Mainstreaming Spatial Biodiversity Plans in the

Western Cape: Progress to Date and the Way Forward

Rhett SmartLand Use Advisor: Scientific Services

CapeNature

Land Use Planning and Decision-Making

Spatial planning product• Spatial biodiversity plan as a spatial

planning product• Informing spatial planning categories for

land use planning spatial products e.g. SDF• Inform other planning products which may

impact on biodiversity

Regulation• Triggering NEMA listed activities• Inform case specific land use decision-

making

Systematic biodiversity

plans

Critical Biodiversity Areas Maps

CBA Map categories and most efficient

design

Land-use guidelines and

biodiversity profile

Biodiversity Sector Plan

Extra components and formal

gazette

Bioregional Plan

• Bioregional Plan – City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network as a test case

• City Council Resolution (20 August 2014)• Request MEC to declare CCT Bioregion and publish

CCT Bioregional Plan in accordance with NEM:BA• “…used as a guiding plan to facilitate and not

hinder development…”• DEA&DP response (25 June 2015)

• Concerns:• Additional EIAs due to Listing Notice trigger• SDF must be aligned with Bioregional Plan• Amendment to SDF requires amendment to

Bioregional Plan with concurrence from DEA• Opinion – SDF and EMF is sufficient

Mainstreaming into Legislation

Review of Provincial Spatial Biodiversity Plans

in the Western Cape

CapeNature Critical Biodiversity Area Maps • Fine Scale Planning Project (CAPE)

• Selected municipalities

• District Municipality projects • Remainder

Western Cape Biodiversity Sector Plans (2010)• Sector plan in terms of Municipal Systems Act

Legislative Framework (National)

NEM: Biodiversity Act (2004)• 40-42 : Bioregional Plans• 48: Co-ordination and alignment

• Bioregional Plan not in conflict with IDP, SDF, etc.• IDP must align with bioregional plan

Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) (2013)• 16: Provincial SDF

• Must integrate spatial expression of sector plans of provincial departments

• Municipal and provincial SDF must be consistent

Western Cape Land Use Planning Act (2014)• 11. Municipal SDFs must be aligned with provincial

plans and strategies including: • (e) areas of recognised provincial ecological value

i.e. CBAs• 7. Regional SDFs

Legislative Framework (Provincial) Current

Western Cape Biodiversity Bill (in process)• Systematic biodiversity plans:

• Provincial policy, plan and strategy in terms of SPLUMA and WC LUPA

• Indicate natural habitat, ecological corridors and areas of high biodiversity importance (i.e. CBA)

• Municipal SDF must indicate how the above areas will be conserved

• Systematic biodiversity plan to be a provincial sector plan under Municipal Systems Act provided public participation

• Regional level

Legislative Framework (Provincial) Proposed

Local Government

• Inform SPCs for SDFs• DEA&DP & CapeNature

Municipality Capacity Building• CBA mainstreaming major focus• Municipal SDF Review Project

2014

• SPLUMA – province no longer decision maker

• SDFs – more prominence under SPLUMA• SPLUMA Section 22:

Land use planning decisions must be consistent with SDF (although 22.2 –unless site-specific circumstances)

Western Cape SDF Biodiversity Mainstreaming Study

0

1

2

3

4

5

2014/2008 average scores - comparable subset of questions

Disqualified municipalities: Stellenbosch (March 2010), Cape Winelands (June 2010), Oudtshoorn (Feb 2013-issues and visions report, no SDF), West Coast District (May 2007), Overstrand (Oct 2006), Drakenstein (May 2010), Eden (Sep 2009) and Knysna (Nov 2007)

Local Government cont.

Strategic Planning for Municipality• Overview of all municipal land and projects• Proactively identify core biodiversity areas

• Formal conservation• Zoned open space/equivalent

• Non-priority – explore options for development facilitation e.g. EMFs etc

Municipal property valuations

• EIA• Well integrated• DEA&DP/DEA &

CapeNature • Land Use Planning

• Comment from CapeNature

Development Applications

Agriculture• Sandveld EMF• Upper Breede SEA• Co-operation agreement

regarding the clearing of virgin land in the Western Cape Province

• CARA* – Farm-Level Maps/Area-Wide Planning

• Cape Farm Mapper

*Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act

Economic Sectors

Mining• Department of Mineral

Resources

Utilities• Energy e.g. Eskom• Roads e.g. SANRAL, WC

DTPW

etc., etc.

Systematic Approach

Economic Sectors

Biosphere Reserves• Framework Plans• Western Cape – used CBAs to inform SPCs• Implementation

EPWP• Inform work plans

Environmental/Conservation Related Initiatives

• Conflicts between economic development and biodiversity conservation

• Regulatory vs Mainstreaming

Approach

Questions?Thank you!

Acknowledgements: Kerry Maree, CapeNatureGenevieve Pence, CapeNatureMarlene Laros, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Contact: rsmart@capenature.co.za

mailto:rsmart@capenature.co.za