SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS - Department of Agriculture and ...

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UKDM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK Figure 14: Watercourses Sensitivity Map 3.1.6 Coastal & Estuarine Environment The entire coastal and estuarine environment of UKDM falls within the framework of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park IMP. The vision for the Wetland Park is shaped by the World Heritage Convention Act and Park Regulations, and is an overarching declaration describing the desired future state. The Vision for the Park is (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, 2011) is as follows: “To protect, conserve and present the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and its World Heritage and cultural values for current and future generations in line with the standards laid down by UNESCO and the World Heritage Convention Act, to deliver benefits to communities living in and adjacent to the Park by facilitating optimal tourism and related development, and to promote equitable access.” The park is managed by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, who reports to the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs. EKZNW serves as the contracted Draft Desired State Report (May 2013) Page 39
UKDM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK Conservation Agency and is responsible for day-to-day conservation as well as compliance and enforcement. All coastal and estuarine environments fall within a World Heritage Site (WHS), the iSimangaliso Wetland Park WHS, and therefore have the highest level of protection. Furthermore, the majority of these two environments (i.e. coastal and estuarine) also fall within three Ramsar wetland sites of international importance, the Kosi Bay System, Turtle Beaches and Coral Reefs of Tongaland and the St. Lucia System. Estuary and coastal environments by definition are wetland habitats and are therefore considered to be habitats with high sensitivity to developments. These criteria all indicate that these environments must be regarded as having “Very High” sensitivity (see Table 8). In addition, because of the areas long history of conservation, the coastal and estuarine environments for the most part are in a largely pristine condition and therefore the innate quality of the features are high, thereby further enhancing their sensitivity. Table 8: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Coastal & Estuarine Environment Category Sensitivity Criteria Attributes Rating COASTAL & ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT World Heritage Site Estuarine habitats VH (iSimangaliso Consolidated Coastal habitats VH boundary) Zone of Influence M St Lucia System (including Mgobezleni Estuary & Mfolozi VH Ramsar Site Status Estuary Mouth) Kosi Estuary VH Turtle Beaches and Coral Reefs of Tongaland VH Habitat (Wetlands) Estuarine Open Waters VH Mangrove Swamps Sand & Mudbanks Sea Grass Beds Rocky Intertidal & Subtidal Rocky Reefs Coral Reefs Turtle Nesting Sandy Beaches Submarine Canyons VH VH VH VH VH VH VH Draft Desired State Report (May 2013) Page 40
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