The KwaZulu-Natal 2012 Critical Biodiversity Areas Map

Boyd EscottGIS Analyst (Terrestrial)

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

KZN Systematic Conservation Plan (i) Marine, (ii) Estuarine (iii) Freshwater, and (iv) Terrestrial

KZN Provincial Conservation Plan(CBAs and ESAs)

11 District Bioregional Plans

IDPs

SDFs

EMFs

EIPs & EMPs

SEAs

EIAsCoastal 

Management Programmes

Protected Area Expansion

Stewardship Programme

Figure 1: Guideline Regarding the Determination of Bioregions and the Preparation of Bioregional Plans (based on SANBI 2009)

PGDS PSEDS

SEZs?

DefinitionsThe KZN Provincial Conservation Assessment allows for the development of three defined categories necessary for the development of a CBA map:

• CBA Mandatory ‐ are areas required to meet biodiversity targets for both biodiversity pattern and ecological process features, and no other options are available to meet this target.

• CBA Optimal – are areas that are the most optimal to meet the biodiversity conservation targets while avoiding high cost areas as much as possible. 

• ESAs ‐ are areas not essential for directly meeting biodiversity targets but play an important role in supporting and sustaining the ecological functioning of the critical biodiversity areas.

• EGSAs ‐ deliver important ecosystem goods and services to the KZN province and the people living therein.

four

CATEGORY C‐PLAN MARXAN BIODIVERSITY SECTOR AND REGIONAL PLANS

CBA 1 Mandatory(BPA 1)

Irreplaceability = 1 No equivalent CBA Mandatory

CBA 2 Mandatory(BPA 2)

Irreplaceability Score >= 0.8 and <1.0

Selection frequency value = 80% – 100%

CBA Mandatory

CBA 3 Optimal (BPA 3)

Irreplaceability Score > 0 and < 0.8

“Best” solution from MARXAN runs less the identified CBA 2 areas

CBA Optimal

Challenge:How does one:

• … spatially define these categories?• … incorporate national products?• … ensure consistency in site prioritisation between SCP software?• … ensure consistency with other provinces?(lead to credibility in the process) 

Critical Biodiversity Areas(CBA)

Ecological Support Areas(ESA)

Ecosystem Goods & Service Areas

(EGSA)

TERRESTRIAL (TSCP)*

• The CBA 1 and CBA 2 Mandatory Sub -categories are combined to form CBA Mandatory•CBA 3 Optimal forms CBA Optimal•KZN Threatened Ecosystems•National Threatened Ecosystems (CR and EN)•KZN PAES#

•National PAES•Forests•Macro-ecological corridors (only identified localities under greatest pressure)

•Macro-Ecological Corridors

•All remaining natural/near natural terrestrial land**. Classified as High, Medium, Low Ecological Service provision areas

AQUATIC SCP (FSCP)

•The CBA 1 and CBA 2 Mandatory Sub-categories are combined to form CBA Mandatory•CBA 3 Optimal forms CBA Optimal•All wetlands within FSCP areas (excluding Azonal forests forests)•All priority wetlands outside FSCP areas•Perennial Rivers in FSCP areas•20m Buffer on identified CBA rivers•All priority NFEPA wetlands•All NFEPA Fish Sanctuary areas

•All wetlands within FSCP areas•100m Buffer on CBA wetlands •500m Buffer on NFEPA priority wetland clusters•Non-perennial rivers in FSCP areas•80m Buffer on 20m CBA buffers on Perennial rivers •50m Buffer on non-perennial rivers in FSCP areas•Top 10 Free-Flowing Rivers

•All remaining wetlands•Water production areas•All remaining Perennial and Non-perennial rivers outside FSCP and NFEPA areas

ESTUARINE SCP (ESCP)

• The CBA 1 and CBA 2 Mandatory Sub-categories are combined to form CBA Mandatory•CBA 3 Optimal forms CBA Optimal

•All estuaries not in ESCP but identified as important by EKZNW•The FSCP planning unit areas associated with CBA ESCP

•All remaining estuaries

MARINE SCP (SeaPLAN)

•The CBA 1 and CBA 2 Mandatory Sub-categories are combined to form CBA Mandatory•CBA 3 Optimal forms CBA Optimal

•All other areas not defined as a CBA

* SCP = Systematic Conservation Plan # PAES = Protected Area Expansion Strategy** Whilst Ecosystem Goods and Services can be derived from non-natural land-use practices,

in this context only naturally derived ecosystem service areas are reflected

Dissemination Products

Biodiversity Sector Plans

Complete

Being Finalised

In process

To be initiated(MOA)

To be initiated