 |
|
|
 |
|
Home / CU Projects |
|
Projects
|
|
The Bokkeveld Stewardship Project
This project is a collaboration between the Botanical Society (BotSoc),
the Northern Cape Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation (DTEC)
and the landowners of the Bokkeveld Plateau. The project encompasses
conservation planning, facilitating implementation and influencing policy
and legislation. Funding is provided by the Critical Ecosystems
Partnership Fund and the project vehicle is sponsored by the Mazda
Wildlife Fund.
What is stewardship?
Stewardship is aimed at assisting landowners to conserve globally
important areas of biodiversity on their properties.
- A stewardship agreement is a legally binding conservation commitment
between the landowner and DTEC.
- Participation is voluntary and for an agreed period of time.
- There is no transfer of property ownership rights.
- A unique management plan is developed in partnership with the
landowner, and takes into account landowner needs and aspirations.
Why the Bokkeveld Plateau?
Due to changes in elevation, temperature, substrate and rainfall across
the area, the Plateau supports an incredibly diverse flora.
- 1 350 plant species occur on the Plateau with 80 endemics, of which
28 are Red Data species threatened with extinction.
- The Bokkeveld Plateau is extremely rich in bulb species diversity and
abundance.
- The plateau falls in the succulent karoo and fynbos biomes, both
internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots. The area has also been
identified as a priority conservation area by SKEP and C.A.P.E.
Aims of the project
- Promote knowledge of the biodiversity, ecological interactions
and ways to maximise eco-system services and benefits amongst
landowners.
- Through information sharing, increase knowledge about
conservation practices, as well as understanding the long term
significance of wide scale biodiversity conservation on private
properties.
- Promote landowner willingness to undertake conservation
practices and develop “know how” to benefit from available
stewardship options.
- Develop partnerships and encourage a joint vision for the
Bokkeveld plateau.
Project roll out
- The establishment of one-on-one relationships with landowners in
priority areas.
- Facilitating opportunities for landowners to share ideas and
agree on common objectives, visions and processes.
- Facilitating workshops to identify landowner issues and research
needs.
- Working with landowners to identify and assess indicators of
environmental impacts.
- Networking landowners with scientists and specialists to address
land management issues.
Project location
The project team is based in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve offices,
Nieuwoudtville. Due to the limited two year funding period, priority areas
have been identified in order to maximise impact with available time and
staff.
Contact information
Project Manager
Kirsten Fourie
Tel: 027-2181159
Cell: 083 554 1514
Email: kirsten@hantam.co.za
Stewardship facilitator
Mandy Schumann
Tel: 027-2181159
Cell: 083 272 8756
Email: mandy@hantam.co.za
^ top
|
|
The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative: farming in harmony with nature
The BWI is a pioneering partnership between the South African wine
industry and the conservation sector. Approximately 90% of South Africa’s
wine production occurs within the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), the smallest
yet richest plant kingdom on earth. Since 80% of the CFK is privately
owned, landowner participation in conservation efforts is essential.
Due of mounting concern that some of the region's most vulnerable
natural habitat might be targeted for vineyard expansion, the wine
industry and the conservation sector have undertaken to conserve the rich
biodiversity of the CFK. The total area conserved by the members and
champions (50 278 ha) - the equivalent of 50% of the total vineyard
footprint in the Cape winelands.
The BWI aims to:
- Prevent further loss of threatened habitat in critical sites
- Increase the total area set aside as natural habitat in
contractual protected areas, by identifying and enlisting interested
producers as members or champions of the initiative
- Promote changes in farming practices that enhance the
suitability of vineyards as habitat for biodiversity, and reduce
farming practices that have negative impacts on biodiversity, both
in the vineyards and in surrounding natural habitat, through the
adoption of biodiversity guidelines by the South African wine
industry
- Create marketing opportunities for the wine industry by
positioning the unique biodiversity of the CFK, and the industry's
proactive stance on biodiversity, as a unique selling point to
differentiate Brand South Africa.
How to join BWI
BWI has two levels of membership, namely a BWI member level (entry
level) and BWI champion level (exemplary level).
The two minimum pre-requisites to become a BWI member (entry level)
are:
- The first requirement is that the property needs to have an area
of unploughed, natural habitat or restored natural habitat or
riparian area greater than 2ha in size.
- Producer needs to be registered with the IPW scheme
- Implement the Biodiversity Guidelines (as described in Chapter 2
of IPW Guidelines). (summary of these biodiversity guidelines
attached)
Whilst BWI champions are required to put a minimum of 10% of their farm
area aside for conservation and develop an environmental management plan
to effectively manage these areas.
Please also refer to www.bwi.co.za for any further information on the
specific criteria for BWI membership, as well as the BWI application forms
and instructions on how to apply for BWI membership.
Contact
BWI Project Co-ordinator
Inge Kotzé
Tel (021) 886 8428
BWI Extension Officer
Joan Isham
Tel (021) 886 8428
Fax (021) 882 9510
Email: bwi@sawb.co.za
Website: www.bwi.co.za ^ top
|
|
Biodiversity in Environmental Assessment The effective consideration of
biodiversity in environmental assessment is a crucial aspect of our
efforts to conserve threatened ecosystems in agricultural and other
developed landscapes. The overall goal of Biodiversity in Environmental
Assessment is to ensure that environmental assessment processes are
aligned with biodiversity priorities and give early, pre-emptive effect to
biodiversity considerations in project planning and authorisation. The
project aims to achieve its objectives through strategic partnerships with
the environmental assessment fraternity, government departments with
biodiversity-related functions, and provincial conservation authorities.
The project focuses on biodiversity priority areas within the Cape
Floristic Region and the succulent karoo and thicket biomes. Project
highlights have included:
- Editing and co-authoring the Fynbos Forum Ecosystem Guidelines on
Environmental Assessment in the Western Cape
- Introducting key biodiversity questions to the Western Cape
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning’s Basic
Assessment Questionnaire which covers about 80% of all development
applications in the province
- Undertaking a groundbreaking review of the treatment of
biodiversity comments in environmental assessment processes
- Providing vocational training for a Table Mountain Fund intern
who was subsequently appointed as the first-ever biodiversity and
land-use advisor in the Western Cape Departement of Environmental
Affairs and Development Planning
- Initiating a project to expedite agri-environmental
decision-making by aligning LandCare area-wide planning, fine-scale
biodiversity planning and environmental management frameworks
- Co-presenting with SANBI’s B-GIS Unit the IAIAsa’s first-ever
training workshop for environmental assessment practitioners on the
application of biodiversity plans and products to environmental
assessment.
^ top
|
The Biodiversity and Fiscal Reform project
The Biodiversity and Fiscal Reform project (BFR) is pioneering innovative
approaches to supporting biodiversity management and conservation through
fiscal policy. Funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
and the Global Environmental Facility through the South African National
Biodiversity Institute, it forms part of the scope of work of the
C.A.P.E component
5.4 on Building the Biodiversity Economy.
The goal of the BFR is to develop a suite of proposals for incentives,
policy reform and other fiscal or market based instruments for specific
outcomes, building on the Environmental Fiscal Reform policy framework
issued by National Treasury. The outcomes of the BRF work aims to provide
key tools to facilitate the implementation of a range of biodiversity
programmes within South Africa, such as formal stewardship programmes, the
expansion of protected areas, and sound management of natural resources at a
municipal level. The BFR is also continually investigating new and
innovative ways to positively influence biodiversity management in the
country.
In order to be near to key role-players in the fiscal arena, the BFR
coordinator is based in the WWF offices in Johannesburg.
Contact
Tracey Cumming
Coordinator: Biodiversity & Fiscal Reform
Botanical Society Conservation Unit
Tel: (021) 799 8826
Cell: 082 776 1765
^ top
|
|
| |
|