Plans for biosphere reserve
2007-03-01
THE Council of the Cape Winelands District Municipality plans to establish a biosphere reserve of 3220 square kilometres in the Boland mountains, with a core of 99 459 hectares.
Dennis Moss Partnership was appointed to undertake the required study for the reserve, similar to the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, to promote conservation in the area.
It should not be confused with clearly defined and proclaimed existing nature reserves and is an integral part of a regional planning and development strategy aimed at promoting sustainable development, so that land uses will be compatible with the conservation status and economic potential thereof.
The core areas will provide for the conservation of biodiversity, monitoring of ecosystems, and non-consumptive land-uses such as outdoor recreation, bench-mark research and environmental education.
It will focus on the long-term protection of unique portions of the Cape Floral Kingdom, with specific reference to the listed Natural World Heritage Site in the area, the network of highly irreplaceable habitats and the corridors that link such habitats.
An important aspect of the designated buffer area is that it largely consists of privately-owned land.
Farms will be included into the biosphere reserve on a voluntary basis, without loss of existing rights. It implies that due care be taken in the management of the land but does not totally preclude development.
There will be a “buffer” area between the core conservation areas and the transition area where disruptive and consumptive land uses are undertaken.
All of the rivers and riverine corridors have consequently been included in the designated buffer zone.
The proposed Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve is to ensure international recognition and support for the relevant area as a macro terrestrial ecosystem that is of global importance. This is to be achieved by incorporating the biosphere reserve into Unesco’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
On reserve is to facilitate coherent planning and land-use management in terms of the principles of sustainable development, facilitate cross-boundary co-operation and co-ordination between the municipalities, and align the existing land-use planning guidelines with the biosphere zoning principles and promote the adoption of these throughout the district.The cut off date for the submission to Unesco is 31 April.
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