Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment
Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment
Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment
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SCEPS<br />
ecosystems (e.g. Granite Fynbos, Limestone<br />
Fynbos-Sand Fynbos mosaics or wetlands) when<br />
undertaking environmental assessments <strong>for</strong><br />
projects that may impact on spatial components<br />
of ecological processes.<br />
Prioritise restoration and alien clearance in<br />
degraded habitat linkages that would otherwise<br />
be lost if neglected.<br />
Attempt to align trans<strong>for</strong>med areas "with the<br />
grain" of the ecological corridor or vegetation<br />
boundary that is being conserved, i.e. avoid<br />
severing habitat linkages in ecological corridors<br />
or destroying indigenous vegetation along the<br />
entire front of a soil interface.<br />
Where there are obvious vegetation boundaries<br />
which reflect soil interfaces, upland-lowland<br />
interfaces or, in the Thicket Biome, solid thicketnon<br />
thicket boundaries, these interfaces should Aim to accommodate vegetation boundaries and ecological<br />
corridors within projects.<br />
be maintained and accommodated within a spatial<br />
plan or project proposal.<br />
Similarly, riverine corridors and sand movement corridors should be buffered, conserved and<br />
accommodated within a spatial plan or project proposal.<br />
Consult CapeNature <strong>for</strong> input into environmental assessments or biodiversity studies in spatial<br />
components of ecological processes.<br />
JAN VLOK<br />
7<br />
Land-use guidelines <strong>for</strong> spatial components of ecological processes<br />
The following low-intensity land-uses may, subject to the appropriate biodiversity assessments and<br />
environmental management, be compatible with maintaining healthily functioning ecological corridors<br />
and vegetation boundaries:<br />
- Biodiversity conservation<br />
- Recreational infrastructure (hiking, mountain biking, horse trails, 4X4 tracks)<br />
- Game farming<br />
- Grazing<br />
- Ecologically sustainable harvesting of natural vegetation<br />
- Cultivation that avoids irreversible impairment of ecosystem functioning (e.g. strip cultivation<br />
rather than centre-pivot irrigation).<br />
Sprawling urban and township development and resorts should be discouraged, especially alienation<br />
of land units through any <strong>for</strong>m of subdivision, sectional title, share block or similar schemes.<br />
CONSULT THE RELEVANT ECOSYSTEM GUIDELINES FOR MORE DETAILED<br />
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN SPECIFIC ECOSYSTEMS<br />
COLIN PATERSON-JONES<br />
86 : SPATIAL COMPONENTS OF ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
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