Guide).
Projects related to the safeguarding or restoring of
biodiversity should be located in CBA and ESA.
In this way, the CBA Map enables the identification of IDP projects and supports LED and poverty alleviation,
while promoting sustainable economic growth.

Frequently Asked Questions
6
1. What if the CBA map or associated maps (e.g. land cover map)
indicate that the property is located within a CBA or ESA but the site
visit reveals that the property is degraded or that no natural habitat
(transformed) occurs on the site?
There are a number of possible explanations for this:
If there is a match between site conditions and the land cover map, then the CBA Map is correct.
(a) Example A: The site is categorized as a CBA, the land cover category is degraded and the physical site
assessment reveals that the property is degraded.
- A large number of degraded sites are deliberately classified as CBA. In these cases the land-cover
map will show the site as degraded. The systematic planning process ‘chooses’ pristine (natural)
vegetation over degraded vegetation unless there are no more options or no more pristine sites
left, i.e. when irreplaceable features are present on a degraded site, the national biodiversity
threshold cannot be met elsewhere (therefore the degraded site becomes critical for meeting
thresholds) or where an area is required for ecological processes e.g. landscape corridors. In
such a case, the management guideline is to rehabilitate if possible, and to discourage land-use
activities that have any further impact on biodiversity.
(b) Example B: The site is categorized as an ESA, the land cover category is degraded (or transformed)
and the physical site assessment reveals that the property is degraded (or transformed).
- Numerous degraded (e.g. invaded by invasive alien plants) and transformed areas (e.g.
agricultural land) are categorized as ESA. The land-cover map will show the site as degraded
or transformed. This is because they are currently or potentially still important for supporting
ecological processes (e.g. riparian areas and floodplainsg, linkages important for pollination and
animal movement). In such instances, the management guideline is to rehabilitate if possible,
and to discourage further hardening of the land in transformed areas.
If there is a mismatch between site conditions and the land cover map, then the CBA Map is in
question.
- The site may have been incorrectly classified as CBA/ESA due to an error in the land cover map,
or alternatively a disturbance to the site has occurred subsequent to the development of the
CBA Map. In these cases the site visit will show that the actual land cover on site is different
to that indicated in the land cover map. The site must then be assessed for its potential to be
rehabilitated and/or its role as part of a landscape corridor. Further, the proposed activity at the
site should be investigated in terms of its potential impact on adjacent correctly classified CBA
and ESA.
The bottom line is that a suitably qualified specialist is needed to interpret the site in relation to the
CBA Map and associated data (e.g. land cover, vegetation type, ecosystem status etc). Confirmation
through a site visit i.e. ground- truthing is essential in all cases because a site that is infested with
invasive alien species or otherwise degraded, may still be of great biodiversity significance.
2.
What if natural habitat is found on a site but this is not indicated on
the land cover map (and therefore not classified as a CBA or ESA)?
Such inaccuracies may result from inconsistencies in scale or classification error. If the map shows that no
vegetation remains, but a site visit reveals the presence of natural habitat, refer to the vegetation data (GIS
maps or CBA Mapbook) to determine the vegetation type and then determine its ecosystem status. If the
vegetation type is Critically Endangered (CR), it is automatically a CBA and should have been classified as
such. If the vegetation type is Endangered (E), the site is most likely a CBA. The site must then be assessed
for the presence of features that would make it important for biodiversity conservation (e.g. wetlands,
special habitats or Species of Special Concern), which would classify it as a CBA. By identifying these
biodiversity features (selection criteria) in Table 3.1 (pg 30), it may be possible to determine the correct
CBA Map status. The precautionary principle g , and all applicable objectives and recommended policies
(Section 4 of this handbook) should still be applied during decision-making.
53

3. Do ‘Other Natural Areas’ still require a
biodiversity assessment?
Yes, in Other Natural Areas it is important to check for special
biodiversity features, e.g. wetlands or Species of Special Concern.
Knowledge of special features or species is incomplete, and therefore
it is critical to verify that they do not occur on the site e.g. not all
wetlands have been mapped.
4. How does ecosystem status relate to the
CBA Map?
All natural intact patches of Critically Endangered (CR) ecosystems
or features are included as a CBA. For Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V)
or Least Threatened (LT) vegetation types, the most efficient areas
(i.e. on the least amount of land possible) that can meet national
biodiversity thresholds have been included in CBA. All remaining
areas are categorized as Other Natural Areas. This is done to ensure
that an optimal layout of E, V and LT vegetation types is conserved
and to prevent further fragmentation of these categories over time.
5. How do Biodiversity Offsets g relate to the
CBA Map?
Critical Biodiversity Areas are ideal biodiversity offset receiving areas.
CapeNature, DEADP and/or SANParks should be consulted to identify
CBA offset receiving areas. The ‘Provincial Guideline on Biodiversity
Offsets’ is available at www.capegateway.gov.za/deadp.
In order to ensure the achievement of safeguarding national
biodiversity thresholds, no CBA (or part thereof ) or CR vegetation
type should be lost to development. If this is unavoidable, such a
loss should be offset so that thresholds for that vegetation type or
other ecosystem type are minimized. It is likely that any loss of a CBA
will require more area of land (than that covered by the CBA lost) to
compensate for that loss.
6. How do CBA and ESA affect existing landuse
rights?
CBA Maps cannot grant or take away existing land-use rights. They
are intended to inform proposed land-use changes.
7. Will all CBA become Protected Areas?
It is not feasible for all CBA to be formally conserved in Protected
Areas. Nonetheless, it is extremely important that they are all
afforded some protection through an appropriate mechanism.
In addition to formal Protected Areas in terms of NEMPAA, other
mechanisms include appropriate zoning (in terms of the Landuse
Planning Ordinance) and other Conservation Areas, such as
stewardship agreements or conservancies. CBA Maps will be used to
inform the ideal location of future Protected Areas, priority landscape
corridors, stewardship activities and conservancies etc.
8. What does it mean if we lose a CBA?
The CBA Map identified areas crucial for conserving critical
biodiversity pattern and process thresholds on the least amount of
land possible. The conversion of habitat within a CBA means that
there will be a permanent loss of an important ecological feature or
part (or whole) of a landscape corridor. Furthermore, that more land
will be required to meet the same thresholds.
9. Will the CBA Map ever change?
The CBA Map is likely to remain generally the same, however landuse
is dynamic and all maps need updating. It may be updated
due to (1) errors in the land cover data used (which will affect the
accuracy of the CBA Map boundaries), (2) unavoidable loss of CBA
and ESA (additional areas would need to be identified to meet
national biodiversity thresholds); and (3) improved biodiversity
knowledge (e.g. identifying the location of special species). Note that
if the map is used as the basis for a bioregional plan g, it would have
to be updated every five years in terms of NEMBA. The current CBA
network would form the basis for the update.
10. How does the mapping of the Garden
Route vegetation types relate to that in
other vegetation maps? For example the
‘Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and
Swaziland (Mucina and Rutherford, 2006)’,
STEP and CAPE
The Garden Route vegetation map should supersede any other
vegetation maps. This is because the vegetation types have been
mapped at a more accurate scale, namely 1:50 000. Furthermore,
all fine-scale vegetation maps, such as the GR vegetation map, will
eventually be incorporated into the national vegetation map.
11. Are fine-scale biodiversity plans replacing
broad-scale biodiversity plans (e.g. NSBA,
CAPE, STEP)?
Fine-scale biodiversity plans (i.e. the Garden Route CBA Map) provide
more accurately mapped information for site-specific decisions (but
still require verification). The most recent biodiversity plans at the
finest scale should take precedence over other biodiversity plans
when informing land-use planning and decision-making.

Agencies that can Help
Protect and Manage Biodiversity
7
The management of natural resources and healthy ecosystems is a cross-cutting exercise that requires the
coordination and collaboration of a range of conservation agencies. Their input is required for detailed
assessments and consideration of proposed impacts to biodiversity on specific sites. Agencies able to assist
with biodiversity related inputs are listed below:
South African National Parks (SANParks): The national
authority for protected areas involved in incorporating
biodiversity into land-use planning and decisionmaking,
park planning and expansion; community
projects and the management of National Parks (www.
sanparks.co.za) - Garden Route Region (044) 302 5600
(Planning and Implementation).
CapeNature/Western Cape Nature Conservation
Board: This is the principal managing authority
for biodiversity in the Western Cape, involved in
commenting on decision-making where biodiversity
may be impacted, as well as providing guidance on
the incorporation of biodiversity concerns into landuse
planning and decision-making and stewardship
agreements (www.capenature.co.za – Scientific
Services: Land-use Advisory Unit in George on (044) 802
5328.
South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI):
The national body responsible for the management and
conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity. It is involved
in the implementation of bioregional programmes (e.g.
C.A.P.E.), policy development, alien eradication, research
and monitoring, including other conservation initiatives,
such as the Custodians of Rare and Endangered
Wildflowers or CREW (www.sanbi.org). - Pretoria Head
Office (012) 843 5000 or Kirstenbosh (021) 799 8738.
The Biodiversity GIS (BGIS) Unit: This unit is
responsible for the management of SANBI’s spatial
biodiversity planning information. It is the South African
portal for the provision of biodiversity information in
an easily accessible and freely available format on its
website. All information relating to the biodiversity
planning projects in South Africa can be downloaded or
obtained from BGIS (www.bgis.sanbi.org) - Cape Town
(021) 799 8738.
Departments of Water and Environmental Affairs
(DWEA) The principal national decision making
and managing authorities for aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems respectively. The Department of
Environmental Affairs (DEA) is involved in land-use
decisions and the protection of biodiversity. They also
run various programmes that can assist municipalities
in the protection of the environment (http://www.
environment.gov.za/) - For the Local Government
Support unit contact (012) 310 3042; National Branch
(012) 310 3955. The Department of Water Affairs
(DWA) is the custodian of aquatic ecosystems and
is involved in water use decisions, including the
55
development of Fire Action Plans, the rehabilitation of
rivers and wetlands and the removal of alien invasive
species (www.dwaf.gov.za) – National Branch (012) 336
7500– Cape Town (021) 941 6000; Knysna Branch (044)
302 6900.
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Development Planning (DEADP): The principal
decision-making authority for development activities
that impact on natural habitat in the Western Cape,
including spatial planning, integrated environmental
management, waste and pollution management,
promoting sustainable resource-use and developing
policy in this regard. The DEADP has developed a series
of guidelines to assist with environmental decisionmaking,
available at www.capegateway.gov.za - Cape
Town (021) 483 2700; George Branch (044) 874 2160.
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(DAFF): The Department of Agriculture - LandCare/
Area Wide Planning: This department supports farm
planning, the clearing of invasive alien species, and
encourages communities to adopt an ecologically
sustainable approach to the management of the
environment and natural resources, while improving
their quality of life (www.nda.agric.za or www.wcape.
agric.za) - Cape Town (021) 873 3523; George Branch
(044) 803 3721; National Branch (021) 799 8790.
The Department of Forestry is the principal national
decision-making and managing authority for forest
ecosystems, and is involved in the development of Fire
Action Plans – Knysna Branch (044) 302 6900.
Botanical Society of South Africa (BotSoc): The
Conservation Unit of the Botanical Society undertakes
strategic conservation projects, often in partnership with
other organizations, to achieve long-term conservation
and sustainable use of the greater Cape Floristic Region
(www.botanicalsociety.org.za) - Cape Town (021) 797-
2090 or info@botanicalsociety.org.za..
Cape Action for People and the Environment
(C.A.P.E.): A bioregional programme that aims to
protect the biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Region
whilst delivering significant benefits to the people of the
region. The programme includes a long-term strategy
and vision for biodiversity conservation in the region.
Key executing agencies include CapeNature, SANParks,
DEADP, DWEA, the departments of Agriculture and
Forestry (of DAFF), as well as SANBI and several NGOs
(www.capeaction.org.za) - Cape Town (021) 799 8874 or
info@capeaction.org.za.
The CBA Map and guidelines are not intended to inform only EIAs, SDFs or other municipal planning
tools. The information can also be used by local, provincial and national authorities to implement
national and provincial policies, strategies and guidelines. The data provides the spatial and policy
recommendations for promoting sustainable development, in terms of South African developmental
and environmental policy and legislation. This demonstrates its usefulness as a COMMON REFERENCE
point for policy developers, planners and decision-makers at all levels. See Section 1.5 (pg 4).

Glossary 34
Aquatic features or ecosystems refer to rivers, wetlands and
estuaries or natural water features.
Aquifer Underground water-bearing areas.
‘Best design’ refers to an identified network of natural sites that
meet pattern and process thresholds in all vegetation types in a
spatially efficient and ecologically robust way, and aim to avoid
conflict with other activities (e.g. economic activity) where it is
possible to achieve biodiversity thresholds elsewhere. The ‘best
design’ sites include the largest, most intact, least disturbed,
connected and/or adjacent areas required in terms of meeting
pattern and process thresholds.
Biodiversity The wide variety of plant and animal species in their
natural environment. It not only refers to species (plants, animals
and micro-organisms), but also to ecosystems, landscapes, and the
ecological and evolutionary processes that allow biodiversity to
persist over time. It includes the diversity within species, between
species, and of ecosystems.
Biodiversity offsets Conservation activities intended to
compensate for the residual, unavoidable harm to biodiversity
caused by development projects. It usually involves setting aside
land in a similar ecosystem elsewhere, at the cost of the developer.
See biodiversity receiving areas below.
Biodiversity offset receiving areas These are areas in the landscape
that are selected to compensate for the unavoidable and negative
impacts of a proposed development. They are usually of equal or
greater biodiversity importance to the area of land impacted on or
lost.
Biodiversity Pattern is the term for the way in which the
components of biodiversity are spatially arranged, and in this
document, refers to specific vegetation types or habitat types, e.g.
forest or fynbos, a population of rare and endemic species, or other
biodiversity features, e.g. a river, wetland (vlei). The habitat type or
feature is home to specific animals, plants, birds, insects and other
organisms, for example Blue Duiker in forests.
Biodiversity Plan(ning) A map of information about biodiversity
features (species, ecosystems, ecological processes), existing
protected areas; current patterns of land-use; and potential and
conflicting patterns of land-use. These mapped features can be
linked for further analysis using Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) to identify areas of highest biodiversity importance and to
determine priority areas for action.
Biodiversity priority areas In this handbook the term refers to
formal Protected Areas, Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological
Support Areas.
Biodiversity Sector Plan A tool which feeds into a range of multisectoral
planning and assessment processes to inform land-use
planning and decision-making. As a minimum, it should include a
Critical Biodiversity Areas Map with all relevant GIS shapefiles, and
a Biodiversity Sector Plan handbook with land-use management
guidelines and a municipal biodiversity profile. It is the precursor to a
gazetted bioregional plan. See ‘Bioregional Plan’ below.
Biodiversity Threshold (or target) This threshold is, in essence, a
target area which must be safeguarded in order for the component
plants and animals to exist and for ecosystems to continue
functioning (e.g. pollination, migration of animals). If the threshold
for a feature is exceeded (i.e. the extent of the feature is reduced
through human activities), the threat arises that ecosystems will
deteriorate/collapse, which will severely impact on the delivery
of ecosystem services. The thresholds drive the ‘amount’ of an
ecosystem type selected on the CBA Map. It answers the query:
‘How much do we need to achieve a living landscape’ (e.g. number
of hectares).
Bioregion A land and water territory, the limits of which are not
politically bound, but which are defined by the geographical
boundaries of human communities and ecological systems. Also
a geographical space that contains one whole, or several nested,
ecosystems characterised by landforms, vegetative cover, human
culture and history as identified by local communities, governments
and scientists.
Bioregional Plan (published in terms of the NEMBA) A
bioregional plan is based on a systematic fine-scale biodiversity
plan (ideally at a scale of 1: 50 000 or less), and includes a Critical
Biodiversity Areas map and land and water resource use guidelines.
As a result, the CBA Map, associated guidelines and this handbook
form the basis for the compilation of a bioregional plan. The
compilation and monitoring of bioregional plans is usually
the responsibility of the conservation authority or provincial
environmental department or of a municipality, if the capacity exists.
Municipalities must be consulted in the publishing process. After
its publication, the bioregional plan must be taken into account
in all future planning by a municipality. A bioregional plan should
be compiled for a municipality or cluster of municipalities. Refer to
the ‘Guideline regarding the Determination of Bioregions and the
Preparation and Publication of Bioregional Plans’.
Bioregional planning refers to land-use planning and management
that promotes sustainable development by recognising the
relationship between, and giving practical effect to, environmental
integrity, human-well-being and economic efficiency within
a defined geographical space, the boundaries of which are
determined in accordance with environmental and social criteria. It is
an internationally recognised planning concept aimed at achieving
sustainable development.
Cadastral unit A single property or erf.
Cape Floristic Region (CFR) The Cape Floristic Region is a region
of 90 000 km2 that extends from Nieuwoudtville southwards to
Cape Town and then eastwards to Grahamstown. Most of this vast
region is covered in fynbos, while the remaining areas are covered
in renosterveld, forest, succulent karoo or thicket. The region
holds close to 9 000 plant species, most of which grow in fynbos
34 Part of this glossary is drawn from the Putting Biodiversity Plans to Work (Job and Driver, 2006) and the Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan
(Berliner and Desmet, 2008).

vegetation. The region coincides with the area known as the Cape
Floral Kingdom that originates from an old system of classification
which divided the world into six major plant kingdoms, based on
their number of endemic plant families, genera and species, and
which recognised the Cape as the smallest in area, yet one of the
richest in species. The Kingdom concept is considered outdated by
modern botanists, but it still holds charm amongst plant enthusiasts.
Carbon storage (or carbon sequestration) is the storage of carbon
dioxide or other forms of carbon through biological, chemical or
physical processes. This reduces the impact of carbon, a greenhouse
gas, on climate change. In this handbook carbon storage refers to
the storage of carbon in plants (via biological processes).
Catchment A catchment is the area (a geographical region) where
water from rain (or snow) becomes concentrated and drains
downhill into a river or lake. The term includes all land surface,
streams, rivers, and lakes between the source and where the water
enters the ocean.
Coastal protection zone In terms of Section 16 of the Integrated
Coastal Management Act, this zone includes (amongst others), land
that is situated within 1km or 100m of the high water mark, any
coastal wetland, lake or dam and land which is situated within the
1:50 year flood line. These areas cannot be developed without an
authorization in terms of the Act.
Connectivity “Functional” connectivity refers to the ability of
connective corridors to sustain ecosystem processes common to
linked patches (it is the opposite of fragmentation).
Conservancy Agreements for co-operation among neighbouring
landowners for conservation purposes, and which require no legal
long-term commitment from landowners.
Conservation The safeguarding of biodiversity and its processes
(often referred to as biodiversity conservation).
Conservation areas (in the context of this document) Land
under some form of conservation agreement other than those via
the NEMPAA. They are not considered formally protected areas, as
they are not gazetted in terms of the NEMPAA and do not allow for
long term security of tenure. For example Private Nature Reserves
declared in terms of provincial ordinances, Biodiversity Agreements
in terms of the Biodiversity Act, and conservancies.
Corridor/s - see ecological process area
Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) These are terrestrial (land)
and aquatic (water) features (e.g. vleis, rivers and estuaries) in
the landscape that are critical for conserving biodiversity and
maintaining ecosystem functioning in the long term (which is
particularly important in the face of climate change). They are
identified through a systematic biodiversity planning approach (see
below).
Critical Biodiversity Areas Map A fine-scale systematic biodiversity
plan that delineates on a map Critical Biodiversity Areas and
Ecological Support Areas which require safeguarding to ensure
the continued existence of biodiversity, its ecological processes
(e.g. animal migration, pollination) and its ecosystem services e.g.
57
water supply. The map also delineates formal Protected Areas, Other
Natural Areas and No Natural Areas Remaining.
Delineate [a wetland] Determine the boundary of a wetland based
on soil, vegetation, and/or hydrological indicators.
Degraded landscapes are areas of indigenous habitat that are
infested with alien plants, overgrazed or have been impacted in
some other manner. These areas are still able to function ecologically
(e.g. animals still make use of these areas); albeit in a deteriorated
stated. Degraded areas have the potential to be restored or
rehabilitated.
Demand control Controlling the use of water to ensure that the
volume of water use for domestic, industrial and other uses by
society is reduced and controlled. This is implemented through
various mechanisms, such as recycling, re-use of water, limiting
water use to certain periods etc.
Ecological process Natural operations which occur within
ecosystems and maintain them as working systems. Ecosystems
work because they are kept “alive” by ecological processes such as
pollination, nutrient cycling, natural disturbance (e.g. fire, grazing),
migration of species, and soil maintenance. Other examples of
processes include plant-herbivore processes, lowland to upland
gradients, predator-prey relationships, migration and exchange
between inland and coastal systems (often along river corridors),
seasonal migration of animals, and hydrological regimes (e.g. rivers,
wetlands).
Ecological process areas are important for maintaining ecological
processes (see above). These can either be large scale corridors
stretching across entire mountain ranges or from the mountain
range to the sea (i.e. landscape, ecological or regional corridors), or
they can be small scale such as the buffer area around an isolated
wetland.
Ecological Reserve The ecological reserve refers to that portion of
streamflow which must remain in rivers to ensure the sustainable
healthy functioning of aquatic ecosystems (i.e. the river and its
associated wetlands and estuaries).
Ecological Sensitivity Map is a map indicating the relative
ecological sensitivity and vulnerability of a planning domain/ area. A
sensitivity analysis is conducted to guide the project design in terms
of layouts and to determine the most appropriate development
scenario. The sensitivity analysis is based on ecological criteria.
The map should delineate (a) vegetation type(s) on site of varying
sensitivity i.e. whether it is a CBA or Other Natural Area etc., and
the ecosystem status (Refer to Appendix A); (b) disturbance of the
vegetation type(s) and levels of disturbance on site i.e. pristine
(high sensitivity), moderately degraded (moderate sensitivity) or
highly degraded (low sensitivity), including the identification of
alien invasive species; (c) potential for rehabilitation/restoration; (d)
presence of or likelihood of presence of Species of Special Concerng ;
(e) any special features (if applicable); and (f ) ecological process
areas which delineate either the presence of a mapped CBA corridor
(ecological process area or landscape corridor) or the potential for
small-scale corridors on site, e.g. along a stream, drainage lines.

Ecological Support Area A supporting zone (ecological) or area
required to prevent degradation of Critical Biodiversity Areas and
formal Protected Areas, usually located adjacent to or which link
CBA and/or Protected Areas. Some of these areas may already be
transformed or degraded, but they still support ecological processes.
Ecosystem A natural system that represents the interactions
between plants, animals, insects, micro-organisms and the nonliving
environment (e.g. soil, air, water). Ecosystems can operate at
different scales – from very small (a pond) to whole landscapes (an
entire water catchment area). In the CBA Map, different types of
vegetation were recognised as ecosystems.
Ecosystem services The benefits that people get from nature,
such as a regular supply of clean water, flood control, prevention
of erosion, pollination (important to the fruit industry, for example),
carbon storage (to counteract global warming), stone and sand for
building, and clean air vital for our survival i.e. ‘what nature does for
us’.
Ecosystem status (also known as conservation status) Describes
the condition of an areas biodiversity relative to past, present
and future threats, and is an indicator of the level of safeguarding
required for the continued existence of the biodiversity which
is found in that particular area. Ecosystem status of terrestrial
ecosystems is based on the degree of habitat loss that has occurred
in each ecosystem, relative to two thresholds: one for maintaining
healthy ecosystem functioning, and one for conserving the majority
of species associated with the ecosystem. As natural habitat is lost in
an ecosystem, its functioning is increasingly compromised, leading
eventually to the collapse of the ecosystem and to loss of species
associated with that ecosystem. Four Ecosystem status classifications
types exist, namely Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable
and Least Threatened. The National Equivalent ecosystem status
has been used in the production of the GR CBA Map, which
means that the SANBI national criteria for determining ecosystem
status were applied. The ecosystem status for the Garden Route is,
therefore, the most accurately classified and supersedes all other
biodiversity plan classifications.
Eco-status: The overall ecological status of an aquatic resource
in which it should be managed as determined by the Reserve
Determination Methodology (developed by the Department of
Water Affairs). For example, Eco-status A requires that a river or
wetland be managed in its natural state and is not subject to
impacts. It indicates the level of protection a river or wetland should
receive.
Ecotone A transitional zone between two or more ecosystems (such
as a forest and fynbos) which may display characteristics of both. For
example, between forests and fynbos, the ecotone comprises hardy
pioneer plants that can recover rapidly after disturbance and can
protect the forest from fire and the drying effects of the sun.
Endemic A plant or animal species, or a vegetation type, which is
naturally restricted to a particular defined region (not to be confused
with indigenous). For example, a plant may be endemic to South
Africa in which case it grows naturally anywhere in the country, or
endemic only to the Garden Route, which means it is restricted to
this area and grows naturally nowhere else in the country or world.
Environmental Management Framework (EMF) An EMF allows
environmental constraints and opportunities to be examined at a
regional level to influence project-specific decisions before they are
made. They identify opportunities and constraints to developments,
and also allow for the consideration of cumulative effects that
may be expected in the study area. They inform land-use decisionmaking
processes once development proposals are submitted.
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) The EMP provides
specifications that the landowner shall adhere to, in order to
minimise adverse environmental impacts associated with a landuse
activity e.g. alien plant management on land for conservation.
In terms of proposed developments, an EMP can be defined as “an
environmental management tool used to ensure that undue or
reasonably avoidable adverse impacts of the construction, operation
and decommissioning of a project are prevented; and that the
positive benefits of the projects are enhanced”. EMPs are therefore
important tools for ensuring that the management actions arising
from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes are clearly
defined and implemented through all phases of the project lifecycle.
Floodplain a smooth, relatively flat valley floor next to and formed
by a river or stream subject to periodic overflows.
Fine-Scale Biodiversity Plans are more accurate maps of
biodiversity prepared at a scale of 1:5 000 – 1:50 000 (or finer) and
which identify important areas for conservation and sustainable
management. See systematic biodiversity plan below.
Fragmentation [of habitat] The breaking up of a continuous
habitat, ecosystem, or land-use type into smaller fragments.
Function/functioning/functional Used here to describe natural
systems working or operating in a healthy way (opposite to
dysfunctional which means working poorly or in an unhealthy way)
Fynbos Forum Ecosystem Guidelines: A handbook that provides
a set of guidelines prepared for several Western Cape ecosystem
groups, e.g. Lowland Fynbos, Coastal Ecosystems. Its aim is to assist
all stakeholders involved in land-use planning and environmental
assessment with integrating biodiversity into these procedures.
Available from the BGIS Unit on (021) 799 8738 or downloadable
www.bgis.sanbi.org.
GIS and GIS shapefiles A GIS is a computer technology that
combines geographic data (the location of man-made and natural
features on the earth’s surface) and other types of information
(names, classifications, addresses and much more) to generate
visual maps and reports. A GIS can play a major role in integrating
information from a variety of databases to identify problems and
explore solutions (Adapted from Looney 2000 Beyond Maps – GIS and
Decision-making in Local Government).
Ground truthing is the verification of mapped information with real
features on the site.
Groundwater is the term for any water found subsurface in the
saturated zone below the water table, i.e. the water table marks the
upper surface of the groundwater systems.
Habitat The natural home of a plant or animal species. Generally
those features of an area inhabited by animal or plant which are
essential to its survival. The habitat of a frog might be a wetland.

Hotspot Biodiversity hotspots are areas of high species diversity,
which are also under serious threat.
Indigenous Naturally occurring or “native” to a broad area, such as
South Africa.
Intact/ecological integrity Used here to describe natural
environment that is not badly damaged, and is still operating
healthily.
Integrated management in this handbook refers to the
management of land-use in an integrated fashion. This implies
the need to consider the socio-economic and environmental
(biodiversity) impact of land-use change and development to
ensure sustainable development. The principles of accountability,
participation, equitability and sustainability are promoted.
Invasive alien species Invasive alien species means any nonindigenous
plant or animal species whose establishment and spread
outside of its natural range threatens natural ecosystems, habitats or
other species or has the potential to threaten ecosystems, habitats
or other species; and may result in economic or environmental
harm, or harm to human health.
Land cover The substance which covers the land, e.g. natural
vegetation, roads, factory, or bare ground. In the context of
this document, land cover gives an indication of the level of
transformation of natural ecosystems and can range from natural
through to irreversibly transformed. Land cover cannot always be
equated to land-use, e.g. bare land can either be borrow pits (where
the land-use is mining) or natural bare soil (where the land-use may
be conservation). It is one of the crucial components of systematic
biodiversity planning (see below).
Landscape corridor – see ecological process area.
Land-use is the human alteration of the natural environment into
the built environment (e.g. agriculture, mining, plantation, and
settlements) or the human preservation of the natural environment
(e.g. conservation).
Land-use planning and decision-making (LUPDM) Land-use
planning and decision-making takes the form of both reactive
decision-making and proactive planning. The former refers
to decisions and recommendations made by authorities and
professionals dealing with land-use development applications (e.g.
EIA and LUPO); whilst the latter refers to the compilation of forward
planning documents and maps, such as SDFs, SEAs etc., that guide
land-use development. LUPDM is a multi-sectoral planning process.
Listed Threatened Ecosystems are ecosystems that are threatened
(CR, E and V – see ecosystem status) and have been listed in terms of
Section 52 of the National Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004).
Mainstreaming biodiversity means integrating biodiversity
considerations and the sustainable use of biological resources
into the policies, strategies and day-to-day operations of a range
of sectors whose core business is not biodiversity conservation
(e.g. into economic sectors and development models and
programmes) and in so doing, integrating it into all human
behaviour. Mainstreaming biodiversity is essential for overcoming
the “conservation versus development” mindset, and for ensuring
sustainable development.
59
Multi-sectoral planning procedures consider all available sector
plans (biodiversity, agricultural, mining, economic, social, etc.)
in order to make informed decisions and promote sustainable
development. IDPs and SDFs are examples of multi-sectoral
planning tools.
National Equivalent ecosystem status. See ecosystem status above.
Place-bound versus non-place-bound Place bound is where a
proposed development is dependent on a certain location, e.g.
mining only occurs where minerals are located, versus non-place
bound development which is not dependent on a certain location
e.g. a paint ball centre or water park.
Planning Unit The minimum unit of land-used in the biodiversity
(conservation) planning process to identify Critical Biodiversity Areas
(and the other mapped categories of land).
Precautionary principle In the face of uncertainty about the
workings of ecosystems and the effects of human activities, we
should always err on the side of caution. Incomplete or inadequate
data are generally the norm in conservation and resource
management activities; however, the lack of data should not be used
to justify a delay in taking conservation actions. Actions or refraining
from potentially harmful actions should be based on the probable
consequences to species, habitats and ecosystems, especially when
long-term, or irreversible, consequences are more likely than not.
Referred to in the NEMA.
Pristine Unspoiled, used here to describe the natural environment
in its undisturbed state.
Protected Areas These are formally protected areas declared in
terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas
Act.
Ramsar Convention and List: Known as the ‘Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance’, where certain wetlands
have been listed and have acquired a new status at the national
level and are recognised by the international community as being
of significant value, not only for the country, but for humanity as a
whole (see www.ramsar.org).
Red data species Plant or animal species that are named in a list
(the Red Data Book) because their survival is under threat. They have
been assessed according to their potential extinction in the near
future and are either categorized as Extinct, Critically Endangered,
Endangered, Vulnerable or Least Threatened.
Rehabilitate/rehabilitation - see also restore/restoration
Meaning (roughly) restoration, especially after mining activities or
quarrying, but where the natural environment is not repaired to its
original pristine state. Rehabilitation emphasizes the reparation of
ecosystem processes, productivity and services.
Restore/restoration (Ecological restoration) The process of assisting
the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or
destroyed, which involves the repair of the natural environment to
a state close to its original state. For example, this can be achieved
through the removal of alien invasive plants, or the repair of eroded
sites and the replanting of indigenous plants. Restoration involves,
not only the reparation of ecosystem processes, productivity and
services, but also the re-establishment of species composition and
community structure.

Rezoning and Zoning Schemes The general purpose of zoning
is to determine use rights, manage urban growth, develop and
utilise land, as well as conservation of the natural and cultural
environment.
Shapefile Several GIS files that together produce a geographical/
mapped feature e.g. dam, road, vegetation type, also known as a GIS
layer or map (see GIS above).
Spatial Planning Categories: delineate the landscape into Core
1, Core 2, Buffer 1 and Buffer 2, according to the Western Cape
Provincial SDF. They represent the level of importance of biodiversity
attached thereto and include land-use recommendations based
on the principles of bioregional planning (see above). They are
intended to manage activities in the four main physiographic
components of the Western Cape.
Species Any living organism e.g. plant, animal, insect, bird, etc., of a
particular kind and name.
Species of Special Concern (SSC) in this handbook refers to red
data species (see above) that are classified as Critically Endangered,
Endangered or Vulnerable. SSC are also referred to as Species of
Conservation Concern.
Sustainable development Development that meets the needs
of both present and future development, equitably. In terms of
the NEMA, (sustainable) development is the integration of social,
economic and environmental factors into planning, implementation
and decision-making so as to ensure that development serves
present and future generations.”
‘Sustainable Human Settlements’ Integrated and sustainable
human settlements that redress the legacy of racial and social
divisions, combat urban sprawl, ensure centrality for the poor and
create empowered communities through social capital formation
(PSDF, 2005). Encouraging nodal development and the protection of
nature’s ecosystem services, to promote sustainable development.
Systematic biodiversity plan (technically known as a systematic
conservation plan) A map which indicates priority areas for
conservation and sustainable management to ensure the continued
existence of biodiversity. Systematic biodiversity planning is
an approach to conservation that prioritises actions by setting
quantitative thresholds for biodiversity features (e.g. vegetation
types). It is premised on conserving a representative sample of
biodiversity pattern, including species and habitats (the principle of
representation), as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes
that maintain biodiversity over time (the principle of persistence).
The configuration of priority areas identified in the plan is designed
to be spatially efficient (i.e. to meet biodiversity thresholds as
efficiently as possible in terms of the amount of land required) and
where possible to avoid conflict with other land-use where these
are known to exist (principles of efficiency and conflict avoidance).
It recognizes that the whole landscape must be planned and
managed strategically to ensure sustainable development.
Thresholds See biodiversity threshold above.
Transformation [habitat loss] Clearing an area of its indigenous
vegetation. These transformed parts of the landscape no longer
contain indigenous habitat. In many areas, this has led to the
breakdown of natural ecological processes.
Urban Edge An urban edge is ‘a defined line drawn around an
urban node as a growth boundary i.e. the outer limit of urban areas’.
It is intended to protect the rural environment from urban sprawl
and to encourage efficient settlement patterns. Refer to the DEADP
Guideline Document ‘Urban Edge Guidelines in the Western Cape’.
Vegetation The collective term for plants in an area. Often referred
to as “bush” or “veld”.
Water Management Area South Africa is divided into 19 Water
Management Areas (WMAs), according to the National Water
Act (36 of 1998). A WMA is an area established as a management
unit in the national water resource strategy within which a
catchment management agency will conduct the protection, use,
development, conservation, management and control of water
resources.
The Rare Gladiolus sempervirens found in Tsitsikamma Perennial
Stream and Knysna Island Fynbos.
Photo: Tinneke Kraaij

References
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Job, N., Helme, N,A., Holmes, P.M. Brownlie S. and Rebelo AB. 2005.
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Report. Rivers of the Gouritz Water Management Area. River Health
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supported by CAPE FSP task team.

APPENDIX A:
SUMMARY BIODIVERSITY STATISTICS FOR THE GARDEN ROUTE
VEGETATION TYPES
For summary data for each municipality, refer to the GIS vegetation map or GR CBA Mapbook.
Key:
• Vegetation types written in blue = aquatic dependent vegetation types i.e. vegetation types that depend on the presence of either fresh
or brackish surface water; Vegetation types written in green = the Coastal Forests; Vegetation types and/or ecosystem status written in
red = Critically Endangered vegetation types, which are automatically classed as Critical Biodiversity Areas.
• GR: Garden Route region = the entire planning domain, namely the municipal areas of the George, Knysna, and Bitou, and north of
their boundaries, up to the N9 and R62 roads within the Eden District Municipality in the Western Cape. The GR region also overlaps the
Koukamma and Kouga municipalities south of the R62 road, and from east of where the R62 joins the N2, south of the N2 and Seekoei
River in the Eastern Cape. It encompasses the entire catchment areas of the rivers that drain south from the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma.
• CR = Critically Endangered; EN = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable; LT = Least Threatened.
Leopard. Photo: Luca Galuzzi
The extent and condition of natural vegetation in a catchment, especially
wetlands, has a direct impact on the health of a river
Photo: Andrew Brown)

MAJOR THREATS (% OF ORIGINAL
EXTENT)
Urban
Degradation
and
Plantation Farm
and aliens
infra­
(%) (%) structure
(%)
(%)
VEGETATION TYPE , THRESHOLD AND ECOSYSTEM STATS etc CONDITION CLASSES (HECTARES)
Urban and
infrastructure
Farm
Plantation
Degradation
and aliens
Natural
National
Equivalent
Ecosystem
Status
Threshold
hectares
Threshold
%
Original
Extent
MUNICIPAL
LOCATION
VEGETATION NAME
(ha)
(ha)
(ha)
(ha)
(ha)
Baviaanskloof Sandolienveld Koukamma 37.4 23 8.6 LT 32.5 1.2 3.7 3 0 10 0
Baviaanskloof Spekboom
Koukamma 33 19 6.3 CR 2.8 9.8 20.4 30 0 0 62
Thicket
Covie Coastal Proteoid
Bitou 2054 23 472.4 LT 1778.2 213.6 16.3 43.3 2.8 10 1 2 0
Fynbos
De Vlugt Forest-Waboomveld Eden DMA 861.5 23 198.1 LT 703.1 146.2 12.1 17 0 1 0
De Vlugt Sandolien-
Eden DMA 1197.5 29 347.3 EN 400 404.2 393.3 34 0 33 0
Renosterveld
Doornrivier Mesic Proteoid
George, Knysna 14597.7 23 3357.5 VU 7298.8 5463.4 28.2 1805.1 2.9 37 0 12 0
Fynbos
Doringrivier Arid Proteoid
George 2297.3 23 528.4 VU 1108.3 1154.1 3.7 31.3 50 0 1 0
Fynbos
Doringrivier Waboomveld George 2325.7 23 534.9 CR 331.2 1726.7 3.5 263.1 1.3 74 0 11 0
63
Eensaamheid Renosterveld Eden DMA 6529.8 29 1893.6 CR 274.3 434.6 11 5808.1 2 7 0 89 0
Bitou, Koukamma,
Garden Route Estuary
2964.8 24 711.6 LT 2866.6 40.5 14.3 11.2 31.3 5.4 2.5 0.9 1.4
Kouga
George, Knysna,
Garden Route Wetlands
434.6 20 86.9 LT 337.7 47.4 14.5 11 0 0 3
Bitou, Kouga
Groenvlei Coastal Forest Knysna 44.6 24 10.7 VU 18.6 0.5 25.5 1 0 57 0
Groot Brak River and
George, Knysna,
3507.7 31 1087.4 EN 1594.2 960.4 224.5 558.6 170.9 27 6 16 5
floodplain
Bitou, Eden DMA
Haarlem Fynbos-
Koukamma, Eden
161.1 24 38.7 LT 151.5 1.1 3.7 4.9 1 0 2 3
Renosterveld
DMA
George, Knysna,
Hartenbos Primary Dune Bitou, Koukamma, 3817.9 40 1527.2 EN 1821.6 701.2 340 290.7 664.5 18 9 8 17
Kouga
Hartenbos Strandveld George 23360.6 31 7241.8 VU 13228.17 5089.64 2628.97 2014.06 397.9 22 11 9 2
Herold Renoster-
George 6034 29 1749.9 VU 3182 339.6 2499.5 13.2 6 0 41 0
Sandolienveld
Herolds Bay Asteraceous
George 976.9 20 195.4 LT 648.9 106.5 0.5 181.5 11 0 0 19
Fynbos
George, Knysna,
Herolds Bay Littoral-Thicket
144.8 36 52.1 CR 31.2 22 16.9 74.7 15 0 12 52
Bitou, Koukamma
Herolds Bay Thicket-Grassy
George 2657.7 23 611.3 CR 134.1 698.1 21.2 1802 2.5 26 1 68 0
Fynbos
Hoogekraal Sandplain George, Knysna,
818.8 23 188.3 EN 259.4 189.1 1 230.7 138.8 23 0 28 17
Fynbos
Bitou

MAJOR THREATS (% OF ORIGINAL
VEGETATION TYPE , THRESHOLD AND ECOSYSTEM STATS etc CONDITION CLASSES (HECTARES)
EXTENT)
VEGETATION NAME
MUNICIPAL
Urban
National
Degra­
Urban and Degradation
and
Original Threshold Threshold Equivalent Natural dation Plantation Farm
Plantation Farm
infrastructure and aliens
infra­
LOCATION Extent % hectares Ecosystem
and aliens
(ha)
(ha) (ha)
(%) (%) structure
Status
(ha)
(%)
(ha)
(%)
Humansdorp Perennial
Kouga 1086.6 36 391.2 LT 908.2 34 0.4 37.6 64 3 0 3 6
Stream
Humansdorp Thicket-Grassy
Kouga 2388.1 23 549.3 CR 273.8 921.4 50.5 953.8 188.6 39 2 40 8
Fynbos
Inland Drift Sands Koukamma, Kouga 753.3 24 180.8 VU 332.8 8.9 373 38.9 1 0 50 5
Inland Primary Dune Koukamma, Kouga 7867.1 23 1809.4 EN 2233.8 236.2 5126.1 275.6 3 0 65 4
Kabeljous Valley Thicket Kouga 2431 20 486.2 VU 1111 1147.2 13.9 159 47 0 1 7
Kamanassie Waboomveld George, Eden DMA 800 23 184 VU 468.4 21.3 268.4 41.8 3 34 5 0
Keurbooms River and
Knysna, Eden DMA 770.6 19 146.4 LT 564.5 0.1 179.6 26.9 0 0 23 3
Perennial Streams
Keurbooms Thicket-Forest Bitou 471.8 23 108.5 VU 282.8 9.6 179.5 2 0 38 0
Geroge, Knysna,
Kleinkrantz Drift Sands
6611.7 24 1586.8 LT 4085.4 2269.6 256.8 34 0 4 0
Kouga
Kleinkrantz Littoral-Thicket George, Knysna 2799.9 40 1120 LT 2493.7 151.2 13.7 121.3 20.3 5 0 4 1
George, Knysna,
Kleinplaat Grassy Fynbos
639.4 20 127.9 LT 455.3 101.6 2.1 1.4 76.8 16 0 0 12
Bitou, Eden DMA
Knysna Enon Fynbos Knysna, Bitou 182.8 36 65.8 LT 150 31.7 1.2 17 0 1 0
Knysna Island Fynbos Knysna, Bitou 978 20 195.6 LT 906.8 42.8 0.1 28.8 4 0 0 3
Knysna Saltmarsh Knysna, Btou 27549.3 23 6336.3 CR 4725.2 5796.1 16429.7 598.7 21 60 2 0
Knysna, Bitou,
Kouga Grassy Fynbos Koukamma, Kouga, 4820.6 23 1108.7 VU 1996.5 1167.6 921.8 573.1 161.8 24 19 12 3
Eden DMA
Koukamma, Kouga,
Kouga Mesic Proteoid Fynbos 502.5 24 120.6 LT 416.2 28.6 3.3 54.4 6 0 1 11
Eden DMA
Kouga Perennial Stream Eden DMA 14497.8 23 3334.5 LT 10991 2546.5 41.7 628.4 291.4 18 0 4 2
Kouga Subalpine Fynbos Eden DMA 8790.9 23 2021.9 LT 6446 823.1 1.4 1490 34.1 9 0 17 0
Kromrivier Thicket-Forest Koukamma, Kouga 2170.8 24 521 VU 993.4 270 808.6 98.8 12 0 37 5
Langkloof Grassy Fynbos Koukamma, Kouga 260.9 23 60 LT 260.9 0 0 0 0
2389.9 40 956 EN 1277.8 347.4 410 356 15 0 17 15
Koukamma, Eden
DMA
Langkloof Renosterveld

MAJOR THREATS (% OF ORIGINAL
VEGETATION TYPE , THRESHOLD AND ECOSYSTEM STATS etc CONDITION CLASSES (HECTARES)
EXTENT)
VEGETATION NAME
MUNICIPAL
Urban
National
Degra­
Urban and Degradation
and
Original Threshold Threshold Equivalent Natural dation Plantation Farm
Plantation Farm
infrastructure and aliens
infra­
LOCATION Extent % hectares Ecosystem
and aliens
(ha)
(ha) (ha)
(%) (%) structure
Status
(ha)
(%)
(ha)
(%)
Langkloof Thicket-Grassy
Koukamma 2510.3 23 577.4 EN 937.2 954.3 613.8 6.3 38 0 24 0
Fynbos
Langkloof Thicket-
Koukamma 4693.1 29 1361 CR 220.4 261.4 3736.4 475 6 0 80 10
Renosterveld
Langkloof Waboomveld Bitou, Koukamma 480.3 23 110.5 EN 165.2 93.8 79 142.3 20 0 16 30
Mellville Mesic Proteoid Geroge, Knysna,
443.5 29 128.6 CR 19.6 111.7 312.2 25 0 70 0
Fynbos
Eden DMA
Moordkuils Perennial Stream George 10521.4 23 2419.9 EN 3590.3 1299.1 5539.4 94.5 12 0 53 1
Noetzie Proteoid Fynbos Knysna, Bitou 21882.9 23 5033.1 LT 19180.8 2631.3 72.6 0.7 12 0 0 0
Noetzie Thicket-Fynbos Knysna, Bitou 20510.9 23 4717.5 VU 11149.3 6031.9 3326 2.4 1.7 29 16 0 0
Olienboomkop Grassy
Koukamma 34737.3 24 8337 VU 17796.1 7448.7 4010.4 5272.3 206.4 21 12 15 1
Fynbos-Forest
Olifants River and floodplain George, Eden DMA 4903.3 24 1176.8 EN 1477.6 1412.3 834 938.8 240.8 29 17 19 5
Osbosch Thicket-
Koukamma 1722.8 23 396.2 VU 807.3 169.2 274.7 152.6 319 10 16 9 19
Renosterveld
Outeniqua Forest George 860 23 197.8 LT 763.2 12.8 2.2 3.8 78.1 1 0 0 9
Outeniqua Montane Forest George 13 40 5.2 EN 6.6 6.4 0 49 0 0
George, Knysna,
Outeniqua Perrenial Stream
458.9 31 142.3 CR 91.5 17.4 350.1 4 0 76 0
Eden DMA
George, Knysna,
Outeniqua Plateau Forest
7236.9 29 2098.7 CR 1416.5 46.1 5749.9 29.3 1 0 79 0
Bitou
Outeniqua Subalpine Fynbos George 85.6 34 29.1 CR 5.7 18.2 61.6 21 72 0 0
Outeniqua Waboomveld George, Eden DMA 410.5 34 139.6 LT 313.8 9 87.7 2 21 0 0
Oyster Bay Thicket-Grassy
Koukamma, Kouga 5202.5 24 1248.6 EN 1249.2 1669.8 22.3 2239 22.2 32 0 43 0
Fynbos
Paardeberg Mesic Proteoid
George 28939.2 34 9839.3 LT 23249.3 1847.6 2655.3 1081.3 106 6 9 4 0
Fynbos
Piesang River Fynbos-Forest Bitou 99.6 23 22.9 LT 99.6 0 0 0 0
Potjiesrivier Waboomveld Eden DMA 7908.9 23 1819 VU 3908 2878.3 14 1104.2 4.4 36 0 14 0
65
Roodefontein Grassy Fynbos Bitou 12210.9 23 2808.5 CR 2242.4 775.9 9193 6.1 6 0 75 0

MAJOR THREATS (% OF ORIGINAL
VEGETATION TYPE , THRESHOLD AND ECOSYSTEM STATS etc CONDITION CLASSES (HECTARES)
EXTENT)
VEGETATION NAME
MUNICIPAL
Urban
National
Degra­
Urban and Degradation
and
Original Threshold Threshold Equivalent Natural dation Plantation Farm
Plantation Farm
infrastructure and aliens
infra­
LOCATION Extent % hectares Ecosystem
and aliens
(ha)
(ha) (ha)
(%) (%) structure
Status
(ha)
(%)
(ha)
(%)
Ruitersberg Ericaceous
George 334.3 23 76.9 EN 86.1 248.2 74 0 0 0
Fynbos
Ruitersbos Mesic Proteoid
George 3346.5 40 1338.6 EN 1739.3 829.1 298.6 339 140.7 25 9 10 4
Fynbos
Sand River Pans Koukamma, Kouga 1224.4 23 281.6 LT 836.5 110.6 277.2 9 0 23 0
George, Knysna,
Sedgefield Coastal Grassland
18934.7 36 6816.5 CR 1581.4 2915 11152.5 2281.8 1004.3 15 59 12 5
Bitou
Sedgefield Sandplain Fynbos Knysna 3804.6 23 875.1 CR 355.5 1187.8 287.6 1181.8 792.1 31 8 31 21
Sedgefield Thicket-Fynbos George, Knysna 892.8 23 205.4 LT 771.8 121 14 0 0 0
Soutvlei Inland Pans Kouga 5318.9 23 1223.4 VU 2621.6 361.5 2323.9 9.1 3.4 7 44 0 0
St Francis Dune Stream Koukamma, Kouga 15.4 24 3.7 LT 13.5 0.3 1.6 2 0 11 0
St Francis Riverine Saltmarsh Bitou, Kouga 1451.4 25 362.8 CR 202 305.6 0.6 388.9 554.2 21 0 27 38
Bitou, Koukamma,
St Francis Strandveld
331.2 36 119.3 LT 311.1 9 11.2 0 3 0 3
Kouga
Storms River Thicket-Forest Bitou, Koukamma 4460.9 36 1605.9 LT 3053.6 526 404.9 173.9 302.6 12 9 4 7
Tsitsikamma Coastal Plateau
Bitou, Koukamma 1325.8 24 318.2 LT 1042.2 193.5 91 0 0 15 7
Forest
Bitou, Koukamma,
Tsitsikamma Dune Forest
250.1 24 60 VU 111 77.6 8.1 53.1 31 0 3 21
Kouga
George, Knysna,
Tsitsikamma Ericaceous
Bitou, Koukamma, 12487.1 36 4495.3 CR 3326.6 7316.3 975.8 870.9 59 0 8 7
Fynbos
Eden DMA
Tsitsikamma Forest Fynbos Bitou, Koukamma 515.7 40 206.3 LT 492.2 2.4 13.1 8 0 3 2 0
Tsitsikamma Fynbos Forest Bitou, Koukamma 1811 34 615.7 LT 1424.3 100.2 207.9 78.9 6 11 4 0
Tsitsikamma Mesic Proteoid Bitou, Koukamma,
25603.8 23 5888.9 LT 18508.5 5982.6 963.1 148.4 1.5 23 4 1 0
Fynbos
Kouga, Eden DMA
Tsitsikamma Mountain Forest Bitou, Koukamma 1761.3 23 405.1 VU 752.4 275.3 468.8 263.7 1.3 16 27 15 0
Tsitsikamma Mountain Bitou, Koukamma,
274.5 34 93.3 LT 167.5 25 60.4 21.6 9 22 8 0
Proteoid Fynbos
Kouga
Tsitsikamma Pans Koukamma, Kouga 1972 34 670.5 LT 1797.6 161.1 13.6 8 1 0 0
Eden DMA 440 24 105.6 CR 105 335.1 0 0 76 0
Tsitsikamma Perennial
Stream

MAJOR THREATS (% OF ORIGINAL
EXTENT)
Urban
Degradation
and
Plantation Farm
and aliens
infra­
(%) (%) structure
(%)
(%)
VEGETATION TYPE , THRESHOLD AND ECOSYSTEM STATS etc CONDITION CLASSES (HECTARES)
Urban and
infrastructure
Farm
Plantation
Degradation
and aliens
Natural
National
Equivalent
Ecosystem
Status
Threshold
hectares
Threshold
%
Original
Extent
MUNICIPAL
LOCATION
VEGETATION NAME
(ha)
(ha)
(ha)
(ha)
(ha)
Tsitsikamma Plateau Forest Bitou, Koukamma 76005.9 23 17481.4 LT 57406 10920.9 4179.6 3303.5 211.3 14 5 4 0
Tsitsikamma Plateau Proteoid Bitou, Koukamma,
14583.4 34 4958.4 LT 12404.7 1261.7 702.9 204.5 11.5 9 5 1 0
Fynbos
Kouga
Tsitsikamma River and Bitou, Koukamma,
36827.5 23 8470.3 CR 2129.7 2576.9 16250.2 15261.9 618.2 7 44 41 2
Floodplain
Kouga
Bitou, Koukamma,
Tsitsikamma Riverine Forest
2397.2 40 958.9 LT 1621.3 555.7 34.7 171.7 12.8 23 1 7 1
Kouga
Tsitsikamma Subalpine
Bitou, Koukamma 178.5 23 41 LT 178.5 0 0 0 0
Fynbos
Tsitsikamma Thicket-Grassy
Koukamma 3083.9 23 709.3 CR 155.3 35.3 0.8 2880.1 13.5 1 0 93 0
Fynbos
Tstsikamma Littoral
Bitou, Koukamma,
434.6 20 86.92 LT 337.7 47.4 14.5 10.9 0.0 0.0 3.3
Vegetation
Kouga
Uplands Grassy Fynbos Knysna, Bitou 7165.2 23 1648 EN 2458.4 1235.2 870.7 2593.5 7.6 17 12 36 0
Victoria Bay Thicket-Fynbos George 698.7 23 160.7 EN 189.1 175.1 299.6 35 25 0 43 5
George, Knysna,
Wilderness Forest-Thicket
2157.5 36 776.7 VU 1131.6 336.4 101.9 116 471.5 16 5 5 22
Bitou
Wilderness Fynbos-Forest George, Knysna 8121.9 40 3248.8 EN 4076.4 1575.6 1010.8 1417.4 41.8 19 12 17 1
Witberg Waboomveld George 316.1 23 72.7 LT 246.1 70.1 22 0 0 0
Wolwedans Grassy Fynbos George, Knysna 33155 23 7625.6 CR 628.1 3628.1 3938.8 20462.6 4499.3 11 12 62 14
Wolwedans Thicket-Forest George 523.8 40 209.5 EN 253 211.3 3.1 41.8 14.8 40 1 8 3
Kouga 574.7 32 183.9 LT 417.1 26.7 131.3 0 0 5 23
Zeekoei Limestone
Strandveld
67

Numerous herds of Loxodonta africana, the southern most wild elephants of the African continent, used
to roam the forest and open fynbos of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma regions (the Garden Route). It
is believed that there are 3 remaining elephants still living in the Knysna forests, a female known as
the “Matriarch”, a young bull sighted in 2000 and another elephant sighted in 2001 (The Knysna and
Tsitsikamma Forests, van de Merwe, 2002).