Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment

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PREFACE Charl de Villiers These guidelines represent a first attempt at reducing the complexity and value of Western Cape ecosystems to a set of basic but reliable pointers that will guide responsible and appropriately informed planning and decision-making about biodiversity in the province. A resource such as this is - and cannot but be - the product of a collective and inspired effort. The development of these guidelines is rooted in a clear consensus arising from the Fynbos Forum: environmental practitioners and decision-makers need reliable, basic guidance on the importance, composition and functioning of ecosystems in the Western Cape, urgently so. Biodiversity in the province is faced with a myriad coalescing threats - outright loss of critically important habitat, invasion by alien species, over-exploitation and degradation of natural capital and the impacts of increasingly unstable weather patterns due to accelerated climate change. By the same token, public awareness, progressive legislation and unprecedented international support for sustainable development have spurred a powerful surge of hope for biodiversity conservation in the region. A basic consideration remains, though: in order for biodiversity to persist where it occurs, informed, accountable and effective intervention - on the part of developers and landowners, their advisers, the public and government - is a compelling task that can little afford delay. Hence this collaborative effort at turning specialist knowledge and accumulated field experience into decisive, effective action for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape. This project would not have seen the light of day without the strategic insight and financial generosity of the Table Mountain Fund, an associated trust of WWF-South Africa; the contribution of the Trust to biodiversity conservation in the Cape Floristic Region is a hugely appreciated mainstay. Special appreciation is extended to Ms Julia Wood, Chairperson of the Fynbos Forum, for her and her committee's wholehearted and energetic support for this project. By being prepared to freely share their knowledge and expertise with a wide audience, the contributing ecologists have set a noteworthy example of how science can be turned to public benefit in the sphere of environmental governance in a global biodiversity "hotspot". Professor Richard Cowling of the Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, is gratefully acknowledged for agreeing to write the Foreword to these guidelines; his unstinting championship of empowered, collaborative conservation action premised in rigorous science is without peer. Mr Jan Vlok, of Regalis Environmental Services, served as specialist reviewer. His scientific background, broad experience as applied ecologist and warm support for this project were indispensable to its execution. Dr Annelise Schutte-Vlok of CapeNature contributed important insights and valuable criticism. 8 : PREFACE
One of the most significant aspects of current efforts to achieve enduring gains for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape relates to the strong emphasis on planning for persistence - conserving those ecological and evolutionary processes that are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity pattern where it occurs in and across landscapes. In this regard, the individuals who participated in a workshop on devising practical guidelines for spatial components of ecological process at Kirstenbosch in March 2005 require special mention, viz: ANTON WOLFAARDT DON KIRKWOOD AMANDA DRIVER NANCY JOB NICK HELME PAT HOLMES PHILLIP DESMET SUSIE BROWNLIE VERNA BOWIE CapeNature CapeNature Botanical Society of South Africa, Conservation Unit Botanical Society of South Africa, Conservation Unit Nick Helme Botanical Surveys Cape Ecological Services Conservation planner De Villiers Brownlie Associates CapeNature All decisions pertaining to content, interpretation and style remain, however, the prerogative of the editor, who remains accountable as such. We trust that these ecosystem guidelines will be widely used, criticised and forged into an indispensable reference for those who benefit from, regulate or simply appreciate the globally irreplaceable natural heritage of the Western Cape. Specialist knowledge is indispensable for ensuring that wise decisions are taken about the use and transformation of the Western Cape’s globally unique biodiversity. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA PREFACE : 9
Page 1: ECOSYSTEM GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMEN
Page 4 and 5: CHARL DE VILLIERS (EDITOR) Conserva
Page 6 and 7: CONTENTS 7 : 8 : 10 : 14 : 22 : 24
Page 8 and 9: “Environmental Assessment provide
Page 12 and 13: INTRODUCTION Susie Brownlie Purpose
Page 14 and 15: The drafting process, which was co-
Page 16 and 17: INCLUDING BIODIVERSITY CONSIDERATIO
Page 18 and 19: UNEP's voluntary guidelines on biod
Page 20 and 21: Breede River valley: CAPE and SKEP
Page 22 and 23: STEP 4: WHEN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AR
Page 24 and 25: A NOTE ON FIRE All fynbos types req
Page 26 and 27: COASTAL ESTUARIES COASTAL ECOSYSTEM
Page 28 and 29: COASTAL non-linear manner over wide
Page 30 and 31: COASTAL SANDY BEACHES & DUNE SYSTEM
Page 32 and 33: COASTAL What are the “bottom line
Page 34 and 35: COASTAL INCORPORATING WEST AND SOUT
Page 36 and 37: COASTAL Strandveld is also increasi
Page 38 and 39: What are the critical things to mai
Page 40 and 41: LOWLAND FYNBOS INCORPORATING SAND F
Page 42 and 43: LOWLAND FYNBOS Veld clearance for r
Page 44 and 45: NICK HELME LOWLAND FYNBOS Leipoldtv
Page 46 and 47: MIDLAND & MOUNTAIN INCORPORATING AL
Page 48 and 49: MIDLAND & MOUNTAIN Altered fire reg
Page 50 and 51: MIDLAND & MOUNTAIN What are the cri
Page 52 and 53: MIDLAND & MOUNTAIN will move in fro
Page 54 and 55: RENOSTERVELD INCORPORATING COAST &
Page 56 and 57: RENOSTERVELD Urban expansion is a p
Page 58 and 59: RENOSTERVELD What, if any, reliable
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SUCCULENT KAROO INCORPORATING VYGIE
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SUCCULENT KAROO Quarrying for grani
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MAINLAND THICKET INCORPORATING THIC
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MAINLAND THICKET appear to recover
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MAINLAND THICKET What are the criti
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FRESHWATER FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS: W
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FRESHWATER What are the key issues,
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FRESHWATER exotic garden escapees i
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FRESHWATER INCORPORATING MINOR DRAI
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FRESHWATER Introduction to the syst
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SCEPS SPATIAL COMPONENTS OF ECOLOGI
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JAN VLOK SCEPS Quartz patches can s
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SCEPS those characterised by mosaic
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TABLE 4: EXAMPLES OF SPATIAL COMPON
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SCEPS ecosystems (e.g. Granite Fynb
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REFERENCES & RESOURCES There is a w
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APPENDIX 1 SOUTH AFRICAN VEGETATION
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APPENDIX 2 RECOMMENDED TERMS OF REF
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SALDANHA CAPE TOWN VANRHYNSDORP CER
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Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment

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