WATERBERG BIOSPHERE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN

This appointment is the culmination of many years of lobbying by WBR for such a plan, starting with a meeting convened in November 2005 between DEAT, LEDET, WDM and WBR and supported by the resolutions from the Biosphere Summit hosted by WDM in September 2007.

The recent study of the wildlife industry in the Waterberg also confirmed the development of a strategic plan for the biosphere reserve was one of the highest priorities that government should pursue in supporting the industry locally. After at least three failed attempts by LEDET to appoint suitably qualified consultants, the biosphere reserve has confidence that this critically important work will be completed and to the correct technical standard. The appointed team is led by Contour Project Managers, with Willie Boonzaaier at the helm, and includes Maxim Planning Solutions led by Dr Dawie Bos and Imbewu Sustainability Legal Specialists led by biosphere expert Andrew Gilder.

Purpose of the management plan is to enable the WBR to

• capitalize on its environmental and economic potential and, by supporting decision making, ensure sustainable development in line with NEMA (National Environmental Management Act), NEMBA (National Environmental Biodiversity Act) and other legislation and plans that govern development
  
• be integrated within local and district planning instruments, including inter alia Integrated Development Plans, Spatial Development Frameworks, Land Use Plans and Environmental Management Frameworks
  
• prepare for the periodic review of the reserve required by the UNESCO MaB program.
  

• Reserve Management Strategies
  
• Planning Instruments & Resource Protection Strategies, whereby the natural resource base is protected and enhanced
  
• Strategic Environmental Assessment for WBR and surrounds, including, in preparation of the periodic review, as assessment of
• possible reserve boundary changes
  
• existing core, buffer and transition zones, and
  
• any possible changes needed to ensure that their environmental and developmental integrity is optimised
  
• Spatial Development Framework for WBR which recognises the newly defined core, buffer and transition zones
  
• Minimum development standards for each zone
  
• Incentive schemes that can be implemented on individual land holdings in order to influence land use practices in support of WBR’s sustainability objectives
• A strategy to ensure that E.I.A. processes that affect development and conservation within WBR are fully engaged in
• Strategies whereby sustainable and equitable development is promoted, and whereby
  
• Opportunities to establish community owned conservation area and eco-tourism ventures are fully exploited
  
• Opportunities to establish open system mega conservation areas are explored
  
• WBR is promoted as a sound tourism and investment destination
  
• The profile of WBR is raised, and
  
• The social welfare of WBR communities are addressed where possible.
• Strategies whereby education, training and research are fostered, such that
• Environmental education is promoted
• Skills training appropriate to the needs of the biosphere communities is implemented
• Appropriate environmental, archaeological and socioeconomic research is conducted
• A system of endorsement is developed whereby projects conducted by bodies other than WBR which fall within the aims and objectives of the reserve can be endorsed and promoted.

The project has currently reached the Inception Report stage.

The most substantive position taken thus far is to broaden the proposed study area beyond the current WBR boundaries. The general desire is have all or most of the Waterberg Mountain complex included, as well as the Nylsvlei Nature Reserve.

Furthermore, the unique character of WBR has been borne in mind, namely that the existing transition zone has not been very built up, including only Vaalwater and roughly 30 rural settlements near Bakenberg, and some intensive agriculture along the Mokolo River, but also includes a great deal of land that has been converted to game farms. As a result, it is possible to use WBR as a vehicle in developing a brand for the area in order to promote socio-economic development based on a recognisable tourism product. It will therefore be important that the overall character of WBR be maintained, and for these reasons additional towns, highly fragmented and disturbed properties, mining areas etc. have been excluded from the expanded study area.

An extremely important part of the development of the management plan will be stakeholder consultation. At least three stakeholder workshops have been scheduled, for the weeks of 20th September 2010, 25th October 2010 and 10th January 2011.

In addition, the Environmental sub-committee under the leadershipIt is also important to ensure that this process is integrated into the Environmental Management Framework for the entire Waterberg District currently being conducted by the consultants Environomics, and approaches have been made in this regard.

Here you will find the full pdf version of the Waterberg Biosphere Management Plan

Here you will find all the relevant maps pertaining to the Management Plan

Here you will find the Biosphere's guidelines for development and land use for each of the zones