Loss of Biodiversity – the Cape Loss of Biodiversity – the Cape Town exampleTown example

High School Workshop25 May 2013Patricia HolmesBiodiversity Management BranchEnvironmental Resource Management Department

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

What is Biodiversity? What is Biodiversity? Hierarchy of scales:Hierarchy of scales:

• BiomesBiomes

• Landscapes – vegetation types/ Landscapes – vegetation types/ ecosystemsecosystems

• Habitats – communities of plants,Habitats – communities of plants,animals & microbesanimals & microbes

• Populations - genesPopulations - genes

• Cape Floristic Region (CFR) has Cape Floristic Region (CFR) has halfhalf of SA’s plant of SA’s plant biodiversity in biodiversity in only 4%only 4% of area of area

• Cape Town has Cape Town has one third one third of the CFR’s biodiversity (Over of the CFR’s biodiversity (Over 3000 plant species) in 3000 plant species) in under 3%under 3% of the CFR area of the CFR area

We are a global biodiversity hotspot without parallel !!We are a global biodiversity hotspot without parallel !!

Biodiversity in Cape TownBiodiversity in Cape Town

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

Historical Vegetation 2013 vegetation

Transformation:2/3 agriculture1/3 urbanization

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

110000

120000

130000

140000

150000

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000Year

Are

a (h

a)urbanization

agriculture

unproclaimed vegetation

proclaimed reserves

City Land UseProclaimed reserves

Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos - CR

7% remains3% conservedTARGET: 30%

Peninsula Shale Renosterveld - CR

11% remains10% conservedTARGET: 26%

Cape Flats Sand Fynbos - CR14% remains1% conservedTARGET: 30%

Restoration essential to save species

OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE EXTINCT SPECIES

Erica verticillata EWErica turgida EW

FIRE IS ESSENTIAL FOR RESTORATION

Major threat in Urban areas to Conservation

Fire legislation

FYNBOSMUST BURN!

Mowing eradicatesFynbos

Cape Flats Dune Strandveld – EN

45% remains13% conservedTARGET: 24%

Peninsula Granite Fynbos

CR

N S 68% 34% remains58% 30% conserved**TARGET: 30%

Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos – EN

97% remains94% conserved

TARGET: 30%

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

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)

Importance of Cape Town’s biodiversityEducational 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

Threats to biodiversity in Cape TownHabitat 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!

Khayelitsha

Acacia saligna invading Sand Fynbos

Biodiversity Network

Conservation Planning

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

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.