Enkangala Grasslands Enkangala Grasslands ProgrammeProgramme

Ayanda Cele

Land Reform & Biodiversity Stewardship Programme (WWF-SA)

acele@wwf.org.za 071 307 5338

Table of Contents Table of Contents

WWF-SA

Enkangala grasslands programme

Biodiversity Stewardship Programme

Land reform & biodiversity stewardship projects

Partnerships

Vision• Secured and better managed high priority Grassland

Catchments deliver significant ongoing benefits to people.• Biodiversity and ecological infrastructure protected and

better managed• Significant ongoing benefits: continuing the legacy of

service delivery from natural / ecological infrastructure

Introduction to WWF GrasslandsIntroduction to WWF Grasslands

Our ApproachOur Approach

– Catchment Stewardship : planning, securing and managing catchment ecosystems to sustain or restore delivery of ecosystem services

• In partnership with landowners and other stakeholders• Strengthen ecological compatible land use activities

– Address threats, e.g. destruction of untransformed lands – Strengthen institutions, ito awareness and decisions in

support of more intact ecological infrastructure

Grasslands Biome & EnkangalaGrasslands Biome & Enkangala

Add map on Enkangala area with sites

•This is one of the largest continuous high altitude grassland zones (1.6 million Hectares)

• Large areas of relatively intact grasslands

• High levels of biodiversity and endemism

• Major water source for SA needs (Vaal, uThukela, Usuthu and Phongola rivers have some of their origins there)

• Inter-provincial initiative (project spans 3 provinces and is thus of National Significance) Enkangala Enkangala

Grasslands Grasslands OverviewOverview

Biodiversity StewardshipBiodiversity Stewardship

• Biodiversity Stewardship refers to the wise use, management and protection of that which has been entrusted to you or rightfully yours.

• Within the context of conservation, stewardship means: wisely using natural resources that you have been entrusted

with on your property protecting important ecosystemseffectively managing alien invasive species and fires

Land Reform Biodiversity StewardshipLand Reform Biodiversity Stewardship

• With this programme we are trying to address the inequalities and injustices that the majority of South Africans were subjected to in the past

• SA’s history of colonial occupation, dispossession and racial discrimination is well known

• On the other hand we need to protect our unique and highly diverse natural environment on which so much of our economic development depends

• Land here is owned by land reform beneficiaries or on communal land

Legislative FrameworkLegislative Framework

The programme is regulated in terms of the legal and policy framework:

Legal FrameworkNational Environmental Management Act: National Environmental Management Protected

Areas Act No. 57 of 2003 (NEMPAA)National Environmental Management

Biodiversity Act No. 10 of 2004 (NEMBA)

HIERARCHY OF BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP CATEGORIESHIERARCHY OF BIODIVERSITY STEWARDSHIP CATEGORIES

Land reform projects Land reform projects

• Nkosi Nzima project (3348.18 ha) ±Nkosi Nzima project (3348.18 ha) ± 1300 people1300 people

• Bambanani CPA (850 ha) ± Bambanani CPA (850 ha) ± 102 people 102 people

• Ukuthanda ukukhanya CPA (750 ha) ± Ukuthanda ukukhanya CPA (750 ha) ± 84 people

• Nkosi Shabalala project (875.24 ha) ± Nkosi Shabalala project (875.24 ha) ± 760 people 760 people

• Mr Khanyile farmer (5550 ha) Mr Khanyile farmer (5550 ha) one family with workersone family with workers

• Mr Vilakazi farmer (1400 ha) Mr Vilakazi farmer (1400 ha) one family with workers one family with workers

• Mabaso project (1400ha) ± Mabaso project (1400ha) ± 300 people 300 people

• Currently four sites (signed)Currently four sites (signed)

• Three sites under various stages of negotiations Three sites under various stages of negotiations

• Total representing about Total representing about 30003000 people people

• Will focus on one land reform project in particular but first Will focus on one land reform project in particular but first

a brief overview of all sites a brief overview of all sites

Signed BANR

Nkosi Nzima project 991 ha (3348ha)Nkosi Nzima project 991 ha (3348ha)± 4 years ± 4 years

Incentives

NRM project alien plants & donga rehab; jobs

Bushwillows (Wildlands conservation)

School soccer kit

Exciting activities Exciting activities VCAVCA

Key important features Key important features

Bambanani Community Property Association± 4 years

• Signed BA, PE• Nguni cattle • Hippo rollers• Solar lights• Masibuyele emasimini• Launch Sept 2014

Ukuthanda Ukukhanya CPA± 4 years

• Signed BA, PE • Hippo rollers• Solar lights • Masibuyele emasimini• Vegie tunnel• Launch Sept 2014

4. Sites in negotiations Sites under negotiations2014/2015

• iNkosi Shabalala, scores 23/59iNkosi Shabalala, scores 23/59• Done presentation at EKZNW working groupDone presentation at EKZNW working group• WillingnessWillingness

• Khanyile qualified for a PE, stuck with the ownerKhanyile qualified for a PE, stuck with the owner

• Vilakazi also stuck with his availabilityVilakazi also stuck with his availability

Nkosi Mabaso> 10 years

1st Signed BANR

Since the signing of a Biodiversity Agreement, we have facilitated:

• Certified training in invasive weed control

• Certified training in fire management

• A participatory rural appraisal

• A socio economic study

• An economic feasibility study

• Development of a grazing plan (aligned with the BA

management plan)

• Implementation of a sustainable cattle farming initiative

• Training in bull testing and pregnancy test

• Bulls of good quality

Sub header

• Bullet point style can look like this

• Bullet point style can look like this and can go across two or three lines like this.

• Bullet point style can look like this

• Bullet point style can look like this

Conservation in partnership with peopleConservation in partnership with people

WWF-SA AGM 2014 14th November 2014

Biodiversity Stewardship and Sustainable cattle farming initiative

Access UNDP small grant

Within 1 year:

• Agricultural mentor appointed

• Community herd formalised

• Grazing plan implemented

• Infrastructure developed

• Nutritional requirements of the herd met

• Vaccination programme implemented

• Herd mortality down from over 30 losses to 7 (less than 1.5% loss)

• Job opportunities created

• Access to the commercial market facilitated

In addition

• Project catalysed other community agreements through learning exchanges

• Recognised as a successful land reform and livestock initiative in Amajuba district

• Resulted in effective partnerships between community and government department

• Effective conservation of natural resources used by the community

• Total area = 1472 haTotal area = 1472 ha• Houses/milking = 226.31 ha        Houses/milking = 226.31 ha        • Wattle =  43.32 haWattle =  43.32 ha• Dam = 0.02 haDam = 0.02 ha• Eroded areas = 36, 6 ha Eroded areas = 36, 6 ha • Ploughing = 21.64 ha Ploughing = 21.64 ha

• Available for grazing = 1180, Available for grazing = 1180, 73 ha (Proposed PE) 73 ha (Proposed PE)

Mgundeni Protected Environment

APO/Poster

Property details 2015 Total area = 1472 ha

Houses/milking camps = 226.31 ha Wattle = 43.32 ha

Dam = 0.02 ha; Eroded areas = 36, 6 ha

Proposed Ploughing = 21.64 ha

Available for grazing = 1180, 73 ha Advisory forum members

Critical species

Looking into the future

•Add more projects

•Corridor of protected areas

•Align our with GOVT

•Target water production areas

•Access more funds/incentives

•Community development (conservation)

•More partnerships

So you know So you know

• Priorities Priorities

• Lack of basic services Lack of basic services

• Financial resources Financial resources

• Mining is a big problem in the area Mining is a big problem in the area

• Translation of documents Translation of documents

• Small piece of land owned by lots of people Small piece of land owned by lots of people

• Political influences Political influences

• Accessibility Accessibility

• Departments Departments

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© 2010, WWF. All photographs used in this presentation are copyright protected and courtesy of the WWF-Canon Global Photo Network and the respective photographers.

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