environmental p lanning and Climate p rotection Department …€¦ · • Threats to Durban’s biodiversity 15 • Responses to threats 20 Acknowledgements 27 Please note that the

Durban: State of

BiodiversityRepoRt 2013/2014

environmental planning and Climate protection DepartmentDevelopment planning, environment and Management Unit

p.o. Box 680, Durban 4000, South Africa+27 31 311 7875

www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/development-planning-and-management/epcpd

Biodiversityis the term used to describe the variety of life on Earth and all natural processes. This includes ecosystem, genetic and cultural diversity, and the connections between these and all species, including humans. Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by healthy biodiversity to all living things. There is growing recognition of the value of ecosystem services to human well-being in terms of health, social, cultural and economic needs. Read more about ecosystem services on pages 6 and 7 of this report.

We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity

as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.

E. O. Wilson

Written and compiled by: natasha Govender, Specialist ecologist, biodiversity Planning, environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department.

reviewed by: richard boon, Manager, biodiversity Planning, environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department.

Copyright: ethekwini Municipality, 2014.

Key statistics describing durban in 2013/2014 6

ecosystems services 7

durban’s natural environment 8

indicators 9

• TotalareaofD’MOSS 9

• PercentageofD’MOSSprotected 9

• PercentageofD’MOSSmanaged 11

• Speciesabundance 12

• ThreatstoDurban’sbiodiversity 15

• Responsestothreats 20

Acknowledgements 27

Pleasenotethatthekeystatisticsforthe2013/2014 StateofBiodiversityreportcanbefoundinthe

A3fold-outatthebackofthisreport.

TableofContents

Stateof biodiversity reportingthe intention of State of Biodiversity reporting is to present qualitative and quantitative data which describe the status of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Durban, to highlight key threats to this biodiversity and to record actions aimed at protecting and managing biodiversity. these reports are produced annually and this is the ethekwini Municipality’s sixth State of Biodiversity report. this report collates data relevant to the 2013/2014 municipal financial year[1] and focuses on some of the work done by the Durban Botanic Gardens.

FOOTNOTE 1: A municipal year starts on 1 July and ends on 30 June.

BiodiversityReport2013/2014|3

4|BiodiversityReport2013/2014

FOOTNOTE 2: Adapted from The Durban Botanic Gardens Trust (2013). “Africa’s Oldest Surviving Botanic Gardens.”

Africa’s oldest surviving Botanic Gardens2

the Durban Botanic Gardens (DBG) was established as early as 1849 when Durban was still a small village composed of a few sandy tracks and thatched cottages. the original location of the DBG was the south bank of the Umgeni River and was later moved to the lower slopes of the Berea forest because of the river’s hippo and crocodile populations. At the time, this area was still isolated from the main village of Durban and was largely a wilderness area that was still often visited by a roaming lion. the DBG originally served as a botanic station for the trial of agricultural crops and today has evolved into a space that focuses on core areas of biodiversity, education, heritage, research, horticultural excellence and green innovation.

the Gardens covers an area of approximately 15 ha and contains both indigenous and exotic species’ collections including a number of significant and threatened plant collections, e.g. cycads, palms, bromeliads and orchids. In addition, the garden plays host to about 80 heritage trees, the majority of which are over 100 years old.

this report will focus in on some of the interesting and exciting work undertaken by the Durban Botanic Gardens. For more information please visit: www.durbanbotanicgardens.org.za

Learners exploring the banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) at the Durban botanic Gardens.


nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated on the 18th July with themessageforallhumankindtoactin“buildingaglobalmovementforgood.”Tothisend,eThekwiniParksRecreationandCultureDepartment(PLCD)launchedafoodgardeningprogrammeonthisdayattheLIVVillageinDurban,anon-profitorganisationthataimsto rescue orphaned and vulnerable children, restore lives, and raise leaders.

WhileSouthAfricaisconsideredasbeinga‘foodsecure’country, many estimates suggest that high unemployment rates, inadequatesocialwelfaresystemsandthehighprevalenceofHIV/AIDScontributestotheapproximately43%ofhouseholdsthatcurrentlyexperiencefoodpoverty.Withthepredictedchangesinrainfallandtemperaturepatternsduetoclimatechange,foodinsecurityisaseriousconcernforallSouthAfricans.

OnMandelaDay2013,officialsfromthePLCDconstructedmorethanseventeenfoodgardensattheLIVVillagetopromotetheimportantlinkbetweenbiodiversityandhumanwell-being,andtoinstil

in the younger generation anappreciationforfoodgardening. following the Mandela Day programme, the Durban botanic Gardens education Section stationed a researcher at the Village to explore the hypothesis thatpermaculturefoodgardening promotes a better appreciationforbiodiversityand proper nutrition.

Interestingly,itwasfoundthatchildrenofLIVVillagestartedtocreatetheirownfoodgardensunpromptedbyofficialsorresearchers,apositivesignofthesustainabilityofthecultureoffoodgardening.Empoweringpeopletogrowtheirownfoodintheirowngardenscouldsatisfyahousehold’snutritionalandeconomicneeds.

ethekwini Parks department promotes biodiversity and human well-beingWhat counts in life is not

the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference

we have made to the lives of others that will

determine the significance of the life we lead.

nelson Mandela


FOOTNOTE 3: Denny Thaver, Global Insight/Economic Development & Investment Promotion Unit/Procurement & Infrastructure:

Development Engineering, eThekwini Municipality.

FOOTNOTE 4: The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of all goods and services produced within the economy in a given period. Gross Value Added (GVA) is the value of all goods and services produced in an area or sector of an

economy and is used in the estimation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Table1:KeystatisticsdescribingDurbanin2013/2014[3]

Municipal area 2297 km2(1.4%ofKZN)

Population 3,55million

Populationgrowth(2012–2013) 0.9%

Percentageofpeopleinpoverty 38.7%

Rateofurbanisation 92%

total exports r 60.2 billion

total imports r 127.4 billion

Largest sectors Manufacturing,tourism, financeandtransport

GVa[4] R195.3billion

GDP[4] r 217.7 billion

electricity backlog 290393consumerunits

Water backlog 71 494 consumer units

Housingbacklog 404 192 units

1.ProfileofDurban

e.g. Control of temperatures

and wind reduction.

Clim

ate

regulation

Control ofpests, e.g. spiders

controllingmosquito

populations.

Bio

logi

cal co

ntrol

e.g. Flood control,

drought recovery.

dis

turb

ance

regulation

storage ofsoil within an

ecosysteme.g. wetlands.

eros

ion c

ontrol

Control of waterflow, e.g. capture

and release of water by vegetated

landscapes for urban use.

Wat

er re

gulation

Control ofthe chemical

composition of the atmosphere.

Gas

reg

ulation

Movement of pollen by certain

species (e.g. bees) to enable plant

reproduction.

Aestheticeducational,

spiritual andscientific use.

supply andstorage of water,

e.g. by rivers.

Wat

er

supply

Polli

nation

e.g. Fish,crops and

fruit.Fo

od p

roduction

Unique biologicalmaterials and

products, e.g.plant and animal

medicines.

Gen

etic

resources

e.g. Fuel,craft work

and buildingmaterials.

raw

m

aterials


2. ecosystem Services providedbyDurban’sNaturalEnvironment

e.g.eco-tourism,

sports, fishingand swimming.

Cult

ural

e.g. removal and breakdown of excess nutrients in wetlands,

detoxification of air pollution by

vegetation.

Was

te tr

eatment

Habitat for resident or migrant

populations, e.g. nurseriesfor fish.

refug

ia

e.g. Weatheringof rock by water.

soil

fo

rmation

Capture, storage and processing

of nutrients,e.g. nitrogen

fixation.

Nut

rien

t cycling

recr

eation

TheecosystemservicesprovidedbyDurban’snatural environment was valued at ~r4 billion per

annum (2006), excluding the tourism industry.

3.Thenaturalenvironment


SouthAfricansarepassionateaboutnatureand its diversity and scattered amongst our vast rainbow nation are hundreds ofindividualswhocaredeeplyaboutconservingouruniquediversityofplantspecies. these individuals have been united intheireffortstoconserveplantsthroughtheCustodiansofRareandEndangeredWildflowers(CREW)programme,whichinvolves volunteers who monitor and help to conserve plants threatened with extinction.

Anexampleofonesuchspeciesis Hyobanche fulleri (commonly known as cat nails), a striking parasitic plant growing upto13cmhighwithpaletobrightpinkflowers.Itattachesitselftorootsofhostplantsentirelydependingonthehostforwater, mineral nutrients and photosynthetic products.ThisspeciesflowersfromAugustto September and is only known in three localitiesalongtheKZNsouthcoast’sdunescrub. It is listed as Critically endangered because plant populations have been decreasing due to coastal developments and associated dune stabilization. the sighting ofH. fulleriwithinDurban’sboundariesisfurtherevidenceofDurbanasaglobalbiodiversity hotspot.

FormoreinformationortojoinCREW,please contact [email protected].

CREW profiles a Critically Endangered parasitic plant found on durban coast[5]

South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in the world[6], and Durban contains:

• three of the country’s eight terrestrial biomes, namely savanna, forest and grassland;

• eight broad nationally recognised vegetation types. these include: eastern Valley Bushveld, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt, KwaZulu-Natal Hinterland thornveld, KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld, Ngongoni Veld, Scarp Forest, Northern Coastal Forest and, Mangroves;

• over 2 200 plant species, ~ 520 species of birds, 37 species of amphibians, 69 species of reptiles, ~ 80 terrestrial mammal species, and 25 invertebrate species endemic to KZN[7];

• 97 kilometres of coastline with a diversity of beach types and productive rocky shores;

• 17 river catchments and 16 estuaries;

• 4 000 kilometres of rivers; and

• An open space system of approximately 74 500 ha (approved 2010/2011), representing almost 1/3 of Durban’s total municipal area.

FOOTNOTE 5: Information compiled by Suvarna Parbhoo and Mbali Mkhize.

FOOTNOTE 6: The biodiversity of South Africa, 2002. Indicators, trends and human impacts. Endangered Wildlife Trust, Struik Publishers, Cape Town.

FOOTNOTE 7: Many species’ records predate the 1990’s and, as such, are not an accurate representation of current diversity. This highlights the need for

more comprehensive studies of Durban’s fauna and flora.

4.1. total area of d’Mossthe Durban Metropolitan open Space System (D’MoSS) is a system of green open spaces incorporating areas of high biodiversity value (private and public owned), linked together in an ecologically viable network of open spaces and is composed of a variety of habitat types. In 2013/2014 D’MoSS comprised ~74 500 ha of open spaces, representing approximately 33 % of the ethekwini Municipal area (Figure A in foldout). the latest, still to be adopted, version of D’MoSS is a sector plan and a spatial layer, based on a systematic conservation planning approach, which identifies key areas which are selected to ensure representation and persistence of biodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services.

D’MoSS is incorporated into the city’s Integrated Development plan, associated Strategic Development Framework, regional Spatial Development plans and into the municipal town planning Schemes as a controlled development layer.

4.2. Percentage of d’Moss that is protectedonly ~ 10% of the area of D’MoSS enjoys some form of protection (table 2). this includes various categories of protection: proclaimed and unproclaimed private or public nature reserves; properties that have been bought through the ethekwini Municipality’s (eM) environmental land acquisition programme; sites where sensitive portions have been protected by non-user conservation servitudes during the development approval process; and sites that have been rezoned to conservation.


the DbG is home to over 80 heritage trees, many ofwhichareover100yearsold.Theseinclude SouthAfrica’soldestJacaranda( Jacaranda mimosifolia) plantedin1885andtheLychee(Litchi chinensis) which wastransportedtoSouthAfricafromMauritius.Boththesetreesspeaktothecountry’searlybotanicalcultivated history.

MostinterestingperhapsistheWood’sCycad(Encephalartos woodii), which is protected at the DbG and which some records suggest is the rarest plant in the world. Cycads have engendered an intrinsic interest

astheyareanancientplantgroupwiththeearliestcycadfossilsdatingbackover250millionyears.Asasurvivorfromaneralongpast,cycadsactasawindowtolifeinancienttimesandarecriticaltoimprovingourunderstandingoftheevolutionofallmodernplants.TheWood’sCycadhasbeenattheDBGforover100years.

Protecting cycads at the dBG offers a glimpse of earth’s past4. Indicators

Table2:AreaofD’MOSSwithsomeprotection andcategoriesofprotectionProtected area type Area (ha) % of d’MossProclaimed nature reserve 1131 1.52

State nature reserve 2181 2.93

Private nature reserve 304 0.41

Special rating area (Sra) 323 0.43

non user Conservation Servitudes 1007 1.35

Municipal nature reserve 1950 2.62

acquired Land 518 0.70

totAls 7414 9.95


4.2.1. Land AcquisitionIn some restricted instances, threatened or important areas are protected through acquisition. This is achieved by either a) purchasing the property from the owner at an agreed upon value or b) property owners donating their land to the eThekwini Municipality. In 2013/2014, 95.1 ha of land were acquired by the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) for environmental conservation.

4.2.2. Nature Reserve ProclamationeThekwini Municipality is currently collaborating with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) to proclaim ten municipal nature reserves in terms

of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No. 57 of 2003). The areas to be proclaimed have varying levels of legal protection, ranging from none to zoned Public Open Space, whilst there are a small number of sites ‘zoned’ Environmental Conservation Reserve. The formal protection afforded by the proclamation of these reserves will ensure the conservation of the sites, will allow their areas to be included in calculating national and provincial statistics for the conservation status of vegetation types, and should assist with attracting more resources for the management of the protected areas. In 2013/2014, significant progress was made

in the proclamation of the 211 ha Roosfontein Nature Reserve. The “Intention to Declare” the Proclamation of Roosfontein was advertised for public comment by the MEC for Environmental Affairs and following the completion of the public process, the documents have been submitted for signature and gazetting. The proclamation of a further two areas, the Giba Gorge Environmental Precinct and the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, will be initiated in 2014/2015.

Biodiversity is keeping up with the technological times

During a typical visit to any school yard, nature reserve or park one is bound to encounter toddlers andteenagersmasterfullytacklingthedigitalworldofsmartphones,

tablets, and laptops. More time spent in the digital world and less inthenaturaloneisoftenviewedbytheenvironmentally-mindedasathreateningprospect.Butwhatiftechnologyisusedtoigniteinterestinbiodiversityinsteadofdeterringfromit?

the Durban botanic Gardens (DbG) is using smartphonetechnologytobridgethebiodiversity-digitalgapandbringingtoday’syouthclosertothenatural world. Quick response (Qr) barcoding technologymarksthebeginningofaprojectthatwillbringtheinformationageintothecommonexperienceofvisitorstothegardensassistingwithknowledgesharing and enhancing communication. Qr codes are two-dimensionalbarcodesthatcancontainanykindofdata. When placed on trees or other existing botanical gardenssignage,thesecodescanprovidein-depthplantoranyotherinformationdirectlytoiPhones,blackberrys, androids and other smartphones, e.g.commonandLatinnamesofplants,species’distributions,linkstoavarietyofonlineresourcessuch as videos or newspapers, etc.

ThefirststageoftheprojectattheDBGinvolveslabellingindigenous trees with Qr codes, providing an alternative to traditionaltreelabels.“WeattheDurbanBotanicGardenswanttobringtoday’syouthcloser(about30cmcloser)toourtrees,”saysJodyFuchs,HorticulturalistattheDBG.TheprojectisbeingheadedupbytheEducationCentreoftheDBGwithvoluntaryconsultationofprivateindividuals.


Table3:ProgressmadewiththeproclamationoftenMunicipalNatureReserves

4.3. Percentage of d’Moss that is managedRapid urbanisation of cities increases the fragmentation of landscapes, making management interventions in natural areas even more important. this management may take the form of the removal of invasive alien species, periodic burning of grassland habitats, removal of litter from streams, or prevention of illegal harvesting of species, etc. the management of D’MoSS in the ethekwini Municipal area is undertaken by various departments and agencies and, overall, just under 7 % of D’MoSS is formally managed (Figure 2 and 3). figure 2. Managed versus

UnmanagedD’MOSS Figure3.Managemententities**

7%

93%

formally managedNoformalmanagement

PrivateePCPD

Giba SraPLCD-NRD

Nature reserve

reserve boundaries

finalised

Hand plans requested (yes/no)

survey required (yes/no)

survey diagrams complete (yes/no)

Management and

Zonationplan

Approval by eM Heads

and the Municipal Manager

Approval of proclamation

by eM executive

Committee

Approval by eKZNW’s executive

Committee

Proclamation approved

by the eKZNW’s

Board

Proclamation documents

submitted to MeC (CoGtA)* & MeC (edteA)*

Puplic participation

process approved and commenced

Proclamation / Gazette

declaration

Burman Bush Yes Yes Yes no no Yes no no no no no no

empisini Yes no no N/A 1stdraftcomplete Yes no no no no no no

Marian Wood Yes Yes no N/A 1stdraftcomplete Yes no no no no no no

New Germany Yes Yes Yes no no Yes no no no no no no

Paradise valley Yes Yes no N/A 2nddraft

complete Yes no no no no no no

Pigeon valley Yes Yes no N/A 1stdraftcomplete Yes no no no no no no

roosfontein Yes Yes Yes Yes Complete Yes no Yes Yes Yes Yes no

silverglen Yes Yes Yes no no Yes no no no no no no

springside Yes Yes no N/A 1stdraftcomplete Yes no no no no no no

virginia Bush Yes Yes Yes Yes no Yes no no no no no no

*COGTA – Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.*EDTEA – Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs. **Excluding the contribution by other State agencies, e.g. EKZNW.


4.4. species abundanceIn terms of representing urban biodiversity, three taxonomic groups are commonly surveyed, i.e. plants, birds and butterflies. In Durban, reliable, quantitative data sets for most groups of

organisms are difficult to obtain because of the lack of long term monitoring initiatives. For the purposes of this report, only data that are collected consistently and quantitatively are utilised.

4.4.1 Bird diversity at the durban Botanic Gardens

Statisticsgatheredduringthepast15yearsaroundtheLakeattheDurban botanic Gardens show an alarming drop in the diversity and abundanceofbirdspeciesattheDurbanBotanicGardens.

• InOctober2000,whenthefirstfigureswerebeingcollated,atotalof1796birdswerecountedduringathree-hoursamplingperiod.Thiscountincludes;Herons(GreyandBlack-headed),SacredIbis and Cattle egrets. other species were not counted at the time.

• InOctober2013,atotalof25birdscomprisingthesamethreespecies were counted with the decrease in numbers most obvious intheCattleEgrets.SightingsofseveralcommonspeciessuchasCommon Moorhen and black Crake, and the less common Squacco HeronandBlack-crownedNightHeronhavealsodecreasedsignificantly.

• ThesouthernmostrecordedcolonyofPink-backedPelicanscontinuetobreedattheDBGfromDecembertoFebruary, withbetweennineand15chicksbeingraisedeveryyear.

It has been suggested that the decline in bird diversity and abundance attheDBGLakecanbeattributedtoavarietyoffactorsincluding:decreasedrainfalloverthepastcoupleofyears;siltingupoftheLakeresultinginlowerwaterlevels;anoxiaandhypoxiaoftheLakeduetohighlevelsofinvasiveplantinfestation(waterlettuce);birdkillsduetothehighoccurrenceofferalcatsthatareallowedtobefedattheDBG;theproliferationofvervetmonkeyswhichhavebeenobservedtobemoreaggressiveastheirnaturalfoodsourcesdisappear;and

theextensivecuttingbackoffoliageattheDBGwhichremovesallsecludedplacesforthemoresecretivebirdspecies.

In order to ensure that the Lake at the DbG continues to supportbirdspecies,itiscriticalthataneffortismadebytheParkauthoritiestoprotecttheremainingpocketsofhabitatthroughappropriate management, e.g. invasive alien plant removal and plantingofappropriateindigenousspecies,etc.


4.4.1 Waterbirds of durban BayIn a special edition of the journal Novitates[8], David Allan, Curator of Birds at the Durban Natural Science Museum, compiled an account of the past 13 years of waterbird monitoring at Durban Bay – perhaps the most comprehensive, long term biodiversity dataset for Durban. In last year’s State of Biodiversity report (2012/2013), we began profiling this synthesis, starting with total waterbird population trends. In this report, we are focusing on trends relating to waders (both migratory and resident species). Waders comprise scolopacid waders, oystercatchers, thick-knees, plovers and stilts.

the migratory waders at Durban Bay show a clear and decreasing overall trend (Fig. 4a), however, the data for the resident waders suggest a slight decrease over the long term (Fig. 4 b), but an increasing trend over the short term. Combining the data for both the migratory and the resident waders shows a decreasing

FOOTNOTE 8: Allan, D.G. (2012). The waterbirds of Durban Bay – Current and historical population trends. Durban Natural Science Museum Novitates 35: 1 – 74 http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/ParksRecreation/museums/

nsm/Natural Science Museum Novitates/Novitates 35.pdf

Figure4.Long-termpopulationtrendsformigratorywaders(a), resident waders (b) and all waders (c) in Durban bay.

figure 4a

figure 4b

figure 4c

trend over both the long and short term (Fig. 4c). the Centre Bank of Durban Bay, composed of an expansive intertidal area, is particularly important for migratory waders despite comprising only 8 % of the total area of the Bay. the results from the long term monitoring of the waterbirds of Durban Bay provide important insights into the need to protect this key estuarine habitat in Durban.

4.4.2. Black-headed dwarf Chameleon[9]

Bradypodion melanocephalum is a regionally endemic chameleon and its range is restricted to the coastal belt of KZN. the two vegetation types inhabited by this chameleon are North Coast Grassland and South Coast Grassland, both of which are classified as

Critically endangered. these vegetation types have been largely transformed by sugarcane cultivation, urbanisation and timber farming. the population of the Black-headed Dwarf Chameleon is therefore threatened with extinction, although its IUCN Red List status has not yet been finalised. In 2002, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife initiated the monitoring of this species at two localities in Durban, i.e. Chameleon park and a plot of land within D’MoSS next to the edwin Swales Business park on Bellair Road.

biodiversity targetsto conserve three viable free-living sub-populations of the population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon in perpetuity,

the following are required: 1. At least three viable sub-populations of 7 000 adults each conserved across the range of the coastal population.2. A viable sub-population conserved at Chameleon park and connected D’MoSS areas.3. A total of 100 adults conserved at Chameleon park and the D’MoSS area adjacent to edwin Swales Business park.

Summary1. Status – the number of viable sub-populations and the sub-population sizes at the Chameleon park and D’MoSS monitoring sites are below the desired target levels – therefore targets for this species have not been achieved. 2. trend – the number of potential habitat areas that might hold viable subpopulations appears to be decreasing as only a few remain of large enough contiguous size, and the estimated


Figure5.EstimatednumberofBlack-headedDwarfChameleons

FOOTNOTE 9: Also called KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon.

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

esti

mat

e

Year

2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

D’MOSS

Chameleon Park


number of adults (73) and total number of Black-headed Dwarf Chameleons at the Chameleon park is lower than the target. the trend for this species is thus declining (Figure 5).

Keymanagementactionsfor2014/15include:1. It is critical that Chameleon park is appropriately managed consistently and appropriately to increase the amount of suitable habitat for the Black-headed Dwarf Chameleon. Management actions required include: regular, frequent and light alien plant control; mosaic defoliation of moribund grass and removal of moribund material off the site; securely fencing or hedging of the area with an impenetrable barrier plant (e.g. Acacia ataxacantha); and fitment of litter traps at storm water pipe outflows.

2. Increase the protection status (zonation) of Chameleon park from public open Space to environmental Conservation Reservation.

4.5 threats to biodiversity in durbanSome of the major threats to biodiversity include:• transformation of natural areas (habitat destruction,

degradation and fragmentation);• Introductions of invasive alien species;• over-exploitation (e.g. harvesting and sandmining);• pollution and diseases; and• Human-induced climate change.

Due to the lack of quantitative data relating to many of these threats, this report will only focus on transformation, invasive alien species and climate change. As more information becomes available, these will be included.

4.5.1. How much land has been transformed?transformed areas are those areas that have been altered dramatically from their natural state by human activities. this is one of the single greatest threats to biodiversity as it implies habitat loss, habitat degradation and fragmentation of natural areas. transformation reduces the ability of ecosystems to deliver goods and services. In Durban, scientifically-derived conservation targets for ten of the city’s vegetation types indicate that six of these are in all likelihood beyond the natural threshold required for long-term survival (table A in foldout), because they have been irrevocably altered from their natural state.

Table4:CategoriesoftransformationintheeThekwiniMunicipalArea(EMA)

Categories ha

extractive (e.g. quarries) 968

field crops 21675

recreational 2238

Settlement 96009

utility 1796

totAl 122686


Figure6.In2013/201453%(122685ha)oftheEMAwas

classifiedastransformed.

Utility

extractive

Field crops

Settlement

Recreational

Unicity boundary

02,8005,60011,20016,80022,400Metres


4.5.2. invasive alien species (iAs)Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are not indigenous to an ecosystem, and which are capable of spreading naturally (often rapidly) into natural or semi-natural habitats. they can cause economic or environmental harm or can adversely affect human health. In particular, they impact adversely upon biodiversity, causing the decline or elimination of indigenous species through competition, predation, or transmission of pathogens, and the disruption of local ecosystems and ecosystem functions.

New invasive plant detected in Hillcrest – Rubus ellipticus, a weedy relative of the American bramble[10]

TheSouthAfricanNationalBiodiversityInstitute’sInvasive Species Programme (SanbI ISP) targets alien invasivespeciesthathavenotyetreachedtheirfullinvasive potential, i.e. populations that are relatively small/localizedcomparedwithestablishedinvaders.Thebenefitofthis“nip-it-in-the-bud”approachistoaimforeradicationandreducethelong-termmanagementcostsofinvasivealienspecies.

TheKZNunitoftheSANBIISPwasrecentlyadvisedofthefirstrecordofnaturalizedpopulationsofRubusellipticus,acousinofthenotoriouswell-established american bramble (R. cuneifolius). native to southern asia, R. ellipticus is a shrub with scrambling arching branches which can attain greater heights than other Rubus species, due to its stout robust stems. Plants can grow up to 7 m, and stems and branches are densely covered with red thorny bristles. this species islistedasoneoftheworld’s100worstinvasivealienspecies.Ithasthecapacitytoregeneratefromstemsegmentsaswellasfromplentifulseedsdispersedbybirds and other animals, and outcompetes indigenous plantsbyformingdensethickets.

In Sa, this species is listed as a Category 1a alien invasive plant under neM:ba and requires compulsory control.

Formoreinformationorshouldyouseethis plant, please report your sighting to [email protected]

Image showing R. ellipticusgrowthform.

FOOTNOTE 10: Article compiled by: Reshnee Lalla, KZN regional coordinator of the SANBI ISP with acknowledgements

to Geoff Nichols, Lesley Henderson and Wally Menne.

Bridging the science-Policy interface[11]


4.5.3 Climate changeIn Durban, the following changes have been projected to occur:

• Increases in temperature of 1.5-2.5oC by 2045-2065 and 3-5oC by 2081-2100. Rainfall in Durban is projected to increase in the future (up to an additional 500 mm by 2081-2100). the distribution and variability of this rainfall will change; with rainfall events becoming more erratic.

• the sea level along the Durban coastline is rising at present by 2.7 cm every decade. projections indicate that this rate is likely to accelerate in the future.

• Due to these changes in temperature and rainfall, the bio-climatic envelopes (distributions of plants and animals based on climatic variables), in which the fauna and flora of Durban exist could shift. this places additional pressure on Durban’s biodiversity.

TheKwaZulu-NatalSandstoneSourveld(KZNSS)ResearchProgramme is a research partnership between the ethekwini Municipality(EM)andtheUniversityofKwaZulu-Natal(UKZN),whichwasofficiallyinitiatedinMay2011.Thepartnershipwasdeveloped to advance knowledge in biodiversity conservation and managementwithinthecontextofglobalenvironmentalchange.ItisfacilitatedbytheEnvironmentalPlanningandClimateProtectionDepartment (ePCPD) in the municipality and by Land use Planning andManagementresearchstaffatUKZN,alongwithresearchersfromvariousotherdisciplinesatUKZN.Theprogrammenotonlyaimstogeneratemuch-neededknowledgetoassistmanagersinthe municipality in making biodiversity and conservation decisions, but also to build capacity by employing interns and supporting student research activities at the university. Such novel institutional partnershipsareimportantforgeneratingknowledgeandlearningtoaddressthegapbetweenscientificresearch,policydevelopmentand management within a local government setting.

ResearchontheKZNSSecosystem(aCriticallyEndangeredecosysteminSouthAfricaaccordingtoprovincialfigures)isconductedbyresearchersandstudentsfromvariousdisciplinesatUKZN,andthecoreprogrammeco-ordinationteamaimstointegrateresultsacrossthesedisciplinestogeneratedecision-


makingproductsforthemunicipality.Thedisciplinesinclude:landuse planning and management, remote sensing and GIS, agricultural economics, biodiversity and ecology. research is currently biased towards the environmental and biological sciences, but the programmeaimstoexpandinitssecondphase(frommid-2014)toincorporate relevant research expertise in social science, governance and economics.

Therearecurrently21researchprojects(11completedand 10underway)madeupof11Mastersstudents(fourcompleted), nineHonoursstudents(sevencompleted),andonePhD.Someof the topics include:

• AbiogeographicstudyoftheKwaZulu-NatalSandstone Sourveld patches within the ethekwini Municipal area.

• TheutilisationofD’MOSSashabitatbyCrownedEagles.

• Examinationofcommunityengagementandresponsiveness toconservationpractices:AcasestudyofBuffelsdraai.

• UtilityofDNAbarcodingonthespidersofeThekwini.

• TheutilityofDNAbarcodingontheDiptera(flies)andApoidae(beesandcertainwasps)ofeThekwini.

• an investigation into whether rodent species diversity is higherinforestpatchesthangrasslandpatcheswithinanurbanlandscape.

• biodiversity utilization and conservation conceptualization in peri-urbanareasineThekwiniMunicipality:AcasestudyofInanda Mountain. FOOTNOTE 11: Rouget, M., Cockburn, J., Mhlungu, N. (2014).

KZNSS Research Programme Close-out Report.

Municipality 5%

other 2%

Industrial 32%

residential 13%

Commercial 11%

transportation 37%


4.6. responses to threats: 4.6.1. Greenhouse Gas inventory[12]

A Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions Inventory for the ethekwini Municipality had been compiled for the 2012 calendar year and was made available in the 2013/2014 municipal financial year. The inventory identifies the sources of GHG emissions from both the government and community sectors within the ethekwini Municipal Area. the ethekwini Municipality has compiled the emissions Inventory to help plan climate change mitigation strategies within the Municipality.

the total greenhouse emissions recorded for the entire ethekwini Municipal Area was 29, 360, 395 tCo2 for 2012. the largest contribution to this footprint was transportation (37% of the total GHGs) followed closely by industry emissions (32%) Figure 7). Local government emissions accounted for 5% of the total emissions for the ethekwini Municipal Area (Figure 8).

there is an upward trend of emissions from 2010 to 2012 and it has been noted that this may be due to improved data collection systems.

4.6.2. invasive alien plant controlIn the 2013/2014 municipal financial year, the EPCPD had a budget of r15 426 552 allocated to invasive alien plant control. the management of natural areas allows for a unique opportunity to address one of the biggest threats to biodiversity, i.e. poverty. two teams, Working on Fire (WoF) and Working for ecosystems (Wfe), have been appointed to tackle the problem of invasive alien species in Durban. Both WoF and Wfe are sustainable development programmes that aim to alleviate poverty and develop skills by employing people to manage aspects of the environment, such as burning of grasslands and invasive alien species. Both programmes also have a strong education and training component.

Figure7.Carbonemissionspersectorfor2012.

figure 8. total emissions separated into community andgovernmentcontributionsfrom2002to2012.

FOOTNOTE 12: eThekwini Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 2012. Technical Report. Energy Office, eThekwini Municipality.

MtC

o2e

Yr2002 Yr2003/2004 Yr2005/2006 Yr2010 Yr2011 Yr2012

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

Community emissions

Government emissions

ngonweni, which is situated within Ingonyama trust board land, under the amaQadi traditional Council, recentlyexperiencedfirst-handthenegativeimpactsofinvasivealienplants(IAPs)andneededthehelpof

WorkingforEcosystems.TheheavyinfestationatNgonweniresulted in a decline in livestock grazing potential due to the unpalatabilityoftheIAP’s.Thiswasofseriousconcerntocattleherders who had to take their livestocktoareasfurtherafieldtofindsuitablegrazinggrounds.Inaddition,theinfestationofIAP’scausedtheclosureofanumberoffootpathsusedbychildrenreturningfromschool or people accessing public transport. two years afterpersistentIAPclearingbyWfE,manyfootpathshavebeenre-established,thusimprovingaccessforresidents.Moreimportantly,grazingareasforlivestock have became readily available.

InSeptember2014,eThekwiniMunicipalityandWildlifeandEnvironmentalSocietyofSouthAfricaheldameetingwithtraditionalleadershiptodiscusstheWfEprogrammeatNgonweniandprojectexpansionproposals.ThelocaliNdunasuggestedthattheWfEmanagedlandbesetasideforgrazing, thus conserving the land and preventing misuse.


iAPs threaten important grazing land in the Ngonweni Area

emmarencia Khumalo (40) currently holds a position at the BuffelsdraaiLandfillSiteReforestationProjectasthe‘LeadNurseryCaretaker’forWildlandsConservationTrust.Shebeganworkingfortheprojectin2009asa‘GeneralWorker’oftheGreenTeam,plantingtreesandundertakingIAPcontrol.Sheworkedinthispositionforapproximatelyfiveandhalfyears,butEmmarenciawasdeterminedtoprogress.WithWildlandsprovidinganarrayoftrainingprogrammes,suchasleadership,basicbusinessskills,andfirstaid,Emmarenciawasabletodevelopherselfwithintheproject.Shewaspromotedtothepositionofnurserycaretakerin2014duetoher excellent leadership and reporting skills, coupled with her passionfortheenvironment.Hercurrentjobentailsmanagingtheupkeepofthenursery,e.g.ensuringthattreesunderhersupervision are watered, potted when necessary and receive thecorrectamountofsunlight.Additionally,sheleadsateamoffivetotenpeoplewhoassistherwithtaskssuchasthemonitoringandrecordingoftreecollectionstatisticsandcarbon sequestration. She continues to receive supplementary training to assist with her new tasks. emmarencia is an inspiration to her community and to conservationists as awholeforherdedicationandaccomplishments.


Table5:BreakdownofEPCPDinvasivealienplant controlforthe2013/2014municipalfinancialyear

Programme Working on Fire Working for ecosystems

TotalareaofIAPcontrol 1248 ha 1868 ha

-Initial 23ha 215ha

-Follow-up 103ha 1653ha

-Maintenance 984 ha n/a

-Burning 138ha n/a

training courses 20 39

training person days 308 1230

Totaljobscreated 42(36%women) 298(60%youth; 38%women)

total person days 12838 25053

budget R7278685 R7799552

Creating environmental champions

there are currently 11 sMMe’s developed and contracted to

Working on Fire, demonstrating how biodiversity conservation and

management can contribute positively to socio-economic upliftment.


table 6: natural resourses Division (nrD) spend on alien invasive control and the corresponding area

Zone Comprising the following areas Municipal budget

Area of iAs cleared (ha)

some examples of iAs that were targeted for clearing in 2013/2014

A

empisini, Ilanda Wilds, amanzimtoti bird Park, umgababa, Ilovu picnic site and the open space, and the Isipingo and amanzimtoti rivers.

r 22,000.00 55.5(and4.9kmalong rivers)

all invasives within the management areas were targeted, e.g. Pistia stratiotes and Eichhornia crassipes.

B Silverglen nature reserve and Silverglen nursery. r 44,710.00 8.2

Tithonia diversifolia, Solanum mauritianum, Melia azedarach, Sesbania punicea, Cardiospermum grandiflorum, Ageratum conyzoides, and Wedelia trilobata.

C

Piegon Valley, Chameleon Park, UmbiloD’MOSS,CoedmorePark, ParadiseValley,Caversham,MotalaHeights, andWestmeadD’MOSS.

R178,560.00 91Arundo donax, Ricinus communis, Schinus terebinthifolius, Melia azedarach, Cardiospermum grandiflorum, Ipomoea indica, and Litsea glutinosa.

dburman bush, Springside, Iphiti, Palmiet, Roosfontein,WestvilleTrail,Hopson, Centurion, Carlton,turnbridge, and tyburn.

R56,000.00 38.92

Cardiospermum grandiflorum, Senna didymobotrya, Solanum mauritianum, Ricinus communis, Tithonia diversifolia, Ageratum conyzoides, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Mirabilis jalapa, Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata, and Tradescantia zebrina.

eVirginia bush, Danville, Collard, and SeatonPark,HawaanForestsewerline, andUmfulaPark.

R75,000.00 28.5(and3km along a sewer line)

Solanum mauritianum, Melia azedarach, Montanoa hibiscifolia, Arundo donax, Tradescantia zebrina, and Lisea glutinosa.

totAls r 376,270.00 222.12

(and 7.9 km along rivers/sewer lines)


the epCpD has partnered with the Wildlands Conservation trust in order to restore selected indigenous forest areas in the eMA . the reforestation programme has adopted the Community ecosystem Based Adaption (CeBA) model, which demonstrates the strong and vital link between socio-economic upliftment and biodiversity conservation, enhanced ecosystem functioning and carbon sequestration. ‘treepreneurs’ propagate trees at their

homesteads, through the Indigenous trees for Life programme developed by Wildlands Conservation trust. treepreneurs then trade their trees for basic food items, clothes, building materials and even school fees. Ninety percent of people who now benefit from this project were earning wages below the poverty line, and are therefore some of the most vulnerable communities in the country. Many of these treepreneurs are women and children, unemployed adults, and pensioners.

4.6.3. reforestation

Table7:Reforestationprojectsforthe2013/2014municipalfinancialyearBuffelsdraai Landfill Site inanda Mountain Paradise valley

total permanent jobs 40 58 18

total temporary jobs 17 60 0

total part-time jobs 4 0 52

total contractor jobs 5 21 0

Active treepreneurs 305 190 28

Area planted 25.28ha 44 ha 6 ha

trees planted 78585 60 200 8845

total area of iAP control 187.87 ha 586ha 6 ha

- initial 69.58ha 206 ha 2 ha

- Follow-up 118.29 ha 380ha 4 ha

training persons days 553 831 0

total jobs created 66 139 70

total persons days 10 166 19 190

Budget R5981761.72 R6215149.85 *notmunicipallyfunded


*Thenon-indigenoustrees that were planted werefruittrees

table 8: tree planting by ethekwini

Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries

Department

2013/2014

total number of trees planted

Number of indigenous

trees

Number of non-

indigenous trees

Zone A (isipingo to Clansthal) 15 15 0

Zone B (uMlaas catchment) 445 445 0

Zone C (Umbilo and Umhlatazana catchments) 33 28 5*

Zone d (Umgeni catchment) 32 32 0

Zone e (Umgeni river to tongaat) 500 500 0

total no. of trees planted 1025 1020 5

4.6.4. education and outreachtable 9: outreach programmes or educational visits


Nature reserve type of visit e.g. school, conservancy

examples of activities

Number of people

Umbilo D`MoSS trail Walkers -Naturetrailwalk 26

Burman Bush tertiary institution (research) -Datacollection 3

ilanda Wilds

ningizimu Special School, Damerosa SpecialSchool,Kwa-vulindlebe,VaughHome,NduduzweniPlaceofSafety

-Naturetrailwalk

-Presentation90

van riebeeck Park

Damerosa Special School, ningizimu SpecialSchool,Kwa-vulindlebe

-Naturetrailwalkand presentation 50

silverglenbeacon ridge, nomzamo Mandela, olwasini Primary, ndongeni Primary,ABHOldAgeHome

-Presentation

-EarthHour51

Paradise valley

EkujabuleniPrimary,FernPrimary,ekuphumuleni Primary, Simba Group,UKZNstudents,VerulamPrimary

-Naturetrailwalk

-Researchinformation(AlienPlants)

-Naturetrailwalk,meeting

568

springside Senzokuhle, Conservancy Committee,Botha’sHillenvironmental Group

76

Palmiet

Ramblers’Group,PalmietManagementCommittee/WestvilleConservancy, thandukwazi Senior PrimarySchool,BechetHighSchool, Mohammed abraham Islamic school, ashley Mary Primary

-Naturetrailwalk 920

Acknowledgementsthe environmental planning and Climate protection Department would like to extend sincere thanks to the following people for their time, cooperation and commitment in compiling the information published in the State of Biodiversity Report 2013/2014 for ethekwini Municipality. the following individuals have supplied either information, photos, or comment on the publication, and all contributions have made this report possible.

Adrian Armstrong Bheka MemelaBheka Nxele

Cameron McLeanDavid Allan

Debra RobertsDerek Morganerrol Douwes

Jessica CockburnJody Fuchs

Kenneth Mabila

Khulile MavundlaLyle Ground

Margaret CookeMartin Clement Mathieu Rouget

Natasha Govender

Nolunthando MhlunguReshnee LallaRichard Boon

Suvarna parbhoo

ThisistheeThekwiniMunicipality’ssixthStateofBiodiversityreport.Thenextreport willbeforthe2014/2015municipalfinancialyearandwillbeproducedinDecember2015.

environmental planning and Climate protection DepartmentDevelopment planning, environment and Management Unit

p.o. Box 680, Durban 4000, South Africa+27 31 311 7875

www.durban.gov.za/durban/services/development-planning-and-management/epcpd

the cover graphic depicts the iconic banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) at the

Durban botanic Gardens. Ficus produces prop roots which grow downwards as arial

roots and then grow into woody trunks.

Durban: State of

BiodiversityKEY STATISTICS FOR 2013/2014

D’MOSS (Durban Metropolitan Open Space System) comprises

~ 74 500 haof open spaces, representing one-

third of the eThekwini Municipal Area.

~10% of the area of D’MOSS

is formally protected.

oNLy

Utility

Extractive

Field crops

Settlement

Recreational

Unicity boundary

Figure E. Irrevocably transformed areas in Durban.

~53% (122 685 ha) of the eThekwini Municipal Area

was classified as transformed.

In 2013/2014

“This is the assembly of life that took a billion years to evolve. It has eaten the storms - folded them into its genes - and created the world that created us. It holds the world steady.” – Edward O. Wilson

2013/14*

R15 426 552 was spent on the management of invasive alien species.

2 896 ha were managed.

138 ha of grasslands were burned.

147 630 indigenous trees were planted.

615 green jobs were created.

*Figures excluding contribution made by eThekwini Parks Department (PLCD).

25 Total number of birds (Grey and Black-headed Herons; Sacret Ibis and

Cattle Egret) at the Lake at the Durban Botanic Gardens – a significant drop from initial count of 1796 done just 13 years previously.

ethekwini vegetation type original distribution (ha)

Area remaining (ha)

Area required to meet target (ha)

shortfall/ surplus (ha)

Dune forest 2683 704 1857 -1153

eastern Scarp forest a 1449 2756 893 1863

eastern Scarp forest b 3126 8800 1926 6874

eastern Valley bushveld 51818 26086 12955 13132

KZn Sandstone Sourveld Grassland a 33170 7352 8293 -941

KZn Sandstone Sourveld Grassland b 36602 3010 9151 -6141

Grassland (other geology) a 9736 2094 2434 -340

Grassland (other geology) b 57144 1439 14286 -12847

northern Coastal forest 16440 1192 11786 -10594

Wetland 12439 4791 2985 1806

Table A. Targets and deficits for ten eThekwini vegetation types

a. Refers to vegetation occurring 450 m above mean sea level.

b. Refers to vegetation occurring 450 m below mean sea level.

Rows highlighted in darker orange indicate vegetation types for which conservation targets can no longer be met due to loss of habitat.

73 Estimated number of Chameleons at Chameleon Park and the adjacent D’MOSS strip – alarmingly below

biodiversity targets for this species.

Figure D. Dwarf Chameleon abundance since 2002.

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

esti

mat

e

Year

2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

D’MoSS

Chameleon Park

Biodiversity...

Figure A. Green areas on the map denote eThekwini

Muncipality’s open space system (D’MOSS).

7%

93%

Figure B (left) and C (below). Management

of D’MOSS according to management entity (B) and area managed (C).

Formally managedNo formal management

Private EPCPDGiba SRAPLCD-NRD

Documents

environmental p lanning and Climate p rotection Department …€¦ · • Threats to Durban’s biodiversity 15 • Responses to threats 20 Acknowledgements 27 Please note that the