Protecting biodiversity through innovative initiatives
Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany is a biodiversity hotspot that unites four diverse centres of endemism and houses six of South Africa's eight biomes.
The Wildlands Conservation Trust is leading a process to bring more than 300 000ha of new land under conservation to this region.
"Wildlands will manage a $6.5-million investment primarily on private and communal land through the biodiversity stewardship programme," says the director of Wildlands Initiatives, Roelie Kloppers.
Wildlands is working with other regional and international nongovernmentals to strengthen their capacity to do biodiversity stewardship work, not only to ensure new land is brought under formal conservation, but also that biodiversity is mainstreamed in productive landscapes, he says.
The project works in 22 key biodiversity areas across parts of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
It is the second richest floristic region in southern Africa, after the Western Cape, containing around 8 100 species, of which at least 1 900 are unique to the region.
At a habitat level, one type of forest, three types of thicket, six types of bushveld and five types of grasslands are unique.
The 300 000ha of new conservation land will be proclaimed under the National Environmental Management Act.
A further 1.4-million hectares in productive landscapes spread across the region will also be managed for biodiversity.
Areas targeted include the main catchment zones of the Umgeni, uThukela and Umzimvubu rivers, which provide the main water supplies for KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Work includes the removal of alien plants to ensure better water flow and quality.
Wildlands' focus includes creating eco-jobs for the communities that depend on these areas.
From residents within the urban centres of Maputo, Durban and Port Elizabeth, to commercial farmers and foresters, to traditional pastoral and artisanal fishing cultures, the socioeconomic diversity of the region is almost as high as its biodiversity.
A decade ago, when the South African National Roads Agency announced the N2 toll road would go through Pondoland, green activists cried foul.
Wildlands aims to ensure the rich biodiversity of the area is kept in mind during the development process.