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Loss of Biodiversity – the Cape Town example

Loss of Biodiversity – the Cape Town example. High School Workshop 25 May 2013 Patricia Holmes Biodiversity Management Branch Environmental Resource Management Department. What is biodiversity?. Convention on Biodiversity:

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Loss of Biodiversity – the Cape Town example

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  1. Loss of Biodiversity – the Cape Town example High School Workshop 25 May 2013 Patricia Holmes Biodiversity Management Branch Environmental Resource Management Department

  2. What is biodiversity? • Convention on Biodiversity: • The abundance and distributions of and interactions between genotypes, species, communities, ecosystems and biomes. • Natural capital (=goods & services) • Ecological infrastructure • Natural heritage

  3. What is Biodiversity? Hierarchy of scales: • Biomes • Landscapes – vegetation types/ ecosystems • Habitats – communities of plants, animals & microbes • Populations - genes

  4. Biodiversity in Cape Town • Cape Floristic Region (CFR) has half of SA’s plant biodiversity in only 4% of area • Cape Town has one third of the CFR’s biodiversity (Over 3000 plant species) in under 3% of the CFR area • We are a global biodiversity hotspot without parallel !!

  5. NEM:BA THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS: 2011 • 440 Vegetation types - 19 in city • 21 are Critically Endangered - 11 in city • 6 endemic vegetation types (3 CR)! • 13 extinct plant species • 319 threatened with extinction 2011 NEM:BA

  6. Historical Vegetation 2013 vegetation Transformation: 2/3 agriculture 1/3 urbanization

  7. Proclaimed reserves City Land Use

  8. 7% remains 3% conserved TARGET: 30% Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos - CR

  9. Peninsula Shale Renosterveld - CR 11% remains 10% conserved TARGET: 26%

  10. Cape Flats Sand Fynbos - CR 14% remains 1% conserved TARGET: 30%

  11. Restoration essential to save species

  12. OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE EXTINCT SPECIES Erica turgida EW Erica verticillata EW

  13. FIRE IS ESSENTIAL FOR RESTORATION

  14. Major threat in Urban areas to Conservation Fire legislation FYNBOSMUST BURN! Mowing eradicates Fynbos

  15. Cape Flats Dune Strandveld – EN 45% remains 13% conserved TARGET: 24%

  16. Peninsula Granite Fynbos CR N S 68% 34% remains 58% 30% conserved** TARGET: 30%

  17. Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos – EN 97% remains 94% conserved TARGET: 30%

  18. Importance of Cape Town’s biodiversity? • Legal responsibility to conserve biodiversity for future generations • CBD; NEMA; NEM:BA; NEM:PAA; Countdown 2010; City strategies etc

  19. Importance of Cape Town’s biodiversity • Economic value:goods & services; ecological infrastructure • E.g. clean water; coastal & soil stabilization • Replacement value = R2 - R6 billion / year! • Underpins tourism industry • Direct job creation (e.g. Zeekoevlei = 8200 pdpa) • Intrinsic value through its mere existence • Consumptive use value (e.g. harvesting)

  20. Importance of Cape Town’s biodiversity • Educational value – potential outdoor EE opportunity within walking distance of every school. (over 24,000 learners partook in City EE programmes in 2012) • Social value through recreation and open space (integral to health and well being) • Aesthetic value through beauty and scenic drives • Spiritual value • Bequest value – the value of retaining biodiversity for future generations • Option value – value of retaining biodiversity for future use • Climate change – mitigation and adaptation

  21. Threats to biodiversity in Cape Town • Habitat loss & fragmentation • Urban development • Agriculture • Invasive species • Inappropriate fires • Mowing • Over-exploitation • Pollution (N-deposition) • Hydrological change • Crime All need to be addressed for Smart Living!

  22. Khayelitsha

  23. Acacia saligna invading Sand Fynbos

  24. Conservation Planning Biodiversity Network

  25. Sound Spatial Planning: ensuring that the BioNet is a key informant in the SDF as well as district SDPs and EMFs

  26. NATURE RESERVE CONSERVATION PROTECTION: • Many of the conservation areas have no real conservation protection • Reserves will be proclaimed under the Protected Areas Act (NEM:PAA) • Secondary sites of conservation importance will be protected as Biodiversity Agreements under the Western Cape Nature Conservation Ordinance Benefits of conservation protection: • Shows the intent of the Municipality • Excellent publicity opportunities • Expertise from CapeNature • Friends groups rally around proclaimed sites • Funders are more keen to invest in “safe” sites • The holistic management of fire and aliens is far more cost effective.

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