Putting biodiversity back on the map: Experiences and reflections from working with under-resourced municipal spatial planners in the Olifants River Catchment, South Africa

PLEASE CONTACT SHARON@AWARD.ORG.ZA OR HUGO@AWARD.ORG.ZA FOR VIDEO ACCESS

About this Webinar

Biodiversity has either not been ‘on the map’ for municipal town planners or it has taken a back-seat when it comes to making land-use decisions. Given that well over half of all biodiversity is estimated to occur outside of national and provincial parks in Southern Africa, there is an important role for municipalities to play in biodiversity conservation, recognition for the role of ecosystem services and the role played by ecological infrastructure in risk reduction. In this webinar we introduce the Municipal Support Initiative under USAID:RESILIM Olifants and its efforts to embed biodiversity and conservation planning in municipalities through working with the Critical Biodiversity Area Maps (South Africa’s standardized spatial biodiversity tool)… and spatial planners. What started out as a technical exercise soon became a journey of working with political leadership and the broader community of business and land owners. In this webinar we discuss the project objectives and actual outcomes after 4 years of activities, as well as provide some lessons and comments on the potential way forward in …getting biodiversity into municipal spatial planning.

Webinar Resources

PLANNING AND CARING FOR BIODIVERSITY IN LAND USE – A BEGINNERS GUIDE

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans and Stephen Holness

The importance of integrating biodiversity and conservation  into land-use planning is demonstrated using the example of Maruleng Local Municipality, Limpopo Province.

CARING FOR OUR BIODIVERSITY – MADE EASY. AN OVERVIEW OF CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREA (CBA) MAPS FOR THE BAPHALABORWA AND MARULENG LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans

The importance of integrating biodiversity and conservation  into land-use planning is demonstrated using the example of Maruleng Local Municipality, Limpopo Province.

CBA SERIES #2 LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES: AN INTRODUCTION

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans

A summary of recommended guidelines for managing Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs).

CBA SERIES #3 A STEP BY STEP GUIDE: INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO LAND USE PLANNING 

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans

Integrating biodiversity into environmental impact assessments and land use change applications.

CBA SERIES #4 DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans

Municipalities can develop policies or by-laws concerning spatial planning, land development and land use; and for enforcing its land use scheme. The CBA Map and land use guidelines can be incorporated into these policies. Here is how.

CBA SERIES #5 BIODIVERSITY INTEGRATION INTO MUNICIPAL SPATIAL PLANNING

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans

The Biodiversity Sector Plan (as part of the  District Bioregional Plan) should be used in various multi-sectoral planning procedures to promote sustainable development, especially at the municipal level. Here is how.

CBA SERIES #6 GLOSSARY OF BIODIVERSITY & SPATIAL PLANNING TERMS

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans

A comprehensive glossary of terms used in biodiversity and spatial planning.

CBA SERIES #7 BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

– Derick du Toit, William Mponwana, Deborah Vromans, Ancois de Villiers

Municipalities are seen as key role players in developing climate change strategies and contributing to the green economy. Biodiversity protection is part of that process.

BA-PHALABORWA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN HANDBOOK 2019

– Deborah Vromans, Stephen Holness, Derick du Toit and William Mponwana

To ensure sustainable development, biodiversity must, by law, be taken into account when developing spatial planning tools (e.g. spatial development frameworks, land use schemes) or when authorizing land development applications (e.g. rezoning applications, environmental impact assessments). These guidelines aim to assist spatial planners with these tasks.

MARULENG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY BIODIVERSITY SECTOR PLAN HANDBOOK 2019

– Deborah Vromans, Stephen Holness, Derick du Toit and William Mponwana 

To ensure sustainable development, biodiversity  must, by law, be taken into account when developing spatial planning tools (e.g. spatial development frameworks, land use schemes) or when authorizing land development applications (e.g. rezoning applications, environmental impact assessments). These guidelines aim to assist spatial planners with these tasks.

CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS MAPBOOK FOR BAPHALABORWA MUNICIPALITY. SUPPORTING LAND-USE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING IN CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS AND ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT AREAS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

– Deborah Vromans, Stephen Holness, Derick du Toit and William Mponwana

This is a Mapbook for BaPhalaborwa municipality. It zooms into the municipal area allowing for non-GIS users to understand where CBA categories are located in the landscape for property in the municipal area. The map book can be used by all sectors and professionals involved in land use planning and decision-making, including non-governmental organizations and the public.

CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS MAPBOOK FOR MARULENG MUNICIPALITY. SUPPORTING LAND-USE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING IN CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS AND ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT AREAS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

– Deborah Vromans, Stephen Holness, Derick du Toit and William Mponwana

This is a Mapbook for Maruleng municipality. It zooms into the municipal area allowing for non-GIS users to understand where CBA categories are located in the landscape for property in the municipal area. The map book can be used by all sectors and professionals involved in land use planning and decision-making, including non-governmental organizations and the public.

A GUIDE TO THE SPATIAL PLANNING & LAND USE MANAGEMENT ACT [SPLUMA]

– William Mponwana

An easy reference to the most important law governing spatial planning in South Africa.

UNDERSTANDING LAND USE PLANNING AS AN ACTIVITY SYSTEM A GUIDELINE FOR SPATIAL PLANNERS 

– Charles Chikunda, William Mponwana & Derick du Toit

The RESILIM biodiversity working group adopted an activity system approach for the integration of biodiversity into land-use planning. This document summarises this approach.

FIELD BOOK: EXPLORING BIODIVERSITY IN LANDUSE PLANNING & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE MOLETELE YOUTH PROGRAMME  

– William Mponwana & Derick du Toit

This is a fieldbook made up of six modules for exploring biodiversity, land use planning and enterprise development based on biodiversity.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INTO MUNICIPAL LANDUSE PLANNING IN THE OLIFANTS CATCHMENT

– Karen Kotschy & Derick du Toit

This report provides an overview of the assessment of how well municipalities in the Olifants are integrating biodiversity and environment into their planning instruments.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INTO MUNICIPAL LANDUSE PLANNING IN THE OLIFANTS CATCHMENT

– Karen Kotschy & Derick du Toit

This report provides an overview of the assessment of how well municipalities in the Olifants are integrating biodiversity and environment into their planning instruments.

REVIEW OF SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL ISSUES IN MUNICIPAL PLANNING INSTRUMENTS – OLIFANTS CATCHMENT PART 1: EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

– Deborah Vromans

A methodology for analysing municipal planning instruments for the inclusion of environmental and biodiversity issues is presented.

REVIEW OF SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL ISSUES IN MUNICIPAL PLANNING INSTRUMENTS – OLIFANTS CATCHMENT
FULL REPORT

– Deborah Vromans

A full report on  the inclusion of environment

LITERATURE SEARCH: BIODIVERSITY AND RELATED ISSUES IN THE OLIFANTS CATCHMENT

– Alan Gardiner

A partial overview of biodiversity-related literature for the Olifants catchment including  South Africa and Mozambique.

PROTECTED AREAS IN THE OLIFANTS CATCHMENT

– Karen Kotschy with Brandon Anthony, Samantha Gerber & Kgomotso Thomas

This technical report provides an overview of the protected areas in the Olifants Catchment in 2015.

NATURAL RESOURCES & LAND USE: GA-MAMETJA VILLAGE IN OLIFANTS CATCHMENT

– Shonisani Netshishivhe & Jan Graf

The report documents land use, natural resource use, and governance arrangements  in the Ga-Mametja village with potential implications for environmental degradation and livelihoods of people.

OLI ENTERPRISES, INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE OLIFANTS CATCHMENT

– INR

This Z-fold brochure explains the links between biodiversity and entrepreneurship in the Olifants catchment.