Guiding principles for reserve management - NCC Environmental ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

In terms of the co-management agreement, the executing agency pays a conservation levy (R5/ha,adjusted annually for inflation) to the community trust account and shares the proceeds of ‘net profit’from reserve activities with the community on a 50:50 basis.Natural resources within the LNR, including wood, thatching grass, water and medicinal plants, areharvested by the local communities via a permitting system implemented by the ManagementAuthority.Table 3 details the current staff complement of the LNR.2.4 Reserve description2.4.1 HistoryTable 3: The current staff complement of the Legalameetse Nature ReservePOSTNUMBERReserve Manager 1Chief Nature Conservator 1Senior Field Ranger 1Field Ranger 35General Assistant (Cleaner) 6Intern 2Resort General Manager 1Tourism Staff (Permanent) 8Tourism Staff (Contract) 2Total 57Escarpments are known to provide shelter from wind and rain, therefore making it a popular locationfor human settlements. Three phases of human occupation can possibly be linked with the escarpmentareas of the greater LNR region: Stone Age inhabitants, Iron Age invaders and European settlers. TheStone Age lasted until displacement by Iron Age invaders from the north and it is highly likely that Sanpeople inhabited or visited the mountains in and around the LNR during the Stone Age period, based onrock paintings discovered in the Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve located to the south of the LNR. Iron Agesettlements are widely distributed in the general LNR area, but its presence within the reserve itself hasnot yet been confirmed. Progenitors of the modern Pedi people were most likely associated with boththe Stone Age and Iron Age human occupation phases in the LNR area. The first European settlerssettled in the LNR area in the early 1900’s, including Orrie Baragwanath and Frank Lewis, who acquiredand lived on the farm The Downs No. 34 KT. Pine and Blue Gum plantations were established in thearea by the aforementioned farmers around 1910.Historically two different patterns of farming were evident in the LNR area: Larger fields cultivated onHaffenden Heights No. 35 KT and The Downs No. 34 KT by commercial farmers, versus small fieldscultivated by Pedi farmers, which were scattered across the landscape. Seed potatoes and maize wereinitially produced on the aforementioned two properties, with the production of avocados becomingpopular in the area in the 1950’s. The early settlers also kept sheep and cattle.A number of farms in the area were expropriated in the early 1980’s and earmarked for inclusion in theLebowa homeland, whereafter the LNR was officially proclaimed as a South African Development TrustReserve over these properties in 1984. The reserve was initially managed by the Sub-directorate:Nature Conservation of the former Department of Development Aid, before being transferred to theNature Conservation Division of the former Transvaal Provincial Administration (TPA). After the 1994Reserve Management Documents: Legalameetse Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 15
democratic elections, management of the reserve was transferred to the new Northern Province andlater the Limpopo Department, now known as LEDET. Limpopo Parks and Tourism Agency (LTP) (laterreconstituted as the Limpopo Tourism Agency or LTA) then proceeded with the management of thereserve.Although part of the avocado orchards located in the area have recently been cut down, substantialareas are still being farmed on the farms Malta No. 65 KT, The Downs No. 34 KT and Crags No. 33 KT.Initially, commercial farmers leased the orchards that they previously owned back from the State,whereafter the orchards were managed by the South African Development Trust Corporation (STK).The orchards are currently being phased out under the management of the land owners (Section 2.3).Livestock has been grazing in the LNR since 1994 and continues to do so today under a communalsystem. Illegal grazing of cattle also takes place within the reserve.2.4.2 ClimateThe LNR receives an average annual rainfall of 800 mm to 1200 mm per annum, most of which fallsduring summer months. The amount of rainfall received varies according to altitude and aspect of thelandscape. The reserve receives the least amount of rainfall in August (with an average monthly rainfallof 11 mm per month) and the most in January (with an average monthly rainfall of 187 mm per month)(Figure 4).The monthly average for maximum temperatures within the reserve ranges from 19°C in July to 26°C inDecember. Temperatures can reach up to 31⁰C in the height of summer. The region is coldest in July,when temperatures can drop to 6°C at night (Figure 4).Figure 4: Graph illustrating the average monthly rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures for the LekgalameetseNature Reserve (Mhlaba Weather Station: Latitude: 23.9338°S; Longitude: 30.2897°E; Altitude: 585 m above sea level).2.4.3 TopographyThe LNR is generally characterised by an extremely broken topography. The steep escarpment cliffslocated in the eastern parts of the reserve form the most important topographical feature of the area.The following additional landscape types can also be found within the reserve: A high-lying plateau;talus situated below the escarpment; foothills located under the talus; and plains, which are limited inReserve Management Documents: Legalameetse Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 16
Page 2 and 3: AUTHORIZATIONThis Strategic Plan (S
Page 7 and 8: ABBREVIATIONS AND PLANNING TERMSABB
Page 9 and 10: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYReserve Management
Page 11 and 12: This SP has the following structure
Page 13 and 14: 2. CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK2.1 Location
Page 15: Agriculture Laws Extension Act, 199
Page 19 and 20: Wolkberg Dolomite Grassland (Figure
Page 21 and 22: Granite Lowveld (VU - Vulnerable)Gr
Page 23 and 24: Table 4 (contd.):Plant species of c
Page 25 and 26: (Vulnerable), Martial Eagle (Vulner
Page 27 and 28: No servitudes are located within th
Page 29 and 30: 3. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FRAMEWORK3.
Page 31 and 32: 3.4 Key Performance Areas and Objec
Page 33 and 34: Figure 7: Use zone map for the Lega
Page 35 and 36: KPA 1: BIODIVERSITY AND HERITAGE CO
Page 37 and 38: Management actions and targetsKPA 1
Page 39 and 40: (ii) Under the direction of the Soi
Page 41 and 42: KPA 2: SUSTAINABLE USEGuiding princ
Page 45 and 46: (ii) Establish and maintain a medic
Page 47 and 48: KPA 3: ENFORCEMENT, SECURITY AND AC
Page 49 and 50: Objective 3.2: Sustain an effective
Page 53 and 54: KPA 5: STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENTGuidi
Page 55 and 56: (iii) Hold quarterly (more regular
Page 57 and 58: KPA 6: ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNINGG
Page 59 and 60: Objective 6.3: Institute and mainta
Page 61 and 62: 5.2 Funding RequirementsIt is propo
Page 63 and 64: RESERVEMANAGEMENTPLANCOMPONENTSP /
Page 65 and 66: ANNEXURE 1: ZONATION CATEGORIES (CH
Page 67 and 68:
Development - High IntensityUsers:
Page 69:
Special Protection / Special Manage
show all

Guiding principles for reserve management - NCC Environmental ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?