Landscape scale ecological functionality of the Knysna Buffer Zone, Garden Route National Park

Transcription

1 Landscape scale ecological functionality of the Knysna Buffer Zone, Garden Route National Park 11 th SANBI Biodiversity Planning Forum 14 May 2014 Maretha Alant GRNP Planning and Implementation Unit Johan Baard SANParks Scientific Services

2 GRNP = ha; GRNP Buffer Zone ha

3 GRNP Buffer Zones Buffer Zones were identified to protect the ecological integrity of the park and as a climate change adaptation strategy

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6 Guidelines for SANParks commenting role GRI CBA & ESA Listed Threatened Ecosystems

7 N Lowland fynbos N Forest N Thicket / fynbos N Riverine vegetation N Rivers - Knysna N Wetland N Rivers - Salt % T Agricultural T Plantation T Alien/Degraded T Low density urban T Roads/tracks/quarry T Dam % TOTAL

8 Study area land cover (8169 ha) Agricultural Plantation Lowland fynbos Forest Alien/Degraded 933 Thicket / fynbos Riverine vegetation Low density urban 936 Rivers - Knysna ha = natural Wetland Roads/tracks/quarry Dam Rivers - Salt

9 Buffer zone = Private land & commercial forestry

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11 Ecological Functionality 1. Healthy fynbos. Lowland fynbos without alien vegetation and natural fire regime 2. Healthy forest. Forest without alien vegetation 3. Healthy rivers. Free flowing rivers without infrastructure in floodplains and riverine vegetation without alien vegetation 4. Presence of naturally occurring wildlife

12 Methods Ecological Infrastructure Functionality Assessment for Forest, Fynbos and Riverine vegetation Used existing maps and refined by groundtruthing to look for rehabilitation potential Kloofed the rivers Mapped at 1:3 000 Functionality for wildlife Camera Trap Assessment of mammal distribution in the Knysna Buffer Zone (16 sites) Scores: F-Score Rehab potential

13 Table 1: Scoring system for functionality

14 Ecological infrastructure: Functionality Score

15 Table 2: Scoring system for rehab potential

16 Ecological infrastructure: Rehabilitation Potential

17 Alien clearing BSP LUI 2014/15 R 5.3 million for GRNP Buffer Zone Knysna Buffer zone: Knysna River (riverine ecological infrastructure) Gouna Conservancy (lowland fynbos ecological infrastructure) Phantom Homtini Conservancy (lowland fynbos ecological infrastructure)

18 Integrated approach to benefit ecological infrastructure All landowners where alien clearing takes place are members of SC FPA Candlewood fire to improve lowland fynbos functionality

19 Camera Trap Assessment: Sites 14 sites in buffer zone 2 ref sites Forest: 17, 91, 125, 98, 44, 165 (6) Knysna River: 86, 103 (2) Fynbos/Thicket: 49, 78, 102, 134 (4) Plantation: 123 Agriculture: 52 Alien degraded: 0

20 Camera Trap Assessment: Focal species Red data book Threatened and Protected (TOPS) Score High = 3 + Med = 2 Low = 1

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24 Species richness per site High = Adjacent to GRNP forest or at Knysna River in natural forest Medium = Lowland Fynbos, agriculture, low density urban Low = Fynbos in fenced low density urban and plantation close to road

25 Trends High species richness was recorded at GRNP natural forest areas and riverine vegetation Generalist species occurred throughout the landscape in natural and transformed areas Blue duiker only occurred in natural forest Cape grysbok only occurred in lowland fynbos Species richness was lower within an electrified fenced off area Dogs, cattle, vehicles and people didn t have an effect on leopards, caracal and bushpig captures

26 Trends: Forest High functionality score for ecological infrastructure High functionality score for mammal occurrence and species richness

27 Trends: Lowland Fynbos / Thicket Medium functionality score for ecological infrastructure Medium functionality score for mammal occurrence and species richness

28 Trends: Riverine vegetation High to medium functionality score for ecological infrastructure High functionality score for mammal occurrence and species richness

29 Trends: Low density urban Medium to low functionality score for ecological infrastructure Medium to low functionality score for mammal occurrence and species richness More infrastructure less species richness

30 Incorporate ecological infrastructure in GRNP commenting role Revised Commenting role in GRNP Buffer Zone document in progress Ecological infrastructure Wildlife movement Knysna ISDF and Rheenendal LASP Desired State: 50-50

31 Thank You