INTRODUCTION [2016]

June 2011

Compiled by: Dalton Gibbs, Vaughn Thompson and Cassandra Sheasby

Biodiversity Management Branch

Environmental Resource Management Department

City of Cape Town

ZANDVLEI ESTUARY NATURE RESERVE

ISBN NUMBER

List of abbreviations used

APO	annual plan of operations
C.A.P.E	Cape Action for People and the Environment
CDF	Conservation Development Framework
CFR	Cape Floristic Region
EIA	environmental impact assessment
IDP	Integrated Development Plan
IMEP	Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy
IRMP	Integrated Reserve Management Plan
IUCN	International Union for Conservation of Nature
LBSAP	Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
METT-SA	Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool South Africa
MOU	memorandum of understanding
RPC	Reserve Planning Committee
SANBI	South African National Biodiversity Institute
SWOT	strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
TOR	terms of reference

PART 1: DESCRIPTION [2016]

1. INTRODUCTION

Zandvlei is an estuary located in the south-western corner of the Cape Flats, near Muizenberg, a small coastal town on the False Bay coastline. The reserve was started when 22 ha along the northern shore of the vlei was proclaimed the Zandvlei Bird Sanctuary in 1978. This was enlarged to 204 ha with the proclamation of the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve (the expansion of the boundaries) on 26 October 2006 in terms of Provincial Gazette 6389/27, October 2006 (PN 344/2006). The reserve lies some 20,4 km from Cape Town.The catchment for the Zandvlei estuary falls entirely within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town, and is bordered by the Muizenberg mountain, Silvermine plateau, Constantia mountain, Cecilia Ridge, Wynberg Hill and a less conspicuous watershed along the eastern boundary. It is a relatively small catchment, comprising an area of 92 km², or 9,655 ha, and is drained by a number of rivers and streams, of which the main ones are the Little Princess Vlei stream, Westlake stream, the Keysers river, Langvlei canal and the Sand river canal/Diep river.These rivers converge on Zandvlei, with the Keysers river and Westlake stream entering it through an extensive reed bed on its north-western margin, while the Sand river canal enters the vlei west of Wildwood Island. The wetland area covers some 60 ha, while the main body of the vlei is 56 ha. In addition, the system includes a marina of 31 ha along its eastern margin, and an outlet channel of 9 ha, which links to the sea on the north-western shore of False Bay.Both the northern and lateral boundaries comprise the 100-year flood line, as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: The Zandvlei estuary, comprising the channel, vlei, marina and wetland, with the 1-in-100-year flood line shown

Although the catchment as a whole has a relatively low population, the eastern parts together with lower reaches of the river – including the estuary – fall within a highly urbanised environment. The 1996 census data put the population figure at 10472 for Muizenberg, Lakeside and Marina da Gama alone, while the projections from Thornton and colleagues (1995) suggest that the population for the catchment as a whole could be of the order of 100000.

There is also an increased understanding of the need to maintain the environmental health of Zandvlei in order to optimise the recreational and conservation benefits. In addition, Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve has a strong environmental education programme, which involves both students from local schools and a number of environmental clubs. Local residents are actively involved in the management of the area.

The strategic management planning process that resulted in the development of an Integrated Reserve Management Plan (IRMP) for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve began with the definition of the vision followed by the purpose of the reserve.

This purpose is then supported by desired states for the reserve. The reserve objectives contribute to realising the purpose and desired states. For each desired state, a number of management objectives are identified. These management objectives are then implemented through the identification of outputs. Objectives for each desired state are prioritised for the five-year time horizon of the plan. Time frames, deliverables, performance indicators and targets are then allocated to each objective, or a group of linked outputs contributing to the desired state.

In context, this IRMP is a dynamic document, and the detailed subsidiary plans should be updated on an annual basis or as soon as new information comes to light that may better inform decisions on responsible land management. The IRMP should be updated every five years.

1.1 Aim of the Integrated Reserve Management Plan

The aim of the IRMP is to ensure that Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve has clearly defined objectives and activities to direct the protection and sustainable use of its natural, scenic and heritage resources over a five-year period. The IRMP thus provides the medium-term operational framework for the prioritised allocation of resources and capacity in the management, use and development of the reserve. The IRMP intends to add value and continuity by clearly stating:

• management objectives,
• scheduling action, and
• providing management guidelines.

The planning process for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve takes place against the backdrop of (i) the City of Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) (Anon 2010); (ii) the City of Cape Town’s Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP) (Anon 2003¹); (iii) the biodiversity strategy (Anon 2003²) and Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP) (Anon 2009¹), and (iv) the bioregion (Cape Action for People and the Environment, or C.A.P.E).

The major elements of the IRMP are this document (overall strategy, vision and context); the detailed subsidiary plans (as required), and the annual plan of operations (APO). The IRMP for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is supported by a State of Biodiversity report, operational guidelines as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure ongoing implementation and review of the protected-area management activities (figure 2).

Figure 2: Elements of the IRMP

The IRMP for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve forms part of a tiered series of policies, legislation and related planning documents at the sector, institutional, agency and local levels (see figure 3).

Figure 3: Legal and planning framework for the IRMP

Where possible, emphasis has been placed on the following:

• Assigning responsibility for management interventions
• Scheduling said management interventions
• Quantifying management costs

This approach is specifically intended to create a mechanism whereby management intervention can be monitored and audited on an annual basis.

The drafting of this IRMP has been guided by a small interdisciplinary Reserve Planning Committee (RPC) comprising the branch manager, the regional manager, the area manager, various specialists, and other interested and affected persons. Repeated drafts of the IRMP were presented to, and discussed by, the RPC before broader circulation for public participation.

Pre-engagement workshops were held with community partners from September to November 2010 with two public meetings to showcase the objectives. This afforded key community partners an opportunity to provide their input at an early stage. Where practical, the ideas and outputs from the workshops have been incorporated into the IRMP.

1.2 Location and extent

Zandvlei is located in the south-western corner of the Cape Flats, near Muizenberg, a small coastal town on the False Bay coastline (map 1 and 2). The reserve was started with the proclamation of Zandvlei Bird Sanctuary of 22ha along the northern shore of the vlei in 1978. This was enlarged to 204ha with the proclamation of the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve (the expansion of the boundaries) on 26 October 2006 in terms of Provincial Gazette 6389/27, October 2006 (PN 344/2006). The reserve lies some 20,4km from Cape Town.

The centre of the reserve lies at the following grid coordinates:

34 05 28.43 S, 18 28 08.28 E

Map 1: Reserve location in Cape Town

Map 2: Reserve boundaries

DESCRIPTION OF LANDHOLDINGS AND OWNERSHIP

2.1 Property details and title deed information

The property comprising Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is owned by the City of Cape Town.

Table 1: Erf numbers for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

Reserve	Category	Ownership	Erf number	Hectares
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-85352	131,94948470800
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-124684	2,26811400008
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-123602	0,77991227007
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	0,04014018738
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	0,05624808712
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	0,01788562323
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-156599	0,07769097414
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-85351	24,35781984680
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-0000-27	0,53410778664
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83070	0,60057457822
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-111669	1,14476785416
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83068	4,03632551592
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83066	3,70717940494
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83067	0,13527593306
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-84811-2	3,29365394254
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-84816	0,97634046867
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-84811-1	1,71007232452
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-84817	0,54171905756
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-84818	0,53078945775
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-84819	0,56170503776
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83049-1	4,02698997203
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83061	0,64063212232
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83054	0,12883326989
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83049-2	0,47439994492
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83045	1,08511694577
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93541	3,30010013179
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93602	0,55322411663
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93404	2,67788510857
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93391	0,63557547974
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-94080	1,15826248261
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93873	1,07301916461
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-112587	1,05022306626
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93942	1,64418467140
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93688	0,81375582485
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-112586	0,37084738644
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-83078	0,57181901054
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-145079	1,57073262854
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-87402-1	1,86839106885
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-93527	0,52924248633
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-94078	2,90715459829
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-85350	0,99103887641
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	Protected	City of Cape Town	00-145080	1,81067057901
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86195	0,07539308615
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86205	0,07192112978
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86232	0,07104709953
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86222	0,06478426998
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86215	0,06390078640
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86207	0,06610144313
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86240	0,07606138438
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86261	0,06016920979
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86241	0,07254386524
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86220	0,08431195110
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86213	0,07540335810
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86202	0,07133172398
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86194	0,07796841560
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86243	0,06699457936
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86218	0,06237416527
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86219	0,06562031301
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86197	0,06912211613
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86209	0,08943891252
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86196	0,06631180587
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86242	0,07324995910
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86201	0,09734212455
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86223	0,06628233646
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86199	0,07148997017
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86206	0,08012773748
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86221	0,06883094890
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86260	0,03567221694
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86204	0,06939486289
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86203	0,06200782732
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86216	0,07086942899
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86198	0,06267097618
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86214	0,06894626527
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86200	0,07308485806
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86259	0,01755627353
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86233	0,08144577338
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86208	0,07713110225
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86217	0,06320731181
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	CA920-0-2	0,87238117392
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86210	0,10176707026
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86224	0,07269399218
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86212	0,08659454864
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-86211	0,11325758695
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-167864	0,87255885090
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMNA	City of Cape Town	00-166091	0,08490512534
Zandvlei Nature Reserve	CMA	City of Cape Town	00-82622	5,60485400838

Map 3: Reserve erven

Appendix 1 indicates the Surveyor-General diagrams for the various portions of property.

2.2 Landscape perspective

The reserve falls within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). The CFR is the smallest yet richest of the world’s six floral regions, and the only one to be found entirely within one country. This rich biodiversity is under serious threat for a variety of reasons, including conversion of natural habitat to permanent agricultural area, inappropriate fire management, rapid and insensitive development, overexploitation of water resources, and infestation by alien species. The region has been identified as one of the world’s ‘hottest’ biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al. 2000).

In response to this challenge, a process of extensive consultation involving various interested parties, including local government and non-governmental organisations, resulted in the establishment of a strategic plan (CAPE Project Team 2000) referred to as the Cape Action Plan for the Environment, which identified the key threats and root causes of biodiversity losses that need to be addressed in order to conserve the floral region. This resulted in a spatial plan identifying areas that need to be conserved and a series of broad programme activities that need to take place over a 20-year period. Based on the situation assessment and analysis of threats, three overarching, mutually complementing and reinforcing themes were developed:

• To establish an effective reserve network, enhance off-reserve conservation, and support bioregional planning
• To strengthen and enhance institutions, policies, laws, cooperative governance and community participation
• To develop methods to ensure sustainable yields, promote compliance with laws, integrate biodiversity concerns with catchment management, and promote sustainable eco-tourism

The Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E) partnership was formed and works together to implement the C.A.P.E vision and plan by strengthening institutions, supporting conservation efforts, enhancing education, developing tourism benefits, and involving people in conservation. The City of Cape Town was one of the 19 founding signatories of the C.A.P.E memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is a key node of the City of Cape Town’s biodiversity network.

Future linkages with False Bay Nature Reserve to the east and Table Mountain National Park to the west are a priority for the City of Cape Town, as these form part of the biodiversity network that joins larger protected areas and nature reserves with corridors to provide for the movement of species.

2.3 Physical environment

2.3.1 Climate

The South-western Cape, where Zandvlei is situated, has what is described as a Mediterranean climate, characterised by cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The reserve lies a few metres above sea level, with the water body of the vlei being kept between 0,6and 0,7 metres above sea level during the winter months and 0,8 during summer. The average rainfall, as measured at Muizenberg, is 529 mm per year. The south-easterly wind prevails during summer, with north-westerly and westerly winds during the winter months.

Table 2.1: Average monthly rainfall as measured at Muizenberg weather station (World Weather Online 2011)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
9mm	15mm	15mm	63mm	64mm	79mm	94mm	68mm	44mm	37mm	24mm	17mm

Table 2.2: Actual monthly rainfall measured at Park Island Zandvlei 2005 to 2011

Month	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Jan	26	1	3.5	13	2.5	0.5	7
Feb	4.5	13.5	24.5	16	6	7	1.5
Mar	7	8	22.5	5.5	1	9.5	10.5
April	171	34.5	58.5	13.5	34.5	20.5	28
May	83.5	139	111	91.5	101	181	85
June	126	76.5	182	125	132	111	117
July	59	111	158	224	140	55	31
Aug	139	86.5	145	123	119	38.5	68
Sept	46	27	39	179	65.5	26.5	42
Oct	22.5	23	28	22	43	32.5	22.5
Nov	22.5	27	55	57.5	103	31
Dec	2	25	15.5	16.5	8	18.5
Total	710	572	843	888	756	533

2.3.2 Geology, geomorphology, soils and land types

Zandvlei is largely covered by sand of marine origin. The surrounding landscape is underpinned by granite rocks of the Cape granite group. Above the granites are sandstone cliffs of the neighbouring Muizenberg mountain that consist of rocks from the Peninsula formation of the Table Mountain sandstones. These sandstones can be described as coarse-grained quarzitic sandstones of the Silurian age (based on fossils elsewhere), and are probably about 400 million years old.

The soils at Zandvlei are characteristically alkaline, having been deposited with marine shell fragments. As a result of erosion processes, the topography of these soils is very flat, with very little elevation across the reserve. Higher points, such as Park Island, have been artificially created during the construction process of Marina da Gama.

The Boyes Drive section of the reserve lies at 52m above sea level, and, being on a mountain slope, has a different geo-morphological character to the rest of the reserve. This is the highest point of the reserve, consisting of sand and rocks derived from decomposed sandstone.

2.3.3 Hydrology and aquatic systems

The Zandvlei catchment falls entirely within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town (map 4), and is bordered by the Muizenberg mountain, Silvermine plateau, Constantia mountain, Cecilia Ridge, Wynberg Hill and a less conspicuous watershed along the eastern boundary. It is a relatively small catchment, comprising an area of 92 km², or 9,655 ha, and is drained by a number of rivers and streams, of which the main ones are the Little Princess Vlei stream, Westlake stream, the Keysers river, Langvlei canal and the Sand river canal/Diep river.

These rivers converge on Zandvlei, with the Keysers river and Westlake stream entering it through an extensive reed bed on its north-western margin, while the Sand river canal enters the vlei east of Wildwood Island. The wetland area covers some 60 ha, while the main body of the vlei is 56 ha. In addition, the system includes a marina of 31 ha along its eastern margin, and an outlet channel of 9 ha, which links to the sea on the north-western shore of False Bay.

For purposes of the estuary management plan, the estuary is defined as the area from the estuary mouth to the upstream end of the wetlands. Both the northern and lateral boundaries comprise the 100-year flood line, as shown in figure 1.

Landuse in the catchment is highly varied, ranging from light industry to housing, agriculture, forestry and conservation. In general, the more heavily urbanised areas – including industrial and commercial areas and middle to lower-income housing – are situated in the eastern part of the catchment (42%), centring on the Diep and Sand rivers and Langvlei canal. Agricultural land, forested areas and middle to high-income housing are located in the west of the catchment (58%) along the Keysers river and Westlake stream and their tributaries. The light industrial area of Retreat, however, is adjacent to the Keysers river, a short distance upstream of where it discharges into Zandvlei. A map of the catchment, reproduced from the Sand river catchment management plan, is shown in Map 4.

Despite the modifications that have taken place, Zandvlei remains highly valued for its natural attributes and the recreational opportunities it affords. Recreational use includes various boating activities, picnicking, bird-watching, walking and a limited amount of fishing, although bait collection is not permitted. It is regarded as being of regional importance in recreational terms, and hosts a number of sports events, including an international kite-flying competition, provincial canoe championships, and various yachting events.

Map 4: Catchments, including wetlands and rivers

Map 5: Biodiversity network

2.4 Biological environment

2.4.1 Vegetation

Zandvlei has two primary vegetation types, namely Cape Flats Dune Strandveld on the lowland areas, and Cape Peninsula Granite Fynbos on the higher Boyes Drive area. In the extreme north of the reserve and Westlake wetlands area, the vegetation type is in a transition area to Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. There are currently 440 identified plant species at Zandvlei, of which over 150 are alien species (see appendix 2).

Ecosystem status for these vegetation types is as follows:

• Cape Flats Dune Strandveld – Endangered
• Cape Peninsula Granite Fynbos – Endangered
• Cape Flats Sand Fynbos – Endangered

Of note is that all three of the vegetation types mentioned are classified as Endangered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) national assessment, which underlines the importance of conservation areas in general on the Cape Town lowlands.

A complete description of the vegetation communities within Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve, compiled by Dr Patricia Holmes and Dr Tony Rebelo, follows below.

2.4.1.1 Cape Flats Dune Strandveld (Dune Thicket) (Rebelo etal. 2006)

Distribution: Endemic to Cape Town; mainly coastal, altitude 0–80m, but reaching 200m in places.

Vegetation and landscape: Flat to slightly undulating dune field landscape, covered by tall, evergreen, hard-leaved shrubland, with abundant grasses and annual herbs in gaps. Structurally, strandveld is a tall, evergreen, hard-leaved shrubland, with abundant grasses, annual herbs and succulents in the gaps. Examples of prominent shrub species include Euclea racemosa, Metalasia muricata, Olea exasperata, Chrysanthemoides monilifera and Roepera flexuosum. Strandveld has few endemic species compared to fynbos. All of this vegetation type occurs within the City of Cape Town area, and 56% is transformed.

Geology and soil: Tertiary to recent calcareous sand of marine origin; outcrops of limestone found on the False Bay coast.

Climate: Mean annual rainfall 350mm in north, to 560mm in south

Conservation: Endangered, target 24%; 6% conserved

Cape Flats Dune Strandveld historically covered an area of 401km² within the City of Cape Town jurisdiction. Today, only 180km² of this vegetation type remains, of which 64km² is conserved under formal conservation management.

2.4.1.2 Peninsula Granite Fynbos (Rebelo et al.2006)

Distribution: Endemic to the City of Cape Town area;lower slopes on the Cape Peninsula from Lion’s Head to Smitswinkel Bay almost completely surrounding Table Mountain, Karbonkelberg and Constantia mountain, through to the Kalk Bay mountains. South of the Fish Hoek gap, it is limited to the eastern (False Bay) side of the Peninsula from Simon’s Bay to Smitswinkel Bay, with a few small patches between Fish Hoek and Ocean View.

Altitude: 0–450 m

All of this vegetation type occurs within the Cape Town area,and 65% is transformed.

Vegetation and landscape features:Steep to gentle slopes below the sandstone mountain slopes, and undulating hills on the western edge of the Cape Flats. Medium-dense to open trees in tall, dense proteoid shrubland. A diverse type, dominated by asteraceous and proteoidfynbos, but with patches of restio and ericaceous fynbos in wetter areas. Waboomveld is extensive in the north, and heavily encroached by afrotemperate forest in places. South of Hout Bay, the dwarf form of Protea nitida is dominant, so that there are no emergent proteoids. Groves of Silver Trees (Leucadendron argenteum) occur on the wetter slopes.

Geology and soils:Deep, loamy, sandy soils, red-yellow apedal or Glenrosa and Mispah forms, derived from Cape Peninsula pluton of the Cape granite suite

Endemic taxa: Low shrubs Cliffortia carinata, Gnidia parvula, Hermannia micrantha, Leucadendron grandiflorum; succulent shrubs – Erepsia patula, Lampranthus curvifolius; herb – Polycarena silenoides; geophytic herb – Aristea pauciflora; graminoid – Willdenowia affinis.

Conservation: Endangered; target 30%; conserved in Table Mountain National Park as well as on the premises of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. However, much of the conserved fynbos has been transformed into afrotemperate forest due to fire protection policies at Orangekloof and Kirstenbosch, and a reluctance to use fire in green belts and on the urban fringe. The effective fynbos area conserved is thus much smaller. A total of 56% has been transformed, mostly in Cape Town urban areas (40%) on low-lying flat landscapes, including vineyards and pine plantations (13%). The most common alien woody species include Acacia melanoxylon, Pinus pinaster and numerous other, more localised invasive alien species, reflecting the long history of colonisation and the relatively fertile soils.

2.4.1.3 Cape Flats Sand Fynbos (Sand Plain Fynbos) (Rebelo et al.2006)

Distribution: Largely endemic to the City of Cape Town area: Cape Flats from Blouberg and Koeberg Hills west of the Tygerberg Hills, to Lakeside and Pelican Park in the south near False Bay; from Bellville and Durbanville, to Klapmuts and Joostenberg Hill in the east, and to the south-west of the Bottelary Hills to Macassar and Firgrove in the south.

Altitude: 20–200 m.

Nearly 100% of this vegetation type occurs within the City of Cape Town area, and 85% is transformed.

Vegetation and landscape features: Moderately undulating and flat plains, with dense, moderately tall, ericoid shrubland containing scattered emergent tall shrubs. Proteoid and restioidfynbos are dominant, with asteraceous and ericaceous fynbos occurring in drier and wetter areas respectively.

Geology and soils: Acid, tertiary, deep, grey regic sands, usually white, often Lamotte form.

Climate: Winter-rainfall regime, with precipitation peaking from May to August; mean annual rainfall 580–980 mm (mean: 575 mm). Mists occur frequently in winter. Mean daily maximum and minimum monthly temperatures 27,1°C and 7,3°C measured in February and July respectively. Frost occurs about three days per year. This is the wettest and coolest of the West Coast sand fynbos types.

Cape Flats Sand Fynbos endemic taxa: Low shrubs – Erica margaritacea, Aspalathus variegate (probably extinct), Athanasia capitata, Cliffortia ericifolia, Erica pyramidalis, E. turgida, E. verticillata, Leucadendron levisanus, Liparia graminifolia, Serruria aemula, S. foeniculacea, S. furcellata;succulent shrub – Lampranthus stenus; geophytic herb – Ixia versicolor; graminoids – Tetraria variabilis, Trianoptiles solitaria.

Conservation: Critically endangered; target 30%; less than 1% statutorily conserved as small patches in Table Mountain National Park as well as some private conservation areas such as Plattekloof and Blaauwberg Hills. This is the most transformed of the sand fynbos types: More than 85% of the area has already been transformed by urban sprawl (Cape Town metropolitan area) and for cultivation. Hence the conservation target remains unattainable. Most remaining patches are small pockets surrounded by urban areas, for example Rondevlei, Kenilworth, Milnerton, 6 BOD, Plattekloof and Rondebosch Common. Most of these patches have been identified as ‘core conservation sites’. They are mismanaged by mowing, fire protection and alien plant invasion. Mowing eliminates serotinous and taller species, while fire protection results in a few common thicket species (e.g. Carpobrotus edulis, Chrysanthemoides monilifera) replacing the rich fynbos species. Alien woody species include Acacia saligna, A. cyclops and species of Pinus and Eucalyptus. Dumping and spread of alien grasses (both annual and Kikuyu, orPennisetum clandestinum) are also a major problem. Alien acacias result in elevated nutrient levels and a conversion to Eragrostis curvula grassland and near-annual fires. Some 94 Red List sand fynbos plant species occur on the remnants within Cape Town. The endemics include six species listed as extinct in the wild, some of which are being re-introduced from botanical gardens.

Cape Flats Sand Fynbos historically covered an area of 547 km² within the City of Cape Town area. Today, only 77 km² of this vegetation remains, of which only 5 km² is conserved or formally managed for conservation.

(See appendix 2 for complete plant list)

2.4.2 Mammals

Some 23 mammal species have been recorded at Zandvlei (see appendix 3) of which 4 are aliens or domestic species. The mammal fauna comprise species that are linked to the wetland and associated dune habitats of the Cape Flats. This includes Aonyx capensis (Cape Clawless Otter) and Atilax paludinosus (Water Mongoose) in the wetlands, and Galerella pulverulenta(Small Grey Mongoose), Genetta tigrina (Large Spotted Genet) and Raphicerus melanotis (Grysbok) on the dune flats. Of note among mammals is the presence of Felis caracal (Caracal) during 2010, which have presumably moved down the Boyes Drive area onto the reserve.

2.4.3 Birds

Some 168 bird species have been recorded at Zandvlei (see appendix 4) of which 9 are alien, and of which ten indigenous species are listed in the Red Data book. One of these, Circus ranivorus (African Marsh Harrier), is listed as a threatened species. Bird species associated with wetlands make up a large percentage of the species list. The reserve also provides habitat for migrant Palaearctic wader species, a number of which have declining populations. Of concern is the large population of Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard Duck) that have taken residence in the canals of Marina da Gama. This species interbreeds with indigenous waterfowl species such as Anas undulate (Yellow-billed Duck) creating fertile hybrids.

2.4.4 Reptiles

Twenty-four reptile species have been recorded on the reserve, none of which are presently listed as threatened (see appendix 5). One of these, (Ramphotyphlops braminus) the Flower Pot Snake is an alien species.

2.4.5 Amphibians

Seven amphibian species have been recorded (see appendix 6), including two species listed as threatened. Importantly, among these is a breeding population of Amietophrynus pantherinus (Western Leopard Toad). This endangered amphibian forages away from water, and, as a result, moves from the reserve into the urban environment. It breeds in deep water pools during the wet winter months of August and September, and several breeding sites have been found in the north-western corner of the reserve.

2.4.6 Invertebrates

Although no exhaustive invertebrate list is available for the site, 17 butterfly and 4 dragonfly species have been recorded (see Appendix 7).

Of note are two butterfly species, the Kedestes lenis (Unique Ranger) and Kedestes barberae bunta (Barber’s Ranger), which are both listed as endangered. The latter species is a localised endemic, occurring between Muizenberg and Strandfontein on the False Bay coastline. Having been described in the 1950s, it is now probably extinct in the Zandvlei area, and persists only at Strandfontein.

Ficopomatus enigmaticus, a species of tube worm is an important component of the wetland community due to its water-filtering capabilities. Zandvlei also supports a healthy population of Callianassa krausii (sand prawn), which also has filtering activities that contribute to good water quality.

2.4.7 Fish

Zandvlei is the last functioning estuary on the False Bay coastline, and, as such, is connected to the sea during high-tide events. Some 30 fish species occur in the vlei, with 24 indigenous species and six alien (see Appendix 8).

There is only one threatened species, namely Lithognathus lithognathus (white steenbras). Zandvlei contributes towards the protection of this species by providing valuable nursery habitat for fingerlings that are recruited from the sea into the nursery.

Lichia amia (Leervis) are often found in the estuary as adults, and angling records of up to 18.9kg of fish have been recorded.

Of possible concern in the future is the population of Galaxia zebratus (Cape Galaxia), of which the taxonomic status is in flux. Future reclassification of this group of fish may result in a localised species with threatened status.

2.5 Socio-political context

2.5.1 History

As early as the 1600s (but probably also before that), Khoi people used the Muizenberg area as a pastoral home. With the advent of the Dutch at the Cape in 1652, the Dutch East India Company established a cattle farm in the area in 1670. From 1743, the area became one of the first military outposts under the command of Sergeant Wynand Muys, and was originally named Muysenburg (Muys’ stronghold) (see http://www.capetown.dj/Regions/SouthPeninsula/Muizenberg/History.html).

The area around the reserve was also part of the Battle of Muizenberg between the Dutch and British forces in 1795. During the late 1800s, Muizenberg became a popular seaside resort for holiday makers, with a train line linking it with Cape Town and Simon’s Town. In the 1970s, the eastern shore was transformed through the creation of Marina da Gama as a residential area. As a result, banks were fixed with concrete, and excess material was used to create Park Island. Apartheid-era planning has resulted in white-dominated suburbs along the east and west banks, and coloured suburbs on the northern boundary. See Appendix 9 for historical aerial photographs of Zandvlei.

In 1978, the then Cape Town city council proclaimed 22ha of the northern shore as the Zandvlei Bird Sanctuary. On 26 October 2006, City of Cape Town, who had taken over municipal functions, enlarged the reserve with the proclamation of the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve (Provincial Gazette 6389/27, October 2006, PN 344/2006) (www.biodiversity.co.za).

2.5.2 Socio-economic context

The economic activities within the Zandvlei catchment area have an influence on the reserve. These include agriculture in the form of vineyards in the upper reaches, and limited cattle and vegetable farming in the middle section. A light industrial and commercial area is located immediately upstream from the reserve, in the lower reaches. The catchment is small, comprising 92 km², or 9,655 ha, and is fortunate in not having a sewage treatment works discharging into it.

Middle to upper-income residential suburbs surround the vlei, with formal commercial activities taking place near the mouth. Informal trading occurs along the mouth of the vlei, with trading markets operating on Sundays.

2.6 Protected-area expansion

Zandvlei forms an important link in a conservation network connecting the Peninsula mountain chain with the False Bay coastline. The present round of proclamations incorporates most of the conservation-worthy land that can be linked to Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. A notable exception, however, is a strip of east-west orientated land along the northern boundary. This area has high conservation value, supporting Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, which transitions into Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. The last local population of the Kedestes lenis (unique ranger) occurs on this site. A road linking the M4 and M5 has been mooted for this strip of land.

3. PURPOSE, VISION/MISSION, SIGNIFICANCE/VALUE

3.1 Purpose of the protected area

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is located in the CFR, an area of global biodiversity significance, which contains a unique combination of habitats, ecosystems and species, many of which are either rare or endemic to the area.

Zandvlei conserves the last functioning estuary along the False Bay coastline, as well as surrounding fragments of terrestrial habitat. As such, Zandvlei plays a vital role as a fish nursery area, providing habitat for fish to mature and so replenish fish stocks in False Bay. The three vegetation types represented on the reserve are classified as threatened in terms of the national vegetation assessment.

The purposes of a protected area are described in section 17, chapter 3 of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act.

The purposes of declaring areas as protected areas are as follows:

• To protect ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa’s biological diversity and its natural landscapes and seascapes in a system of 30 protected areas
• To preserve the ecological integrity of those areas
• To conserve biodiversity in those areas
• To protect areas representative of all ecosystems, habitats and species naturally
• To protect South Africa’s threatened or rare species
• To protect an area that is vulnerable or ecologically sensitive
• To assist in ensuring the sustained supply of environmental goods and services
• To provide for the sustainable use of natural and biological resources
• To create or augment destinations for nature-based tourism
• To manage the interrelationship between natural environment and development

3.2 Vision and mission

3.2.1 Vision

Integrated Development Plan vision

The vision of the City of Cape Town remains as follows:

• To be a prosperous city that creates an enabling environment for shared growth and economic development
• To achieve effective and equitable service delivery
• To serve the citizens of Cape Town as a well-governed and effectively run administration

To achieve this vision, the City recognises that it must:

• actively contribute to the development of its environmental, human and social capital;
• offer high-quality services to all who live in, do business in, or visit the city as tourists; and
• be known for its efficient, effective and caring government.

C.A.P.E vision

We, the people of South Africa, are proud to be the custodians of our unique Cape Floral Region and share its full ecological, social and economic benefits now and in the future.

Environmental Resource Management Department vision

To ensure that sustainable and equitable development is combined with sound environmental practice for a healthy local environment that sustains people and nature, provides protection for our unique resources, and results in an enhanced quality of life for all.

City of Cape Town’s biodiversity strategy vision

To be a City that leads by example in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity; a City within which biodiversity plays an important role, and where the right of present and future generations to healthy, complete and vibrant biodiversity is entrenched; a City that actively protects its biological wealth, and prioritises long-term responsibility over short-term gains.

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve vision

Zandvlei is a beautiful and important component of Cape Town’s natural assets. It is valued by the local community and visitors alike for recreational, educational and other uses. It is also home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, and is used in a way that balances conservation with the needs of users for the benefit of present and future generations.

3.2.2 Mission

City of Cape Town’s biodiversity strategy mission

• To manage biodiversity proactively and effectively
• To ensure an integrated approach to biodiversity between City of Cape Town line functions and departments, and actively pursue external partnerships
• To adopt a long-term approach to biodiversity
• To ensure the sustainability of our rich biodiversity
• To adopt a holistic and multifaceted approach to biodiversity
• To continue to measure and monitor the City of Cape Town’s performance in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity
• To continue to measure and monitor the state of biodiversity in Cape Town

3.3 Significance of property (biodiversity, heritage and social)

The reserve has been identified as an important node in the biodiversity network, not just in terms of its position and connectivity with other conservation areas, but also due to its biodiversity attributes.

The reserve is an important link between the Cape Peninsula mountain chain, which makes up Table Mountain National Park, and conservation areas along the False Bay coastline. The estuary is unique in being the only functioning estuary in False Bay, and contributes significantly to fish recruitment in the area.

All three vegetation types that are represented in the reserve are classified as endangered in SANBI’s national vegetation assessment.

The reserve also supports several species listed as threatened in terms of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data book protocols. Nine plant, one bird, one fish and two amphibian species are presently listed as threatened in one way or another.

PART 2: MANAGEMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK [2016]

4. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

4.1 Legal framework

Table 3: Legal FrameworkThe following is a list of legislation applicable to the management of the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch. Repealed legislation has been included in greyed-out text for information purposes only.

Legislation: Acts, ordinances, bylaws	Relevance: Description	Amendment: Latest amendment date	Comment: Other notes
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996	Lists South African citizens’ environmental rights	N/A	Chapter 2: Bill of Rights assigns citizens with particular rights
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
National legislation
National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998	One of the most important environmental laws relating to most aspects of the environment, including environmental impact assessments (EIAs), environmental information and legal standing, etc.	Amendment Act 56 of 2002Amended by GN 26018, Vol 464 of 13 February 2004	Provides for cooperative environmental governance
National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, Act 10 of 2004	The objectives of the Act are to provide for:the management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity within the framework of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998;the protection of species and ecosystems that warrant national protection;the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources;the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from bio-prospecting involving indigenous biological resources; andthe establishment and functions of a South African National Biodiversity Institute.In essence, the Act was put in place to safeguard the important biodiversity attributes in the country, while allowing people to benefit equally from the natural resources. In order to achieve these goals, the Act made provision for the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), which has been designated certain functions and afforded powers and duties in respect of this Act.	N/A	The development of the IRMP will assist in ensuring that the objectives of this Act are achieved in the reserve.
National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, Act 57 of 2003	To provide for:the protection and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa’s biological diversity and natural landscapes and seascapes;the establishment of a national register of all national, provincial and local protected areas;the management of those areas in accordance with national norms and standards;intergovernmental cooperation and public consultation on matters concerning protected areas; andmatters in connection therewith.	Amendment Act 62 of 2008Amendment Act 15 of 2009	Regulations Notice 1029 of 2009 lists specific regulations for reserves proclaimed by the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) (draft August 2009).
Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA), Act 43 of 1983	The CARA regulations contain a list of alien invasive vegetation categorised according to their legal status. The Act regulates the sale, position and use of listed species.	Amended by GN R 2687 of 6 December 1985 and GN R 280 of 30 March 2001	Alien invasive plant legislation to be included under the Biodiversity Act in future
National Veld and Forest Fire Act, Act 101 of 1998	Relates to veld fire prevention, fire protection associations, fire danger indexing, enforcement of fire legislation, and the fighting of fires	N/A	A detailed fire management plan will be developed.
Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998	Regulates conservation of the marine ecosystem and the long term sustainable utilisation of marine living resources
Environment Conservation Act, Act 73 of 1989	The Environment Conservation Act is the other law that relates specifically to the environment. Although most of this Act has been replaced by NEMA, some important sections still remain in operation. These sections relate to:protected natural environments;littering;special nature reserves;waste management;limited-development areas;regulations on noise, vibration and shock; andEIAs.	Environment Conservation Amendment Act 98 of 1991Environment Conservation Amendment Act 79 of 1992Environment Conservation Second Amendment Act 115 of 1992Environment Conservation Amendment Act 94 of 1993Environment Conservation Second Amendment Act 52 of 1994Proclamation R27 of 1995Proclamation R43 of 1996National Environment Management Act 107 of 1998
National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998	Relates to all use of water and the management of all water resources in South Africa
National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, Act 39 of 2004	To provide for enhancing the quality of ambient air for the sake of securing an environment that is not harmful to the health and well-being of the people		Promulgated to give effect to section 24(b) of the Constitution.The South African Air Quality Information System is a web-based system that provides information on the quality of ambient air across the country.
Animal Protection Act, Act 71 of 1962	To consolidate and amend the laws relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals	Animal Matters Amendment Act, Act 42 of 1993
Animal Diseases Act, Act 35 of 1985	Provides for control measures relating to animal diseases
Animal Health Act, Act 7 of 2002	Regulates animal health
Game Theft Act, Act 105 of 1991	Regulates the ownership and protection of game
Mountain Catchment Areas Act, Act 63 of 1970	Provides for catchment conservation		Administered under the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board Act, Act 15 of 1998
National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999	Provides for the protection of heritage resources		N/A
World Heritage Conservation Act 49 of 1999	Incorporates the World Heritage Convention into South African law		N/A
Problem Animal Control Ordinance, Ordinance 26 of 1957	Regulates problem animals		Administered under the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board Act, Act 15 of 1998
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002	Provides for equitable access to, and sustainable development of, mineral and petroleum resources
Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act, Act 45 of 1965		Entire Act repealed on 1 April 2010 in favour of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, Act 39 of 2004
Provincial legislation
Land Use Planning Ordinance, Ordinance 15 of 1985	The purpose of the Ordinance is to regulate land use and to provide for incidental matters related to land use.	Assented to on 22 November 1985Western Cape Land Use Planning Ordinance, 1985, Amendment Act, 2004	Although it might not have a direct application in the management of nature reserves, it does affect the surrounding properties, and could possibly be used to control activities/developments around the reserves to minimise negative effects, for example in applying zoning restrictions.
Cape Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance, Ordinance 19 of 1974	The purpose of this Ordinance is to regulate wild animals and plants, and the establishment of nature reserves.	Publication date 1 September 1975	Administered under the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board Act, Act 15 of 1998
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board Act, Act 15 of 1998	The purpose of this Act is to promote and ensure nature conservation, render services and provide facilities for research and training and to generate income		Biodiversity agreements are signed under this Act.
Municipal legislation
Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP), 2001	Envisages a set of Citywide aligned strategies dealing with all aspects of the environment.		Influenced the Biodiversity Strategy, 2003
Biodiversity Strategy, 2003	To be a city that leads by example in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity	Draft amendment for 2009–2019	Influenced the development of the IRMP
City of Cape Town Bylaw relating to Stormwater Management, LA 31420	To provide for the regulation of stormwater management in the area of the City of Cape Town, and to regulate activities that may have a detrimental effect on the development, operation or maintenance of the stormwater system	Publication date 23 September 2005	Communication strategy and action plan will take effect to address the issues with the relevant departments
City of Cape Town Air Pollution Control Bylaw, LA 12649	The purpose of this bylaw is to give effect to the right contained in section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act (Act 108 of 1996) by controlling air pollution within the area of the Council’s jurisdiction; to ensure that air pollution is avoided, or, where it cannot be altogether avoided, is minimised and remedied.	Publication date 4 February 2003
Bylaw relating to Community Fire Safety, Province of the Western Cape, LA 11257	The purpose and scope of the bylaw is to promote the achievement of a fire-safe environment for the benefit of all persons within the municipality’s area of jurisdiction, and to provide for procedures, methods and practices to regulate fire safety within the municipal area.	Publication date 28 February 2002	A fire management plan to be designed
City of Cape Town Draft Animal Bylaw, 2009	The purpose of the Bylaw is to formulate a new single bylaw, including ten different municipal dog bylaws and the Animal Protection Act of 1962.The Bylaw includes chapters on dogs, cats, poultry and working equines.	Draft, 2009
HUMAN RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATION
National legislation
Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993	To provide for the health and safety of persons at work, and for the health and safety of persons in connection with the use of plant and machinery; the protection of persons other than persons at work against hazards to health and safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work; to establish an advisory council for occupational health and safety, and to provide for matters connected therewith.	Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act, No 181 of 1993
Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Act 3 of 1997	Provides for control measures pertaining to employment	Amendment Act 11 of 2002
Labour Relations Amendment Act, Act 66 of 1995	The Act aims to promote economic development, social justice, labour peace and democracy in the workplace.	Labour Relations Amendment Act, 42 of 1996Afrikaans Labour Relations Amendment Act, 1998Labour Relations Amendment Act, 127 of 1998Labour Relations Amendment Act, 2000Amendment Act 12 of 2002
Local Government Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000	Establishes core principles, processes and mechanisms relating to local government
Promotion of Equality/Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, Act 4 of 2000	Provides for the prevention of discrimination and other related matters
Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977	Makes provision for procedures and related matters in criminal proceedings	Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, Act 65 of 2008
Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000	To establish a comprehensive and an effective system of firearms control and, to provide for matters connected therewith
Civil Aviation Act, Act 13 of 2009
Fencing Act, Act 31 of 1963	Regulates all matters relating to fencing
Hazardous Substances Act, Act 15 of 1973	Controls substances that may cause injury or ill health to, or death of, human beings by reason of their toxic nature
Land Survey Act, Act 8 of 1997	Regulates land surveying, beacons and other related matters
Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000	Promotes access to information
Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, Act 3 of 2000	Provides for the promotion of administrative justice	Amendment Act 53 of 2002
Regional Services Council Act, Act 109 of 1985	Regulates and controls land, land use and other related matters
Skills Development Act, Act 97 of 1998	Promotes the development of skills
State Land Disposal Act, Act 48 of 1961	Regulates the disposal of state-owned land
Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, Act 70 of 1970	Regulates the subdivision of agricultural land
Tourism Act, Act 72 of 1993	Provides for the promotion of tourism, and regulates the tourism industry		A tourism strategy is envisaged.
Public Resorts Ordinance, Ordinance 20 of 1971	Regulates nuisance and pollution control
Municipal Ordinance, Ordinance 20 of 1974	Regulates pollution and waste management
South African National Road Agency Limited and National Roads Act, Act 7 of 1998
Aviation Act, Act 74 of 1962	Provides for the control, regulation and encouragement of aviation activities in the Republic of South Africa	Repealed in favour of the Civil Aviation Act, Act 13 of 2009
Provincial legislation
Western Cape Land Administration Act, Act 6 of 1998	Regulates land and land use
Western Cape Planning and Development Act, Act 7 of 1999	Regulates planning and development within the province
Municipal legislation
City of Cape Town Bylaw relating to Filming, LA30441	The purpose of the Bylaw is to regulate and facilitate filming in Cape Town.	Provincial Gazette 6277, 24 June 2005
City of Cape Town Bylaw relating to Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances, 2007	The purpose of the Bylaw is to regulate activities in streets and public places, and to prevent excessive noise nuisance	Promulgated 28 September 2007, PG 6469; LA 44559
City of Cape Town Bylaw relating to signage

4.2 Administrative framework

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is managed by the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch in the Strategy and Planning Department. The reserve falls under the oversight of the district manager, and is the management responsibility of an area manager, who is assisted by one operational staff member. The operational management of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is supported by various other City of Cape Town departments, including, but not limited to, Law Enforcement, Roads and Stormwater Management, Catchment Management, Water & Sanitation, Information Systems & Technology, City Parks, Sport and Recreation, Public Amenities, Human Resources, and Finance.

Table 4: Current staffing complement of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

Designation	Number of staff	Workweek	Supervisor
Area manager	1	40 hours, Monday–Friday	Regional manager
Senior field ranger	1	40 hours, Monday–Friday	Area manager
People &conservation officer	1	40 hours, Monday–Friday	Area manager
Mechanical plant operator	1	40 hours, Monday–Friday	Area manager
Experiential training student	Varies	40 hours, Monday–Friday	Area manager

5. PROTECTED-AREA POLICY FRAMEWORK & GUIDING MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

5.1 Management objectives

5.1.1 Biodiversity and heritage objectives

The following table lists the management objectives for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve:

Table 5: Management objectives for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

High-level objective	Objective	Sub-objective	Initiative	Low-level plan
CONSERVATION OF REPRESENTATIVE, FUNCTIONAL ECOSYSTEMS To conserve a representative sample of the region’s ecosystems in a linked landscape, and maintain or restore environmental processes to enable natural spatial and temporal variation in structural, functional and compositional components of biodiversity	Representative ecosystems To incorporate a spectrum of viable aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems characteristic of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve, and to re-introduce missing elements where possible	Consolidation and expansion of land areas Consolidate protected areas, focusing on underrepresented ecosystems, functional linkages and processes	(1) Identify underrepresented habitats/ecosystems (2) Consolidate reserve boundaries (3) Incorporate untransformed vegetation (4) Establish corridors linking the Peninsula mountain chain and the False Bay coastline	Reserve expansion plan (needs to be developed)
		Re-introduction of biota Where possible, re-establish locally extinct or depleted biodiversity components and populations in accordance with IUCN principles and guidelines	(1) Re-establish indigenous fauna complement within constraints of reserve size and urban setting	Faunal management plan (management guidelines for larger wildlife and their habitats)
		Fire management Apply appropriate fire regime in strandveld and fynbos areas (frequency, season, intensity, size)	(1) Implement a fire management plan in accordance with objectives of conserving biodiversity and threatened biota (2) Monitor impact of fire management regime	Fire management plan
		Threatened biota Maintain viable populations of threatened species in order to meet obligations in terms of international agreements and conventions	(1) Maintain viable populations of rare/threatened plant and animal species (identify, locate and monitor populations of priority species)	Threatened-biota plan (needs to be developed)
		Monitoring planImplement and maintain an approved monitoring plan for the reserve	(1) Implement and maintain a biological monitoring programme for the reserve	Monitoring plan (exists in part)
	Rehabilitation Rehabilitate degraded areas, including the re-establishment of natural biodiversity patterns, and the restoration of key processes that support the long-term persistence of biodiversity	Vegetation Re-establish physical, chemical and biological processes in degraded vegetation areas	(1) Rehabilitate all old, degraded sites	Vegetation rehabilitation plan (needs to be developed in consultation with biospecialist)
		Alien plants and other alien biota Control and, where possible, eliminate alien biota to facilitate re-establishment of natural biodiversity patterns and process in invaded areas	(1) Establish the distribution and density of invasive species (2) Prioritise areas for alien removal, focusing on biodiversity restoration (3) Implement removal programmes for priority species and areas	Invasive-plant management planInvasive-animal management planAPO (exists)
		Estuary functioningEstablish protocols maintaining estuary functioning	1) Establish estuary protocols for breaching of estuary mouth	Estuary breaching protocols (done)
MITIGATE INTERNAL and EXTERNAL PRESSURES To reduce threats and pressures and limit environmental impacts resulting from non-biodiversity management aspects and operations on surrounding land and resource use	Reconciling biodiversity with other reserve objectives To ensure that non-biodiversity management aspects of reserve operations (revenue generation, including visitor, resource use, developments, management activities, etc.) are informed and constrained by biodiversity conservation objectives, and that the impacts of these activities on biodiversity are minimised	Internal developments Minimise the impacts associated with the development and maintenance of visitor and reserve management infrastructure, and ensure that such developments do not compromise biodiversity objectives	(1) Reserve zoning (2) Develop and implement Conservation Development Framework (CDF) (3) Develop in accordance with environmental impact assessment (EIA) process (NEMA) and corporate policies (4) Establish visitor carrying capacities (5) Implement green standards and environmental best practice based on corporate policy	CDF (exists in part)
		Internal activities Minimise the impacts associated with visitor and reserve management activities, and ensure that such activities do not compromise biodiversity objectives
		Extractive resource use Minimise the impacts of extractive resource use, and ensure that such activities are aligned with corporate guidelines, are within management capacity constraints, and do not compromise biodiversity objectives	(1) Quantify current extractive resource activities (2) Define opportunities and constraints in line with corporate guidelines (3) Regulate resource use according to adaptive management process	Sustainable resource use management plan (needs to be developed)Note: This is a long-term process, as research into sustainable yields needs to be conducted first.
	Reconciling biodiversity with external threats To reduce external threats and pressures, and limit impacts of surrounding land and resource use on biodiversity conservation within the reserve	External developments Minimise the impacts associated with inappropriate developments outside the reserve	(1) Engage regional land management authorities, including IDPs and spatial development frameworks at local and regional level (2) Align with bioregional planning, including explicitly identified areas for the maintenance of important biodiversity patterns and processes with appropriate land use guidelines (3) Provide input into planning and decision-making processes for external development that may compromise reserve and biodiversity network objectives (4) Negotiate to ensure that external developments are not visually obtrusive or out of character with the reserve	Branch-wide communication strategy and action plan
		External activities Negotiate to ensure that external resource and land use do not detrimentally affect ecological processes within the reserve	(1) Negotiate to mitigate or improve the management of external, potentially detrimental impacts (2) Encourage eco-friendly resource use and land management practices on adjacent properties (3) Mitigate the impacts of oil, sewage, chemical and other pollution events through appropriate contingency planning	Emergency spill contingency plan (cooperative governance and communication plan) (Environmental Resource Management Department plan)
		Illegal harvesting of resources: Prevent the illegal collection, removal and destruction of physical and biological resources	Public liaison and awareness campaignsLaw enforcement	Reserve protection planSafety and security plan
WILDNESS/REMOTENESS To maintain and restore wildness/remoteness in Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve so that the spiritual and experiential qualities of wildness are maintained, enhanced or, where necessary, restored	Range of experiences Provide a range of visitor experiences		(1) Reserve zoning (2) Develop CDF and sensitivity-value analysis	(1) CDF (2) Reserve expansion plan (3) Draft invasive-species management plan
	Sense of place Maintain or restore appropriate sense of place		(1) Implement and update CDF (2) Establish and apply appropriate visitor carrying capacity (3) Negotiate to ensure that external developments are not visually obtrusive or out of character with the reserve
CULTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENTTo investigate and manage all cultural assets	Conserve and manage cultural heritage assets	N/A	(1) Develop a database of all tangible and intangible cultural assets, including inventory, maps and relevant documentation(2) Develop site management plans for each cultural heritage site, with monitoring systems in place for management priorities and prescriptions(3) Facilitate appropriate interpretation of cultural heritage associated with the reserve	Cultural heritage management plan (needs to be developed in consultation with heritage authorities)

5.1.2 Socio-economic objectives:

Table 6: Socio-economic objectives for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

High-level objective	Objective	Sub-objective (where required)	Initiative	Low-level plan
Nurture productive and mutually beneficial partnerships that will result in gains in economic and biodiversity equity	Enhance socio- economic benefits to local communities	Develop partnerships with external and internal stakeholders to facilitate opportunities, such as tourism,local economic development, Working for Water/fire brigade	(1) Contribute to local community development by supporting the Expanded Public Works Programme/poverty relief initiatives(2) Contribute to local skills development by supporting the skillsand learnership programmes(3) Identify and facilitate the creation of business opportunities in association with the reserve(4) Support community-based social development initiatives	Local socio-economic development plan (to-be-developed branch-wide plan)
	Increase environmental awareness, and encourage participation in conservation initiatives	Inspire visitors and communities to consider the environment as an interrelated and interdependent system, of which they are an integral part	(1) Develop and implement an interpretation plan that feeds into both the education and zoning plans(2) Implement environmental education and youth development programmes suited to the needs of each focus group (i.e. tailor-made programmes for each focus group)	Education development plan (southern region’s to be developed)
		Educate learners, educators and other community focus groups to be able to take environmental action
		Support educators and community leaders with resource and information materials	(1) Establish and market an environmental resource centre and outdoor classrooms, with a range of interpretive and information resources
Support cooperative governance that will build custodianship	Maintain good reserve/community/stakeholder relations	N/A	(1) Identify and involve all relevant stakeholders in the reserve advisory forum.(2) Develop effective communication mechanisms and responsibilities for representatives(3) Actively support the ongoing involvement of Zandvlei Trust	Stakeholder relationship plan (to-be-developed branch-wide plan)
	Effective cooperative governance	Minimise degrading impact and consequences of inappropriate development and actions in and around the reserve	(1) Establish and maintain good working relationships with relevant government departments as well as internal City of Cape Town departments
		Ensure support/buy-in for management decisions through participatory decision-making processes	(1) Define roles and responsibilities with stakeholder groups, partnerships and government through written agreements/terms of reference (TOR) and MOUs
Enhance the reserve as a nature-based visitor destination	Develop, manage and enhance a range of sustainable visitor products		(1) Design customer satisfaction survey(2) Analyse current product usage, and identify opportunities	Visitor plan andinfrastructure programme
			(3) Plan for visitor infrastructure and facilities, as identified by the CDF,business framework and business plan(4) Develop and implement the infrastructure management plan (in compliance with State of Infrastructure report)(5) Compile a State of Infrastructure report
	Conserve and manage cultural heritage assets		(1) Develop a database of all tangible and intangible cultural assets, including inventory, maps and relevant documentation(2) Develop management plans for each cultural heritage site, with monitoring systems in place for management priorities and prescriptions(3) Facilitate appropriate interpretation of cultural heritage associated with the reserve	Cultural heritage management plan (to be developed in conjunction with the Environmental Heritage Branch)
Grow the domestic visitor profile to be representative of South African society	Grow the domestic visitor profile of the reserve to be representative of regional demographics	N/A	(1) Promote and manage access to the reserve(2) Actively market reserve resources and services	Marketing plan (to-be-developed branch-wide plan)
Enhance the City of Cape Town’s reputation	Enhance the reserve’s reputation	N/A	(1) Develop and implement a communication plan to promote reserve activities	Communication strategy and action plan (branch-wide)
Advance strategic human resource management	Ensure good human resource management	N/A	(1) Implement and support learnerships and volunteer programmes(2) Ensure that all staff have access to training initiatives, as per the Workplace Skills Plan(3) Ensure that all corporate human resource policies are adhered to	Staff capacity-building programme/institutional development and staff capacity-building programme
Financial management	Ensure sound financial management practices are applied to and underpin the reserve	N/A	(1) Manage cost spending appropriately(2) Ensure that adequate budgets are apportioned to the reserve in light of the developments required to ensure its ongoing operation	Financial sustainability programme
Achieve good corporate governance/management	Manage risk profile effectively	N/A	Conduct legal review	Risk management programme

5.2 SWOT analysis

Table 7 contains a preliminary strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve.

Table 7. Preliminary SWOT analysis

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
Conservation strengths: Existing long-standing local-authority nature reserve	Lack of public awareness: Vision of the reserve, information about the management, relevant environmental legislation
Ecosystem strengths: Encompassing a functional tidal estuary, seasonal wetlands, wetland linkages, connectivity corridors and catchment-to-coast benefits	Fragmentation of natural areas: Bisections of roads, railways, developments, bulk services and canals
Regional strengths: Linkages with the Peninsula mountain chain, river corridor systems and False Bay coastline	Site integrity weaknesses: Site integrity compromised by canals bringing in solid waste and pollution; public open space producing solid waste
Biodiversity strengths: Home to 440 plants, 23 mammals, 167 birds, 24 reptiles, seven amphibians and 30 fish. Protecting three national vegetation types: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, Cape Flats Dune Strandveld nd Peninsula Granite Fynbos.	Compliance management capacity weakness: Insufficient capacity to patrol current area; insufficient capacity to provide 24 x 7 coverage
Institutional strengths: Managed by the City of Cape Town, which has diverse support and ancillary line functions	Present inadequate office, administrative and operational facilities
Planning strengths: Forming part of the City of Cape Town’s biodiversity network, promoting the City of Cape Town’s biodiversity strategy, and aligning with C.A.P.E and the C.A.P.E estuaries programme	Shortage of experienced, qualified environmental and/or conservation staff in the industry
Administrative strengths: Section-specific management objectives and management committees (Zandvlei Action Committee)	Lack of public support for conservation objectives
Usage strengths: Utilisation for environmental education purposes, by Friends groups, residents and recreational groups, including water sports, bird-watching and fishing	Access control: Large portion of reserve boundaries is not easily secured or fenced, preventing control over access and use
Resource strengths: Permanent staff, dedicated budget, facilities secured, fixed and movable assets in place, communications	Existing bylaws and legislation inadequate for current use
OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS
Awareness-raising opportunities: Media releases, open days, public forums, informative signage, printed publications and internet platforms	Impacts of bulk services on environment: Stormwater, sanitation, wastewater reticulation, road lighting and water pipelines
Connectivity opportunities: Corridors to Peninsula mountain chain, along river corridors and the False Bay coastline	Uncontrolled access: Persons, domestic animals and watercraft
Training opportunities: Workplace Skills Plan, cooperative training, internships and skills development programmes	Edge effects from developments: Dumping, littering, poor water quality and alien fauna and flora
Partnership building with other law enforcement agencies, government agencies and Council line functions	Alien and invasive infestations: Established populations of alien invasive fauna and flora
Management facilities: Upgrade of office and environmental education facilities	Unnatural fire regime: Either too often, or completely lacking
Career-streaming opportunities for students and interns	Negative public perceptions: Nuisance of excessive pondweed, seeds, pollen, insects and smoke from fires
Liaison with Friends groups, and supportive relationships	Negative public perceptions: Nuisance of excessive pondweed, seeds, pollen, insects and smoke from fires
Stewardship opportunities for nearby landowners that share in the biodiversity network	Increasing development: Population growth, more bulk services, more recreational pressure and more pollution of environment
Creation of an overarching advisory board	Irregular funding: Students, interns, operating and capital budgets
Revision of old bylaws, and drafting of a new Recreational Water Areas Bylaw	Loss of biodiversity: Development of adjacent areas causing ‘hardening’ of urban landscape,over-utilisation of biodiversity resources
Liaison and advice to managing lines functions of the caravan park and picnic areas	Changing political structures: Discontinuity in political support

5.3 Protected-area management policy framework and guiding principles

5.3.1 Community participation

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve will strive to facilitate productive and mutually beneficial partnerships, which will result in appropriate and sustainable recreational and educational activities. This will be achieved through engaging with the various users, line functions, residents and interested parties that utilise the estuary and environs.

The reserve will conduct an environmental education programme in order to raise local environmental awareness and encourage participation in conservation initiatives. This will be done through an environmental education plan that will aim to achieve the following:

• To inspire visitors and communities to consider the environment as an interrelated and interdependent system, of which they are an integral part
• To educate students, educators and community focus groups, and support such groups with resources and information materials
• To develop and implement environmental education programmes suited to the needs of various focus groups
• To develop and implement an interpretation plan that complements the environmental education plan

The programme will be based at the Zandvlei Environmental Education Centre, and will use the greater Zandvlei area. The programme will make use of permanent staff, volunteers and community members in order to present its programmes.

In order to develop and maintain good reserve/community/stakeholder relations, the Zandvlei Action Committee meets quarterly to deal with operational issues. This committee comprises all relevant stakeholders from Council, civil society and recreational groups.

Formal recreational organisations presently lease land adjacent to the reserve, where two facilities for yachting, rowing, wind surfing and sea cadets have been erected.

5.3.2 Safety and security

A safety and security audit aimed at completing a rapid and verifiable analysis of the current security situation, risk zones, security services, infrastructure, staffing and social context has been carried out on Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. See appendix 10 for an executive summary of this report.

5.3.3 Culture-historical, archaeological and paleontological management

Our present understanding is that, although the Muizenberg area is rich in culture-historical assets, nothing of significance is to be found within the boundaries of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. However, the City of Cape Town’s Cultural Resources Department should review the area, and a culture-historical, archaeological and paleontological zoning should be developed.

5.3.4 Tourism development and management

The Muizenberg area has a variety of economic tourism activities that are currently pursued. A number of these, such as the western-shore picnic area, braai area and caravan park, are located immediately adjacent to the reserve. A fully integrated precinct plan should be developed for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve, which would indicate suitable tourism and recreational development nodes, and will be guided by the infrastructure and zoning plans.

5.3.5 Infrastructure management

The reserve presently has limited infrastructure, with offices, a works building, bridges and three bird hides. However, there are sizable structures, such as roads, bridges, railway lines and bulk services, immediately adjacent to the reserve. Various departments within the City of Cape Town and National Government share responsibility for these structures.

A five-year maintenance plan should be drawn up, and derelict infrastructure with no use should be demolished and the sites rehabilitated.

5.3.6 Biodiversity conservation management

5.3.6.1 Community-based natural resource management

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve presently provides a range of goods and services, varying from direct consumptive use to non-consumptive, passive use. The presence of the water body and estuary positively affects the aesthetic, recreational and therefore also the commercial value of the surrounding area.

Direct-use values: These values comprise the use of the natural resources of the estuary for commercial or subsistence purposes. These can be consumptive uses – for example, the use of fish as food – or non-consumptive, such as the use of the estuary for recreation.

Consumptive uses: Fishing is the primary form of consumptive use, with an unknown quantity of fish being removed from Zandvlei annually. These are primarily alien fish, such as Cyprinus carpio (carp),as well as indigenous estuarine species, such as Liza and Mugil species (harders) and Lichia amia (leervis). Fishing activities are regulated through the issuance of provincial and national fishing permits. Awareness raising campaigns are needed to educate the general public on the permit requirements, the bag and size limits applicable and the identification of fish species.

Callianassa krausii (Sand prawn) is often illegally harvested by means of pumping on the submerged sand flats at the estuary mouth.

From available knowledge, a limited amount of plant material is illegally harvested. This is primarily for the cut flower and gardening trade.

Non-consumptive uses: The wide variety of recreational activities that take place on the vlei would fall into this category. These include wind surfing, yachting, rowing, canoeing and kite surfing. Adjacent recreational activities, such as picnics, braais, walking and camping, are all as a result of the presence of the vlei.

Recreational fishing on a catch-and-release basis, a common pastime at Zandvlei, would also fall into this category.

5.3.6.2 Fire management

Fire plays an essential ecological role in the lifecycle of fynbos species. Fire is crucial to the long-term conservation of species in Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve, and is therefore considered an important component of nature reserve management. Fire management involves varying the season, frequency and intensity of fires, and reconciling ecological and practical requirements. Too frequent fires, or fires that burn out of phase with the natural burning regime, present a threat to slower-growing species, which may be eliminated entirely. If fire is excluded from the area, encroachment may result in species losses. Conversely, if vegetation is allowed to burn too frequently, the area becomes degraded, and alien species, especially grasses, could invade. Grasses maintain a shorter fire cycle, and permanently change the vegetation structure and biodiversity value of the area.

The fire management programme for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve involves the monitoring of large wildfires as well as smaller fires,whether natural or unnatural (see appendix 11 for fire management plan). Historic records of fire events in the reserve area as well as post-fire monitoring records assist in the documentation of veld ages, which, in turn, influence fire management. Minimal interference takes place when naturally ignited fires occur. In cases where human-induced fires occur that would simulate a natural fire, the same management responses would apply. Natural fires are limited in spread within the constraints of ecological, project and public safety requirements. All possible actions are taken to prevent the spread of fire onto the adjacent properties. All unnatural fires that threaten the reserve ecologically, or pose a threat to infrastructure and/or public safety, are controlled (Sheasby 2009).

Prescribed burning of vegetation is a management option in areas where vegetation becomes senescent (old) and there is a risk of species loss. The use of prescribed burning practices would assist in maintaining a vegetation mosaic that promotes plant and animal diversity. Accurate fire records and post-fire monitoring data will facilitate the initiation of prescribed burns in the core area of the reserve. The decision to administer prescribed burns is considered on an annual basis and, if required, planned and implemented accordingly including newspaper articles and letter drops of neighbouring properties to increase awareness. Fire may be used to keep fuel loads low, so as to reduce the risk of uncontrolled fires, particularly on the urban edge and in areas that pose a potential risk to infrastructure and public safety. Firebreaks and other fire control measures required by law will be implemented where necessary and feasible (Sheasby 2009).

The nature of the area’s terrain, property boundaries and extensive areas of natural veld increase the chances of fire spreading both into and out of the reserve. Reasonable pre-fire protection measures are necessary, as well as a plan of action in the event of wildfire. The interaction with various City of Cape Town departments and independent stakeholders, and continuous public and private landowner involvement are essential. The development of fire protection and response plans is an important component of the reserve’s fire management.

Fire management implementation in Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve involves the following:

• Application of guidelines on seasonal burning intervals and species requirements acquired from relevant documentation and biophysical specialists
• Accurate record keeping of all fires, including details and maps
• Use of fire data and geographic information systems for recording and mapping
• Application of post-fire monitoring programmes
• Application of fire data to determine prescribed burning needs
• Development and implementation of a fire protection and response plan, including affected stakeholders, such as additional City of Cape Town departments and private landowners neighbouring the reserve

5.3.6.3 Soil erosion and control

Due to the flat topography of Zandvlei, there is very limited soil movement. However, upper portions of the catchment, in particular the Keysers river, are on the slopes of Constantia mountain. This steep terrain, coupled with the agricultural activities and urbanised hardening of the catchment, results in sediment being carried by these rivers. The rate of sedimentation in Zandvlei is presently unknown, and requires investigation in terms of its long-term impacts.

Natural erosion events from flooding, wave action or the natural depositing of banks are monitored annually but are not treated unless they pose a risk to adjacent residential property.

5.3.6.4 Invasive-species management

The management of invasive species is a priority within ZandvleiEstuary Nature Reserve. Alien biota need to be controlled and, where possible, eliminated in order to facilitate the re-establishment of natural biodiversity and processes in invaded areas.

Invasive species are plants and animals occurring outside their natural distribution ranges, establishing themselves, spreading, and outcompeting and replacing indigenous species. Alien species are species introduced to areas outside their natural distribution range – alien to a country or region.

Invasive alien species are introduced species, alien to the country/region,which establish, spread, and outcompete/replace indigenous species.

Invasive and alien-species management within the reserve is applied in accordance with the City of Cape Town’s invasive alien species strategy and in coordination with various government-funded initiatives, including Working for Water and Working for Wetlands. Invasive alien plant species could spread rapidly should management fail to continue to implement a properly planned and coordinated programme.

Until recently, invasive species management had focused mainly on woody alien plant species, such as Acacia saligna and Acacia cyclops. Herbacious weeds had been largely ignored. Recent monitoring and the development of an extensive herbaceous weed and grass species survey for the reserve have however shown that some herbaceous species already pose a risk to biodiversity in the area, while others could become one.

In order to protect indigenous species from invasive aliens, the following is required:

• Prioritisation of areas for alien removal, focusing on biodiversity restoration
• The implementation of removal programmes for priority species and areas
• The development and implementation of an invasive and alien management plan as well as a management plan for alien biota

Note: Section 76 of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act refers to the need for an invasive-species control and eradication strategy:

In terms of section 76 of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act –

(1) The management authority of a protected area preparing a management plan for the area in terms of the Protected Areas Act must incorporate into the management plan an invasive species control and eradication strategy.

The definition of ‘invasive species’ should be noted. An invasive species is any species that establishes and spreads outside its natural distribution range:

(4) An invasive species monitoring, control and eradication plan must include-

(a) a detailed list and description of any listed invasive species occurring on the relevant land;

(b) a description of the parts of that land that are infested with such listed invasive species;

(c) an assessment of the extent of such infestation;

(d) a status report on the efficacy of previous control and eradication measures;

(e) the current measures to monitor, control and eradicate such invasive species; and

(f) measurable indicators of progress and success, and indicators of when the control plan is to be completed.

Invasive and alien faunal species are also controlled in the reserve. Formal plans outlining the monitoring of removal of identified species are however required.

Catchment management and invasive species management need to work in partnership in the riverine and wetland areas. Of concern is the eutrophication of the waterways due to urban stormwater runoff and nutrient loading from agricultural areas. This is causing increased siltation leading to shallow wetlands and expansion of reedbeds.

5.3.6.5 Species introductions

Species that were historically indigenous to the Zandvlei area, and for which suitable habitat and eco-niches are available,may be re-introduced. Several fauna species that previously occurred in Zandvlei are no longer present or down to small numbers.

Prior to the re-introduction of any species, a full proposal is required. Investigation into the availability of suitable habitat for the species with reference to public utilisation of areas is required, as is an investigation into the historical occurrence and status of the species. The effect of re-introducing species to the area must also be researched. Re-introduction of potentially dangerous and problematic species may also require a public participation process. An investigation of suitable sources is also necessary.

All proposed re-introductions need to be recommended and approved by the flora and fauna management committees as well as provincial authorities before implementation. The implementation of any re-introduction programmes must be specified in a plan of action, and documented accurately.

5.3.6.6 Strategic research

The collection of baseline data is essential for determining the presence of species, and to determine the extent to which management actions should take place. Monitoring is required to determine the success of management actions as well as to provide an indication of long-term change. Research on the property is vital for obtaining more knowledge on the environment.

CapeNature has numerous manuals on monitoring and baseline data collection, for further reference and guidance.

5.4 Sensitivity analysis of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is a considerable asset to the City of Cape Town and significantly contributes to national vegetation targets of threatened vegetation types, as listed in the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (Driver et al. 2005), as well as providing a service and facilities to local residents and schools.

The development of the sensitivity and zoning plan is one of the steps required in compiling a CDF for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. CDFs are tools to reconcile the various landuse needs, and to delineate visitor user zones and the positioning and nature of new infrastructure, access points, roads and facilities.

The CDF process has grown in response to the requirements of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act of 2004, and seeks to comply with the spatial planning requirements of the Act. The CDFs will ensure that best practice and sustainable development principles are integrated with spatial planning in protected areas.

The sensitivity-value analysis is the landscape analysis portion of the broader CDF. It is a multi-criteria decision-support tool for spatial planning, designed to present the best available information in a format that enables defensible and transparent decision making. The sensitivity-value process is based on the principle that the acceptability of a development (or placement of a structure) at a site is based on that site’s value (arising from the site’s biodiversity, heritage, aesthetic or other values) and its sensitivity or vulnerability to a variety of disturbances (Holness 2005).

The sensitivity-value analysis, the CDF and the associated zoning plan should form part of an adaptive management system, and will grow and change over time as the understanding of the landscapes and ecosystems improves. However, they will never replace the need for detailed site and precinct planning and EIA compliance at site level.

The methodology used for both the sensitivity-value analysis and the zoning process was adapted from Holness and Skowno (2008) and SRK Consulting (2008¹; 2008²). All geographic information work was carried out in ESRI’s ArcMap, version 9.3.1, using the ArcInfo licence level, with Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions. See appendix 12 for the complete sensitivity-value analysis and zoning process (Purves 2010).

5.5 Zoning plan of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

5.5.1 Zoning informants

This section briefly outlines the values underlying the identification of broad tourism use zones. It is important to remember that the landscape/biodiversity analysis is just one of the informants in the zoning process. Although the biodiversity analysis is intrinsically a relatively objective scientific process, other informants to the zoning process are not.

Although every attempt is made to place high sensitivity-value sites into more protected zones where possible, the zoning process is essentially a compromise between environment and development. In particular, the identified high-value sites are often the key biodiversity assets that need to be made available to the eco-tourism market in an appropriate manner. The biodiversity layers and the spatial management of the reserve are directly linked during the identification of special management areas. Even within broad high-tourist use zones, some areas are likely to be subject to very tight conservation controls (potentially including complete exclusion of human impacts from an area).

Underlying decision-making rules used in the zoning process

• The zoning process is aimed at striking a balance between environmental protection and the development required to meet the broader economic and social objectives of the reserve.
• The zoning process takes into account existing development footprints and tourism access routes.
• This is based on the underlying principle that, all else being equal, an existing transformed site is preferable to a green-field site, from a biodiversity perspective.
• Infrastructure costs are dramatically increased when developments take place away from existing infrastructure.
• Existing tourism nodes and access routes are a reality of the economic landscape, and it would not be possible to shut down existing tourism sites that compromise the development objectives of the reserve.
• Where existing development nodes, tourist sites and access routes occur in areas with high sensitivity-value, the broad-use zoning aims to keep the development footprint as small as is realistically possible, preferably within the existing transformed site.
• Where possible, sites with high biodiversity sensitivity-value are put into stronger protection zones.
• Peripheral development is favoured and should, where possible, be located outside the conservation area.
• The designation of a broad-use zone does not imply that all sites within that zone would be suitable for all the development types anticipated. Detailed site-level planning is still required, and many sites may prove to be unsuitable at a site/precinct/EIA level of planning.
• Special management areas/overlays need to be formalised and linked to the management plans.

5.5.2 Zoning definitions and descriptions

The zoning definitions and descriptions were workshopped with area and regional managers. Four categories were decided on, namely primary conservation zone, conservation zone, low-intensity leisure zone and high-intensity leisure zone. Appendix 12 outlines the proposed zoning and zone descriptions within the Sensitivity and value analysis report. Map 6 outlines the zoning for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. The process is still linked to the zoning used for the CapeNature reserves (Holness& Skowno 2008), as there should be general alignment of the broader use zones to enable comparison and integration if provincial documents so require.

Map 6: Reserve zoning

6. DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The development plan is still to be completed within the detailed precinct planning for the high-intensity use zone. This plan will indicate suitable development nodes, and will be guided by the infrastructure and zoning management plans.

7. COSTING PLAN

Table 8: Broad costing management plan for the reserve

The costing plan details the broad-category breakdown for management interventions for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve for the period 2011–2016.

Management action	Funding source	Approximate costs 2011–2012	Approximate costs 2012–2013	Approximate costs 2013–2014	Approximate costs 2014–2015	Approximate costs 2015–2016
1. Invasive alien plant programmeClearing of important alien plants 1 & 2	Grant funding	R20 000	R21 000	R22 050	R23 153	R24 310
2. Fire managementMaintenance of fire belts	Operating	R15 000	R15 750	R16 000	R16 537	R17 364
3. Road and trail maintenanceRoad repairsFootpath maintenance	OperatingOperating	R4 750R5 000	R4 987R5 250	R5 236R5 512	R5 498R5 788	R5 773R6 077
4. FencingRepairs and maintenanceNew fence reservedevelopment	OperatingCapital expenditure	R15 000R123 000	R15 750–	R16 000–	R16 537–	R17 364–
5. Infrastructure developmentZandvlei, office complex	Capital expenditure	R300 000	–	–	–	–
6. Human resourcesDirect human resources costs	Operating	R1 250 000	R1 350 000	R1 458 000	R1 574 640	R1 700 611
7. General expensesGeneral operating costs	Operating	R825 000	R866 250	R909 562	R955 040	R1 002 792
8. Special projectsZandvlei TrustSignage and interpretation	OperatingCapital expenditure	R10 000R20 000	R10 500–	R11 025–	R11 576–	R12 155–
Note:Human resources costs are escalated at 8% per annum.Operating expenditure is escalated at 5% per annum.

PART 3: MONITORING and AUDITING [2016]

8. MONITORING & AUDITING

8.1 Annual audit procedure

8.1.1 METT-SA – Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool South Africa

The METT-SA is a rapid, site-level assessment tool adapted from the World Bank and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) system (second edition, 2007). The system is based on the idea that good protected-area management follows a process comprising six distinct stages or elements:

It begins with understanding the context of existing values and threats (where are we now?), then progress through planning (where do we want to be?), followed by allocation of resources (inputs) (what do we need?). As a result of management actions (processes) (how do we go about it?), it eventually produces products and services (outputs) (what were the results?), which result in impacts or outcomes (what did we achieve?).

This version has been compiled so that it can be applied to the full range of protected areas managed by all C.A.P.E partners. It also applies to protected areas in other regions, and, with minor adaptations, could be applied outside of South Africa as well. It may also be used for marine protected areas (MPAs) and islands, but, in the long run, it may become necessary to amend the system to be more specific to these areas. In addition, a system for off-reserve conservation areas, such as conservancies or stewardships, may need to be developed.

When applying METT-SA, it is important for the following to be kept in mind:

• The METT-SA is intended to report on the reserve’s progress. Thus, the score is the baseline against which future assessments are made to see if there has been an improvement.
• It is site-specific and must therefore not be used to compare scores between different protected areas.
• It is a useful tool to give indications of management trends. In this version, the six elements of the management process, as defined in the original version, are scored as subsets of the total. This gives an indication of where management should strive for improvement.
• It is not intended to replace more detailed assessments as part of adaptive management systems.
• The METT-SA has limitations in the quantitative measurement of outcomes, and these should be measured by more objective and quantitative systems.
• This version adjusts the total score where questions are irrelevant.
• Often, low scores on some questions could be a reflection on the organisation as a whole, and do not necessarily point to issues over which the protected-area manager has control. The performance of managers should therefore under no circumstances be measured against the METT-SA results.

Tracking the trends of management effectiveness is a long-term process, and instant improvements are unlikely. Generally, the METT-SA is applied at three-year intervals, but an annual application is acceptable if it is understood that changes may only be slight. The METT-SA for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve was undertaken in 2007, and the results are presented in appendix 13. The METT-SA will be repeated in approximately September 2011.

8.1.2 Protected-area review

The protected-area review is an internal review conducted annually to assist managers in reviewing their sites, and to allow for adaptive management actions to be taken where required (and within managers’ control).

8.2 Management plan review

Every five years, this IRMP should be reviewed, and adjusted where necessary. To achieve this, the following questions (and others as needed) should be addressed:

• Did this management plan make a meaningful contribution to the management of Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve?
• Were individual management ‘prescrips’ realistic and achievable? Were they written unambiguously or was there room for misunderstanding?
• Were budgets for each management activity realistic? Were the allocated budgets too much or too little?
• Were sufficient staff members of the right qualifications allocated to each management activity?

There will be some overlap between the review and the audit, and they should therefore be done on the same day, by the same team.

8.3 Biodiversity monitoring

Table 9 indicates the current monitoring arrangements that are in place at Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. These arrangements are backed up by planned monitoring protocols.

Table 9. Current monitoring arrangements at the Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

Action	Responsible party	Data collecting	Frequency
Water-bird census	Reserve management	Visual surveys	Quarterly
Bird count	Reserve management	Visual surveys	Weekly
Water quality status	Reserve management and Scientific Services	Collection of samples and in-field measurement	Monthly
Weather data	South African Weather Service	Muizenberg site observation	Daily
Daily rainfall	Zandvlei Inventory Monitoring Programme (Peter Grey)	Rain guage samples	Daily
Antelope surveys	Reserve management	Night count	Quarterly
Small-mammal surveys	Reserve management	Pitfall traps, Sherman traps, trap cages and collections	Annually
Reptile and amphibian surveys	Reserve management	Pitfall traps, Sherman traps, trap cages and collections	Annually
Fish surveys	Reserve management, and Oceans and Coasts	Trek net	Quarterly

PART 4: REFERENCES [2016]

Anon 2003¹.The Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy.Unpublished report, City of Cape Town.

Anon 2003².The Biodiversity Strategy.Unpublished report, City of Cape Town.

Anon 2009¹. Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2009–2019. Unpublished report, City of Cape Town.

Anon 2010.City of Cape Town, Five-year Plan for Cape Town, Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 2007–2012, 2010–2011 Review.Unpublished report, City of Cape Town.

Cape Project Team 2000. Cape Action Plan for the Environment: Strategy. Unpublished report, WWF (South Africa).

Driver, A., Maze, K., Rouget, M., Lombard, A.T., Nel, J., Turpie, J.K., Cowling, R.M., Desmet, P., Goodman, P., Harris, J., Jonas, Z., Reyers, B., Sink, K. & Strauss, T. 2005. National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Priorities for biodiversity conservation in South Africa. Strelitzia 17. SANBI, Pretoria.

Holness, 2005.Sensitivity Value Analysis Manual.A decision support tool, operating on the principles of systematic conservation planning, for integrating best available biodiversity knowledge into spatial planning within national parks.SANParks internal report.

Holness, S. & Skowno, A. 2008. Report on Sensitivity-Value Analysis and Zonation Process for the Boland Mountain Complex. CapeNature Conservation internal report.

Myers, N., Mittermeyer, R.A.C.G., Fonseca, G.A. & Kent, J. 2000.Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities.Nature403:853–858.

Purves, Arne 2010. Sensitivity value analysis and zonation process: Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve. City of Cape Town.

Rebelo, A.G., Boucher, C., Helme, N.A., Mucina, L.& Rutherford, MC. 2006.Fynbos biome. In: Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M.C. (eds). The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: Strelitzia, 19:52–219.

Sheasby, C. 2009. Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve: Fire Management Plan. City of Cape Town.

SRK Consulting. 2008¹. Final Conservation Development Framework for Settlers Park Nature Reserve. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.Internal report.

SRK Consulting. 2008². Final Conservation Development Framework for Van Stadens Wildflower Nature Reserve. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.Internal report.

Thornton,J.A., Beekman, H., Boddington,G., Dick,R., Harding, W.R., Lief,M., Morrison,I.R. and Quick,A.J.R. (1995). The Ecology and Management of Zandvlei (Cape Province, South Africa), an Enriched Shallow African Estuary. IN McComb, A.J. (Ed) Eutrophic Shallow Estuaries and Lagoons. CRC Press, 240pp

10. APPENDICES

Please refer to documents linked below.

Appendix 1: Surveyor General diagrams for Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve

Zones

Appendix 2: Plant species list

Appendix 3: Mammal species list

Appendix 4: Bird species list

Appendix 5: Reptile species list

Appendix 6: Amphibian species list

Appendix 7: Invertebrate species list

• Document missing

Appendix 8: Fish species list

Appendix 9: Historical aerial photographs of Zandvlei

Westlake 1945 aerial photograph (Zandvlei_1945_aerial_photography.jpg)

Zandvlei 1945

Westlake 1945 (Westlake_1945.jpg)

Appendix 10: Comprehensive security audit of the Biodiversity Management Branch of the City of Cape Town

Fire management plan update 2011

Sensitivity – Value Analysis and Zoneation Process: Greater Zandvlei Nature Reserve

Appendix 11: Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve fire management plan

• Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve Fire Management Plan, 2nd Edition, November 2011

PART 5: APPENDICIES [2016]

10. APPENDICES

Please refer to attached documents.