Benefits of Urban Greening
Harnessing the Power of Plants
Conservation and management of biodiversity in the City is based on scientific methods and good planning principles.
The 2023 BioNet also includes ecosystem services and in particular the aquifers that provide water to Cape Town. The City has just initiated a project to conserve and protect its aquifer on the Cape Flats while enhancing sustainable water abstraction. The Biodiversity Management Branch in consultation with the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is naming a new nature reserve Strandfontien Aquifer Nature Reserve, as it secures and protects the aquifer.
The BioNet is also the backbone of the City’s Green Infrastructure Programme (GIP) which aims to protect and enhance existing natural assets, and promote and create new Green Infrastructure (GI) assets. This underpins the sustainability of Cape Town, and enhances the city’s living environment and improves its resilience to the effects of climate change. The GIP has been developed using the best available information and knowledge using an “expert system” approach.
The City’s vision is a City of Hope for all. The City further recognises that a healthy and sustainable environment is essential to citizens’ wellbeing and is a requirement for all life, including humans. Natural systems are responsible for ensuring that we have clean air, clean water and soils, which are the basis of life. Additionally, a healthy environment provides cultural, aesthetic and recreational benefits to all residents of and visitors to the City of Cape Town.
Delivering Multiple Benefits
The Cape Town municipal area is less than 3% of the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), yet encompasses one third (>3 300) of the CFR’s plant species and 11 of South Africa’s 55 Critically Endangered vegetation types. Seven national vegetation types are endemic to the City and can only be conserved here. At least 190 plant species are locally endemic and over 400 plant species are classified as threatened, with 14 already globally extinct or extinct in the wild. The exceptionally high richness and uniqueness of Cape Town’s biodiversity relates to the four local centres of plant endemism that occur here.
The recognition of diversity of plants and that the City is special, has placed the biodiversity and its associated ecosystem services in the centre stage in Cape Town. The BioNet has set targets which are incorporated into the City’s Integrated Development Plan (Cape Town’s strategic plan) and monitored quarterly. The BioNet is also integrated into the Cape Town Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF), which is approved as the statutory spatial component of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in terms of the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000). The BioNet is recognised locally as City policy in the Bioregional Plan 2015, provincially in the Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan 2017, and nationally in policy and NEMBA legislation.
The Bioregional Plan has currently been updated (draft June 2023 – aligned to the Kumming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2022 and national legislation).
The City’s Bold and Innovative Vision
The Biodiversity Management strategy is articulated in the Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP) approved in 2019 with the following vision:
- To be a City that leads by example in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity.
- To be a City within which biodiversity plays an important role, where present and future generations benefit from a healthy and vibrant biodiversity.
- To be a City that actively protects its biological wealth and prioritises long term responsibility over short-term gains.
The LBSAP action plan component was updated by the Biodiversity Management Branch (BMB) to set priorities for the remainder of the City’s Integrated Development Plan term. These specific actions are set to achieve optimal and realistic governance and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The final draft was completed on 30 June 2023 and will be signed off by management in the near future.
BMB uses a range of innovative techniques to achieve its goals in partnership with a range of internal and external stakeholders. These include sound planning and looking outside the city boundaries (BioNet and its buffer), the land banking and offsetting programme, stewardship with private landowners, community volunteer programmes, Protected Area Advisory Committees for nature reserves, monitoring and tracking effectiveness via the METT, and species monitoring plans. The biggest achievement for the branch is growing the conservation estate and providing significant career opportunities as well as job creation.
Partnerships and Collaboration
Biodiversity Management in the City is cross cutting as almost every road verge in Cape Town has biodiversity of international importance. Thus, the City undertakes Biodiversity Management in various ways:
- Biodiversity Management Branch (BMB) – core unit responsible for conservation planning, protected area expansion, conservation services, urban wildlife conflict programmes, people and conservation (nature conservation tourism, recreation and education), nature reserve management, job creation, skills development, invasive species control and restoration.
- Working with other line departments to control invasive plant species, delivery of green jobs (includes cleaning in stormwater channels and wetland restoration) and conservation stewardship.
- Working on projects of mutual interest with Water and Sanitation such as protection of aquifers and river and wetland systems.
- Facilitating development via offsets – Atlantis land bank is supporting industrial development in Atlantis, a low income area in the north of the City. Working with human settlements on land banking and offsets in the Metro southeast.
- Clearing invasive species, creating jobs and skills development.
- Development of the Carbon Smart programme – The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 mandates the control of invasive species. Removing these invasive plants generates significant amounts of biomass. The City has established a Carbon Smart Programme that will utilise this biomass to create various types of infrastructure, aligning with the Carbon Neutral Biocrete Strategy. This program supports the City’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 and will create jobs and skills.
Addressing Urban Challenges
The Issue
The problem statement in the City is the loss of biodiversity and its ecosystem services. This will also affect the City’s ability to adapt to climate change. Cape Town overlaps with an extremely high concentration of unique biodiversity, making it very challenging to avoid negative impacts of urban development. There is also a socio-economic imperative to deliver much needed housing and work opportunities. However, inappropriate and unplanned development and low density urban sprawl constitute a significant threat to our remaining biodiversity and to Cape Town’s future sustainability.
Addressing the areas of potential impact or coincidence between biodiversity and competing land uses (especially urban development and mining) is an ongoing process between the Environmental Management Department (which incorporates the Biodiversity Management Branch – BMB) and other City Departments, State Departments and developers. The main tool is the BioNet and the City’s approved SDP.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic also resulted in a spate of illegal land invasions which threatened the nature reserves. To date, there are three land invasions affecting the City nature reserves and the City is working with Safety and Security as well as legal processes to resolve these. The BMB is working with communities and this could be the reason that many of the nature reserves have not been invaded, especially Wolfgat and Macassar located on the border of large informal settlements. The Branch is working hard at developing additional pro-active tools. Four new People and Conservation posts have been allocated to the area which will assist.
The Impact of the Issue
The nature reserves are often the only open space remaining on the Cape Flats and are critical to ecosystem services, especially in the protection of the aquifer and delivery of clean water. COVID-19 was a stark reminder of how important open space is to citizens of Cape Town. As soon as hard lockdown was removed, people flocked to the nearest nature reserve. Failure to protect these nature reserves and their associated fauna and flora will result in escalating flooding and reduced clean drinking water. As well as a reduction in climate change adaptation and the mental heath of the citizens who live in very harsh environments with little or no green vegetation. Job creation to these communities is also critical as livelihoods and economic conditions are severely compromised.
Tourism is also an important industry to Cape Town and the nature reserves owned and managed by the City provide adventure tourism, birding, hiking and specialised tours. The City also works closely with Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) which is managed by SANParks and falls within the BioNet. TMNP provides a huge local and international tourism offering but many of the citizens that enjoy the City nature reserves are not able to access and enjoy the TMNP due to the distance, inaccessibility and cost.
Nature Positive Solutions
Implementation
The City has implemented the BioNet since 2019 by:
- Updating the BioNet, Bioregional Plan and the LBSAP and ensuring greater alignment of international, national, provincial and local policy.
- Implementing the long completed Metro South East Conservation Implementation Plan, by securing the land for the Strandfontien Aquifer Nature Reserve, Pelican Park Nature and the Macassar East Dunes Conservation Area; and motivating and acquiring resources to manage the areas. This was achieved in a partnership with the City’s Human Settlement to provide low cost housing, whereby small unsustainable patches of habitat were lost and the biodiversity offset was achieved in larger consolidated areas.
- Development of the Carbon Smart Programme to deal with excess invasive plant biomass. This programme is developing and will also be able to use all types of biomass (garden waste) as well as plastic and other solid waste items.
- The City has an active invasive species programme and is at the forefront of the identification and control of the recent invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole borer. The City has an active Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) programme where it responds to new alien plant and animal infestations.
- The development of the Kader Asmal Skills Development programme, is an initiative spearheaded by the branch in consultation with the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) department. The programme was driven out of a need to provide longer term employment and career opportunities. EPWP programmes are poverty relief and by their nature short term.
Feasibility
Biodiversity Management in the City has changed planning and policy, ensuring that biodiversity targets are incorporated into City strategies, policies and plans as well as influencing provincial and national policy. Evidence can be seen in the IDP as well as the Provincial Biodiversity Sector plan. The City adapted the WWF Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) for use in Cape Town. It was then adopted by national government and is included in national biodiversity scorecards and is the primary monitoring tool for the management of the Protected Areas in South Africa.
The work of the Biodiversity Management Branch (BMB) has resulted in Cape Town being included in national working groups and contributing to national biodiversity policy and action plans.
BMB has been a leader in the development of guidelines for various invasive species, the latest of which is the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer.
BMB has also participated in regional conservation partnerships and has been the recipient of grants. BMB has been able to motivate for permanent capacity and resources because of its development facilitation work, its ability to create jobs and undertake skills development programmes. And, to illustrate the importance of the flora of Cape Town and its associated ecosystem services, showing politicians and senior staff the incredible diversity. Partner and community support has further ensured additional resources.
Multi-Stakeholder Support
The Biodiversity Management Branch co-ordinates 10 Protected Area Advisory Committees which provide involvement of community groups, local businesses, provincial conservation authority, Councillors and scientific experts in the management of the City’s nature reserves. The City also has a number of signed Migrant Offshore Aid Stations (MoAs) with NGOs – Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET – now NatureConnect), Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, Volunteer Wildfire Services, Fire Protection Association, Gary Wilson Foundation and other informal agreements with numerous Friends Groups and other community partners. The City is also involved in various partnerships such as the Biosphere Reserve Steering Committees, the Invasive Species Animal Working Group, Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW), the Fynbos Forum, the Cape Floristic Region Partnership, ICLEI member and active participant in the Cities with Nature. The City is in the process of joining IUCN and has just become a Ramsar Wetland City. The City is also an active member of the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment’s Working Group 1 (Biodiversity), as well as Mintech / Minmec which sets national biodiversity policy and monitors implementation. The City also has a close partnership with Table Mountain Fund, WWF-SA and Land Care, where numerous grants are received each year.
Management and Maintenance
The most important task is ensuring long term sustainability and the gains made via international and local grants. Biodiversity Management has been motivated to ensure secure budgets, resources and staff are adequate to ensure effective planning and management, and new revenue and funding streams are regularly assessed. BMB has worked with the EPWP office to ensure regular grants for job creation.
Recently Business Frameworks have been developed for two of the nature reserves. Innovative initiatives like the Carbon Smart Programme will provide a source of carbon neutral construction material for boardwalks, footpaths and buildings. Ward allocation is also an important source of funds and the staff worked with local Councillors to deliver on community projects, which also conserve and protect biodiversity. Long term commitment to biodiversity is entrenched in the City.
The infrastructure on the reserves in the last five years has been significantly upgraded and every attempt has been made to develop these buildings in a sustainable manner using green construction materials, solar panels and recycling of water.
Measuring and Reporting Impact
Monitoring Results
Biodiversity Management in the City of Cape Town has developed frameworks and protocols within which to work and it is concluded in the LBSAP which provides the overall framework. The various plans, policy and guideline documents have provided the City with a solid footing to achieve its important task. However, the Biodiversity Management Branch can always improve and is continually looking for ways of investing in partnerships as well as internal staff. Further community work and proactive programmes to halt the threat of land invasion are an absolute priority.
Biodiversity Management in the City is not only planning a nature-positive outcome, it is living it. This is demonstrated in its staff, visitors and local communities as it develops and implements numerous projects from local community involvement and restoration projects to upgrading of infrastructure.
Demonstrating Progress
The Biodiversity Management Branch’s monitoring and achievements each year are communicated to the Councillors and presentations are made at all the subcouncils and the relevant portfolio committee. This reaches all the ward and proportional representative Councillors in the City. In such a way local ward Councillors and the community is informed of what Biodiversity Management is trying to achieve.
The monitoring of the Management effectiveness of the nature reserves via the METT and other provincial and national targets has ensured the City is relevant as a municipality and can participate in national policy. This has resulted in the City being recognised and supported locally and internationally which assists our work to attract interest and funding. Champions are very important, and the Biodiversity Management Branch has a stable, enthusiastic and passionate staff component. Senior managers have mainly been around for 10-20 years. As a result, the staff have forged long term relationships with community members as well as the conservation authorities and the NGO sector.
Measuring Impact
- Monitoring of targets as required by national treasury section 88 – conservation and loss of biodiversity. These are monitored in corporate scorecards including for the Integrated Development Plan. This relates to the % of BioNet conserved.
- Monitoring of terrestrial plant invasive species control is via control plans which are submitted and approved by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The Biodiversity Management Branch (BMB) has set internal targets for the monitoring of invasive animal control, release of biocontrol species and clearing of waterways.
- Job creation is monitored by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Office as well as the City’s scorecard. The target was 3,000 job opportunities and 500 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). BMB in the last year created 3,278 job opportunities and 794 FTEs.
- Reserve effectiveness management is undertaken every two years via the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) and submitted to DFFE.
- The game register of nature reserves is kept and submitted to the provincial nature conservation authority once a year.
- Services-in-kind that are recorded by volunteers and sponsored programmes on the reserves are submitted once a year and form part of the City’s financial statements.
- BMB also records visitor environmental education numbers, wildfires, prescribed burns as well as safety and security statistics.
- Ensuring adequate METT scores as well the BioNet and invasive species targets help us to determine if we are on track, ensuring a nature positive outcome.
- Overall the LBSAP will be reviewed every five years.
Learning and Transferability
Adaption and Enhancement
Biodiversity management planning and implementation in the City has had to be modified due to socio-economic conditions, an increase in bureaucracy, crime as well as safety and security concerns for staff, visitors and associated infrastructure, and illegal land invasion. This has resulted in money being diverted from core biodiversity functions to safety and security, and legal processes related to land invasion. This has also impacted targets for the conservation of the BioNet, which has had to be modified. The BioNet has also over the years been modified to include international and national best practice.
From a biodiversity side, scientific evidence has changed the timing and methods of prescribed burns to be undertaken in late summer and also to burn in such a way as to mimic natural wildfires to reduce faunal morality. Research at the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve has reduced the need for brush pile burning as it is more effective and less damaging to leave cleared invasive species brush piles to rot and then be burnt in a wildfire or prescribed ecological burn.
The innovative conservation sector in South Africa has provided robust tools and a platform to build upon. An example is the land banking and biodiversity offsets programme. The METT is another example.
The Biodiversity Management Branch in the City adopts a conservative opportunistic approach and seizes opportunities to expand and problem solve to support a sustainable city.
Potential for Replication
Biodiversity Management in the City has been a leader in the implementation and development of tools. Examples include the adaption of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT). Projects which will and are already influencing conservation practice are the City’s development facilitation via land banking and the biodiversity offsets programme. Experimenting with green technology at the Helderberg Environmental Centre has resulted in widespread interest.
The Skills Development programme and ways of working has influenced other City departments and could become a national blueprint for these type of programmes.
Inspiring Other Cities
There have been various engagements with adjacent municipalities and also the large metros in South Africa. Biodiversity Management in the City of Cape Town is the largest resourced effort in any of the metros and municipalities in South Africa. There has been recent interest in comparing the Biodiversity policies and strategies of the other metros and engagement has taken place. Much of the work undertaken by Cape Town has also been fed into partnerships with ICLEI and more recently into the Ramsar Wetland City partnerships. There has been very little engagement on implementation, and we look forward to the City being chosen as a “role model city” in the Generation Restoration project. This project aims to promote and implement urban ecosystem restoration around the world. This new global project is being managed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI). As part of the proposed global project, UNEP and ICLEI are looking to engage with 5-10 role model cities from around the world that have been undertaking ambitious actions for nature.
Resilience
Reducing Negative Impacts and Ensuring Sustainability
Biodiversity Management activities involve transporting staff, running vehicles and equipment,and building and maintaining infrastructure. This all has a carbon footprint and the City is reducing this by:
- Providing smart driver training to ensure vehicles are driven as economically as possible.
- Retrofitting existing buildings with solar as well as grey water systems.
- Training staff in the Smart Living programme which includes living with a reduced footprint, reducing, recycling and reusing as well as car-pooling where possible.
- Developing carbon neutral buildings such as the Helderberg Nature Reserve Environmental Centre and buildings with reduced footprints such as the Witzands Multipurpose Centre.
- Developing the carbon smart programme to provide carbon neutral material for footpaths, boardwalks etc.
Environmental Considerations
The Biodiversity Management Branch is trialling the most effective methods for restoration. This includes ensuring genetic purity is maintained. In all restoration projects, only seeds and plant material collected from the area can be used. Local universities such as the University of Stellenbosch have been involved in a long running restoration project in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve.
Green building designs are being trialled and utilised in retrofitting existing buildings and new infrastructure.
Use of Natural Resources
The Biodiversity Management Branch:
- Supports water and electricity conservation by training staff and also retrofitting buildings.
- Supports reducing, recycling and reusing.
- Supports using vehicles and equipment wisely.
- Minimises the importing of foreign topsoil and material, especially to remote areas.
- Does not allow the transportation of wood into the nature reserves to minimise the movement of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer infestation. Wood is allowed into selected braai sites which are remote or not connected to natural areas.
