PRESENTED BY: MRS TSETSELE MATSEKE DESIGNATION: BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP MANAGER VENUE: ASCOT CONFERENCE CENTRE, PIETERMARITZBURG DATE: 11 FEBRUARY

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1 PRESENTED BY: MRS TSETSELE MATSEKE DESIGNATION: BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP MANAGER VENUE: ASCOT CONFERENCE CENTRE, PIETERMARITZBURG DATE: 11 FEBRUARY 2015

2 WHO IS NORTH WEST PARKS AND Established in 1997 in terms of North West Parks and Tourism Board Act 3 of 1997 Responsible for management of 15 protected areas Tourism Development And Hospitality training through Hotel Schools TOURISM BOARD?

3 OVERVIEW South Africa, like many other developing counties, is becoming increasingly focused on improving the economic and social wellbeing of its citizens. Developments are seen as a way of achieving this, and the resultant drive always lead to transformation of the natural environment and an ever increasing pressure on natural resources. Section 24 of the Bill of Rights within the Constitution sets in place the environmental rights clause and this clause guarantees everyone the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations. Pressures arises from the competition for physical space between development (landscape transformation), and the protection of biodiversity and its services to humanity.

4 INTRODUCTION About 80% of South Africa s priority biodiversity is located on private land, which means that if the country is to reach its targets in terms of biodiversity conservation, it is critical to involve private landowners. Conservation strategies must involve private landholders/users, and this includes private farms, communal lands and land owned by government departments, municipalities, parastatals like Eskom and Spoornet and private companies. The NPAES is the umbrella programme that provides a powerful tool to assist provincial departments & conservation agencies in fulfilling its mandate to conserve biodiversity outside of stateowned protected areas, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas (Act 57 of 2003) and Biodiversity (Act 10 of 2004) Acts.

5 NORTH WEST PROVINCE AT A GLANCE The North West Province occupies a total area of km 2 which is 9.5% of the total area of SA. It has a wide array of Biodiversity, ecosystem and habitat diversity both in the terrestrial and aquatic environments. Falls in 2 biomes: 30.1 % Grassland 69.9 % Savanna Grassland Savanna

6 BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP? Biodiversity stewardship is a programmatic approach to engaging with private and communal landowners to conserve and manage biodiversity priority areas, implemented by conservation authorities and agencies. Biodiversity stewardship is a proven, highly cost effective mechanism for securing biodiversity priority areas, effectively managing ecosystem assets, supporting the Green Economy, and contributing to rural development while leaving the ownership and management of the land in the hands of the public. About partnerships with the private landowners.

7 WHY BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP? North West s biodiversity is poorly conserved and the current 1.9% of province land under formal protection does not meet the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy (NPAES) targets of protecting important landscapes. International Agreements :United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)- 10% of each vegetation type must be targeted for protection.

8 FORMALLY PROTECTED AREAS OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE The Province has a total of 15 provincial reserves within its borders (distribution map of the Protected Areas (PAs) and Conservation Areas (CAs) in the North West Province.) The total size of formally protected areas, is ha which amounts to approximately 2.4 % of the Province.

9 NORTH WEST ECOSYSTEM STATUS North West s biodiversity is under threat due to various land use practices (A BCA map indicating the status of terrestrial ecosystems under threat) Currently, there is one Critically Endangered (Western Highveld Sandy Grassland), one Endangered (Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland) and nine Vulnerable terrestrial ecosystems, Mining, agriculture & developments are major economic drivers of the province and they cause negative impact to our ecosystems

10 STATUS OF THE NWBSP (PROGRESS) North West Biodiversity Stewardship Program (NWBSP) concept presentation drafted and presented to the Biodiversity Conservation Management division BCMD: Chief Conservation Officer, CCO. NWBSP implementation guidelines & tools established and presented to Conservation Sub-committee. NWBSP Implementation Plan (Operational Manual) & tools presented to Executive Management. The NWBSP Operational Manual was finally approved on the 20 September 2013 by the CEO. Thirteen (13) farms with forty (40) portions within the Marico River Conservation Area (MRCA) totalling to 14,013ha where recruited, visited & investigated and the desktop & field assessments forms were successfully tested on them. NWBSP Pilot Site (MRCA) established & the MOU was signed between NWPTB & MRCA on the 17 September The MRCA assessments outcomes are finalised and is awaiting evaluation by the North west Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Task team (NWBSATT).

11 SIGNING OF THE MOU

12 LESSONS LEARNT Political will- essential to support stewardship/pa expansion. Additional consultation to ensure maximum buy-in. Job creation and development opportunities are essential to be part of stewardship development.

13 STATUS OF THE NWBSP (CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS) Sites visits and biodiversity outreach programmes are currently actively ongoing with the Bahurutshe Boo Sebogodi, Baberspan Landowners, Magaliesberg Boons Area and SANDF, Potchefstroom sites.

14 MALEBELELE CPA, BAHURUTSHE SEBOGODI

15 STATUS OF THE NWBSP (CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS) The Leeupan, Baberspan Landowners are highly targeted. They are located within the Western Highveld Sandy Grassland which is; Critically Endangered Endemic to the NW province.

16 STATUS OF THE NWBSP (CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS) Magaliesburg Boons area Landowners along Savanna Biome, Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld vegetation type "Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld". Aloe peglerae = Red Data listed plant species; Endemic to NW Province & SA;

17 STATUS OF THE NWBSP (CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS) The South African National Defence Force, SANDF Potchefstroom sites falls within the Critical Biodiversity Areas(CBA). Gen Del Ray Training Area, ha Modderfontein, 2000ha The sites are the natural habitats for various TOPS animal species.

18 STATUS OF THE NWBSP (CHALLENGES) Its hard to help landowners to understand that the biodiversity stewardship process takes time. Lack of funding to fill the BS Structure ( 2X negotiators, 2X facilitators, 1X ecologist and 1X legal advisor) to assist with further implementation of the BS Programme.

19 THANK YOU!!!