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MEDECOSXII_CMostert_Final
- 1. CapeNature’s Regional Ecological Support Teams The interface between management and science in the Cape Floral Region Presented by Candice Mostert 6 September 2011 MEDECOS XII, UCLA
- 2. 1. The context of the Cape Floral Region 2. CapeNature’s organizational structure 3. Origins of the Regional Ecological Support Teams (REST) and Integrated Management Plan 4. Practical examples and Successes 5. Challenges and Recommendations 6. Questions and Answers Overview
- 3. 1. Context of the Cape Floral Region
- 6. Seven biomes >400 vegetation types
- 7. Oudtshoorn Ceres Beaufort West CAPE TOWN Clanwilliam Swellendam Van Rhynsdorp Vredenburg # # # # # # # # # # Western Cape Northern Cape Eastern Cape George Hermanus PORT ELIZABETH # Western Cape Nature Conservation Board Scientific Services October 2001 N 100 0 100 200 Kilometers Cape Floristic Region Provincial Boundaries Broad Habitat Units of the Cape Floristic Kingdom CFK Broad Habitat Units Taken from Cowling & Heijnis 2000
- 10. Cape Floral Region u 90 000 km² u 0,5 % of Africa u 20 % of African plant species u 9 500 plants species u 70 % ENDEMIC u 2 500 species listed in the RED DATA BOOK
- 11. ±23 400 plant species ± 2500 threatened plant species ±12 000 endemic plant species South African plant species richness, endemism and threatened status
- 19. 2. CapeNature Organizational Structure
- 20. Location and Extent The Western Cape Province is divided into four regions / clusters, each consisting of two areas: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # North West Area # BreedeBerg Area # Cape Metro Area # Overberg Area # Langeberg Area # Karoo Area # Garden Route Area # Boland Area NN N
- 22. 3. REST Management Plan and Origin Ø Gouritz model successful - taken and motivated that it be rolled out for the other three clusters. Ø Increasing complexity and diversity of functions required of managers. Ø Unrealistic expectation for them to also deliver on the role of “ecological coordination”. Ø Need arose for relevant data to be collected in the correct manner, analysed and for “products” to be made available to the organisation for more efficient and well informed decision making and planning. Ø Priorities were not clear. Ø Little consistancy and standardisation.
- 23. The major elements of the planning process for the REST are: Ø CapeNature Corporate Strategic Plan (5 Year Plan); Ø Strategic Framework for the Scientific Services Unit; Ø Annual Performance Plans (APP); Ø Annual Plans of Operations (APO); Ø Performance Management Plans REST MP is directed by the “Corporate Norms and Standards for the Development of Integrated Reserve Management Plans” (2007).
- 24. VISION CapeNature’s REST (Regional Ecological Support Teams) are recognized as the leaders in ecological decision support for the conservation of biodiversity. PURPOSE To standardize, coordinate, facilitate, collect, process, evaluate biodiversity related data to inform planning and decision making.
- 25. OBJECTIVES 1) To support biodiversity planning and review 2) To support effective data management 3) To provide ecological decision support 4) To create and maintain an scientifically sound biodiversity monitoring and evaluation system 5) To facilitate staff development 6) To promote biodiversity coordination and networking The final objectives were prioritized through a pairwise comparison. A Procedure for Defining Conservation Management Objectives and Goals (Coombes & Mentis, 1992).
- 26. 4. Practical examples and Successes OBJECTIVE 1.) To support biodiversity planning and review
- 27. Ø The IAP wall2wall mapping was done initially as a desktop exercise based on the knowledge of reserve staff. Ø Areas that needed field verification was identified. Ø After field verification, the IAP data were updated into standardised Excel spreadsheets. Invasive Alien Plant Management Unit Clearing Plans
- 28. Ø The IAP species information was recorded per mini-compartment. Ø The current mini-compartment system has been decided on and is being implemented as a CapeNature WFW standard and has been accepted by DWAF, WfW Provincial and WfW National. Ø Data on occurrence and densities of IAP species for the five (5) most dominant species were recorded per mini-compartment. Methods
- 29. Ø Two workshops were held to determine criteria to use to guide the prioritisation of IAP clearing (30th of April 2010) and (2nd of June 2010). Internal and external experts were present. Ø The main outcomes of the workshops were: • the main categories for which criteria were listed were slopes, accessibility (distance from roads), veld age, and IAP species and densities. • it was agreed that only Pinus, Acacia, and Hakea will be used as part of the prioritisation process at this stage. All five of the final input layers were then combined to generate one priority map. The prioritization process
- 30. Example of Input Layers (Slope) Slope map generated using a 20m DEM. There categories were used, namely 0 to 35 degrees (light yellow), 35 to 45 degrees (bright yellow), and 45 to 90 degrees (brown).
- 31. Example of Input Layers (Road Access) The bright orange areas indicate a 3km buffer area drawn around the main roads as provided by Surveys and Mapping, and the reserve-based management roads and 4x4 tracks.
- 32. Acacia Veld Age and Density Acacia priorities based on veld age and densities. The light red is lower priority and the dark red high priority.
- 33. Pinus Veld Age and Density Pinus priorities based on veld age and densities. The light red is lower priority and the dark red high priority.
- 34. Hakea Veld Age and Density Hakea priorities based on veld age and densities. The light red is lower priority and the dark red high priority.
- 35. Final Outcome Ø All the layers were unioned together and then the weights were summed per feature. This provided an overall weight per feature between the values of 11 and 151.
- 36. Breede Berg Area
- 37. OBJECTIVE 4): To create and maintain a scientifically sound biodiversity monitoring and evaluation system. Ecological Matrices, Plan of Operations and Monitoring Manuals.
- 38. Ecological Plan of Operations
- 41. 2011/2012 Financial Year Ø Mapping and Monitoring Biological Control Agents. Ø Finalizing Permanent Protea Plots across the province. Ø Standardizing all EPO’s. Ø Continue with rigorous mapping of fires and subsequent monitoring. Ø Monitoring protocols for rare, endangered and species of special concern. Ø Protected Area Expansion Strategy.
- 42. Challenges and Recommendations Ø GIS database integral to sound knowledge management. Ø Data is not knowledge. Data needs to be collected, vetted and analyzed. Ø In South Africa, field staff need capacity building. Ø The Ecological Coordinator must currently be core to monitoring. Ø No monitoring if it does not influence management decisions – priorities must be clear. Ø Mentorship is a continual knowledge exchange and sharing. Ø Buy in from all components and management; Support and understanding by management. Ø Manager, Ecological Coordinators report to Area Managers and GIS Technicians report to Knowledge Manager. REST Work plans are combined to reflect 3 different management aspirations which may contain conflicting interests.