Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T19:52:24.942Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Strategic conservation interventions in a region of high biodiversity and high vulnerability: a case study from the Agulhas Plain at the southern tip of Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Barry J. Heydenrych ,
Richard M. Cowling  and
Amanda T. Lombard
Barry J. Heydenrych
Affiliation:
South African National Parks, PO Box 55, Stanford, 7210 South Africa. Tel./fax: + 27 28 341 0705; e-mail: barryh@parks-sa.co.za
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In terms of the persistence of biodiversity, the siting of conservation areas has traditionally been ad hoc. In the Cape Floristic Region, a hot-spot of plant biodiversity and endemism, past conservation interventions have led to the mountains being over-represented in the reserve network, while the lowlands have remained very poorly conserved. Ongoing threats to the lowlands such as the rampant spread of invasive alien plants, and land transformation for agriculture and resort development, continue to undermine biodiversity in these regions. A new conservation intervention, the Agulhas National Park, is in the process of being implemented on the coastal lowlands at Africa's southernmost tip. A flexible, reserve-selection design tool is being used to guide this process. The practical challenges in implementing a new protected area in a fragmented landscape, which has a high biodiversity and vulnerability, are examined. The role of different institutions, in partic-in particular state-private partnerships, and current investigations into conservation agencies' policies, legislation and funding mechanisms are dealt with. It is imperative that future conservation planning considers the threats to biodiversity first and foremost. Institutions such as South African National Parks and the Cape Nature Conservation Board must act strategically to avoid changes in land use that will compromise the biodiversity goals of retention and persistence. Conservation efforts will only succeed if institutional and socio-economic considerations are integrated with conservation plans aimed at ensuring the long-term persistence of biodiversity.

Keywords

Agulhas PlainbiodiversityCape Floristic Regionconservation planningfynbosinvasive alien plants
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , July 1999 , pp. 256 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1999

References

Anon. (1996) The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996).Google Scholar
Anon. (1998) National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). Government Gazette, 398 (19182), Government Printer, Pretoria.Google Scholar
Barnes, K.N. (ed.) (1998) The Important Bird Areas of Southern Africa. BirdLife, South Africa, Johannesburg.Google Scholar
Batisse, M. (1982) The biosphere reserve: a tool for environmental management. Environmental Conservation, 9(2), 101–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandon, K. (1997) Policy and practical considerations in land-use strategies for biodiversity conservation. In Last Stand. Protected Areas and the Defence of Tropical Biodiversity (eds Kramer, R. A., van Schaik, C. P. and Johnson, J.), pp. 90–114. Oxford University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Burgers, C.J. (1994) Report on Progress with Implementation of Recommendations of the ‘Jarman Report’ on the Conservation of the Coastal Lowlands of the Western and South-western Cape. Unpublished report, Cape Nature Conservation, Stellenbosch.Google Scholar
Burgers, C.J., Nel, J.G. & Pool, R. (1987) Assessment of Proposals for Conservation Areas in the Lowland of the South-western Cape. NAKOR National Plan for Nature Conservation. Unpublished report, Cape Nature Conservation, Stellenbosch.Google Scholar
Burnie, D. (1994) Ecotourists to paradise. New Scientist, 1921, 23–27.Google Scholar
Costanza, R., d'Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M. & Hannon, B. et al. (1997) The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387, 253–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowling, R.M. (1990) Diversity components in a species-rich area of the Cape Floristic Region. Journal of Vegetation Science, 1, 699–710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowling, R.M. (ed.) (1992) The Ecology of Fynbos. Nutrients Fire and Diversity. Oxford University Press, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M. (1993) Ecotourism: what is it and what can it mean for conservation? Veld & Flora, 79(1), 3–5.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M. & Hilton-Taylor, C. (1994) Plant diversity and endemism in southern Africa: an overview. In Botanical Diversity in Southern Africa (ed. Huntley, B. J.), pp. 31–52. National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M. & Holmes, P.M. (1992) Endemism and speciation in a lowland flora from the Cape Floristic Region. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society, 47, 367–383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowling, R.M. & Mustart, P.J. (1994) Vegetation and Conservation. Volume 2. Appendix 5. Southern Overberg sub-regional structure plan. MLH Architects and Planners, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M. & Pierce, S.M. (1999) Cape Floristic Region. In Biodiversity Hotspots of the World (eds Myers, N. and Mittermeier, R.). Cedex, Mexico City (in press).Google Scholar
Cowling, R. & Richardson, D. (1995) Fynbos. South Africa's Unique Floral Kingdom. Fernwood Press, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M., Holmes, P.M. & Rebelo, A.G. (1992) Plant diversity and endemism. In The Ecology of Fynbos. Nutrients Fire and Diversity (ed. Cowling, R. M.), pp. 62–112. Oxford University Press, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M., Richardson, D.M. & Mustart, P.J. (1997) Fynbos. In Vegetation of Southern Africa (eds Cowling, R. M., Richardson, D. M. and Pierce, S. M.), pp. 99–130. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M., Pressey, R.L., Lombard, A.T., Desmet, P.G. & Ellis, A.G. (1999) From representation to persistence: requirements for a sustainable reserve system in the species rich mediterranean-climate deserts of southern Africa. Diversity and Distributions (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowling, R.M., Pressey, R.L., Heijnis, C.E., Richardson, D.M. & Lombard, A.T. (1998) Systematic Conservation Planning for the CAPE Project. Conceptual Approach for the Terrestrial Biodiversity Component. Report No. IPC 9803 CAPE, Institute for Plant Conservation, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch.Google Scholar
Cowling, R.M., Campbell, B.M., Mustart, P., McDonald, D.J., Jarman, M.L. & Moll, E.J. (1988) Vegetation classification in a floristically complex area: the Agulhas Plain. South African Journal of Botany, 54(3), 290–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geach, B.G.S. (1995) The Addo Elephant National Park as a model for sustainable land use through ecotourism. MSc Thesis, University of Port Elizabeth.Google Scholar
Gentry, A.H. (1986) Endemism in tropical vs temperate plant communities. In Conservation Biology (ed. Soule, M.), pp. 153–181. Sinauer Press, Sunderland.Google Scholar
Goldblatt, P. (1978) An analysis of the flora of southern Africa: its characteristics, relationships and origins. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 65, 369–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall-Martin, A.J. (1997) Proposed National Park Development Budget 1998/99 to be Funded by Game Sales. Unpublished internal report. Department of Conservation Development, South African National Parks, Pretoria.Google Scholar
Hanekom, N., Randall, R.M., Russel, I.A. & Sachse, B. (1995) The Agulhas Area. An Investigation of its Potential for Proclamation as a National Park. Scientific Services, National Parks Board, Sedgefield.Google Scholar
Heijnis, C.Lombard, A.T., Cowling, R.M. & Desmet, P.G. (1999) Picking up the pieces: a biosphere reserve framework for a fragmented landscape—The Coastal Lowlands of the Western Cape, South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation (in press).Google Scholar
Higgins, S.I., Turpie, J., Costanza, R. & Cowling, R.M. (1997) An ecological economic simulation model of mountain fynbos ecosystems: dynamics, valuation and management. Ecological Economics, 22, 155–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, P.W. & Cowling, R.M. (1997) The effects of invasion by Acacia saligna on the guild structure and regeneration capabilities of South African fynbos shrublands. Journal of Applied Ecology, 34, 317–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarman, M.L. (ed.) (1986) Conservation priorities in lowland regions of the fynbos biome. South African National Scientific Programmes Report. 87. CSIR, Pretoria.Google Scholar
Jordan, Z.P. (1999) Address at the opening of Agulhas National Park and 150th anniversary of the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse. Unpublished manuscript, Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria.Google Scholar
Kemper, J., Cowling, R.M., Richardson, D.M., Forsyth, G.C. & Mckelly, D.H. (1999) Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa in relation to topography and rainfall. Australian Journal of Ecology (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kumleben, M.E., Sangweni, S.S. & Ledger, J.A. (1998) Board of Investigation into the Institutional Arrangements for Nature Conservation in South Africa. Unpublished report, Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria.Google Scholar
Lombard, A.T., Cowling, R.M., Pressey, R.L. & Mustart, P.J. (1997) Reserve design on the Agulhas Plain, South Africa: a flexible tool for conservation in a species-rich and fragmented landscape. Conservation Biology, 11, 1101–1116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lombard, A.T., Hilton-Taylor, C., Rebelo, A.G., Pressey, R.L. & Cowling, R.M. (1999) Reserve selection in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa: coping with high compositional turnover. Plant Ecology (in press).Google Scholar
Marais, C. (1998) An economic evaluation of invasive alien plant control programmes in the mountain catchment areas of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. PhD thesis, University of Stellenbosch.Google Scholar
McNeely, J.A. (1993) Economic incentives for conserving biodiversity: lessons for Africa. Ambio, 22(2–3), 144–150.Google Scholar
McNeely, J.A. (ed.) (1995) Expanding Partnerships in Conservation. Island Press, Washington DC.Google Scholar
MLH Architects & Planners (1994) Southern Overberg Sub-Regional Structure Plan, Contract No. CR 991114. MLH, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Myers, N. (1990) The biodiversity challenge: expanded hot-spots analysis. Environmentalist, 10, 243–256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norman, N. & Stadler, W. (1998) Fynbos Working for Water: Invasive Alien Plant Eradication. Agulhas Plains Project. Ground Water Monitoring. Unpublished report commissioned by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Toens & Partners, Wynberg.Google Scholar
Overberg Conservation Services (1997) Cape Overberg Fynbos Ecotourism Programme. Stanford/Gansbaai/Elim/Wolvengat. Unpublished report, Overberg Conservation Services, Gansbaai.Google Scholar
Pithers, L. (1997) Gansbaai: An Investment Profile. Document prepared for Wesgro. Clovelly Communications.Google Scholar
Pressey, R.L. (1997) Priority conservation areas: towards an operational definition for regional assessments. In National Parks and Protected Areas: Selection, Delimitation and Management (eds Pigram, J. J. and Sundell, R. C.), pp. 337–357. Centre for Water Policy Research, University of New England, Armidale.Google Scholar
Pressey, R.L., Johnson, I.R. & Wilson, P.D. (1994) Shades of irreplaceability: towards a measure of the contribution of sites to a reservation goal. Biodiversity and Conservation, 3, 242–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pressey, R.L., Ferrier, S., Hager, T.C., Woods, C.A., Tully, S.L. & Weiman, K.M. (1996) How well protected are the forests of north-eastern New South Wales?—Analyses of forest environments in relation to formal protection measures, land tenure, and vulnerability to clearing. Forest Ecology and Management, 85, 311–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prins, E.J. (1998) Ontwikkelingsprofiel van Stanford. Konsep Dokument. Unpublished report, Overberg District Council, Bredasdorp.Google Scholar
Provincial Administration Western Cape (1998) Spatial Coastal Zone Policy for the Western Cape Province. Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Development Applications Within the Coastal Zone. Provincial Administration Western Cape, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Rebelo, A.G. & Siegfried, W.R. (1992) Where should nature reserves be situated in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa? Models for the spatial configuration of a reserve network aimed at maximizing the protection of floral diversity. Conservation Biology, 6, 243–252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rebelo, A.G. & Siegfried, W.R. (1990) Protection of fynbos vegetation: ideal and real world options. Biological Conservation, 54, 17–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rebelo, A.G. (1992) Preservation of biotic diversity. In The Ecology of Fynbos. Nutrients Fire and Diversity (ed. Cowling, R. M.), pp. 309–344. Oxford University Press, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Rebelo, A.G. (1997) Conservation. In Vegetation of Southern Africa (eds Cowling, R. M., Richardson, D. M. and Pierce, S. M.), pp. 571–590. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Richardson, D.M., Macdonald, I.A.W., Holmes, P.M. & Cowling, R.M. (1992) Plant and animal invasions. In The Ecology of Fynbos. Nutrients Fire and Diversity (ed. Cowling, R. M.), pp. 271–308. Oxford University Press, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Richardson, D.M., Higgins, S.I., Cowling, R.M., van Wilgen, B.W., McKelly, D.H. & Trinder-Smith, T.H. (1996) Current and future threats to plant biodiversity on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Biodiversity Conservation, 5, 607–647.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skead, C.J. (1980) Historical Mammal Incidence in the Cape Province. Vol 1. The Western and Northern Cape. Cape Department of Nature and Environmental Conservation, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Takhtajan, A. (1986) Floristic Regions of the World. University of California Press, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Thwaites, R.N. & Cowling, R.M. (1988) Soil vegetation relationships on the Agulhas Plain, South Africa. Catena, 15, 333–345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Schaik, C.P. & Kramer, R.A. (1997) Towards a new protection paradigm. In Last Stand. Protected Areas and the Defence of Tropical Biodiversity (eds Kramer, R. A., van Schaik, C. P. and Johnson, J.), pp. 212–230. Oxford University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Van Wilgen, B.W., Cowling, R.M. & Burgers, C.J. (1996) Valuation of ecosystem services: a case study from South African Fynbos ecosystems. BioScience, 46, 184–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wesgro, (1998) Western Cape Tourism Trends. June 1998. Wesgro, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Willis, C.K., Lombard, A.T., Cowling, R.M., Heydenrych, B.J. & Burgers, C.J. (1996) Reserve systems for limestone endemic flora of the Cape lowland fynbos: iterative versus linear programming techniques. Biological Conservation, 77, 53–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Working for Water Programme (1998) 1997/1998 Annual Report. Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry, Cape Town.Google Scholar
World Bank (1998) Global Environmental Facility. South Africa. Cape Peninsula Biodiversity Conservation Project. The World Bank, Washington DC.Google Scholar
WWF-SA (1999) Cape Action Plan for the Environment. Background Document. Unpublished report, WWF-SA, Stellenbosch.Google Scholar