CapeNature's Stewardship Programme

Currently in the Garden Route, the stewardship options offered by CapeNature range from formal contracts entered into by the landowner and the state where substantial assistance is provided for habitat management in return for land use limitations in priority areas, to conservancies where advice and support is provided in return for retaining the “natural character” of the land. In-between these two options is one where agreements regarding components of land management such as fire, alien and animal management are negotiated between the landowner and CapeNature. In areas where conservancies are not desirable a voluntary conservation site for a portion of a property or an entire property can also be registered. These sites should: retain the essence of their natural character, not contain animal species which are not permitted in the province and be clear of invasive alien plant species, or have a programme in place to control them.

Eden to Addo Corridor Membership

Eden to Addo is working in close partnership with CapeNature to ensure that no duplication or confusion occurs where landowners are concerned. As such, we have focused our initial efforts on areas where conservancies have already been registered and where we can add value to what CapeNature has already done by drafting management plans and assisting in their implementation. In areas where a corridor is planned but no conservancies exist, E2A will inform landowners of this option and of the voluntary conservation site option and alert CapeNature. Where this is not desirable E2A will investigate the possibility of declaring a Protected Environment in terms of the Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 or of drafting a Biodiversity Management Plan for approval by the Minister in terms of the Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004. These options are relatively new, largely untested and are aimed at the landowner who is looking for a more secure conservation option.

Declared Protected Envronments

Any land can be declared a Protected Environment (PE). The land does not have to be adjacent to a park or reserve and if the biodiversity value of the property is high enough an isolated property can also be declared a PE. The limitations on land use in declared PE’s are few (mining and prospecting are only allowed with the permission of the Minister). The Minister or the MEC may issue regulations that further restrict activities affecting the PE such as inappropriate development. BUT - and this is where the landowner who wishes to ‘rule from the grave’ stands to benefit – additional title deed restrictions may also be applied to the land further limiting undesirable activities in perpetuity.

Approved Biodiversity Management Plans

Any person or organisation may submit a Biodiversity Management Plan plan to the minister for approval for 1) an ecosystem, 2) an indigenous species or 3) a migratory species. But since the Minister must gazette the plan, determine how it will be implemented and assign responsibility for implementation before the plan is approved - it makes sense for the landowner to build relations with an appropriate conservation agency or organisation well in advance so that proper implementation occurs. The Biodiversity Management Agreement (BMA) is the tool used for the implementation of the plan and there are certain arguments in favour of the drafting of a BMA for the landowner 1) it provides eligibility for deduction of land management expenses from income tax, 2) eligibility for alien clearing investment from Working for Water or another state body, 3) dedicated extension support from a conservation agency (M. Botha 2003).