B. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
7.4 BIODIVERSITY
The biodiversity resources of the country are considered to rank amongst the top ten nations with exceptionally high levels of biodiversity resources, and as such, the country is of global importance for biodiversity conservation, for a number of reasons, including the high levels of species-richness and the high levels of endemism present (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2002).
The municipality lies in the Maputaland Coastal Plain, and its biodiversity is of particular importance in a biodiversity-rich country, from a nature conservation perspective, for intrinsic reasons, and for the ecosystem services (as below) it provides, as it occurs within one of the two biodiversity hotspots, as defined by Myers et al. (2000), within the province, namely the Maputaland Centre (of endemicity), in the Pondoland-Maputaland Region (Site Af 59) (van Wyk A.E., (1994). A biodiversity hotspot is defined as an area with high levels of endemicity and species-richness, but which is under threat.
Human-kind (and all other creatures) is dependent on biodiversity and the ecosystem services, or ecological goods and services, these provide. These biodiversity resources not only provide all food, fibre, and a range of natural products (including medicines derived from plants, but are also responsible for climate regulation, water production, and a range of social and spiritual benefits, such as tourism (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2003).
Christ et al.( 2003) suggest that in many developing countries, such as South Africa, in which biodiversity hotspots occur, that a significant portion of the contribution to Gross Domestic Product from tourism can be directly linked to the attractions and destinations in such biodiversity hotspots, where biodiversity itself represents the primary tourism attraction (i.e. is the key component of the natural beauty of the environment and the biota present in it).
7.4.1 Biodiversity of Maputaland as a primary tourism attraction
The scenic beauty and natural character of much of this country, the protected areas and wildlife, represent some of the primary tourism attractions, especially for international tourists. The Maputaland Coastal Belt has been dubbed the “Elephant Coast”, which forms one of the primary tourist destinations of the province. This contains all the internationally famous major Zululand protected areas, such as the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in the custody of Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, with some of the last remaining populations of the spectacular indigenous vegetation and fauna (especially its big game species) that was once widespread over the sub-continent. It also contains some of the best avitourism (or bird- watching tourism) destinations in the province, which attract both local as well as international avitourists. The Zululand Birding Route lists the premier birding destinations along the entire Zululand Coast, but the municipal area contains some of the most important birding destinations of North-eastern Zululand (www.zbr.co.za).
The importance of the avitourism industry in South Africa has been described in a recent study by Biggs (2006) as “immense and increasingly recognised”. The value of the industry in NE Zululand has been under-estimated in the past. No accurate estimates of this value have been published, but according to Birdlife SA (Pritchard, pers.com.2007/ it is in excess of R 17 million p.a. The boardwalk in Eshowe alone receives in the vicinity of 10 000 visitors p.a.
The most important habitat types that attract birders include forests, wetlands and estuaries.
Ongoye and Dlinza Forests are regarded as amongst the most important birding destinations in the country (Pritchard, pers.com. 2007). Amongst the most saught-after birds are the following:
Spotted Ground Thrush Green Barbet
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon Green Twinspot
Mangrove Kingfisher Palmnut Vulture
The last species is an obligate predator of the nuts of the Raffia Palm (Raphia australis), a palm indigenous to the Maputaland Coastal Plain, a number of which have been planted in the Mtunzini area.
The four most important birding destinations of the area have been designated as Important Bird Areas (Johnson et al., 1998). These are the following:
Umlalazi Nature Reserve SA 063 Ongoye Forest Reserve SA 065
Entumeni Nature Reserve SA 066 Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve SA067
Biggs (ibid.) has demonstrated the considerable potential of avitourism for benefiting rural communities through the creation of business opportunities and employment. He demonstrated substantial empowerment and capacity-building capacity benefits that have been generated by community members such as birding guides, which he believes could leas to positive conservation benefits for the forest and other birding habitats in which they operate.
7.4.2 Summary Status of uMlalazi Weed Eradication Programme
The following provides a brief summary of the uMlalazi Weed Eradication Programme:
The uMlalazi Municipality improved its weed eradication programme and provided R140 000.00 on its budget.
Special programmes are in place to draw weedicide;
The weed eradication programme for Mtunzini is conducted by the Mtunzini Conservancy and finances are provided by the uMlalazi Municipality.
The Gingindlovu weed eradication programme is undertaken by the uMlalazi Municipality and temporary workers are employed as a job creation project and trained.
The Eshowe weed eradication programme was outsourced and consequently the contractor has been employed by the Municipality as the skill member who now coordinates temporary workers as a job creation project and supervises the weed eradication programme.
The urban areas of Mtunzini, Gingindlovu and Eshowe have respective teams with one permanent employee and the rest made up of temporary staff and have collectively eradicated + 400 ha of noxious weeds.
The municipality supplies KZN Wildlife with herbicide which is then through an approved programme distributed to the residents free of charge.
The uMlalazi Municipality through its statutory Community Services Committee advises all aspects of the environment.
This Committee was instrumental in the compilation of a letter of agreement between the uMlalazi Municipality, the Department of Environmental and Agricultural Affairs which is a guideline pertaining to environmental impacts and relevant legislation all of which streamlines development in rural and urban areas.
7.4.3 Threats to biodiversity
Amongst the threats to biodiversity in the municipal area are the following:
Landscape transformation, deforestation modification of environmental quality through agriculture, commercial afforestation and various forms of resource depletion and habitat destruction.
Over-harvesting by hunters and anglers (including small wild birds and eggs by villagers) (Pringle 1982, Krook, 2005).
The spread of alien invasive plants, and sometimes animals, especially plants such as Lantana and Chromalaena.
Wildfire.
Unsympathetic physical development and infrastructure, including poorly designed buildings, roads and tracks.