the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
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Richtersveld Cultural <strong>and</strong> Botanical L<strong>and</strong>scape World Heritage Site Nomination 93<br />
The Conservancy is bordered on <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>ast by a large section of <strong>the</strong> Orange<br />
River, <strong>and</strong> perhaps <strong>the</strong> most undisturbed stretch of <strong>the</strong> river. The Orange River is<br />
<strong>the</strong> largest river in South Africa <strong>and</strong> Along its 2300 kilometre length, it passes<br />
through large farming regions where it is tapped for agriculture <strong>and</strong> human<br />
settlement <strong>and</strong> polluted by fertilizer <strong>and</strong> waste. The result has been continually<br />
lower river water levels, impacts on fish species <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> inability of <strong>the</strong> river to flood<br />
<strong>and</strong> flush along its course. The Orange is undisturbed along its entire course along<br />
<strong>the</strong> Conservancy, which serves to protect one of <strong>the</strong> last remaining wilderness<br />
stretches of <strong>the</strong> river. However, cumulative impacts from upstream activities affect<br />
<strong>the</strong> overall health of <strong>the</strong> river.<br />
Grazing of livestock has been carried out in <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld for two thous<strong>and</strong><br />
years, leaving <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> largely in tact. Numbers of stock are generally low, as a<br />
result of low carrying capacity of <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>. However, certain areas require strict<br />
monitoring to ensure that grazing does not impact heavily on <strong>the</strong> flora. Some areas<br />
in <strong>the</strong> broader Richtersveld have substantial damage from erosion <strong>and</strong> overgrazing.<br />
The Conservancy through its Management Plan <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> in-process GEF-funded<br />
Grazing Plan for <strong>the</strong> Conservancy <strong>and</strong> communal grazing areas will largely ensure<br />
that grazing is practiced sustainably.<br />
4.b (iii) Natural Disasters <strong>and</strong> Risk Preparedness<br />
The Richtersveld Community Conservancy falls under <strong>the</strong> Disaster Management<br />
Plan (DMP) of <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld Municipality. The Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 places an obligation upon each<br />
municipality to prepare a Disaster Management Plan as part of <strong>the</strong>ir Integrated<br />
Development Plans (IDPs). The Richtersveld Municipality published <strong>the</strong>ir DMP in<br />
2004 with jurisdiction over <strong>the</strong> Conservancy area.<br />
The DMP of <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld Municipality identifies <strong>the</strong> following as <strong>the</strong> greatest<br />
risks for <strong>the</strong> entire municipality which includes <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld Community<br />
Conservancy:<br />
• Desertification<br />
• Drought