WITSIESHOEK PROPOSED PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT LESSONS LEARNT LAND REFORM & BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE UCPP 11 MARCH 2015 1
EPWP WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO DO? Assist communities to wisely use and protect land entrusted to them. Approaches COST Benefit Ecotourism improved ecosystem health. Holistic rangeland management. 2
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA LOCATION MDP WHS PA network. Community Conservation area, of 26 000 ha. Water Management Area 8 the Upper Vaal. Rivers Mont-Aux Sources - source to uthukela River. Caledon River, one of the main tributaries of the Orange River. 3
So far????? Concept and boundary drafted. Research commissioned final drafts submitted. Consultations undertaken PPP and Participatory GIS. Permission to conduct community resolution granted. Legislation meetings. 4
21 frogs 18 Lizards 10 snakes Ecosystems and Species in the proposed PE Squamates recorded in the Batlokoa area (A)-Chamaesaura aenea, (B)- Bradypodion dracomontanum, (E)-Nucras lalandii. Amietia vertebralis (icefrog) near threatened 5
Ecosystems and Species in the proposed PE More than 320 bird species. Trout and Yellowfish About 32 Mammals recorded. Common name Scientific name Sesotho name Red Data Book of South African Mammals Chacma baboon Papio ursinus Bobojane Least concern Mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula Lepele Least concern Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Phuthi Least concern Grey Rhebok Pelea capreolus Letsa Least concern Caracal Caracal caracal Thahalere Least concern Cape clawless otter Aonyx capensis Qibi Least concern Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis Pela Least concern Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus Kome Least concern Eland Taurotragus oryx Phofu Least concern Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea Kgano/Motjhalla Least concern Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas Phokojwe Least concern Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus Pabala Least concern Oribi Ourebia ourebi Hlwaele Endangered Serval Leptailurus serval Thodi Near threatened Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis Noko Least concern Hedgehog Atelerix frontalis Tlhong Least concern Natal red rock rabbit Pronolagus crassicaudatus Hlolo Near threatened Aardvark Orycteropus afer Thakadi Least concern African wildcat Felis silvestris Qwabi Least concern Yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata Mosha Least concern White tail mongoose Ichneumia albicauda Motjhallahatlatshweu Least concern About 820 plant species recorded Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus Nakedi Least concern Striped weasel Poecilogale albinucha Least concern Angoni Vlei Rat Otomys angoniensis Lebodi Least concern Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis Lehomo Least concern Pygmy mouse Mus minutoides Lekilanyane Least concern Four-striped grass mouse Rhabdomys pumilio Kgwana Least concern White-tailed mouse Mystromys albicaudatus Tadi Least concern Common molerat Cryptomys hottentotus Mmamarunyane Least concern Ground squirrel Xerus inauris Lesamane Least concern Scrub hare Leus saxatilis Mofudi Least concern Cape hare Lepus capensis Mofudi Least concern 6
Maluti caves. Mount-Aux-Sources and Sentinel Peak Trail. Wetsi s Cave & hiking trail. Metsi Matsho & Fika Patso Resort and Conference Centre. Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge. Sentinel Hinking Trail (The Gorge, Tugela Falls and two chain ladders) 7
Tourism status Witsieshoek Mountain lodge 8
LESSONS LEARNT Facilitation capacity. Participatory planning. Draft concept simplicity use language acceptable locally demo tangible benefits. Participatory GIS. Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Stakeholder matrix define roles. Role of IPILRA. 9
LESSONS LEARNT Common challenges - fires, over-razing, pollution Willingness to learn about their culture respect. Community command centres. Who enforces compliance in communities? Need to strengthen the capacity of community structures. Many young people are unemployed. 10
Education and awareness. Detours are inevitable. Be adaptable don t learn by shock. LESSONS LEARNT 11
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INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN FIRE AWARENESS FIRE PREVENTION 1 ST LINE OF DEFENCE PRESCRIBED BURNING RESOURCE, OPERATIONAL AND JURISDICTIONAL CO-ORDINATION FIRE DETECTION FIRE SUPPRESSION POST FIRE REHABILITATI ON 13
Collaboration framework - 12th Dec 2014.docx 14