Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment

TABLE 1: GROUPS OF ECOSYSTEMS DEALT WITH IN THESE GUIDELINES
COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
LOWLAND FYNBOS ECOSYSTEMS
MIDLAND AND MOUNTAIN
FYNBOS ECOSYSTEMS
RENOSTERVELD ECOSYSTEMS
SUCCULENT KAROO ECOSYSTEMS
MAINLAND THICKET ECOSYSTEMS
FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
SPATIAL COMPONENTS OF
ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
Estuaries
Sandy shores and dunes
Strandveld, Dune Thicket and Dune Fynbos
Limestone Fynbos
Sand Fynbos
Alluvial Fynbos
Granite Fynbos
Grassy Fynbos
Sandstone Fynbos
Coast Renosterveld
Inland Renosterveld
Vygieveld
Broken Veld
Quartz patches
Thicket
Valley Thicket
Arid Thicket
Rivers
Wetlands
Fixed components
(ecological corridors and vegetation boundaries)
Flexible components
(gradients)
The order of the eight ecosystem-specific sections broadly corresponds with two major terrestrial
environmental gradients in the Western Cape:
- An increase in altitude and variation in topography as one moves from the coast inland;
- A shift towards wetter and more temperate conditions east of Cape Town, and drier ones in the
western and northern parts of the province.
See Appendix 1 for a suggested grouping of South African vegetation types (Mucina et al. 2004)
in terms of the groups of ecosystems identified for the purpose of these guidelines.
The scope of the guidelines is defined by the boundaries of the Western Cape province as administrative
responsibilities relating to environmental decision-making are primarily vested in the provincial sphere
of government. Forest and Nama Karoo ecosystems have not been included. Indigenous forests are
fully protected and therefore not viewed as vulnerable to development pressure. Nama Karoo, while
not adequately protected, is not a threatened ecosystem in the Western Cape. Succulent Karoo ecosystems
have, however, been included as many are experiencing degradation (such as over-grazing and
erosion) which was not reflected in the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (NSBA) (Driver
et al. 2005). The Succulent Karoo is also a global biodiversity “hotspot”.
The next section provides the rationale and a step-by-step guide for taking biodiversity considerations
into account in the pre-application, planning phase of projects. This is followed by a detailed section
on each of the ecosystems in Table 1. The guidelines are rounded off with useful references and websites
for obtaining biodiversity resources and support services.
INTRODUCTION : 13